bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mould‐reactive T cells for the diagnosis of invasive mould infection—A prospective study
Authors: Steinbach Angela , Cornely Oliver A. , Wisplinghoff Hilmar , Schauss Astrid C. , Vehreschild Joerg J. , Rybniker Jan , Hamprecht Axel , Richter Anne , Bacher Petra , Scheffold Alexander , Koehler Philipp 
Published: May 2019

SummaryInvasive mould infections (IMI) in immunocompromised patients are difficult to diagnose. Early and targeted treatment is paramount, but minimally invasive tests reliably identifying pathogens are lacking. We previously showed that monitoring pathogen‐specific CD4+T cells in peripheral blood using upregulation of induced CD154 positive lymphocytes can be used to diagnose acute IMI. Here, we validate our findings in an independent patient cohort. We stimulated peripheral blood cells from at‐risk patients with Aspergillus spp. and Mucorales lysates and quantitated mould‐reactive CD4/CD69/CD154 positive lymphocytes via flow cytometry. Mould‐reactive lymphocytes were quantitated in 115 at‐risk patients. In 38 (33%) patients, the test was not evaluable, mainly due to low T cell counts or non‐reactive positive control. Test results were evaluable in 77 (67%) patients. Of these, four patients (5%) had proven IMI and elevated mould‐reactive T cell signals. Of 73 (95%) patients without proven IMI, 59 (81%) had mould‐reactive T cell signals within normal range. Fourteen (19%) patients without confirmed IMI showed elevated T cell signals and 11 of those received antifungal treatment. The mould‐reactive lymphocyte assay identified presence of IMI with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 81%. The mould‐reactive lymphocyte assay correctly identified all patients with proven IMI. Assay applicability is limited by low T cell counts during bone marrow suppression. The assay has the potential to support diagnosis of invasive mould infection to facilitate tailored treatment even when biopsies are contraindicated or cultures remain negative.
Platelet mitochondrial DNA methylation: Markers of cardiovascular disease predisposition in overweight and obese individuals
Authors: Byun H.‐M. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractObesity‐related non‐communicable diseases are global health issues. More than 50% of men and women are overweight or obese in the UK, which is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among other non‐communicable diseases. Early detection of the risk of CVD development within high‐risk groups is urgently needed to reduce the burden of this disease. Several mechanisms underlie the increased risk of CVD in overweight and obese individuals, yet non‐invasive molecular markers for risk prediction are not readily available. With the support of funding from the British Nutrition Foundation Drummond Pump Priming Award, we examined platelet mitochondrial DNA methylation in overweight and obese participants at baseline in relation to future CVD incidence. In this article, the findings from the project supported by the British Nutrition Foundation and future directions are described.
Nondisjunction and unequal spindle organization accompany the drive of Aegilops speltoides B chromosomes
Authors: Wu DanDan , Ruban Alevtina , Fuchs Jörg , Macas Jiri , Novák Petr , Vaio Magdalena , Zhou YongHong , Houben Andreas 
Published: May 2019

Summary

B chromosomes (Bs) are supernumerary chromosomes, which are often preferentially inherited. When transmission rates of chromosomes are higher than 0.5, not obeying the Mendelian law of equal segregation, the resulting transmission advantage is collectively referred to as ‘chromosome drive’.

Here we analysed the drive mechanism of Aegilops speltoides Bs.

The repeat AesTR‐183 of A. speltoides Bs, which also can be detected on the Bs of Aegilops mutica and rye, was used to track Bs during pollen development. Nondisjunction of CENH3‐positive, tubulin interacting B sister chromatids and an asymmetric spindle during first pollen grain mitosis are key for the accumulation process. A quantitative flow cytometric approach revealed that, independent of the number of Bs present in the mother plant, Bs accumulate in the generative nuclei to > 93%. Nine out of 11 tested (peri)centromeric repeats were shared by A and B chromosomes.

Our findings provide new insights into the process of chromosome drive. Quantitative flow cytometry is a useful and reliable method to study the drive frequency of Bs. Nondisjunction and unequal spindle organization accompany during first pollen mitosis the drive of A. speltoides Bs. The prerequisites for the drive process seems to be common in Poaceae.
Obesity and male hypogonadism: Tales of a vicious cycle
Authors: Carrageta David F. , Oliveira Pedro F. , Alves Marco G. , Monteiro Mariana P. 
Published: May 2019

SummaryObesity prevalence, particularly in children and young adults, is perilously increasing worldwide foreseeing serious negative health impacts in the future to come. Obesity is linked to impaired male gonadal function and is currently a major cause of hypogonadism. Besides signs and symptoms directly derived from decreased circulating testosterone levels, males with obesity also present poor fertility outcomes, further evidencing the parallelism between obesity and male reproductive function. In addition, males with androgen deficiency also exhibit increased fat accumulation and reduced muscle and mineral bone mass. Thus, compelling evidence highlights a vicious cycle where male hypogonadism can lead to increased adiposity, while obesity can be a cause for male hypogonadism. On the opposite direction, sustained weight loss can attain amelioration of male gonadal function. In this scenario, a thorough evaluation of gonadal function in men with obesity is crucial to dissect the causes from the consequences in order to target clinical interventions towards maximized improvement of reproductive health. This review will address the causes and consequences of the bidirectional relationship between obesity and hypogonadism, highlighting the implicit male reproductive repercussions.
Frequency of CIED remote monitoring: A quality improvement follow‐up study
Authors: Dechert Brynn E. , Bradley David J. , Serwer Gerald A. , Dick Macdonald , LaPage Martin J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundBased on the findings of a prior study of CIED (Cardiac Implantable Electrical Device) remote monitoring (RM) frequency at the same center, the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center (UMCHC) instituted a quality improvement (QI) change to reduce the frequency of routine CIED RM from every 2 months to every 3 months. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of this QI initiative to reduce workload without compromising patient care.MethodsThis is a single‐center, retrospective cohort study of all UMCHC patients with CIEDs followed via Medtronic CareLink CIED remote monitoring system from July 2015 to June 2017, after the QI change in 2014. The primary outcome was success of transition to new monitoring schedule. Secondary outcomes included complications, incidence of actionable events (AES), patient compliance, and change in workload. Outcomes were compared to the prior study.ResultsThere were 325 patients (mean age was 24 ± 14 years) included, of who 293 (90%) completely transitioned to the new RM schedule. During the study period, 96 transmissions included AES (4% of total), of which 50 (52%) were asymptomatic and discovered on routine monitoring. No patient experienced a complication attributable to decreased RM frequency. The mean number of interrogations decreased by 1.6 per patient over the 2‐year period compared to prior study.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated successful implementation of a QI initiative to reduce CIED monitoring frequency at a single center with no patient adverse events. The intervention reduced workload and potentially improved patient compliance with routine RM.
A molecular and genomic reference system for conifer defence against insects
Authors: Whitehill Justin G.A. , Bohlmann Jörg 
Published: May 2019

AbstractInsect pests are part of natural forest ecosystems contributing to forest rejuvenation but can also cause ecological disturbance and economic losses that are expected to increase with climate change. The white pine or spruce weevil (Pissodes strobi) is a pest of conifer forests in North America. Weevil–host interactions with various spruce (Picea) species have been explored as a genomic and molecular reference system for conifer defence against insects. Interactions occur in two major phases of the insect life cycle. In the exophase, adult weevils are free‐moving and display behaviour of host selection for oviposition that is affected by host traits. In the endophase, insects live within the host where mobility and development from eggs to young adults are affected by a complex system of host defences. Genetic resistance exists in several spruce species and involves synergism of constitutive and induced chemical and physical defences that comprise the conifer defence syndrome. Here, we review conifer defences that disrupt the weevil life cycle and mechanisms by which trees resist weevil attack. We highlight molecular and genomic aspects and a possible role for the weevil microbiome. Knowledge of this conifer defence system is supporting forest health strategies and tree breeding for insect resistance.
Postinjection abscesses and granulomas in children adopted from Russia
Authors: Kimes Kate , Marchalik Rachel , Aivaz Ohara , Norton Scott A. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractUp to 1.3 million children from the former Soviet Union (fSU) and Eastern Europe have been placed in institutional care worldwide. With the hope of ensuring the child's health in the immediate post‐adoption period, these children are known to receive many injections of vaccines, vitamins, and medications, many unnecessary and often administered with unsafe technique. This practice can lead to formation of suppurative granulomas in these children. Though rare, dermatologists should be aware of these conditions in adoptees from Eastern Europe.
Real‐life effectiveness of inhaler device switch from dry powder inhalers to pressurized metred‐dose inhalers in patients with asthma treated with ICS/LABA
Authors: Park Hae‐Sim , Yoon Dukyong , Lee Hyun Young , Ban Ga‐Young , Wan Yau Ming Simon , Jie Joanna Ling Zhi , Carter Victoria , Hardjojo Antony , Van Boven Job F.M. , Price David B. 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTBackground and objectiveMixed inhaler device use for asthma is associated with worse inhaler technique and outcomes. Given that relievers are commonly prescribed as pressurized metred‐dose inhalers (pMDI), changing preventers from dry powder inhalers (DPI) to pMDI may improve asthma outcomes. This study aimed to assess the persistence and effectiveness of switching from DPI to pMDI for inhaled corticosteroid and long‐acting β2‐agonist combination therapy (ICS/LABA).MethodsThis was a historical cohort study using Ajou University Hospital (Korea) patient records. Persistence of switch was defined as receiving ≥1 pMDI and no DPI after the switch. Effectiveness of switch was assessed as the proportion without severe asthma exacerbation and the proportion achieving risk domain asthma control (RDAC; no asthma‐related hospitalization, antibiotics without upper respiratory diagnosis or acute course of oral corticosteroids) and overall asthma control (OAC; RDAC and ≤ 200 μg salbutamol/≤500 μg terbutaline average daily dose) comparing 1 year after and before the switch.ResultsWithin 85 patients who switched from DPI to pMDI and persisted for a year, higher proportion were free from asthma exacerbation after the switch (mean difference in proportion = 0.129, 95% CI: 0.038–0.220). Switching to pMDI was also associated with better RDAC (75.3% vs 57.7%, P = 0.001) and OAC (57.7% vs 45.9%, P = 0.021). From the entire 117 patients who switched to fixed‐dose combination (FDC)/ICS LABA pMDI, 76.1% (95% CI: 69.0–100.0%) patients persisted in the following 6 months.ConclusionSwitching to and persisting with pMDI was associated with decreased asthma exacerbations and improved asthma control. The majority of patients persisted with the switch to pMDI for ICS/LABA treatment.
Network Reconfiguration for Increasing Transportation System Resilience Under Extreme Events
Authors: Zhang Xiaoge , Mahadevan Sankaran , Goebel Kai 
Published: May 2019

AbstractEvacuating residents out of affected areas is an important strategy for mitigating the impact of natural disasters. However, the resulting abrupt increase in the travel demand during evacuation causes severe congestions across the transportation system, which thereby interrupts other commuters' regular activities. In this article, a bilevel mathematical optimization model is formulated to address this issue, and our research objective is to maximize the transportation system resilience and restore its performance through two network reconfiguration schemes: contraflow (also referred to as lane reversal) and crossing elimination at intersections. Mathematical models are developed to represent the two reconfiguration schemes and characterize the interactions between traffic operators and passengers. Specifically, traffic operators act as leaders to determine the optimal system reconfiguration to minimize the total travel time for all the users (both evacuees and regular commuters), while passengers act as followers by freely choosing the path with the minimum travel time, which eventually converges to a user equilibrium state. For each given network reconfiguration, the lower‐level problem is formulated as a traffic assignment problem (TAP) where each user tries to minimize his/her own travel time. To tackle the lower‐level optimization problem, a gradient projection method is leveraged to shift the flow from other nonshortest paths to the shortest path between each origin–destination pair, eventually converging to the user equilibrium traffic assignment. The upper‐level problem is formulated as a constrained discrete optimization problem, and a probabilistic solution discovery algorithm is used to obtain the near‐optimal solution. Two numerical examples are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in restoring the traffic system performance.
Understanding Community Resilience from a PRA Perspective Using Binary Decision Diagrams
Authors: Nozhati Saeed , Ellingwood Bruce R. , Mahmoud Hussam 
Published: May 2019

AbstractProbabilistic risk assessment (PRA) is a useful tool to assess complex interconnected systems. This article leverages the capabilities of PRA tools developed for industrial and nuclear risk analysis in community resilience evaluations by modeling the food security of a community in terms of its built environment as an integrated system. To this end, we model the performance of Gilroy, CA, a moderate‐size town, with regard to disruptions in its food supply caused by a severe earthquake. The food retailers of Gilroy, along with the electrical power network, water network elements, and bridges are considered as components of a system. Fault and event trees are constructed to model the requirements for continuous food supply to community residents and are analyzed efficiently using binary decision diagrams (BDDs). The study also identifies shortcomings in approximate classical system analysis methods in assessing community resilience. Importance factors are utilized to rank the importance of various factors to the overall risk of food insecurity. Finally, the study considers the impact of various sources of uncertainties in the hazard modeling and performance of infrastructure on food security measures. The methodology can be applicable for any existing critical infrastructure system and has potential extensions to other hazards.
Informal caregivers’ judgements on sharing care with home care professionals from an intersectional perspective: the influence of personal and situational characteristics
Authors: Wittenberg Yvette , de Boer Alice , Plaisier Inger , Verhoeff Arnoud , Kwekkeboom Rick 
Published: May 2019

The European policy emphasis on providing informal care at home causes caregivers and home care professionals having more contact with each other, which makes it important for them to find satisfying ways to share care. Findings from the literature show that sharing care between caregivers and professionals can be improved. This study therefore examines to what degree and why caregivers’ judgements on sharing care with home care professionals vary. To improve our understanding of social inequities in caregiving experiences, the study adopts an intersectional perspective. We investigate how personal and situational characteristics attached to care judgements are interwoven. Using data of the Netherlands Institute for Social Research, we conducted bivariate and multivariate linear regression analysis (N = 292). We combined four survey questions into a 1–4 scale on ‘caregiver judgement’ (α = 0.69) and used caregivers’ personal (such as gender and health status) and situational characteristics (such as the care recipient's impairment and type of care) as determinants to discern whether these are related to the caregivers’ judgement. Using a multiplicative approach, we also examined the relationship between mutually constituting factors of the caregivers’ judgement. Adjusted for all characteristics, caregivers who provide care to a parent or child with a mental impairment and those aged between 45 and 64 years or with a paid job providing care to someone with a mental impairment are likely to judge sharing care more negatively. Also, men providing care with help from other caregivers and caregivers providing care because they like to do so who provide domestic help seem more likely to be less satisfied about sharing care. This knowledge is vital for professionals providing home care, because it clarifies differences in caregivers’ experiences and hence induce knowledge how to pay special attention to those who may experience less satisfaction while sharing care.
Suicide Typologies in the United States Air Force: A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis
Authors: Martin Jeffery S. , Novak Laura A. , Perera Kanchana , Olsen Cara H. , Kindt Michael T. , LaCroix Jessica M. , Bennion Layne , Lee‐Tauler Su Yeon , Ghahramanlou‐Holloway Marjan 
Published: May 2019

ObjectiveThis study describes characteristics of United States Air Force (USAF) suicide decedents and determines subgroups.MethodRetrospective review of demographic, psychiatric, event‐related, and psychosocial variables for USAF suicide decedents in the Suicide Event Surveillance System database was conducted between February 1999 and July 2009 (N = 376). Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to determine initial clusters and cluster centroids.ResultsAnalyses identified three clusters. Cluster 1 (n = 149) individuals were mostly single or divorced, E‐1‐E‐6 rank, living alone, and less likely to have psychiatric disorder diagnoses or engage with most helping resources. Cluster 2 (n = 126) decedents were mostly married, living with a partner, higher ranking, and least likely to communicate suicide intent. Cluster 3 (n = 101) individuals were mostly E‐4‐E‐6 rank, with the highest rates of most psychiatric diagnoses, previous suicide‐related events, engagement with multiple helping resources, communication of intent, and psychosocial precipitants. Clusters differed significantly in marital status, rank, psychiatric diagnoses, precipitants, service utilization, previous suicide‐related events, risk factors, communication of intent, location and method of death, and residential status.ConclusionsThis study identifies empirically based suicide typologies within a military decedent sample. While further research and replications of findings are needed, these typologies have clinical and policy implications for military suicide prevention.
Epidemiology of physical activity‐related injuries in Chinese university students
Authors: Cai Weicong , Gao Lijie , Li Liping , Gao Yang , Jia Cunxian , Yang Wenda , Duan Shiwei , Zhang Hongjuan 
Published: May 2019

Knowledge gaps of the physical activity‐related injury (PARI) problem among general undergraduates exist. We conducted a study in four universities, where 1421 students graded 1‐3 were interviewed face‐to‐face during April and May after their completion of the baseline survey in March and April 2017, aiming to describe the incidence and characteristics of PARI. PARI experience and physical activity (PA) participation in the past 12 months were collected. Injury incidence density (IID) and risk, and injury characteristics were evaluated for the overall sample and by gender. Pearson chi‐square or Fisher's exact tests and independent‐sample t tests were used to test between‐group differences. We found that 486 PARIs were reported totally by 289 participants, with an overall IID of 0.57 per 1000 hours of exposure (males: 1.07, females: 0.45) and an injury risk of 0.34 injuries/student/y (males: 0.52; females: 0.28). Higher IIDs were found in roller skating, football, and basketball. The majority of injuries occurred outdoors and involved the lower extremities, with sprain and strain being the primary injury types. Moreover, most injuries were new, acute, and happened in non‐contact situations. Of all injuries, 52.1% required medical attention and 64.6% resulted in inactivity of one or more days. Some significant differences were observed between males and females. Our study indicates that PARI is a public health concern among Chinese university students, which can provide direction for targeted prophylactic interventions to underpin the sex‐specific injury mechanism to reduce PARI.
Patellar and hamstring autografts are associated with different jump task loading asymmetries after ACL reconstruction
Authors: Miles Joshua J. , King Enda , Falvey Éanna Cian , Daniels Katherine A. J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAfter anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), there is a higher re‐injury rate to the contralateral limb in athletes who undergo surgery using a bone‐patellar‐tendon‐bone (BPTB) autograft than using a semitendinosus and gracilis hamstring tendon (HT) autograft. This may be influenced by differing lower‐limb loading asymmetries present when athletes of each graft type return to play (RTP). The aim of this study was to compare bilateral countermovement jump (CMJ) phase‐specific impulse asymmetries between athletes with BPTB and HT autografts 9 months post‐ACLR, and to identify the relationship between impulse and isokinetic strength asymmetries. Male field sport athletes with a BPTB (n = 22) or HT (n = 22) autograft were tested approximately 9 months post‐ACLR. An uninjured control group (n = 22) was also tested on a single occasion. Phase‐specific bilateral absolute impulse asymmetries were calculated during the CMJ and compared between groups using Kruskal‐Wallis and post‐hoc testing. A linear regression model was used to assess the relationship between impulse asymmetries and isokinetic concentric knee extensor strength asymmetries. BPTB athletes demonstrated greater impulse asymmetries than HT athletes during the eccentric (P = 0.01) and concentric (P = 0.008) phases of the jump. Isokinetic strength asymmetry was a significant predictor of CMJ concentric impulse asymmetry in both BPTB (r2 = 0.39) and HT athletes (r2 = 0.18) but not eccentric impulse asymmetry in any group. The greater loading asymmetries demonstrated by BPTB than HT athletes 9 months after ACLR may contribute to the differing incidence rates of contralateral ACL injury. The findings suggest that graft‐specific loading asymmetries should be targeted during rehabilitation prior to RTP.