bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimization of thermosonication on Bacillus cereus from pork: Effects on inactivation and physicochemical properties
Authors: Owusu‐Ansah Patrick , Yu Xiaojie , Osae Richard , Zhou Cunshan , Zhang Rong , Mustapha Abdullateef T. , Li Mo , Ma Haile 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAimsThe objective of this study was to optimize thermosonication conditions under different processing conditions of temperature, pretreatment time, and ultrasound frequencies and to study its influence on the inactivation behavior of Bacillus cereus and also to predict the conditions that will result in the best qualities of the pork meat regarding color, texture, moisture content loss, and fat content loss.MethodsTo evaluate the influence of temperature (50–70°C), ultrasound frequency (20–60 kHz), and processing time (10–20 min) on color retention, lowest hardness, fat content loss, moisture content loss, and maximizing inactivation of B. cereus spores suspended in sterilized distilled water (SDW), as well as B. cereus inoculated in pork meat, response surface methodology was employed.ResultThe findings from the study showed that thermosonication treatment had a significant effect on color, texture, fat content loss, B. cereus spores suspended in SDW, B. cereus inoculated in pork, and moisture content loss. The optimum operating conditions to accomplish the best inactivation behavior of B. cereus and physicochemical properties of pork meat were ultrasound frequency of 20 kHz, temperature of 70°C, and processing time of 13.56 min. Considering the abovementioned conditions, the predicted results obtained include B. cereus in SDW (0.79 CFU/g), B. cereus in pork (0.47 CFU/g), moisture content loss (22.42%), color (45.48), texture (134.38 N), and fat content (68.63%). These outcomes were in line with the experimental values and the overall desirability was 0.534.ConclusionsThe results of our study confirm that thermosonication has a better way of enhancing the quality of pork meat under the application of the suitable parameters. This can advance the processing and production of pork meat by the meat industries.Practical ApplicationsPork meat is one of the most extensively consumed products in the world particularly in Asia and some parts of Africa. This product is in high consumer demand, but it is easily contaminated by microorganism, which leads to high deterioration and loss of quality. Thermosonication could be used as an effective and efficient technique for the meat industry. Its application will enhance the inactivation of deteriorative microorganisms and improve the physiochemical properties of pork meat.
Which traits predict pairwise interactions in a mountain grassland?
Authors: Herben Tomáš , Hadincová Věra , Krahulec František , Pecháčková Sylvie , Skálová Hana 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAimThe outcome of interaction between plant individuals is often expected to be determined by differences in their sizes with other traits playing minor roles. However, such findings typically come from manipulative experiments in experimental gardens. Consequently, little is known about the relative roles of size vs other traits in the field, particularly in communities other than forests. Here we aimed; (a) to determine the relative role of size‐related traits in pairwise interactions between common species in a species‐rich grassland community; and (b) to determine which other traits predict outcomes of such interactions in the field, and which traits predict mean competitive effects and responses of individual species.LocationThe Krkonoše Mts., Czech Republic.MethodsWe fitted dynamic models with explicit terms for pairwise interactions on a 31‐year long data series of spatially explicit ramet counts of 19 coexisting species in a mountain meadow. We compared these fits with those having total neighbour biomass as the only competition term to determine whether accounting for pairwise interactions increases model fit. Further we linked estimates of the parameters of pairwise interactions with species traits, including size‐related traits.ResultsComparison of models with and without pairwise predictors showed that pairwise interactions provided better fits only in less than half of the cases. The main determinant of competitive interactions was leaf area and, to a lesser extent, mean ramet biomass; there was an additional signal of difference in rooting depth.ConclusionPlant size and overall biomass have overwhelming effects on species‐to‐species interactions even in unproductive grassland communities, despite low differentiation of plant species along the size axis there. However, the weak albeit detectable signal of predictors not related to size of pairwise interactions points to possible mechanisms of within‐community niche differentiation, which can be captured by inter‐specific difference in functional traits and tested experimentally.
Disentangling the assembly mechanisms of ant cuticular bacterial communities of two Amazonian ant species sharing a common arboreal nest
Authors: Birer Caroline , Moreau Corrie S. , Tysklind Niklas , Zinger Lucie , Duplais Christophe 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBacteria living on the cuticle of ants are generally studied for their protective role against pathogens, especially in the clade of fungus‐growing ants. However, little is known regarding the diversity of cuticular bacteria in other ant host species, as well as the mechanisms leading to the composition of these communities. Here, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to study the influence of host species, species interactions and the pool of bacteria from the environment on the assembly of cuticular bacterial communities on two phylogenetically distant Amazonian ant species that frequently nest together inside the roots system of epiphytic plants, Camponotus femoratus and Crematogaster levior. Our results show that (a) the vast majority of the bacterial community on the cuticle is shared with the nest, suggesting that most bacteria on the cuticle are acquired through environmental acquisition, (b) 5.2% and 2.0% of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) are respectively specific to Ca. femoratus and Cr. levior, probably representing their respective core cuticular bacterial community, and (c) 3.6% of OTUs are shared between the two ant species. Additionally, mass spectrometry metabolomics analysis of metabolites on the cuticle of ants, which excludes the detection of cuticular hydrocarbons produced by the host, were conducted to evaluate correlations among bacterial OTUs and m/z ion mass. Although some positive and negative correlations are found, the cuticular chemical composition was weakly species‐specific, suggesting that cuticular bacterial communities are prominently environmentally acquired. Overall, our results suggest the environment is the dominant source of bacteria found on the cuticle of ants.
Relationships between depression, family function, physical symptoms, and illness uncertainty in female patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Kim Oksoo , Yeom Eun Yi , Jeon Hae Ok 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis study investigated the relationship between depression, family function, physical symptoms, and illness uncertainty in women with chronic kidney disease. Data were collected through structured questionnaire that was completed by 120 women undergoing hemodialysis. Assessment instruments consisted of the Family Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, Resolve Scale, Symptom Experience Scale, Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Scale for Adults, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies‐Depression Scale. The higher the uncertainty about illness and physical symptoms, the higher is the level of depression, and the better the family function, the lower is the level of depression. Greater uncertainty was associated with poorer family function and worsening physical symptoms. A regression model explained 41% of the variance in depression. Significant predictors of depression were physical symptoms, living alone, illness uncertainty, and “poor” subjective health status. To improve depression of women with chronic kidney disease, nurses need to reduce physical symptoms and illness uncertainty in these patients and improve their subjective health status. In addition, the establishment of a therapeutic support system considering living arrangement will help to reduce depression in women with chronic kidney disease.
Multiplex immunoassays reveal increased serum cytokines and chemokines associated with the subtypes of achalasia
Authors: Chen Wei‐Feng , Liu Zu‐Qiang , Pu Zhe‐Ning , Xu Jia‐Qi , Yao Lu , Wu Xing‐Yue , Xu Xiao‐Yue , Xu Jia‐Xin , Zhu Yan , Wang Yun , Cheng Jing , Zhu Liang , Zhou Ping‐Hong , Li Quan‐Lin 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundAchalasia is an esophageal motility disorder with unknown etiology. Previous findings indicate that immune‐mediated inflammatory process causes inhibitory neuronal degeneration. This study was designed to evaluate levels of serological cytokines and chemokines in patients with achalasia.MethodsWe collected information from forty‐seven patients with achalasia who underwent peroral endoscopic myotomy. Control samples were collected from forty‐seven age‐ and sex‐matched healthy people. The concentrations of serological cytokines and chemokines were analyzed by Luminex xMAP immunoassay. Serological and clinical data were compared between groups.Key ResultsCompared with healthy controls, achalasia patients had significantly increased concentrations of eleven cytokines and chemokines, namely, TGF‐ß1 (P < .001), TGF‐ß2 (P < .001), TGF‐ß3 (P < .001), IL‐1ra (P < .001), IL‐17 (P = .005), IL‐18 (P < .001), IFN‐γ (P < .001), MIG (P < .001), PDGF‐BB (P < .001), IP‐10 (P = .003), and SCGF‐B (P < .001). Gene ontology (GO) and network functional enrichment analysis revealed regulation of signaling receptor activity and receptor‐ligand activity were the most related pathways of these cytokines and chemokines. Levels of twelve cytokines and chemokines were significantly increased in type III compared with I/II achalasia, namely, TGF‐ß2, IL‐1ra, IL‐2Ra, IL‐18, MIG, IFN‐γ, SDF‐1a, Eotaxin, PDGF‐BB, IP‐10, MCP‐1, and TRAIL.Conclusions and InferencesPatients with achalasia exhibited increased levels of serological cytokines and chemokines. Levels of cytokines and chemokines were significantly increased in type III than in type I/II achalasia. Cytokines and chemokines might contribute to the inflammatory development of achalasia.
A Discourse on the Incorporation of Organizational Factors into Probabilistic Risk Assessment: Key Questions and Categorical Review
Authors: Pence Justin , Mohaghegh Zahra 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis article presents a discourse on the incorporation of organizational factors into probabilistic risk assessment (PRA)/probabilistic safety assessment (PSA), a topic of debate since the 1980s that has spurred discussions among industry, regulatory agencies, and the research community. The main contributions of this article include (1) identifying the four key open questions associated with this topic; (2) framing ongoing debates by considering differing perspectives around each question; (3) offering a categorical review of existing studies on this topic to justify the selection of each question and to analyze the challenges related to each perspective; and (4) highlighting the directions of research required to reach a final resolution for each question. The four key questions are: (I) How significant is the contribution of organizational factors to accidents and incidents? (II) How critical, with respect to improving risk assessment, is the explicit incorporation of organizational factors into PRA? (III) What theoretical bases are needed for explicit incorporation of organizational factors into PRA? (IV) What methodological bases are needed for the explicit incorporation of organizational factors into PRA? Questions I and II mainly analyze PRA literature from the nuclear domain. For Questions III and IV, a broader review and categorization is conducted of those existing cross‐disciplinary studies that have evaluated the effects of organizational factors on safety (not solely PRA‐based) to shed more light on future research needs.
Price‐Level Determination When Tax Payments Are Required in Money*
Authors: Malmberg Hannes , Öberg Erik 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCan the price level be determined by a requirement that taxes should be paid in money? We study this question in a dynamic endowment economy where households have to pay a money tax of a fixed real value and money enters the economy through government expenditures and open market operations. When government expenditures only consist of purchases of real goods, the price level is bounded from above, but not uniquely determined. A unique price level can be obtained if the government also has access to money transfers, and uses these to fix its expenditure level in nominal terms.
Navigating the Penumbra: Children and Moral Responsibility
Authors: Burroughs Michael D. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractChild moral agency is dismissed in many historical and contemporary accounts based on children's supposed lack or marginal possession of agency‐bearing capacities, including reason, deliberation, and judgment, amongst others. Given its prominence in the philosophical canon, I call this thetraditional viewof child agency. Recent advancements in moral developmental psychology challenge the traditional view, pointing toward the possession of relevant capacities and competencies for moral and responsible agency in early and middle childhood. I argue that both views—traditional and developmental—underdetermine our practices of holding children responsible in our common interactions. For one, we face significant epistemic barriers in accurately assessing children’s agential statusquapossession of responsibility‐bearing capacities and competencies. Second, overreliance on assessments of individualistic capacities emphasizes an atomistic view of agency at the expense of relational views that are of particular relevance for children as uniquely developing persons. Our practices of holding children responsible and the values that guide these practices in the context of supportive relationships are central to both supporting current and drawing out future responsible agency in childhood and, importantly, provide us with a path to regard children as participants in our moral communities, as opposed to mere agents‐in‐waiting.
Morally Respectful Listening and its Epistemic Consequences
Authors: Barry Galen 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis paper focuses on the phenomenon of morally respectful listening. I defend a specific requirement for respectful listening in the context of disagreement. According to it, when listening occurs in the context of disagreement, the morally respectful listener must be open to the possibility that the speaker will surprise the listener with her positive epistemic qualities. That is, the listener must be open to what I call “epistemic surprise.” I also argue for a specific interpretation of this openness: to be open to epistemic surprise is to be open to unexpected changes in confidence levels concerning the proposition in question. I close by arguing that respectful listening is incompatible with a listener's being certain, and I apply this conclusion to three recent debates in epistemology to show that the phenomenon of listening has potentially far‐reaching consequences for epistemology.
Maternal mortality due to cardiac disease in low‐ and middle‐income countries
Authors: Heemelaar Steffie , Petrus Annelieke , Knight Marian , van den Akker Thomas 
Published: March 2020

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the frequency of maternal death (MD) due to cardiac disease in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC).MethodsSystematic review searching Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Emcare, LILACS, African Index Medicus, IMEMR, IndMED, WPRIM, IMSEAR up to 01/Nov/2017. Maternal mortality reports from LMIC reviewing all MD in a given geographical area were included. Hospital‐based reports or those solely based on verbal autopsies were excluded. Numbers of MD and cardiac‐related deaths were extracted. We calculated cardiac disease MMR (cMMR, cardiac‐related MD/100 000 live births) and proportion of cardiac‐related MDs among all MDs. Frequency of cardiac MD was compared with the MMR of the country.ResultsForty‐seven reports were included, which reported on 38,486 maternal deaths in LMIC. Reported cMMR ranged from 0/100 000 live births (Moldova, Ghana) to 31.9/100 000 (Zimbabwe). The proportion of cardiac‐related MD ranged from 0% (Moldova, Ghana) to 24.8% (Sri Lanka). In countries with a higher MMR, cMMR was also higher. However, the proportion of cardiac‐related MD was higher in countries with a lower MMR.ConclusionsThe burden of cardiac‐related mortality is difficult to assess due limited availability of mortality reports. The proportion of cardiac deaths among all MD appeared to be higher in countries with a lower MMR. This is in line with what has been called ‘obstetric transition’: pre‐existing medical diseases including cardiac disease are becoming relatively more important where the MMR falls.
Multicentre validation of a computer-based tool for differentiation of acute Kawasaki disease from clinically similar febrile illnesses
Authors: Hao Shiying , Ling Xuefeng B , Kanegaye John T , Bainto Emelia , Dominguez Samuel R , Heizer Heather , Jone Pei-Ni , Anderson Marsha S , Jaggi Preeti , Baker Annette , Son Mary Beth , Newburger Jane W , Ashouri Negar , McElhinney Doff B , Burns Jane C , Whitin John C , Cohen Harvey J , Tremoulet Adriana H 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundThe clinical features of Kawasaki disease (KD) overlap with those of other paediatric febrile illnesses. A missed or delayed diagnosis increases the risk of coronary artery damage. Our computer algorithm for KD and febrile illness differentiation had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 94.8%, 70.8%, 93.7% and 98.3%, respectively, in a single-centre validation study. We sought to determine the performance of this algorithm with febrile children from multiple institutions across the USA.MethodsWe used our previously published 18-variable panel that includes illness day, the five KD clinical criteria and readily available laboratory values. We applied this two-step algorithm using a linear discriminant analysis-based clinical model followed by a random forest-based algorithm to a cohort of 1059 acute KD and 282 febrile control patients from five children’s hospitals across the USA.ResultsThe algorithm correctly classified 970 of 1059 patients with KD and 163 of 282 febrile controls resulting in a sensitivity of 91.6%, specificity of 57.8% and PPV and NPV of 95.4% and 93.1%, respectively. The algorithm also correctly identified 218 of the 232 KD patients (94.0%) with abnormal echocardiograms.InterpretationThe expectation is that the predictive accuracy of the algorithm will be reduced in a real-world setting in which patients with KD are rare and febrile controls are common. However, the results of the current analysis suggest that this algorithm warrants a prospective, multicentre study to evaluate its potential utility as a physician support tool.
Deployed ophthalmic workload in support of US and NATO operations in Afghanistan
Authors: Blanch Richard J , Kerber M T , Gensheimer W G 
Published: March 2020

PurposeThe extent and types of ophthalmic disease and non-battle injury (DNBI) seen by expeditionary ophthalmologists at deployed military medical treatment facilities have not previously been reported. We aim to characterise the extent and type of ophthalmic pathology including DNBI at a US military medical treatment facility in Afghanistan.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective non-interventional cohort study of all patients seen by ophthalmologists at Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Airfield (BAF), Afghanistan, between 1 October 2018 and 31 August 2019.ResultsThere were 281 patients seen in 540 separate encounters, of which 146 patients seen were active duty military stationed at BAF with DNBI, of a population at risk of 6000 personnel. Diagnoses managed included open and closed globe injury, bacterial and herpetic keratitis and retinal detachment, with the most common being dry eye, corneal abrasion/foreign body, blepharitis, chalazion and uveitis. Thirteen patients (5%) required aeromedical evacuation out of theatre and 39 patients were aeromedically transferred within theatre for assessment. Expert consensus estimated that 89 patients (36%) would be likely to require aeromedical evacuation out of theatre without ophthalmic input.ConclusionsThe rate of ophthalmic DNBI among deployed US, UK and coalition forces at BAF was 2.65% per year, of whom 97% were returned to duty (95% of all patients). We estimate that evacuation and loss to unit would increase from 5% to 36% without an ophthalmologist present. The low number of within-theatre aeromedical transfers suggests that the local presence of an ophthalmologist at a patient’s deployed medical treatment facility affects access to deployed ophthalmic care.
One out of four recruits drops out from elite military training due to musculoskeletal injuries in the Netherlands Armed Forces
Authors: Dijksma Iris , Zimmermann WO , Hertenberg E-J , Lucas C , Stuiver MM 
Published: March 2020

IntroductionMusculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) are among the main causes of dropout from military training. The main purpose of this study was to provide an overview of dropout rates and MSI incidence rates during elite military training. Second, this study aimed to explore restricted training days due to MSIs and to describe MSI-care by military physicians.MethodsIn a retrospective observational study, we collected dropout rates and injury surveillance data from the electronic patient records of two elite units of the Netherlands Armed Forces (NAF): the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps (RNLMC) and the Airmobile Brigade (AMB), from 1 January 2015 until 31 December 2017.ResultsIn the RNLMC, total dropout rate was 53.9% and dropout due to MSIs was 23%. The most frequently affected locations were foot, knee and leg. In the AMB total dropout rate was 52.6% and dropout due to MSIs was 25%. In the AMB, the most frequently affected locations were back, knee and leg. Average restricted training days due to MSIs ranged between 8.3 and 20.8 days/injury. MSI-care by military physicians consisted mostly of the provision of injury-specific information and (self-)management options, imposing a specific activity restriction and referral to physiotherapy.ConclusionOur study findings showed that one out of four recruits who dropout from elite military training in the NAF, do so due to MSIs. Redesigning training programmes with the objective to reduce MSIs should be given high priority, as this may reduce dropout substantially.