bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Algoriphagus trabzonensis sp. nov., isolated from freshwater, and emended description of Algoriphagus alkaliphilus
Authors: Inan Kadriye , Kacagan Murat , Ozer Aysegul , Osman Belduz Ali , Canakci Sabriye
Published: April 2015

A Gram-staining-negative, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive strain, designated MS7T, was isolated from freshwater of a river near Trabzon, Turkey. Its taxonomy was investigated using a polyphasic approach. The strain grew optimally at 28 °C and pH 7.5 and in the presence of 2.0 % NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the strain belonged to the genus Algoriphagus; strain MS7T showed highest sequence similarity to the type strains of Algoriphagus alkaliphilus (97.3 %), Algoriphagus terrigena (96.8 %), Algoriphagus jejuensis (96.2 %), Algoriphagus boritolerans (96.1 %) and Algoriphagus aquatilis (95.8 %). The major fatty acids of strain MS7T were iso-C15 : 0 (30.14 %) and summed future 9 (10-methyl C16 : 0 and/or iso-C17 : 1
ω9c 18.75 %). Polar lipid analysis revealed phosphatidylethanolamine, a variety of unidentified lipids, an unidentified aminophospholipid, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified aminolipid. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7.The DNA G+C content of MS7T was 41.6 mol%, a value consistent with that of members of the genus Algoriphagus. The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain MS7T and A. alkaliphilus LMG 22694T was 41 %, which is clearly below the 70 % threshold accepted for species delineation. Thus, our results support the placement of strain MS7T within a separate and previously unrecognized species. On the basis of these data, the strain is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Algoriphagus, for which the name Algoriphagus trabzonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MS7T ( = NCCB 100372T = LMG 26290T). An emended description of A. alkaliphilus is also provided.
Dokdonia pacifica sp. nov., isolated from seawater
Authors: Zhang Zenghu , Gao Xin , Wang Long , Zhang Xiao-Hua
Published: April 2015

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding, oxidase- and catalase-positive, rod-shaped, yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain SW230T, was isolated from a surface seawater sample collected from the South Pacific Gyre. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SW230T shared highest similarity with members of the genus Dokdonia (95.0–94.5 %), exhibiting 95.0 % sequence similarity to Dokdonia genika NBRC 100811T. Optimal growth occurred in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 8.0 and at 28 °C. The DNA G+C content of strain SW230T was 36 mol%. The major fatty acids (>10 % of the total) were iso-C15:1 G, iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH, and C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. On the basis of data from the present polyphasic study, strain SW230T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Dokdonia, for which the name Dokdonia pacifica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SW230T ( = CGMCC 1.12184T = JCM 18216T).
MicroRNAs provide the first evidence of genetic link between diapause and aging in vertebrates
Authors: Dolfi Luca , Baumgart Mario , Groth Marco , Ripa Roberto , Platzer Matthias , Cellerino Alessandro
Published: April 2015

Diapause and aging are controlled by overlapping genetic mechanisms inC.elegansand these include microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we investigated miRNA regulation in embryos of annual killifish that naturally undergo diapause to overcome desiccation of their habitats. We compared miRNA expression in diapausing and non-diapausing embryos in three independent lineages of killifish. We identified 13 miRNAs with similar regulation in all three lineages. One of these is miR-430, which is known as key regulator of early embryonic development in fish. We further tested whether this regulation overlaps with the aging-dependent regulation of miRNAs in one annual species:Nothobranchius furzeri. We found that miR-101a and miR-18a are regulated in the same direction during diapause and aging. These results provide the first evidence that overlapping genetic networks control diapause and aging in vertebrates and suggest that diapause mimics aging to some extent.
Genome-wide Analysis Reveals Novel Regulators of Growth inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Vonesch Sibylle Chantal , Lamparter David , Mackay Trudy FC , Bergmann Sven , Hafen Ernst
Published: April 2015

Organismal size depends on the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Genome-wide association (GWA) analyses in humans have implied many genes in the control of height but suffer from the inability to control the environment. Genetic analyses inDrosophilahave identified conserved signaling pathways controlling size; however, how these pathways control phenotypic diversity is unclear. We performed GWA of size traits using theDrosophilaGenetic Reference Panel of inbred, sequenced lines. We find that the top associated variants differ between traits and sexes; do not map to canonical growth pathway genes, but can be linked to these by epistasis analysis; and are enriched for genes and putative enhancers. Performing GWA on well-studied developmental traits under controlled conditions expands our understanding of developmental processes underlying phenotypic diversity.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

Genetic studies inDrosophilahave elucidated conserved signaling pathways and environmental factors that together control organismal size. In humans, hundreds of genes are associated with height variation, but these associations have not been performed in a controlled environment. As a result we are still lacking an understanding of the mechanisms creating size variability within a species. Here, under carefully controlled environmental conditions, we identify naturally occurring genetic variants that are associated with size diversity inDrosophila. We identify a cluster of associations close to thekek1locus, a well-characterized growth regulator, but otherwise find that most variants are located in or close to genes that do not belong to the conserved pathways but may interact with these in a biological network. Many of these genes have a conserved role in humans. We validate 33 novel growth regulatory genes that participate in diverse cellular processes, most notably cellular metabolism and cell polarity. This study is the first genome-wide association analysis of natural variants underlying size inDrosophilaand our results complement the knowledge we have accumulated on this trait from mutational studies of single genes.
Predicting Carriers of Ongoing Selective Sweeps Without Knowledge of the Favored Allele
Authors: Ronen Roy , Tesler Glenn , Akbari Ali , Zakov Shay , Rosenberg Noah A , Bafna Vineet
Published: April 2015

Methods for detecting the genomic signatures of natural selection have been heavily studied, and they have been successful in identifying many selective sweeps. For most of these sweeps, the favored allele remains unknown, making it difficult to distinguish carriers of the sweep from non-carriers. In an ongoing selective sweep, carriers of the favored allele are likely to contain a future most recent common ancestor. Therefore, identifying them may prove useful in predicting the evolutionary trajectory — for example, in contexts involving drug-resistant pathogen strains or cancer subclones. The main contribution of this paper is the development and analysis of a new statistic, the Haplotype Allele Frequency (HAF) score. The HAF score, assigned to individual haplotypes in a sample, naturally captures many of the properties shared by haplotypes carrying a favored allele. We provide a theoretical framework for computing expected HAF scores under different evolutionary scenarios, and we validate the theoretical predictions with simulations. As an application of HAF score computations, we develop an algorithm (PreCIOSS: Predicting Carriers of Ongoing Selective Sweeps) to identify carriers of the favored allele in selective sweeps, and we demonstrate its power on simulations of both hard and soft sweeps, as well as on data from well-known sweeps in human populations.
Grounding accumulation by dispossession in everyday life
Authors: Hodkinson Stuart , Essen Chris
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to ground Harvey’s (2003) top-down theory of “accumulation by dispossession” in the everyday lives of people and places with specific focus on the role of law. It does this by drawing upon the lived experiences of residents on a public housing estate in England (UK) undergoing regeneration and gentrification through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

Design/methodology/approach

– Members of the residents association on the Myatts Field North estate, London, were engaged as action research partners, working with the researchers to collect empirical data through surveys of their neighbours, organising community events and being formally interviewed themselves. Their experiential knowledge was supplemented with an extensive review of all associated policy, planning, legal and contractual documentation, some of which was disclosed in response to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Findings

– Three specific forms of place-based dispossession were identified: the loss of consumer rights, the forcible acquisition of homes and the erasure of place identity through the estate’s rebranding. Layard’s (2010) concept of the “law of place” was shown to be broadly applicable in capturing how legal frameworks assist in enacting accumulation by dispossession in people’s lives. Equally important is the ideological power of law as a discursive practice that ultimately undermines resistance to apparent injustices.

Originality/value

– This paper develops Harvey’s concept of accumulation by dispossession in conversation with legal geography scholarship. It shows – via the Myatts Field North estate case study – how PFI, as a mechanism of accumulation by dispossession in the abstract, enacts dispossession in the concrete, assisted by the place-making and ideological power of law.
Dementia in the workplace: a review
Authors: Ritchie Louise , Banks Pauline , Danson Michael , Tolson Debbie , Borrowman Fiona
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– Recent changes affecting state pension age, and earlier diagnosis, will result in more people with dementia in employment. The purpose of this paper is to establish the nature of support that would enable/enables people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment to continue employment post diagnosis.

Design/methodology/approach

– An integrative review was carried out supported by information derived from a thematic analysis of data from interviews with seven relatives supporting a younger person with dementia and one person with dementia.

Findings

– Six papers were identified for inclusion in the review. Findings from the published papers and interviews indicated that work is a significant issue for people with dementia highlighting problems with job retention, work performance and the impact of diagnosis.

Research limitations/implications

– The review highlighted a dearth of high-quality research in the area. Although employment was not the main focus of the interviews, the extracts highlight some of the challenges that face people who develop dementia while of working age, their families, and employers.

Practical implications

– Vocational rehabilitation is primarily carried out by allied health professionals; however, there is a lack of research evidence relating to people with dementia in the workplace. Further research is needed in order to inform future practice.

Social implications

– Loss of employment deprives families of financial security and employers of a skilled employee.

Originality/value

– This is the first review to focus on dementia in employment, providing a starting point on which to base future research in this area.
Harnessing the power of cohort studies for dementia research
Authors: Breeze Elizabeth , Hart Nicola Jean , Aarsland Dag , Moody Catherine , Brayne Carol
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to scope potential and gaps in European cohort studies with focus on brain ageing and neurodegeneration.

Design/methodology/approach

– Combined and augmented two scoping exercises conducted for European Union Joint Programme on Neurodegenerative Diseases (JPND) and the Alzheimer Society UK.

Findings

– In total, 106 cohorts initially identified with a further 52 found on second sweep. Strengths include gender balance, diversity of measures and much detail on health and health behaviours, and lifecourse representation. Major gaps identified were the oldest old, non-Caucasians, people in Eastern Europe, migrant populations, rural residents and people in long-term care. Quality of life, psychosocial and environmental factors were limited. Relatively few cohorts are population representative. Analytical methods for combining studies and longitudinal analysis require careful consideration.

Research limitations/implications

– European studies and published information only.

Practical implications

– Collaboration across disciplines and studies, greater dissemination of methods and findings will improve knowledge about cognitive and functional decline in current and future older populations.

Social implications

– Better understanding of brain ageing and the dementia syndrome will improve investment decisions for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.

Originality/value

– Building on the work of JPND and the Alzheimer Society is the first study of the scope and limitations of current cohorts in Europe. It is designed to help researchers and policy makers in their planning.
The arts in dementia care education: a developmental study
Authors: Zeilig Hannah , Poland Fiona , Fox Chris , Killick John
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to outline the first stage of an innovative developmental study addressing the educational and emotional needs of dementia care home staff using arts-based materials.

Design/methodology/approach

– The arts workshop was developed using a mixed methods approach. This included ethnographic observation within a dementia care home, in-depth interviews with senior care home managers, a thematic analysis of focus groups and the development of a comic. At all stages, the multi-disciplinary project team collaborated closely with the care home staff. A comprehensive literature review of the policy, practice and academic background to dementia workforce education provided a contextual framework for the study. Perspectives from the medical humanities informed the project.

Findings

– Despite the high prevalence of people living with dementia in care homes, there is a lack of appropriate training for the workforce that provides their care. This study found that an arts-based workshop offering an interactive mode of education was an effective way to engage this workforce. The workshop empowered participants to recognise their skills and focus on person-centred care; reflecting current recommendations for dementia care.

Research limitations/implications

– The workshop was delivered in a single dementia care home and therefore findings may not be generalisable. In addition, the management did not take a direct part in the delivery of the workshop and therefore their views are not included in this study.

Practical implications

– The arts-based approach can offer a means of engaging the dementia care workforce in education linked to their experience of caring.

Originality/value

– The paper identifies the gap in relevant education for the dementia care workforce and outlines one possible way of addressing this gap using the arts.
Quality management – history and trends
Authors: Weckenmann Albert , Akkasoglu Goekhan , Werner Teresa
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The continuous development of quality management in organizations was driven on the one hand by competition and on the other hand by growing requirements of the customers. Mass production with a pure push strategy changed to a more and more pull strategy with higher customer and market orientation. To satisfy the requirements of the triangle quality, cost and time the field of view of quality management has continuously been widened from considering “what” is done to “how” it is done. Nowadays the complexity and interrelations inside and outside of organizations increased with their global orientation. To face these global challenges, the purpose of this paper is to do a detailed analysis of the history of quality management that can support the initial position in development of specific tools and methods for quality improvement in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– For the historic analysis a well-founded literature review has been performed. After presenting the historical development of quality management, the current situation described. Finally an outlook for upcoming trends in quality management is provided by extrapolating current developments.

Findings

– Four different paradigm shifts in quality management are up to now identified and described, accompanied by a high number of smaller development steps. Current efforts for the further development of quality management encompass “perceived quality”, “human-focused quality management” and “intelligent quality management”.

Originality/value

– The paper gives a survey on the development of quality management and delivers a forecast on future requirements and trends in structuring the quality management in technical enterprises.
Microbial Hazards in Irrigation Water: Standards, Norms, and Testing to Manage Use of Water in Fresh Produce Primary Production
Authors: Uyttendaele Mieke , Jaykus Lee‐Ann , Amoah Philip , Chiodini Alessandro , Cunliffe David , Jacxsens Liesbeth , Holvoet Kevin , Korsten Lise , Lau Mathew , McClure Peter , Medema Gertjan , Sampers Imca , Rao Jasti Pratima
Published: April 2015

Accessibility to abundant sources of high‐quality water is integral to the production of safe and wholesome fresh produce. However, access to safe water is becoming increasingly difficult in many parts of the world, and this can lead to the production of fresh produce contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, resulting in increased risk of human disease. Water, an important raw material in the fresh produce chain, is used in considerable amounts in many operations, including irrigation and application of pesticides and fertilizers, but also as a transport medium and for cooling and washing in postharvest practices. In several reported outbreaks related to uncooked fruit and vegetable products, water has been identified as a likely source of the outbreak. The present study, initiated by the ILSI Europe Emerging Microbiological Issues Task Force in collaboration with 8 other ILSI branches and support of WHO/FAO, was undertaken to review the status of, and provide suggestions for, consideration by different stakeholders on water and sanitation and its impact on food safety and public health. A limited number of guidelines and regulations on water quality for agricultural production are available, and many of them are still heavily based on microbial standards and (debated) parameters such as fecal coliforms. Data gaps have been identified with regard to baseline studies of microbial pathogens in water sources in many regions, the need for agreement on methods and microbial parameters to be used in assessing water quality, the fate of pathogens in water, and their transfer and persistence on irrigated/processed produce.
Innovations in Health Value and Functional Food Development of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)
Authors: Graf Brittany L. , Rojas‐Silva Patricio , Rojo Leonel E. , Delatorre‐Herrera Jose , Baldeón Manuel E. , Raskin Ilya
Published: April 2015

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd., Amaranthaceae) is a grain‐like, stress‐tolerant food crop that has provided subsistence, nutrition, and medicine for Andean indigenous cultures for thousands of years. Quinoa contains a high content of health‐beneficial phytochemicals, including amino acids, fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, saponins, phytosterols, phytoecdysteroids, phenolics, betalains, and glycine betaine. Over the past 2 decades, numerous food and nutraceutical products and processes have been developed from quinoa. Furthermore, 4 clinical studies have demonstrated that quinoa supplementation exerts significant, positive effects on metabolic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal health in humans. However, vast challenges and opportunities remain within the scientific, agricultural, and development sectors to optimize quinoa's role in the promotion of global human health and nutrition.
Clozapine‐induced myocarditis, a widely overlooked adverse reaction
Authors: Ronaldson K. J. , Fitzgerald P. B. , McNeil J. J.
Published: April 2015

Objective

We review the published cases of clozapine‐induced myocarditis and describe reasons for the higher incidence in Australia (>1%) than elsewhere (<0.1%).

Method

Medline was searched to September 2014 using ‘clozapine’ as the sole term.

Results

A total of around 250 cases of clozapine‐induced myocarditis have been published. Fever among patients commencing clozapine has been reported internationally, and very few of these cases were investigated for myocarditis. The time to onset of fever is consistent with its being part of a prodrome of undiagnosed myocarditis, and the risk factors are similar to those for myocarditis. In more severe cases, clozapine is discontinued, avoiding fatalities which may occur with myocarditis. Furthermore, cases of sudden death and respiratory illness may well have been undiagnosed myocarditis. The diagnosis of myocarditis is confounded by the non‐specific nature of the signs and symptoms, and it depends on appropriate investigations being conducted at the time of myocardial involvement or, for fatal cases, the affected area of the myocardium being sampled for histology.

Conclusion

It is likely that the incidence of myocarditis is around 3%. Implementation of monitoring procedures will increase case ascertainment and result in more patients benefiting from this valuable medication.
Dialysis Complications in Acute Kidney Injury Patients Treated With Prolonged Intermittent Renal Replacement Therapy Sessions Lasting 10 Versus 6 Hours: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Albino Bianca Ballarin , Balbi André Luis , Abrão Juliana Maria Gera , Ponce Daniela
Published: April 2015

Prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy (PIRRT) has emerged as an alternative to continuous renal replacement therapy in the management of acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. This trial aimed to compare the dialysis complications occurring during different durations of PIRRT sessions in critically ill AKI patients. We included patients older than 18 years with AKI associated with sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit and using noradrenaline doses ranging from 0.3 to 0.7 µg/kg/min. Patients were divided into two groups randomly: in G1, 6‐h sessions were performed, and in G2, 10‐h sessions were performed. Seventy‐five patients were treated with 195 PIRRT sessions for 18 consecutive months. The prevalence of hypotension, filter clotting, hypokalemia, and hypophosphatemia was 82.6, 25.3, 20, and 10.6%, respectively. G1 was composed of 38 patients treated with 100 sessions, whereas G2 consisted of 37 patients treated with 95 sessions. G1 and G2 were similar in male predominance (65.7 vs. 75.6%, P = 0.34), age (63.6 ± 14 vs. 59.9 ± 15.5 years, P = 0.28) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (SOFA; 13.1 ± 2.4 vs. 14.2 ± 3.0, P = 0.2). There was no significant difference between the two groups in hypotension (81.5 vs. 83.7%, P = 0.8), filter clotting (23.6 vs. 27%, P = 0.73), hypokalemia (13.1 vs. 8.1%, P = 0.71), and hypophosphatemia (18.4 vs. 21.6%, P = 0.72). However, the group treated with sessions of 10 h were refractory to clinical measures for hypotension, and dialysis sessions were interrupted more often (9.5 vs. 30.1%, P = 0.03). Metabolic control and fluid balance were similar between G1 and G2 (blood urea nitrogen [BUN]: 81 ± 30 vs. 73 ± 33 mg/dL, P = 1.0; delivered Kt/V: 1.09 ± 0.24 vs. 1.26 ± 0.26, P = 0.09; actual ultrafiltration: 1731 ± 818 vs. 2332 ± 947 mL, P = 0.13) and fluid balance (–731 ± 125 vs. −652 ± 141 mL, respectively) . In conclusion, intradialysis hypotension was common in AKI patients treated with PIRRT. There was no difference in the prevalence of dialysis complications in patients undergoing different durations of PIRRT.
Evaluation of the Performance and Safety of a Newly Developed Intravenous Fluid Warmer
Authors: Kim Hee Jung , Yoo Sung Mook , Son Ho Sung , Ahn Chi Bum , Shin Yeon Soo , Chung Jae Ho , Sun Kyung
Published: April 2015

To evaluate the performance and safety of a newly developed blood warmer (ThermoSens), we tested its heating capability under various conditions using isotonic saline and hemolysis analysis with swine blood. The following two in vitro tests were performed: (i) To investigate the performance of the device, the inflow and outflow temperatures were measured at various flow rates (30, 50, and 100 mL/min) using cold (5°C) and room temperature (20°C) isotonic saline (0.9%). Several parameters were measured including the highest temperature of the outlet, the time required to reach the highest temperature, and the temperature of the intravenous line. (ii) To investigate the safety of the device, a hemolysis test was performed using swine blood. We obtained 320 mL of whole blood from swine and refrigerated the blood for 35 days at 3°C. In order to replicate the clinical situation, blood flow by gravity and pressure (300 mm Hg) was used. Before and after the heating test, blood samples were obtained and a comparison was made between these samples. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, lactate dehydrogenase, and plasma hemoglobin were used for red blood cell (RBC) damage analysis. The highest outlet temperatures obtained using flow rates of 30, 50, and 100 mL/min were 39.10 ± 0.59, 39.25 ± 0.69, and 37.63 ± 1.03°C, respectively, with cold saline, and 39.40 ± 0.40, 39.66 ± 0.36, and 39.49 ± 0.49°C, respectively, with room temperature saline. Hemolysis tests showed no significant changes in hemoglobin, hematocrit, lactate dehydrogenase, or plasma hemoglobin (P > 0.05) between before and after heating for both gravity and pressure blood flow. The ThermoSens blood warmer warms isotonic saline effectively, reaching temperatures up to 36°C under various conditions. Hemolysis tests showed no RBC damage. Therefore, the newly developed ThermoSens has good heating performance and is safe for RBC products.
Replacing home visits with telephone calls to support parents implementing a sleep management intervention: findings from a pilot study and implications for future research
Authors: Stuttard L. , Clarke S. , Thomas M. , Beresford B.
Published: April 2015

Background

Resource constraints may inhibit the provision of appropriate interventions for children with neurodisabilities presenting with behavioural sleep problems. Telephone calls (TC), as opposed to home visits (HV), may be a more resource efficient means of supporting these families.

Objective

To conduct a preliminary investigation exploring the feasibility and acceptability of replacing HV with TC to support parents implementing sleep management strategies and to gather evidence to inform the design and methods of a full trial.

Methods

Parents referred to a sleep management intervention routinely delivered by a community paediatric team were alternately allocated to receive implementation support via HV (n = 7) or TC (n = 8). Activity logs recorded the frequency, duration and mode of support. Parents and practitioners were interviewed about their experiences of receiving/delivering the intervention.

Results

Intervention drop‐out was low, the frequency, number of contacts and intervention duration appeared comparable. Parents allocated TC received less contact time. Parents valued implementation support irrespective of delivery mode and practitioners reported that despite initial reservations, implementation support via TC appeared to work well.

Conclusions

TC appears an acceptable and convenient mode of delivering sleep support, valued by both parents and practitioners. We recommend a full‐scale trial to investigate effectiveness.
Making Sense of Dynamic Systems: How Our Understanding of Stocks and Flows Depends on a Global Perspective
Authors: Fischer Helen , Gonzalez Cleotilde
Published: April 2015

Stocks and flows (SF) are building blocks of dynamic systems: Stocks change through inflows and outflows, such as our bank balance changing with withdrawals and deposits, or atmospheric CO2 with absorptions and emissions. However, people make systematic errors when trying to infer the behavior of dynamic systems, termed SF failure, whose cognitive explanations are yet unknown. We argue that SF failure appears when people focus on specific system elements (local processing), rather than on the system structure and gestalt (global processing). Using a standard SF task (n = 148), SF failure decreased by (a) a global as opposed to local task format; (b) individual global as opposed to local processing styles; and (c) global as opposed to local perceptual priming. These results converge toward local processing as an explanation for SF failure. We discuss theoretical and practical implications on the connections between the scope of attention and understanding of dynamic systems.
Real Time Three‐Dimensional Echocardiographic Evaluations of Fetal Left Ventricular Stroke Volume, Mass, and Myocardial Strain: In Vitro and In Vivo Experimental Study
Authors: Zhu Meihua , Ashraf Muhammad , Zhang Zhijun , Streiff Cole , Shimada Eriko , Kimura Sumito , Schaller Traci , Song Xubo , Sahn David J.
Published: April 2015

Background

Left ventricular stroke volume, mass, and myocardial strain are valuable indicators of fetal heart function. This study investigated the feasibility of nongated real time three‐dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) to determine fetal stroke volume (SV), left ventricular mass (LVM), and myocardial strain under different conditions.

Methods

To evaluate fetal hearts, fetal‐sized rabbit hearts were used in this study. The in vitro portion of this study was carried out using a balloon inserted into the LV of eight fresh rabbit hearts and driven by a calibrated pulsatile pump. RT3DE volumes were obtained at various pump‐set SVs. The in vivo experiments in this study were performed on open‐chest rabbits. RT3DE volumes were acquired at the following conditions: baseline, simulated hypervolemia, inferior vena cava (IVC) ligation, and ascending aorta (AAO) ligation. Displacement values and sonomicrometry data were used as references for RT3DE‐derived SV, LVM, longitudinal strain (LS), and circumferential strain (CS).

Results

Excellent correlations between RT3DE‐derived values and reference values were demonstrated and accompanied by high coefficients of determination (R2) for both in vitro and in vivo studies for SV, LVM, LS, and CS (in vitro: SV: R2 = 0.98; LVM: R2 = 0.97; LS: R2 = 0.87, CS: R2 = 0.80; in vivo: SV: R2 = 0.92; LVM: R2 = 0.98; LS: in vivo: R2 = 0.84; CS: in vivo: R2 = 0.76; all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

RT3DE is capable of quantifying the SV, LVM, and myocardial strain of fetal‐sized hearts under different conditions. This nongated RT3DE may aid the evaluation of fetal cardiac function, providing a superior understanding of the progress of fetal heart disorders.
Are overweight/obese children at risk of traumatic dental injuries? A meta‐analysis of observational studies
Authors: Corrêa‐Faria Patrícia , Petti Stefano
Published: April 2015

Background/aim

Observational studies which investigated the association between overweight/obesity and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) reported contrasting results. Thus, this meta‐analysis was designed to investigate such an association with the highest possible levels of internal and external validities.

Material and methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed through PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Google scholar to ensure generalizability. Eligible studies reported clear case and control definitions, exposure assessment. Where possible, odds ratio (OR) adjusted for covariates was extracted. Study quality was assessed through Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Only fair‐to‐good quality studies with NOS scores ≥4 were selected. The method to assess the pooled OR was based on the level of between‐study heterogeneity, estimated through the Cochran's Q. Reliability of the pooled OR was improved by controlling for publication bias, sensitivity analysis to study inclusion, and subgroup analyses according to tooth type (permanent vs primary teeth) and country where the study was performed (Brazilian studies vs studies from other countries).

Results

Seventeen studies were selected from America, Asia, and Europe, their NOS scores ranged between 4 and 8. Overall, there were almost 28 000 patients, 7400 of them with TDI. The level of publication bias was minimal, and no adjustment was necessary. Between‐study heterogeneity was high, and the random‐effects method was used to assess the pooled OR, which resulted 1.30 (95% confidence interval, 1.11–1.53; P < 0.05). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses corroborated this estimate.

Conclusion

The choice to increase internal and external validity levels decreased the precision of the pooled OR (i.e., confidence intervals were relatively wide). The statistically significant overweight/obesity‐TDI association, together with the so‐called counterfactual condition (i.e., TDI prevalence was higher among overweight/obese children than among lean children), suggests that causal association between these two conditions is plausible.
Fibroblasts support migration of monocyte‐derived dendritic cells by secretion of PGE2 and MMP‐1
Authors: Saalbach Anja , Janik Tobias , Busch Matthias , Herbert Diana , Anderegg Ulf , Simon Jan C.
Published: April 2015

The outcome of a cutaneous immune response is critically dependent upon the ability of dendritic cells (DC) to migrate from skin to the draining lymph nodes – a process that is influenced by the cutaneous tissue microenvironment. Here, the role of fibroblasts – a major component of the dermal microenvironment – on the migratory capacity of monocyte‐derived DC (MoDC) was investigated in a 3D collagen I matrix. Indeed, dermal fibroblasts supported the migration of pre‐activated MoDC through a 3D collagen I matrix. Activation of human MoDC resulted in the release of TNFα and IL‐1β that in turn stimulated MMP‐1 (human collagenase) and PGE2 secretion by human dermal fibroblasts. Transmigration assays confirmed the importance of fibroblast‐derived MMP‐1 and PGE2 for the migration of MoDC through a 3D collagen I matrix. Finally, in mice initiation of inflammation by induction of an irritant contact dermatitis or a psoriasis‐like skin inflammation, the expression of the PGE2 generating cox‐2 and the mouse collagen I degrading enzyme matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)‐13 was strongly up‐regulated. Our study indicates that MoDC are able to instruct dermal fibroblasts resulting in enhanced migratory capability of MoDC, thus highlighting the role of a crosstalk of DC with their stromal microenvironment for the control of cutaneous immune responses.
Quantitative hopanoid analysis enables robust pattern detection and comparison between laboratories
Authors: Wu C.‐H. , Kong L. , Bialecka‐Fornal M. , Park S. , Thompson A. L. , Kulkarni G. , Conway S. J. , Newman D. K.
Published: April 2015

Hopanoids are steroid‐like lipids from the isoprenoid family that are produced primarily by bacteria. Hopanes, molecular fossils of hopanoids, offer the potential to provide insight into environmental transitions on the early Earth, if their sources and biological functions can be constrained. Semiquantitative methods for mass spectrometric analysis of hopanoids from cultures and environmental samples have been developed in the last two decades. However, the structural diversity of hopanoids, and possible variability in their ionization efficiencies on different instruments, have thus far precluded robust quantification and hindered comparison of results between laboratories. These ionization inconsistencies give rise to the need to calibrate individual instruments with purified hopanoids to reliably quantify hopanoids. Here, we present new approaches to obtain both purified and synthetic quantification standards. We optimized 2‐methylhopanoid production in Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE‐1 and purified 2Me‐diplopterol, 2Me‐bacteriohopanetetrol (2Me‐BHT), and their unmethylated species (diplopterol and BHT). We found that 2‐methylation decreases the signal intensity of diplopterol between 2 and 34% depending on the instrument used to detect it, but decreases the BHT signal less than 5%. In addition, 2Me‐diplopterol produces 10× higher ion counts than equivalent quantities of 2Me‐BHT. Similar deviations were also observed using a flame ionization detector for signal quantification in GC. In LC‐MS, however, 2Me‐BHT produces 11× higher ion counts than 2Me‐diplopterol but only 1.2× higher ion counts than the sterol standard pregnane acetate. To further improve quantification, we synthesized tetradeuterated (D4) diplopterol, a precursor for a variety of hopanoids. LC‐MS analysis on a mixture of (D4)‐diplopterol and phospholipids showed that under the influence of co‐eluted phospholipids, the D4‐diplopterol internal standard quantifies diplopterol more accurately than external diplopterol standards. These new quantitative approaches permit meaningful comparisons between studies, allowing more accurate hopanoid pattern detection in both laboratory and environmental samples.
Does Cultural Recognition Obstruct Immigrant Integration? Evidence from Two Historic Case Studies
Authors: Kolbe Melanie
Published: April 2015

Is multiculturalism compatible with immigrant integration? While effects of minority rights and cultural recognition are controversial, I argue that not only the analysis of multicultural policies in their interaction with other structures and policies deserves more attention, but also that a historical discussion may inform current debates. Comparing and analyzing the French Huguenots in Brandenburg-Prussia (1685–1809) and Germans in the Volga region (1764–1878), I find that incorporation outcomes, despite similarly extensive cultural rights, are driven by differing opportunity structures. These findings contribute to the growing literature on multiculturalism in Europe and advocate a new approach to its analysis.
Impact of dental caries and its treatment on the quality of life of 12‐ to 15‐year‐old adolescents in Benin, Nigeria
Authors: Chukwumah Nneka M. , Folayan Morenike O. , Oziegbe Elizabeth O. , Umweni Alice A.
Published: April 2015

Aim

To assess the impact of caries and its treatment on quality of life (QoL) in 12‐ to 15‐year‐old children in Benin, Nigeria.

Design

This was a cross‐sectional study involving 1790 children. Clinical examinations were conducted using the WHO criteria for diagnosis and coding of caries. The Decayed Missing Filled Teeth score of each child was calculated. The child Oral Impact on Daily Performance questionnaire was used to assess the QoL of children with caries pre‐ and post‐treatment. Associations between age, sex, and socio‐economic status and caries were analysed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

The prevalence of caries in the study population was 21.9%. Approximately 57% of children with caries reported negative impact on their QoL pre‐treatment. Eating (47.6%) was the most affected domain. The mean pre‐treatment QoL score was 8.40 ± 10.34. Four weeks post‐treatment, only 1.12% of participants reported negative impact of caries treatment on their QoL. The mean post‐treatment QoL score was 0.22 ± 0.91 There was a significant difference between pre‐ and post‐treatment QoL scores (P = 0.0001) with significant changes in all the eight domains studied. Age, sex, and socio‐economic status had no significant impact on QoL pre‐ and post‐treatment.

Conclusions

Caries had a significant impact on the QoL of adolescents. Its treatment resulted in marked improvement in QoL.
Evaluation of influenza vaccine effectiveness and description of circulating strains in outpatient settings in South Africa, 2014
Authors: McAnerney Johanna M. , Treurnicht Florette , Walaza Sibongile , Cohen Adam L. , Tempia Stefano , Mtshali Senzo , Buys Amelia , Blumberg Lucille , Cohen Cheryl
Published: April 2015

The effectiveness of the trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine during the 2014 season in South Africa was assessed using a test‐negative case–control study design including 472 cases and 362 controls. Influenza A(H3N2) was the dominant strain circulating. The overall vaccine effectiveness estimate, adjusted for age and underlying conditions, was 43·1% (95% CI: −26·8–74·5). 2014 H3N2 viruses from South Africa were mainly in sublineage 3C.3 with accumulation of amino acid changes that differentiate them from the vaccine strain in 3C.1.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON PHOTOTOXICITY OF CHEMICALS
Authors: Kobayashi Fujio , Wada Yasushi , Mizuno Nobuyuki
Published: April 2015

An attempt was made to establish in vitro and in vivo methods for screening phototoxic compounds. For an in vitro system, light dose‐survival curves of Escherichia coli were obtained. 8‐Methoxypsoralen (8‐MOP), bithionol (BT), 3,3′,4′,5‐tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCSA), and 3,4′,5‐tribromosalicylanilide (TBS) showed photokilling activity against E. coli, whereas hexachlorophene (HEX), trichlorocarbanilide (TCC), and irgasan CF3 were photoinactive. Above a certain critical dose of ultraviolet radiation, E. coli treated with TCSA or TBS exhibited some recovery from phototoxic effects. For an in vivo system, median erythema dose, rather than minimal erythema dose, was determined for guinea pig skin. 8‐MOP, BT and TCSA proved to be phototoxic in both the in vivo and in vitro systems, but in vivo phototoxicity was not shown by HEX, TCC, irgasan CF3, and TBS, thus demonstrating a difference in TBS phototoxicity according to the system used.
THE PHARMACOLOGY OF ISOLATED CUTANEOUS VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE*
Authors: Winkelmann Richard K.
Published: April 2015

Human and dog and rabbit skin blood vessel strips give contractile responses to catecholamines, serotonin, and angiotensin II. Alpha receptors for catecholamine can be demonstrated. Species and organ variations occur in the small vessel tissue response to bradykinin (dog), histamine (rabbit) and acetylcholine (lung). A prostaglandin‐contractile activity could be demonstrated on cutaneous vessels. This activity was most marked in dog paw vessels and rarely occurred in human skin. Potentiation of catecholamine by prostaglandin E‐, A‐ and F‐ contractions could be demonstrated. The prostaglandin receptor was not blocked by alpha or beta blocking agents. The prostaglandin response was related to calcium concentration and was unrelated to exogenous or endogenous cyclic AMP.
A CASE OF TICK BITE
Authors: Mate Okitaka , Ohsumi Takeshi
Published: April 2015

A case of tick bite in a 4‐year‐old Japanese boy is reported. The parasite was identified as an adult female tick, Ixodes persulcatus Schulze, which is one of the most common ticks in Japan.
PERIORAL DERMATITIS
Authors: Sato Hideya , Ishikawa Hidekazu
Published: April 2015

Four patients with perioral dermatitis are reported. They are the first cases reported in Japan. All had had topical applications of fluorinated corticosteroids, and application of a non‐fluorinated hydrocortisone ointment on one case was followed by an exacerbation. Oral administration of tetracycline was accompanied by improvement in all four cases.
AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, CLINICAL, AND MYCOLOGICAL STUDY OF HUMAN RINGWORM DUE TO TRICHOPHYTON VERRUCOSUM IN JAPAN
Authors: Takahashi Shin‐Ya , Makino Yoshio , Fukushi Gyo , Kasai Tatsuya , Sato Masako
Published: April 2015

Epidemiological, clinical, and mycological studies based on a total of fifty‐eight cases of human ringworm caused by Trichophyton verrucosum were made. They consisted of thirty‐nine epidemically occurring cases in the Tono area of Iwate prefecture in 1962 and nineteen cases occurring sporadically in Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures from 1970 through 1973. The results are summarized as follows: 1) The majority of the patients were farm workers or their family members, who had opportunity for direct contact with infected cattle. 2) The infection was most frequent during the winter months. 3) Familial occurrence was noted in twenty‐six members of eleven families. 4) The most commonly affected sites were the exposed areas of the body, particularly the forearm of an adult and the face of a child. 5) The clinical features of the lesions were classified into the following six types: agminate folliculitis, tinea circinata, kerion celsi, sycosis trichophytica, granuloma trichophyticum Majocchi, and a hyperkeratotic form of tinea manum which may be previously unreported. 6) In general, lesions showed a marked inflammation with intense erythema, edema, and pustule formation, and without central clearing. 7) The causative organism easily invades the hair follicle, so that a deep‐seated lesion may not be uncommon. 8) On comparative studies, the brain heart infusion agar (Difco) containing dextrose, peptone, thiamine HCl and antibiotics was found to be adequate for the isolation and the identification of Trichophyton verrucosum. 9) The fungus grew more easily at 37 °C than at room temperature (25 °C), and growth was inhibited by the addition of actidione. 10) The lesions of the agminate folliculitis type and of the hairy parts should be treated orally with griseofulvin because of a possible aggravation due to topical medication.

Outside of the Tohoku district of Japan a total of thirty‐eight cases have been observed in Hokkaido from 1967 to 1972 and four cases were seen in southwestern Japan in two recent years.
CLINICAL EVALUATION OF AL‐TEST PATCH TEST*
Authors: Hayakawa Ritsuko , Kobayashi Mie , Ueda Hiroshi , Morikawa Fujio
Published: April 2015

To study the use of the Al‐test patch test units in Japan, Al‐test plaster was tested on 57 patients using 888 units and a skin reaction was seen under the aluminum foil section on 32 patients (179 unit, 20.15%). This is less than the irritation frequency of 34–65% reported when using Torii's test plaster and more than seen with our lint cloth and Blenderm patch test unit. In those cases having no reaction to the aluminum foil section, any positive reaction of the allergen was clear and easily recognizable. The probability of a false positive reaction due to skin irritation under the aluminum foil section when using Al‐test plaster in the summer in Japan, which has a comparatively higher humidity than Europe and the USA, was reported.
A CASE OF WEBER‐CHRISTIAN DISEASE SUGGESTING CELLULAR IMMUNO‐DEFICIENCY
Authors: Kaneko Fumio , Ito Shunsuke , Nagai Morihito
Published: April 2015

Weber‐Christian disease in a 25‐year‐old female was reported. She had recurrent erythematous nodules on the trunk and extremities, with fever, and microscopic examination of the nodules showed panniculitis due to lymphocytic and histiocytic infiltration and necrotizing angiitis.

Studies of the peripheral blood showed marked anemia, leucopenia, and especially lymphocytopenia. There was a marked susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections. An increase of serum immunoglobulin level, a marked lymphocytopenia, a rather low percentage of lymphocytes transformed by PHA, and a reversion of the tuberculin reaction from positive to negative were found. She could not be sensitized by DNCB. These findings suggest a deficiency of cellular immunity and it is believed that these immunological abnormalities might be related to the etiology and pathogenesis of Weber‐Christian disease.