bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deconstructing quality in South African higher education
Authors: Fomunyam Kehdinga George 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
This study aims to examine six South African universities with a particular focus on the quality of teaching and learning.

Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative case study approach was adopted and data were mainly generated by means of open-ended questionnaires. The questionnaire was circulated to approximately 1,800 students and 746 completed it. The data were categorized and analysed thematically, using both national and international benchmarks for quality teaching and learning.

Findings
The findings reveal that teaching and learning in South African universities is marred by a plethora of challenges. Lecturers lack basic skills and essential resources to effectively facilitate teaching and learning. Furthermore, quality benchmarks set by the Council on Higher Education are only met on paper and little or nothing is done to translate this into practice.

Originality/value
The study proposes among others that clearer policies on funding are recommended to ensure proper allocation of resources, staff development and institutional comeliness. Finally, to enhance transformation, universities should prioritize teaching and learning and take steps to ensure that those teaching in the classroom are qualified to do so.
The legitimacy of offender management programmes in a post-TR landscape
Authors: Rowe Michael , Irving Adele , Soppitt Sarah 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the under-considered perspectives of service users engaged in various community sentences based on a “strengths-based” approach to desistance. Further to recent changes in the sector, the paper considers service user views for programmes delivered by combinations of agencies from private, public and third sectors.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on analysis of 64 semi-structured interviews with users of four programmes, accompanied with informal fieldwork observations by the researchers as they carried out the research at the premises of service providers.

Findings
The research finds that service user perceptions of the legitimacy of programmes are closely related to their understanding of three key dimensions: first, the “authenticity” of those delivering the service; second, the instrumental (in broad terms) gains they expect from engagement; and third, their understanding of the identity and ethos of the programme.

Originality/value
The paper adds important understanding based on service user perceptions in a period when service provision is being diversified. Further directions for other research are identified and it is recognised that a limitation of the current study is that it incorporates a sample drawn from one area.
Electromagnetic based acoustic energy harvester for low power wireless autonomous sensor applications
Authors: Izhar  , Khan Farid Ullah 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel electromagnetic-based acoustic energy harvester (EH) for the application of wireless autonomous sensors.

Design/methodology/approach
The developed acoustic EH comprises a Helmholtz resonator (HR), a suspension system that consists of a flexible membrane and a permanent magnet, a couple of coils and a coil holder. Furthermore, the HR, used in the harvester, is designed for a specific resonant frequency based on simulation carried out in COMSOL Multiphysics®.

Findings
The developed harvester is tested both in lab under harmonic sound pressure levels (SPLs) and in real environment under random SPLs. In lab, when exposed to 100 dB SPL, the harvester generated a peak power of 212 µW. Furthermore, in real environment in vicinity of electric generator, the harvester produced an output voltage of about 110 mV collectively from its both coils.

Originality/value
In this paper, a novel geometric configuration for electromagnetic-based acoustic EH is proposed. In the developed harvester, two coils are placed in it to achieve enhanced electrical output from it for the first time.
A dual-mode proximity sensor with combination of inductive and capacitive sensing units
Authors: Kan Wenqing , Huang Ying , Zeng Xiao , Guo Xiaohui , Liu Ping 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a dual-mode proximity sensor composed of inductive and capacitive sensing modes, which can help the robot distinguish different objects and obtain distance information at the same time. A systematic study of sensor response to various objects and the function of cooperation sensing is needed. Furthermore, the application in the field of robotic area needs to be discussed.Design/methodology/approachNumerical modeling of each sensing modes and simulations based on finite element analysis method has been carried out to verify the designed dual-mode sensor. A number of objects composed of different materials are used to research the cooperation perception and proximity sensing functions. In addition, the proposed sensor is used on the palm of a mechanical hand as application experiment.FindingsThe characteristics of the sensor are summarized as follows: the sensing range of inductive mode is 0-5.6 mm for detecting a copper block and the perceive range of capacitive mode is 0-5.1 mm for detecting a plastic block. The collaborative perceive tests validated that the non-ferromagnetism metals can be distinguished by inductive mode. Correspondingly, ferromagnetism metals and dielectric objects are differentiated by capacitive mode. Application experiments results reveal that both plastic bottle and steel bottle could be detected and differentiated. The experimental results are in agreement with those of simulations.Originality valueThis paper provides a study of dual-mode proximity sensor in terms of design, experiments and application.
Intrapulmonary Pharmacokinetics of Relebactam, a Novel β-Lactamase Inhibitor, Dosed in Combination with Imipenem-Cilastatin in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Rizk Matthew L. , Rhee Elizabeth G. , Jumes Patricia A. , Gotfried Mark H. , Zhao Tian , Mangin Eric , Bi Sheng , Chavez-Eng Cynthia M. , Zhang Zufei , Butterton Joan R. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT
This phase I study assessed the intrapulmonary pharmacokinetic profiles of relebactam (MK-7655), a novel β-lactamase inhibitor, and imipenem. Sixteen healthy subjects received 250 mg relebactam with 500 mg imipenem-cilastatin, given intravenously every 6 h for 5 doses, and were randomized to bronchoscopy/bronchoalveolar lavage at 0.5, 1, 1.5, or 3 h after the last dose (4 subjects per time point). Both drugs penetrated the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) to a similar degree, with the profiles being similar in shape to the corresponding plasma profiles and with the apparent terminal half-lives in plasma and ELF being 1.2 and 1.3 h, respectively, for relebactam and 1.0 h in both compartments for imipenem. The exposure (area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity) in ELF relative to that in plasma was 54% for relebactam and 55% for imipenem, after adjusting for protein binding. ELF penetration for relebactam was further analyzed by fitting the data to a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model to capture its behavior in plasma, with a partitioning coefficient capturing its behavior in the lung compartment. In this model, the time-invariant partition coefficient for relebactam was found to be 55%, based on free drug levels. These results support the clinical evaluation of relebactam with imipenem-cilastatin for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia.
Prospective Clinical Trial Assessing Species-Specific Efficacy of Artemether-Lumefantrine for the Treatment of Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Mixed Plasmodium Malaria in Gabon
Authors: Groger Mirjam , Veletzky Luzia , Lalremruata Albert , Cattaneo Chiara , Mischlinger Johannes , Zoleko-Manego Rella , Endamne Lilian , Klicpera Anna , Kim Johanna , Nguyen The , Flohr Lena , Remppis Jonathan , Matsiegui Pierre-Blaise , Adegnika Ayôla A. , Agnandji Selidji T. , Kremsner Peter G. , Mordmüller Benjamin , Mombo-Ngoma Ghyslain , Ramharter Michael 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Treatment recommendations for
Plasmodium malariae
and
Plasmodium ovale
malaria are largely based on anecdotal evidence. The aim of this prospective study, conducted in Gabon, was to systematically assess the efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of patients with uncomplicated
P. malariae
or
P. ovale
species monoinfections or mixed
Plasmodium
infections. Patients with microscopically confirmed
P. malariae
,
P. ovale
, or mixed-species malaria with at least one of these two
Plasmodium
species were treated with an oral, fixed-dose combination of artemether-lumefantrine for 3 consecutive days. The primary endpoints were per-protocol PCR-corrected adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) on days 28 and 42. Tolerability and safety were recorded throughout the follow-up period. Seventy-two participants (42 male and 30 female) were enrolled; 62.5% of them had PCR-corrected mixed
Plasmodium
infections. Per protocol, PCR-corrected ACPR rates were 96.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91.9 to 100) on day 28 and 94.2% (95% CI, 87.7 to 100) on day 42. Considering
Plasmodium
species independently from their coinfecting species, day 42 ACPR rates were 95.5% (95% CI, 89.0 to 100) for
P. falciparum
, 100% (exact CI, 84.6 to 100) for
P. malariae
, 100% (exact CI, 76.8 to 100) for
P. ovale curtisi
, and 90.9% (95% CI, 70.7 to 100) for
P. ovale wallikeri
. Study drug-related adverse events were generally mild or moderate. In conclusion, this clinical trial demonstrated satisfying antimalarial activity of artemether-lumefantrine against
P. ovale
wallikeri
,
P. ovale curtisi
,
P. malariae
, and mixed
Plasmodium
infections, with per-protocol efficacies of 90% to 100% and without evident tolerability or safety concerns. (This trial was registered in the clinical study database ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT02528279.)
G-Quadruplex DNA Motifs in the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum and Their Potential as Novel Antimalarial Drug Targets
Authors: Harris Lynne M. , Monsell Katelyn R. , Noulin Florian , Famodimu M. Toyin , Smargiasso Nicolas , Damblon Christian , Horrocks Paul , Merrick Catherine J. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

G-quadruplexes are DNA or RNA secondary structures that can be formed from guanine-rich nucleic acids. These four-stranded structures, composed of stacked quartets of guanine bases, can be highly stable and have been demonstrated to occur
in vivo
in the DNA of human cells and other systems, where they play important biological roles, influencing processes such as telomere maintenance, DNA replication and transcription, or, in the case of RNA G-quadruplexes, RNA translation and processing. We report for the first time that DNA G-quadruplexes can be detected in the nuclei of the malaria parasite
Plasmodium falciparum
, which has one of the most A/T-biased genomes sequenced and therefore possesses few guanine-rich sequences with the potential to form G-quadruplexes. We show that despite this paucity of putative G-quadruplex-forming sequences,
P. falciparum
parasites are sensitive to several G-quadruplex-stabilizing drugs, including quarfloxin, which previously reached phase 2 clinical trials as an anticancer drug. Quarfloxin has a rapid initial rate of kill and is active against ring stages as well as replicative stages of intraerythrocytic development. We show that several G-quadruplex-stabilizing drugs, including quarfloxin, can suppress the transcription of a G-quadruplex-containing reporter gene in
P. falciparum
but that quarfloxin does not appear to disrupt the transcription of rRNAs, which was proposed as its mode of action in both human cells and trypanosomes. These data suggest that quarfloxin has potential for repositioning as an antimalarial with a novel mode of action. Furthermore, G-quadruplex biology in
P. falciparum
may present a target for development of other new antimalarial drugs.
A Lactobacillus-Deficient Vaginal Microbiota Dominates Postpartum Women in Rural Malawi
Authors: Doyle Ronan , Gondwe Austridia , Fan Yue-Mei , Maleta Kenneth , Ashorn Per , Klein Nigel , Harris Kathryn 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

The bacterial community found in the vagina is an important determinant of a woman's health and disease status. A healthy vaginal microbiota is associated with low species richness and a high proportion of one of a number of different
Lactobacillus
spp. When disrupted, the resulting abnormal vaginal microbiota is associated with a number of disease states and poor pregnancy outcomes. Studies up until now have concentrated on relatively small numbers of American and European populations that may not capture the full complexity of the community or adequately predict what constitutes a healthy microbiota in all populations. In this study, we sampled and characterized the vaginal microbiota found on vaginal swabs taken postpartum from a cohort of 1,107 women in rural Malawi. We found a population dominated by
Gardnerella vaginalis
and devoid of the most common vaginal
Lactobacillus
species, even if the vagina was sampled over a year postpartum. This
Lactobacillus
-deficient anaerobic community, commonly labeled community state type (CST) 4, could be subdivided into four further communities. A
Lactobacillus iners
-dominated vaginal microbiota became more common the longer after delivery the vagina was sampled, but
G. vaginalis
remained the dominant organism. These results outline the difficulty in all-encompassing definitions of what a healthy or abnormal postpartum vaginal microbiota is. Previous identification of community state types and associations among bacterial species, bacterial vaginosis, and adverse birth outcomes may not represent the complex heterogeneity of the microbiota present. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT01239693.)

IMPORTANCE
A bacterial community in the vaginal tract is dominated by a small number of
Lactobacillus
species, and when not present there is an increased incidence of inflammatory conditions and adverse birth outcomes. A switch to a vaginal bacterial community lacking in
Lactobacillus
species is common after pregnancy. In this study, we characterized the postpartum vaginal bacterial community of a large group of women from a resource-poor, undersampled population in rural Malawi. The majority of women were found to have a
Lactobacillus-
deficient community, and even when sampled a year after delivery the majority of women still did not have
Lactobacillus
present in their vaginal microbiota. The effect of becoming pregnant again for those who do not revert to a
Lactobacillus
-dominant community is unknown, and this could suggest that not all
Lactobacillus-
deficient community structures are adverse. A better understanding of this complex community state type is needed.
Deletion of the Major Facilitator Superfamily Transporter
fptB
Alters Host Cell Interactions and Attenuates Virulence of Type A Francisella tularensis
Authors: Balzano Phillip M. , Cunningham Aimee L. , Grassel Christen , Barry Eileen M. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Francisella tularensis
is a Gram-negative, facultative, intracellular coccobacillus that can infect a wide variety of hosts. In humans,
F. tularensis
causes the zoonosis tularemia following insect bites, ingestion, inhalation, and the handling of infected animals. The fact that a very small inoculum delivered by the aerosol route can cause severe disease, coupled with the possibility of its use as an aerosolized bioweapon, has led to the classification of
Francisella tularensis
as a category A select agent and has renewed interest in the formulation of a vaccine. To this end, we engineered a type A strain SchuS4 derivative containing a targeted deletion of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter
fptB
. Based on the attenuating capacity of this deletion in the
F. tularensis
LVS background, we hypothesized that the deletion of this transporter would alter the intracellular replication and cytokine induction of the type A strain and attenuate virulence in the stringent C57BL/6J mouse model. Here we demonstrate that the deletion of
fptB
significantly alters the intracellular life cycle of
F. tularensis
, attenuating intracellular replication in both cell line-derived and primary macrophages and inducing a novel cytosolic escape delay. Additionally, we observed prominent differences in the
in vitro
cytokine profiles in human macrophage-like cells. The mutant was highly attenuated in the C57BL/6J mouse model and provided partial protection against virulent type A
F. tularensis
challenge. These results indicate a fundamental necessity for this nutrient transporter in the timely progression of
F. tularensis
through its replication cycle and in pathogenesis.
A Robust CRISPR Interference Gene Repression System in Pseudomonas
Authors: Tan Sue Zanne , Reisch Christopher R. , Prather Kristala L. J. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas
spp. are widely used model organisms in different areas of research. Despite the relevance of
Pseudomonas
in many applications, the use of protein depletion tools in this host remains limited. Here, we developed the CRISPR interference system for gene repression in
Pseudomonas
spp. using a nuclease-null
Streptococcus pasteurianus
Cas9 variant (dead Cas9, or dCas9). We demonstrate a robust and titratable gene depletion system with up to 100-fold repression in β-galactosidase activity in
P. aeruginosa
and 300-fold repression in pyoverdine production in
Pseudomonas putida
. This inducible system enables the study of essential genes, as shown by
ftsZ
depletions in
P. aeruginosa
,
P. putida
, and
Pseudomonas fluorescens
that led to phenotypic changes consistent with depletion of the targeted gene. Additionally, we performed the first
in vivo
characterization of protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) site preferences of
S. pasteurianus
dCas9 and identified NNGCGA as a functional PAM site that resulted in repression efficiencies comparable to the consensus NNGTGA sequence. This discovery significantly expands the potential genomic targets of
S. pasteurianus
dCas9, especially in GC-rich organisms.

IMPORTANCE
Pseudomonas
spp. are prevalent in a variety of environments, such as the soil, on the surface of plants, and in the human body. Although
Pseudomonas
spp. are widely used as model organisms in different areas of research, existing tools to deplete a protein of interest in these organisms remain limited. We have developed a robust and inducible gene repression tool in
P. aeruginosa
,
P. putida
, and
P. fluorescens
using the
Streptococcus pasteurianus
dCas9. This method of protein depletion is superior to existing methods, such as promoter replacements and addition of degradation tags, because it does not involve genomic modifications of the target protein, is titratable, and is capable of repressing multiple genes simultaneously. This gene repression system now enables easy depletion of specific proteins in
Pseudomonas
, accelerating the study and engineering of this widely used model organism.
Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Human Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus intermedius Group
Authors: Yarbrough Melanie L. , Lainhart William , Burnham Carey-Ann D. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

The veterinary pathogens in the
Staphylococcus intermedius
group (SIG) are increasingly recognized as causes of human infection. Shared features between SIG and
Staphylococcus aureus
may result in the misidentification of SIG in human clinical cultures. This study examined the clinical and microbiological characteristics of isolates recovered at a tertiary-care academic medical center. From 2013 to 2015, 81 SIG isolates were recovered from 62 patients. Patients were commonly ≥50 years old, diabetic, and/or immunocompromised. Documentation of dog exposure in the electronic medical record was not common. Of the 81 SIG isolates, common sites of isolation included 37 (46%) isolates from wound cultures and 17 (21%) isolates from respiratory specimens. Although less common, 10 (12%) bloodstream infections were documented in 7 unique patients. The majority of SIG (65%) isolates were obtained from polymicrobial cultures. In comparison to
S. aureus
isolates from the same time period, significant differences were noted in proportion of SIG isolates that were susceptible to doxycycline (74% versus 97%, respectively;
P
< 0.001), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (65% versus 97%, respectively;
P
< 0.001), and ciprofloxacin (78% versus 59%, respectively;
P
< 0.01). Methicillin resistance (MR) was detected in 12 (15%) of 81 SIG isolates. All MR isolates detected by an oxacillin disk diffusion test would have been misclassified as methicillin susceptible using a cefoxitin disk diffusion test. Thus, SIG is recovered from human clinical specimens, and distinction of SIG from
S. aureus
is critical for the accurate characterization of MR status in these isolates.
Human Papillomavirus 16 Infection Induces VAP-Dependent Endosomal Tubulation
Authors: Siddiqa Abida , Massimi Paola , Pim David , Broniarczyk Justyna , Banks Lawrence 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection involves complex interactions with the endocytic transport machinery, which ultimately facilitates the entry of the incoming viral genomes into the
trans
-Golgi network (TGN) and their subsequent nuclear entry during mitosis. The endosomal pathway is a highly dynamic intracellular transport system, which consists of vesicular compartments and tubular extensions, although it is currently unclear whether incoming viruses specifically alter the endocytic machinery. In this study, using MICAL-L1 as a marker for tubulating endosomes, we show that incoming HPV-16 virions induce a profound alteration in global levels of endocytic tubulation. In addition, we also show a critical requirement for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-anchored protein VAP in this process. VAP plays an essential role in actin nucleation and endosome-to-Golgi transport. Indeed, the loss of VAP results in a dramatic decrease in the level of endosomal tubulation induced by incoming HPV-16 virions. This is also accompanied by a marked reduction in virus infectivity. In VAP knockdown cells, we see that the defect in virus trafficking occurs after capsid disassembly but prior to localization at the
trans
-Golgi network, with the incoming virion-transduced DNA accumulating in Vps29/TGN46-positive hybrid vesicles. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that infection with HPV-16 virions induces marked alterations of endocytic transport pathways, some of which are VAP dependent and required for the endosome-to-Golgi transport of the incoming viral L2/DNA complex.

IMPORTANCE
Human papillomavirus infectious entry involves multiple interactions with the endocytic transport machinery. In this study, we show that incoming HPV-16 virions induce a dramatic increase in endocytic tubulation. This tubulation requires ER-associated VAP, which plays a critical role in ensuring the delivery of cargoes from the endocytic compartments to the
trans
-Golgi network. Indeed, the loss of VAP blocks HPV infectious entry at a step after capsid uncoating but prior to localization at the
trans
-Golgi network. These results define a critical role for ER-associated VAP in endocytic tubulation and in HPV-16 infectious entry.