bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence of transfusion reactions: a multicenter study utilizing systematic active surveillance and expert adjudication
Authors: Hendrickson Jeanne E. , Roubinian Nareg H. , Chowdhury Dhuly , Brambilla Don , Murphy Edward L. , Wu Yanyun , Ness Paul M. , Gehrie Eric A. , Snyder Edward L. , George Hauser R. , Gottschall Jerome L. , Kleinman Steve , Kakaiya Ram , Strauss Ronald G. ,   for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study (REDS‐III)
Published: July 2016

BACKGROUND

Prevalence estimates of the serious hazards of transfusion vary widely. We hypothesized that the current reporting infrastructure in the United States fails to capture many transfusion reactions and undertook a multicenter study using active surveillance, data review, and adjudication to test this hypothesis.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective record review was completed for a random sample of 17% of all inpatient transfusion episodes over 6 months at four academic tertiary care hospitals, with an episode defined as all blood products released to a patient in 6 hours. Data were recorded by trained clinical research nurses, and serious reactions were adjudicated by a panel of transfusion medicine experts.

RESULTS

Of 4857 transfusion episodes investigated, 1.1% were associated with a serious reaction. Transfusion‐associated circulatory overload was the most frequent serious reaction noted, being identified in 1% of transfusion episodes. Despite clinical notes describing a potential transfusion association in 59% of these cases, only 5.1% were reported to the transfusion service. Suspected transfusion‐related acute lung injury/possible transfusion‐related acute lung injury, anaphylactic, and hypotensive reactions were noted in 0.08, 0.02, and 0.02% of transfusion episodes, respectively. Minor reactions, including febrile nonhemolytic and allergic, were noted in 0.62 and 0.29% of transfusion episodes, respectively, with 30 and 50% reported to the transfusion service.

CONCLUSION

Underreporting of cardiopulmonary transfusion reactions is striking among academic, tertiary care hospitals. Complete and accurate reporting is essential to identify, define, establish pathogenesis, and mitigate/treat transfusion reactions. A better understanding of the failure to report may improve the accuracy of passive reporting systems.
Spatial Clustering of Escherichia coli with Reduced Susceptibility to Cefotaxime and Ciprofloxacin among Dairy Cattle Farms Relative to European Starling Night Roosts
Authors: Medhanie G. A. , Pearl D. L. , McEwen S. A. , Guerin M. T. , Jardine C. M. , Schrock J. , LeJeune J. T.
Published: July 2016

European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) have been implicated in the dispersal of zoonotic enteric pathogens. However, their role in disseminating antimicrobial‐resistant organisms through their home range has not been clearly established. The aim of this study was to determine whether starling night roosts served as foci for spreading organisms with reduced susceptibility to antimicrobials among dairy cattle farms. Bovine faecal pats were collected from 150 dairy farms in Ohio. Each farm was visited twice (in summer and fall) between 2007 and 2009. A total of 1490 samples (10 samples/farm over two visits) were tested for Escherichia coli with reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin. Using a spatial scan statistic, focal scans were conducted to determine whether clusters of farms with a high prevalence of organisms with reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin surrounded starling night roosts. Faecal pats 13.42% and 13.56% of samples carried Escherichia coli with reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) spatial clusters of faecal pats with high prevalence of Escherichia coli showing reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin were identified around these night roosts. This finding suggests that the risk of carriage of organisms with reduced susceptibility to antimicrobials in cattle closer to starling night roosts was higher compared to cattle located on farms further from these sites. Starlings might have an important role in spreading antimicrobial‐resistant E. coli to livestock environments, thus posing a threat to animal and public health.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Young James
Published: July 2016

International Journal of Social Science Studies (IJSSS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether IJSSS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue. Reviewers for Volume 4, Number 8     Ahmet Yıkmış Ali Massoud Aslan,Yasin Ayşegül Sili Kalem Fernando Aragón-Durand Hanaa Youssef Shaarawy Henry Poduthas Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji Julia M. Mack K. O. Aramide Lisa Cherkassky Małgorzata Haładewicz Michael Brooks Mohammad Naji Shah Mohammadi Muharrem Ekşi Priyono Rachita Shrivastava Roy Said Aldhafri Sandro Serpa Sharif Alghazo Zafer İbrahimoğlu Zlatan Begić                 James Young Editorial Assistant On behalf of, The Editorial Board of International Journal of Social Science Studies Redfame Publishing 9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416 Beaverton, OR 97008, USA URL: http://ijsss.redfame.com
Human intersegmental reflexes from intercostal afferents to scalene muscles
Authors: McBain Rachel A. , Taylor Janet L. , Gorman Robert B. , Gandevia Simon C. , Butler Jane E.
Published: July 2016

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

The aim was to determine whether specific reflex connections operate between intercostal afferents and the scalene muscles in humans, and whether these connections operate after a clinically complete cervical spinal cord injury.

What is the main finding and its importance?

This is the first description of a short‐latency inhibitory reflex connection between intercostal afferents from intercostal spaces to the scalene muscles in able‐bodied participants. We suggest that this reflex is mediated by large‐diameter afferents. This intercostal‐to‐scalene inhibitory reflex is absent after cervical spinal cord injury and may provide a way to monitor the progress of the injury.

Short‐latency intersegmental reflexes have been described for various respiratory muscles in animals. In humans, however, only short‐latency reflex responses to phrenic nerve stimulation have been described. Here, we examined the reflex connections between intercostal afferents and scalene muscles in humans. Surface EMG recordings were made from scalene muscles bilaterally, in seven able‐bodied participants and seven participants with motor‐ and sensory‐complete cervical spinal cord injury (median 32 years postinjury, range 5 months to 44 years). We recorded the reflex responses produced by stimulation of the eighth or tenth left intercostal nerve. A short‐latency (∼38 ms) inhibitory reflex was evident in able‐bodied participants, in ipsilateral and contralateral scalene muscles. This bilateral intersegmental inhibitory reflex occurred in 46% of recordings at low stimulus intensities (at three times motor threshold). It was more frequent (in 75–85% of recordings) at higher stimulus intensities (six and nine times motor threshold), but onset latency (38 ± 9 ms, mean ± SD) and the size of inhibition (23 ± 10%) did not change with stimulus intensity. The reflex was absent in all participants with spinal cord injury. As the intercostal‐to‐scalene reflex did not increase with larger stimulus intensities, it is likely to be mediated by large‐diameter intercostal muscle afferents. This is the first demonstration of an intercostal‐to‐scalene reflex. As the reflex requires intact spinal connections, it may be a useful marker for recovery of thoracic or cervical spinal injury.
Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulations of Peristaltic Contractions in Obstructed Ureter Flows
Authors: Najafi Zahra , Gautam Prashanta , Schwartz Bradley F. , Chandy Abhilash J. , Mahajan Ajay M.
Published: July 2016

Ureteral peristalsis can be considered as a series of waves on the ureteral wall, which transfers the urine along the ureter toward the bladder. The stones that form in the kidney and migrate to the ureter can create a substantial health problem due to the pain caused by interaction of the ureteral walls and stones during the peristaltic motion. Three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out using the commercial code ansys fluent to solve for the peristaltic movement of the ureter, with and without stones. The effect of stone size was considered through the investigation of varying obstructions of 5%, 15%, and 35% for fixed spherical stone shape. Also, an understanding of the effect of stone shape was obtained through separate CFD calculations of the peristaltic ureter with three different types of stones, a sphere, a cube, and a star, all at a fixed obstruction percentage of 15%. Velocity vectors, mass flow rates, pressure gradients, and wall shear stresses were analyzed along one bolus of urine during peristalsis of the ureteral wall to study the various effects. It was found that the increase in obstruction increased the backflow, pressure gradients, and wall shear stresses proximal to the stone. On the other hand, with regard to the stone shape study, while the cube-shaped stones resulted in the largest backflow, the star-shaped stone showed highest pressure gradient magnitudes. Interestingly, the change in stone shape did not have a significant effect on the wall shear stress at the obstruction level studied here.
Wave Dispersion and Basic Concepts of Peridynamics Compared to Classical Nonlocal Damage Models
Authors: Bažant Zdeněk P. , Luo Wen , Chau Viet T. , Bessa Miguel A.
Published: July 2016

The spectral approach is used to examine the wave dispersion in linearized bond-based and state-based peridynamics in one and two dimensions, and comparisons with the classical nonlocal models for damage are made. Similar to the classical nonlocal models, the peridynamic dispersion of elastic waves occurs for high frequencies. It is shown to be stronger in the state-based than in the bond-based version, with multiple wavelengths giving a vanishing phase velocity, one of them longer than the horizon. In the bond-based and state-based, the nonlocality of elastic and inelastic behaviors is coupled, i.e., the dispersion of elastic and inelastic waves cannot be independently controlled. In consequence, the difference between: (1) the nonlocality due to material characteristic length for softening damage, which ensures stability of softening damage and serves as the localization limiter, and (2) the nonlocality due to material heterogeneity cannot be distinguished. This coupling of both kinds of dispersion is unrealistic and similar to the original 1984 nonlocal model for damage which was in 1987 abandoned and improved to be nondispersive or mildly dispersive for elasticity but strongly dispersive for damage. With the same regular grid of nodes, the convergence rates for both the bond-based and state-based versions are found to be slower than for the finite difference methods. It is shown that there exists a limit case of peridynamics, with a micromodulus in the form of a Delta function spiking at the horizon. This limit case is equivalent to the unstabilized imbricate continuum and exhibits zero-energy periodic modes of instability. Finally, it is emphasized that the node-skipping force interactions, a salient feature of peridynamics, are physically unjustified (except on the atomic scale) because in reality the forces get transmitted to the second and farther neighboring particles (or nodes) through the displacements and rotations of the intermediate particles, rather than by some potential permeating particles as on the atomic scale.
Fabrication and characterization of glancing angle deposited nanostructured surfaces for enhanced boiling heat transfer
Authors: Badshah Mohsin Ali , Ju Jonghyun , Hong Dongin , Jang Hyungjun , Kim Seok-min , Park Jun Su
Published: July 2016

Glancing angle deposition (GLAD) process has been regarded as an efficient method to fabricate nanostructured surfaces for enhanced boiling heat transfer because of its simplicity and variety of material selection. In this study, the effects of structural parameters (particularly the orientation and length of GLAD nanostructures) on boiling heat transfer were analyzed. The boiling heat transfer characteristics of Ag GLAD nanorods on a silicon substrate were examined using pool boiling experiments with deionized water. The vertical nanorod provided better performance than a slanted one, and a length of 200 nm was selected as the optimal length for maximizing the boiling heat transfer. A pool boiling critical heat flux of 20.6 W/cm2 was obtained for a 200 nm tall Ag-vertical nanostructure, and 13.6 W/cm2 was obtained for plain Ni-Ag layer on Si substrate. A 420% enhancement in the heat transfer coefficient was successfully achieved on a nanostructured surface compared to a plain Ni-Ag layer.
Determination of glottal open regions by exploiting changes in the vocal tract system characteristics
Authors: Prasad Ravi Shankar , Yegnanarayana B.
Published: July 2016

This paper presents an approach to determine the open phase region of a glottal cycle based on changes in the characteristics of the vocal tract system. The glottal closing phase contributes to major excitation of the vocal tract system. The opening phase affects the vocal tract system characteristics by effectively increasing the length of the tract, due to coupling of the subglottal region. To determine the glottal open region, it is necessary to estimate the vocal tract characteristics from the segment with subglottal coupling. The proposed method derives the dominant resonance frequency (DRF) of the vocal tract system at every sampling instant, using a heavily decaying window (HDW) for analysis. The DRF contour transits to lower frequencies during glottal open region, when compared to the glottal closed region. The open region, within the glottal cycles from voiced speech segment, is extracted using the HDW method. The results are compared with the open region derived from the electroglottograph (EGG) signals and speech signals. The results show that the proposed method based on DRF contour, derived from the speech signals, seems to perform better than the methods based on EGG signals.
Cross-frequency coherence and pulse propagation in a turbulent atmosphere
Authors: Ostashev Vladimir E. , Wilson D. Keith , Collier Sandra L. , Cain Jericho E. , Cheinet Sylvain
Published: July 2016

Cross-frequency coherence of acoustic signals in a turbulent atmosphere is an important consideration for source localization with acoustic sensor arrays and for remote sensing of the atmosphere with sodars and tomography techniques. This paper takes as a starting point recently derived, closed-form equations for the spatial-temporal correlation function of a broadband acoustic signal propagating in a turbulent atmosphere with coupled spatial-temporal fluctuations in temperature and wind velocity. This theory is employed to calculate, based on the Rytov approximation, the two-point, two-time, two-frequency mutual coherence function of plane and spherical waves in the weak scattering regime. The cross-frequency coherence for these waveforms is then obtained and compared with that in the geometrical acoustics approximation. The coherence bandwidth is calculated and analyzed for typical meteorological regimes of the atmospheric surface layer and parameters of sound propagation. The results obtained are compared with available experimental data. The cross-frequency coherence is also used to study the effect of atmospheric turbulence on the mean intensity of an acoustic pulse propagating in a turbulent atmosphere.
Red star rising
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: July 2016

A fusillade of missions has thrust China into the upper echelon of space science.
Cospeciation of gut microbiota with hominids
Authors: Moeller Andrew H. , Caro-Quintero Alejandro , Mjungu Deus , Georgiev Alexander V. , Lonsdorf Elizabeth V. , Muller Martin N. , Pusey Anne E. , Peeters Martine , Hahn Beatrice H. , Ochman Howard
Published: July 2016

Human-microbiota coevolution

The bacteria that make their home in the intestines of modern apes and humans arose from ancient bacteria that colonized the guts of our common ancestors. Moeller
et al.
have developed a method to compare rapidly evolving
gyrB
gene sequences in fecal samples from humans and wild chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas (see the Perspective by Segre and Salafsky). Comparison of the
gyrB
phylogenies of major bacterial lineages reveals that they mostly match the apehominid phylogeny, except for some rare symbiont transfers between primate species. Gut bacteria therefore are not simply acquired from the environment, but have coevolved for millions of years with hominids to help shape our immune systems and development.

Science
, this issue p.
380
; see also p.
350
Reciprocal signaling in honeyguide-human mutualism
Authors: Spottiswoode Claire N. , Begg Keith S. , Begg Colleen M.
Published: July 2016

Show me a sign of sweetness to come

Communication between humans and domesticated animals is common. Regular communication between humans and wild animals, however, is rare. African honey-guide birds are known to regularly lead human honey-hunters to bee colonies, and the humans, on opening up the nest, leave enough mess for the birds to feast on. Spottiswoode
et al.
show that when the honey-hunters make a specific call, honey-guides are both more likely to come to their aid and more likely to find them a bee's nest. This interaction suggests that the birds are able to attach a specific meaning of cooperation to the human's call—a rare case of mutualism between humans and a wild animal.

Science
, this issue p.
387
Power to the people
The Grid The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future
Gretchen Bakke
Bloomsbury, 2016. 384 pp.
Authors: Howe Cymene
Published: July 2016

A cultural history of the U.S. power grid reveals the system's current failings and its potential
Demystifying the demise of paternal mitochondrial DNA
Authors: van der Bliek Alexander M.
Published: July 2016

A process that eliminates organelle DNA during sexual reproduction is identified
Disciplined approach to drug discovery and early development
Authors: Plenge Robert M.
Published: July 2016

Drug R&D requires a disciplined approach anchored in causal human biology through proof-of-concept clinical trials.
Maternal HIV infection influences the microbiome of HIV-uninfected infants
Authors: Bender Jeffrey M. , Li Fan , Martelly Shoria , Byrt Erin , Rouzier Vanessa , Leo Marguerithe , Tobin Nicole , Pannaraj Pia S. , Adisetiyo Helty , Rollie Adrienne , Santiskulvong Chintda , Wang Shaung , Autran Chloe , Bode Lars , Fitzgerald Daniel , Kuhn Louise , Aldrovandi Grace M.
Published: July 2016

Maternal HIV infection may affect the infant’s microbiome, and this may contribute to the increased morbidity and mortality of HIV-exposed, uninfected infants.
A sneak peek at personalized medicine in autism?
Authors: Fung Lawrence K.
Published: July 2016

Early brain enlargement in children with autism may be caused by dysregulation of a specific transcriptional cascade, which may be targeted for pharmacologic interventions.
A captive peptide for T cell activation
Authors: Whitehead Kathryn A.
Published: July 2016

A protein cage nanoparticle carrying an antigenic peptide induces cytotoxic T cells to destroy melanoma tumors.
Cell Division by Longitudinal Scission in the Insect Endosymbiont Spiroplasma poulsonii
Authors: Ramond Elodie , Maclachlan Catherine , Clerc-Rosset Stéphanie , Knott Graham W. , Lemaitre Bruno
Published: July 2016

Spiroplasma
bacteria are highly motile bacteria with no cell wall and a helical morphology. This clade includes many vertically transmitted insect endosymbionts, including
Spiroplasma poulsonii
, a natural endosymbiont of
Drosophila melanogaster
.
S. poulsonii
bacteria are mainly found in the hemolymph of infected female flies and exhibit efficient vertical transmission from mother to offspring. As is the case for many facultative endosymbionts,
S. poulsonii
can manipulate the reproduction of its host; in particular,
S. poulsonii
induces male killing in
Drosophila melanogaster
. Here, we analyze the morphology of
S. poulsonii
obtained from the hemolymph of infected
Drosophila
. This endosymbiont was not only found as long helical filaments, as previously described, but was also found in a Y-shaped form. The use of electron microscopy, immunogold staining of the FtsZ protein, and antibiotic treatment unambiguously linked the Y shape of
S. poulsonii
to cell division. Observation of the Y shape in another
Spiroplasma
,
S. citri
, and anecdotic observations from the literature suggest that cell division by longitudinal scission might be prevalent in the
Spiroplasma
clade. Our study is the first to report the Y-shape mode of cell division in an endosymbiotic bacterium and adds
Spiroplasma
to the so far limited group of bacteria known to utilize this cell division mode.

IMPORTANCE
Most bacteria rely on binary fission, which involves elongation of the bacteria and DNA replication, followed by splitting into two parts. Examples of bacteria with a Y-shape longitudinal scission remain scarce. Here, we report that
Spiroplasma poulsonii
, an endosymbiotic bacterium living inside the fruit fly
Drosophila melanogaster
, divide with the longitudinal mode of cell division. Observations of the Y shape in another
Spiroplasma
,
S. citri
, suggest that this mode of scission might be prevalent in the
Spiroplasma
clade.
Spiroplasma
bacteria are wall-less bacteria with a distinctive helical shape, and these bacteria are always associated with arthropods, notably insects. Our study raises the hypothesis that this mode of cell division by longitudinal scission could be linked to the symbiotic mode of life of these bacteria.
Polyamines and Hypusination Are Required for Ebolavirus Gene Expression and Replication
Authors: Olsen Michelle E. , Filone Claire Marie , Rozelle Dan , Mire Chad E. , Agans Krystle N. , Hensley Lisa , Connor John H.
Published: July 2016

Ebolavirus (EBOV) is an RNA virus that is known to cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates
.
EBOV successfully enters and replicates in many cell types. This replication is dependent on the virus successfully coopting a number of cellular factors. Many of these factors are currently unidentified but represent potential targets for antiviral therapeutics. Here we show that cellular polyamines are critical for EBOV replication. We found that small-molecule inhibitors of polyamine synthesis block gene expression driven by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown of the polyamine pathway enzyme spermidine synthase also resulted in reduced EBOV replication. These findings led us to further investigate spermidine, a polyamine that is essential for the hypusination of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). Blocking the hypusination of eIF5A (and thereby inhibiting its function) inhibited both EBOV gene expression and viral replication. The mechanism appears to be due to the importance of hypusinated eIF5A for the accumulation of VP30, an essential component of the viral polymerase. The same reduction in hypusinated eIF5A did not alter the accumulation of other viral polymerase components. This action makes eIF5A function an important gate for proper EBOV polymerase assembly and function through the control of a single virus protein.

IMPORTANCE
Ebolavirus (EBOV) is one of the most lethal human pathogens known. EBOV requires host factors for replication due to its small RNA genome. Here we show that the host protein eIF5A in its activated form is necessary for EBOV replication. We further show that the mechanism is through the accumulation of a single EBOV protein, VP30. To date, no other host proteins have been shown to interfere with the translation or stability of an EBOV protein. Activated eIF5A is the only protein in the cell known to contain the specific modification of hypusine; therefore, this pathway is a target for drug development. Further investigation into the mechanism of eIF5A interaction with VP30 could provide insight into therapeutics to combat EBOV.
Proteomics Analysis Reveals Previously Uncharacterized Virulence Factors in Vibrio proteolyticus
Authors: Ray Ann , Kinch Lisa N. , de Souza Santos Marcela , Grishin Nick V. , Orth Kim , Salomon Dor
Published: July 2016

Members of the genus
Vibrio
include many pathogens of humans and marine animals that share genetic information via horizontal gene transfer. Hence, the
Vibrio
pan-genome carries the potential to establish new pathogenic strains by sharing virulence determinants, many of which have yet to be characterized. Here, we investigated the virulence properties of
Vibrio proteolyticus
, a Gram-negative marine bacterium previously identified as part of the
Vibrio
consortium isolated from diseased corals. We found that
V. proteolyticus
causes actin cytoskeleton rearrangements followed by cell lysis in HeLa cells in a contact-independent manner. In search of the responsible virulence factor involved, we determined the
V. proteolyticus
secretome. This proteomics approach revealed various putative virulence factors, including active type VI secretion systems and effectors with virulence toxin domains; however, these type VI secretion systems were not responsible for the observed cytotoxic effects. Further examination of the
V. proteolyticus
secretome led us to hypothesize and subsequently demonstrate that a secreted hemolysin, belonging to a previously uncharacterized clan of the leukocidin superfamily, was the toxin responsible for the
V. proteolyticus
-mediated cytotoxicity in both HeLa cells and macrophages. Clearly, there remains an armory of yet-to-be-discovered virulence factors in the
Vibrio
pan-genome that will undoubtedly provide a wealth of knowledge on how a pathogen can manipulate host cells.

IMPORTANCE
The pan-genome of the genus
Vibrio
is a potential reservoir of unidentified toxins that can provide insight into how members of this genus have successfully risen as emerging pathogens worldwide. We focused on
Vibrio proteolyticus
, a marine bacterium that was previously implicated in virulence toward marine animals, and characterized its interaction with eukaryotic cells. We found that this bacterium causes actin cytoskeleton rearrangements and leads to cell death. Using a proteomics approach, we identified a previously unstudied member of the leukocidin family of pore-forming toxins as the virulence factor responsible for the observed cytotoxicity in eukaryotic cells, as well as a plethora of additional putative virulence factors secreted by this bacterium. Our findings reveal a functional new clan of the leukocidin toxin superfamily and establish this pathogen as a reservoir of potential toxins that can be used for biomedical applications.
What Have We Learned about the Microbiomes of Indoor Environments?
Authors: Stephens Brent
Published: July 2016

The advent and application of high-throughput molecular techniques for analyzing microbial communities in the indoor environment have led to illuminating findings and are beginning to change the way we think about human health in relation to the built environment. Here I review recent studies on the microbiology of the built environment, organize their findings into 12 major thematic categories, and comment on how these studies have or have not advanced knowledge in each area beyond what we already knew from over 100 years of applying culture-based methods to building samples.
Prescribing in obese children: how good are paediatricians?
Authors: Collier Helen , Nasim Maria , Gandhi Anjum
Published: July 2016

Childhood obesity is increasing nationally and worldwide. Using the child's total body weight to calculate drug doses for certain medications could result in incorrect dosing. The aim of this study was to assess whether paediatric doctors have knowledge about prescribing correct doses of medications for obese children by using methods to calculate the ‘ideal body weight’ (IBW). A questionnaire was sent to paediatric doctors asking whether they understand IBW and how to calculate it using the McLaren method. The results suggested that most paediatric doctors did not determine whether a child was obese when calculating drug doses. There was relatively poor understanding about the concept of IBW and only 9% of paediatricians in this study knew how to calculate it. There should be more training and guidance about calculating IBW in obese children to avoid potentially toxic errors.
Acute post-disaster medical needs of patients with diabetes: emergency department use in New York City by diabetic adults after Hurricane Sandy
Authors: Lee David C , Gupta Vibha K , Carr Brendan G , Malik Sidrah , Ferguson Brandy , Wall Stephen P , Smith Silas W , Goldfrank Lewis R
Published: July 2016

Objective

To evaluate the acute impact of disasters on diabetic patients, we performed a geospatial analysis of emergency department (ED) use by New York City diabetic adults in the week after Hurricane Sandy.

Research design and methods

Using an all-payer claims database, we retrospectively analyzed the demographics, insurance status, and medical comorbidities of post-disaster ED patients with diabetes who lived in the most geographically vulnerable areas. We compared the patterns of ED use among diabetic adults in the first week after Hurricane Sandy's landfall to utilization before the disaster in 2012.

Results

In the highest level evacuation zone in New York City, postdisaster increases in ED visits for a primary or secondary diagnosis of diabetes were attributable to a significantly higher proportion of Medicare patients. Emergency visits for a primary diagnosis of diabetes had an increased frequency of certain comorbidities, including hypertension, recent procedure, and chronic skin ulcers. Patients with a history of diabetes visited EDs in increased numbers after Hurricane Sandy for a primary diagnosis of myocardial infarction, prescription refills, drug dependence, dialysis, among other conditions.

Conclusions

We found that diabetic adults aged 65 years and older are especially at risk for requiring postdisaster emergency care compared to other vulnerable populations. Our findings also suggest that there is a need to support diabetic adults particularly in the week after a disaster by ensuring access to medications, aftercare for patients who had a recent procedure, and optimize their cardiovascular health to reduce the risk of heart attacks.
Efficacy of tofacitinib monotherapy in methotrexate-naive patients with early or established rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Fleischmann Roy M , Huizinga Tom W J , Kavanaugh Arthur F , Wilkinson Bethanie , Kwok Kenneth , DeMasi Ryan , van Vollenhoven Ronald F
Published: July 2016

Introduction

Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tofacitinib monotherapy was previously shown to inhibit structural damage, reduce clinical signs and symptoms of RA, and improve physical functioning over 24 months in methotrexate (MTX)-naive adult patients with RA. In this post hoc analysis, we compared efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in patients with early (disease duration <1 year) versus established (≥1 year) RA.

Methods

MTX-naive patients ≥18 years with active RA received tofacitinib monotherapy (5 or 10 mg two times a day, or MTX monotherapy, in a 24-month Phase 3 trial.

Results

Of 956 patients (tofacitinib 5 mg two times a day, n=373; tofacitinib 10 mg two times a day, n=397; MTX, n=186), 54% had early RA. Baseline disease activity and functional disability were similar in both groups; radiographic damage was greater in patients with established RA. At month 24, clinical response rates were significantly greater in patients with early versus established RA in the tofacitinib 5 mg two times a day group. Both tofacitinib doses had greater effects on clinical, functional and radiographic improvements at 1 and 2 years compared with MTX, independent of disease duration. No new safety signals were observed.

Conclusions

Treatment response was generally similar in early and established RA; significantly greater improvements were observed at month 24 with tofacitinib 5 mg two times a day in early versus established RA. Tofacitinib 5 and 10 mg two times a day demonstrated greater efficacy versus MTX irrespective of disease duration. No difference in safety profiles was observed between patients with early or established RA.

Trial registration number

NCT01039688; Results.
Lentivirus-mediated angiopoietin-2 gene silencing decreases TNF-α induced apoptosis of alveolar epithelium cells
Authors: Sun Nan-Nan , Li Chong , Zhou Lei , Peng Yan , Zhang Bin , Qiu Xian-Ming , Jiang Zhi-Ming , Xu Jiang
Published: July 2016

Objective: To investigate the role of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced apoptosis of alveolar epithelium cells (AECs). Methods: TNF-α was used to induce human alveolar epithelial HPAEpiC cells, and Ang-2 siRNA vector was transfected to the HPAEpiC cells. RT–PCR and Western blot were used. TUNEL staining was applied to observe apoptosis, and annexin V–FITC–PI staining was used to calculate apoptosis rate. Results: mRNA and protein expressions of Ang-2, activated Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 in HPAEpiC cells were up-regulated, but the expression level of Bcl-2 decreased (P < 0.05). After transfection of Ang-2 siRNA, mRNA and protein expressions of Ang-2, activated Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 in HPAEpiC cells were down-regulated, but the expression level of Bcl-2 increased (P < 0.05). The number of apoptotic cells increased after TNF-α treatment; however, the number decreased after Ang-2 siRNA transfection. Annexin V–FITC–PI staining verified that the total number of apoptotic cells was elevated with TNF-α treatment, but declined after transfection of Ang-2 siRNA. Conclusions: The expression level of Ang-2 increased during TNF-α-induced apoptosis. Inhibiting Ang-2 expression may suppress the early stages of cell apoptosis and the degree of TNF-α-induced apoptosis.
Oral recombinant human or mouse lactoferrin reducesMycobacterium tuberculosisTDM induced granulomatous lung pathology
Authors: Hwang Shen-An , Kruzel Marian L. , Actor Jeffrey K.
Published: July 2016

Trehalose 6′6-dimycolate (TDM) is the most abundant glycolipid on the cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). TDM is capable of inducing granulomatous pathology in mouse models that resembles those induced by MTB infection. Using the acute TDM model, this work investigates the effect of recombinant human and mouse lactoferrin to reduce granulomatous pathology. C57BL/6 mice were injected intravenously with TDM at a dose of 25 μg·mouse−1. At day 4 and 6, recombinant human or mouse lactoferrin (1 mg·(100 μL)−1·mouse−1) were delivered by gavage. At day 7 after TDM injection, mice were evaluated for lung pathology, cytokine production, and leukocyte populations. Mice given human or mouse lactoferrin had reduced production of IL-12p40 in their lungs. Mouse lactoferrin increased IL-6 and KC (CXCL1) in lung tissue. Increased numbers of macrophages were observed in TDM-injected mice given human or mouse lactoferrin. Granulomatous pathology, composed of mainly migrated leukocytes, was visually reduced in mice that received human or mouse lactoferrin. Quantitation of granulomatous pathology demonstrated a significant decrease in mice given human or mouse lactoferrin compared with TDM control mice. This report is the first to directly compare the immune modulatory effects of both heterologous recombinant human and homologous mouse lactoferrin on the development of TDM-induced granulomas.
On the study of stationary points and uniform thickness of PTT fluid film on a vertically upward moving belt
Authors: Siddiqui A.M. , Walait Ahsan , Haroon T. , Ashraf Hameed
Published: July 2016

This paper investigates the thin film flow of Phan-Thien Tanner (PTT) fluid on a vertically moving belt. Three different models, namely, the upper convected Maxwell model (UCM), linear version of Phan-Thien Tanner model (LPTT), and exponential version of Phan-Thien Tanner model (EPTT), are taken into consideration. Exact expressions for velocity profiles, flow rates, average velocities, film thicknesses, shear stresses, and normal stresses are obtained. Special consideration is given to the predictions of stationary points in withdrawal of these fluids from the belt. It is observed that the stationary point of the UCM model lies closer to the free surface and the stationary point of the LPTT model lies in the middle of the stationary points of UCM and EPTT models. It is also observed that the stationary points tend to move towards the belt with the increase in Stokes number, Deborah number, and elongational parameter. Graphical results are also presented for various dimensionless flow parameters.
Invisible KL decays in the SM extensions
Authors: Gninenko S. N. , Krasnikov N. V.
Published: July 2016

In the Standard Model (SM), the branching ratio for the decay [Formula: see text] is helicity suppressed and predicted to be very small [Formula: see text]. We consider two natural extensions of the SM as the two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) and the neutrino minimal Standard Model ([Formula: see text]MSM) with additional singlet scalar, whose main feature is that they can lead to an enhanced [Formula: see text]. In the 2HDM, the smallness of the neutrino mass is explained due to the smallness of the second Higgs doublet vacuum expectation value. Moreover, the [Formula: see text]MSM extension with additional singlet field can explain the [Formula: see text] anomaly. The considered models demonstrate that the [Formula: see text] decay is a clean probe of new physics scale well above 100 TeV, that is complementary to rare [Formula: see text] decay, and provide a strong motivation for its sensitive search in a near future low-energy experiment.
Charged Higgs pair production at the LHC as a probe of the top-seesaw assisted technicolor model
Authors: Liu Guo-Li , Zhou Ping , Guo Xiao-Fei , Wu Kun , Jiang Ji
Published: July 2016

The top-seesaw assisted technicolor (TC) model, which was proposed recently to accommodate the 126 GeV Higgs mass discovered by the Large Hadron Colliders (LHC), predicts light and heavy charged Higgs bosons in addition to the neutral Higgses. In this paper, we will study the pair productions of the charged Higgs, proceeding through gluon–gluon fusion and quark–antiquark annihilation, at the LHC in the frame of the top-seesaw assisted TC model. We find that in a large part of parameter space the production cross-sections of the light charged Higgs pair at the LHC can be quite large compared with the low standard model backgrounds, while it is impossible for the pair production of the heavy ones to be detected with the strong final mass suppression. Therefore, the light charged Higgs pair production may be served as a probe of this new TC model at the LHC.
Magnetars and white dwarf pulsars
Authors: Lobato Ronaldo V. , Malheiro Manuel , Coelho Jaziel G.
Published: July 2016

The anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) and soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) are a class of pulsars understood as neutron stars (NSs) with super strong surface magnetic fields, namely [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]G, and for that reason are known as magnetars. However, in the last years, some SGRs/AXPs with low surface magnetic fields [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]G have been detected, challenging the magnetar description. Moreover, some fast and very magnetic white dwarfs (WDs) have also been observed, and at least one showed X-ray energy emission as an ordinary pulsar. Following this fact, an alternative model based on WDs pulsars has been proposed to explain this special class of pulsars. In this model, AXPs and SGRs as dense and magnetized WDs can have surface magnetic field [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] G and rotate very fast with frequencies [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]rad/s, consistent with the observed rotation periods [Formula: see text]–12)[Formula: see text]s.
Gravity-assisted emergent Higgs mechanism in the post-inflationary epoch
Authors: Guendelman Eduardo , Nissimov Emil , Pacheva Svetlana
Published: July 2016

We consider a nonstandard model of gravity coupled to a neutral scalar “inflaton” as well as to [Formula: see text] iso-doublet scalar with positive mass squared and without self-interaction, and to [Formula: see text] gauge fields. The principal new ingredient is employing two alternative non-Riemannian spacetime volume-forms (covariant integration measure densities) independent of the metric. The latter have a remarkable impact — although not introducing any additional propagating degrees of freedom, their dynamics triggers a series of important features: appearance of infinitely large flat regions of the effective “inflaton” potential as well as dynamical generation of Higgs-like spontaneous symmetry breaking effective potential for the [Formula: see text] iso-doublet scalar.
A Study on the Stability of a Ballistic System Under Random Excitation
Authors: Yang Chunyan , Xu Lina , Huang Yong
Published: July 2016

The stability analysis of a ballistic system is important for its design and performance. The eigenvalue method is presented to get the stability of the linear part of the ballistic system. Combining the eigenvalue method and stochastic dynamical theory, we can get the bifurcation diagram of the pitch angle for the deterministic system and the bifurcation diagram for the system with random disturbance. By comparing the two situations, the dynamic behavior at the feature point was analyzed.
Strain and Cohesive Energy of TiN Deposit on Al(001) Surface: Density Functional Calculation
Authors: Ren Yuan , Liu Xuejie
Published: July 2016

To apply the high hardness of TiN film to soft and hard multilayer composite sheets, we constructed a new type of composite structural material with ultra-high strength. The strain of crystal and cohesive energy between the atoms in the eight structures of N atom, Ti atom, 2N2Ti island and TiN rock salt deposited on the Al(001) surface were calculated with the first-principle ultra-soft pseudopotential approach of the plane wave based on the density functional theory. The calculations of the cohesive energy showed that N atoms could be deposited in the face-centered-cubic vacancy position of the Al(001) surface and results in a cubic structure AlN surface. The TiN film could be deposited on the interface of [Formula: see text]-AlN. The calculations of the strains showed that the strain in the TiN film deposited on the Al(001) surface was less than that in the 2N2Ti island deposited on the Al(001) surface. The diffusion behavior of interface atom N was investigated by a nudged elastic band method. Diffusion energy calculation showed that the N atom hardly diffused to the substrate Al layer.
Effects of Mn Doping on Zinc Oxide Films Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis Technique
Authors: Singh Bhavana , Shrivastava S. B. , Ganesan V.
Published: July 2016

The work deals with the preparation of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) thin films on microscopic glass substrate by spray pyrolysis technique. The systematic study on the influence of Mn doping up to 15% has been performed. The structural studies revealed that pure and doped film has hexagonal structure. In order to reduce the internal strain due to Mn doping, the crystallite size decreases. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurement shows the decrease in grain size and roughness with doping. The resistivity curve shows a clear hump corresponding to smaller Mn doping ([Formula: see text]) around [Formula: see text]. This hump was found to reduce with the increase in Mn concentration and for [Formula: see text], beyond which it vanishes completely. This is attributed to critical behavior of resistivity and may be due to the scattering of carriers by magnetic spin fluctuation via exchange interaction. The optical measurement shows the shift in absorption edge of Mn doped ZnO films toward the longer wavelength side. This correlates the reduction in grain size as a function of Mn concentration. The optical bandgap goes down, whereas refractive index increases with dopant concentration.
Investigation of Structural, Compositional and Anti-Microbial Properties of Copper Thin Film Using Direct Current Magnetron Sputtering for Surgical Instruments
Authors: Kalaiselvam S. , Sandhya J. , Krishnan K. V. Hari , Kedharnath A. , Arulkumar G. , Roseline A. Ameelia
Published: July 2016

Surgical instruments and other bioimplant devices, owing to their importance in the biomedical industry require high biocompatibility to be used in the human body. Nevertheless, issues of compatibility, bacterial infections are quite common in such devices. Hence development of surface coatings on various substrates for implant applications is a promising technique to combat the issues arising in these implant materials. The present investigation aims at coating copper on stainless steel substrate using DC Magnetron sputtering which is used to achieve film of required thickness (0.5–8[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m). The deposition pressure, substrate temperature, power supply, distance between the specimen and target are optimized and maintained constant, while the sputtering time (30–110[Formula: see text]min) is varied. The sputtered copper thin film’s morphology, composition are characterized by SEM and EDAX. X-ray diffraction analysis shows copper oriented on (111) and (002) and copper oxide on (111) planes. The contact angle of copper thin film is 92[Formula: see text] while AISI 316L shows 73[Formula: see text]. The antimicrobial studies carried in Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia Coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Candida albicans show that the maximum reduction was seen upto 35, 26, 54, 39[Formula: see text]CFU/mL, respectively after 24[Formula: see text]h. The cell viability is studied by MTT assay test on Vero cell line for 24[Formula: see text]h, 48[Formula: see text]h and 72[Formula: see text]h and average cell viability is 43.85%. The copper release from the thin film to the culture medium is 6691[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/L (maximum) is estimated from AAS studies. The copper coated substrate does not show much reaction with living Vero cells whereas the bacteria and fungi are found to be destroyed.
Dual annihilator filters of commutative BE-algebras
Authors: Kumar V. Venkata , Rao M. Sambasiva
Published: July 2016

Some properties of dual annihilator filters of commutative [Formula: see text]-algebras are studied. It is proved that the class of all dual annihilator filters of a BE-algebra is a complete Boolean algebra. A set of equivalent conditions is derived for every prime filter of a commutative [Formula: see text]-algebra to become a maximal filter.