bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Are seminars on export promotion effective? Evidence from a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Kim Yu Ri , Todo Yasuyuki , Shimamoto Daichi , Matous Petr 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThis paper investigates the impacts of informational and motivational seminars on export promotion targeting small and medium enterprises in the traditional apparel and textile clusters in Vietnam. To control for biases due to self‐selection, we conducted a randomised controlled trial and invited randomly selected firms to participate in 1‐day seminars. Because only some of the invited firms participated in the seminars, we employ an instrumental variable approach in which the dummy variable for a random invitation is used as an instrument for quantifying the effects of participation. We find that seminar participants were more likely to sense the difficulties of the export procedures and were, on average, unlikely to start exporting in the short run. However, the seminars encouraged large firms, which possibly embody higher productivity and absorptive capacity, to start exporting shortly after the seminars. This effect was not sustained in the long term without additional stimuli. We have also identified spillover effects of participants on non‐participants through informal information networks within the cluster. Overall, the results suggest that the provision of information about export is useful only to adequately productive larger firms with a sufficient absorptive capacity.
Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus: Past, present and future insights for animal modelling and medical countermeasures
Authors: Mendoza E. J. , Warner B. , Safronetz D. , Ranadheera C. 
Published: April 2018

SummaryCrimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a widespread tick‐borne viral zoonosis with a case‐fatality rate ranging from 9% to 50% in humans. Although a licensed vaccine to prevent infection by the CCHF virus (CCHFV) exists, its ability to induce neutralizing antibodies is limited and its efficacy against CCHFV remains undetermined. In addition, controlling CCHF infections by eradication of the tick reservoir has been ineffective, both economically and logistically, and the treatment options for CCHF remain limited. In this review, we first critically discuss the existing animal models to evaluate therapeutics for CCHF. We then review the therapeutic options for CCHF that have been investigated in human cases, followed by investigational drugs that have been evaluated in pre‐clinical studies. We highlight the importance of understanding human prognostic factors in developing an animal model for CCHF that recapitulates hallmarks of human disease and its implication for selecting therapeutic candidates.
Draft Genome Sequences of Five Neonatal Meningitis-Causing Escherichia coli Isolates (SP-4, SP-5, SP-13, SP-46, and SP-65)
Authors: Xu Aixia , Johnson James R. , Sheen Shiowshuh , Sommers Christopher 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

Neonatal meningitis-causing
Escherichia coli
isolates (SP-4, SP-5, SP-13, SP-46, and SP-65) were recovered between 1989 and 1997 from infants in the Netherlands. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of these five
E. coli
isolates, which are currently being used to validate food safety processing technologies.
Complete Genome Sequencing of 10 Brucella abortus Biovar 3 Strains Isolated from Water Buffalo
Authors: Paradiso Rubina , Orsini Massimiliano , Criscuolo Daniela , Borrelli Rosanna , Valvini Ornella , Cammà Cesare , Chiusano Maria Luisa , Galiero Giorgio , Borriello Giorgia 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that affects both humans and animals. Its distribution is global, concentrated in the Mediterranean area, India, Central Asia, and Latin America. Here, we present a complete genome assembly of 10
Brucella abortus
strains isolated from water buffaloes farmed in the Campania region of Italy.
Complete Genome Sequence of Marinobacter flavimaris LMG 23834
T
, Which Is Potentially Useful in Bioremediation
Authors: Palau Montserrat , Boujida Nadia , Manresa Àngels , Miñana-Galbis David 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

The complete genome sequence of the halophilic strain
Marinobacter flavimaris
LMG 23834
T
is presented here. The genomic information of this type strain will be useful for taxonomic purposes and for its potential use in bioremediation studies.
d
-Alanyl-
d
-Alanine Ligase as a Broad-Host-Range Counterselection Marker in Vancomycin-Resistant Lactic Acid Bacteria
Authors: Zhang Shenwei , Oh Jee-Hwan , Alexander Laura M. , Özçam Mustafa , van Pijkeren Jan-Peter 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

The peptidoglycan composition in lactic acid bacteria dictates vancomycin resistance. Vancomycin binds relatively poorly to peptidoglycan ending in
d
-alanyl-
d
-lactate and binds with high affinity to peptidoglycan ending in
d
-alanyl-
d
-alanine (
d
-Ala-
d
-Ala), which results in vancomycin resistance and sensitivity, respectively. The enzyme responsible for generating these peptidoglycan precursors is dipeptide ligase (Ddl). A single amino acid in the Ddl active site, phenylalanine or tyrosine, determines depsipeptide or dipeptide activity, respectively. Here, we established that heterologous expression of dipeptide ligase in vancomycin-resistant lactobacilli increases their sensitivity to vancomycin in a dose-dependent manner and overcomes the effects of the presence of a native
d
-Ala-
d
-Ala dipeptidase. We incorporated the dipeptide ligase gene on a suicide vector and demonstrated that it functions as a counterselection marker (CSM) in lactobacilli; vancomycin selection allows only those cells to grow in which the suicide vector has been lost. Subsequently, we developed a liquid-based approach to identify recombinants in only 5 days, which is approximately half the time required by conventional approaches. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Ddl serves as a marker to predict vancomycin resistance and consequently indicated the broad applicability of the use of Ddl as a counterselection marker in the genus
Lactobacillus
. Finally, our system represents the first “plug and play” counterselection system in lactic acid bacteria that does not require prior genome editing and/or synthetic medium.

IMPORTANCE
The genus
Lactobacillus
contains more than 200 species, many of which are exploited in the food and biotechnology industries and in medicine. Prediction of intrinsic vancomycin resistance has thus far been limited to selected
Lactobacillus
species. Here, we show that heterologous expression of the enzyme Ddl (dipeptide ligase)—an essential enzyme involved in peptidoglycan synthesis—increases sensitivity to vancomycin in a dose-dependent manner. We exploited this to develop a counterselection marker for use in vancomycin-resistant lactobacilli, thereby expanding the poorly developed genome editing toolbox that is currently available for most strains. Also, we showed that Ddl is a phylogenetic marker that can be used to predict vancomycin resistance in
Lactobacillus
; 81% of
Lactobacillus
species are intrinsically resistant to vancomycin, which makes our tool broadly applicable.
Preharvest Farming Practices Impacting Fresh Produce Safety
Authors: Gutierrez-Rodriguez Eduardo , Adhikari Achyut 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT
Advancements in agriculture and food processing techniques have been instrumental in the development of modern human societies. Vast improvements in agronomic practices, handling, and processing have allowed us to produce and preserve mass quantities of food. Yet despite all these innovations and potentially as a consequence of these mass production practices, more and more outbreaks of human pathogens linked to raw and processed foods are identified every year. It is evident that our increased capacity for microbial detection has contributed to the greater number of outbreaks detected. However, our understanding of how these events originate and what agronomic, packaging, and environmental factors influence the survival, persistence, and proliferation of human pathogens remains of scientific debate. This review seeks to identify those past and current challenges to the safety of fresh produce and focuses on production practices and how those impact produce safety. It reflects on 20 years of research, industry guidelines, and federal standards and how they have evolved to our current understanding of fresh produce safety. This document is not intended to summarize and describe all fruit and vegetable farming practices across the United States and the rest of the world. We understand the significant differences in production practices that exist across regions. This review highlights those general farming practices that significantly impact past and current food safety issues. It focuses on current and future research needs and on preharvest food safety control measures in fresh-produce safety that could provide insight into the mechanisms of pathogen contamination, survival, and inactivation under field and packinghouse conditions.
RNase E and the High-Fidelity Orchestration of RNA Metabolism
Authors: Bandyra Katarzyna J. , Luisi Ben F. 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT
The bacterial endoribonuclease RNase E occupies a pivotal position in the control of gene expression, as its actions either commit transcripts to an irreversible fate of rapid destruction or unveil their hidden functions through specific processing. Moreover, the enzyme contributes to quality control of rRNAs. The activity of RNase E can be directed and modulated by signals provided through regulatory RNAs that guide the enzyme to specific transcripts that are to be silenced. Early in its evolutionary history, RNase E acquired a natively unfolded appendage that recruits accessory proteins and RNA. These accessory factors facilitate the activity of RNase E and include helicases that remodel RNA and RNA-protein complexes, and polynucleotide phosphorylase, a relative of the archaeal and eukaryotic exosomes. RNase E also associates with enzymes from central metabolism, such as enolase and aconitase. RNase E-based complexes are diverse in composition, but generally bear mechanistic parallels with eukaryotic machinery involved in RNA-induced gene regulation and transcript quality control. That these similar processes arose independently underscores the universality of RNA-based regulation in life. Here we provide a synopsis and perspective of the contributions made by RNase E to sustain robust gene regulation with speed and accuracy.
Technology-enabled examinations of cardiac rhythm, optic nerve, oral health, tympanic membrane, gait and coordination evaluated jointly with routine health screenings: an observational study at the 2015 Kumbh Mela in India
Authors: Shah Pratik , Yauney Gregory , Gupta Otkrist , Patalano II Vincent , Mohit Mrinal , Merchant Rikin , Subramanian S V 
Published: April 2018

ObjectivesTechnology-enabled non-invasive diagnostic screening (TES) using smartphones and other point-of-care medical devices was evaluated in conjunction with conventional routine health screenings for the primary care screening of patients.DesignDental conditions, cardiac ECG arrhythmias, tympanic membrane disorders, blood oxygenation levels, optic nerve disorders and neurological fitness were evaluated using FDA-approved advanced smartphone powered technologies. Routine health screenings were also conducted. A novel remote web platform was developed to allow expert physicians to examine TES data and compare efficacy with routine health screenings.SettingThe study was conducted at a primary care centre during the 2015 Kumbh Mela in Maharashtra, India.Participants494 consenting 18–90 years old adults attending the 2015 Kumbh Mela were tested.ResultsTES and routine health screenings identified unique clinical conditions in distinct patients. Intraoral fluorescent imaging classified 63.3% of the population with dental caries and periodontal diseases. An association between poor oral health and cardiovascular illnesses was also identified. Tympanic membrane imaging detected eardrum abnormalities in 13.0% of the population, several with a medical history of hearing difficulties. Gait and coordination issues were discovered in eight subjects and one subject had arrhythmia. Cross-correlations were observed between low oxygen saturation and low body mass index (BMI) with smokers (p=0.0087 and p=0.0122, respectively), and high BMI was associated with elevated blood pressure in middle-aged subjects.ConclusionsTES synergistically identified clinically significant abnormalities in several subjects who otherwise presented as normal in routine health screenings. Physicians validated TES findings and used routine health screening data and medical history responses for comprehensive diagnoses for at-risk patients. TES identified high prevalence of oral diseases, hypertension, obesity and ophthalmic conditions among the middle-aged and elderly Indian population, calling for public health interventions.
An evaluation of prescribing trends and patterns of claims within the Preferred Drugs Initiative in Ireland (2011–2016): an interrupted time-series study
Authors: McDowell Ronald , Bennett Kathleen , Moriarty Frank , Clarke Sarah , Barry Michael , Fahey Tom 
Published: April 2018

ObjectiveTo examine the impact of the Preferred Drugs Initiative (PDI), an Irish health policy aimed at enhancing evidence-based cost-effective prescribing, on prescribing trends and the cost of prescription medicines across seven medication classes.DesignRetrospective repeated cross-sectional study spanning the years 2011–2016.SettingHealth Service Executive Primary Care Reimbursement Service pharmacy claims data for General Medical Services (GMS) patients, approximately 40% of the Irish population.ParticipantsAdults aged ≥18 years between 2011 and 2016 are eligible for the GMS scheme.Primary and secondary outcomesThe percentage of PDI medications within each drug class per calendar quarter. Linear regression was used to model prescribing of the preferred drug within each medication group and to assess the impact of PDI guidelines and other relevant changes in prescribing practice. Savings in drug expenditure were estimated.ResultsBetween 2011 and 2016, around a quarter (23.59%) of all medications were for single-agent drugs licensed in the seven drug classes. There was a small increase in the percentage of PDI drugs, increasing from 4.64% of all medications in 2011 to 4.76% in 2016 (P<0.001). The percentage of preferred drugs within each drug class was significantly higher immediately following publication of the guidelines for all classes except urology, with the largest increases noted for lansoprazole (1.21%, 95% CI: 0.84% to 1.57%, P<0.001) and venlafaxine (0.71%, 95% CI: 0.15% to 1.27%, P=0.02). Trends in prescribing of the preferred drugs between PDI guidelines and the end of 2016 varied between drug classes. Total cost savings between 2013 and 2016 were estimated to be €2.7 million.ConclusionThere has been a small increase in prescribing of PDI drugs in response to prescribing guidelines, with inconsistent changes observed across therapeutic classes. These findings are relevant where health services are seeking to develop more active prescribing interventions aimed at changing prescribing practice.
‘I’m not a smoker…yet’: a qualitative study on perceptions of tobacco control in Chinese high schools
Authors: Zhao Xiang , Young Ross ­M­cD , White Katherine M 
Published: April 2018

ObjectiveChinese adolescents’ perceptions about tobacco control at schools are rarely researched. We explored how current antismoking strategies work in middle school environments, as well as the attitudes towards these strategies held by students and teaching staff members.MethodsFour focus groups (24 eleventh graders;Mage=16 years) and five indepth interviews (teaching staff members with tobacco control experience in schools) were conducted in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. We used thematic analysis combining inductive and deductive processes, along with field observations and research group discussions, for data analysis.ResultsWith educational approaches and practical strategies, antismoking education reported in the middle schools had limited effectiveness. Although smoking is banned in schools, students can circumvent schools’ controls easily. Notably salient is the pessimistic attitude towards school-based antismoking strategies at school. Detrimental influences within (teachers’ smoking) and beyond schools (high societal smoking prevalence) largely challenged the efforts to manage students’ smoking.ConclusionsCurrent antismoking approaches in schools fail to curb smoking among Chinese high school students. Their effectiveness is undermined by both within-campus and off-campus influences. Students’ perceptions of smoking should be valued as their knowledge of smoking is actively constructed. Future antismoking education at school should incorporate interactive sessions rather than merely didactic approaches about the harms of smoking. Although stricter rules for teachers’ smoking are needed, complementary strategies such as population-level interventions and policy measures in wider society will assist in efforts within schools.
Physical activities and influencing factors among public health nurses: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Lin Miao-Ling , Huang Joh-Jong , Chuang Hung-Yi , Tsai Hsiu-Min , Wang Hsiu-Hung 
Published: April 2018

ObjectivesPublic health nurses are responsible for promoting and managing the health of community members, and if they do not have enough physical activity or ignore their own health, not only will their own health decline but the quality of life of the public will also be affected. This study investigated the physical activity of public health nurses and analysed the effects of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and behavioural intention to engage in physical activity.MethodsThis study adopted a cross-sectional research design, and convenience sampling was used to select the research subjects. 198 public health nurses were invited to participate, and 172 completed the questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the influencing factors of physical activity intention and physical activity.ResultsAttitudes towards physical activity and perceived behavioural control of physical activity affected physical activity intention. When they had higher behavioural intention, their physical activity behaviour also improved. The physical activity intention significantly influenced the number of days that they had engaged in vigorous physical activity (95% CI 0.1786 to 0.3060, p<0.0001), and significantly influenced the number of days that they walked daily for 10 min (95% CI 0.2158 to 0.4144, p<0.0001), and also significantly influenced their daily sedentary time (95% CI −0.3020 to 0.0560, p=0.0046).ConclusionsEncouraging public health nurses to heed their own health and motivating them to engage in physical activity warrants attention from policy-makers and government health agencies.
Impact of tailored falls prevention education for older adults at hospital discharge on engagement in falls prevention strategies postdischarge: protocol for a process evaluation
Authors: Naseri Chiara , McPhail Steven M , Netto Julie , Haines Terrence P , Morris Meg E , Etherton-Beer Christopher , Flicker Leon , Lee Den-Ching A , Francis-Coad Jacqueline , Hill Anne-Marie 
Published: April 2018

IntroductionOlder adults recently discharged from hospital have greater incidence of adverse events, functional decline, falls and subsequent readmission. Providing education to hospitalised patients on how to prevent falls at home could reduce postdischarge falls. There has been limited research investigating how older adults respond to tailored falls prevention education provided at hospital discharge. The aim of this study is to evaluate how providing tailored falls prevention education to older patients at the point of, and immediately after hospital discharge in addition to usual care, affects engagement in falls prevention strategies in the 6-months postdischarge period, including their capability and motivation to engage in falls prevention strategies.Methods and analysesThis prospective observational cohort study is a process evaluation of a randomised controlled trial, using an embedded mixed-method design. Participants (n=390) who have been enrolled in the trial are over the age of 60 years, scoring greater than 7/10 on the Abbreviated Mental Test Score. Participants are being discharged from hospital rehabilitation wards in Perth, Western Australia, and followed up for 6 months postdischarge. Primary outcome measures for the process evaluation are engagement in falls prevention strategies, including exercise, home modifications and receiving assistance with activities of daily living. Secondary outcomes will measure capability, motivation and opportunity to engage in falls prevention strategies, based on the constructs of the Capability Opportunity Motivation Behaviour system. Quantitative data are collected at baseline, then at 6 months postdischarge using structured phone interviews. Qualitative data are collected from a purposive sample of the cohort, using semistructured in-depth phone interviews. Quantitative data will be analysed using regression modelling and qualitative data will be analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.Ethics and disseminationResults will be presented in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences worldwide. This study is approved by hospital and university Human Research Ethics Committees.
The Neuroform Atlas stent to assist coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms: a multicentre experience
Authors: Ulfert Christian , Pham Mirko , Sonnberger Michael , Amaya Franco , Trenkler Johannes , Bendszus Martin , Möhlenbruch Markus A 
Published: April 2018

ObjectiveTo assess the clinical safety and efficacy of the Atlas microstent in stent-assisted coil embolization of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms.MethodsSingle-center observational study in 36 patients (24 female, 12 male, mean age 56 years) with 37 aneurysms for the endovascular treatment of wide-necked aneurysms. After giving informed consent, patients were included according to the following criteria: aneurysm dome-to-neck ratio <2 or neck diameter >4 mm, and a parent vessel diameter of ≤4.5 mm. Primary endpoint for clinical safety was absence of death, absence of major or minor stroke, and absence of transient ischemic attack. Primary endpoint for treatment efficacy was complete angiographic occlusion according to the Raymond-Roy occlusion classification (RROC) immediately after the procedure.ResultsIn 36/37 (97%) cases, the primary endpoint of safety was reached, one patient had a transitory ischemic attack which completely resolved until discharge. In 31/37 (84%) cases, complete occlusion (RROC 1) was reached, and in 6/36 (17%), a residual neck remained (RROC 2). A sequential approach (first stent, then coiling through the same catheter) was used in 21 cases; the other 16 were treated with the jailing technique. Deployment was technically successful in all cases. Follow-up at a median of 6.1 months was available for 29/37 (78%) aneurysms and showed complete occlusion in 27/29 aneurysms (93%) and a neck remnant in 2 cases (7%).ConclusionDeployment of the Neuroform Atlas microstent is a safe and effective method for the treatment of intracranial wide-necked aneurysms.