bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Macrophage Polarization during Murine Lyme Borreliosis
Authors: Lasky Carrie E. , Olson Rachel M. , Brown Charles R. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTInfection of C3H mice withBorrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, reliably produces an infectious arthritis and carditis that peak around 3 weeks postinfection and then spontaneously resolve. Macrophage polarization has been suggested to drive inflammation, the clearance of bacteria, and tissue repair and resolution in a variety of infectious disease models. During Lyme disease it is clear that macrophages are capable of clearingBorreliaspirochetes and exhausted neutrophils; however, the role of macrophage phenotype in disease development or resolution has not been studied. Using classical (NOS2) and alternative (CD206) macrophage subset-specific markers, we determined the phenotype of F4/80+macrophages within the joints and heart throughout the infection time course. Within the joint, CD206+macrophages dominated throughout the course of infection, and NOS2+macrophage numbers became elevated only during the peak of inflammation. We also found dual NOS2+CD206+macrophages which increased during resolution. In contrast to findings for the ankle joints, numbers of NOS2+and CD206+macrophages in the heart were similar at the peak of inflammation. 5-Lipoxygenase-deficient (5-LOX−/−) mice, which display a failure of Lyme arthritis resolution, recruited fewer F4/80+cells to the infected joints and heart, but macrophage subset populations were unchanged. These results highlight differences in the inflammatory infiltrates during Lyme arthritis and carditis and demonstrate the coexistence of multiple macrophage subsets within a single inflammatory site.
A CLAG3 Mutation in an Amphipathic Transmembrane Domain Alters Malaria Parasite Nutrient Channels and Confers Leupeptin Resistance
Authors: Sharma Paresh , Rayavara Kempaiah , Ito Daisuke , Basore Katherine , Desai Sanjay A. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT

Erythrocytes infected with malaria parasites have increased permeability to ions and nutrients, as mediated by the plasmodial surface anion channel (PSAC) and recently linked to parasite
clag3
genes. Although the encoded protein is integral to the host membrane, its precise contribution to solute transport remains unclear because it lacks conventional transmembrane domains and does not have homology to ion channel proteins in other organisms. Here, we identified a probable CLAG3 transmembrane domain adjacent to a variant extracellular motif. Helical-wheel analysis revealed strict segregation of polar and hydrophobic residues to opposite faces of a predicted α-helical transmembrane domain, suggesting that the domain lines a water-filled pore. A single CLAG3 mutation (A1210T) in a leupeptin-resistant PSAC mutant falls within this transmembrane domain and may affect pore structure. Allelic-exchange transfection and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that this mutation alters solute selectivity in the channel. The A1210T mutation also reduces the blocking affinity of PSAC inhibitors that bind on opposite channel faces, consistent with global changes in channel structure. Transfected parasites carrying this mutation survived a leupeptin challenge significantly better than a transfection control did. Thus, the A1210T mutation contributes directly to both altered PSAC activity and leupeptin resistance. These findings reveal the molecular basis of a novel antimalarial drug resistance mechanism, provide a framework for determining the channel's composition and structure, and should guide the development of therapies targeting the PSAC.
To reduce the average length of stay of patients who are admitted for DA-EPOCH-R chemotherapy regimen
Authors: Lee Yee Mei 
Published: April 2015

AbstractHealthcare institutions are often faced with bed crunch situation. As a result, patients requiring inpatient hospital stay for cancer treatment are delayed and this could lead to compromised overall disease response. Apart from the early discharge of patients to step-down care and explore alternatives of treatment setting, one of the ways to reduce length of stay is to improve on the efficiency of work processes.A baseline study demonstrated that delays in prescribing chemotherapy orders has led to an increased inpatient stay of seven days for a five day treatment regimen. This has profound consequences in terms of costs, patient safety, and utilisation of healthcare resources. A quality improvement project was initiated to review and revise the workflow and processes involved for the entire episode of treatment. A post-implementation review of the interventions showed cost savings, a reduction of average length of stay from seven days to six days (with a total of 28 days saved over six months), and improved patient and staff experience.
European palliative care guidelines: how well do they meet the needs of people with impaired cognition?
Authors: Sampson E L , van der Steen J T , Pautex S , Svartzman P , Sacchi V , Van den Block L , Van Den Noortgate N 
Published: April 2015

ObjectiveNumbers of people dying with cognitive impairment (intellectual disability (ID), dementia or delirium) are increasing. We aimed to examine a range of European national palliative care guidelines to determine if, and how well, pain detection and management for people dying with impaired cognition are covered.MethodsQuestionnaires were sent to 14 country representatives of the European Pain and Impaired Cognition (PAIC) network who identified key national palliative care guidelines. Data was collected on guideline content: inclusion of advice on pain management, whether cognitively impaired populations were mentioned, assessment tools and management strategies recommended. Quality of guideline development was assessed with the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument.Results11 countries identified palliative care guidelines, 10 of which mentioned pain management in general. Of these, seven mentioned cognitive impairment (3 dementia, 2 ID and 4 delirium). Half of guidelines recommended the use of pain tools for people with cognitive impairment; recommended tools were not all validated for the target populations. Guidelines from the UK, the Netherlands and Finland included most information on pain management and detection in impaired cognition. Guidelines from Iceland, Norway and Spain scored most highly on AGREE rating in terms of developmental quality.ConclusionsEuropean national palliative care guidelines may not meet the needs of the growing population of people dying with cognitive impairment. New guidelines should consider suggesting the use of observational pain tools for people with cognitive impairment. Better recognition of their needs in palliative care guidelines may drive improvements in care.
Coupling constants and the generalized Riemann problem for isothermal junction flow
Authors: Reigstad Gunhild A. , Flåtten Tore , Haugen Nils Erland , Ytrehus Tor 
Published: April 2015

We consider gas flow in pipe networks governed by the isothermal Euler equations. A set of coupling conditions is required to completely specify the Riemann problem at the junction. The momentum-related condition has no obvious expression and different approaches have been used in previous work. For the condition of equal momentum flux, Colombo and Garavello [A well posed Riemann problem for the p-system at a junction, Netw. Heterog. Media 1 (2006) 495–511] proved existence and uniqueness of solutions globally in time and locally in the subsonic region of the state space. If the entropy constraint is not considered, we are able to prove existence and uniqueness globally in the subsonic region for any momentum-related coupling constant satisfying a monotonicity requirement. The previously suggested conditions of equal pressure and equal momentum flux satisfy this requirement, but in general they both fail to fulfill the entropy constraint. The classical Bernoulli invariant is a natural scalar formulation of momentum conservation under ideal flow conditions. Our analysis shows that this invariant is monotone and unconditionally leads to solutions satisfying the entropy constraint. Of the coupling constants considered, this is therefore the only choice that guarantees the unique existence of entropy solutions to the N-junction Riemann problem for all initial data in the subsonic region.
The global future stability of the FLRW solutions to the Dust-Einstein system with a positive cosmological constant
Authors: Hadžić Mahir , Speck Jared 
Published: April 2015

We study small perturbations of the Friedman–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) solutions to the dust-Einstein system with a positive cosmological constant in the case that the space-like Cauchy hypersurfaces are diffeomorphic to 𝕋3. We show that the FLRW solutions are nonlinearly globally future-stable under small perturbations of their initial data. In our analysis, we construct harmonic-type coordinates such that the cosmological constant results in the presence of dissipative terms in the evolution equations. Our result extends those of [I. Rodnianski and J. Speck, The nonlinear future stability of the FLRW family of solutions to the irrotational Euler–Einstein system with a positive cosmological constant, J. Eur. Math. Soc. 15 (2013) 2369–2462; J. Speck, The nonlinear future stability of the FLRW family of solutions to the Euler–Einstein system with a positive cosmological constant, Selecta Math. 18 (2012) 633–715; C. Lübbe and J. A. Valiente Kroon, A conformal approach for the analysis of the nonlinear stability of pure radiation cosmologies, Ann. Phys. 328 (2013) 1–25], where analogous results were proved for the Euler–Einstein system under the equations of state [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. The dust-Einstein system is the case cs = 0. The main difficulty that we overcome here is that the dust's energy density loses one degree of differentiability compared to the cases [Formula: see text], which introduces many obstacles for closing the estimates. To resolve this difficulty, we commute the equations with a well-chosen differential operator and derive elliptic estimates that complement the energy estimates of [I. Rodnianski and J. Speck, The nonlinear future stability of the FLRW family of solutions to the irrotational Euler–Einstein system with a positive cosmological constant, J. Eur. Math. Soc. 15 (2013) 2369–2462; J. Speck, The nonlinear future stability of the FLRW family of solutions to the Euler–Einstein system with a positive cosmological constant, Selecta Math. 18 (2012) 633–715]. Our results apply in particular to small perturbations of the vanishing dust state containing vacuum regions.
Tropical Oceanic Rainfall and Sea Surface Temperature Structure: Parsing Causation from Correlation in the MJO
Authors: Carbone R. E. , Li Yanping 
Published: April 2015

Based upon on the findings of Y. Li and R. E. Carbone, the association of tropical rainfall with SST structure is further explored, with emphasis on the MJO passband. Analyses include the tropical Indian Ocean, Maritime Continent, and tropical western Pacific regions. The authors examine the anomalies of and correlations between SST structure, the frequency of rainfall events, and rainfall amount. Based on detailed examination of a 49-month time series, all findings are statistical inferences and interpretations consistent with established theory. The statistical inferences are broadly consistent with a pivotal role played by the convergent Laplacian of SST together with an expected, but somewhat indirect, role of SST itself. The main role of SST in the MJO passband appears limited to production of moist static energy, which is highly correlated with cumulative precipitation, yet bears a decidedly conditional relationship to the occurrence of rainfall. If rain occurs, then more rain is likely over warmer SST. The convergent Laplacian of SST is strongly associated with the onset of rainfall, apparently through its capacity to induce vertical air motion with sufficient kinetic energy to overcome convective inhibition in a conditionally unstable troposphere. The convergent Laplacian of SST is directly associated with the location and the variability of rainfall event frequency while having a less direct relationship to cumulative rainfall. These nuanced interpretations of rainfall forcing by the Laplacian of SST, and conditional modulation of cumulative rainfall by SST, may underlie systematic errors in highly parameterized models as a consequence of variable asymmetry in the field of Laplacian anomalies.
Continental Runoff into the Oceans (1950–2008)
Authors: Clark Elizabeth A. , Sheffield Justin , van Vliet Michelle T. H. , Nijssen Bart , Lettenmaier Dennis P. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractA common term in the continental and oceanic components of the global water cycle is freshwater discharge to the oceans. Many estimates of the annual average global discharge have been made over the past 100 yr with a surprisingly wide range. As more observations have become available and continental-scale land surface model simulations of runoff have improved, these past estimates are cast in a somewhat different light. In this paper, a combination of observations from 839 river gauging stations near the outlets of large river basins is used in combination with simulated runoff fields from two implementations of the Variable Infiltration Capacity land surface model to estimate continental runoff into the world’s oceans from 1950 to 2008. The gauges used account for ~58% of continental areas draining to the ocean worldwide, excluding Greenland and Antarctica. This study estimates that flows to the world’s oceans globally are 44 200 (±2660) km3 yr−1 (9% from Africa, 37% from Eurasia, 30% from South America, 16% from North America, and 8% from Australia–Oceania). These estimates are generally higher than previous estimates, with the largest differences in South America and Australia–Oceania. Given that roughly 42% of ocean-draining continental areas are ungauged, it is not surprising that estimates are sensitive to the land surface and hydrologic model (LSM) used, even with a correction applied to adjust for model bias. The results show that more and better in situ streamflow measurements would be most useful in reducing uncertainties, in particular in the southern tip of South America, the islands of Oceania, and central Africa.
Mixing, Dissipation Rate, and Their Overturn-Based Estimates in a Near-Bottom Turbulent Flow Driven by Internal Tides
Authors: Chalamalla Vamsi K. , Sarkar Sutanu 
Published: April 2015

AbstractDirect numerical simulation (DNS) and large-eddy simulation (LES) are employed to study the mixing brought about by convective overturns in a stratified, oscillatory bottom layer underneath internal tides. The phasing of turbulence, the onset and breakdown of convective overturns, and the pathway to irreversible mixing are quantified. Mixing efficiency shows a systematic dependence on tidal phase, and during the breakdown of large convective overturns it is approximately 0.6, a value that is substantially larger than the commonly assumed value of 0.2 used for calculating scalar mixing from the turbulent dissipation rate. Diapycnal diffusivity is calculated using the irreversible diapycnal flux and, for tall overturns of O(50) m, the diffusivity is found to be almost 1000 times higher than the molecular diffusivity. The Thorpe (overturn) length scale is often used as a proxy for the Ozmidov length scale and thus infers the turbulent dissipation rate from overturns. The accuracy of overturn-based estimates of the dissipation rate is assessed for this flow. The Ozmidov length scale LO and Thorpe length scale LT are found to behave differently during a tidal cycle: LT decreases during the convective instability, while LO increases; there is a significant phase lag between the maxima of LT and LO; and finally LT is not linearly related to LO. Thus, the Thorpe-inferred dissipation rates are quite different from the actual values. Interestingly, the ratio of their cycle-averaged values is found to be O(1), a result explained on the basis of available potential energy.
Cochlear Nerve Stimulation in the Internal Auditory Canal in Ossified Cochlea
Authors: Canale Andrea , Dagna Federico , Lacilla Michelangelo , Montuschi Carla , Di Rosa Rosalba , Albera Roberto 
Published: April 2015

Objective: To present the first reported case of intraneural direct cochlear nerve stimulation in a human being. Study design: This is a case report. Results: A 23-year-old patient with bilateral progressive hearing loss associated with bilateral complete semicircular canal aplasia and ossified cochleas underwent cochlear implantation. During surgery, a patent cochlear lumen could not be found, and the array was positioned in the internal auditory canal adjacent to the cochlear nerve. Against our expectations, an assiduous rehabilitation and frequent fitting adjustments have led to a word recognition score, in open set speech with lip reading, of 18/25 and acceptable frequency discrimination. Conclusions: We are aware that this was an anomalous use of the cochlear implant, and it is not our aim to suggest a new indication for cochlear array positioning. However, this case shows that auditory perception, to some degree, can be obtained with intraneural direct cochlear nerve stimulation.
Competing Reflexive Models of Regional Speech in Northern Ohio
Authors: Campbell-Kibler Kathryn , Bauer M. Kathryn 
Published: April 2015

Campbell-Kibler (2012) argued that the “northern” or Cleveland accent has been developing as a register (Agha 2003, 2007) in Ohio, primarily positioned as an unstigmatized and idiosyncratic form of linguistic difference from an imagined central Ohio norm. The current study examines northern Ohioans’ orientation to this construct within a larger understanding of their sociolinguistic imagining of Ohio. Northerners are found to share many language ideologies with other Ohioans, including a focus on north-to-south variation, an emphasis on rural versus urban language difference, and a belief in the local existence of unaccented, educated, normative speech. They differ from other Ohioans in sometimes conceptualizing urban speech as standard, failing to mark central Ohio as a distinct region, and subdividing the northeast (their own region) in a Cleveland-centered small region and a larger northeast corner of the state. Most importantly, they differ from central Ohioans in their treatment of the linguistic difference between central and northern Ohio, i.e., the Inland North/Midland dialect boundary (Labov, Ash & Boberg 2006). Forty-two percent of northerners and 52 percent of others fail to construct a perceptual boundary between central and northeast Ohio, while 27 percent and 48 percent respectively indicate the north as the divergent speech area. Northerners differ, however, in having a third group (31 percent), who position their own speech as normative and the central Ohio speech as marked, counter to the discourses of central Ohioans. These results support Agha’s (2007) point that individuals’ stakes in particular reflexive models are a key influence on models’ circulation and further show the importance of “unremarkable” as a context-bound and often valuable sociolinguistic meaning, rather than a lack of meaning.
Conclusiveness of the Cochrane reviews in gynaecological cancer: A systematic analysis
Authors: Yin Shande , Chuai Yunhai , Wang Aiming , Zhang Lanmei 
Published: April 2015

Objective To assess the conclusiveness of Cochrane reviews in the field of gynaecological cancer. Methods The Cochrane Library was searched for reviews regarding gynaecological cancer published between 1 January 2000 and 1 November 2014. Data were extracted from each paper and the conclusiveness of each review was assessed. Results The study included 66 reviews, 41 (62.1%) of which were conclusive. Of these, 58 included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 37 (63.8%) of which were conclusive. Conclusive reviews of RCTs included significantly more patients than inconclusive reviews, but there was no difference in the number of included studies. Of the eight reviews of nonrandomized studies, four (50.0%) were conclusive. The majority of reviews recognized the need for additional studies. Conclusions In the field of gynaecological cancer, reviews are more likely to be conclusive when they include RCTs, as well as large numbers of patients.
Correlation between changes in thyromental distance and distance of migration of oral Ring-Adair-Elwyn tubes during neck extension with a shoulder positioner in patients undergoing neck procedures
Authors: Jin Seok-Joon , Choi Yoon-Ji , Park Sang-Wook , Lee Yu-Mi 
Published: April 2015

Objectives To measure the migration of oral Ring-Adair-Elwyn (RAE) preformed tracheal tubes during neck extension compared with the neutral neck position, and to assess the correlation between changes in the thyromental distance (TMD) during changes in neck position and tracheal tube migration. Methods This prospective observational study enrolled adult patients undergoing elective neck or thyroid procedures below the mandible. Using fibreoptic bronchoscopy, distances from the RAE tube adapter to the carina and to the tube tip were measured in the neutral position and after neck extension with a 10 cm D-shaped gel shoulder positioner. The change in distance of the RAE tube tip migration was compared with the change in TMD in each patient. Results This study enrolled 106 patients. During neck extension with a 10-cm shoulder positioner, RAE tubes cranially migrated 2.7 cm from the neutral position, but RAE tube migration was not correlated with the change in external TMD. Conclusion Oral RAE tube migration was not significantly correlated with the change in external TMD. Due to their large variability, changes in TMD were not useful predictors of RAE tube migration.