bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cold-Adapted Alanine Dehydrogenases from Two Antarctic Bacterial Strains: Gene Cloning, Protein Characterization, and Comparison with Mesophilic and Thermophilic Counterparts
Authors: Galkin Andrey , Kulakova Ljudmila , Ashida Hiroyuki , Sawa Yoshihiro , Esaki Nobuyoshi 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

The genes encoding NAD
+
-dependent alanine dehydrogenases (AlaDHs) (EC
1.4.1.1
) from the Antarctic bacterial organisms
Shewanella
sp. strain Ac10 (SheAlaDH) and
Carnobacterium
sp. strain St2 (CarAlaDH) were cloned and expressed in
Escherichia coli
. Of all of the AlaDHs that have been sequenced, SheAlaDH exhibited the highest level of sequence similarity to the AlaDH from the gram-negative bacterium
Vibrio proteolyticus
(VprAlaDH). CarAlaDH was most similar to AlaDHs from mesophilic and thermophilic
Bacillus
strains. SheAlaDH and CarAlaDH had features typical of cold-adapted enzymes; both the optimal temperature for catalytic activity and the temperature limit for retaining thermostability were lower than the values obtained for the mesophilic counterparts. The
k
cat
/

K
m

value for the SheAlaDH reaction was about three times higher than the
k
cat
/

K
m

value for VprAlaDH, but it was much lower than the
k
cat
/

K
m

value for the AlaDH from
Bacillus subtilis
. Homology-based structural models of various AlaDHs, including the two psychrotrophic AlaDHs, were constructed. The thermal instability of SheAlaDH and CarAlaDH may result from relatively low numbers of salt bridges in these proteins.
Distribution of Bacterial Growth Activity in Flow-Chamber Biofilms
Authors: Sternberg Claus , Christensen Bjarke B. , Johansen Tove , Toftgaard Nielsen Alex , Andersen Jens Bo , Givskov Michael , Molin Søren 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

In microbial communities such as those found in biofilms, individual organisms most often display heterogeneous behavior with respect to their metabolic activity, growth status, gene expression pattern, etc. In that context, a novel reporter system for monitoring of cellular growth activity has been designed. It comprises a transposon cassette carrying fusions between the growth rate-regulated
Escherichia coli rrnB
P1 promoter and different variant
gfp
genes. It is shown that the P1 promoter is regulated in the same way in
E. coli
and
Pseudomonas putida
, making it useful for monitoring of growth activity in organisms outside the group of enteric bacteria. Construction of fusions to genes encoding unstable Gfp proteins opened up the possibility of the monitoring of rates of rRNA synthesis and, in this way, allowing on-line determination of the distribution of growth activity in a complex community. With the use of these reporter tools, it is demonstrated that individual cells of a toluene-degrading
P. putida
strain growing in a benzyl alcohol-supplemented biofilm have different levels of growth activity which develop as the biofilm gets older. Cells that eventually grow very slowly or not at all may be stimulated to restart growth if provided with a more easily metabolizable carbon source. Thus, the dynamics of biofilm growth activity has been tracked to the level of individual cells, cell clusters, and microcolonies.
Isolation of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria Containing Molybdenum-Independent Nitrogenases from Natural Environments
Authors: Loveless Telisa M. , Saah J. Royden , Bishop Paul E. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Seven diazotrophs that grow well under Mo-deficient, N
2
-fixing conditions were isolated from a variety of environments. These isolates fall in the γ subdivision of the class
Proteobacteria
and have genes that encode the Mo nitrogenase (nitrogenase 1) and the V nitrogenase (nitrogenase 2). Four of the isolates also harbor genes that encode the iron-only nitrogenase (nitrogenase 3).
Bacterial Spores Survive Treatment with Commercial Sterilants and Disinfectants
Authors: Sagripanti Jose-Luis , Bonifacino Aylin 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

This study compared the activity of commercial liquid sterilants and disinfectants on
Bacillus subtilis
spores deposited on three types of devices made of noncorrodible, corrodible, or polymeric material. Products like Renalin, Exspor, Wavicide-01, Cidexplus, and cupric ascorbate were tested under conditions specified for liquid sterilization. These products, at the shorter times indicated for disinfection, and popular disinfectants, like Clorox, Cavicide, and Lysol were also studied. Data obtained with a sensitive and quantitative test suggest that commercial liquid sterilants and disinfectants are less effective on contaminated surfaces than generally acknowledged.
Does reducing the height of the tackle through law change in elite men’s rugby union (The Championship, England) reduce the incidence of concussion? A controlled study in 126 games
Authors: Stokes Keith A , Locke Duncan , Roberts Simon , Henderson Lewis , Tucker Ross , Ryan Dean , Kemp Simon 
Published: December 2019

ObjectivesMost concussions in rugby union occur during tackles. We investigated whether legislation to lower maximum tackle height would change tackle behaviour, and reduce concussion incidence rate.MethodsIn an observational evaluation using a prospective cohort design, 12 elite men’s teams played in two competitions during the 2018/2019 season. The Championship (90 games) retained standard Laws of Rugby for the tackle; the Championship Cup (36 games) used revised laws—the maximum tackle height was lowered from the line of the shoulders on the ball carrier to the line of the armpits. Videos of tackles were analysed for ball carrier and tackler behaviour. Injury data were collected using standardised methods.ResultsIn the lowered tackle height setting, there was a significantly lower proportion of tackles; (1) in which ball carriers (rate ratio (RR) 0.83, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.86) and tacklers (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.84) were upright, (2) in which the tackler’s initial contact was to the ball carrier’s head or neck (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.84) and (3) in which initial contact was above the line of the ball carrier’s armpit (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.88). Concussion incidence rate did not differ between conditions (RR 1.31, 95% CI 0.85 to 2.01). Unexpectedly, compared with the standard tackle height setting, tacklers in the lowered tackle height setting were themselves concussed at a higher rate as measured by; (1) incidence (RR 1.90, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.45) and (2) concussions per 1000 tackles (2.09, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.80).ConclusionsLegislating to lower the height of the tackle meant that tacklers made contact with the ball carrier’s head and neck 30% less often. This did not influence concussion incidence rates. Tacklers in the lowered tackle height setting suffered more concussions than did tacklers in the standard tackle height setting.
Working 9 to 5, not the way to make an academic living: observational analysis of manuscript and peer review submissions over time
Authors: Barnett Adrian , Mewburn Inger , Schroter Sara 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo determine whether researchers are submitting manuscripts and peer reviews to BMJ journals out of hours and whether this has changed over time.DesignObservational study of research manuscripts and peer reviews submitted between 2012 and 2019 for which an author’s address could be geocoded.SettingOnline BMJ submission systems for two large general medical journals.Main outcome measuresManuscript and peer review submissions on weekends, on national holidays, and by hour of day (to determine early mornings and late nights). Logistic regression was used to estimate the probability of manuscript and peer review submissions on weekends or holidays.ResultsThe analyses included more than 49 000 manuscript submissions and 76 000 peer reviews. Little change over time was seen in the average probability of manuscript or peer review submissions occurring on weekends or holidays. The levels of out of hours work were high, with average probabilities of 0.14 to 0.18 for work on the weekends and 0.08 to 0.13 for work on holidays compared with days in the same week. Clear and consistent differences were seen between countries. Chinese researchers most often worked at weekends and at midnight, whereas researchers in Scandinavian countries were among the most likely to submit during the week and the middle of the day.ConclusionThe differences between countries that are persistent over time show that a “culture of overwork” is a literal thing, not just a figure of speech.
Patterns of postmeal insulin secretion in individuals with sulfonylurea-treatedKCNJ11neonatal diabetes show predominance of non-KATP-channel pathways
Authors: Bowman Pamela , McDonald Timothy J , Knight Bridget A , Flanagan Sarah E , Leveridge Maria , Spaull Steve R , Shields Beverley M , Hammersley Suzanne , Shepherd Maggie H , Andrews Robert C , Patel Kashyap A , Hattersley Andrew T 
Published: December 2019

ObjectiveInsulin secretion in sulfonylurea-treatedKCNJ11permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (PNDM) is thought to be mediated predominantly through amplifying non-KATP-channel pathways such as incretins. Affected individuals report symptoms of postprandial hypoglycemia after eating protein/fat-rich foods. We aimed to assess the physiological response to carbohydrate and protein/fat in people with sulfonylurea-treatedKCNJ11PNDM.Research design and methods5 adults with sulfonylurea-treatedKCNJ11PNDM and five age, sex and body mass index-matched controls without diabetes had a high-carbohydrate and high-protein/fat meal on two separate mornings. Insulin(i) and glucose(g) were measured at baseline then regularly over 4 hours after the meal. Total area under the curve (tAUC) for insulin and glucose was calculated over 4 hours and compared between meals in controls andKCNJ11cases.ResultsIn controls, glucose values after carbohydrate and protein/fat were similar (median glucose tAUC0-4h21.4 vs 19.7 mmol/L, p=0.08). InKCNJ11cases glucose levels were higher after carbohydrate than after protein/fat (median glucose tAUC0-4h58.1 vs 31.3 mmol/L, p=0.04). These different glycemic responses reflected different patterns of insulin secretion: in controls, insulin secretion was greatly increased after carbohydrate versus protein/fat (median insulin tAUC0-4h727 vs 335 pmol/L, p=0.04), but inKCNJ11cases insulin secretion was similar after carbohydrate and protein/fat (median insulin tAUC0-4h327 vs 378 pmol/L, p=0.50).ConclusionsIndividuals with sulfonylurea-treatedKCNJ11PNDM produce similar levels of insulin in response to both carbohydrate and protein/fat meals despite carbohydrate resulting in much higher glucose levels and protein/fat resulting in relatively low glucose levels. This suggests in an inability to modulate insulin secretion in response to glucose levels, consistent with a dependence on non-KATPpathways for insulin secretion.Trial registration numberNCT02921906.
Clinical significance of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with acute coronary syndrome in relation to diabetes status
Authors: Wang Xiao , Fan Jingyao , Du Yunhui , Ma Changsheng , Ma Xinliang , Nie Shaoping , Wei Yongxiang 
Published: December 2019

ObjectiveThe prognostic significance of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) according to diabetes mellitus (DM) status remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the association of OSA with subsequent cardiovascular events in patients with ACS with or without DM.Research design and methodsIn this prospective cohort study, consecutive eligible patients with ACS underwent cardiorespiratory polygraphy between June 2015 and May 2017. OSA was defined as an Apnea Hypopnea Index ≥15 events/hour. The primary end point was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, ischemia-driven revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina or heart failure.ResultsAmong 804 patients, 248 (30.8%) had DM and 403 (50.1%) had OSA. OSA was associated with 2.5 times the risk of 1 year MACCE in patients with DM (22.3% vs 7.1% in the non-OSA group; adjusted HR (HR)=2.49, 95% CI 1.16 to 5.35, p=0.019), but not in patients without DM (8.5% vs 7.7% in the non-OSA group, adjusted HR=0.94, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.75, p=0.85). Patients with DM without OSA had a similar 1 year MACCE rate as patients without DM. The increased risk of events was predominately isolated to patients with OSA with baseline glucose or hemoglobin A1c levels above the median. Combined OSA and longer hypoxia duration (time with arterial oxygen saturation <90%>22 min) further increased the MACCE rate to 31.0% in patients with DM.ConclusionsOSA was associated with increased risk of 1 year MACCE following ACS in patients with DM, but not in non-DM patients. Further trials exploring the efficacy of OSA treatment in high-risk patients with ACS and DM are warranted.
Cancer diagnosis and care among rural-to-urban migrants in China
Authors: Myerson Rebecca , Lu Tianyi , Yuan Yong , Liu Gordon Guo-En 
Published: December 2019

IntroductionCancer is a leading cause of death in China. Rural-to-urban migrants are a group of over 260 million people in China sometimes termed the ‘floating’ population. This study assessed the prevalence of cancer diagnosis and access to needed healthcare by residence and migration status in China.MethodsWe used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, a nationally representative population-based random sample of adults age 45 years and older and their spouses in China. We used multivariable logistic regressions to compare outcomes among rural-to-urban migrants, local urban residents and local rural residents after adjusting for province of residence, socioeconomic status and demographic characteristics.ResultsThe sample included 7335 urban residents, 9286 rural residents and 3255 rural-to-urban migrants. Prevalence of cancer diagnosis was 9.9 per 1000 population among rural-to-urban migrants (95% CI 6.5 to 15.1 per 1000 population). Rural-to-urban migrants had higher tobacco use (OR=2.01; 95% CI 1.59 to 2.56, p<0.001), lower use of a health check-up (OR=0.57; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.67, p<0.001) and lower prevalence of diagnosed cancer (OR=0.41; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.95, p=0.037) than urban residents. Among participants with diagnosed cancer, residence and migration status were not predictive of foregoing needed healthcare, but were predictive of diagnosis with a screen-detectable tumour (ie, breast, colon, prostate or cervical cancer) (OR=0.17; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.63, p=0.007 for rural residents; OR=0.34; 95% CI 0.09 to 1.22, p=0.098 for rural-to-urban migrants, compared with urban residents).ConclusionRapid and large migration is still a driving force transitioning China. Due to some remaining dual policy settings in favour of local residents, rural migrants tend to use lower primary care and preventive health check-ups in general, and diagnosis of screen-detectable tumours in particular, leading to potentially higher risk of missing early diagnosis of cancers. Closing gaps in diagnosis of screen-detectable tumours could increase treatment and improve cancer outcomes.
Factors associated with antibiotic prescribing in patients with acute respiratory tract complaints in Malta: a 1-year repeated cross-sectional surveillance study
Authors: Saliba-Gustafsson Erika A , Dunberger Hampton Alexandra , Zarb Peter , Orsini Nicola , Borg Michael A , Stålsby Lundborg Cecilia 
Published: December 2019

ObjectiveTo identify factors that influence general practitioners’ (GPs’) oral antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract complaints (aRTCs) in Malta.DesignRepeated, cross-sectional surveillance.SettingMaltese general practice; both public health centres and private GP clinics.Participants30 GPs registered on the Malta Medical Council’s Specialist Register and 3 GP trainees registered data of 4831 patients of all ages suffering from any aRTC. Data were collected monthly between May 2015 and April 2016 during predetermined 1-week periods.Outcome measuresThe outcome of interest was antibiotic prescription (yes/no), defined as an oral antibiotic prescription issued for an aRTC during an in-person consultation, irrespective of the number of antibiotics given. The association between GP, practice and consultation-level factors, patient sociodemographic factors and patient health status factors, and antibiotic prescription was investigated.ResultsThe antibiotic prescription rate was 45.0%. Independent factors positively associated with antibiotic prescribing included female GP sex (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.22 to 4.26), GP age with GPs ≥60 being the most likely (OR 34.7, 95% CI 14.14 to 84.98), patient age with patients ≥65 being the most likely (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.71 to 3.18), number of signs and/or symptoms with patients having ≥4 being the most likely (OR 9.6, 95% CI 5.78 to 15.99), fever (OR 2.6, 95% CI 2.08 to 3.26), productive cough (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.61), otalgia (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.76), tender cervical nodes (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.57 to 3.05), regular clients (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.66), antibiotic requests (OR 4.8, 95% CI 2.52 to 8.99) and smoking (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.71). Conversely, patients with non-productive cough (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.41), sore throat (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.78), rhinorrhoea (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.36) or dyspnoea (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.83) were less likely to receive an antibiotic prescription.ConclusionAntibiotic prescribing for aRTCs was high and influenced by a number of factors. Potentially inappropriate prescribing in primary care can be addressed through multifaceted interventions addressing modifiable factors associated with prescription.Trial registration numberNCT03218930
Community-based rehabilitation programme for adolescents with mental health conditions in Israel: a qualitative study protocol
Authors: Tuaf Hila , Orkibi Hod 
Published: December 2019

IntroductionIn Israel, 12% of adolescents have mental health conditions. Approximately 600 adolescents with mental health conditions are hospitalised each year and about 40% of them return to the hospital and are thus cut-off from their daily lives and peers in the community. In contrast to adults, adolescents with mental health conditions in Israel are not eligible by law for rehabilitation services. Thus, the overarching goal of this qualitative study is to identify best practices for the implementation of community-based psychosocial rehabilitation programme for this population, by examining the first such programme in Israel. Amitim for Youth, which was established in 2018 by the Israel Association of Community Centers in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the Special Projects Fund of the National Insurance Institute.Methods and analysisQualitative data will be collected through in depth semi-structured interviews and focus groups. To identify themes and patterns in the data, a six-stage reflexive thematic analysis approach will be used. A triangulation procedure will be conducted to strengthen the validity of the findings collected by different methods and from various stakeholders in the programme: the programme’s decision-makers, programme team members, the intended beneficiaries and referring mental health professionals. To insure the trustworthiness of the findings, three strategies will be employed: memo writing, reflexive journaling and member checking.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the Ethics Committee for Human Research in the Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences at the University of Haifa (#455–18) and by the Chief Scientist in the Ministry of Education (#10566). All participants will sign an informed consent form and will be guaranteed confidentiality and anonymity. Data collection will be conducted in the next 2 years (2019 to 2020). After data analysis, the findings will be disseminated via publications.
Risk of bias and reporting completeness of randomised controlled trials in burn care: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Young Amber , Reeves Barnaby C , Cheng Hung-Yuan , Wasiak Jason , Muir Duncan , Davies Anna , Blazeby Jane 
Published: December 2019

IntroductionBurn care represents a healthcare and economic burden to patients internationally. Choice of the most clinically effective treatment strategies requires evidence which is best obtained through high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCT). The number of published RCTs of burn care is increasing. However, trial quality and reporting standards are unclear. This study will assess the risk of bias and adequacy of reporting in recent burn care RCTs using tools endorsed by the Cochrane Collaboration.Methods and analysisA systematic literature review will be undertaken, assessing parallel group RCTs evaluating therapeutic interventions for patients with cutaneous burns. Literature searches will use Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library. Separate searches for each database will include medical subject heading and free text terms including ‘burn’, ‘scald’, ‘thermal injury’ and ‘RCT’. Two reviewers will independently assess each study for inclusion. Risk of bias (RoB) will be assessed with the revised tool (RoB 2) and reporting completeness with the CONsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2010 guidelines. We will report a narrative synthesis of all studies, including domain specific, and overall risk of bias for the primary outcome of each trial. Inter-rater agreement for RoB 2 will be reported using Fleiss’s Kappa. For adherence to the CONSORT guidelines, we will generate a completeness of reporting index for the ﬁve domains.Ethics and disseminationNo ethics approval is required because published documents will be used. Findings of the study will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018111020.
Influence of intranasal oxytocin on fear consolidation in healthy humans
Authors: Hoge Elizabeth , Bui Eric , Rosencrans Peter , Orr Scott , Ross Rachel , Ojserkis Rebecca , Simon Naomi 
Published: December 2019

BackgroundAlthough recent data in healthy humans suggestthat treatment with intranasal oxytocin (OT) may facilitate extinction recall,to date, little is known about the effects of OT on memory consolidationprocesses.AimTo examine the effect of intranasal administration of OT compared with placebo on memory consolidation blockade of a de novo fear memory in a classical 2-day fear conditioning procedure.ResultsThere were no significant differences between the OT and the placebo groups on the first two extinction trials (mean (SD)=0.01 (0.39) vs 0.15 (0.31), t=−1.092, p=0.28). Similarly, during early extinction, analysis of variance for repeated measures failed to show significant main effects of extinction trials: trials (F(4, 112)=1.58, p=0.18), drug (F(1, 112)=0.13, p=0.72) or drug × trials interaction (F(4, 112)=0.76, p=0.56).ConclusionOur results suggest that OT administered in a double-blind fashion immediately after fear conditioning does not significantly reduce consolidation of fear learning as measured by a differential skin conductance response tested at the beginning of extinction.