Cognitive Abilities Contribute to Spectro-Temporal Discrimination in Children Who Are Hard of Hearing.
Spectral ripple discrimination tasks have received considerable interest as potential clinical tools for use with adults and children with hearing loss. Previous results have indicated that performance on ripple tasks is affected by differences in aided audibility [quantified using the Speech Intelligibility Index, or Speech Intelligibility Index (SII)] in children who wear hearing aids and that ripple thresholds tend to improve over time in children with and without hearing loss. Although ripple task performance is thought to depend less on language skills than common speech perception tasks, the extent to which spectral ripple discrimination might depend on other general cognitive abilities such as nonverbal intelligence and working memory is unclear. This is an important consideration for children because age-related changes in ripple test results could be due to developing cognitive ability and could obscure the effect of any changes in unaided or aided hearing over time. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between spectral ripple discrimination in a group of children who use hearing aids and general cognitive abilities such as nonverbal intelligence, visual and auditory working memory, and executive function. It was hypothesized that, after controlling for listener age, general cognitive ability would be associated with spectral ripple thresholds and performance on both auditory and visual cognitive tasks would be associated with spectral ripple thresholds. Children who were full-time users of hearing aids for at least 1 year (n = 24, ages 6 to 13 years) participated in this study. Children completed a spectro-temporal modulated ripple discrimination task in the sound field using their personal hearing aids. Threshold was determined from the average of two repetitions of the task. Participants completed standard measurements of executive function, nonverbal intelligence, and visual and verbal working memory. Real ear verification measures were completed for each child with their personal hearing aids to determine aided SII. Consistent with past findings, spectro-temporal ripple thresholds improved with greater listener age. Surprisingly, aided SII was not significantly correlated with spectro-temporal ripple thresholds potentially because this particular group of listeners had overall better hearing and greater aided SII than participants in previous studies. Partial correlations controlling for listener age revealed that greater nonverbal intelligence and visual working memory were associated with better spectro-temporal ripple discrimination thresholds. Verbal working memory, executive function, and language ability were not significantly correlated with spectro-temporal ripple discrimination thresholds. These results indicate that greater general cognitive abilities are associated with better spectro-temporal ripple discrimination ability, independent of children's age or aided SII. It is possible that these relationships reflect the cognitive demands of the psychophysical task rather than a direct relationship of cognitive ability to spectro-temporal processing in the auditory system. Further work is needed to determine the relationships of cognitive abilities to ripple discrimination in other populations, such as children with cochlear implants or with a wider range of aided SII.


Access to patient-centered medical homes in children with sickle cell disease.
To determine the proportion of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) followed in a subspecialty clinic with access to a primary care provider (PCP) exhibiting practice-level qualities of a patient-centered medical home (PCMH). We surveyed 200 parents/guardians of children with SCD using a 44-item tool addressing PCP access, caregiver attitudes toward PCPs, barriers to healthcare utilization, perceived disease severity, and satisfaction with care received in the PCP versus SCD clinic settings. Individual PCMH criteria measured were a personal provider relationship and medical care characterized as accessible, comprehensive and coordinated. Although 94 % of respondents reported a PCP for their child, there was greater variation in the proportion of PCPs who met other individual PCMH criteria. A higher proportion of PCPs met criteria for coordinated care when compared to accessible or comprehensive care. In multivariate models, transportation availability, lower ER visit frequency and greater PCP visit frequency were associated favorably with having a PCP meeting criteria for accessible and coordinated care. Child and respondent demographics and disease severity had no impact on PCMH designation. Average respondent satisfaction scores for the SCD clinic was higher, when compared to satisfaction scores for the PCP. For children with SCD, access to a PCP is not synonymous with access to a medical home. While specific factors associated with PCMH access may be identified in children with SCD, their cause and effect relationships need further study.


Three-port beam splitters-combiners for interferometer applications.
We derive generic phase and amplitude coupling relations for beam splitters-combiners that couple a single port with three output ports or input ports, respectively. We apply the coupling relations to a reflection grating that serves as a coupler to a single-ended Fabry-Perot ring cavity. In the impedance-matched case such an interferometer can act as an all-reflective ring mode cleaner. It is further shown that in the highly undercoupled case almost complete separation of carrier power and phase signal from a cavity strain can be achieved.


Mechanism-based affinity capture of sirtuins.
The ability to probe for catalytic activities of enzymes and to detect their abundance in complex biochemical contexts has traditionally relied on a combination of kinetic assays and techniques such as western blots that use expensive reagents such as antibodies. The ability to simultaneously detect activity and isolate a protein catalyst from a mixture is even more difficult and currently impossible in most cases. In this manuscript we describe a chemical approach that achieves this goal for a unique family of enzymes called sirtuins using novel chemical tools, enabling rapid detection of activity and isolation of these protein catalysts. Sirtuin deacetylases are implicated in the regulation of many physiological functions including energy metabolism, DNA-damage response, and cellular stress resistance. We synthesized an aminooxy-derivatized NAD(+) and a pan-sirtuin inhibitor that reacts on sirtuin active sites to form a chemically stable complex that can subsequently be crosslinked to an aldehyde-substituted biotin. Subsequent retrieval of the biotinylated sirtuin complexes on streptavidin beads followed by gel electrophoresis enabled simultaneous detection of active sirtuins, isolation and molecular weight determination. We show that these tools are cross reactive against a variety of human sirtuin isoforms including SIRT1, SIRT2, SIRT3, SIRT5, SIRT6 and can react with microbial derived sirtuins as well. Finally, we demonstrate the ability to simultaneously detect multiple sirtuin isoforms in reaction mixtures with this methodology, establishing proof of concept tools for chemical studies of sirtuins in complex biological samples.


Optimizing Medical Management in Patients with Sight-Threatening Diabetic Retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in adults of working age. Patients with sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) often have poor control of modifiable risk factors, including blood pressure and blood glucose. Patients in our eye department with STDR whose diabetes was managed only by their general practitioner (GP) were referred to a diabetes specialist. We have reviewed these referrals and assessed the control of modifiable risk factors in these patients at the time of referral. A retrospective study was performed which identified 54 patients with STDR who had been referred from our eye department to a diabetes specialist between May 2013 and August 2014. Patient demographics, grades of retinopathy, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, blood pressure, and lipid profiles were noted from the initial clinic visit and the first clinic appointment after 12 months. Initial management and any subsequent changes to management were recorded. Of the 54 patients initially referred to the dedicated diabetic retinopathy clinic, data from 32 patients were available for analysis; 22 patients failed to attend the clinic. The majority of patients who presented to the clinic were found to have inadequate control of modifiable risk factors. At the initial clinic visit, nine of the 32 (28%) patients had a blood pressure that was less than the target of 130/80 mmHg and only two (6%) had a HbA1c level of less than the target of 48 mmol/L for type 2 diabetes and 58 mmol/L for type 1 diabetes, respectively. Changes were made to the management in 24 (75%) of the patients. Blood pressure management was changed in 18 (56%) patients. Overall, changes were made to blood pressure management and lipid and glycemic medication, including insulin. The majority of patients with STDR were receiving suboptimal medical management. Collaboration between GPs, diabetes specialists, and ophthalmologists can lead to optimized medical management. All eye departments should develop protocols specifying when patients with diabetic retinopathy should be referred for to a diabetes specialist for input.


Expression of angiogenic factors in rabbit spinal cord after transient ischaemia.
It is known that angiogenic factors are induced in brain by ischaemia, and new vessel formation is correlated with better prognosis in patients of stroke. However, the role of angiogenesis and expression of angiogenic factors in spinal cord ischaemia is uncertain. We here investigated expression of three highly potent angiogenic peptides, i.e. basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the rabbit spinal cord after transient ischaemia, by Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. Western blot analysis revealed that bFGF was induced at 8 h after transient ischaemia and decreased thereafter. Immunoreactive VEGF was also induced at 8 h, and it disappeared thereafter. HGF was not detected in the spinal cord with sham-operation or ischaemic injury. By immunohistochemical analysis, bFGF was weakly expressed in only a few small interneurons in sham-operated spinal cords. However, it was induced to a marked degree in motor neurons and interneurons of the anterior horn at 8 h after reperfusion. It was also induced in small neurons of the posterior horn. The expression in the anterior horn decayed thereafter though it lasted until 7 d in the posterior horn. VEGF was not expressed in sham-operated spinal cords, but the expression was induced in large motor neurons and interneurons at 8 h with marked reduction at 1 d. In contrast, HGF was not expressed in the spinal cord with sham-operation or ischaemic injury. These factors are known to play pivotal roles in angiogenesis, regulation of blood flow, and protection of endothelial cells. Through induction of these angiogenic peptides, protection of vascular endothelial cells and improvement of regional blood flow might be occurring in the spinal cord after ischaemia.


Sparsity transform k-t principal component analysis for accelerating cine three-dimensional flow measurements.
Time-resolved three-dimensional flow measurements are limited by long acquisition times. Among the various acceleration techniques available, k-t methods have shown potential as they permit significant scan time reduction even with a single receive coil by exploiting spatiotemporal correlations. In this work, an extension of k-t principal component analysis is proposed utilizing signal differences between the velocity encodings of three-directional flow measurements to further compact the signal representation and hence improve reconstruction accuracy. The effect of sparsity transform in k-t principal component analysis is demonstrated using simulated and measured data of the carotid bifurcation. Deploying sparsity transform for 8-fold undersampled simulated data, velocity root-mean-square errors were found to decrease by 52 ± 14%, 59 ± 11%, and 16 ± 32% in the common, external, and internal carotid artery, respectively. In vivo, errors were reduced by 15 ± 17% in the common carotid artery with sparsity transform. Based on these findings, spatial resolution of three-dimensional flow measurements was increased to 0.8 mm isotropic resolution with prospective 8-fold undersampling and sparsity transform k-t principal component analysis reconstruction. Volumetric data were acquired in 6 min. Pathline visualization revealed details of helical flow patterns partially hidden at lower spatial resolution.


Direct Lyapunov exponent analysis enables parametric study of transient signalling governing cell behaviour.
Computational models aid in the quantitative understanding of cell signalling networks. One important goal is to ascertain how multiple network components work together to govern cellular responses, that is, to determine cell 'signal-response' relationships. Several methods exist to study steady-state signals in the context of differential equation-based models. However, many biological networks influence cell behaviour through time-varying signals operating during a transient activated state that ultimately returns to a basal steady-state. A computational approach adapted from dynamical systems analysis to discern how diverse transient signals relate to alternative cell fates is described. Direct finite-time Lyapunov exponents (DLEs) are employed to identify phase-space domains of high sensitivity to initial conditions. These domains delineate regions exhibiting qualitatively different transient activities that would be indistinguishable using steady-state analysis but which correspond to different outcomes. These methods are applied to a physicochemical model of molecular interactions among caspase-3, caspase-8 and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis--proteins whose transient activation determines cell death against survival fates. DLE analysis enabled identification of a separatrix that quantitatively characterises network behaviour by defining initial conditions leading to apoptotic cell death. It is anticipated that DLE analysis will facilitate theoretical investigation of phenotypic outcomes in larger models of signalling networks.


Clinical features of children with nontyphoidal Salmonella bacteremia: A single institution survey in rural Japan.
Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) can cause bacterial enterocolitis. Although some children with NTS infection develop bacteremia, its clinical manifestations have not been discussed adequately. Therefore, we examined children with NTS bacteremia. We retrospectively examined the medical records of 15 patients aged less than 15 years. Salmonella spp. were detected in the blood cultures of these patients between 1991 and 2014. We divided an additional sample group of 34 patients diagnosed with an NTS infection between 2005 and 2014, into 2 groups. Group bacteremia (B) included patients in whose blood cultures Salmonella spp. were detected, and group non-bacteremia (NB) included patients in whom Salmonella infection was not detected. We compared each group using Wilcoxon test and Fisher's exact test. The number of patients with fever, diarrhea, or abdominal pain was 15 (100%), 13 (87%), and 9 (60%), respectively, in the first sample of patients. However, vomiting and bloody stool were observed in only 5 patients (33%). More than 70% of patients exhibited a reduced white blood cell count, while C-reactive protein levels were variable in the patients. Salmonella spp. were detected via stool culture in 10 patients (67%). Diarrhea persisted for more than 4 days more frequently in group B than group NB (p = 0.004). The number of patients whose fever persisted for more than 4 days was significantly higher in group B than group NB (p = 0.030). Therefore, if NTS bacteremia is suspected, blood cultures should be collected and antibiotics should be initiated in cases with diarrhea or fever for more than 4 days. Furthermore, a negative stool culture result does not preclude the possibility of NTS bacteremia.


Review article: reflux and its consequences--the laryngeal, pulmonary and oesophageal manifestations. Conference held in conjunction with the 9th International Symposium on Human Pepsin (ISHP) Kingston-upon-Hull, UK, 21-23 April 2010.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the commonest diseases of Western populations, affecting 20 to 30% of adults. GERD is multifaceted and the classical oesophageal symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation often overlap with atypical symptoms that impact upon the respiratory system and airways. This is referred to as extra-oesophageal reflux disease (EERD), or laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), which manifests as chronic cough, laryngitis, hoarseness, voice disorders and asthma. The 'Reflux and its consequences' conference was held in Hull in 2010 and brought together a multidisciplinary group of experts all with a common interest in the many manifestations of reflux disease to present recent research and clinical progress in GERD and EERD. In particular new techniques for diagnosing reflux were showcased at the conference. Both clinical and non-clinical key opinion leaders were invited to write a review on key areas presented at the `Reflux and its consequences' conference for inclusion in this supplement. Eleven chapters contained in this supplement reflected the sessions of the conference and included discussion of the nature of the refluxate (acid, pepsin, bile acids and non-acid reflux); mechanisms of tissue damage and protection in the oesophagus, laryngopharynx and airways. Clinical conditions with a reflux aetiology including asthma, chronic cough, airway disease, LPR, and paediatric EERD were reviewed. In addition methods for diagnosis of reflux disease and treatment strategies, especially with reference to non-acid reflux, were considered.


The relative efficacy of three recovery modalities after professional rugby league matches.
This study investigated the relative efficacy of postgame recovery modalities on jump height performance and subjective ratings of muscle soreness and muscle damage at 1, 18, and 42 hours after professional rugby league competition games. Twenty-one professional rugby league players performed 3 different postmatch recovery modalities: cold water immersion (CWI), contrast water therapy (CWT), and active recovery (ACT). The effects of the recovery treatments were analyzed with mixed modeling including a covariate (fatigue score) to adjust for changes in the intensity of each match on the postmatch values of the dependent variables of interest. Standardization of effects was used to make magnitude-based inferences, presented as mean with ±90% confidence limits. Cold water immersion and CWT clearly recovered jump height performance (CWI 2.3 ± 3.7%; CWT 3.5 ± 4.1%), reduced muscle soreness (CWI -0.95 ± 0.37; CWT -0.55 ± 0.37), and decreased creatine kinase (CWI -11.0 ± 15.1%; CWT 18.2 ± 20.1%) by 42 hours postgame compared with ACT. Contrast water therapy was however clearly more effective compared with CWI on the recovery of muscle soreness and creatine kinase by 42 hours postgame. Based on these findings, CWT recovery is recommended postmatch for team rugby sports.


Improved outcomes with the Prolene Hernia System mesh compared with the time-honored Lichtenstein onlay mesh repair for inguinal hernia repair.
Inguinal hernia repairs are commonly performed operations. Recently, Neumayer et al examined the gold standard Lichtenstein onlay mesh repair (LMR) against laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair and showed that the recurrence rates are higher for laparoscopic mesh repairs when compared with the open onlay mesh repair (laparoscopic = 10.1% versus open = 4.9%). In 1998, the Prolene Hernia System (PHS) mesh, consisting of an onlay and an underlay patch attached with a connector, was introduced as an option for tension-free open repair of inguinal hernias combining the benefits of a posterior and anterior repair from an open approach. Our objective was to evaluate the PHS mesh repair versus the LMR for inguinal hernias. We hypothesized that the recurrence rate of PHS mesh would be lower compared with the LMR with overall similar complication rates. PHS mesh hernia repairs performed from January 2003 to July 2005 and LMR repairs from January 2000 to July 2002 were included. Demographic data such as age, race, and gender as well as comorbid conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, previous myocardial infarction, diabetes, hypertension, prostatism, and chronic cough were collected. Complications such as cord injury, seroma, hematoma, urinary retention, urinary tract infection, orchitis, and wound infection were recorded. Recurrences in each group were also recorded. A student t test and chi-square analysis were used for statistical analysis. Six hundred twenty-two charts were reviewed during the 2 time periods (PHS mesh = 321, LMR = 302). The median follow-up for the study was 17 months. There was no significant difference with regards to age, race, gender, or comorbidities between the 2 groups. Overall, there was a trend toward decreased complications in the PHS mesh group compared with the LMR group (PHS mesh = 17%, LMR = 23%, P = .07), with a significant difference in the hematoma/seroma rates (PHS mesh = 6.9%, LMR = 12.6%, P = .015). Finally, there was a significant decrease in the recurrence rate for the PHS mesh group when compared with the LMR group (PHS mesh = 0.6%, LMR = 2.7%, P = .04). Our study shows, during a median follow-up of 17 months, improved outcomes by using the PHS mesh compared with the gold standard Lichtenstein onlay mesh for inguinal hernias with significantly lower recurrence rates. Additionally, in the PHS mesh group, there was a trend toward decreased overall complication rates with significantly less seroma/hematoma rates. Therefore, the PHS mesh repair may represent a superior alternative for the repair of inguinal hernias.


Fragmented Flows: Water Supply in Los Angeles County.
In the Los Angeles metropolitan region, nearly 100 public and private entities are formally involved in the management and distribution of potable water-a legacy rooted in fragmented urban growth in the area and late 19th century convictions about local control of services. Yet, while policy debates focus on new forms of infrastructure, restructured pricing mechanisms, and other technical fixes, the complex institutional architecture of the present system has received little attention. In this paper, we trace the development of this system, describe its interconnections and disjunctures, and demonstrate the invisibility of water infrastructure in LA in multiple ways-through mapping, statistical analysis, and historical texts. Perverse blessings of past water abundance led to a complex, but less than resilient, system with users accustomed to cheap, easily accessible water. We describe the lack of transparency and accountability in the current system, as well as its shortcomings in building needed new infrastructure and instituting new water rate structures. Adapting to increasing water scarcity and likely droughts must include addressing the architecture of water management.


Potential repurposed SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection drugs.
The global outbreak of COVID-19 viral infection is associated with the absence of specific drug(s) for fighting this viral infection. About 10 million people are already infected, about 500 000 deaths all over the world to date. Great efforts have been made to find solutions for this viral infection, either vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, or small molecule drugs; this can stop the spread of infection to avoid the expected human, economic and social catastrophe associated with this infection. In the literature and during clinical trials in hospitals, several FDA approved drugs for different diseases have the potential to treat or reduce the severity of COVID-19. Repurposing of these drugs as potential agents to treat COVID-19 reduces the time and cost to find effective COVID-19 agents. This review article summarizes the present situation of transmission, pathogenesis and statistics of COVID-19 in the world. Moreover, it includes chemistry, mechanism of action at the molecular level of the possible drug molecules which are liable for redirection as potential COVID-19 therapeutic agents. This includes polymerase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, malaria drugs, lipid lowering statins, rheumatoid arthritis drugs and some miscellaneous agents. We offer research data and knowledge about the chemistry and biology of potential COVID-19 drugs for the research community in this field.


Performance psychology as a key component of human performance optimization.
The degree of psychological fitness will ultimately impact mission outcomes, so approaches to enhancing it are critical. Performance psychology is one important aspect of psychological fitness that fits into the holistic model of human performance optimization. This article delves into one component of performance psychology: how mental skill training can be applied to improve performance on mission-related tasks. Mental skills training provides added internal resources to help meet the extraordinary external demands that Special Operations Forces personnel can face. Relevance in terms of the demand-resource model and the positive psychology concept of flow are explained. The application of two specific mental skills--executing a goal-setting process and using mental imagery to rehearse technical, tactical, and strategic tasks--will be discussed by using the example of how to enhance performance when entering and clearing rooms.


Liverpool: the early years of biochemistry.
The first Chair and department of biochemistry in the U.K. were founded at the University of Liverpool in 1902, thanks to a generous donation by William Johnston, a Liverpool shipowner. The first holder of the Johnston Chair, Benjamin Moore, was a dynamic man, who set up an active research centre. In 1906, he and Edward Whitley founded The Bio-Chemical Journal as a private venture, and in 1912, they sold it to the Biochemical Society. Moore also initiated the first Honours School of Biochemistry in the country before moving to London in 1914 and being succeeded by Walter Ramsden. The development of the department was stopped by World War I, and there was little expansion in the 1920s. After Ramsden's retirement in 1931, the third Johnston Professor, Harold Channon, increased staff numbers, ran a successful research school and re-established the Honours course. World War II brought that to an end, and Channon moved into industry. After the war, biochemistry expanded from a niche subject in a small number of British universities into one that was strongly represented in most universities, but the penetration of biochemistry into wide areas of functional biology has blurred conventional subject boundaries, so in many universities (including the University of Liverpool), departments of biochemistry have been incorporated into large more general schools.


Coexistence of ankylosing spondylitis and discoid lupus: A case report.
Coexistence of ankylosing spondylitis with connective tissue diseases is very rare. Here, in this study, we describe a coexistence of ankylosing spondylitis and discoid lupus erythematosus in a 35-year-old man. He presented with a 5-year history of low back pain and concurrent development of a discoid rash. Inflammatory low back pain, HLA-B27 positivity and bilateral active sacroiliitis confirmed the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. Discoid lupus erythematosus was diagnosed based on a skin biopsy. There are reports of discoid lupus associated with medications, particularly with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blocking drugs. However, the patient presented here had coexistence of ankylosing spondylitis and discoid lupus before starting such treatments.


Desulfovibrio of the sheep rumen.
A sulfate-reducing bacterium has been isolated in pure culture from sheep rumen contents. Its properties agree in all respects tested with those ascribed to Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. The populations observed (about 10(8)/ml) are sufficient to account for published rates of ruminal sulfide production.


Identification and characterization of tomato mutants affected in the Rx-mediated resistance to PVX isolates.
Five tomato mutants affected in the Rx-mediated resistance against Potato virus X (PVX) were identified by screening a mutagenized population derived from a transgenic, Rx1-expressing 'Micro-Tom' line. Contrary to their parental line, they failed to develop lethal systemic necrosis upon infection with the virulent PVX-KH2 isolate. Sequence analysis and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction experiments indicated that the mutants are not affected in the Rx1 transgene or in the Hsp90, RanGap1 and RanGap2, Rar1 and Sgt1 genes. Inoculation with the PVX-CP4 avirulent isolate demonstrated that the Rx1 resistance was still effective in the mutants. In contrast, the virulent PVX-KH2 isolate accumulation was readily detectable in all mutants, which could further be separated in two groups depending on their ability to restrict the accumulation of PVX-RR, a mutant affected at two key positions for Rx1 elicitor activity. Finally, transient expression of the viral capsid protein elicitor indicated that the various mutants have retained the ability to mount an Rx1-mediated hypersensitive response. Taken together, the results obtained are consistent with a modification of the specificity or intensity of the Rx1-mediated response. The five Micro-Tom mutants should provide very valuable resources for the identification of novel tomato genes affecting the functioning of the Rx gene.


A Case of Right Temporal Lobectomy for Brain Tumor With Selective Semantic Pictorial Disorder.
Disagreement exists regarding representational and connectionist interpretations of semantic knowledge subserved by the right versus left anterior temporal lobes (ATLs). These interpretations predict a different pattern of impairment in patients with a right unilateral ATL lesion. We conducted a neuropsychological study of a selective semantic pictorial defect exhibited by a 57-year-old man who had undergone a right temporal lobectomy due to the presence of a glioblastoma. The patient was given the Thematic and Taxonomic Semantic task, in which individuals must select, within triplets of words or pictures, the best associates of living or nonliving stimuli, related by thematic or taxonomic links, and presented in the verbal or pictorial modality. The selectivity of the defect was documented by a comparison between the results obtained by our patient and those obtained by healthy controls on living items and on pictures with a thematic relation. The selectivity of the defect was confirmed by a within-subject analysis of the results obtained on all of the task's triplets and those obtained on the stimuli representing living entities with a taxonomic relation. The selectivity of this semantic pictorial defect mainly concerning living entities is consistent with the representational account of semantic defects observed in our patient. In the present case report, a right temporal lobectomy resulted in a selective semantic pictorial defect with the qualitative features predicted by the representational account of semantic defects observed after a unilateral ATL lesion.


Arthroscopy of the normal cadaveric ovine femorotibial joint: a systematic approach to the cranial and caudal compartments.
Preclinical studies using large animal models play an intergral part in translational research. For this study, our objectives were: to develop and validate arthroscopic approaches to four compartments of the stifle joint as determined via the gross and arthroscopic anatomy of the cranial and caudal aspects of the joint. Cadaveric hindlimbs (n = 39) were harvested from mature ewes. The anatomy was examined by tissue dissection (n = 6), transverse sections (n = 4), and computed tomography (n = 4). The joint was arthroscopically explored in 25 hindlimbs. A cranio-medial portal was created medial to the patellar ligament. The cranio-lateral portal was made medial to the extensor digitorum longus tendon. The medial femoral condyle was visible, as well as the cranial cruciate ligament, caudal cruciate ligament and both menisci with the intermeniscal ligament. Valgus stress improved visibility of the caudal horn of the medial meniscus and tibial plateau. To explore the caudal compartments, a portal was created 1 cm proximal to the most caudal aspect of the tibial condyle. Both femoral condyles, menisci, caudal cruciate ligament, the popliteal tendon and the menisco-femoral ligament were visible. The common peroneal nerve and popliteal artery and vein are vulnerable structures to injury during arthroscopy. The arthroscopic approach developed in this research is ideal to evaluate the ovine stifle joint.


The pathogenicity of mosquito densovirus (C6/36DNV) and its interaction with dengue virus type II in Aedes albopictus.
When Aedes albopictus larvae were infected with C6/36 densovirus (C6/36DNV), the mortality reached 97.46% within 21 days for those larvae infected at the first day after hatching, and 14.17% for control. A real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to trace the dynamic change of the quantity of C6/36DNV genomes in the larvae and the adults, and to study the interaction of C6/36DNV with dengue virus type II(DEN-II) in mosquitoes. It showed that C6/36DNV could persist in the adults that could transmit C6/36DNV vertically to the next generation. The quantity of C6/36DNV after DEN-II infection increased by 10(2)~10(3) times in the C6/36DNV-positive mosquitoes, and the quantity of DEN-II in the C6/36DNV-positive mosquitoes was about 100 times lower than that in the C6/36DNV-negative mosquitoes, which suggested that DEN-II could remarkably stimulate the reproduction of C6/36DNV, while C6/36DNV persisted in mosquitoes could inhibit the reproduction of DEN-II. The study throws light on C6/36DNV as a possible biologic control agent against dengue virus and Ae. albopictus.


Immunoglobulin gene analysis as a tool for investigating human immune responses.
The human immunoglobulin repertoire is a hugely diverse set of sequences that are formed by processes of gene rearrangement, heavy and light chain gene assortment, class switching and somatic hypermutation. Early B cell development produces diverse IgM and IgD B cell receptors on the B cell surface, resulting in a repertoire that can bind many foreign antigens but which has had self-reactive B cells removed. Later antigen-dependent development processes adjust the antigen affinity of the receptor by somatic hypermutation. The effector mechanism of the antibody is also adjusted, by switching the class of the antibody from IgM to one of seven other classes depending on the required function. There are many instances in human biology where positive and negative selection forces can act to shape the immunoglobulin repertoire and therefore repertoire analysis can provide useful information on infection control, vaccination efficacy, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. It can also be used to identify antigen-specific sequences that may be of use in therapeutics. The juxtaposition of lymphocyte development and numerical evaluation of immune repertoires has resulted in the growth of a new sub-speciality in immunology where immunologists and computer scientists/physicists collaborate to assess immune repertoires and develop models of immune action.


A Latent Class Approach to Examining Forms of Peer Victimization.
There is growing interest in gender differences in the experience of various forms of peer victimization; however, much of the work to date has used traditional variable-centered approaches by focusing on scales or individual forms of victimization in isolation. The current study explored whether there were discrete groups of adolescents who experience distinct forms of peer victimization by bullying (e.g., physical, verbal, relational) among middle and high school-age youth, and whether membership in a particular victimization group was associated with internalizing problems and aggression. Latent class analyses examining 10 different forms of victimization were conducted on a diverse sample of middle school (n = 11,408) and high school (n = 5,790) students. All forms of victimization were less common among high school students, except cyberbullying and sexual comments/gestures. The analyses revealed that there were 4 distinct victimization patterns for middle school students (Verbal and Physical; Verbal and Relational; High Verbal, Physical, and Relational; and Low Victimization/Normative), whereas high school students fell into a similar pattern with the exception of a Verbal and Physical class. These patterns of victimization were functionally associated with co-occurring internalizing problems and aggression. There were also some notable gender and developmental differences in the pattern of victimization and its relation with adjustment problems. These findings enhance our understanding of the complex patterns of peer victimization that are experienced by middle and high school students. Implications for educational researchers and school-based bullying interventions are discussed.


Relation between Exercise Performance and Blood Storage Condition and Storage Time in Autologous Blood Doping.
Professional athletes are expected to continuously improve their performance, and some might also use illegal methods-e.g., autologous blood doping (ABD)-to achieve improvements. This article applies a systematic literature review to investigate differences in the ABD methods and the related performance and blood parameters owing to different storage conditions-cryopreservation (CP) and cold storage (CS)-and different storage durations. The literature research resulted in 34 original articles. The majority of currently published studies employed CS during ABD. This contrasts to the applied storage technique in professional sports, which was mainly reported to be CP. The second outcome of the literature research revealed large differences in the storage durations applied, which were in the range of one day to 17 weeks between blood sampling and re-infusion, which might affect recovery of the red blood cell mass and thus performance outcome related to ABD. Data revealed that performance parameters were positively affected by ABD when a minimal storage duration of four weeks was adhered. This article identified a need for further research that reflect common ABD practice and its real effects on performance parameters, but also on related blood parameters in order to develop valid and reliable ABD detection methods.


Estimating Effect Sizes and Expected Replication Probabilities from GWAS Summary Statistics.
Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) result in millions of summary statistics ("z-scores") for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations with phenotypes. These rich datasets afford deep insights into the nature and extent of genetic contributions to complex phenotypes such as psychiatric disorders, which are understood to have substantial genetic components that arise from very large numbers of SNPs. The complexity of the datasets, however, poses a significant challenge to maximizing their utility. This is reflected in a need for better understanding the landscape of z-scores, as such knowledge would enhance causal SNP and gene discovery, help elucidate mechanistic pathways, and inform future study design. Here we present a parsimonious methodology for modeling effect sizes and replication probabilities, relying only on summary statistics from GWAS substudies, and a scheme allowing for direct empirical validation. We show that modeling z-scores as a mixture of Gaussians is conceptually appropriate, in particular taking into account ubiquitous non-null effects that are likely in the datasets due to weak linkage disequilibrium with causal SNPs. The four-parameter model allows for estimating the degree of polygenicity of the phenotype and predicting the proportion of chip heritability explainable by genome-wide significant SNPs in future studies with larger sample sizes. We apply the model to recent GWAS of schizophrenia (N = 82,315) and putamen volume (N = 12,596), with approximately 9.3 million SNP z-scores in both cases. We show that, over a broad range of z-scores and sample sizes, the model accurately predicts expectation estimates of true effect sizes and replication probabilities in multistage GWAS designs. We assess the degree to which effect sizes are over-estimated when based on linear-regression association coefficients. We estimate the polygenicity of schizophrenia to be 0.037 and the putamen to be 0.001, while the respective sample sizes required to approach fully explaining the chip heritability are 10(6) and 10(5). The model can be extended to incorporate prior knowledge such as pleiotropy and SNP annotation. The current findings suggest that the model is applicable to a broad array of complex phenotypes and will enhance understanding of their genetic architectures.


Activation of p34cdc2 protein kinase activity in meiotic and mitotic cell cycles in mouse oocytes and embryos.
p34cdc2 protein kinase is a universal regulator of M-phase in eukaryotic cell cycle. To investigate the regulation of meiotic and mitotic cell cycle in mammals, we examined the changes in phosphorylation states of p34cdc2 and its histone H1 kinase activity in mouse oocytes and embryos. We showed that p34cdc2 has three different migrating bands (referred to as upper, middle and lower bands) on SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting with anti-PSTAIR antibody, and that the upper and middle bands are phosphorylated forms since these two bands shifted to the lower one by alkaline phosphatase treatment. In meiotic cell cycle, only germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes had the three forms. The phosphorylated forms decreased gradually in oocytes up to 2 h after isolation from follicles, and thereafter the phosphorylation states did not change significantly until metaphase II. However, the histone H1 kinase activity oscillated, being activated at the first and second metaphase in meiosis and inactivated at the time of the first polar body extrusion. These results suggest that changes in phosphorylation states of p34cdc2 triggered its activation at the first metaphase, but not inactivation and reactivation at the first and second metaphase, respectively. In mitotic cell cycle, phosphorylated forms appeared at 4 h after insemination, increased greatly just before metaphase, and were dephosphorylated in metaphase. Histone H1 kinase activity was high only at metaphase. This kinase activation is probably triggered by dephosphorylation of p34cdc2.


Additive genetic variance in polyandry enables its evolution, but polyandry is unlikely to evolve through sexy or good sperm processes.
Polyandry is widespread despite its costs. The sexually selected sperm hypotheses ('sexy' and 'good' sperm) posit that sperm competition plays a role in the evolution of polyandry. Two poorly studied assumptions of these hypotheses are the presence of additive genetic variance in polyandry and sperm competitiveness. Using a quantitative genetic breeding design in a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster, we first established the potential for polyandry to respond to selection. We then investigated whether polyandry can evolve through sexually selected sperm processes. We measured lifetime polyandry and offensive sperm competitiveness (P2 ) while controlling for sampling variance due to male × male × female interactions. We also measured additive genetic variance in egg-to-adult viability and controlled for its effect on P2 estimates. Female lifetime polyandry showed significant and substantial additive genetic variance and evolvability. In contrast, we found little genetic variance or evolvability in P2 or egg-to-adult viability. Additive genetic variance in polyandry highlights its potential to respond to selection. However, the low levels of genetic variance in sperm competitiveness suggest that the evolution of polyandry may not be driven by sexy sperm or good sperm processes.


Structural and ultrastructural features of boar bulbourethral glands.
The morphological features of boar bulbourethral glands were examined by light and transmission microscopy. Bulbourethral glands are compound tubuloalveolar glands surrounded by a capsule of dense connective tissue and arranged in multiple lobules formed by endpieces and excretory ducts. Endpieces and excretory ducts are both lined by a single epithelium of mucous cells with a basal nucleus. Epithelial cells accumulate secretory granules containing neutral and carboxylated acid mucosubstances and a small amount of sulphated acid mucosubstances. The ultrastructure of epithelial cells varies according to the secretory cycle. In initial stages, the cells show a columnar shape and secretory granules unevenly distributed in the cytoplasm. As the synthesis of mucosubstances progresses, the amount of the secretory granules increases and the cellular shape becomes pyramidal. Secretory granules can contain inclusions and present differences among them according to their different phases of formation. In pyramidal cells, secretory products are released into the lumen by a merocrine mechanism.


Presenting a Model to Evaluate Factors Affecting Outsourcing of Health Information Technology Services.
Outsourcing of health information technology services (OHITS) is an important process for healthcare organizations due to the lack of expert staff to respond rapid advance in IT and the security of patient's information. This study aimed at presenting a model to evaluate factors affecting OHITS. This is a descriptive-analytic study, conducted in 2017. Participants were experts of IT and accounting field. This research was performed in four general steps: identifying the factors affecting OHITS through literature review; determining suitable indicators by Delphi technique; prioritizing the factors using Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP), measuring the accuracy of research hypotheses by Partial Least Square (PLS) and calculating the Goodness Of Fit (GOF) criteria for the model. the most and the least important factors affecting OHITS were "motivation" and "selection of a provider" respectively. GOF criteria was 0.697, suggesting powerful model fitting. Using the model presented in this research, the healthcare managers and chief officers of IT will be able to decide consciously about outsourcing projects, and also manage the project better.


Factors limiting the spread of the protective symbiont Hamiltonella defensa in Aphis craccivora Aphids.
Many insects are associated with heritable symbionts that mediate ecological interactions, including host protection against natural enemies. The cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora, is a polyphagous pest that harbors Hamiltonella defensa, which defends against parasitic wasps. Despite this protective benefit, this symbiont occurs only at intermediate frequencies in field populations. To identify factors constraining H. defensa invasion in Ap. craccivora, we estimated symbiont transmission rates, performed fitness assays, and measured infection dynamics in population cages to evaluate effects of infection. Similar to results with the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, we found no consistent costs to infection using component fitness assays, but we did identify clear costs to infection in population cages when no enemies were present. Maternal transmission rates of H. defensa in Ap. craccivora were high (ca. 99%) but not perfect. Transmission failures and infection costs likely limit the spread of protective H. defensa in Ap. craccivora. We also characterized several parameters of H. defensa infection potentially relevant to the protective phenotype. We confirmed the presence of H. defensa in aphid hemolymph, where it potentially interacts with endoparasites, and performed real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) to estimate symbiont and phage abundance during aphid development. We also examined strain variation of H. defensa and its bacteriophage at multiple loci, and despite our lines being collected in different regions of North America, they were infected with a nearly identical strains of H. defensa and APSE4 phage. The limited strain diversity observed for these defensive elements may result in relatively static protection profile for this defensive symbiosis.


Simultaneous Denoising, Deconvolution, and Demixing of Calcium Imaging Data.
We present a modular approach for analyzing calcium imaging recordings of large neuronal ensembles. Our goal is to simultaneously identify the locations of the neurons, demix spatially overlapping components, and denoise and deconvolve the spiking activity from the slow dynamics of the calcium indicator. Our approach relies on a constrained nonnegative matrix factorization that expresses the spatiotemporal fluorescence activity as the product of a spatial matrix that encodes the spatial footprint of each neuron in the optical field and a temporal matrix that characterizes the calcium concentration of each neuron over time. This framework is combined with a novel constrained deconvolution approach that extracts estimates of neural activity from fluorescence traces, to create a spatiotemporal processing algorithm that requires minimal parameter tuning. We demonstrate the general applicability of our method by applying it to in vitro and in vivo multi-neuronal imaging data, whole-brain light-sheet imaging data, and dendritic imaging data.


Management of Male Breast Cancer: ASCO Guideline.
To develop recommendations concerning the management of male breast cancer. ASCO convened an Expert Panel to develop recommendations based on a systematic review and a formal consensus process. Twenty-six descriptive reports or observational studies met eligibility criteria and formed the evidentiary basis for the recommendations. Many of the management approaches used for men with breast cancer are like those used for women. Men with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who are candidates for adjuvant endocrine therapy should be offered tamoxifen for an initial duration of five years; those with a contraindication to tamoxifen may be offered a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist/antagonist plus aromatase inhibitor. Men who have completed five years of tamoxifen, have tolerated therapy, and still have a high risk of recurrence may be offered an additional five years of therapy. Men with early-stage disease should not be treated with bone-modifying agents to prevent recurrence, but could still receive these agents to prevent or treat osteoporosis. Men with advanced or metastatic disease should be offered endocrine therapy as first-line therapy, except in cases of visceral crisis or rapidly progressive disease. Targeted systemic therapy may be used to treat advanced or metastatic cancer using the same indications and combinations offered to women. Ipsilateral annual mammogram should be offered to men with a history of breast cancer treated with lumpectomy regardless of genetic predisposition; contralateral annual mammogram may be offered to men with a history of breast cancer and a genetic predisposing mutation. Breast magnetic resonance imaging is not recommended routinely. Genetic counseling and germline genetic testing of cancer predisposition genes should be offered to all men with breast cancer.


Correlations between Visual Temporal Resolution and Individual Alpha Peak Frequency: Evidence that Internal and Measurement Noise Drive Null Findings.
The brain organizes the continuous flow of sensory input by parsing it into discrete events. In the case of 2 flashes separated by a brief ISI, for example, perception may be of a single flash or 2 distinct flashes, depending on the ISI but also on the speed of processing. A number of studies have reported evidence that participants with a higher EEG peak alpha frequency are able to detect the presence of 2 flashes separated by short intervals, whereas those with slower alpha report only 1 flash. Other studies have not found this correlation. We investigated potential factors that might mask the relationship between individual alpha frequency and visual perception. We recorded resting-state EEG from a large sample of participants (n = 50) and measured the temporal resolution of visual perception with the 2-flash fusion task. We found that individual alpha frequency over posterior channels predicted the 2-flash fusion threshold, in line with previous studies, but this correlation was significant only when taking into account the steepness of the psychophysical curve of the 2-flash task. Participants with a relatively shallow psychophysical curve, likely reflecting high sensory and/or decision noise, failed to show this relationship. These findings replicate previous reports of a correlation between alpha frequency and visual temporal resolution, while also suggesting that an explanation of two-flash fusion performance that neglects the role of internal noise might be insufficient to account for all individual differences.


Age-related deficits in speech production: From phonological planning to motor implementation.
Speaking is one of the most complex motor actions that humans can perform, requiring the coordination between linguistic, cognitive, affective and sensorimotor systems. Perhaps counter-intuitively, it is also one of the easiest acts that humans perform, on a daily basis, from a very early age till the end of life, without even thinking about it. With age, however, spoken language production undergoes significant changes, with potential impacts on interpersonal communication and social participation. Unfortunately, the neurobiological mechanisms involved are unclear, which impedes efforts towards the development of clinical interventions, differential diagnosis strategies and even prevention strategies for this population. In the present study, we examined age differences in speech production using a simple diadochokinetic rates task in which phonological and sequential complexity were manipulated. 85 cognitively healthy adults (20-93 years) were recruited from the general population. Cognitive level, hearing and depression symptoms were measured. Participants produced short and long sequences of simple and complex syllables aloud as quickly, steadily and accurately as possible. Performance was assessed in terms of articulation rate, articulation rate stability and accuracy. Results show that, controlling for cognition, hearing and depression, articulation rate stability and accuracy declined significantly with age. The phonological manipulation had more impact on performance than the sequential manipulation. These findings were interpreted as reflecting age-related central disruptions at the level of phonological and motor planning, which provides important new cues into underlying neurobiological mechanisms.


A human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha mutant that binds exclusively to the p55 TNF receptor produces toxicity in the baboon.
A number of recent studies have demonstrated that cellular responses to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mediated by the p55 and the p75 TNF receptors are distinct. To evaluate the relative in vivo toxicities of wild-type TNF alpha (wtTNF alpha) and a novel p55 TNF selective receptor agonist, healthy, anesthetized baboons (Papio sp.) were infused with a near-lethal dose of either wtTNF alpha or a TNF alpha double mutant (dmTNF alpha) that binds specifically to the p55, but not to the p75, TNF receptor. Both wtTNF alpha and dmTNF alpha produced comparable acute hypotension, tachycardia, increased plasma lactate, and organ dysfunction in Papio. However, administration of wtTNF alpha produced a marked granulocytosis and loss of granulocyte TNF receptors, whereas little if any changes in neutrophil number or cell surface TNF receptor density were seen after dmTNF alpha mutant administration. Infusion of dmTNF alpha resulted in a plasma endogenous TNF alpha response that peaked after 90-120 min. We conclude that selective p55 TNF receptor activation is associated with early hemodynamic changes and the autocrine release of endogenous TNF alpha. Significant systemic toxicity results from p55 TNF receptor activation, but the role of the p75 TNF receptor in systemic TNF toxicity requires further study.


Effect of a nutritional reconditioning program for thin dairy cattle on body weight, carcass quality, and fecal pathogen shedding.
To assess changes in body weight, carcass quality, and fecal pathogen shedding in cull dairy cows fed a high-energy ration for 28 or 56 days prior to slaughter. Randomized clinical trial. 31 adult Holstein dairy cows. Cows were randomly assigned to a control (immediate slaughter) group or a 28-day or 56-day feeding group. Cows in the feeding groups received a high-energy feed and were weighed every 7 days. Carcasses were evaluated by USDA employees. Fecal and blood samples were collected at the start and end of the feeding periods. Body condition score and adjusted preliminary yield grade were significantly increased in both feeding groups, compared with values for the control group; body weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, and ribeye area were significantly increased after 56 days, but not after 28 days, compared with values for the control group. Average daily gain and marbling score were significantly lower after feeding for 28 days versus after 56 days. Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 shedding in feces decreased from 14% to 5.6%, but this difference was not significant. Cows seropositive for antibodies against bovine leukemia virus that had signs of lymphoma and lame cows had a low average daily gain. Net loss was $71.32/cow and $112.80/cow for the 28-day and 56-day feeding groups, respectively. Feeding market dairy cows improved body condition and carcass quality. Cows seropositive for antibodies against bovine leukemia virus that have signs of lymphoma and lame cows might be poor candidates for reconditioning.


Historical Roots of International Biomedical and Health Informatics: The Road to IFIP-TC4 and IMIA through Cybernetic Medicine and the Elsinore Meetings.
Background: It is 50 years since the International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP) Societies approved the formation of a new Technical Committee (TC) 4 on Medical Information Processing under the leadership of Professor Francois Grémy, which was the direct precursor of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA). Objectives: The goals of this paper are to give a very brief overview of early international developments leading to informatics in medicine, with the origins of the applications of computers to medicine in the USA and Europe, and two meetings - of the International Society of Cybernetic Medicine, and the Elsinore Meetings on Hospital Information Systems-that took place in 1966. These set the stage for the formation of IFIP-TC4 the following year, with later sponsorship of the first MEDINFO in 1974, setting the path for the evolution to IMIA. Methods: This paper reviews and analyzes some of the earliest research and publications, together with two critical contrasting meetings in 1966 involving international activities in what evolved into biomedical and health informatics in terms of their probable influence on the formation of IFIP-TC4. Conclusion: The formation of IFIP-TC 4 in 1967 by Francois Grémy arose out of his concerns for merging, at an international level, the diverse strands from the more abstract work on cybernetic medicine and its basis in biophysical and neural modeling, with the more concrete and health-oriented medical information processing that was developing at the time for hospitals and clinical decision-making.


Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Is Independent From Schwann Cell p75NTR Expression.
Schwann cell reprogramming and differentiation are crucial prerequisites for neuronal regeneration and re-myelination to occur following injury to peripheral nerves. The neurotrophin receptor p75NTR has been identified as a positive modulator for Schwann cell myelination during development and implicated in promoting nerve regeneration after injury. However, most studies base this conclusion on results obtained from complete p75NTR knockout mouse models and cannot dissect the specific role of p75NTR expressed by Schwann cells. In this present study, a conditional knockout model selectively deleting p75NTR expression in Schwann cells was generated, where p75NTR expression is replaced with that of an mCherry reporter. Silencing of Schwann cell p75NTR expression was confirmed in the sciatic nerve in vivo and in vitro, without altering axonal expression of p75NTR. No difference in sciatic nerve myelination during development or following sciatic nerve crush injury was observed, as determined by quantification of both myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fiber densities, myelinated axonal diameter and myelin thickness. However, the absence of Schwann cell p75NTR reduced motor nerve conduction velocity after crush injury. Our data indicate that the absence of Schwann cell p75NTR expression in vivo is not critical for axonal regrowth or remyelination following sciatic nerve crush injury, but does play a key role in functional recovery. Overall, this represents the first step in redefining the role of p75NTR in the peripheral nervous system, suggesting that the Schwann cell-axon unit functions as a syncytium, with the previous published involvement of p75NTR in remyelination most likely depending on axonal/neuronal p75NTR and/or mutual glial-axonal interactions.


A Simple Scoring Algorithm That Predicts Abscesses in Adults with Community-Onset Klebsiella pneumoniae Bacteremia: Hypermucoviscosity Matters.
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a pathogen commonly found in community-onset bacteremia. It causes an invasive syndrome that is frequently presented by metastatic infections and abscesses elsewhere and that is necessary for surgical or drainage intervention. To achieve a scoring algorithm to identify patients with community-onset K. pneumoniae bacteremia (CoKPB) who are at risk for abscess occurrences, a retrospective cohort study consisting of adults with CoKPB was conducted. A 6-year cohort study consisting of adults having community-onset monomicrobial K. pneumoniae bacteremia was conducted. In addition to clinical variables collected from medical records, the hypermucoviscosity (HMV)-related gene (rmpA and magA) and an HMV phenotype were integrated into the proposed scoring algorithm. Of the 258 eligible adults, only 79 (30.6%) had abscesses related to bacteremia. Besides the presence of magA (ie, capsular serotype K1) and the HMV-phenotype, five clinical predictors were significantly associated with abscesses in a multivariate analysis: male gender, comorbidities with diabetes mellitus or neurological disorders, recent chemotherapy, and high c-reactive protein levels. Together, these predictors were used to calculate the CoKPB abscess score. Based on the scoring algorithm, a cut-off value of +2 yielded the high sensitivity (93.7%) and the acceptable specificity (50.8%); the area under the ROC curve was 0.83. A simple scoring algorithm that has substantial sensitivity and satisfactory specificity was proposed and the importance of the HMV phenotype or capsular K1 serotype was emphasized. The proposed predictive model needs external validation, but this scoring algorithm might be convenient and useful for clinicians.


Effects of intranasal oxytocin and vasopressin on cooperative behavior and associated brain activity in men.
The neural mechanisms supporting social bonds between adult men remain uncertain. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we investigate the impact of intranasally administered oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) on behavior and brain activity among men in the context of an iterated Prisoner's Dilemma game, which models a real-life social situation. fMRI results show that, relative to both AVP and placebo, OT increases the caudate nucleus response to reciprocated cooperation, which may augment the reward of reciprocated cooperation and/or facilitate learning that another person can be trusted. OT also enhances left amygdala activation in response to reciprocated cooperation. Behaviorally, OT was associated with increased rates of cooperation following unreciprocated cooperation in the previous round compared with AVP. AVP strongly increased cooperation in response to a cooperative gesture by the partner compared with both placebo and OT. In response to reciprocated cooperation, AVP increased activation in a region spanning known vasopressin circuitry implicated in affiliative behaviors in other species. Finally, both OT and AVP increase amygdala functional connectivity with the anterior insula relative to placebo, which may increase the amygdala's ability to elicit visceral somatic markers that guide decision making. These findings extend our knowledge of the neural and behavioral effects of OT and AVP to the context of genuine social interactions.


Tanshinone IIA promotes osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells via ERK1/2-dependent Runx2 induction.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of the dental or craniofacial origin include Human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), which are able to readily differentiate into osteoblasts. Tanshinone IIA (TSA) is a diterpene quinone compound that is derived from Danshen (also known as Salvia miltiorrhiza) used frequently in the context of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This study sought to assess how TSA affects the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs. We found that TSA promotes both this differentiation and hPDLSC maturation. This was dependent on TSA-mediated activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, and ERK1/2 inhibition disrupted TSA-induced Runx2 expression. From these results, we conclude that TSA can induce hPDLSC osteogenesis through the ERK1/2-Runx2 axis, suggesting that TSA is a viable therapeutic option for regenerative medical approaches aimed at the treatment of periodontitis.


Pemetrexed and communicating hydrocephalus.
Pemetrexed (Alimta) is widely used in combination with platinum as a first-line treatment of mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. It is also approved for use in the maintenance setting as a single agent after patient completion of 4 to 6 cycles of a platinum-based doublet regimen for non-small cell lung cancer. With the increasing use of pemetrexed and longer durations of therapy, unexpected cumulative toxicity or other toxicities are possible. We report a case of a patient receiving maintenance pemetrexed for advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung who developed communicating hydrocephalus. We are not aware of any other reports of communicating hydrocephalus in association with pemetrexed therapy. As more patients routinely receive pemetrexed as maintenance therapy, the development of toxicities or unexpected diagnoses is possible and may be a consideration in the chronic management of such patients.


Dietary Guidelines for Breast Cancer Patients: A Critical Review.
Current dietary guidelines for breast cancer patients (BCPs) fail to address adequate dietary intakes of macro- and micronutrients that may improve patients' nutritional status. This review includes information from the PubMed and Biomed Central databases over the last 15 y concerning dietary guidelines for BCPs and the potential impact of a personalized, nutrient-specific diet on patients' nutritional status during and after antineoplastic treatment. Results indicated that BCPs should receive a nutritional assessment immediately after diagnosis. In addition, they should be encouraged to pursue and maintain a healthy body weight [body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) 20-24.9], preserving their lean mass and avoiding an increase in fat mass. Therefore, after nutritional status diagnosis, a conservative energy restriction of 500-1000 kcal/d could be considered in the dietary intervention when appropriate. Based on the reviewed information, we propose a personalized nutrition intervention for BCPs during and after antineoplastic treatment. Specifications in the nutritional therapy should be based on the patients' nutritional status, dietary habits, schedule, activities, and cultural preferences. BCPs' daily energy intake should be distributed as follows: <30% fat/d (mainly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids), ∼55% carbohydrates (primarily whole foods such as oats, brown rice, and fruits), and 1.2-1.5 g protein ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ d-1 to avoid sarcopenic obesity. Findings suggest that 5-9 servings/d of fruits (∼150 g/serving) and vegetables (∼75 g/serving) should be encouraged. Garlic and cruciferous vegetables must also be part of the nutrition therapy. Adequate dietary intakes of food-based macro- and micronutrients rich in β-carotene and vitamins A, E, and C can both prevent deterioration in BCPs' nutritional status and improve their overall health and prognosis.


Lipolysis and biohydrogenation of soybean oil in the rumen in vitro: inhibition by antimicrobials.
This experiment attempted to lower rumen lipolytic activity, biohydrogenating activity, or both using antimicrobial compounds. In vitro incubations were carried out with rumen fluid, 80 mg of soybean oil, and .5 g of commercial concentrates as substrate. Unless stated otherwise, the final concentrations of the additives in the incubation was 20 ppm. Lipolysis and biohydrogenation were determined by separation of triacylglycerols and FFA by TLC; the fatty acid composition of each was determined by GLC before and after incubation and with or without additive. With some of the antibiotics, lipolysis was inhibited 10 to 20%, and the most potent inhibitors were ionophores and amoxicillin. Biohydrogenation (including C18:1) decreased only for lasalocid, but no additive could prevent hydrogenation of linolenic acid liberated from triacylglycerols. Some additives decreased hydrogenation of linoleic acid, but only slightly. Lipolytic activity decreased VFA production more than the other potent additives (amoxicillin, avoparcin, lasalocid sodium, monensin, and salinomycin sodium). This result could indicate a more specific toxic effect on lipolytic microbes. Finally, different antimicrobials influenced fermentation patterns differently (VFA proportions and CH4 production), but shifts were always in accordance with stoichiometric principles.


Copper deficiency myelopathy.
Acquired copper deficiency has been recognised as a rare cause of anaemia and neutropenia for over half a century. Copper deficiency myelopathy (CDM) was only described within the last decade, and represents a treatable cause of non-compressive myelopathy which closely mimics subacute combined degeneration due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Here, 55 case reports from the literature are reviewed regarding their demographics, aetiology, haematological and biochemical parameters, spinal imaging, treatment and outcome. The pathophysiology of disorders of copper metabolism is discussed. CDM most frequently presented in the fifth and sixth decades and was more common in women (F:M = 3.6:1). Risk factors included previous upper gastrointestinal surgery, zinc overload and malabsorption syndromes, all of which impair copper absorption in the upper gastrointestinal tract. No aetiology was established in 20% of cases. High zinc levels were detected in some cases not considered to have primary zinc overload, and in this situation the contribution of zinc to the copper deficiency state remained unclear. Cytopenias were found in 78%, particularly anaemia, and a myelodysplastic syndrome may have been falsely diagnosed in the past. Spinal MRI was abnormal in 47% and usually showed high T2 signal in the posterior cervical and thoracic cord. In a clinically compatible case, CDM may be suggested by the presence of one or more risk factors and/or cytopenias. Low serum copper and caeruloplasmin levels confirmed the diagnosis and, in contrast to Wilson's disease, urinary copper levels were typically low. Treatment comprised copper supplementation and modification of any risk factors, and led to haematological normalisation and neurological improvement or stabilisation. Since any neurological recovery was partial and case numbers of CDM will continue to rise with the growing use of bariatric gastrointestinal surgery, clinical vigilance will remain the key to minimising neurological sequelae. Recommendations for treatment and prevention are made.


IAL-CHS (internal airlift loop--ceramic honeycomb supports) reactor used for biodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol and phenol.
The internal airlift loop reactor with ceramic honeycomb supports (IAL-CHS) was applied for biodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and phenol. A strain of DCP-degrading bacteria isolated from activated sludge, Achromobacter sp., was rapidly immobilized onto the ceramic honeycomb supports. The immobilized cells effectively biodegraded 2,4-DCP alone and together with phenol in batch and continuous-flow experiments. For example, 2,4-DCP was biodegraded from an influent concentration of 50 mg/L to less than 1 mg/L with a 6-h hydraulic retention time (HRT) in continuous flow tests. The immobilized biomass grew and accumulated through 2,4-DCP biodegradation, and the rate of degradation increased accordingly.


Comparative analysis of two different amide-to-ester bond mutations in the beta-sheet of 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase.
Here we describe the total chemical synthesis and biophysical characterization of two backbone-modified, ester bond-containing analogues of the homohexameric enzyme 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4OT). The amide-to-ester bond mutations in the two analogues in this study, (OI2)4OT and (OI7)4OT, were designed to effectively delete specific backbone-backbone hydrogen bonds in the beta-sheet region of the native 4OT hexamer. The (OI2)4OT and (OI7)4OT analogues each contained one ester bond per monomer that effectively deleted 12 backbone-backbone hydrogen bonds per hexamer. The structural properties of each analogue were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), far-UV CD spectroscopy, and catalytic activity measurements, and they were found to be very similar to the structural properties of the wild-type enzyme. The results of equilibrium unfolding studies revealed that the (OI2)4OT and (OI7)4OT analogues were stabilized by 47.7 +/- 2.5 and 45.0 +/- 2.5 kcal/mol, respectively, under standard state conditions (1 M hexamer) as compared to a value of 69.6 +/- 3.3 kcal/mol for the wild-type control. Our results suggest that the two different, but structurally similar, backbone-backbone hydrogen bonds deleted in (OI2)4OT and (OI7)4OT make nearly equivalent contributions to the thermodynamic stability of the 4OT hexamer.


Ovulation, fertilization and lambing rates, and peripheral progesterone concentrations, in ewes inseminated at a natural oestrus during November or February.
The objective of this study was to determine the relative importance of seasonal changes in ovulation rate, fertilization rate and embryo survival as the cause of reduced lambing rates in ewes mated in February compared with those mated in November. The study was conducted at 57 degrees N using mature Mule ewes and Suffolk rams. Sixty ewes were allocated equally to five groups: unbred (UB) or mated at a natural oestrus during November (N) or February (F) by natural (N) or cervical artificial (A) insemination. Groups were maintained separately at pasture supplemented with hay. A raddled vasectomized or non-vasectomized ram was present with UB, NN and NA groups from 26 October 1995 to 1 January 1996 and with UB, FN and FA groups from 25 January 1996 to 31 March 1996. Ewes marked by the ram were recorded twice a day, and those in groups NN, NA, FN and FA were inseminated at their second behavioural oestrus. For all ewes, blood samples were obtained once a day from introduction of the vasectomized rams until 30 days after mating (groups NN, NA, FN and FA) or 20 days after the first oestrus (group UB), and ovulation rate was measured by laparoscopy 7 days after the first oestrus. For ewes in groups NN, NA, FN and FA, ovulation rate was measured again after the second oestrus and ova were recovered from six ewes per group for assessment of fertilization before autotransfer. Pregnancy and lambing rates were recorded at term. Mean (+/- SE) dates of the first recorded oestrus for ewes in groups NN, NA and UB, and FN, FA and UB were 4 +/- 1.1 November and 4 +/- 0.9 February, respectively, and intervals between the first and second oestrus were 16 +/- 0.2 and 17 +/- 0.3 days (P < 0.01), respectively. Ovulation rates were 2.6 +/- 0.08 and 2.0 +/- 0.05 (P < 0.001), and peripheral progesterone concentrations during the luteal phase were 8.5 +/- 0.25 and 7.6 +/- 0.31 ng ml-1 (P < 0.05), for November and February, respectively. The difference in peripheral progesterone concentration was not solely attributable to the difference in ovulation rate. There was no significant effect of month or method of insemination, or of embryo recovery and autotransfer procedures on pregnancy rates and the proportion of ewes that became pregnant were NN 0.92, NA 0.83, FN 0.67 and FA 0.75. For ewes undergoing embryo recovery and autotransfer, ova recovered per corpus luteum were 1.00, 0.93, 1.00 and 0.92, fertilized ova per ovum recovered were 0.69, 0.92, 1.00 and 0.83, and lambs born per corpus luteum were 0.62, 0.79, 0.78 and 0.58 for NN, NA, FN and FA groups, respectively. There were no significant seasonal effects on fertilization rate or embryo survival. It is concluded that a seasonal decline in ovulation rate is the primary cause of reduced lambing rates in ewes mated in February compared with those mated in November. Pregnancy rates were high after mating in both periods and were not enhanced by the use of cervical insemination.


Ramifying feedback networks, cross-scale interactions, and emergent quasi individuals in Conway's game of Life.
Small patterns of state 1 cells on an infinite, otherwise empty array of Conway's game of Life can produce sets of growing structures resembling in significant ways a population of spatially situated individuals in a nonuniform, highly structured environment. Ramifying feedback networks and cross-scale interactions play a central role in the emergence and subsequent dynamics of the quasi population. The implications are discussed: It is proposed that analogous networks and interactions may have been precursors to natural selection in the real world.


Immunohistochemical study of dental pulp cells with 3D collagen type I gel in demineralized dentin tubules in vivo.
Dental pulp cells (DPCs) represent good candidates for the regeneration of dental tissue. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and differentiation potential of DPCs cultured inside demineralized dentin tubules in vivo. Six green fluorescent protein-transgenic rats (body weight 100 g each) and thirty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (body weight 250 g each) were used for DPC collection and dentin tubules preparation and transplantation, respectively. Third-passage DPCs with or without collagen gels were loaded into demineralized dentin tubules. Both types of grafts were transplanted into the rectus abdominis muscles of SD rats and were harvested after 21 days. The expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (OPN), nestin, and dentin sialoprotein (DSP) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Histological analysis showed that DPCs in the collagen gel formed an osteodentin-like hard tissue matrix after 21 days. Increased positive immunoreactivity for ALP, BSP, OPN, nestin, and DSP was observed in experimental groups compared with control. Our results demonstrate that DPCs in collagen gel inside demineralized dentin tubules show increased growth and differentiation.


Young Women's use of a microbicide surrogate: the complex influence of relationship characteristics and perceived male partners' evaluations.
Currently in clinical trials, vaginal microbicides are proposed as a female-initiated method of sexually transmitted infection prevention. Much of microbicide acceptability research has been conducted outside of the United States and frequently without consideration of the social interaction between sex partners, ignoring the complex gender and power structures often inherent in young women's (heterosexual) relationships. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to build on existing microbicide research by exploring the role of male partners and relationship characteristics on young women's use of a microbicide surrogate, an inert vaginal moisturizer (VM), in a large city in the United States. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 young women (18-23 years old; 85% African American; 47.5% mothers) following use of the VM during coital events for a 4 week period. Overall, the results indicated that relationship dynamics and perceptions of male partners influenced VM evaluation. These two factors suggest that relationship context will need to be considered in the promotion of vaginal microbicides. The findings offer insights into how future acceptability and use of microbicides will be influenced by gendered power dynamics. The results also underscore the importance of incorporating men into microbicide promotion efforts while encouraging a dialogue that focuses attention on power inequities that can exist in heterosexual relationships. Detailed understanding of these issues is essential for successful microbicide acceptability, social marketing, education, and use.


Eye motion parameters correlate with level of experience in video-assisted surgery: objective testing of three tasks.
Laparoscopic skills vary with experience and training; however, objective measures to ascertain the level of training have not yet been established. New technology allows noninterfering measurement of eye motion parameters that correlate with attention and distraction during visually oriented tasks. Our objective was to apply this new technology in the setting of video-assisted surgery to evaluate eye motion parameters among surgeons of varying experience. Subjects with various levels of laparoscopic experience (novice, intermediate, and expert) were fitted with a noninvasive, Food and Drug Administration approved, eye motion monitoring device. The device was used to measure and record parameters of eye motion, including saccadic rate (SR), standardized peak velocity (PV), standardized saccadic amplitude (SA), and the duration of gaze fixation (FD), during the performance of 3 basic laparoscopic tasks on a laparoscopic training station. A total of 24 subjects (3 groups of 8 each) participated in this study. Experience level was found to have a main significant effect on SR (P = 0.047) and PV (P = 0.028). Two-way ANOVA demonstrated that experience level approached significance for SA (P = 0.058) and FD (P = 0.055). The advancement of laparoscopic techniques and instrumentation relies, in part, on expanding the current understanding of operator/instrument interactions. This places an increasing demand on objective methods of monitoring such interactions during laparoscopy. Our study demonstrates a significant difference in eye motion parameters in surgeons with differing levels of experience. Further testing is needed in actual clinical settings to determine the importance of eye motion during surgery.


Use of assisted reproductive technologies in the propagation of rhesus macaque offspring.
The assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) as tailored to the production of rhesus monkeys at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) are described. Efficient fertilization of mature oocytes recovered by aspiration from females subjected to follicular stimulation was achieved with fresh or frozen sperm by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Embryo development to the early cleavage stage occurred at high frequency. Cryopreserved embryos showed high postthaw survival and were also transferred in efforts to establish pregnancies. Three methods of transfer were evaluated, two involving embryo placement into the oviduct, laparoscopy and minilaparotomy, and a nonsurgical, transcervical approach that resulted in uterine deposition. Early cleaving embryos (Days 1-4) were transferred into the oviducts of synchronized recipients with optimal results and pregnancy rates of up to 36%. Pregnancy rates were similar when two fresh or frozen embryos were transferred (28- 30%), although more than two embryos had to be thawed to compensate for embryo loss during freeze-thawing. Normal gestational lengths, birth weights, and growth curves were seen with ART-produced infants compared with infants produced by natural mating in the timed mated breeding (TMB) colony at the ONPRC. In 72 singleton pregnancies established following the transfer of ART-produced embryos, the live-birth rate, at 87.5%, was statistically identical to that for the TMB colony. Further development of the ARTs should result in increasing use of these techniques to augment conventional approaches to propagating monkeys, especially those of defined genotypes.


Spontaneous abortions among dental assistants, factory workers, painters, and gardening workers: a follow up study.
This investigation was conducted to test the hypothesis that exposure of pregnant women to chemicals increases the risk of spontaneous abortion. The chemical risk factors under study to which dental assistants, factory workers, painters, and gardening workers were exposed were nitrous oxide, inorganic mercury, organic solvents, and pesticides. The study was carried out within the Danish county of Funen. It included all dental assistants employed in private or public dentistry. A comparable reference group was made up by employees less exposed to chemicals. Further study groups included all women painters within the county, women factory workers from selected factories, and about 50% of the women gardening workers within the county. Shop assistants and packers formed their control group. Information was obtained through a postal questionnaire study in May 1980 and from hospital records. Only among factory workers and painters was the odds ratio of spontaneous abortion found to be significantly increased. Neither among these women nor among dental assistants and gardening workers, however, was the reported exposure to any single chemical during pregnancy associated with a significantly increased odds ratio of spontaneous abortion.


Lack of ETV6 (TEL) gene rearrangements or p16INK4A/p15INK4B homozygous gene deletions in infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) occurring in infants less than 1 year of age differs clinically and biologically from that observed in older children. Cytogenetically, 11q23 translocations are detected in approximately 50% of infant ALLs and fuse the 11q23 gene HRX with a variety of partner chromosomal loci. Overall, HRX rearrangements are detected molecularly in 70-80% of infant ALLs as compared to 5-7% of ALLs arising in older children. Two recently described molecular abnormalities in childhood ALL are ETV6 gene rearrangements and homozygous deletions of p16(INK4A) and/or p15(INK4B). Each of these abnormalities occurs in 15-20% of all childhood ALLs, and neither can be accurately identified by routine cytogenetic analyses. The incidence of these genetic abnormalities and their potential relationship to HRX gene status in infant ALL is unknown. Using Southern blot analyses, we determined ETV6 and p16(INK4A)/p15(INK4B) gene status in a cohort of infant ALLs. No ETV6 rearrangements or homozygous deletions (n=69) or homozygous p16(INK4A) and/or p15(INK4B) gene deletions (n=54) were detected in any of the infant ALLs. Therefore, ETV6 and p16(INK4A)/p15(INK4B) do not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of infant ALL, further emphasizing the distinctive biology of this subset of leukemias.


A van der Waals DFT study of chain length dependence of alkanethiol adsorption on Au(111): physisorption vs. chemisorption.
The energetics and structures of physisorbed and chemisorbed alkanethiols on Au(111) have been systematically investigated up to 10 carbon atoms using van der Waals (vdW) corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The role of chain length, tilting angle and coverage on the adsorption characteristics has been examined to elucidate the energetics and plausible transformation mechanisms between lying down and standing up phases. Coverage and size dependent chain-chain electronic interactions counteract with the alkyl chain-gold surface interactions and the surface relaxation of the metal in the formation of standing up monolayer structures. For the striped phases of long chain alkanethiols, however, our calculations on decanethiol indicate alkyl chain-gold surface interactions to be strong enough to force the molecule to be perfectly parallel to the surface by lifting a gold atom up, in agreement with the proposed models for this film in the literature.


Transcript and metabolite profiling of the adaptive response to mild decreases in oxygen concentration in the roots of arabidopsis plants.
Oxygen can fall to low concentrations within plant tissues, either because of environmental factors that decrease the external oxygen concentration or because the movement of oxygen through the plant tissues cannot keep pace with the rate of oxygen consumption. Recent studies document that plants can decrease their oxygen consumption in response to relatively small changes in oxygen concentrations to avoid internal anoxia. The molecular mechanisms underlying this response have not been identified yet. The aim of this study was to use transcript and metabolite profiling to investigate the genomic response of arabidopsis roots to a mild decrease in oxygen concentrations. Arabidopsis seedlings were grown on vertical agar plates at 21, 8, 4 and 1 % (v/v) external oxygen for 0.5, 2 and 48 h. Roots were analysed for changes in transcript levels using Affymetrix whole genome DNA microarrays, and for changes in metabolite levels using routine GC-MS based metabolite profiling. Root extension rates were monitored in parallel to investigate adaptive changes in growth. The results show that root growth was inhibited and transcript and metabolite profiles were significantly altered in response to a moderate decrease in oxygen concentrations. Low oxygen leads to a preferential up-regulation of genes that might be important to trigger adaptive responses in the plant. A small but highly specific set of genes is induced very early in response to a moderate decrease in oxygen concentrations. Genes that were down-regulated mainly encoded proteins involved in energy-consuming processes. In line with this, root extension growth was significantly decreased which will ultimately save ATP and decrease oxygen consumption. This was accompanied by a differential regulation of metabolite levels at short- and long-term incubation at low oxygen. The results show that there are adaptive changes in root extension involving large-scale reprogramming of gene expression and metabolism when oxygen concentration is decreased in a very narrow range.


Linking functional group richness and ecosystem functions of dung beetles: an experimental quantification.
Dung beetles form an insect group that fulfils important functions in terrestrial ecosystems throughout the world. These include nutrient cycling through dung removal, soil bioturbation, plant growth, secondary seed dispersal and parasite control. We conducted field experiments at two sites in the northern hemisphere temperate region in which dung removal and secondary seed dispersal were assessed. Dung beetles were classified in three functional groups, depending on their size and dung manipulation method: dwellers, large and small tunnelers. Other soil inhabiting fauna were included as a fourth functional group. Dung removal and seed dispersal by each individual functional group and combinations thereof were estimated in exclusion experiments using different dung types. Dwellers were the most diverse and abundant group, but tunnelers were dominant in terms of biomass. All dung beetle functional groups had a clear preference for fresh dung. The ecosystem services in dung removal and secondary seed dispersal provided by dung beetles were significant and differed between functional groups. Although in absolute numbers more dwellers were found, large tunnelers were disproportionally important for dung burial and seed removal. In the absence of dung beetles, other soil inhabiting fauna, such as earthworms, partly took over the dung decomposing role of dung beetles while most dung was processed when all native functional groups were present. Our results, therefore, emphasize the need to conserve functionally complete dung ecosystems to maintain full ecosystem functioning.


Prevention of smoking-related deaths in the United States.
Tobacco is the leading cause of death in the United States. The majority of people who smoke begin before age 18. Determine the number of smoking-attributable deaths and years of potential life lost (YPLL) in adults that might be saved through interventions to reduce smoking prevalence among children and adolescents. Calculation of the smoking-attributable mortality and years of potential life lost by age 85 among the cohort of people aged 18 in 2000. By age 85, there would be 127,670 smoking-attributable deaths among women and 284,502 deaths among men, for a total 412,172 smoking-attributable deaths in the United States among the cohort of 3,964,704 people aged 18 years alive in 2000. Through large-scale multimedia campaigns and a $1 increase in the price per pack of cigarettes, smoking prevalence could be reduced by 26% and would result in an annual savings of 108,466 lives and 1.6 million YPLL. Interventions to decrease smoking prevalence among children and adolescents can have large effects on adult mortality.


Preparation of MIP-based QCM nanosensor for detection of caffeic acid.
In the present work, a new caffeic acid imprinted quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) nanosensor has been designed for selective assignation of caffeic acid in plant materials. Methacrylamidoantipyrine-iron(III) [MAAP-Fe(III)] as metal-chelating monomer has been used to prepare selective molecular imprinted polymer (MIP). MIP film for detection of caffeic acid has been developed on QCM electrode and selectivity experiments and analytical performance of caffeic acid imprinted QCM nanosensor has been studied. The caffeic acid imprinted QCM nanosensor has been characterized by AFM. After the characterization studies, imprinted and non-imprinted nanosensors was connected to QCM system for studies of connection of the target molecule, selectivity and the detection of amount of target molecule in real samples. The detection limit was found to be 7.8 nM. The value of Langmuir constant (b) (4.06 × 10(6)) that was acquired using Langmuir graph demonstrated that the affinity of binding sites was strong. Also, selectivity of prepared caffeic acid imprinted nanosensor was found as being high compared to chlorogenic acid. Finally, the caffeic acid levels in plant materials was determined by the prepared QCM nanosensor.


Evaluation of the CO2 Poisoning Effect on a Highly Active Cathode SrSc(0.175)Nb(0.025)Co(0.8)O(3-δ) in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction.
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a highly efficient device for converting chemical energy to electrical energy. In addition to the efforts to reduce the operating temperature of SOFCs to below 600 °C, research studies of the basic mechanism of CO2 poisoning on cathode materials are envisioned to improve the operation of dual-chamber SOFCs using ambient air. In this work, we comparatively studied the CO2 poisoning effect on two highly active perovskites SrSc(0.175)Nb(0.025)Co(0.8)O(3-δ) (SSNC) and Ba(0.5)Sr(0.5)Co(0.8)Fe(0.2)O(3-δ) (BSCF), using complementary characterization techniques, e.g., powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), CO2-temperature-programmed desorption (CO2-TPD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The SSNC cathode shows better tolerance to CO2 as compared with BSCF, which is attributed to the absence of Ba, higher average metal-oxygen bond energy (ABE) of SSNC, and the higher acidity of Nb(5+) cations, whereas the oxygen vacancy concentration plays a less important role.


Immunosuppression and HCV recurrence after liver transplantation.
HCV related liver disease is the most common indication for liver transplantation. Recurrence of HCV infection is universal and has a substantial impact on patient and graft survival. Immunosuppression is a major factor responsible for the accelerated recurrence and compressed natural history of recurrent HCV infection. Accumulating experience has provided data to support certain strategies for immunosuppressive regimens. From the available evidence, more severe recurrence results from repeated bolus corticosteroid therapy and anti-lymphocyte antibodies used to treat rejection. Low dose and slow tapering of steroids are better than high dose maintenance and/or rapid tapering. Recent meta-analyses favour steroid-free regimens but these are complicated to interpret as the absence of steroids may simply represent less immunopotency. There is no difference in HCV recurrence between tacrolimus and cyclosporine regimens, but tacrolimus increases graft and patient survival in HCV transplanted patients. There may be a beneficial effect of maintenance azathioprine given for 6 months or longer. There is no conclusive evidence for benefit of mycophenolate and interleukin-2 receptor blockers. Few data are available for mTOR inhibitors. Better evidence is needed to establish the optimal immunosuppressive regimen for HCV recipients and more randomized trials should be performed.