bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cervical Epidural Injection in the Management of Refractory Pain and Stiffness in Spondyloarthropathy: A Case Report Series
Authors: Gungor Semih , Aiyer Rohit , Erkan Doruk
Published: July 2017

Objectives

The primary objective of this case series was to report the use of cervical epidural steroid injection in the management of neck pain and stiffness secondary to spondyloarthropathy in cases refractory to conservative therapy.

Methods

This was a case report series on three patients with diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy who presented with severe stiffness and non‐radicular axial neck pain refractory to conservative therapy. All patients received cervical epidural steroid injections with significant improvement of their axial neck pain and stiffness.

Results

Cervical epidural steroid injections may be effective to improve the axial neck pain and stiffness in patients with diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy refractory to conservative management. Thus, we believe that epidural steroid injections should be considered in the management of patients with spondyloarthopathies.
Multicenter study for brain/body hypothermia for hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy: Changes inHMGB‐1
Authors: Nakamura Toshihiko , Asanuma Hideomi , Kusuda Satoshi , Imai Ken , Hosono Shigeharu , Kato Ryota , Suzuki Satoshi , Yokoi Kyoko , Kokubo Minoru , Yamada Shingo , Kamohara Takashi
Published: July 2017

Background

We measured changes in the blood level of high‐mobility group box‐1 (HMGB‐1) at 24 h intervals in neonates treated with brain/body hypothermia (body hypothermia therapy:BHT) for hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), to evaluate the usefulness ofHMGB‐1 level for determining outcomes.

Methods

We studied 15 neonates withHIEwho underwentBHT(BHT(+) group) and six neonates withHIEwho did not (BHT(–) group). We recordedHMGB‐1 changes at 24 h intervals, creatinine phosphokinase, and the resistance index of the anterior cerebral artery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to determine short‐term outcome.

Result

BaselineHMGB‐1 was significantly higher in theBHT(+) group than in theBHT(–) group. Thereafter,HMGB‐1 in theBHT(+) group significantly decreased at 24 h intervals, reaching the reference range by 2 days of age. In theBHT(+) group, when patients were classified into clinically significant neurological disorder due toHIE(+) and (–) according toMRI, the neurological disorder (+) group had higher meanHMGB‐1.

Conclusions

InHIE,HMGB‐1 differs according to the presence ofBHT, suggesting thatHMGB‐1 measurement soon after birth might be useful for determiningBHTnecessity and short‐term outcome.
Population structure of the ash dieback pathogen, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, in relation to its mode of arrival in the UK
Authors: Orton E. S. , Brasier C. M. , Bilham L. J. , Bansal A. , Webber J. F. , Brown J .K. M.
Published: July 2017

The ash dieback fungus, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, a destructive, alien pathogen of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior), has spread across Europe over the past 25 years and was first observed in the UK in 2012. To investigate the relationship of the pathogen's population structure to its mode of arrival, isolates were obtained from locations in England and Wales, either where established natural populations of ash had been infected by wind‐dispersed ascospores or where the fungus had been introduced on imported planting stock. Population structure was determined by tests for vegetative compatibility (VC), mating type and single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). VC heterogeneity was high at all locations, with 96% of isolate pairings being incompatible. Frequencies of the MAT1‐1‐1 and MAT1‐2‐1 idiomorphs were approximately equal, consistent with H. fraxineus being an obligate outbreeder. Most SNP variation occurred within study location and there was little genetic differentiation between the two types of location in the UK, or between pathogen populations in the UK and continental Europe. There was modest differentiation between UK subpopulations, consistent with genetic variation between source populations in continental Europe. However, there was no evidence of strong founder effects, indicating that numerous individuals of H. fraxineus initiated infection at each location, regardless of the route of pathogen transmission. The ssRNA virus HfMV1 was present at moderate to high frequencies in all UK subpopulations. The results imply that management of an introduced plant pathogen requires action against its spread at the continental level involving coordinated efforts by European countries.
Automatic thoughts as a predictor of internalizing and externalizing problems in Chinese adolescents: A test of the cognitive content‐specificity hypothesis with age effects
Authors: Yu Meng , Xu Wei , Xie Qiuyuan , Zhu Yawen , Chasson Gregory S. , Wang Jianping
Published: July 2017

The main aim of the current study was to test the cognitive content‐specificity hypothesis across internalizing and externalizing problems in Chinese adolescents. The participants consisted of 2,158 adolescents aged 11–19 years from three middle schools, and they completed a number of measures assessing a wide range of automatic thoughts and syndromes related to internalizing and externalizing problems. Multivariate regression analyses demonstrated that thoughts about social threats, personal failure and hostility were the strongest predictors of anxiety, depression, and externalizing problems, respectively. Age was a statistically significant, albeit modest, moderator of the relationship between automatic thoughts about social threat and anxiety. The current study provides support for the cognitive content‐specificity hypothesis in internalizing and externalizing problems in a Chinese sample.
Relative Deprivation and Perceived Inefficacy of the Civil Rights Movement and of Black Elected Officials*
Authors: Brown Tony N. , Kettrey Heather Hensman , Duncan‐Shippy Ebony M.
Published: July 2017

Objectives

This study addresses whether relative deprivation theory explains why some blacks perceive that the civil rights movement and black elected officials failed to improve the lot of the black community, including their own life chances.

Methods

We use data from a nationally representative survey of black adults, collected approximately 15 years after the passing of landmark civil rights legislation.

Results

Net of control variables, we find that relative deprivation associates significantly and positively with perceived inefficacy of black elected officials. However, relative deprivation does not predict perceptions of the civil rights movement as ineffective.

Conclusions

We know too little about mechanisms that produce variation in blacks’ perceptions of race‐related social change. Today's economic and sociopolitical climate provides a unique opportunity to explore and explain such variation.
Risk factors and long‐term outcomes of parvovirus B19 infection in kidney transplant patients
Authors: Baek Chung Hee , Kim Hyosang , Yang Won Seok , Han Duck Jong , Park Su‐Kil
Published: July 2017

Background

Parvovirus B19 is a small, non‐enveloped, single‐stranded DNA virus with a special affinity for the erythroid progenitor cells of the bone marrow. The first case of parvovirus B19 infection in a kidney transplant recipient (KTR) was reported in 1986. Data on the risk factors and specific clinical characteristics of parvovirus B19 infection remain insufficient.

Methods

We screened 602 KTRs for parvovirus B19 infection using parvovirus B19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from January 1990 to April 2016, and the clinical characteristics of patients with positive results were compared to those of age‐ and gender‐matched patients with negative PCR results.

Results

A total of 39 KTRs tested positive for parvovirus B19, and they were compared to 78 age‐ and gender‐matched patients among 563 KTRs who had negative PCR results. In all, 89.7% of positive cases were reported within the first year after kidney transplantation. In multivariate analyses, deceased‐donor kidney transplantation (odds ratio [OR] 9.067, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.668‐49.275, P = .011), use of tacrolimus (OR 3.607, 95% CI 1.024‐12.706, P = .046), PCR test within 1 year of kidney transplantation (OR 12.456, 95% CI 2.674‐58.036, P = .001), and hemoglobin levels (OR 0.559, 95% CI 0.351‐0.889, P = .014) showed significant correlations with parvovirus B19 infection. Graft survival did not differ between the two groups during the follow‐up period of 111.68 ± 54.54 months (P = .685 by log‐rank test).

Conclusion

The identification of factors related to positive parvovirus B19 PCR results may promote the early detection of parvovirus B19 infection. Further studies are needed to elucidate the characteristics of parvovirus B19 infection in kidney transplantation.
Estimates of biologic variation in specific feline pancreatic lipase concentrations in cats without clinical or ultrasonographic evidence of pancreatitis
Authors: Cohn‐Urbach Margaret , Ruaux Craig G. , Nemanic Sarah
Published: July 2017

Background

Serum concentrations of feline‐specific pancreatic lipase are commonly used for diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatitis in cats, but little is known regarding biologic variation of this analyte.

Objectives

The purpose of the study was to determine biologic variation, index of individuality, and reference change values (RCV) for specific feline pancreatic lipase concentrations (Spec fPL) in apparently healthy cats.

Methods

Four blood samples were collected prospectively from 12 apparently healthy cats at 2‐week intervals. The Spec fPL was measured in all serum samples by a reference laboratory.

Results

Intra‐individual variation for Spec fPL was 33.5% (95% CI 27.1–43.8%); inter‐individual variation was 99.9% (69.2–169.9%) and analytic variation was 7.3% (6.1–9.2%). Reciprocal index of individuality for Spec fPL was 2.9 (2.5–3.8), the 2‐sided RCV was 95.1% (77.0–123.9%).

Conclusions

Due to high individuality, use of a population‐based RI for Spec fPL may fail to detect clinically significant elevations in individual cats. The use of subject‐based RIs for Spec fPL may have greater sensitivity for the detection of a change in pancreatic physiology in cats; however, this would require serial assessment of apparently healthy cats.
Quality of Life of Intermittent Urinary Catheterization Users and Their Caregivers: A Scoping Review
Authors: Fumincelli Laís , Mazzo Alessandra , Martins José Carlos Amado , Henriques Fernando Manuel Dias , Cardoso Daniela , Rodrigues Manuel Alves
Published: July 2017

Aims

This study aimed to examine and map the scientific evidences regarding quality of life in neurogenic bladder patients and consequently their caregivers by means of a scoping review.

Design

This is a scoping review proposal of the Joanna Briggs Institute.

Methods

It was conducted to examine and map the scientific evidences about quality of life (QoL) in neurogenic bladder patients and their caregivers, to identify the meanings attributed to QoL and its relation with intermittent urinary catheterization. The following guiding question was: “What scientific evidence has been produced on the QoL of neurogenic bladder patients using intermittent urinary catheterization and their caregivers?” A total of 2945 research studies were identified using The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, LILACS, Academic Search Premier (via EBSCO platform), PubMed, SCOPUS, the platforms Web of Science, the b‐on and Gray Literature. The keywords established were patient, intermittent urinary catheterization, neurogenic urinary bladder, quality of life and caregiver.

Results

From 2,945 studies, 13 studies were selected. Most of the selected studies that analyzed variables related to the patients’ QoL were regarding the urinary catheterization technique, assessment of urinary incontinence, individual perceptions of the procedure and experiences with urinary catheter in childhood and adult life. The meanings attributed to QoL, when compared to adult and child individuals with normal bladder functioning, presented lower QoL scores. Concerning caregivers, the QoL of caregivers of children using intermittent urinary catheterization demonstrated low scores.

Linking Evidence to Action

The QoL of patient's who use intermittent urinary catheterization can be determined by improvement of urinary symptoms and self‐confidence. Research related to QoL of patients who use urinary catheter indicates the importance of adequate professional support and appropriate health public policies.
Supporting and Empowering Direct‐Care Nurses to Promote EBP: An Example of Evidence‐Based Policy Development, Education, and Practice Change
Authors: Wonder Amy Hagedorn , Martin Emily K. , Jackson Kathryn
Published: July 2017

This column shares the best evidence‐based strategies and innovative ideas on how to facilitate the learning and implementation of EBP principles and processes by clinicians as well as nursing and interprofessional students. Guidelines for submission are available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1741‐6787
The Automated System for Line Pipe’s Dimensions Measurement
Authors: Patel Jigar , Chauhan Gautam , Raghuwanshi Dharmendra , Mohanan Ajay
Published: July 2017

With the advent of automated measurement of physical dimensional parameters of steel line-pipes, the industry seems to have scaled newer heights, which were previously never even imagined. The dimensional accuracy of each pipe is very critical in the overall success of a line pipe project. The quality of girth welding of pipes during laying, depends upon the close dimensional tolerances of the pipe ends. Even a slight variation in out-of-roundness or end-chamfered profile could lead to drastic irregularities in the pipe-to-pipe joining process. And the manual measuring of the pipe parameters poses a serious question with regards to their accuracy and reliability, due to the effects of man, measurement method and instruments used. There is also a huge limitation of the sampled area measured not exactly resembling the whole pipe, due to the constraints of time and the manual process involved.

This paper describes the rise of Automated Pipe Dimension Measurement System (APDMS), which measures a total of 19 dimensional parameters after real-time geometrical & trigonometrical calculations, using parametric data from 72 measurement laser scanners & sensors. The pipe coordinates are measured by laser triangulation technique principally, at each degree circumferentially and 10 mm apart lengthwise. A pipe that needs at least 45 minutes to measure all dimensional parameters manually, by 2 men and almost 25 instruments & accessories, is measured in 2.5 minutes by APDMS with mind-boggling resolution and accuracy. All this is done with a simple push of a button after one-time entering of pipe size. The fully automated system then does its job efficiently to move the pipe accordingly and scan it. The back-end software calculates the required parameters from the measured raw coordinates, evaluates them against set criteria, viz. upper and lower limits, and generates a plot that shows the variation of a parameter along the length or circumference. A calibration system in incorporated to keep the system compliant with accuracy against calibrated and certified standard samples.

Initially, we took more than 2000 trials on the whole range of pipe sizes we manufacture, after the installation of system on shop-floor. After trials and establishment, we have so far measured more than 3000 regular production pipes through this system with remarkable results.

Analysis has been carried out continuously to ensure the repeatability and reproducibility of the system is as per industry standards. This new, contactless method aims to minimize dimensional variances for fluent and effortless installation of pipes at application site, by ensuring that the dimensions are well within the defined criteria, at each and every point on the pipe during its manufacturing.
The Impact of Crossing Design, Geotechnical Data, Drilling and Survey Techniques on the Economics Execution and of Extreme Length HDD Crossings
Authors: Boere Ben
Published: July 2017

Over the years the drilled river crossing industry has matured through important developments and advancements, extending the probability of achieving significantly longer crossings. Stronger rigs, higher quality drill pipe and smart intersect survey techniques are a few of the areas showing improvement. Executing a long length crossing involves a high competency level from personnel, high quality reliable equipment and general construction resources over a longer period of time as compared to a more standard HDD crossing. Consequently a relatively large financial investment is necessary and significant cash flow capabilities. This requires drilling companies to step up job preparation, planning and overall organisation and to follow a detailed scenario with each step of the operation assessed and engineered, tools and support equipment selected and arranged and checked with all work methods written down in detail. Providing an elaborate plan and organisation to guarantee maintenance and repair of all sorts of equipment on site with systems in place to stock, trace and deliver wear & tear parts at short notice. Preventing the operation coming to a standstill caused by technical problems.
Developments in 3 Layer PE Coating for Pipeline Protection
Authors: Dasgupta Chanchal
Published: July 2017

Three Layer Polyethylene (3LPE) coating for onshore pipelines have been used in India since the early 1980’s and have reached a level of maturity. The combination of Gas barrier by FBE layer and moisture barrier with mechanical and UV protection by black PE layer makes it better than either standalone FBE or 2LPE coatings. Further developments in PE materials makes 3LPE coating suitable for a design temperature range of −50°C to +90°C which practically covers all the onshore Oil pipelines in all geographies with excellent outdoor weathering resistance. It has also been possible to provide end-to-end protection with new PO Melt film technology that can give “factory applied” quality girth weld coating on site with complete fusion of girth weld coating with the parent coating, making it a hermetically sealed pipeline. This paper also discusses couple of the failure and success stories of 3LPE coating and their analysis.
Export of Crude Oil From Bhogat SPM Terminal: Specific Challenges
Authors: Thatte Pradeep R. , Rathod Aniruddhsinh
Published: July 2017

Transportation of crude oil and liquid petroleum products through cross country pipeline for inland movement & through jetty/SPM for export/import has been a very common phenomenon across the world.

M/s Cairn India Ltd. (“CIL”) are the operator of block RJ-ON-90/1 in India and operate the block on behalf of itself and its Joint Venture (JV) partner - Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The Block contains a number of major oil discoveries including the Mangala field in the state of Rajasthan, India.

M/s Cairn India Ltd. (“CIL”) have approval from Government of India (GOI) for a pipeline to transport crude oil from the Block at Rajasthan to coastal terminal facility in Gujarat and recently commissioned the facility for exporting Mangala crude oil through marine tankers from our Bhogat Terminal safely.

The facilities & export operations for crude oil at our Bhogat Terminal is very unique and , specific in nature — especially due to properties of crude oil & mainly considering following aspects.

(I) Handling Mangala crude oil containing significant quantities of wax & it is expected to congeal at temperatures below 50°C.

(II) Crude oil is always required to be kept heated for maintaining temperature > 60°C – Handling crude with specific properties and scenario w.r.t. normal liquid petroleum products.

(III) Displacement of crude oil with Light Flushing Oil (LFO-HSD being used as LFO) from twin marine headers and subsea/floating hose strings after every tanker loading operation & recovery of light flushing oil back to shore tank prior to every export tanker loading. – Safely managing a very distinguished & highly critical/risky nature of operations to prevent congealing of crude oil inside subsea/floating hose systems which cannot be provided with heating system.
Optimization of Pipe Induction Bending Process Parameters
Authors: Kathayat T. S. , Goyal Rajesh K. , Hill Richard , Kyada Tushal
Published: July 2017

Hot pushed induction heating is a bending process used to bend pipes having a small bending radius with a large diameter. This is a complex process since it involves mechanical process of bending and thermal process of localized induction heating. This paper deals with the optimization of induction bending process parameters such as bending speed, water flow rate, water pressure, air pressure and induction coil to water coil distance. Mother pipes of size 464 mm OD × 20.60 mm and grade API 5L X65MS/MO were used to make trial bends of 5D radius in 30° angle. Trial bends were subjected to mechanical tests and microstructural analysis to evaluate the effects of selected process parameters.
Annealing of dry etch damage in metallized and bare (-201) Ga2O3
Authors: Yang Jiancheng , Ren Fan , Khanna Rohit , Bevlin Kristen , Geerpuram Dwarakanath , Tung Li-Chun , Lin Jingyu , Jiang Hongxing , Lee Jonathan , Flitsiyan Elena , Chernyak Leonid , Pearton S. J. , Kuramata Akito
Published: July 2017

The surface of single-crystal (-201) oriented β-Ga2O3 was etched in BCl3/Ar inductively coupled plasmas under conditions (an excitation frequency of 13.56 MHz, a source power of 400 W, and a dc self-bias of −450 V) that produce removal rates of ∼700 Å min−1. Annealing at 400 and 450 °C was carried out after etching on Ni/Au Schottky diodes formed on the surface either before or after the annealing step. Current–voltage (I–V) measurements were used to extract the Schottky barrier height (Φ), diode ideality factor (n), and reverse breakdown voltage (VRB) for plasma damaged diodes after annealing. Annealing at 450 °C was found to essentially restore the values of Φ, n, and VRB to their reference (unetched) values on samples metallized after etching and annealing. Thermal annealing at either temperature of metallized diodes degraded their reverse breakdown voltage, showing that Ni/Au is not stable on β-Ga2O3 at these temperatures. Photoluminescence revealed a decrease in total emission intensity in the near band-edge region after the introduction of etch damage. Electron beam-induced current measurements showed a decrease in the minority carrier diffusion length from 350 μm in the control sample to 311 μm in the etched sample.
Multidimensional Measurement of Situational Interest in Physical Education: Application of Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling
Authors: Garn Alex C.
Published: July 2017

Multidimensional measurement is a common theme in motivation research because many constructs are conceptualized as having an overarching general factor (e.g., situational interest) and specific dimensions (e.g., attention demand, challenge, exploration intention, instant enjoyment, novelty). This review addresses current issues associated with the multidimensional measurement of situational interest in elementary physical education (PE) and illustrates the application and benefits of bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). I perform secondary analysis on a large, previously published data set used to provide validation support for the Situational Interest Scale for Elementary PE. Findings clearly demonstrate the advantages of capturing the multidimensional nature of situational interest using bifactor ESEM. Specifically, a more accurate measurement model of situational interest is reproduced using bifactor ESEM compared with other techniques such as first-order and second-order confirmatory factor analysis. There is empirical support for an overall general factor of situational interest when using the Situational Interest Scale for Elementary PE, however, examining the five dimensions of situational interest as unique factors after accounting for the general factor does not appear warranted.
Implicit Theories of Ability in Physical Education: Current Issues and Future Directions
Authors: Warburton Victoria Emily , Spray Christopher Mark
Published: July 2017

Purpose:

In light of the extensive empirical evidence that implicit theories have important motivational consequences for young people across a range of educational settings we seek to provide a summary of, and personal reflection on, implicit theory research and practice in physical education (PE).

Overview:

We first provide an introduction to the key constructs and theoretical propositions associated with implicit theories. We then include a brief summary of the research findings on ability beliefs in school PE, which we draw on to identify several key issues that we feel are crucial to furthering our understanding of this topic. We conclude by offering a number of ideas for future research and discuss the potential misinterpretation of implicit theories when applied to professional practice in PE.

Conclusions:

We argue that researchers need to address more nuanced questions around implicit theories to prevent this area of inquiry stalling. Moreover, we need to provide teachers with more specific recommendations to help them integrate theory and research into practice.
Psychological Needs and the Quality of Student Engagement in Physical Education: Teachers as Key Facilitators
Authors: Curran Thomas , Standage Martyn
Published: July 2017

Motivation research is central to understanding why certain students exhibit high levels of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement with learning, and why others lack interest, display boredom, and withdraw effort (i.e., are disaffected). In this review, tenets within self-determination theory (SDT) are used to provide a theoretically-informed account of student engagement and disaffection in the context of school physical education (PE). Our review centers on the proposition within SDT that the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (i.e., for autonomy, competence, and relatedness) provide the energizing basis for optimal motivational functioning and wellness. Teacher strategies and class structures are reviewed in the context of whether they satisfy or frustrate these psychological needs. To amalgamate the reviewed literature, a mediated model depicting a ‘student-teacher dialectical’ framework is presented. Several practitioner recommendations for supporting student engagement in PE are then offered. Lastly, findings of past interventions within the school context are presented and discussed.
Enhancing natriuretic peptide signaling in adipose tissue, but not in muscle, protects against diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance
Authors: Wu Wei , Shi Fubiao , Liu Dianxin , Ceddia Ryan P. , Gaffin Robert , Wei Wan , Fang Huafeng , Lewandowski E. Douglas , Collins Sheila
Published: July 2017

Natriuretic peptide receptor C deficiency improves metabolism through signaling in adipose tissue, rather than in skeletal muscle.
Science Signaling
Podcast for 25 July 2017: Natriuretic peptide signaling in metabolism
Authors: Collins Sheila , VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: July 2017

Natriuretic peptides protect mice from the metabolic consequences of a high-fat diet by acting on adipose tissue, not skeletal muscle (Wu
et al
. in 25 July 2017 issue).
Neisseria cinerea Expresses a Functional Factor H Binding Protein Which Is Recognized by Immune Responses Elicited by Meningococcal Vaccines
Authors: Lavender Hayley , Poncin Katy , Tang Christoph M.
Published: July 2017

Neisseria meningitidis
is a major cause of bacterial meningitis and sepsis worldwide. Capsular polysaccharide vaccines are available against meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, and Y. More recently two protein-based vaccines, Bexsero and Trumenba, against meningococcal serogroup B strains have been licensed; both vaccines contain meningococcal factor H binding protein (fHbp). fHbp is a surface-exposed lipoprotein that binds the negative complement regulator complement factor H (CFH), thereby inhibiting the alternative pathway of complement activation. Recent analysis of available genomes has indicated that some commensal
Neisseria
species also contain genes that potentially encode fHbp, although the functions of these genes and how immunization with fHbp-containing vaccines could affect the commensal flora have yet to be established. Here, we show that the commensal species
Neisseria cinerea
expresses functional fHbp on its surface and that it is responsible for recruitment of CFH by the bacterium.
N. cinerea
fHbp binds CFH with affinity similar to that of meningococcal fHbp and promotes survival of
N. cinerea
in human serum. We examined the potential impact of fHbp-containing vaccines on
N. cinerea
. We found that immunization with Bexsero elicits serum bactericidal activity against
N. cinerea
, which is primarily directed against fHbp. The shared function of fHbp in
N. cinerea
and
N. meningitidis
and cross-reactive responses elicited by Bexsero suggest that the introduction of fHbp-containing vaccines has the potential to affect carriage of
N. cinerea
and other commensal species.
Essential Role of the Cytoplasmic Chemoreceptor TlpT in the
De Novo
Formation of Chemosensory Complexes in Rhodobacter sphaeroides
Authors: Jones Christopher W. , Armitage Judith P.
Published: July 2017

Bacterial chemosensory proteins form large hexagonal arrays. Several key features of chemotactic signaling depend on these large arrays, namely, cooperativity between receptors, sensitivity, integration of different signals, and adaptation. The best-studied arrays are the membrane-associated arrays found in most bacteria.
Rhodobacter sphaeroides
has two spatially distinct chemosensory arrays, one is transmembrane and the other is cytoplasmic. These two arrays work together to control a single flagellum. Deletion of one of the soluble chemoreceptors, TlpT, results in the loss of the formation of the cytoplasmic array. Here, we show the expression of TlpT in a
tlpT
deletion background results in the reformation of the cytoplasmic array. The number of arrays formed is dependent on the cell length, indicating spatial limitations on the number of arrays in a cell and stochastic assembly. Deletion of PpfA, a protein required for the positioning and segregation of the cytoplasmic array, results in slower array formation upon TlpT expression and fewer arrays, suggesting it accelerates cluster assembly.

IMPORTANCE
Bacterial chemosensory arrays are usually membrane associated and consist of thousands of copies of receptors, adaptor proteins, kinases, and adaptation enzymes packed into large hexagonal structures.
Rhodobacter sphaeroides
also has cytoplasmic arrays, which divide and segregate using a chromosome-associated ATPase, PpfA. The expression of the soluble chemoreceptor TlpT is shown to drive the formation of the arrays, accelerated by PpfA. The positioning of these
de novo
arrays suggests their position is the result of stochastic assembly rather than active positioning.
The impact of healthcare professionals’ personality and religious beliefs on the decisions to forego life sustaining treatments: an observational, multicentre, cross-sectional study in Greek intensive care units
Authors: Ntantana Asimenia , Matamis Dimitrios , Savvidou Savvoula , Marmanidou Kyriaki , Giannakou Maria , Gouva Μary , Nakos George , Koulouras Vasilios
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To assess the opinion of intensive care unit (ICU) personnel and the impact of their personality and religious beliefs on decisions to forego life-sustaining treatments (DFLSTs).

Setting

Cross-sectional, observational, national study in 18 multidisciplinary Greek ICUs, with >6 beds, between June and December 2015.

Participants

149 doctors and 320 nurses who voluntarily and anonymously answered the End-of-Life (EoL) attitudes, Personality (EPQ) and Religion (SpREUK) questionnaires. Multivariate analysis was used to detect the impact of personality and religious beliefs on the DFLSTs.

Results

The participation rate was 65.7%. Significant differences in DFLSTs between doctors and nurses were identified. 71.4% of doctors and 59.8% of nurses stated that the family was not properly informed about DFLST and the main reason was the family’s inability to understand medical details. 51% of doctors expressed fear of litigation and 47% of them declared that this concern influenced the information given to family and nursing staff. 7.5% of the nurses considered DFLSTs dangerous, criminal or illegal. Multivariate logistic regression identified that to be a nurse and to have a high neuroticism score were independent predictors for preferring the term ‘passive euthanasia’ over ‘futile care’ (OR 4.41, 95% CI 2.21 to 8.82, p<0.001, and OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.72, p<0.05, respectively). Furthermore, to be a nurse and to have a high-trust religious profile were related to unwillingness to withdraw mechanical ventilation. Fear of litigation and non-disclosure of the information to the family in case of DFLST were associated with a psychoticism personality trait (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.25 to 4.80, p<0.05).

Conclusion

We demonstrate that fear of litigation is a major barrier to properly informing a patient’s relatives and nursing staff. Furthermore, aspects of personality and religious beliefs influence the attitudes of ICU personnel when making decisions to forego life-sustaining treatments.
10-year trends in statin utilization in Taiwan: a retrospective study using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database
Authors: Hsieh Hsing-Chun , Hsu Jason C , Lu Christine Y
Published: July 2017

Objective

Statins have been commonly used to treat patients with hypercholesterolaemia and to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) worldwide. This study examined trends in use of statins in Taiwan from 2002 to 2011.

Design

This is a retrospective observational study focusing on the utilisation of statins.

Setting

The monthly claims data for statins between 2002 and 2011 were retrieved from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database.

Main outcome measures

We calculated the yearly prescription rate per new user for each statin. Products were classified as high-intensity/moderate-intensity/low-intensity statins by type of statin and dosage. Users were also classified based on disease histories.

Results

The number of statin users increased from 10 299 (~1.4% of adults) in 2002 to 50 687 (~6.3% of adults) in 2011. Atorvastatin was the most commonly used agent (28.4%–36.7%) during the study period. After 2007, simvastatin ranked second with 21.7% market share, followed by rosuvastatin, a newer agent that exhibited a substantial growth in prescription rates (3.4% in 2005 and 19.5% in 2011). In 2011, 94.0% of new statin users used statin monotherapies, and 6.0% used combination therapies. Use of moderate-intensity statins increased from 49.0% in 2002 to 71.0% in 2011, while high-intensity statins remained low. Patients with history of coronary events or cerebrovascular events were more likely to be prescribed higher intensity statins compared with those without. Prescribing of higher intensity statins was not greater among people with diabetes compared with those without during 2007–2011. Selection of statins did not differ between people with versus without history of myopathy or liver injury.

Conclusion

Atorvastatin was the most commonly used statin in Taiwan during 2002–2011. While patients with history of CVD were more likely to be prescribed higher intensity statins compared with those without, this difference was not found comparing those with and without diabetes.
131: THE EFFECT OF PENDER'S HEALTH PROMOTION MODEL IN IMPROVING THE NUTRITIONAL BEHAVIOR OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE WOMEN
Authors: Khodaveisi Masoud , Omidi Afsar , Farokhi Shima , Soltanian Ali Reza
Published: July 2017

Background and aims:

Changes in lifestyle and eating habits have put women at risk of obesity and overweight more than ever. This aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM) to improve the nutritional behavior of overweight and obese women admitted to Fatemiyeh Hospital clinics in Hamadan, west Iran in 2015.

Methods:

In this quasi-experimental study, 108 eligible women were selected and randomly assigned to two groups: one experimental and one control. Data were gathered using three questionnaires: demographics, Pender's HPM constructs, and nutritional behavior. The questionnaires were filled out by both groups as pre-test and two months later. A Pender's HPM-based intervention was conducted on the experimental group. The data were analyzed by paired and independent t-tests, ANCOVA, and Spearmans' correlation coefficient in SPSS/16. The level of significance was considered to be <0.05.

Results:

The mean score of nutritional behavior was 41.75±3.28 and 42.36±3.69 before the intervention and 79.09±5.27 and 49.72±9.49 after the intervention in the experimental and control groups, respectively. The difference was significant only between before and after the intervention in the experimental group (P<0.001). Furthermore, the mean scores of the following variables were significantly different between before and after the intervention in the experimental group: nutritional behavior, perceived benefits, perceived self-efficacy, commitment to action, interpersonal and situational influences, affect related to behavior, and perceived barriers (P<0.001).

Conclusion:

The results showed that Pender's HPM-based training improved nutritional behavior and some constructs of the model. Therefore, this educative model can be used by healthcare providers to improve the nutritional and other health promoting behaviors.
144: THE PHYSIOLOGICAL INFORMATION ROLE FOR STROKE PATIENTS
Authors: Vahdatpour Tohid , Pourrasmi-Mamaghani Aniseh
Published: July 2017

Background and aims:

Stroke is the third biggest cause of mortality and the main cause of disability in world. The world health organization (WHO) definition of stroke is a focal neurological deficit (loss of function affecting a specific region of the nervous system) due to disruption of its blood supply. There is a paucity of evidence describing the best systems of care to allow efficient and rapid assessment and treatment of patients with suspected stroke. Little evidence was identified relating to intensity of physiological monitoring and transmission of information to patients.

Methods:

Trials addressing intensity tended to compare continuous physiological monitoring with four to six times daily measurements for a period of 48 to 72 hours. The patients included all had ischemic strokes. The studies did not address monitoring of conscious level or pulse rate as individual items. A prospective study was conducted with ischemic stroke comparing continuous monitoring (blood pressure, electrocardiogram, oxygen saturation, and temperature) for 72 hours in a stroke unit compared to routine care (less intense monitoring). Monitoring for 48 hours was associated with a lower proportion of patients who died or had a poor outcome at three months. Continuous or frequent physiological monitoring in the acute phase of stroke identifies adverse physiological events that may require intervention.

Results:

The information provision and educational sessions are more effective than provision of a leaflet alone. Success can be limited if strategies of information provision are unacceptable. The younger patients required more medical information as well as having questions concerning exercise and post-stroke sexual activities. Women ranked receiving information on post-stroke management higher than men. Carers' information requirements also differ with age and sex. Female relatives place more importance on information. Relatives with higher educational level place less importance on counseling.

Conclusion:

Each patient should be individually assessed on his or her readiness to receive information. Healthcare professionals should take a patient's age, gender, educational status and communication support needs into account when assessing their need for information. Information should be offered to patients in a variety of formats, including easy access and repeated and re-offered at appropriate intervals.
How do trends in mortality inequalities by deprivation and education in Scotland and England & Wales compare? A repeat cross-sectional study
Authors: McCartney Gerry , Popham Frank , Katikireddi Srinivasa Vittal , Walsh David , Schofield Lauren
Published: July 2017

Objective

To compare the trends in mortality inequalities by educational attainment with trends using area deprivation.

Setting

Scotland and England & Wales (E&W).

Participants

All people resident in Scotland and E&W between 1981 and 2011 aged 35–79 years.

Primary outcome measures

Absolute inequalities (measured using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII)) and relative inequalities (measured using the Relative Index of Inequality (RII)) in all-cause mortality.

Results

Relative inequalities in mortality by area deprivation have consistently increased for men and women in Scotland and E&W between 1981–1983 and 2010–2012. Absolute inequalities increased for men and women in Scotland, and for women in E&W, between 1981–1983 and 2000–2002 before subsequently falling. For men in E&W, absolute inequalities were more stable until 2000–2002 before a subsequent decline. Both absolute and relative inequalities were consistently higher in men and in Scotland. These trends contrast markedly with the reported declines in mortality inequalities by educational attainment and apparent improvement of Scotland’s inequalities with those in E&W.

Conclusions

Trends in health inequalities differ when assessed using different measures of socioeconomic status, reflecting either genuinely variable trends in relation to different aspects of social stratification or varying error or bias. There are particular issues with the educational attainment data in Great Britain prior to 2001 that make these education-based estimates less certain.
Ascending Aortic Diameter and Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Men
Authors: Chun Hyejin
Published: July 2017

This study aimed to evaluate the association of ascending aortic diameter (AAD) measured by low-dose chest CT (LDCT) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in Korean men. AAD was measured with LDCT in 1046 healthy Korean men (mean age 50.7±9.7 years, range 28 to 69 years) participating in medical health check-up in a university health promotion center. AAD was defined as the longest length measured from the left main coronary ostium to the level of the right pulmonary artery in the axial plane in LDCT. The association between AAD and MS was examined using logistic regression. The mean of AAD was significantly higher in cases with MS (37.2±4.2 mm) compared with those without MS (35.1±4.3 mm) (p<0.001). Logistic regression with AAD showed that ORs and 95% CI of MS in Q2 (1.72, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.53), Q3 (2.59, 95% CI 1.85 to 5.81) and Q4 (4.71, 95% CI 1.63 to 8.79) were significantly higher compared with Q1 (the lowest quartile). In variable (age, body surface area, total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, smoking, alcohol intake and exercise) adjusted multiple linear regression analysis, Q4 (the highest quartile of AAD) was significantly associated with MS compared with Q1 (OR 4.52, 95% CI 1.67 to 9.87). In conclusion, AAD measured by LDCT is significantly associated with the prevalence of MS in Korean men.
Advances in neuroscience imply that harmful experiments in dogs are unethical
Authors: Bailey Jarrod , Pereira Shiranee
Published: July 2017

Functional MRI (fMRI) of fully awake and unrestrained dog ’volunteers' has been proven an effective tool to understand the neural circuitry and functioning of the canine brain. Although every dog owner would vouch that dogs are perceptive, cognitive, intuitive and capable of positive emotions/empathy, as indeed substantiated by ethological studies for some time, neurological investigations now corroborate this. These studies show that there exists a striking similarity between dogs and humans in the functioning of the caudate nucleus (associated with pleasure and emotion), and dogs experience positive emotions, empathic-like responses and demonstrate human bonding which, some scientists claim, may be at least comparable with human children. There exists an area analogous to the ’voice area' in the canine brain, enabling dogs to comprehend and respond to emotional cues/valence in human voices, and evidence of a region in the temporal cortex of dogs involved in the processing of faces, as also observed in humans and monkeys. We therefore contend that using dogs in invasive and/or harmful research, and toxicity testing, cannot be ethically justifiable.
Investigating the cheletropic reaction between sulfur dioxide and butadiene-containing linkers in UiO-66
Authors: Zhang Jinfeng , DeCoste Jared B. , Katz Michael J.
Published: July 2017

UiO-66 and a muconic acid functionalized derivative of UiO-66 (UiO-66-MA) were synthesized via the solvothermal method to determine if the muconic acid could undergo a cheletropic reaction in the presence of sulfur dioxide inside the metal-organic framework (MOF). Both MOFs were exposed to a constant flow of sulfur dioxide, and UiO-66-MA was observed to take up three times more sulfur dioxide than unfunctionalized UiO-66. Despite the improved uptake of sulfur dioxide in UiO-66-MA, NMR and IR data indicate that no chemical change occurred to the muconic acid indicating that a cheletropic reaction did not occur. We thus propose that the increased adsorption is due to either an interaction between the sulfur dioxide and unbound carboxylic acid from the muconic acid or a favourable interaction between the butadiene of muconic acid and sulfur dioxide.
A decomposition theorem for real rank zero inductive limits of 1-dimensional non-commutative CW complexes
Authors: Liu Zhichao
Published: July 2017

In this paper, we consider the real rank zero [Formula: see text]-algebras which can be written as an inductive limit of the Elliott–Thomsen building blocks and prove a decomposition result for the connecting homomorphisms; this technique will be used in the classification theorem.
LDoW-PaN
Authors: Rocha André , Prazeres Cássio
Published: July 2017

This work aimed to propose LDoW-PaN, a Linked Data presentation and navigation model focused on the average user. The LDoW-PaN model is an extension of the Dexter Hypertext Reference Model. Through the LDoW-PaN model, ordinary people—who have no experience with technologies that involve the Linked Data environment—can interact with the Web of Data (RDF) more closely related to how they interact with the Web of Documents (HTML). To evaluate the proposal, some tools were developed, including the following: (i) a Web Service, which implements the lower-level layers of the LDoW-PaN model; (ii) a client-side script library, which implements the presentation and navigation layer; and (iii) a browser extension, which uses these tools to provide Linked Data presentation and navigation to users browsing the Web. The browser extension was developed using user interface approaches that are well known, well accepted, and evaluated by the Web research community, such as faceted navigation and presentation through tooltips. Therefore, the prototype evaluation included: usability evaluation through two classical techniques; computational complexity measures; and an analysis of the performance of the operations provided by the proposed model.