bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does fuel type influence the amount of charcoal produced in wildfires? Implications for the fossil record
Authors: Hudspith Victoria A. , Hadden Rory M. , Bartlett Alastair I. , Belcher Claire M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractCharcoal occurrence is extensively used as a tool for understanding wildfires over geological timescales. Yet, the fossil charcoal literature to date rarely considers that fire alone is capable of creating a bias in the abundance and nature of charcoal it creates, before it even becomes incorporated into the fossil record. In this study we have used state‐of‐the‐art calorimetry to experimentally produce charcoal from 20 species that represent a range of surface fuels and growth habits, as a preliminary step towards assessing whether different fuel types (and plant organs) are equally likely to remain as charcoal post‐fire. We observe that charcoal production appears to be species specific, and is related to the intrinsic physical and chemical properties of a given fuel. Our observations therefore suggest that some taxa are likely to be overrepresented in fossil charcoal assemblages (i.e. needle‐shed conifers, tree ferns) and others poorly represented, or not preserved at all (i.e. broad shoot‐shed conifers, weedy angiosperms, shrub angiosperms, some ferns). Our study highlights the complexity of charcoal production in modern fuels and we consider what a bias in charcoal production may mean for our understanding of palaeowildfires.
Foundation of statistical mechanics: The auxiliary hypotheses
Authors: Shenker Orly 
Published: November 2017

AbstractStatistical mechanics is the name of the ongoing attempt to explain and predict certain phenomena, above all those described by thermodynamics on the basis of the fundamental theories of physics, in particular mechanics (classical or quantum), together with certain auxiliary assumptions. In another paper in this journal, Foundations of statistical mechanics: Mechanics by itself, I have shown that some of the thermodynamic regularities, including the probabilistic ones, can be described in terms of mechanics by itself. But in order to prove those regularities, in particular the time asymmetric ones, it is necessary to add to mechanics assumptions of three kinds, all of which are under debate in contemporary literature. One kind of assumptions concerns measure and probability, and here, a major debate is around the notion of “typicality.” A second assumption concerns initial conditions, and here, the debate is about the nature and status of the so‐called past hypothesis. The third kind of assumptions concerns the dynamics, and here, the possibility and significance of “Maxwell's Demon” is the main topic of discussions. This article describes these assumptions and examines the justification for introducing them, emphasizing the contemporary debates around them.
Foundation of statistical mechanics: Mechanics by itself
Authors: Shenker Orly 
Published: November 2017

AbstractStatistical mechanics is a strange theory. Its aims are debated, its methods are contested, its main claims have never been fully proven, and their very truth is challenged, yet at the same time, it enjoys huge empirical success and gives us the feeling that we understand important phenomena. What is this weird theory, exactly? Statistical mechanics is the name of the ongoing attempt to apply mechanics (classical, as discussed in this paper, or quantum), together with some auxiliary hypotheses, to explain and predict certain phenomena, above all those described by thermodynamics. This paper shows what parts of this objective can be achieved with mechanics by itself. It thus clarifies what roles remain for the auxiliary assumptions that are needed to achieve the rest of the desiderata. Those auxiliary hypotheses are described in another paper in this journal, Foundations of statistical mechanics: The auxiliary hypotheses.
Gaussian Unitary Ensemble with Boundary Spectrum Singularity and σ‐Form of the Painlevé II Equation
Authors: Wu Xiao‐Bo , Xu Shuai‐Xia , Zhao Yu‐Qiu 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe consider the Gaussian unitary ensemble perturbed by a Fisher–Hartwig singularity simultaneously of both root type and jump type. In the critical regime where the singularity approaches the soft edge, namely, the edge of the support of the equilibrium measure for the Gaussian weight, the asymptotics of the Hankel determinant and the recurrence coefficients, for the orthogonal polynomials associated with the perturbed Gaussian weight, are obtained and expressed in terms of a family of smooth solutions to the Painlevé XXXIV equation and the σ‐form of the Painlevé II equation. In addition, we further obtain the double scaling limit of the distribution of the largest eigenvalue in a thinning procedure of the conditioning Gaussian unitary ensemble, and the double scaling limit of the correlation kernel for the critical perturbed Gaussian unitary ensemble. The asymptotic properties of the Painlevé XXXIV functions and the σ‐form of the Painlevé II equation are also studied.
Economic and Innovative Factors Influence on Funding of the Supply-Side of Housing in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Kanjumba Faith Wambui 
Published: November 2017

Housing impact on an economy is undisputed. Economic factors comprising market forces, cost of inputs, the macro economy and the cost of funding are one set of factors that impacts on the funding of the supply-side of housing. Financiers’ reactionary actions to encourage uptake of credit is undertaken by use of innovation and technology. This paper sets to establish the relationships between both economic and innovative factors, and funding of the supply-side of housing in Kenya and also the moderating effect of the major stakeholders. Using an explanatory form of approach in research design a survey was conducted using questionnaires to collect data from a random sample of 212 branches in Nairobi of financial institutions drawn from a population of 43 commercial banks, 9 deposit-taking MFIs and three major financiers of housing. Factor analysis, correlation analysis and ordinal logit regression were used to determine the relationships. A negative relationship between economic factors and funding of housing was found, while innovative financing and technological factors were found to have no influence. A positive moderating effect of stakeholders on the relationships between both economic factors, and innovative financing and technological factors on one side, and funding of housing was established. The implication being that economic factors play a bigger role in impacting housing and a stable economy is conducive in encouraging investments in housing, with government acting more as an enabler. Innovative financing and technology act as facilitators only.
Development of Protective Immunity in New Zealand White Rabbits Challenged with Bacillus anthracis Spores and Treated with Antibiotics and Obiltoxaximab, a Monoclonal Antibody against Protective Antigen
Authors: Henning Lisa N. , Carpenter Sarah , Stark Gregory V. , Serbina Natalya V. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACT

The recommended management of inhalational anthrax, a high-priority bioterrorist threat, includes antibiotics and antitoxins. Obiltoxaximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against anthrax protective antigen (PA), is licensed under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Animal Rule for the treatment of inhalational anthrax. Because of spore latency, disease reemergence after treatment cessation is a concern, and there is a need to understand the development of endogenous protective immune responses following antitoxin-containing anthrax treatment regimens. Here, acquired protective immunity was examined in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits challenged with a targeted lethal dose of
Bacillus anthracis
spores and treated with antibiotics, obiltoxaximab, or a combination of both. Survivors of the primary challenge were rechallenged 9 months later and monitored for survival. Survival rates after primary and rechallenge for controls and animals treated with obiltoxaximab, levofloxacin, or a combination of both were 0, 65, 100, and 95%, and 0, 100, 95, and 89%, respectively. All surviving immune animals had circulating antibodies to PA and serum toxin-neutralizing titers prior to rechallenge. Following rechallenge, systemic bacteremia and toxemia were not detected in most animals, and the levels of circulating anti-PA IgG titers increased starting at 5 days postrechallenge. We conclude that treatment with obiltoxaximab, alone or combined with antibiotics, significantly improves the survival of rabbits that received a lethal inhalation
B. anthracis
spore challenge dose and does not interfere with the development of immunity. Survivors of primary challenge are protected against reexposure, have rare incidents of systemic bacteremia and toxemia, and have evidence of an anamnestic response.
Activity of Ceftolozane-Tazobactam against Carbapenem-Resistant, Non-Carbapenemase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Associated Resistance Mechanisms
Authors: Wi Yu Mi , Greenwood-Quaintance Kerryl E. , Schuetz Audrey N. , Ko Kwan Soo , Peck Kyong Ran , Song Jae-Hoon , Patel Robin 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACT

Although carbapenems are effective for treating serious multidrug-resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
infections, carbapenem-resistant
P. aeruginosa
(CRPA) is now being reported worldwide. Ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T) demonstrates activity against many multidrug-resistant isolates. We evaluated the activity of C/T and compared its activity to that of ceftazidime-avibactam (C/A) using a well-characterized collection of non-carbapenemase-producing CRPA isolates. Forty-two non-carbapenemase-producing CRPA isolates from a previous study (J. Y. Lee and K. S. Ko, Int J Antimicrob Agents 40:168–172, 2012,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2012.04.004
) were included. All had been previously shown to be negative for
bla
IMP
,
bla
VIM
,
bla
SPM
,
bla
GIM
,
bla
SIM
, and
bla
KPC
by PCR. In the prior study, expression of
oprD
,
ampC
, and several efflux pump genes had been defined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Here, antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by broth microdilution according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Time-kill curve assays were performed using three C/T- and C/A-susceptible CRPA isolates. Among 42 non-carbapenemase-producing CRPA isolates, overall susceptibility to C/T was 95.2%, compared to 71.4%, 42.9%, 23.8%, 21.4%, and 2.4% for C/A, ceftazidime, piperacillin-tazobactam, cefepime, and meropenem, respectively. The C/T resistance rate was significantly lower than that of C/A among isolates showing decreased
oprD
and increased
mexB
expression (5.1% versus 25.6%,
P
= 0.025, and 4.3% versus 34.8%,
P
= 0.022, respectively). In time-kill curve studies, C/T was less bactericidal than C/A against an isolate with decreased
oprD
and increased
ampC
expression. C/T was active against 95.2% of non-carbapenemase-producing CRPA clinical isolates. No apparent correlation of C/T MIC values with specific mutation-driven resistance mechanisms was noted.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis GroEL2 Modulates Dendritic Cell Responses
Authors: Georgieva Maria , Sia Jonathan Kevin , Bizzell Erica , Madan-Lala Ranjna , Rengarajan Jyothi 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium tuberculosis
successfully subverts the host immune response to promote disease progression. In addition to its known intracellular niche in macrophages,
M. tuberculosis
interferes with the functions of dendritic cells (DCs), which are the primary antigen-presenting cells of the immune system. We previously showed that
M. tuberculosis
dampens proinflammatory responses and impairs DC functions through the cell envelope-associated serine protease Hip1. Here we present data showing that
M. tuberculosis
GroEL2, a substrate of Hip1, modulates DC functions. The full-length GroEL2 protein elicited robust proinflammatory responses from DCs and promoted DC maturation and antigen presentation to T cells. In contrast, the cleaved form of GroEL2, which predominates in
M. tuberculosis
, was poorly immunostimulatory and was unable to promote DC maturation and antigen presentation. Moreover, DCs exposed to full-length, but not cleaved, GroEL2 induced strong antigen-specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and IL-17A cytokine responses from CD4
+
T cells. Moreover, the expression of cleaved GroEL2 in the
hip1
mutant restored the robust T cell responses to wild-type levels, suggesting that proteolytic cleavage of GroEL2 allows
M. tuberculosis
to prevent optimal DC-T cell cross talk during
M. tuberculosis
infection.
Small RNA teg49 Is Derived from a
sarA
Transcript and Regulates Virulence Genes Independent of SarA in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Manna Adhar C. , Kim Samin , Cengher Liviu , Corvaglia Anna , Leo Stefano , Francois Patrice , Cheung Ambrose L. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACT

Expression of virulence factors in
Staphylococcus aureus
is regulated by a wide range of transcriptional regulators, including proteins and small RNAs (sRNAs), at the level of transcription and/or translation. The
sarA
locus consists of three overlapping transcripts generated from three distinct promoters, all containing the
sarA
open reading frame (ORF). The 5′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of these transcripts contain three separate regions ∼711, 409, and 146 nucleotides (nt) upstream of the
sarA
translation start, the functions of which remain unknown. Recent transcriptome-sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis and subsequent characterization indicated that two sRNAs, teg49 and teg48, are processed and likely produced from the
sarA
P3 and
sarA
P1 transcripts of the
sarA
locus, respectively. In this report, we utilized a variety of
sarA
promoter mutants and
cshA
and
rnc
mutants to ascertain the contributions of these factors to the generation of teg49. We also defined the transcriptional regulon of teg49, including virulence genes not regulated by SarA. Phenotypically, teg49 did not impact biofilm formation or affect overall SarA expression significantly. Comparative analyses of RNA-Seq data between the wild-type, teg49 mutant, and
sarA
mutant strains indicated that ∼133 genes are significantly upregulated while 97 are downregulated in a teg49 deletion mutant in a
sarA
-independent manner. An abscess model of skin infection indicated that the teg49 mutant exhibited a reduced bacterial load compared to the wild-type
S. aureus
. Overall, these results suggest that teg49 sRNA has a regulatory role in target gene regulation independent of SarA. The exact mechanism of this regulation is yet to be dissected.
Quantifying research output on poverty and non-communicable disease behavioural risk factors in low-income and lower middle-income countries: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Allen Luke Nelson , Fox Nicholas , Ambrose Alissa 
Published: November 2017

ObjectivesLow-income and lower middle-income countries (LLMICs) bear a disproportionate burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). WHO has repeatedly called for more research on poverty and NCDs in these settings, but the current situation remains unquantified. We aimed to assess research output on poverty and NCD risk factors from these countries in relation to upper middle-income and high-income countries.DesignBibliometric analysis of primary research published between 1 January 1990 and 4 May 2017. We searched 13 databases, combining terms for poverty and NCD behavioural risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, diet and physical activity). Independent dual review was used to screen titles, abstracts and full papers. Two-tailed t-testing and multiple linear regression analyses were used to compare differences in means.Outcomes(1) Proportion of lead authors affiliated with institutions based in high and upper middle-income countries vs LLMICs. (2) Mean number of citations for publications from each region. (3) Mean journal impact factor for studies from each region.ResultsNinety-one (67%) of the 136 included studies were led by scientists affiliated with LLMIC-based institutions. These authors represented 17/83 LLMICs (20%), and their studies garnered 4.8 fewer citations per paper than studies led by high-income and upper middle-income-affiliated authors; however, this finding was non-significant (P=0.67). Papers led by authors based in high-income and upper middle-income countries were published in journals with a mean impact factor 3.1 points higher than those from LLMICs (4.9 vs 1.7) adjusting for year of publication and number of citations (P<0.001).ConclusionsMost poverty and NCD risk factor research is led by authors from a small number of LLMICs. These studies are being published in relatively low-impact journals, and the vast majority of LLMICs are not producing any research in this area that is vital to their social and economic development. The paucity of domestic evidence must be addressed to inform global policy.
Examining the association between maternal atopy and birth outcomes using a retrospective cohort in the southeastern region of the USA
Authors: Johnson Ayesha , Mason Thomas , Kirby Russell S , Ledford Dennis , Salihu Hamisu M 
Published: November 2017

ObjectiveTo assess birth outcomes in primiparous women with diagnosis of non-asthmatic atopy (NAA). Researchers hypothesised that women with NAA would have reduced the risk of adverse birth outcomes compared with women without NAA. NAA is defined as having allergic rhinitis and/or atopic dermatitis.SettingWomen were mostly treated in primary care settings in South Carolina, USA.ParticipantsThis is a retrospective cohort study in which participants were identified using a Medicaid database. Participants were primiparous women aged 19 to 25. Births occurring between 2004 and 2014 were identified using the South Carolina’s Vital Statistics (VS) records of live births. Incomplete records (ie, information on plural birth, gestational age at birth or birth weight missing), plural births or infants born before completing 24 weeks of gestation were excluded. This provided 65 650 complete maternal–infant dyads, representing 97.6% of the maternal records and 96.9% of the VS records. Women previously diagnosed with NAA were frequency matched 1:4 to non–atopic controls for a total of 9965 maternal–infant dyads used in the statistical analysis.Primary outcome measuresLow birth weight, small for gestational age and preterm birth.ResultsLinear tests for trend were statistically significant (p<0.001), indicating that NAA was associated with improved birth weight and gestational age at birth. After controlling for potential confounders, mothers with NAA had equal risk for each outcome when compared with mothers with no diagnosis of NAA.ConclusionA diagnosis of NAA among women living in the southeastern region of the USA does not reduce the risk of adverse birth outcomes nor does it elevate the risk of same. Additional studies with more rigorous designs are warranted to confirm the findings in this study.
Factors contributing to medicine-related problems in adult patients with diabetes and/or cardiovascular diseases in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study
Authors: Al Hamid Abdullah Mahdi , Ghaleb Maisoon , Aljadhey Hisham , Aslanpour Zoe 
Published: November 2017

ObjectivesTo investigate the factors contributing to medicine-related problems (MRPs) among patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and/or diabetes in Saudi Arabia.DesignQualitative semistructured interviews were conducted. Interviews were audio recorded then transcribed into Microsoft Word. The transcribed interviews were then imported into the qualitative analysis software NVivo where thematic analysis was applied. Thematic synthesis was achieved by coding and developing subthemes/themes from the findings of the interviews.SettingFive healthcare centres in Najran, Saudi Arabia.Participants25 adult patients with diabetes and/or CVDs.ResultsThe study cohort included 16 men and 9 women with a median age of 61.8 years (40–85 years). Diabetes was the main condition encountered among 23 patients and CVDs were reported among 18 patients. Perceived factors leading to MRPs were of four types and related to: patient-, healthcare system-, clinical (condition-) and medicine-related factors. Patient-related factors were related to living situation, religious practices, diet/exercise and patients’ behaviour towards the condition and medicines. Healthcare system-related factors comprised sources and availability of medicines, ease of access to healthcare system and patient satisfaction with healthcare providers. Clinical (condition-) related factors associated with both the knowledge and control over condition, and effects of the condition among medicines intake. Medicine-related factors included lack of knowledge about medicines and medicine use.ConclusionsThe results of this study uncovered many factors associated with MRPs among patients with CVDs and diabetes in Saudi Arabia, especially in reference to lifestyle and medicine use. Improving communication with healthcare professional alongside the introduction of national clinical guidance would mitigate the unwanted health complications related to medicine use.
Improving best practice for patients receiving hospital discharge letters: a realist review protocol
Authors: Weetman Katharine , Wong Geoffrey , Scott Emma , Schnurr Stephanie , Dale Jeremy 
Published: November 2017

IntroductionDischarge documents are important for transferring information from hospitals to the referring clinician; in the UK and many countries, this is often the patient’s general practitioner or family physician. However, patients may or may not receive their discharge letters, and whether patients should routinely receive discharge letters remains unclear.Methods and analysisThe review will consolidate evidence on patients receiving discharge letters through the theory-driven approach of a realist review.The review will be conducted systematically and seek to explain how, why, for whom and in what contexts does this practice ‘work’. The review will specifically explore whether therearebenefits of this practice and if so what are the important contexts for triggering the mechanisms associated with these outcome benefits. Negative effects will also be considered.Several steps will occur: devising initial rough programme theory, searching the evidence, selecting relevant documents, extracting data, synthesising and finally programme theory refinement. As the process is viewed as iterative, this cycle of steps may be repeated as many times as is necessary to reachtheoretical saturationand may not be linear.The initial programme theory will be tested and refined throughout the review process and by stakeholder involvement of National Health Service (NHS) policy makers, practitioners and service users.Ethics and disseminationFormal ethical review is not required. The resulting programme theory is anticipated to explain how the intervention of patients receiving written discharge communication may work in practice, for whom and in what contexts; this will inform best practice of patients receiving discharge communication. The review findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presentations and discussions with relevant organisations and stakeholders. While the review will be from the perspective of the UK NHS, its findings should be relevant to other healthcare systems.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017069863.