bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of sex‐related changes in skin topography and structure using innovative skin testing equipment
Authors: Dąbrowska M. , Mielcarek A. , Nowak I. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundEvaluation of skin condition on the basis of parametrization and objective measurements of the parameters has become obligatory. The aim of this study was to assess sex‐related changes in skin topography and structure using the skin testing equipment.Materials and MethodsThe study was carried out on the group of 40 volunteers (20 females and 20 males) of the mean age 24 ± 3 years. The skin parameters were measured using 3 devices: Visioscan® VC 98 (skin topography), Visioline® VL 650 (skin macro relief) and Ultrascan UC22 (ultrasound imaging of the skin). All measurements were performed on the inner part of the left forearm.ResultsThe skin parameters measured revealed significant differences in skin surface and structure between females and males. The skin of all women subjects was more homogenous in its structure with the presence of more abundant superficial skin lines and wrinkles in comparison to male skin. The higher number of skin furrows in the skin of women is in agreement with literature reports claiming that men's skin has lower number of wrinkles which are deeper and more pronounced. Ultrasound imaging of the skin indicated greater thickness and lower density of the dermis of men subjects compared to those of females.ConclusionNon‐invasive methods of skin testing using new and advanced equipment have provided a possibility of objective parametrization and evaluation of sex‐related changes in skin topography and structure.
High immunogenicity of red blood cell antigens restricted to the population of African descent in a cohort of sickle cell disease patients
Authors: Floch Aline , Gien Dominique , Tournamille Christophe , Chami Btissam , Habibi Anoosha , Galactéros Frédéric , Bierling Philippe , Djoudi Rachid , Pondarré Corinne , Peyrard Thierry , Pirenne France 
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUNDSickle cell disease (SCD) patients undergo multiple red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and are regularly exposed to low‐prevalence (LP) antigens specific to individuals of African descent. This study evaluated the prevalence of antibodies against LP antigens in SCD patients and the need to identify these antibodies in everyday practice.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSPlasma from 211 SCD patients was tested with RBCs expressing the following LP antigens: RH10 (V), RH20 (VS), RH23 (DW), RH30 (Goa), KEL6 (Jsa), and MNS6 (He).RESULTSNine LP antibodies were found in eight patients (3.8%): five anti‐RH23, two anti‐RH30, and two anti‐MNS6. The exposure risk, calculated for each LP antigen, was below 3% per RBC unit, for all antigens tested. Thus, in this cohort of transfused SCD patients, the prevalence of LP antibodies was similar to that of antibodies against antigens of the FY, JK, and MNS blood group systems. These findings also reveal the occurrence of anti‐RH23 in SCD patients. No anti‐RH20 or anti‐KEL6 were found, despite the high frequency of mismatch situations.CONCLUSIONThese results highlight the immunogenicity of these LP antigens, and the evanescence of antibodies against LP antigens. They also highlight the importance of appropriate pretransfusion testing for patients frequently transfused, who are likely to be exposed to multiple types of blood group antigens.
OK/basigin expression on red blood cells varies between blood donors and correlates with binding of recombinant Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte‐binding protein homolog 5
Authors: Ye Luyi , Zhao Fengyong , Yang Qixiu , Zhang Jiamin , Li Qin , Wang Chen , Guo Zhonghui , Yang Ying , Zhu Ziyan 
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND: Recently, basigin (BSG), which carries OK antigens on red blood cells (RBCs), was reported to be the receptor of the Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte‐binding protein homolog 5 (PfRh5). BSG–PfRh5 is the only essential receptor–ligand pair in P. falciparum invasion that is known to date. However, the kind of OK/BSG polymorphism involved in the selection pressure caused by P. falciparum malaria has not been determined.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected to detect the expression of OK/BSG. The coding region of PfRh5 was cloned and expressed. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay–based erythrocyte binding assay was used to measure the recombinant PfRh5 (rPfRh5) binding of RBCs with different OK/BSG expressions. Sequencing of the BSG gene and quantification of the BSG mRNA were performed for selected samples. The candidate microRNAs (miRNAs), which might target the BSG gene, were obtained by miRNA sequencing. Dual‐Luciferase reporter assay and overexpression of identified miRNAs were performed in K562 cells.RESULTS: The rPfRh5 was successfully expressed and verified. The OK/BSG expression levels varied among blood donors and were strongly associated with rPfRh5 binding. No single‐nucleotide polymorphism was related to the OK/BSG expression. A potential BSG regulator, miR‐501‐3p, was identified by miRNA sequencing and Dual‐Luciferase assay, but was not proven to regulate the expression of BSG in K562 cells.CONCLUSION: Although the mechanism of OK/BSG expression and regulation on RBCs has not been fully clarified, our findings suggest that the OK/BSG expression levels on RBCs might be related to P. falciparum invasion. Moreover, posttranscriptional regulation might play a role in controlling the OK/BSG expression.
Diagnostic performance of prothrombin time point‐of‐care to detect acute traumatic coagulopathy on admission: experience of 522 cases in trauma center
Authors: Deras Pauline , Nouri Jibril , Martinez Orianne , Aubry Emmanuelle , Capdevila Xavier , Charbit Jonathan 
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUNDEarly identification of acute traumatic coagulopathy is a key challenge during initial management to determine whether to initiate early hemostatic support. We assessed the performance of prothrombin time (PT) at point‐of‐care in trauma patients to detect moderate and severe coagulopathy on admission.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSAll admitted consecutive trauma patients were analyzed retrospectively between April 2014 and July 2015. PT was measured on admission with both a PT point‐of‐care device (PTr‐CGK) and a standard coagulation test (PTr‐STD). The results for PTr‐CGK and PTr‐STD were compared using analysis of agreement, precision, and accuracy. The diagnostic performance of PTr‐CGK to predict coagulopathy was established by analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves. The predictive performance of different thresholds and risk factors for misclassification were also studied.RESULTSOver a 16‐month period, 522 patients were included. PTr‐CGK estimated PTr‐STD with a bias of 0.00 (95% confidence interval [CI], −0.48 to 0.50) and a precision of 0.25. The optimal threshold was 1.4 to predict severe coagulopathy (sensitivity 81% [95% CI, 68%‐94%], negative predictive value 98% [95% CI, 97%‐99%]), and 1.2 for moderate coagulopathy (sensitivity 80% [95% CI, 72%‐88%], negative predictive value 94% [95% CI, 91%‐96%]). A low PTr‐CGK in the presence of severity criteria (Injury Severity Score ≥ 16, Trauma Associated Severe Hemorrhage score ≥ 12, hemoglobin level < 7 g/dL, fibrinogen level < 2 g/L, base deficit ≥ 6 mmol/L) was strongly associated with a false‐negative risk.CONCLUSIONSThe PT point‐of‐care device is reliable and accurate for the early identification of coagulopathic trauma patients.
A case report of Dermanyssus gallinae infestation in three cats
Authors: Di Palma Antonella , Leone Federico , Albanese Francesco , Beccati Massimo 
Published: April 2018

BackgroundDermanyssus gallinae is a major threat for the poultry industry; these mites also feed on the blood of many other birds, small mammals and potentially humans.Hypothesis/ObjectivesThree cats with dermatitis attributed to D. gallinae infestation.AnimalsTwo 40‐day‐old kittens, living in a rural area, and one 7‐year‐old female indoor cat, were presented with a pruritic skin condition.MethodsMite specimens were collected from the cats and examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Cytological and histological examinations of the skin lesions were performed.ResultsA diagnosis of D. gallinae infestation was made after identification of the mites. Histological findings were compatible with eosinophilic dermatitis. Clinical improvement was noted two weeks after treatment.Conclusions and clinical importanceThe two kittens showed chronic blood loss which reflects the ability of D. gallinae mites to switch host. For the indoor cat, mites were presumed to be carried by birds regularly present on the balcony of the apartment. This demonstrates that mite infestation is possible even in urban areas, through contact with birds or their abandoned nests. When birds are not present, cats or other small mammals as well as humans, can be infested.
Global Distribution of Invasive Serotype 35D Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates following Introduction of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
Authors: Lo Stephanie W. , Gladstone Rebecca A. , van Tonder Andries J. , Hawkins Paulina A. , Kwambana-Adams Brenda , Cornick Jennifer E. , Madhi Shabir A. , Nzenze Susan A. , du Plessis Mignon , Kandasamy Rama , Carter Philip E. , Eser Özgen Köseoglu , Ho Pak Leung , Elmdaghri Naima , Shakoor Sadia , Clarke Stuart C. , Antonio Martin , Everett Dean B. , von Gottberg Anne , Klugman Keith P. , McGee Lesley , Breiman Robert F. , Bentley Stephen D. 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

A newly recognized pneumococcal serotype, 35D, which differs from the 35B polysaccharide in structure and serology by not binding to factor serum 35a, was recently reported. The genetic basis for this distinctive serology is due to the presence of an inactivating mutation in
wciG
, which encodes an O-acetyltransferase responsible for O-acetylation of a galactofuranose. Here, we assessed the genomic data of a worldwide pneumococcal collection to identify serotype 35D isolates and understand their geographical distribution, genetic background, and invasiveness potential. Of 21,980 pneumococcal isolates, 444 were originally typed as serotype 35B by PneumoCaT. Analysis of the
wciG
gene revealed 23 isolates from carriage (
n
= 4) and disease (
n
= 19) with partial or complete loss-of-function mutations, including mutations resulting in premature stop codons (
n
= 22) and an in-frame mutation (
n
= 1). These were selected for further analysis. The putative 35D isolates were geographically widespread, and 65.2% (15/23) of them was recovered after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13 (PCV13). Compared with serotype 35B isolates, putative serotype 35D isolates have higher invasive disease potentials based on odds ratios (OR) (11.58; 95% confidence interval[CI], 1.42 to 94.19 versus 0.61; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.92) and a higher prevalence of macrolide resistance mediated by
mefA
(26.1% versus 7.6%;
P
= 0.009). Using the Quellung reaction, 50% (10/20) of viable isolates were identified as serotype 35D, 25% (5/20) as serotype 35B, and 25% (5/20) as a mixture of 35B/35D. The discrepancy between phenotype and genotype requires further investigation. These findings illustrated a global distribution of an invasive serotype, 35D, among young children post-PCV13 introduction and underlined the invasive potential conferred by the loss of O-acetylation in the pneumococcal capsule.
Evaluation of a Rapid Diagnostic Test for Detection of Burkholderia pseudomallei in the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Authors: Woods Kate L. , Boutthasavong Latsaniphone , NicFhogartaigh Caoimhe , Lee Sue J. , Davong Viengmon , AuCoin David P. , Dance David A. B. 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

Burkholderia pseudomallei
causes significant global morbidity and mortality, with the highest disease burden in parts of Asia where culture-based diagnosis is often not available. We prospectively evaluated the Active Melioidosis Detect (AMD; InBios International, USA) lateral flow immunoassay (LFI) for rapid detection of
B. pseudomallei
in turbid blood cultures, pus, sputum, sterile fluid, urine, and sera. The performance of this test was compared to that of
B. pseudomallei
detection using monoclonal antibody latex agglutination (LA) and immunofluorescence assays (IFA), with culture as the gold standard. AMD was 99% (99/100; 95% confidence interval, 94.6 to 100%) sensitive and 100% (308/308; 98.8 to 100%) specific on turbid blood culture bottles, with no difference from LA or IFA. AMD specificity was 100% on pus (122/122; 97.0 to 100%), sputum (20/20; 83.2 to 100%), and sterile fluid (44/44; 92 to 100%). Sensitivity on these samples was as follows: pus, 47.1% (8/17; 23.0 to 72.2%); sputum, 33.3% (1/3; 0.84 to 90.6%); and sterile fluid, 0% (0/2; 0 to 84.2%). For urine samples, AMD had a positive predictive value of 94% (32/34; 79.7 to 98.5%) for diagnosing melioidosis in our cohort. AMD sensitivity on stored sera, collected prospectively from melioidosis cases during this study, was 13.9% (5/36; 4.7% to 29.5%) compared to blood culture samples taken on the same day. In conclusion, AMD is an excellent tool for rapid diagnosis of melioidosis from turbid blood cultures and maintains specificity across all sample types. It is a promising tool for urinary antigen detection, which could revolutionize diagnosis of melioidosis in resource-limited settings. Further work is required to improve sensitivity on nonblood culture samples.
Submarine landslides offshore Yamba, NSW, Australia: an analysis of their timing, downslope motion and possible causes
Authors: Hubble Thomas , Yeung Serena , Clarke Samantha , Baxter Alan , De Blasio Fabio 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Radiocarbon isotopic ages and sedimentological data are presented for material recovered from three adjacent translational submarine landslides (YS1, YS2 and YS3) identified on the upper-continental slope offshore Yamba, New South Wales, Australia. The age data indicate that these three co-located upper-slope slides probably occurred independently of each other and not in a single, widespread regional-scale failure event.
Numerical estimates of the likely runout distances for slide blocks corresponding to the entire landslide scar volumes range between 10 and 27 km, and represent a ‘runout zone’ in which landslide blocks or debris might reasonably be expected to be located. There is no morphological evidence for large blocks or debris fields derived from two of the Yamba landslide scars within their identified runout zones (YS1 and YS2), suggesting these two failures involved complete disintegration of large slide blocks after failure or the removal of sediment from the landslide sites as grainflows or turbidites. In contrast, the third runout zone (YS3) presents good evidence of at least 12 slide blocks between 100 and 200 m in diameter, suggesting that they were shed as relatively small individual blocks or they were generated due to the dismemberment of a larger slab.
Modular Labelled Sequent Calculi for Abstract Separation Logics
Authors: Hóu Zhé , Clouston Ranald , Goré Rajeev , Tiu Alwen 
Published: April 2018

Abstract separation logics are a family of extensions of Hoare logic for reasoning about programs that manipulate resources such as memory locations. These logics are “abstract” because they are independent of any particular concrete resource model. Their assertion languages, called
Propositional Abstract Separation Logics
(PASLs), extend the logic of (Boolean) Bunched Implications (BBI) in various ways. In particular, these logics contain the connectives * and –*, denoting the composition and extension of resources, respectively.

This added expressive power comes at a price, since the resulting logics are all undecidable. Given their wide applicability, even a semi-decision procedure for these logics is desirable. Although several PASLs and their relationships with BBI are discussed in the literature, the proof theory of, and automated reasoning for, these logics were open problems solved by the conference version of this article, which developed a modular proof theory for various PASLs using cut-free labelled sequent calculi. This paper non-trivially improves upon this previous work by giving a general framework of calculi on which any new axiom in the logic satisfying a certain form corresponds to an inference rule in our framework, and the completeness proof is generalised to consider such axioms.
Our base calculus handles Calcagno et al.’s original logic of separation algebras by adding sound rules for partial-determinism and cancellativity, while preserving cut-elimination. We then show that many important properties in separation logic, such as indivisible unit, disjointness, splittability, and cross-split, can be expressed in our general axiom form. Thus, our framework offers inference rules and completeness for these properties for free. Finally, we show how our calculi reduce to calculi with global label substitutions, enabling more efficient implementation.
Relaxing state-access constraints in stateful programmable data planes
Authors: Cascone Carmelo , Bifulco Roberto , Pontarelli Salvatore , Capone Antonio 
Published: April 2018

Supporting programmable stateful packet forwarding functions in hardware requires a tight balance between functionality and performance. Current state-of-the-art solutions are based on a very conservative model that assumes worst-case workloads. This finally limits the programmability of the system, even if actual deployment conditions may be very different from the worst-case scenario.
We use trace-based simulations to highlight the benefits of accounting for specific workload characteristics. Furthermore, we show that relatively simple additions to a switching chip design can take advantage of such characteristics. In particular, we argue that introducing stalls in the switching chip pipeline enables stateful functions to be executed in a larger but bounded time without harming the overall forwarding performance. Our results show that, in some cases, the stateful processing of a packet could use 30x the time budget provided by state of the art solutions.
Different Effects of Normobaric Oxygen in Normotensive Versus Hypertensive Rats After Focal Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Lan Jing , Esposito Elga , Ayata Cenk , Singhal Aneesh B. , Lo Eng H. , Ji Xunming 
Published: April 2018

Background and Purpose—
The efficacy of neuroprotective approaches in stroke may be influenced by existing comorbidities. Here, we compared the effects of normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) in normotensive versus hypertensive rats subjected to transient focal cerebral ischemia.

Methods—
Male Sprague–Dawley and spontaneously hypertensive rats were subjected to transient focal ischemia via intraluminal filament occlusions of the middle cerebral artery. NBO was started 15 minutes after ischemic onset and stopped at the time of reperfusion. Acute neurological deficits and tetrazolium-stained infarct volumes were quantified at 24 hours.

Results—

NBO reduced mean infarct volumes by ≈50% (
P
=0.0064) in normotensive Sprague–Dawley rats subjected to 100 minutes transient ischemia. No effects of NBO were observed in hypertensive spontaneously hypertensive rats subjected to either 100 minutes or 75 minutes of transient ischemia. No significant changes in neurological outcomes were detectable in any group.

Conclusions—
NBO reduced infarction in Sprague–Dawley but not in spontaneously hypertensive rats. These findings suggest that comorbidities may influence responses to potential treatments after stroke.
Subseasonal Forecasting with an Icosahedral, Vertically Quasi-Lagrangian Coupled Model. Part I: Model Overview and Evaluation of Systematic Errors
Authors: Sun Shan , Bleck Rainer , Benjamin Stanley G. , Green Benjamin W. , Grell Georg A. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
The atmospheric hydrostatic Flow-Following Icosahedral Model (FIM), developed for medium-range weather prediction, provides a unique three-dimensional grid structure—a quasi-uniform icosahedral horizontal grid and an adaptive quasi-Lagrangian vertical coordinate. To extend the FIM framework to subseasonal time scales, an icosahedral-grid rendition of the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (iHYCOM) was developed and coupled to FIM. By sharing a common horizontal mesh, air–sea fluxes between the two models are conserved locally and globally. Both models use similar adaptive hybrid vertical coordinates. Another unique aspect of the coupled model (referred to as FIM–iHYCOM) is the use of the Grell–Freitas scale-aware convective scheme in the atmosphere. A multiyear retrospective study is necessary to demonstrate the potential usefulness and allow for immediate bias correction of a subseasonal prediction model. In these two articles, results are shown based on a 16-yr period of hindcasts from FIM–iHYCOM, which has been providing real-time forecasts out to a lead time of 4 weeks for NOAA’s Subseasonal Experiment (SubX) starting July 2017. Part I provides an overview of FIM–iHYCOM and compares its systematic errors at subseasonal time scales to those of NOAA’s operational Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2). Part II uses bias-corrected hindcasts to assess both deterministic and probabilistic subseasonal skill of FIM–iHYCOM. FIM–iHYCOM has smaller biases than CFSv2 for some fields (including precipitation) and comparable biases for other fields (including sea surface temperature). FIM–iHYCOM also has less drift in bias between weeks 1 and 4 than CFSv2. The unique grid structure and physics suite of FIM–iHYCOM is expected to add diversity to multimodel ensemble forecasts at subseasonal time scales in SubX.
Comparing Upper Airway Stimulation to Expansion Sphincter Pharyngoplasty: A Single University Experience
Authors: Huntley Colin , Chou David W. , Doghramji Karl , Boon Maurits 
Published: April 2018

Introduction: Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty (ESP) is a surgical option for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Upper airway stimulation (UAS) is an alternative that has shown success in initial outcomes studies. We compare outcomes of a cohort of patients undergoing UAS to ESP. Methods: We compared demographic and polysomnographic data of the UAS to ESP cohorts. We also calculated the proportion of patients achieving surgical success. Results: The ESP cohort consisted of 33 patients. The mean preoperative Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), O2 nadir, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and BMI were 36.47 ± 20.01, 82.63 ± 5.37, 10.69 ± 4.42, and 29.6 ± 4.49, which improved to 13.47 ± 18.74, 84.84 ± 5.48, 7.00 ± 5.81, and 29.92 ± 4.59 postoperatively. There was a 63.64% success rate. The UAS cohort consisted of 75 patients. The mean preoperative AHI, O2 nadir, ESS, and BMI were 36.76 ± 20.72, 80.24 ± 8.43, 11.18 ± 4.16, and 29.50 ± 3.96, which improved to 7.25 ± 11.19, 88.71 ± 3.25, 5.36 ± 3.35, and 29.36 ± 3.68 postoperatively. The success rate was 86.67%. We found a significant difference in gender, age, preoperative AHI, postoperative AHI, postoperative O2 nadir, surgical success, and patients reaching an AHI less than 10 and 5. Conclusion: Upper airway stimulation is a new surgical option for select patients with OSA showing comparable or improved outcomes to a cohort of patients undergoing ESP.