bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Mixing Efficiency and Entropy Generation Rate in a Square Cross Section Tee Junction Micromixer
Authors: Gillispie Aric M. , Lemley Evan C. 
Published: January 2018

The potential applications of micromixers continues to expand in the bio-sciences area. In particular, passive micromixers that may be used as part of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic testing devices are becoming commonplace and have application in developed, developing, and relatively undeveloped locales. Characterizing and improving mixing efficiency in these devices is an ongoing research effort. Micromixers are used in some lab-on-chip (LOC) devices where it is often necessary to combine two or more fluids into a mixed solution for testing or delivery. The simplest micromixer incorporates a tee junction to combine two fluid species in anti-parallel branches, with the mixed fluid leaving in a branch perpendicular to the incoming branches. Micromixers rely on two modes of mixing: chaotic advection and molecular diffusion. In micro-mixers flow is typically laminar, making chaotic advection occur only via induced secondary flows. Hence, micromixers, unless carefully designed, rely almost exclusively on molecular diffusion of fluid species. A well designed micromixer should exhibit significant chaotic advection; which is also a sign of large strain rates and large entropy generation rates.
This paper describes the development of an analytical relationship for the entropy generation rate and the mixing efficiency as function of the outgoing branch Reynolds number. Though there has been extensive research on tee junctions, entropy generation, and the mixing efficiencies of a wide variety of micromixers, a functional relationship for the mixing efficiency and the entropy generation rate has not been established. We hypothesize a positive correlation between the mixing index and the entropy generation rate. The worked described here establishes a method and provides the results for such a relationship.
A basic tee junction with square cross sections has been analyzed using computational fluid dynamics to determine the entropy generation rate and outgoing mixing efficiencies for Reynolds numbers ranging from 25–75. The mixing efficiency is determined at a location in the outgoing branch where the effects of molecular diffusive mixing is minimized and chaotic advective mixing is the focus. The entropy generation rate has been determined for the indicated range of Reynolds number and decomposed into its viscous and diffusive entropy terms. The functional relationships that have been developed are applicable for micromixer design and serve as a reference for more complex passive micromixer designs.
MgtE Homolog FicI Acts as a Secondary Ferrous Iron Importer in Shewanella oneidensis Strain MR-1
Authors: Bennett Brittany D. , Redford Kaitlyn E. , Gralnick Jeffrey A. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

The transport of metals into and out of cells is necessary for the maintenance of appropriate intracellular concentrations. Metals are needed for incorporation into metalloproteins but become toxic at higher concentrations. Many metal transport proteins have been discovered in bacteria, including the Mg
2+
transporter E (MgtE) family of passive Mg
2+
/Co
2+
cation-selective channels. Low sequence identity exists between members of the MgtE family, indicating that substrate specificity may differ among MgtE transporters. Under anoxic conditions, dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria, such as
Shewanella
and
Geobacter
species, are exposed to high levels of soluble metals, including Fe
2+
and Mn
2+
. Here we characterize SO_3966, which encodes an MgtE homolog in
Shewanella oneidensis
that we name FicI (
f
errous
i
ron and
c
obalt
i
mporter) based on its role in maintaining metal homeostasis. A SO_3966 deletion mutant exhibits enhanced growth over that of the wild type under conditions with high Fe
2+
or Co
2+
concentrations but exhibits wild-type Mg
2+
transport and retention phenotypes. Conversely, deletion of
feoB
, which encodes an energy-dependent Fe
2+
importer, causes a growth defect under conditions of low Fe
2+
concentrations but not high Fe
2+
concentrations. We propose that FicI represents a secondary, less energy-dependent mechanism for iron uptake by
S. oneidensis
under high Fe
2+
concentrations.

IMPORTANCE
Shewanella oneidensis
MR-1 is a target of microbial engineering for potential uses in biotechnology and the bioremediation of heavy-metal-contaminated environments. A full understanding of the ways in which
S. oneidensis
interacts with metals, including the means by which it transports metal ions, is important for optimal genetic engineering of this and other organisms for biotechnology purposes such as biosorption. The MgtE family of metal importers has been described previously as Mg
2+
and Co
2+
transporters. This work broadens that designation with the discovery of an MgtE homolog in
S. oneidensis
that imports Fe
2+
but not Mg
2+
. The research presented here also expands our knowledge of the means by which microorganisms have adapted to take up essential nutrients such as iron under various conditions.
Whole-Genome Draft Sequences of Nine Asymptomatic
Escherichia coli
Bacteriuria Isolates from Diabetic Patients
Authors: Stork Christoph , Kovács Beáta , Trost Eva , Kovács Tamás , Schneider György , Rózsai Barnabás , Kerényi Monika , Emődy Levente , Dobrindt Ulrich 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Escherichia coli
can colonize the urinary bladder without causing a disease response in the host. This asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) can protect against recurrent symptomatic urinary tract infection by virulent bacteria. Here, we report the whole-genome sequences of nine
E. coli
ABU isolates from diabetic patients.
Complete Genome Sequence of
Thermoanaerobacterium
sp. Strain RBIITD, a Butyrate- and Butanol-Producing Thermophile
Authors: Biswas Ranjita , Huntemann Marcel , Clum Alicia , Pillay Manoj , Palaniappan Krishnaveni , Varghese Neha , Mikhailova Natalia , Stamatis Dimitrios , Reddy T. B. K. , Daum Chris , Shapiro Nicole , Ivanova Natalia , Kyrpides Nikos C. , Woyke Tanja , Guss Adam M. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Thermoanaerobacterium
sp. strain RBIITD was isolated from contaminated rich growth medium at 55°C in an anaerobic chamber. It primarily produces butyrate as a fermentation product from plant biomass-derived sugars. The whole-genome sequence of the strain is 3.4 Mbp, with 3,444 genes and 32.48% GC content.
Experimental Epidemiology of Antibiotic Resistance: Looking for an Appropriate Animal Model System
Authors: Llop Pablo , Latorre* Amparo , Moya* Andrés 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Antibiotic resistance is recognized as one of the major challenges in public health. The global spread of antibiotic resistance is the consequence of a constant flow of information across multi-hierarchical interactions, involving cellular (clones), subcellular (resistance genes located in plasmids, transposons, and integrons), and supracellular (clonal complexes, genetic exchange communities, and microbiotic ensembles) levels. In order to study such multilevel complexity, we propose to establish an experimental epidemiology model for the transmission of antibiotic resistance with the cockroach
Blatella germanica
. This paper reports the results of five types of preliminary experiments with
B. germanica
populations that allow us to conclude that this animal is an appropriate model for experimental epidemiology: (i) the composition, transmission, and acquisition of gut microbiota and endosymbionts; (ii) the effect of different diets on gut microbiota; (iii) the effect of antibiotics on host fitness; (iv) the evaluation of the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in natural- and lab-reared populations; and (v) the preparation of plasmids harboring specific antibiotic resistance genes. The basic idea is to have populations with higher and lower antibiotic exposure, simulating the hospital and the community, respectively, and with a certain migration rate of insects between populations. In parallel, we present a computational model based on P-membrane computing that will mimic the experimental system of antibiotic resistance transmission. The proposal serves as a proof of concept for the development of more-complex population dynamics of antibiotic resistance transmission that are of interest in public health, which can help us evaluate procedures and design appropriate interventions in epidemiology.
Migrant perinatal depression study: a prospective cohort study of perinatal depression on the Thai-Myanmar border
Authors: Fellmeth Gracia , Plugge Emma H , Carrara Verena , Fazel Mina , Oo May May , Phichitphadungtham Yuwapha , Pimanpanarak Mupawjay , Wai Naw Kerry , Mu Oh , Charunwatthana Prakaykaew , Nosten François , Fitzpatrick Raymond , Mcgready Rose 
Published: January 2018

PurposePerinatal depression is a significant contributor to maternal morbidity. Migrant women in resource-poor settings may be at increased risk, yet little research has been conducted in low-income and middle-income settings. This prospective cohort study of migrant women on the Thai-Myanmar border aims to establish prevalence of perinatal depression, identify risk factors for perinatal depression and examine associations with infant outcomes.ParticipantsParticipating women are labour migrants and refugees living on the Thai-Myanmar border. A total of 568 women were recruited in their first trimester of pregnancy and are being followed up to 1-year postpartum.Findings to dateAt baseline, women in our study had a median age of 25 years, the predominant ethnicity was Sgaw Karen (48.9%), agriculture was the main employment sector (39.2%) and educational attainment was low with a median of 4 years of education. In the first trimester of pregnancy, a quarter (25.8%; 95% CI 22.3 to 29.5) of all women were depressed as diagnosed by theStructured Clinical Interview for the Diagnosis of DSM-IV Disorders.Future plansFollow-up is ongoing and expected to continue until January 2018. The prevalence of depression at later stages of pregnancy and during the first postpartum year will be identified, and associations between depression status and demographic, social, migration-related, medical, obstetric and infant factors will be quantified.Trial registration numberNCT02790905.
Seasonal variation in home blood pressure: findings from nationwide web-based monitoring in Japan
Authors: Iwahori Toshiyuki , Miura Katsuyuki , Obayashi Keiichi , Ohkubo Takayoshi , Nakajima Hiroshi , Shiga Toshikazu , Ueshima Hirotsugu 
Published: January 2018

ObjectivesOur aim was to assess seasonal variation in home blood pressure (BP) among free-living nationwide participants using home BP values accumulated from a web-based healthcare platform established in Japan.SettingsAn observational study. OMRON Healthcare Co., Ltd. has been developing web-based personal healthcare record systems in Japan since November 2010; over two million voluntary participants had joined this platform in September 2015. Nationwide home BP measurements made by oscillometric-type electronic sphygmomanometers from over 110 000 voluntary participants have been transmitted to the system from devices.ParticipantsSeasonal variation in home BP was evaluated among 64 536 (51 335 men, 13 201 women; mean age 52.9 years) free-living nationwide users for whom data were automatically and simultaneously transmitted to the system from devices.Primary outcome measuresMean monthly and weekly home BP.ResultsIn multiple regression analysis, the relationship between BP and temperature was a significant inverse association, independent of age, gender and geological locations. Highest and lowest BP was observed in December and July, respectively. Substantial seasonal differences in the mean values of morning and evening home systolic BP between summer and winter were 6.2 mmHg and 5.5 mmHg in men, and 7.3 mmHg and 6.5 mmHg in women. Seasonal variation was a little greater in older (7.3 mmHg in men, 8.7 mmHg in women) than in younger individuals (5.8 mmHg in men, 6.5 mmHg in women). BP from February to July was approximately 1.5 mmHg lower than the value from August to December.ConclusionsA web-based healthcare platform has enabled easier monitoring of population-wide BP. Tighter BP control is necessary in winter than in summer, and especially in a colder climate toward winter than toward summer. New technologies using web-based self-monitoring systems for health-related indexes are expected to initiate a new phase of cardiovascular disease prevention and public health promotion.
Observational study of the differential impact of time-varying depressive symptoms on all-cause and cause-specific mortality by health status in community-dwelling adults: the REGARDS study
Authors: Moise Nathalie , Khodneva Yulia , Jannat-Khah Deanna Pereira , Richman Joshua , Davidson Karina W , Kronish Ian M , Shaffer Jonathan , Safford Monika M 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveTo assess the association between time-varying depressive symptoms with all-cause and cause-specific mortality.DesignThe REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) is a national, population-based longitudinal study conducted from 2003 to 2007.SettingGeneral continental US communities.Participants29 491 black and white US adults ≥45 years randomly sampled within race–sex–geographical strata.ExposureElevated depressive symptoms (Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) 4≥4) measured at baseline and on average 5 and 7 years later.Main outcome measuresCox proportional hazard regression models assessed cancer, non-cardiovascular (cardiovascular disease (CVD)), CVD and all-cause mortality.ResultsThe average age was 64.9 years; 55% were women; 41% black; 11.0% had elevated depressive symptoms; 54% had poor, fair or good health. Time-varying depressive symptoms were significantly associated with non-CVD (adjusted HR (aHR)=1.29, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.44) and all-cause (aHR=1.24, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.39), but not cancer (aHR=1.15, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.38) or CVD (aHR=1.13, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.32) death adjusting for demographics, chronic clinical diseases, behavioural risk factors and physiological factors. Depressive symptoms were related to all-cause (aHR=1.48, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.78), CVD (aHR=1.37, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.91), non-CVD (aHR=1.54, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.92) and cancer (aHR=1.36, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.91) death in those who reported excellent or very good health. The analyses of the association between one measure of baseline depressive symptoms and mortality analyses yielded similar results.ConclusionsTime-varying depressive symptoms confer an increased risk for all-cause mortality, CVD, non-CVD death and cancer death, particularly in those with excellent or very good health. These findings may have implications for timely treatment, regardless of health status.
Interventions to improve screening and appropriate referral of patients with cancer for psychosocial distress: systematic review
Authors: McCarter Kristen , Britton Ben , Baker Amanda L , Halpin Sean A , Beck Alison K , Carter Gregory , Wratten Chris , Bauer Judith , Forbes Erin , Booth Debbie , Wolfenden Luke 
Published: January 2018

ObjectivesThe primary aim of the review was to determine the effectiveness of strategies to improve clinician provision of psychosocial distress screening and referral of patients with cancer.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesElectronic databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL)) were searched until July 2016.Inclusion criteriaPopulation: adult patients with cancer and clinical staff members. Intervention: any strategy that aimed to improve the rate of routine screening and referral for detected distress of patients with cancer. Comparison: no intervention controls, ‘usual’ practice or alternative interventions. Outcome: (primary) any measure of provision of screening and/or referral for distress, (secondary) psychosocial distress, unintended adverse effects. Design: trials with or without a temporal comparison group, including randomised and non-randomised trials, and uncontrolled pre–post studies.Data extraction and analysisTwo review authors independently extracted data. Heterogeneity across studies precluded quantitative assessment via meta-analysis and so a narrative synthesis of the results is presented.ResultsFive studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies were set in oncology clinics or departments and used multiple implementation strategies. Using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation, the overall rating of the certainty of the body of evidence reported in this review was assessed as very low. Three studies received a methodological quality rating of weak and two studies received a rating of moderate. Only one of the five studies reported a significant improvement in referrals.ConclusionsThe review identified five studies of predominantly poor quality examining the effectiveness of strategies to improve the routine implementation of distress screening and referral for patients with cancer. Future research using robust research designs, including randomised assignment, are needed to identify effective support strategies to maximise the potential for successful implementation of distress screening and referral for patients with cancer.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42015017518.
Similarity of chest X-ray and thermal imaging of focal pneumonia: a randomised proof of concept study at a large urban teaching hospital
Authors: Wang Linda T , Cleveland Robert H , Binder William , Zwerdling Robert G , Stamoulis Caterina , Ptak Thomas , Sherman Mindy , Haver Kenan , Sagar Pallavi , Hibberd Patricia 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic accuracy of thermal imaging (TI) in the setting of focal consolidative pneumonia with chest X-ray (CXR) as the gold standard.SettingA large, 973-bed teaching hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.Participants47 patients enrolled, 15 in a training set, 32 in a test set. Age range 10 months to 82 years (median=50 years).Materials and methodsSubjects received CXR with subsequent TI within 4 hours of each other. CXR and TI were assessed in blinded random order. Presence of focal opacity (pneumonia) on CXR, the outcome parameter, was recorded. For TI, presence of area(s) of increased heat (pneumonia) was recorded. Fisher’s exact test was used to assess the significance of the correlations of positive findings in the same anatomical region.ResultsWith TI compared with the CXR (the outcome parameter), sensitivity was 80.0% (95% CIs 29.9% to 98.9%), specificity was 57.7% (95% CI 37.2% to 76.0%). Positive predictive value of TI was 26.7% (95% CI 8.9% to55.2%) and its negative predictive value was 93.8% (95% CI 67.7% to 99.7%).ConclusionsThis feasibility study confirms proof of concept that chest TI is consistent with CXR in suggesting similarly localised focal pneumonia with high sensitivity and negative predictive value. Further investigation of TI as a point-of-care imaging modality is warranted.
Clinical decisions presented to patients in hospital encounters: a cross-sectional study using a novel taxonomy
Authors: Ofstad Eirik Hugaas , Frich Jan C , Schei Edvin , Frankel Richard M , Šaltytė Benth Jūratė , Gulbrandsen Pål 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveTo identify and classify all clinical decisions that emerged in a sample of patient–physician encounters and compare different categories of decisions across clinical settings and personal characteristics.DesignCross-sectional descriptive evaluation of hospital encounters videotaped in 2007–2008 using a novel taxonomy to identify and classify clinically relevant decisions (both actions and judgements).Participants and setting372 patients and 58 physicians from 17 clinical specialties in ward round (WR), emergency room (ER) and outpatient (OP) encounters in a Norwegian university hospital.ResultsThe 372 encounters contained 4976 clinically relevant decisions. The average number of decisions per encounter was 13.4 (min–max 2–40, SD 6.8). The overall distribution of the 10 topical categories in all encounters was: defining problem: 30%, evaluating test result: 17%, drug related: 13%, gathering additional information: 10%, contact related: 10%, advice and precaution: 8%, therapeutic procedure related: 5%, deferment: 4%, legal and insurance related: 2% and treatment goal: 1%. Across three temporal categories, the distribution of decisions was 71% here-and-now, 16% preformed and 13% conditional. On average, there were 15.7 decisions per encounter in internal medicine specialties, 7.1 in ear–nose–throat encounters and 11.0–13.6 in the remaining specialties. WR encounters contained significantly more drug-related decisions than OP encounters (P=0.031) and preformed decisions than ER and OP encounters (P<0.001). ER encounters contained significantly more gathering additional information decisions than OP and WR encounters (P<0.001) and fewer problem defining decisions than WR encounters (P=0.028). There was no significant difference in the average number of decisions related to the physician’s and patient’s age or gender.ConclusionsPatient–physician encounters contain a larger number of clinically relevant decisions than described in previous studies. Comprehensive descriptions of how decisions, both as judgements and actions, are communicated in medical encounters may serve as a first step in assessing clinical practice with respect to efficiency and quality on a provider or system level.
Visibility of smoking among school­teachers in Spain and associations with student smoking: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Escario José Julián , Wilkinson Anna V 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveLimited research has examined the association between smoking among schoolteachers and student smoking. This paper seeks to assess whether smoking visibility on school grounds among schoolteachers is associated with student smoking. We examine both smoking behaviour and the number of cigarettes consumed.MethodsWe use a school-based cross-sectional survey carried out by the Spanish Government’s Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs. A total of 27 503 students between 14 and 18 years of age completed an anonymous survey in 2013. Count data regressions were used to assess the association between observed teacher smoking and adolescent smoking behaviour.ResultsHigh levels of visibility of teacher smoking on school grounds increased the odds of being a smoker among students (OR=2.09 and OR=1.64, for the highest levels of visibility), but the impact on the quantity of cigarettes smoked, although positive, was not significant.ConclusionTeacher smoking on school grounds is associated with student smoking behaviour. Consequently, smoking policies designed to prevent adolescent smoking should address this important social environment.