bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Persistence of Polydimethylsiloxane Condom Lubricants
Authors: Tottey Leah S. , Coulson Sally A. , Wevers Gerhard E. , Fabian Laura , McClelland Heather , Dustin Mickayla 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPolydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is commonly used to lubricate condoms. The detection of PDMS on swabs from complainants can be used to support an allegation of sexual assault. Previous research has focused on establishing analytical techniques for detecting PDMS. This research examined the persistence of PDMS on the penis, in the vagina, in the mouth, and on skin. The longest PDMS detection times were 20 h on the penis, 35 h in the vagina, and 52 h on skin. PDMS was detected up to 4 h in the mouth if the participant did not eat or drink and up to 9 h if the participant slept. PDMS was not detected in the mouth after eating or drinking. The presence of biological fluids had no detrimental effect on the analysis. Aqueous extraction of swabs for DNA did not remove any significant amount of PDMS; hence, swab remains could be subsequently analyzed for PDMS.
Downregulation of HOXA13 sensitizes human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to chemotherapy
Authors: Shi Qi , Shen Luyan , Dong Bin , Fu Hao , Kang Xiaozheng , Dai Liang , Yang Yongbo , Yan Wanpu , Chen Ke‐Neng 
Published: May 2018

BackgroundChemoresistance often develops in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), leading to poor prognosis. HOX genes play a crucial role in embryonic development and cell differentiation. Studies have recently linked HOX with chemoresistance, thus we explored whether HOXA13 is involved in ESCC chemoresistance.MethodsOne hundred thirty‐one ESCC patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled. HOXA13 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry. RNA interference was used to knock down the HOXA13 expression in KYSE70 and transfected HOXA13 plasmid to overexpress HOXA13 in KYSE510 cells. We examined half‐maximal inhibitory concentration of cisplatin, apoptosis, and epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ESCC cell lines with different HOXA13 expression levels by cell counting kit‐8, flow cytometry, and transwell analysis.ResultsThe median survival of patients with high HOXA13 expression was significantly shorter than those with low expression (P = 0.027). HOXA13 was associated with worse tumor regression grade (P = 0.009). Low HOXA13 expressed cells decreased the half‐maximal inhibitory concentration of cisplatin (P < 0.05), increased cisplatin‐induced apoptosis (P < 0.05), and decreased EMT (P < 0.05) compared with high HOXA13 expressed cells. In low HOXA13 expressed cells, cleaved caspase‐3 and cleaved PARP expression induced by cisplatin increased, while expression of E‐cadherin and Snail protein, markers of EMT, was upregulated and downregulated, respectively. EMT decreased in low HOXA13 expressed cells.ConclusionHigh HOXA13 expression was associated with inferior tumor regression grade and poor overall survival in ESCC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. HOXA13 increased cisplatin‐resistance and promoted EMT in ESCC cells.
NATURAL RESOURCES AS AN ENERGY SOURCE IN A SIMPLE ECONOMIC GROWTH MODEL
Authors: Malaczewski Maciej 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTSome empirical studies show that natural resources and physical capital are likely to be complements in the production process rather than substitutes. What is more, the assumption of substitutability in many theoretical papers leads to some counterfactual conclusions. This paper proposes a simple model of economic growth with complementarity between these two factors of production via energy production. We consider the equilibrium state of this model and derive the conditions necessary to maintain balanced growth of all macroeconomic variables. We also analyze the time to depletion of natural resources when these resources are the main energy source.
Evaluation of a group format of clinician‐guided, parent‐delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for child anxiety in routine clinical practice: a pilot‐implementation study
Authors: Evans Rachel , Hill Claire , O'Brien Doireann , Creswell Cathy 
Published: May 2018

BackgroundRandomised controlled trials suggest that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) delivered by parents who are guided, in groups, by clinicians (Group GPD‐CBT) is an efficacious and potentially efficient treatment approach for child anxiety. The extent to which these results translate to routine settings is unclear. We evaluated Group GPD‐CBT as delivered in UK routine clinical services.MethodRetrospective data regarding attendance and outcomes were routinely collected for 83 children whose parent(s) had attended Group GPD‐CBT. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 clinicians who had delivered Group GPD‐CBT.ResultsBy 3–8 months (M = 5.22, SD = 1.17) post‐treatment, 70% of children were discharged or referred for support for other (non‐anxiety) conditions, without any further intervention for anxiety. Of the subset (N = 20) with available parent‐report symptom data, there was a significant decline in total anxiety score from pre‐ to post‐treatment. Clinician interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. This revealed that clinicians found Group GPD‐CBT to be acceptable and described it as a helpful, practical and empowering treatment for child anxiety. They highlighted additional benefits associated with group process factors (e.g. peer support, enhanced engagement), although noted that some, particularly anxious, parents were reluctant to attend a group format.ConclusionsResults were promising regarding children's outcomes following Group GPD‐CBT delivered in routine practice. Group GPD‐CBT was viewed by clinicians as acceptable and helpful, and group process factors were seen to provide additional benefits. Some parents may find it difficult to attend a group format, suggesting that services should give careful consideration to how groups are presented and introduced to parents.
A cross‐cultural investigation of children’s implicit attitudes toward White and Black racial outgroups
Authors: Steele Jennifer R. , George Meghan , Williams Amanda , Tay Elaine 
Published: May 2018

AbstractInitial theory and research examining children’s implicit racial attitudes suggest that an implicit preference favoring socially advantaged groups emerges early in childhood and remains stable across development (Dunham, Baron, & Banaji, 2008). In two studies, we examined the ubiquity of this theory by measuring non‐Black minority and non‐White majority children’s implicit racial attitudes toward White and Black racial outgroups in two distinct cultural contexts. In Study 1, non‐Black minority children in an urban North American community with a large Black population showed an implicit pro‐White (versus Black) bias in early childhood. Contrary to previous findings, the magnitude of this bias was lower among older children. In Study 2, Malay (majority) and Chinese (minority) children and adults in the Southeast Asian country of Brunei, with limited contact with White or Black peers, showed an implicit pro‐White (versus Black) bias in early childhood. However, the magnitude of bias was greater for adults. Together, these findings support initial theorizing about the early development of implicit intergroup cognition, but suggest that context may affect these biases across development to a greater extent than was previously thought. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgQP8e4MSCk&feature=youtu.be
A novel diagnostic algorithm for heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia
Authors: Zheng G. , Streiff M. B. , Allison D. , Takemoto C. M. , Salimian K. , Morris P. , Jani J. , McCord R. , Kickler T. S. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIntroductionWhile diagnostic algorithm using PF4‐heparin enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) optical density (OD), and heparin neutralization assay (HNA), or 4T score have been proposed to replace serotonin‐release assay (SRA) for heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), their performance against SRA is unclear. In this study, we proposed and validated the performance of a new algorithm combining PF4‐heparin ELISA optical density (OD), HNA and 4T score against SRA for HIT diagnosis.MethodsHeparin neutralization assays were performed on specimens submitted for HIT testing with positive PF4‐heparin ELISA from December 2015 to September 2017, which were separated into a “training” and a “validation” data set. 4T scores were calculated for ELISA positive cases.ResultsA total of 123 consecutive unique patient samples had positive PF4‐heparin ELISA with also HNA data, SRA data, and 4T scores available. Compared to SRA, a “laboratory criteria” (ELISA OD ≥ 1.4 and HNA ≥ 70%) had a sensitivity of 88% (14/16) and specificity of 91% (42/46), and a “combined criteria” (4T score = 8, or 4T score = 6 or 7 and ELISA OD ≥ 1.0, or 4T score = 4 or 5 and ELISA OD ≥ 2.0) had a sensitivity of 75% (12/16) and specificity of 98% (45/46) in the training data set. Laboratory and combined criteria had 90% (56/62) concordance rate. Importantly, for these concordant cases, the diagnostic specificity is 100% (46/46). Based on the data, a novel diagnostic algorithm combining these 2 criteria was proposed and validated prospectively.ConclusionA novel algorithm has high diagnostic accuracy and potentially could eliminate the need for SRA testing in at least 90% patients with suspected HIT.
Purine metabolism controls innate lymphoid cell function and protects against intestinal injury
Authors: Crittenden Siobhan , Cheyne Ashleigh , Adams Alexander , Forster Thorsten , Robb Calum T , Felton Jennifer , Ho Gwo‐Tzer , Ruckerl Dominik , Rossi Adriano G , Anderton Stephen M , Ghazal Peter , Satsangi Jack , Howie Sarah E , Yao Chengcan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition of chronic inflammatory intestinal disorder with increasing prevalence but limited effective therapies. The purine metabolic pathway is involved in various inflammatory processes including IBD. However, the mechanisms through which purine metabolism modulates IBD remain to be established. Here, we found that mucosal expression of genes involved in the purine metabolic pathway is altered in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC), which is associated with elevated gene expression signatures of the group 3 innate lymphoid cell (ILC3)–interleukin (IL)‐22 pathway. In mice, blockade of ectonucleotidases (NTPDases), critical enzymes for purine metabolism by hydrolysis of extracellular adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (eATP) into adenosine, exacerbates dextran‐sulfate sodium‐induced intestinal injury. This exacerbation of colitis is associated with reduction of colonic IL‐22‐producing ILC3s, which afford essential protection against intestinal inflammation, and is rescued by exogenous IL‐22. Mechanistically, activation of ILC3s for IL‐22 production is reciprocally mediated by eATP and adenosine. These findings reveal that the NTPDase‐mediated balance between eATP and adenosine regulates ILC3 cell function to provide protection against intestinal injury and suggest potential therapeutic strategies for treating IBD by targeting the purine–ILC3 axis.
Use of Electronic Patient Portals in Pregnancy: An Overview
Authors: Ukoha Erinma P. , Yee Lynn M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractElectronic patient portals are increasingly utilized in contemporary health care systems. Patient portal use has been found to be beneficial in multiple specialties, particularly in management of chronic diseases. However, there are disparities within portal use. For example, individuals who are racial and ethnic minorities and persons from lower socioeconomic status are less likely to enroll and use patient portals than non‐Hispanic white persons and persons with higher socioeconomic status. Because portal use and, specifically, patient‐provider secure messaging has been associated with favorable health outcomes, disparities in use of these portals could affect health outcomes. Electronic patient portal use by childbearing women has not been well studied, and data on portal use during pregnancy are limited. This article reviews the current literature regarding electronic patient portal use and highlights the need for further maternity care‐focused research regarding this new avenue of care delivery during pregnancy.
Associations Among Nursing Work Environment and Health‐Promoting Behaviors of Nurses and Nursing Performance Quality: A Multilevel Modeling Approach
Authors: Cho Hyeonmi , Han Kihye 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed to determine the relationships among the unit‐level nursing work environment and individual‐level health‐promoting behaviors of hospital nurses in South Korea and their perceived nursing performance quality.MethodsThis study used a cross‐sectional design. Data were collected using self‐reported questionnaires from 432 nurses in 57 units at five hospitals in South Korea. Nursing performance quality, nursing work environment, and health‐promoting behaviors were measured using the Six Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance, Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index, and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile‐II, respectively.ResultsNurses working in units with nurse managers who were characterized by better ability and by quality leadership, and who provided more support to nurses exhibited significantly greater health responsibility and physical activity. Nurses working with sufficient staffing and resources reported better stress management. Positive collegial nurse–physician relationships in units were significantly associated with more healthy eating among nurses. Nurses working in units with sufficient staffing and resources, and who had a higher level of spiritual growth and health responsibility, were more likely to perceive their nursing performance quality as being higher.ConclusionsTo improve the quality of nursing practice, hospitals should focus on helping nurses maintain healthy lifestyles, as well as improving their working conditions in South Korea. Organizational support for adequate human resources and materials, mutual cooperation among nurses and physicians, and workplace health‐promotion interventions for spiritual growth and health responsibility are needed.Clinical RelevanceOrganizational efforts to provide sufficient staffing and resources, boost the development of personal resources among nurses, and promote nurses’ responsibility for their own health could be effective strategies for improving nursing performance quality and patient outcomes.
Accuracy and precision of dolphin group size estimates
Authors: Gerrodette Tim , Perryman Wayne L. , Oedekoven Cornelia S. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractEstimating the number of dolphins in a group is a challenging task. To assess the accuracy and precision of dolphin group size estimates, observer estimates were compared to counts from large‐format vertical aerial photographs. During 11 research cruises, a total of 2,435 size estimates of 434 groups were made by 59 observers. Observer estimates were modeled as a function of the photo count in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. Accuracy varied widely among observers, and somewhat less widely among dolphin species. Most observers tended to underestimate, and the tendency increased with group size. Groups of 25, 50, 100, and 500 were underestimated by <1%, 16%, 27%, and 47%, respectively, on average. Precision of group size estimates was low, and estimates were highly variable among observers for the same group. Predicted true group size, given an observer estimate, was larger than the observer estimate for groups of more than about 25 dolphins. Predicted group size had low precision, with coefficients of variation ranging from 0.7 to 1.9. Studies which depend on group size estimates will be improved if the tendency to underestimate group size and the high uncertainty of group size estimates are included in the analysis.
Depression and its effects on the success of resin‐based restorations
Authors: Ravindramurthy Shruti , Vieira Alexandre R. 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTAimsThere are many factors that play into the success or failure of dental treatments, and mental health has been hypothesized to increase failure rates in treatment such as resin‐based restorations. The goal of this work was to evaluate if composite resin dental restorations perform the same in individuals with depression in comparison to matched individuals without depression.Methods and resultsA total of 6,026 individuals from the University of Pittsburgh Dental Registry and DNA Repository project were evaluated and 326 patients with depression were selected for this study. They were matched by age, sex, ethnicity, and smoking history with 326 subjects without depression. Rates of failure of resin‐based restorations were determined in both groups. Chi‐square was used for all comparisons with alpha set at 0.05. We found significantly higher failure rates of resin‐based restorations in patients diagnosed with clinical depression (p < 0.00001, OR = 1.89, 95% C.I. 1.6 to 2.23).DiscussionThe significantly higher failure rates in patients with clinical depression suggests that clinical depression has an effect on the success of resin‐based restorations. The results of this study suggest a need for more personalized dental care for patients, which includes taking into account their mental health and its subsequent effects on oral health and hygiene, and customized definitions of follow‐up time intervals.
Developmental Sensitivity in Schistosoma mansoni to Puromycin To Establish Drug Selection of Transgenic Schistosomes
Authors: Yan Hong-Bin , Smout Michael J. , Ju Chuan , Folley Anne E. , Skinner Danielle E. , Mann Victoria H. , Loukas Alex , Hu Wei , Brindley Paul J. , Rinaldi Gabriel 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACT

Schistosomiasis is considered the most important disease caused by helminth parasites, in terms of morbidity and mortality. Tools to facilitate gain- and loss-of-function approaches can be expected to precipitate the discovery of novel interventions, and drug selection of transgenic schistosomes would facilitate the establishment of stable lines of engineered parasites. Sensitivity of developmental stages of schistosomes to the aminonucleoside antibiotic puromycin was investigated. For the schistosomulum and sporocyst stages, viability was quantified by fluorescence microscopy following dual staining with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodine. By 6 days in culture, the 50% lethal concentration (LC
50
) for schistosomula was 19 μg/ml whereas the sporocysts were 45-fold more resilient. Puromycin potently inhibited the development of
in vitro
-laid eggs (LC
50
, 68 ng/ml) but was less effective against liver eggs (LC
50
, 387 μg/ml). Toxicity for adult stages was evaluated using the xCELLigence-based, real-time motility assay (xWORM), which revealed LC
50
s after 48 h of 4.9 and 17.3 μg/ml for male and female schistosomes, respectively. Also, schistosomula transduced with pseudotyped retrovirus encoding the puromycin resistance marker were partially rescued when cultured in the presence of the antibiotic. Together, these findings will facilitate selection on puromycin of transgenic schistosomes and the enrichment of cultures of transgenic eggs and sporocysts to facilitate the establishment of schistosome transgenic lines. Streamlining schistosome transgenesis with drug selection will open new avenues to understand parasite biology and hopefully lead to new interventions for this neglected tropical disease.
Could Positive Feedback Enable Bacterial Pheromone Signaling To Coordinate Behaviors in Response to Heterogeneous Environmental Cues?
Authors: Stabb Eric V. 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACT

Pheromone signaling (PS) underlies many important bacterial behaviors, yet its ecological functions remain unresolved. Because pheromone-mediated behaviors require high cell density, the term “quorum sensing” is widely used to describe and make sense of PS. However, while this term has unified and popularized the field, bacterial PS clearly has roles beyond census taking, and the complexities of PS circuits indicate broader functional capacities. Two common features of bacterial PS are its regulation in response to environmental conditions and positive-feedback loops. Combined, these could enable PS to coordinate quorum-dependent group behaviors in response to heterogeneous environmental cues. Particularly in PS systems where positive feedback is strong, cells that are relatively far from a stimulatory environment could be recruited to a group response. Testing this model will benefit from
in situ
examination of relevant environmental cues and PS outputs in cells across populations, with and without positive feedback, in heterogeneous environments.
A Mechanism of Unidirectional Transformation, Leading to Antibiotic Resistance, Occurs within Nasopharyngeal Pneumococcal Biofilm Consortia
Authors: Lattar Santiago M. , Wu Xueqing , Brophy Jennifer , Sakai Fuminori , Klugman Keith P. , Vidal Jorge E. 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus pneumoniae
acquires genes for resistance to antibiotics such as streptomycin (Str) or trimethoprim (Tmp) by recombination via transformation of DNA released by other pneumococci and closely related species. Using naturally transformable pneumococci, including strain D39 serotype 2 (S2) and TIGR4 (S4), we studied whether pneumococcal nasopharyngeal transformation was symmetrical, asymmetrical, or unidirectional. Incubation of S2
Tet
and S4
Str
in a bioreactor simulating the human nasopharynx led to the generation of Spn
Tet/Str
recombinants. Double-resistant pneumococci emerged soon after 4 h postinoculation at a recombination frequency (rF) of 2.5 × 10
−4
while peaking after 8 h at a rF of 1.1 × 10
−3
. Acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes by transformation was confirmed by treatment with DNase I. A high-throughput serotyping method demonstrated that all double-resistant pneumococci belonged to one serotype lineage (S2
Tet/Str
) and therefore that unidirectional transformation had occurred. Neither heterolysis nor availability of DNA for transformation was a factor for unidirectional transformation given that the density of each strain and extracellular DNA (eDNA) released from both strains were similar. Unidirectional transformation occurred regardless of the antibiotic-resistant gene carried by donors or acquired by recipients and regardless of whether competence-stimulating peptide-receptor cross talk was allowed. Moreover, unidirectional transformation occurred when two donor strains (e.g., S4
Str
and S19F
Tmp
) were incubated together, leading to S19F
Str/Tmp
but at a rF 3 orders of magnitude lower (4.9 × 10
−6
). We finally demonstrated that the mechanism leading to unidirectional transformation was due to inhibition of transformation of the donor by the recipient.

IMPORTANCE
Pneumococcal transformation in the human nasopharynx may lead to the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes or genes encoding new capsular variants. Antibiotics and vaccines are currently putting pressure on a number of strains, leading to an increase in antibiotic resistance and serotype replacement. These pneumococcal strains are also acquiring virulence traits from vaccine types via transformation. In this study, we recapitulated multiple-strain colonization with strains carrying a resistance marker and selected for those acquiring resistance to two or three antibiotics, such as would occur in the human nasopharynx. Strains acquiring dual and triple resistance originated from one progenitor, demonstrating that transformation was unidirectional. Unidirectional transformation was the result of inhibition of transformation of donor strains. Unidirectional transformation has implications for the understanding of acquisition patterns of resistance determinants or capsule-switching events.