bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of right atrial volumes and functions by real‐time three‐dimensional echocardiography in patients after acute inferior myocardial infarction
Authors: Kanar Batur Gonenc , Sunbul Murat , Sahin Ahmet Anıl , Dogan Zekeriya , Tigen Mustafa Kursat
Published: September 2018

Background

Right ventricle (RV) involvement causes acute systolic and diastolic functional alterations in the RV in patients after inferior myocardial infarction (IMI), which may result in an increase in left ventricle (LV) end‐diastolic and right atrial (RA) pressure. In our study, we sought to evaluate RA volumes and mechanical functions using real‐time three‐dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) in IMI patients with or without RV involvement.

Methods

Ninety‐six consecutive patients with IMI (mean age: 59.7 ± 10.2 years, 60 female) were included. RV myocardial involvement (RVMI) was defined as the presence of a culprit lesion at the proximal portion of the first RV marginal branch in coronary angiography. The study population was divided into two groups: IMI (58.3%) and IMI + RVMI (41.7%). Patients were evaluated using conventional two‐dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and RT3DE.

Results

In RT3DE measurements, IMI + RVMI patients had significantly higher RA phasic volumes and worse conduit mechanical function. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that an RT3DE RA maximum volume (Vmax) index > 27.9 mL/m2 was an independent predictor of RV involvement in patients after acute IMI, with a sensitivity of 80.0% and a specificity of 89.3%.

Conclusions

Right ventricle involvement may cause an increase in RA phasic volumes and deterioration of conduit function in patients with acute IMI.
The incidence and outcomes of nurse bullying in the Russian Federation
Authors: Difazio R.L. , Vessey J.A. , Buchko O.A. , Chetverikov D.V. , Sarkisova V.A. , Serebrennikova N.V.
Published: September 2018

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe bullying experienced by professional nurses working in the Russian Federation. The frequency and type of bullying behaviours experienced, the personal and professional consequences of bullying and the actions taken to address bullying were all examined.

Background/Introduction

Workplace bullying negatively affects nurses, patients and healthcare organizations. To date, no research has been conducted on workplace bullying among nurses in the Russian Federation.

Methods

This was a descriptive study using survey methodology. Members of the Russian Nurses Association were invited to participate via email and social media. Participants completed the 26‐item, web‐based Bullying in the Workplace Survey. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Of the 438 participants, 63% reported being bullied at some point during their career. The majority were female and worked fulltime for an average of 20 years. Over half the nurses were working in staff positions when bullying occurred, and administrators were most commonly identified as the bully. Bullying caused moderate to severe distress in 73.5%. Half of the nurses reported that bullying affected their work, and 83.3% reported that it affected their health. Just over 70% took action to address the bullying situation; 59% of those who did were dissatisfied with the outcome.

Conclusion

Bullying is prevalent in the nursing workplace in the Russian Federation. The perpetrators were most frequently the nurse administrator or physician administrator. Workplace bullying negatively affects nurses' ability to function and subsequently impacts nursing teamwork and patient care.

Implications for nursing and health policy

Identifying bullying, its antecedents and consequences in the Russian Federation are a requisite for developing meaningful interventions and contributing to shaping local and international policy.
Impact of electrical connections between ipsilateral pulmonary veins on the second‐generation cryoballoon ablation procedure
Authors: Miyazaki Shinsuke , Kajiyama Takatsugu , Watanabe Tomonori , Hada Masahiro , Nakamura Hiroaki , Hachiya Hitoshi , Tada Hiroshi , Hirao Kenzo , Iesaka Yoshito
Published: September 2018

Background

Electrical connections between ipsilateral pulmonary veins (PVs) have been reported histologically and electrophysiologically. This study investigated the impact of electrical connections between ipsilateral PVs on PV isolation using second‐generation cryoballoons (CB2‐PVI).

Methods

Five hundred eleven atrial fibrillation patients, without any PV anomalies, underwent CB2‐PVI using one 28‐mm balloon and a single 3‐minute freeze strategy without any bonus applications.

Results

Overall, 1966 of 2044 (96.2%) PVs were isolated exclusively by using 28‐mm cryoballoons. Among them, 13 left superior PV (LSPVs) and two right superior PV were not persistently isolated by the first application despite a complete vein occlusion, but were isolated by subsequent applications targeting other ipsilateral PVs. Among the 13 LSPVs, six were transiently isolated by 87 (62‐146) second time‐to‐isolation LSPV applications, but were immediately reconnected after the application. The nadir balloon temperature during the LSPV application was similar between the 13 LSPVs not isolated by the LSPV application but were not so by subsequent left inferior PV (LIPV) applications and the 488 LSPVs persistently isolated by LSPV applications (−49.4℃ ± 4.3℃ vs −50.8℃ ± 5.1℃; P = 0.328). In 59 patients in whom the initial LSPV application failed despite a complete occlusion, LIPVs were targeted for the second applications in 31 patients, and both the LSPV and LIPV were simultaneously isolated in 13 of 31 (41.9%).

Conclusions

Electrical connections between ipsilateral PVs could have an impact on the CB2‐PVI procedure. When the vein isolation failed despite a complete occlusion, especially for left ipsilateral PVs, it was reasonable to target the other ipsilateral PV instead of repeatedly targeting the same vein.
The Potential Role of Synanthropic Rodents and Flies in the Transmission of Enterocytozoon bieneusi on a Dairy Cattle farm in China
Authors: Yu Fuchang , Qi Meng , Zhao Zifang , Lv Chaochao , Wang Yange , Wang Rongjun , Zhang Longxian
Published: September 2018

Enterocytozoon bieneusi causes microsporidiosis, a condition with complex epidemiology involving both direct and indirect transmission routes. To assess the potential role of synanthropic rodents and flies in the transmission of this pathogen, a total of 277 cattle fecal samples, 199 synanthropic rodents, and 50 batches of 20 flies were collected from a cattle farm. These samples were screened for the presence of E. bieneusi by PCR and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene. The positive rates of cattle, synanthropic rodents, and flies were 11.9% (33/277), 4.0% (8/199) and 12.0% (6/50), respectively. Nineteen genotypes were identified, including 11 known genotypes (BEB6, I, COS‐I, EbpC, D, J, CHS5, CHG1 to CHG3 and CHG14) and eight novel genotypes (named CHC9 to CHC16). The dominant genotype detected in the present study, BEB6, was found in all three categories of hosts. Moreover, human pathogenic genotypes D and EbpC were also observed in both synanthropic rodents and flies. These results demonstrate that synanthropic rodents and flies may act as biological disseminator or mechanical vector in the transmission of microsporidiosis to humans. Efforts should be made to minimize threats from these commensal animals to public health.
Food safety knowledge, attitude, and food handling practices of household women in Lahore
Authors: Naeem Naureen , Raza Shahid , Mubeen Hira , Siddiqui Shoaib Ahmad , Khokhar Raana
Published: September 2018

In this study a sample of 1,000 household women from 10 towns of Lahore was collected. Significant difference was observed between education with knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. Data obtained served as baseline knowledge and information for emphasis on continuous improvement on the knowledge of household women. Baseline knowledge and perceptions of household women is crucial to understanding the status of food safety among them, so educational programming, awareness campaigns, trainings, workshops are recommended to be implemented. Data obtained served as baseline knowledge and information for emphasis on continuous improvement on the knowledge of household women.

Practical applications

The present study inferred that there is a need for additional research for the possible risks household women at home could pose to human health in regards to food safety, since it is widely acceptable that the primary food preparers at home are the ultimate route of protection against food borne illness. It is thus concluded that there is a need for surveillance and interventions at domestic level with professional assistance for household women regarding food safety issues and its awareness in the state.
Incomplete reproductive isolation betweenRhododendrontaxa enables hybrid formation and persistence
Authors: Yan Li‐Jun , Burgess Kevin S. , Zheng Wei , Tao Zhi‐Bin , Li De‐Zhu , Gao Lian‐Ming
Published: September 2018

The evolutionary consequences of hybridization ultimately depend on the magnitude of reproductive isolation between hybrids and their parents. We evaluated the relative contributions of pre‐ and post‐zygotic barriers to reproduction for hybrid formation, hybrid persistence and potential for reproductive isolation of hybrids formed between twoRhododendronspecies,R. spiciferumandR. spinuliferum. Our study established that incomplete reproductive isolation promotes hybrid formation and persistence and delays hybrid speciation. All pre‐zygotic barriers to reproduction leading to hybrid formation are incomplete: parental species have overlapping flowering; they share the same pollinators; reciprocal assessments of pollen tube germination and growth do not differ among parents. The absence of post‐zygotic barriers between parental taxa indicates that the persistence of hybrids is likely. Reproductive isolation was incomplete between hybrids and parents in all cases studied, although asymmetric differences in reproductive fitness were prevalent and possibly explain the genetic structure of natural hybrid swarms where hybridization is known to be bidirectional but asymmetric. Introgression, rather than speciation, is a probable evolutionary outcome of hybridization between the twoRhododendrontaxa. Our study provides insights into understanding the evolutionary implications of natural hybridization in woody plants.
Calcineurin: directing the damage in Alzheimer disease
Authors: Norris Christopher M.
Published: September 2018

Ca2+dysregulation is a hallmark of Alzheimer disease (AD) and affects numerous and diverse signaling cascades linked to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Increasing evidence suggests that the protein phosphatase calcineurin (CN) mediates or exacerbates AD pathophysiology through activation of the NFAT family of transcription factors. In this editorial, we discuss work by Hopp et al,, which uncovered a novel role of CN/NFAT signaling in controlling global gene expression in hippocampal neurons of intact mice. Interestingly, the authors showed that elevated CN expression/activity in neurons plays a major role in transcriptional suppression. Many of the genes differentially affected by CN were related to synapse function and NFAT binding, and exhibited similar patterns of downregulation in previous studies on human AD biospecimens. Results are discussed in context with emerging roles for CN/NFATs in astrocyte signaling as they pertain to Ca2+dysregulation and the progression of neurodegeneration and cognitive loss with AD.

image
Transvaginal cervicoisthmic cerclage for patients with extremely high‐risk history of preterm delivery
Authors: Otsuki Katsufumi , Ando Satoshi , Nishi Takeshi , Jimbo Masatoshi
Published: September 2018

Transvaginal cervicoisthmic cerclage was carried out in 12 such patients who were at high‐risk of premature delivery. Patients who underwent transvaginal cervicoisthmic cerclage had undergone conization, cervical radical hysterectomy or another form of extensive cervical resection, or had a history of third‐trimester miscarriage or premature delivery despite having previously undergone cervical cerclage several times for cervical incompetence. There were seven cases of pregnancy after extensive conization, and four had a history of failed cervical cerclage. Two of these cases were the same individual, who became pregnant twice after extensive conization and gave birth to a live infant each time. The mean age at surgery was 35.7 years, and cerclage was performed at 11–19 weeks’ gestation. All of the infants survived to hospital discharge. Transvaginal cervicoisthmic cerclage may be considered effective for patients with the history of recurring pregnancy loss due to previous failure of prophylactic cerclage.
His‐bundle pacing as a standard approach in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation and bradycardia
Authors: Jastrzębski Marek , Moskal Paweł , Bednarek Agnieszka , Kiełbasa Grzegorz , Czarnecka Danuta
Published: September 2018

Background

His‐bundle (HB) pacing is the most physiological method of ventricular pacing. However, it is also considered a demanding procedure with a low success rate and has suboptimal pacing parameters. There is a scarcity of data concerning HB pacing as a standard approach in patients with symptomatic bradycardia. Our goal was to compare acute and chronic results of two approaches to pacing in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation, narrow QRS complexes, and symptomatic bradycardia: right ventricular myocardial pacing versus HB pacing.

Methods

Consecutive patients who received HB pacemakers were compared with historical controls—i.e., consecutive patients with classic VVI pacemaker implantations, performed by the same operator before 2014 (commencement of routine HB implantations). Acute and long‐term capture threshold, sensing, battery current drain, as well as procedure and fluoroscopy duration, complications, and success rate were compared.

Results

One hundred and twenty‐five patients were analyzed (including 65 patients with HB pacing): age 73.0 ± 10.5 years, left ventricular ejection fraction of 48.2 ± 13.5%. HB pacing was inferior to right ventricular myocardial pacing in terms of higher threshold, lower sensing amplitude, higher current drain, lower success rate, longer procedure, and fluoroscopy times. However, despite this, HB procedure and fluoroscopy times of 64.4 ± 30.0 and 11.0 ± 10.7 minutes, respectively, long‐term successful HB pacing in 87.9% of patients, a chronic threshold of 1.5 ± 1.1 V, chronic sensing of 3.6 ± 2.5 mV, and chronic current drain per pulse of 3.4 ± 4.4 μAh seem acceptable.

Conclusions

HB pacing can be used as an alternative standard method of pacing in atrial fibrillation patients.
Clinical experience with wearable cardioverter defibrillators at a tertiary electrophysiology program
Authors: Bossory Laurie , Schubert Scott , Afzal Muhammad R. , Weiss Raul , Tyler Jaret , Kalbfleisch Steven , Augostini Ralph , Hummel John , Okabe Toshimasa , Daoud Emile G. , Houmsse Mahmoud
Published: September 2018

Background

A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is an alternative for patients who are not immediate candidates for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 242 patients prescribed a WCD from January 2014 through March 2015 with 1‐year follow‐up.

Results

A WCD was prescribed to 242 patients during the 15‐month period. Forty‐one patients were excluded due to lack of complete follow‐up. The remaining 201 patients received a WCD for primary or secondary prevention of SCD. Seventy‐nine percent of WCDs were prescribed by nonelectrophysiologists. Underlying etiologies for the WCD prescription included: 38% nonischemic cardiomyopathy, 25% recent myocardial infarction, 16% newly diagnosed ischemic cardiomyopathy, 12% documented ventricular arrhythmia, 6% ICD lead extraction, and 3% had high risk conditions for sudden cardiac death. During 1‐year follow‐up, 96 patients (48%) received an ICD and five patients (2.5%) received appropriate shocks and one patient (0.5 %) received an inappropriate shock. Other 105 (52%) patients subsequently did not require an ICD due to either improvement in ejection fraction, refusal of ICD therapy, or death.

Conclusions

About half of patients prescribed a WCD subsequently receive an ICD and the rate of appropriate shock therapy from the WCD is 2.5%.
Lability in Western Peninsular Spanish
Authors: Bermejo Víctor Lara
Published: September 2018

The western variety of Peninsular Spanish possesses a type of causative construction in which an intransitive lexeme is used transitively. This phenomenon, called lability, is attested in three specific verbs: caer (‘to fall’), quedar (‘to stay’) and entrar (‘to enter’). As a consequence, they can induce a direct object at the expense of the standard forms tirar (‘to throw’), dejar (‘to leave’) and meter (‘to put in’). Lability has not been studied in depth for Spanish and, with this paper, I attempt to pinpoint its current extension as well as the possible semantic factors that prompt the transitivisation of these verbs.
Socio‐economic impacts of the pharmaceuticals detection and activated carbon treatment technology in water management – an example from the Czech Republic
Authors: Hrkal Zbyněk , Harstadt Ketil , Rozman David , Těšitel Jan , Kušová Drahomíra , Novotná Eva , Váňa Miroslav
Published: September 2018

The fast development of laboratory methods has revealed increased amounts of trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCP) in waste waters in the Czech Republic. This paper focuses on the expected costs to solve this problem by quaternary treatment of waste water based on activated carbon filtration. The one‐time investment costs in 155 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with a capacity of over 10 000 population equivalent (PE) would represent an amount of around 300 million EUR. The increase in end‐user operating costs would be 0.4 EUR/m3, which would mean a 15% increase in water and sewage costs. A sociological survey showed that most respondents (65%) would agree with an increase in price but only by 10%. Currently the cost of the quaternary treatment of wastewater is based primarily on estimates. Therefore changes in legislation leading to stricter limits and an increase in the efficiency of wastewater treatment should be preceded by additional applied research.
A Three-Dimensional Conjugate Approach for Analyzing a Double-Walled Effusion-Cooled Turbine Blade
Authors: Ngetich Gladys C. , Murray Alexander V. , Ireland Peter T. , Romero Eduardo
Published: September 2018

A double-wall cooling scheme combined with effusion cooling offers a practical approximation to transpiration cooling which in turn presents the potential for very high cooling effectiveness. The use of the conventional conjugate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for the double-wall blade can be computationally expensive and this approach is therefore less than ideal in cases where only the preliminary results are required. This paper presents a computationally efficient numerical approach for analyzing a double-wall effusion cooled gas turbine blade. An existing correlation from the literature was modified and used to represent the two-dimensional distribution of film cooling effectiveness. The internal heat transfer coefficient was calculated from a validated conjugate analysis of a wall element representing an element of the aerofoil wall and the conduction through the blade solved using a finite element code in ANSYS. The numerical procedure developed has permitted a rapid evaluation of the critical parameters including film cooling effectiveness, blade temperature distribution (and hence metal effectiveness), as well as coolant mass flow consumption. Good agreement was found between the results from this study and that from literature. This paper shows that a straightforward numerical approach that combines an existing correlation for film cooling from the literature with a conjugate analysis of a small wall element can be used to quickly predict the blade temperature distribution and other crucial blade performance parameters.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Environmental Barrier Coated Ceramic Matrix Composite Turbine Airfoil Erosion
Authors: Okita Yoji , Mizokami Yousuke , Hasegawa Jun
Published: September 2018

Ceramic matrix composite (CMC) have higher temperature durability and lower density property compared to nickel-based super-alloys which so far have been widely applied to hot section components of aero-engines/gas turbines. One of promising CMC systems, SiC–SiC CMC is able to sustain its mechanical property at higher temperature, though it inherently needs environmental barrier coating (EBC) to avoid oxidation. There are several requirements for EBC. One of such critical requirements is its resistance to particle erosion, whereas this subject has not been well investigated in the past. The present work presents the results of a combined experimental and numerical research to evaluate the erosion characteristics of CMC + EBC material developed by IHI. First, experiments were carried out in an erosion test facility using 50 μm diameter silica as erosion media under typical engine conditions with velocity of 225 m/s, temperature of 1311 K, and impingement angles of 30, 60, and 80 deg. The data displayed brittle erosion mode in that the erosion rate increased with impact angles. Also, it was verified that a typical erosion model, Neilson–Gilchrist model, can reproduce the experimental behavior fairly well if its model constants were properly determined. The numerical method solving particle-laden flow was then applied with the tuned erosion model to compute three dimensional flow field, particle trajectories, and erosion profile around a generic turbine airfoil to assess the erosion characteristics of the proposed CMC + EBC material when applied to airfoil. The trajectories indicated that the particles primarily impacted the airfoil leading edge and the pressure surface. Surface erosion patterns were predicted based on the calculated trajectories and the experimentally based erosion characteristics.
Mechanical and Electrical Characterization of Two Carbon/Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Composites Created Via Equal Channel Angular Processing
Authors: Cook David J. , Chun Hayden H. , Van Citters Douglas W.
Published: September 2018

Ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) has the greatest impact strength of any thermoplastic and has a variety of both industrial and biomedical applications. Equal channel angular processing (ECAP) is a fabrication method for UHMWPE that introduces shear into the polymer matrix by deforming the polymer through an angular channel, with the goal of enhancing mechanical properties. Both nanographite (NG) and carbon black (CB) attract interest as potential carbon additives for use in creating UHMWPE conductive polymer composites (CPC), but they have not yet been extensively tested in conjunction with ECAP. This study presents a systematic evaluation of the mechanical and electrical properties of 1.0 wt % CB/UHMWPE and NG/UHMWPE composites created using ECAP. These samples are compared against pure UHMWPE ECAP controls as well as compression molded (CM) composite samples. Results indicate that both NG and CB carbon additives successfully create CPCs with a corresponding decrease in mechanical properties. ECAP results in comparatively high mechanical and conductive properties when compared with compression molding. Electrical conductivity is shown to be inversely correlated with tensile strain in a repeatable manner, and microstructural theory is discussed. This work suggests a method to produce flexible, conductive UHMWPE composites that vary consistently and predictably with applied strain, which could have a variety of biomedical and industrial applications.
The Wear and Friction Characters of Polycrystalline Diamond Under Wetting Conditions
Authors: Liu Chun , Man Zhongyi , Zhou Fubao , Chen Kai , Yu Haiyang
Published: September 2018

Polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs) are the main cutting unit of drill bits and are a major factor in determining the drilling efficiency and service life of drill bits. Drill bit failure is caused by the severe abrasive wear it undergoes during the drilling process. The drill bit failure can prolong the drilling period, which can result in borehole instability and cause collapse in the material. A solution that can address this issue is developing an appropriate drilling method that can expel the dust in a manner that will not increase the abrasive wear on the drill bit. Here, an Amsler friction and wear-testing machines was used to investigate the friction and wear characteristics of PDC and to study the effects of the dust expelled during drilling on the wear performance of drill bits under dry air and wetting conditions. The microstructures of the worn surfaces were examined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and metalloscope. In addition, the chemical compositions of the PDCs' surfaces were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) after the wear and friction tests. The results demonstrate that the friction coefficients and wear rate obtained in dry air were higher than those under wetting conditions. As expected, these values are mainly ascribed to the absence of the absorber layer and lubrication under dry air. Furthermore, under wetting conditions a number of cracks were observed on the PDC surface after testing at 700 °C, which was mainly caused by two factors: The different thermal expansion coefficients between the diamond and Cobalt phase; and the residual stress generated inside the PDC under wetting conditions.
Effect of bevel angle on the reflection coefficient from open unflanged pipes
Authors: Chu Shih-Cheng A. , Dowling David R.
Published: September 2018

Pipes terminating in bevel angled cuts are popular for automotive and motorcycle exhaust systems. This letter provides measured reflection coefficients and end impedances obtained from two-microphone experiments using unflanged open-ended pipes with bevel angles of 0°, 30°, and 60° for 0.03 < ka < 0.27, where k is the acoustic wave number and a is the pipe radius. The measurements at 0° match classical pipe reflection coefficient results within uncertainty. However, as the bevel angle increases to 60°, the magnitude of the reflection coefficient decreases by 2%, the end reactance increases by 130%, and the end resistance increases by 24%.
Concentration effect on the nonlinear measures of dense polyethylene oxide solutions under large amplitude oscillatory shear
Authors: Goudoulas Thomas B. , Germann Natalie
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we study the nonlinear viscoelastic response of concentrated polyethylene oxide solutions under large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS). We investigate the concentration effect as a function of strain and shear rate by using nondimensional elastic and viscous Lissajous–Bowditch plots. We also employ the mitlaos software to calculate the intracycle nonlinear viscoelasticity parameters. We find that the transition to nonlinear behavior occurs at lower strain values as the polymer concentration increases. For the higher concentration and at large strain amplitudes, the intracycle elastic stress component is almost zero to a large extent of the oscillation cycle and thus strain-independent. The corresponding stress decomposition in the shear rate domain shows a significant shear rate dependence, with a self-intersection of the total stress curve. By increasing the oscillation frequency and, correspondingly, the shear rate, by one order of magnitude, the intercycle nonlinear behavior does not qualitatively change. The spatiotemporal velocity profiles are obtained using a custom-made particle image velocimetry system. Interestingly, we record nonlinear velocity profiles at approximately 300% strain along with significant wall slip for both oscillation frequencies. The intracycle velocity data close to the stationary plate reveal strong nonlinear velocity waveforms. The results of this study suggest that the number of entanglements per chain is responsible for the strain thinning or thickening behavior in LAOS.
High Performance Coaches’ Mental Health and Wellbeing: Applying the Areas of Work Life Model
Authors: Carson Fraser , Walsh Julia , Main Luana C. , Kremer Peter
Published: September 2018

In the last five years, mental health and wellbeing has attracted greater public, government, and research interest. In sport, athlete mental health and wellbeing has been a focus across all competition levels. The high performance coach responsible for athlete performance, health and wellbeing has not attracted the same attention despite working in an intense high-pressure work environment. Using the Areas of Work Life Model as a theoretical framework, this Insights paper discusses the existing coaching literature to ascertain both contributing factors for promoting positive mental health and wellbeing, and negative influences that increase stress and potential burnout. The six dimensions (workload; control; reward; fairness; community; and values) resonate throughout the coaching literature, but to-date, no study has applied the model to this group. Analysis of the extracted articles indicated that high performance coaches should become more self-aware around how to cope with stress and stressful situations, while sports organisations should invest in both the individual coach and the organisational culture to enhance work engagement. Coaches are performers and should prepare themselves to ensure they can perform at their peak; and managing their own mental health and wellbeing is an important component to this.
Evaluation of the Pilot Implementation of the Coaching for Life Skills Program
Authors: Camiré Martin , Kendellen Kelsey , Rathwell Scott , Felber Charbonneau Evelyne
Published: September 2018

Many forms of mainstream coach education continue to sparingly address content specifically related to positive youth development and/or life skills, instead maintaining a focus on the technical and tactical aspects of sport. The purpose of the paper is to present the evaluation findings of the pilot implementation of the Coaching for Life Skills program, designed to serve coaches operating in the context of high school sport. The study qualitatively explored what participants believed they experienced during their participation in the Coaching for Life Skills program, which was delivered to 68 Canadian high school coaches. Participants took part in one of six three-hour workshop (i.e., three workshops in English, three workshops in French). Of these 68 coaches, 10 voluntarily agreed to take part in individual semi-structured interviews. Findings demonstrated how the participants believed they learned important elements related to the coaching of life skills, particularly in terms of increasing their awareness of life skills, improving coach-athlete relationships, and employing coaching strategies that deliberately target life skills development and transfer.
Inception of early-life allergen–induced airway hyperresponsiveness is reliant on IL-13
+
CD4
+
T cells
Authors: Saglani Sejal , Gregory Lisa G. , Manghera Avneet K. , Branchett William J. , Uwadiae Faith , Entwistle Lewis J. , Oliver R. A. , Vasiliou Jessica E. , Sherburn Rebekah , Lui Stephen , Puttur F. , Vöhringer David , Walker Simone A. , Buckley James , Grychtol Ruth , Fainardi Valentina , Denney Laura , Byrne Adam , von Mutius Erika , Bush Andrew , Lloyd Clare M.
Published: September 2018

The lymphoid cellular source of IL-13 driving AHR is age-dependent.
Recording the wild lives of immune cells
Authors: Pittet Mikael J. , Garris Christopher S. , Arlauckas Sean P. , Weissleder Ralph
Published: September 2018

This Review covers the toolbox available to researchers to study immune cell behavior by using intravital imaging.
RNA Localization in Bacteria
Authors: Fei Jingyi , Sharma Cynthia M.
Published: September 2018

Diverse mechanisms and functions of posttranscriptional regulation by small regulatory RNAs and RNA-binding proteins have been described in bacteria. In contrast, little is known about the spatial organization of RNAs in bacterial cells. In eukaryotes, subcellular localization and transport of RNAs play important roles in diverse physiological processes, such as embryonic patterning, asymmetric cell division, epithelial polarity, and neuronal plasticity. It is now clear that bacterial RNAs also can accumulate at distinct sites in the cell. However, due to the small size of bacterial cells, RNA localization and localization-associated functions are more challenging to study in bacterial cells, and the underlying molecular mechanisms of transcript localization are less understood. Here, we review the emerging examples of RNAs localized to specific subcellular locations in bacteria, with indications that subcellular localization of transcripts might be important for gene expression and regulatory processes. Diverse mechanisms for bacterial RNA localization have been suggested, including close association to their genomic site of transcription, or to the localizations of their protein products in translation-dependent or -independent processes. We also provide an overview of the state of the art of technologies to visualize and track bacterial RNAs, ranging from hybridization-based approaches in fixed cells to
in vivo
imaging approaches using fluorescent protein reporters and/or RNA aptamers in single living bacterial cells. We conclude with a discussion of open questions in the field and ongoing technological developments regarding RNA imaging in eukaryotic systems that might likewise provide novel insights into RNA localization in bacteria.
Processive Antitermination
Authors: Goodson Jonathan R. , Winkler Wade C.
Published: September 2018

Transcription is a discontinuous process, where each nucleotide incorporation cycle offers a decision between elongation, pausing, halting, or termination. Many
cis
-acting regulatory RNAs, such as riboswitches, exert their influence over transcription elongation. Through such mechanisms, certain RNA elements can couple physiological or environmental signals to transcription attenuation, a process where
cis
-acting regulatory RNAs directly influence formation of transcription termination signals. However, through another regulatory mechanism called processive antitermination (PA), RNA polymerase can bypass termination sites over much greater distances than transcription attenuation. PA mechanisms are widespread in bacteria, although only a few classes have been discovered overall. Also, although traditional, signal-responsive riboswitches have not yet been discovered to promote PA, it is increasingly clear that small RNA elements are still oftentimes required. In some instances, small RNA elements serve as loading sites for cellular factors that promote PA. In other instances, larger, more complicated RNA elements participate in PA in unknown ways, perhaps even acting alone to trigger PA activity. These discoveries suggest that what is now needed is a systematic exploration of PA in bacteria, to determine how broadly these transcription elongation mechanisms are utilized, to reveal the diversity in their molecular mechanisms, and to understand the general logic behind their cellular applications. This review covers the known examples of PA regulatory mechanisms and speculates that they may be broadly important to bacteria.
Dual-Function RNAs
Authors: Raina Medha , King Alisa , Bianco Colleen , Vanderpool Carin K.
Published: September 2018

Bacteria are known to use RNA, either as mRNAs encoding proteins or as noncoding small RNAs (sRNAs), to regulate numerous biological processes. However, a few sRNAs have two functions: they act as base-pairing RNAs and encode a small protein with additional regulatory functions. Thus, these so called “dual-function” sRNAs can serve as both a riboregulator and an mRNA. In some cases, these two functions can act independently within the same pathway, while in other cases, the base-pairing function and protein function act in different pathways. Here, we discuss the five known dual-function sRNAs—SgrS from enteric species, RNAIII and Psm-mec from
Staphylococcus aureus
, Pel RNA from
Streptococcus pyogenes
, and SR1 from
Bacillus subtilis
—and review their mechanisms of action and roles in regulating diverse biological processes. We also discuss the prospect of finding additional dual-function sRNAs and future challenges in studying the overlap and competition between the functions.
Arthrogenic muscle inhibition after ACL reconstruction: a scoping review of the efficacy of interventions
Authors: Sonnery-Cottet Bertrand , Saithna Adnan , Quelard Benedicte , Daggett Matt , Borade Amrut , Ouanezar Hervé , Thaunat Mathieu , Blakeney William G
Published: September 2018

Objective

To determine whether reported therapeutic interventions for arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) in patients with ACL injuries, following ACL reconstruction, or in laboratory studies of AMI, are effective in improving quadriceps activation failure when compared with standard therapy in control groups.

Design

A scoping review of the efficacy of interventions was conducted in accordance with the methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Search terms included ‘arthrogenic muscle inhibition’, ‘quadriceps activation following knee injuries’, ‘anterior cruciate’ or ‘knee’ combined with ‘quadriceps activation’, ‘quadriceps inhibition’, ‘corticomotor’, ‘arthrogenic’, ‘brain activation’ and ‘neuroplasticity’. Articles were evaluated for risk of bias using the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) criteria. The overall quality of evidence for each intervention was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).

Data sources

PubMed, EMBASE and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Isolated case reports and articles reporting outcomes in patients with chronic disease or major trauma were excluded. All other original research articles were included.

Results

780 potential articles were identified. 20 met the inclusion criteria. These studies provided a moderate quality of evidence to support the efficacy of cryotherapy and physical exercises in the management of AMI. There was low-quality evidence for efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and very low-quality evidence for efficacy of ultrasound and vibration.

Conclusions

This scoping review demonstrated moderate-quality evidence for the efficacy of cryotherapy and physical exercises in improving quadriceps activation failure after ACL injury and reconstruction. These therapeutic modalities are therefore recommended in the management of AMI.
Prevalence and behavioural associations of unintentional injuries among Chinese college students: a 50-University population-based study
Authors: Wu Dan , Yang Tingzhong , Cottrell Randall R , Zhou Huan , Feng Xueying
Published: September 2018

Objective

To assess the prevalence, demographic characteristics and behavioural correlates of unintentional injuries among Chinese college students.

Methods

A cross-sectional multistage survey sampling process was conducted among 11 770 undergraduates from 50 universities in China. Students were asked to report different types of unintentional injuries that required medical attention from a doctor over the past year. The χ² test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with these injuries.

Results

The overall unintentional injury prevalence was 47.9% (95% CI 47.6% to 48.2%). Most injuries occurred at sport venues (24.0%), following by home/dormitory injuries (20.5%) and traffic injuries (13.0%). Some behavioural factors exhibiting significant associations with overall unintentional injuries were: sleeping less than 7 hours (OR=1.32, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.37), smoking (OR=1.28, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.32), alcohol consumption (OR=1.74, 95% CI 1.69 to 1.78) and heavy internet use (OR=1.60, 95% CI 1.52 to 1.67). Male students were more likely to be involved in traffic and sport injuries than female students. Students majoring in non-medical fields had a higher risk of sport and home injuries than students majoring in medical fields. Those who drank alcohol, slept less than 7 hours or who reported heavy internet use were more likely to experience all types of injuries than students who did not participate in these behaviours. Finally, students who smoked had a higher likelihood of traffic and sport injuries than non-smoking students.

Conclusions

A substantial number of college students reported injuries in the past year, and several key behavioural factors were associated with injuries. These findings could be beneficial for the design, implementation and assessment of injury intervention programme with college students. Based on these findings, policy implications for unintentional injury prevention and control were also considered.
Moderate to vigorous physical activity and impact loading independently predict variance in bone strength at the tibia but not at the radius in children
Authors: Kehrig Anthony M. , Björkman Kelsey M. , Muhajarine Nazeem , Johnston James D. , Kontulainen Saija A.
Published: September 2018

The objectives of this study were (i) to assess whether daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) or vigorous physical activity (VPA) and impact counts (acceleration peaks ≥3.9g) independently predict variance in bone strength in children and youth and (ii) to estimate bone strength gain associated with increases in daily MVPA, VPA, or impact counts. We recorded 7-day activity of 49 participants (mean age 11.0 years, SD 1.7) using accelerometers and estimated radius and tibia bone strength using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. We used linear regression models adjusted for sex, body mass, and muscle area to address our objectives. Daily MVPA (mean 50 min, SD 23) and VPA (mean 17 min, SD 11) or impacts (mean 71 counts, SD 59) did not predict variance in radius strength. Daily VPA (β = 0.24) predicted variance in tibia strength at the distal and shaft sites, and shaft strength was also predicted by MVPA (β = 0.20) and impact counts (β = 0.21). Our models estimated a 3%–6%, 4%, or 4%–11% gain in tibia strength after increasing daily MVPA by 10–20 min, VPA by 5 min, or impacts by 30–100 counts, respectively. In conclusion, daily minutes of MVPA or VPA and impact counts are independent predictors of tibia but not radius strength. Objective recording of activities associated with forearm bone strength and trials testing the efficacy of increasing daily MVPA, VPA, and related impacts on bone strength development in children and youth are warranted.
Snow physical properties may be a significant determinant of lemming population dynamics in the high Arctic
Authors: Domine Florent , Gauthier Gilles , Vionnet Vincent , Fauteux Dominique , Dumont Marie , Barrere Mathieu
Published: September 2018

Cyclic population fluctuations are common in boreal and Arctic species but the causes of these cycles are still debated today. Among these species, lemmings are Arctic rodents that live and reproduce under the snow and whose large cyclical population fluctuations in the high Arctic impact the whole tundra food web. We explore, using lemming population data and snow modeling, whether the hardness of the basal layer of the snowpack, determined by rain-on-snow events (ROS) and wind storms in autumn, can affect brown lemming population dynamics in the Canadian high Arctic. Using a 7-year dataset collected on Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada over the period 2003–2014, we demonstrate that liquid water input to snow is strongly inversely related with winter population growth (R2 ≥ 0.62) and to a lesser extent to lemming summer densities and winter nest densities (R2 = 0.29–0.39). ROS in autumn can therefore influence the amplitude of brown lemming population fluctuations. Increase in ROS events with climate warming should strongly impact the populations of lemmings and consequently those of the many predators that depend upon them. Snow conditions may be a key factor influencing the cyclic dynamics of Arctic animal populations.
Experimental behaviour of concrete box culverts — comparison with current codes of practice
Authors: Cristelo Nuno , Félix Carlos , Figueiras Joaquim
Published: September 2018

It is now accepted that current expeditious models for determining earth pressures on flexible underground structures under compacted layers do not include several technical nuances of the soil–structure interaction. Thus, these models are not capable of delivering an optimized design. The present paper compares the results from the well-known American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) model with two different numerical models — a user-friendly elastic model and a more robust finite element model — and with results retrieved from a full-scale monitoring of a concrete box culvert, 5.5 m high and 3.77 m width, over which a 15 m high embankment was built. This structure was instrumented selectively, over a period of almost 1 year, during which several parameters were recorded, including earth pressures and structural deformation. Results have shown that the two most significant drawbacks associated with the use of the AASHTO model are the inadequate evaluation of vertical pressure on the top slab and the coefficient of earth pressure, which results in a significant overestimation of the lateral pressures and, consequently, in an overall inefficient design of the structure.
Synthesis and vasodilator activity of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones bearing urea, thiourea, and sulfonylurea moieties
Authors: Habila Tahir , Belghobsi Mebrouk , Stiti Mohamed-Zakaria , Goffin Eric , de Tullio Pascal , Faury Gilles , Pirotte Bernard , Khelili Smail
Published: September 2018

A series of novel 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones bearing urea, thiourea, and sulfonylurea moieties were synthesized and pharmacologically evaluated as vasodilator agents. The most interesting vasodilators were the thiourea derivatives 6a and 6b and the urea derivatives 6f–6i and 7f–7h, although the ureas were relatively more active than thioureas. Twenty-fold more active than diazoxide, the urea 6g was the most potent vasodilator (EC50 = 0.983 ± 0.061 μmol/L) and proved to act as a voltage-gated calcium channel blocker. The lack of activity of sulfonylureas, 6k and 7j, could be attributed to their partial ionization at the physiological pH because of their acidic character. It should be interesting to investigate a larger number of compounds, including N-methylated sulfonylureas, to increase the vasodilator activity and to explore other biological models.