bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular ecological network analysis reveals the effects of probiotics and florfenicol on intestinal microbiota homeostasis: An example of sea cucumber
Authors: Yang Gang , Peng Mo , Tian Xiangli , Dong Shuanglin 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAnimal gut harbors diverse microbes that play crucial roles in the nutrition uptake, metabolism, and the regulation of host immune responses. The intestinal microbiota homeostasis is critical for health but poorly understood. Probiotics Paracoccus marcusii DB11 and Bacillus cereus G19, and antibiotics florfenicol did not significantly impact species richness and the diversity of intestinal microbiota of sea cucumber, in comparison with those in the control group by high-throughput sequencing. Molecular ecological network analysis indicated that P. marcusii DB11 supplementation may lead to sub-module integration and the formation of a large, new sub-module, and enhance species-species interactions and connecter and module hub numbers. B. cereus G19 supplementation decreased sub-module numbers, and increased the number of species-species interactions and module hubs. Sea cucumber treated with florfenicol were shown to have only one connecter and the lowest number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and species-species interactions within the ecological network. These results suggested that P. marcusii DB11 or B. cereus G19 may promote intestinal microbiota homeostasis by improving modularity, enhancing species-species interactions and increasing the number of connecters and/or module hubs within the network. In contrast, the use of florfenicol can lead to homeostatic collapse through the deterioration of the ecological network.
Direct digital design of a sliding mode‐based control of a PWM synchronous buck converter
Authors: Vidal‐Idiarte Enric , Marcos‐Pastor Adria , Giral Roberto , Calvente Javier , Martinez‐Salamero Luis 
Published: June 2017

A discrete‐time sliding mode approach allowing direct digital design of a pulse width modulation (PWM) control of a synchronous buck converter is presented in this study. Without the need of a compensating ramp, a non‐linear difference equation representing the output voltage dynamic behaviour is employed to demonstrate the global stability of the internal control loop of the inductor current. Discrete‐time small‐signal model is derived from the linearisation of the ideal sliding‐mode equations, which facilitates the design of the output voltage controller. This model exhibits a zero whose value depends on the operating point coordinates and explains the duty cycle delay associated to digitally PWM controlled converters. The validity of the transfer function is demonstrated through simulation by comparing its frequency behaviour with that obtained from the more accurate switched model of the converter. Experimental results for start‐up, load and line perturbations, current and voltage reference variations in a 25 W prototype switching at 100 kHz are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.
Recurrent Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome in an Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Neonate
Authors: Davidson Jennifer , Polly Samantha , Hayes Peter , Fisher Kristopher , Talati Ajay , Patel Tejesh 
Published: June 2017

AbstractStaphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) in premature infants is a rare condition. We present SSSS in an extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infant with recurrent and confirmed bacterial sepsis. We present it to emphasize the importance for clinicians to not only recognize the clinical manifestations of SSSS, but also the need to closely monitor infants, especially very low-birth-weight (VLBW) and ELBW infants with SSSS for recurrence and bacterial sepsis. SSSS in preterm infants is a potentially lethal condition and early recognition and appropriate supportive care could be life-saving.
Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Protects against Homocysteine-Induced Brain Damage in Rats
Authors: Wang Lili , Tian Xuan 
Published: June 2017

AbstractHigh levels of homocysteine are implicated in many neurovascular and neurodegeneration diseases. Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), one of green tea polyphenols, has potential anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it has not been explored whether EGCG has an effect on homocysteine-induced neuro-inflammation and neurodegeneration. In this study, we investigated the effects of EGCG on memory deficit, oxidative stress, neuro-inflammation, and neurodegeneration in hyper-homocysteinemic rats after a 2 wk homocysteine injection by vena caudalis. We found that supplementation of EGCG could rescue deficit of spatial memory induced by homocysteine. Treatment of EGCG significantly reduced the expression of malondialdehyde, glial fibrillary acidic protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β and increased glutathione level in the homocysteine-treated group. In TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and Fluoro-Jade B staining, supplementation of EGCG could attenuate the apoptotic neurons and neurodegeneration. Interestingly, EGCG significantly ameliorated homocysteine-induced cerebrovascular injury. Our data suggest that EGCG could be a promising candidate for arresting homocysteine-induced neurodegeneration and neuro-inflammation in the brain.
Rhetoric, argumentation, and persuasion in a multimodal perspective
Authors: Roque Georges 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
The study of multimodal argumentation and rhetoric raises difficult issues due to the hegemony of the verbal in argumentation and rhetoric. From this point of view, it is not sufficient to say that such study implies the analysis of the “interactions” between verbal and iconic elements, since their contribution to multimodality is hardly balanced. This chapter addresses two issues: First, the relationship between rhetoric and argumentation. Based upon a discussion of authors who have tried to fill the gap between rhetoric and argumentation, it would seem that rhetoric could be useful for argumentation thanks to the persuasiveness that it provides. However, if images are persuasive, can they also be argumentative? Second, the relationship between verbal and visual rhetoric will be discussed from the debate in French-speaking countries between “transpositionists” and “antitranspositionists.” This issue can be resolved if we consider that rhetoric is not intrinsically linguistic, but that it consists rather of cognitive operations that can be realised both verbally and visually.
The rhetorical and argumentative potentials of press photography
Authors: Kjeldsen Jens E. 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
This chapter demonstrates the rhetorical and argumentative potentials of press photographs. More specifically, it examines photographs of the terrorist attacks on the USA on 9/11, 2001, and photographs of the Syrian toddler, Aylan Kurdi, who drowned during the migrant crisis in Europe in autumn of 2015. The chapter examines how these photographs exhibit argumentative dimensions and are used in argumentative ways in specific situations. A rhetorical, situational and textual-contextual approach demonstrates how a 9/11 photograph performed epideictic rhetorical functions, and how the images of Aylan Kurdi performed deliberative rhetorical functions. The chapter also examines the counter-argumentation to the Aylan Kurdi images and the widespread appropriation of the images into new argumentative forms.
Perspective by incongruity
Authors: van den Hoven Paul , Schilperoord Joost 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
In this chapter, we identify the visual structures of cartoons that enable cartoonists to evoke visual argumentation. For a cartoon to convey opinions or opinions with arguments, a prerequisite is that its visual (or verbal) structures evoke some kind of incongruity. We demonstrate how a particular class of cartoons – ones we call multi-domain cartoons, evoke such incongruities and how the readers, in order to resolve these incongruities, build argumentative interpretations. These kinds of interpretations relate systematically to the cartoon’s multi-domain structure and to the kinds of foreknowledge competent and reasonable readers are assumed to bring to the task of grasping a cartoon’s meaning. Because cartoons constitute a highly contextualized rhetorical genre, visual and verbal structures reveal the specific foreknowledge anticipated by the cartoonist. This qualifies argumentative interpretations based on foreknowledge as deliberate. We therefore conclude that the perceived argumentation is not invented by the audience, but anticipated by the cartoonist.
The argumentative relevance of visual and multimodal antithesis in Frederick Wiseman’s documentaries
Authors: Tseronis Assimakis , Forceville Charles 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
In this chapter we argue that certain salient contrasts that Frederick Wiseman presents non-verbally and multimodally in his Direct Cinema documentaries can be understood as antitheses that play an argumentative role. In this type of documentary, which renounces the use of voice-over narration and music, a filmmaker has to rely on cinematography and editing in combination with participants’ spoken language to guide viewers’ interpretations. We argue that the ways in which certain sequences and shots are filmed and edited as well as the way dialogue, image, and sound combine within the shot create multimodal meanings that can be accounted for in terms of antithesis and can thereby contribute to the argument developed by the filmmaker. We focus on instances of visual and multimodal antithesis in five of Wiseman’s early films (Titicut Follies, High School, Hospital, Juvenile Court, and Primate) and one later film (Zoo).
Employing film form and style in the argumentative analysis of political advertising
Authors: Hoem Iversen Magnus 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
In this chapter I propose incorporating concepts from film studies in order to better analyze multimodal argumentation in audio-visual texts. I do so by examining the argumentation of a particular advertisement appealing to fear. The core argument in the chapter is that argumentation studies can benefit from appropriating or importing methods and concepts from film studies in order to supplement the interpretation and analysis of argumentation in moving images. In the chapter, I introduce a selection of methods and concepts from film analysis before exemplifying how they can be employed through describing the film style of a political ad produced by a Swedish right wing populist party.
Single-screw Fixation of Adolescent Salter-II Proximal Humeral Fractures: Biomechanical Analysis of the “One Pass Door Lock” Technique
Authors: Miller Mark Carl , Redman Christopher N. , Mistovich R. Justin , Muriuki Muturi , Sangimino Mark J. 
Published: June 2017

Background:
Pin fixation of Salter-II proximal humeral fractures in adolescents approaching skeletal maturity has potential complications that can be avoided with single-screw fixation. However, the strength of screw fixation relative to parallel and diverging pin fixation is unknown. To compare the biomechanical fixation strength between these fixation modalities, we used synthetic composite humeri, and then compared these results in composite bone with cadaveric humeri specimens.

Methods:
Parallel pinning, divergent pinning, and single-screw fixation repairs were performed on synthetic composite humeri with simulated fractures. Six specimens of each type were tested in axial loading and other 6 were tested in torsion. Five pair of cadaveric humeri were tested with diverging pins and single screws for comparison.

Results:
Single-screw fixation was statistically stronger than pin fixation in axial and torsional loading in both composite and actual bone. There was no statistical difference between composite and cadaveric bone specimens.

Conclusion:
Single-screw fixation can offer greater stability to adolescent Salter-II fractures than traditional pinning.

Clinical Relevance:
Single-screw fixation should be considered as a viable alternative to percutaneous pin fixation in transitional patients with little expected remaining growth.
Patterns and Outcomes Associated With Timeliness of Initial Crystalloid Resuscitation in a Prospective Sepsis and Septic Shock Cohort*
Authors: Leisman Daniel E. , Goldman Chananya , Doerfler Martin E. , Masick Kevin D. , Dries Susan , Hamilton Eric , Narasimhan Mangala , Zaidi Gulrukh , D’Amore Jason A. , D’Angelo John K. 
Published: June 2017

Objectives:
The objectives of this study were to 1) assess patterns of early crystalloid resuscitation provided to sepsis and septic shock patients at initial presentation and 2) determine the association between time to initial crystalloid resuscitation with hospital mortality, mechanical ventilation, ICU utilization, and length of stay.

Design:
Consecutive-sample observational cohort.

Setting:
Nine tertiary and community hospitals over 1.5 years.

Patients:
Adult sepsis and septic shock patients captured in a prospective quality improvement database inclusion criteria: suspected or confirmed infection, greater than or equal to two systemic inflammatory response criteria, greater than or equal to one organ-dysfunction criteria.

Interventions:
The primary exposure was crystalloid initiation within 30 minutes or lesser, 31–120 minutes, or more than 120 minutes from sepsis identification.

Measurements and Main Results:
We identified 11,182 patients. Crystalloid initiation was faster for emergency department patients (β, –141 min; CI, –159 to –125; p < 0.001), baseline hypotension (β, –39 min; CI, –48 to –32; p < 0.001), fever, urinary or skin/soft-tissue source of infection. Initiation was slower with heart failure (β, 20 min; CI, 14–25; p < 0.001), and renal failure (β, 16 min; CI, 10–22; p < 0.001). Five thousand three hundred thirty-six patients (48%) had crystalloid initiated in 30 minutes or lesser versus 2,388 (21%) in 31–120 minutes, and 3,458 (31%) in more than 120 minutes. The patients receiving fluids within 30 minutes had lowest mortality (949 [17.8%]) versus 31–120 minutes (446 [18.7%]) and more than 120 minutes (846 [24.5%]). Compared with more than 120 minutes, the adjusted odds ratio for mortality was 0.76 (CI, 0.64–0.90; p = 0.002) for 30 minutes or lesser and 0.76 (CI, 0.62–0.92; p = 0.004) for 31–120 minutes. When assessed continuously, mortality odds increased by 1.09 with each hour to initiation (CI, 1.03–1.16; p = 0.002). We observed similar patterns for mechanical ventilation, ICU utilization, and length of stay. We did not observe significant interaction for mortality risk between initiation time and baseline heart failure, renal failure, hypotension, acute kidney injury, altered gas exchange, or emergency department (vs inpatient) presentation.

Conclusions:
Crystalloid was initiated significantly later with comorbid heart failure and renal failure, with absence of fever or hypotension, and in inpatient-presenting sepsis. Earlier crystalloid initiation was associated with decreased mortality. Comorbidities and severity did not modify this effect.
Communication Training, Adverse Events, and Quality Measures: 2 Retrospective Database Analyses in Washington State Hospitals
Authors: Slade Ian R. , Beck Sara J. , Kramer C. Bradley , Symons Rebecca G. , Cusumano Michael , Flum David R. , Gallagher Thomas H. , Devine Emily Beth 
Published: June 2017

Objective
Washington State’s HealthPact program was launched in 2011 as part of AHRQ’s Patient Safety and Medical Liability Reform initiative. HealthPact delivered interdisciplinary communication training to health-care professionals with the goal of enhancing safety. We conducted 2 exploratory, retrospective database analyses to investigate training impact on the frequency of adverse events (AEs) and select quality measures across 3 time frames: pretraining (2009–2011), transition (2012), and posttraining (2013).

Methods
Using administrative data from Washington State’s Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System (CHARS) and clinical registry data from the Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program (SCOAP), we compared proportions of AEs and quality measures between HealthPact (n = 4) and non-HealthPact (n = 93-CHARS; n = 48-SCOAP) participating hospitals. Risk ratios enabled comparisons between the 2 groups. Multivariable logistic regression enabled investigation of the association between training and the frequency of AEs.

Results
Approximately 9.4% (CHARS) and 7.7% (SCOAP) of unique patients experienced 1 AE or greater. In CHARS, the odds of a patient experiencing an AE in a HealthPact hospital were initially (pretraining) higher than in a non-HealthPact hospital (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–1.17), lower in transition (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.76–0.83) and posttraining (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.69–0.75) periods. In SCOAP, ORs were consistently lower in HealthPact hospitals: pretraining (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80–0.95), transition (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.70–0.81), and posttraining (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.58–0.68). The proportion of at-risk patients that experienced each individual AE was low (<1%) throughout. Adherence to quality measures was high.

Conclusions
Interprofessional communication training is an area of intense activity nationwide. A broad-based training initiative may play a role in mitigating AEs.
The Consequences of Whistle-blowing: An Integrative Review
Authors: Lim Charmaine R. , Zhang Melvyn W.B. , Hussain Syeda F. , Ho Roger C.M. 
Published: June 2017

Background
Whistle-blowing provides an avenue for healthcare workers to express their concerns when there is a breach of patients’ safety. Most healthcare organizations have policies in place to prevent reprisals on whistle-blowers. Despite these protective measures, whistle-blowing often leads to negative consequences.

Methods
A search of articles on whistle-blowing was conducted on MEDLINE (PubMed). Articles were included if they described the consequences of whistle-blowing in the following 3 areas: medical, nursing, and research/pharmaceutical research (Fig. 1).

Results
The initial search criteria retrieved 1168 articles, 670 of which were identified for full-text review. A total of 82 studies were included in the final set of literature. Negative consequences to whistle-blowers include occupational, legal, financial, socioemotional, and other (e.g., physical health, character assassination) effects. Positive consequences to clinical services include improvements to patient safety and in successes of employment tribunal claims, settlements, and court injunctions. Positive consequences in research include retraction of articles (with fraudulent data) and changes to medical journal publication rules. Consequences of no whistle-blowing include investigations of individuals for not reporting and negative emotions such as guilt.

Conclusions
Whistle-blowing is an avenue to improving patient safety in healthcare. The findings from this integrated review will help shape new whistle-blowing policies. Future whistle-blowing policies must minimize negative consequences to whistle-blowers while enhancing levels of patient safety and quality of care rendered.
Identification and visualisation of differential isoform expression in RNA-seq time series
Authors: Nueda María José , Martorell-Marugan Jordi , Martí Cristina , Tarazona Sonia , Conesa Ana 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAs sequencing technologies improve their capacity to detect distinct transcripts of the same gene and to address complex experimental designs such as longitudinal studies, there is a need to develop statistical methods for the analysis of isoform expression changes in time series data. Iso-maSigPro is a new functionality of the R package maSigPro for transcriptomics time series data analysis. Iso-maSigPro identifies genes with a differential isoform usage across time. The package also includes new clustering and visualization functions that allow grouping of genes with similar expression patterns at the isoform level, as well as those genes with a shift in major expressed isoform. The package is freely available under the LGPL license from the Bioconductor web site (http://bioconductor.org).
Designing Anti-Zika Virus Peptides Derived from Predicted Human-Zika Virus Protein-Protein Interactions
Authors: Kazmirchuk Tom , Dick Kevin , Burnside Daniel. J. , Barnes Brad , Moteshareie Houman , Hajikarimlou Maryam , Omidi Katayoun , Ahmed Duale , Low Andrew , Lettl Clara , Hooshyar Mohsen , Schoenrock Andrew , Pitre Sylvain , Babu Mohan , Cassol Edana , Samanfar Bahram , Wong Alex , Dehne Frank , Green James. R. , Golshani Ashkan 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe production of anti-Zika virus (ZIKV) therapeutics has become increasingly important as the propagation of the devastating virus continues largely unchecked. Notably, a causal relationship between ZIKV infection and neurodevelopmental abnormalities has been widely reported, yet a specific mechanism underlying impaired neurological development has not been identified. Here, we report on the design of several synthetic competitive inhibitory peptides against key pathogenic ZIKV proteins through the prediction of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Often, PPIs between host and viral proteins are crucial for infection and pathogenesis, making them attractive targets for therapeutics. Using two complementary sequence-based PPI prediction tools, we first produced a comprehensive map of predicted human-ZIKV PPIs (involving 209 human protein candidates). We then designed several peptides intended to disrupt the corresponding host-pathogen interactions thereby acting as anti-ZIKV therapeutics. The data generated in this study constitute a foundational resource to aid in the multi-disciplinary effort to combat ZIKV infection, including the design of additional synthetic proteins.
Recapitulating bone development for tissue regeneration through engineered mesenchymal condensations and mechanical cues
Authors: McDermott Anna M. , Herberg Samuel , Mason Devon E. , Pearson Hope B. , Dawahare James H. , Collins Joseph M. , Tang Rui , Patwa Amit N. , Grinstaff Mark W. , Kelly Daniel J. , Alsberg Eben , Boerckel Joel D. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTLarge bone defects cannot heal without intervention and have high complication rates even with the best treatments available. In contrast, bone fractures naturally healing with high success rates by recapitulating the process of bone development through endochondral ossification.1Endochondral tissue engineering may represent a promising paradigm, but large bone defects are unable to naturally form a callus. We engineered mesenchymal condensations featuring local morphogen presentation (TGF-β1) to mimic the cellular organization and lineage progression of the early limb bud. As mechanical forces are 2,3 critical for proper endochondral ossification during bone morphogenesis2,3and fracture healing, we hypothesized that mechanical cues would be important for endochondral regeneration.4,5Here, using fixation plates that modulate ambulatory load transfer through dynamic tuning of axial compliance, we found thatin vivomechanical loading was necessary to restore bone function to large bone defects through endochondral ossification. Endochondral regeneration produced zonal cartilage and primary spongiosa mimetic of the native growth plate. Live human chondrocytes contributed to endochondral regenerationin vivo, while cell devitalization prior to condensation transplantation abrogated bone formation. Mechanical loading induced regeneration comparable to high-dose BMP-2 delivery, but without heterotopic bone formation and with order-of-magnitude greater mechanosensitivity.6–8In vitro, mechanical loading promoted chondrogenesis, and upregulated pericellular collagen 6 deposition and angiogenic gene expression. Consistently,in vivomechanical loading regulated cartilage formation and neovascular invasion dependent on load timing. Together, this study represents the first demonstration of the effects of mechanical loading on transplanted cell-mediated bone defect regeneration, and provides a new template for recapitulating developmental programs for tissue engineering.