bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epilogue - Future challenges for the national climate change research strategy
Authors: Eckard Richard , Kelly Alison , Barlow Snow
Published: May 2012

Australia’s primary industries are likely to be uniquely impacted upon by climate change. In February 2011 the inaugural Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries (CCRSPI) conference was held to discuss the current state of climate change research across Australia’s primary industries. Never before had policy makers, producers and scientists from all sectors of our primary industries been brought together in one event to focus on the challenges and opportunities of climate change. This conference was a unique forum to address those challenges and opportunities by sharing knowledge across the various sectors, scientific disciplines and the industry-policy-science divide.
While this collection of review papers provides an excellent knowledge base for industry and government to plan and implement policy and make further research investments to address the obvious gaps there is still much to be done in terms of research and the co-ordination of research. The often unrelated research activity in the adaptation and mitigation components of climate change research have the potential to have either synergistic or antagonistic outcomes at several scales and in several sectors ranging from policy to industry and community. The significant injection of research and development funds into this area through the Carbon Farming Futures and other associated programs will provide further impetus to the need for national co-ordination of climate change research in Australia’s Primary Industries.
To build on all this knowledge and experience gained at the 2011 CCRSPI Conference, CCRSPI is currently (2012) finalising the national climate change research strategy for the sector, with an associated audit of existing projects and capacity, in order to encourage and advocate the cross-sectoral RDE needs and co-ordination for the future.
Appreciation: a spiritual path to finding value and meaning in the workplace
Authors: Fagley N.S. , Adler Mitchel G.
Published: May 2012

Appreciation is keenly connected to spirituality through a process of reciprocal causality, and both appear to be key factors in psychological and physical well-being and successful performance in the workplace, with each making a distinct contribution. Appreciation fosters well-being
and success directly, as well as indirectly, through forging and maintaining social bonds, promoting better sleep, encouraging helping and building trust. Appreciation is viewed as having eight aspects: a focus on what one has (“Have” focus), awe, ritual, present moment, self/social
comparison, gratitude, loss/adversity and interpersonal appreciation. Although interventions to increase several aspects of appreciation have been successful, they have not been intended for, or implemented formally in the workplace. This paper briefly reviews research on appreciation, suggests
possible applications to the workplace, argues that appreciation is an important factor in workplace well-being and success, and urges researchers to pursue this line of investigation. We also argue that although spirituality and appreciation have many points of commonality and are likely
involved in a process of reciprocal causality, it is most productive for research endeavors at this point to view them as distinct constructs. Research is needed to determine the most effective ways to express appreciation in the workplace and the most effective organizational and individual
workplace interventions to foster appreciation and manifest spirituality. Appreciation may help employees feel valued, unleashing their intrinsic motivation and desire to excel and to help others, including customers, supervisors or peers. This would be good for them and for their employer.
At the systems level, what organizational structures, procedures and practices promote spirituality and appreciation, which then foster important organizational outcomes? And finally, research is needed to assess the joint and unique effects of appreciation and spirituality on business outcomes,
at the individual employee level and at the levels of the work team, unit and overall company.
Prophets, priests and kings: re-imagining ancient metaphors of diffused leadership for the twenty-first century organization
Authors: Blair Anthony L. , Kunz Jo Ann , Jeantet Steve , Kwon Danny
Published: May 2012

This paper re-imagines the ancient Hebrew threefold leadership typology of prophets, priests and kings for the contemporary organization or community. The essence of what is here termed the “trioptic typology” is that leadership is ideally diffused throughout an organization with different individuals or groups performing functions or roles that correspond to these metaphors. Each of these metaphors is discussed in turn, and interactions between them delineated. The typology is illustrated through two brief cases, one positive and one negative. While the typology arises from within a faith tradition, the metaphors are applicable in other contexts, particularly in those in which spiritual leadership is needed or required. All three roles, it is argued, are necessary for healthy change dynamics within organizations or communities.
Graça Raposo: Melanosomes, more than skin deep
Authors: Sedwick Caitlin
Published: May 2012

Raposo studies the biogenesis of melanosomes as exemplars of lysosome-related organelles.
LATS1/WARTS phosphorylates MYPT1 to counteract PLK1 and regulate mammalian mitotic progression
Authors: Chiyoda Tatsuyuki , Sugiyama Naoyuki , Shimizu Takatsune , Naoe Hideaki , Kobayashi Yusuke , Ishizawa Jo , Arima Yoshimi , Tsuda Hiroshi , Ito Masaaki , Kaibuchi Kozo , Aoki Daisuke , Ishihama Yasushi , Saya Hideyuki , Kuninaka Shinji
Published: May 2012

In the mitotic exit network of budding yeast, Dbf2 kinase phosphorylates and regulates Cdc14 phosphatase. In contrast, no phosphatase substrates of LATS1/WARTS kinase, the mammalian equivalent of Dbf2, has been reported. To address this discrepancy, we performed phosphoproteomic screening using LATS1 kinase. Screening identified MYPT1 (myosin phosphatase–targeting subunit 1) as a new substrate for LATS1. LATS1 directly and preferentially phosphorylated serine 445 (S445) of MYPT1. An MYPT1 mutant (S445A) failed to dephosphorylate Thr 210 of PLK1 (pololike kinase 1), thereby activating PLK1. This suggests that LATS1 promotes MYPT1 to antagonize PLK1 activity. Consistent with this, LATS1-depleted HeLa cells or fibroblasts from LATS1 knockout mice showed increased PLK1 activity. We also found deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage–induced LATS1 activation caused PLK1 suppression via the phosphorylation of MYPT1 S445. Furthermore, LATS1 knockdown cells showed reduced G2 checkpoint arrest after DNA damage. These results indicate that LATS1 phosphorylates a phosphatase as does the yeast Dbf2 and demonstrate a novel role of LATS1 in controlling PLK1 at the G2 DNA damage checkpoint.
Talin activates integrins by altering the topology of the β transmembrane domain
Authors: Kim Chungho , Ye Feng , Hu Xiaohui , Ginsberg Mark H.
Published: May 2012

Talin binding to integrin β tails increases ligand binding affinity (activation). Changes in β transmembrane domain (TMD) topology that disrupt α–β TMD interactions are proposed to mediate integrin activation. In this paper, we used membrane-embedded integrin β3 TMDs bearing environmentally sensitive fluorophores at inner or outer membrane water interfaces to monitor talin-induced β3 TMD motion in model membranes. Talin binding to the β3 cytoplasmic domain increased amino acid side chain embedding at the inner and outer borders of the β3 TMD, indicating altered topology of the β3 TMD. Talin’s capacity to effect this change depended on its ability to bind to both the integrin β tail and the membrane. Introduction of a flexible hinge at the midpoint of the β3 TMD decoupled the talin-induced change in intracellular TMD topology from the extracellular side and blocked talin-induced activation of integrin αIIbβ3. Thus, we show that talin binding to the integrin β TMD alters the topology of the TMD, resulting in integrin activation.
Tracing epithelial stem cells during development, homeostasis, and repair
Authors: Van Keymeulen Alexandra , Blanpain Cédric
Published: May 2012

Epithelia ensure many critical functions of the body, including protection against the external environment, nutrition, respiration, and reproduction. Stem cells (SCs) located in the various epithelia ensure the homeostasis and repair of these tissues throughout the lifetime of the animal. Genetic lineage tracing in mice has allowed the labeling of SCs and their progeny. This technique has been instrumental in characterizing the origin and heterogeneity of epithelial SCs, their tissue location, and their differentiation potential under physiological conditions and during tissue regeneration.
Low aqueous solubility of 11-cis-retinal limits the rate of pigment formation and dark adaptation in salamander rods
Authors: Frederiksen Rikard , Boyer Nicholas P. , Nickle Benjamin , Chakrabarti Kalyan S. , Koutalos Yiannis , Crouch Rosalie K. , Oprian Daniel , Cornwall M. Carter
Published: May 2012

We report experiments designed to test the hypothesis that the aqueous solubility of 11-cis-retinoids plays a significant role in the rate of visual pigment regeneration. Therefore, we have compared the aqueous solubility and the partition coefficients in photoreceptor membranes of native 11-cis-retinal and an analogue retinoid, 11-cis 4-OH retinal, which has a significantly higher solubility in aqueous medium. We have then correlated these parameters with the rates of pigment regeneration and sensitivity recovery that are observed when bleached intact salamander rod photoreceptors are treated with physiological solutions containing these retinoids. We report the following results: (a) 11-cis 4-OH retinal is more soluble in aqueous buffer than 11-cis-retinal. (b) Both 11-cis-retinal and 11-cis 4-OH retinal have extremely high partition coefficients in photoreceptor membranes, though the partition coefficient of 11-cis-retinal is roughly 50-fold greater than that of 11-cis 4-OH retinal. (c) Intact bleached isolated rods treated with solutions containing equimolar amounts of 11-cis-retinal or 11-cis 4-OH retinal form functional visual pigments that promote full recovery of dark current, sensitivity, and response kinetics. However, rods treated with 11-cis 4-OH retinal regenerated on average fivefold faster than rods treated with 11-cis-retinal. (d) Pigment regeneration from recombinant and wild-type opsin in solution is slower when treated with 11-cis 4-OH retinal than with 11-cis-retinal. Based on these observations, we propose a model in which aqueous solubility of cis-retinoids within the photoreceptor cytosol can place a limit on the rate of visual pigment regeneration in vertebrate photoreceptors. We conclude that the cytosolic gap between the plasma membrane and the disk membranes presents a bottleneck for retinoid flux that results in slowed pigment regeneration and dark adaptation in rod photoreceptors.
Dynamics of matrix-free Ca2+ in cardiac mitochondria: two components of Ca2+ uptake and role of phosphate buffering
Authors: Wei An-Chi , Liu Ting , Winslow Raimond L. , O'Rourke Brian
Published: May 2012

Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake is thought to provide an important signal to increase energy production to meet demand but, in excess, can also trigger cell death. The mechanisms defining the relationship between total Ca2+ uptake, changes in mitochondrial matrix free Ca2+, and the activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) are not well understood. We quantitatively measure changes in [Ca2+]out and [Ca2+]mito during Ca2+ uptake in isolated cardiac mitochondria and identify two components of Ca2+ influx. [Ca2+]mito recordings revealed that the first, MCUmode1, required at least 1 µM Ru360 to be completely inhibited, and responded to small Ca2+ additions in the range of 0.1 to 2 µM with rapid and large changes in [Ca2+]mito. The second component, MCUmode2, was blocked by 100 nM Ru360 and was responsible for the bulk of total Ca2+ uptake for large Ca2+ additions in the range of 2 to 10 µM; however, it had little effect on steady-state [Ca2+]mito. MCUmode1 mediates changes in [Ca2+]mito of 10s of μM, even in the presence of 100 nM Ru360, indicating that there is a finite degree of Ca2+ buffering in the matrix associated with this pathway. In contrast, the much higher Ca2+ loads evoked by MCUmode2 activate a secondary dynamic Ca2+ buffering system consistent with calcium-phosphate complex formation. Increasing Pi potentiated [Ca2+]mito increases via MCUmode1 but suppressed [Ca2+]mito changes via MCUmode2. The results suggest that the role of MCUmode1 might be to modulate oxidative phosphorylation in response to intracellular Ca2+ signaling, whereas MCUmode2 and the dynamic high-capacity Ca2+ buffering system constitute a Ca2+ sink function. Interestingly, the trigger for PTP activation is unlikely to be [Ca2+]mito itself but rather a downstream byproduct of total mitochondrial Ca2+ loading.
Phase II study of dose‐modified busulfan by real‐time targeting in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for myeloid malignancy
Authors: Kuwatsuka Yachiyo , Kohno Akio , Terakura Seitaro , Saito Shigeki , Shimada Kazuyuki , Yasuda Takahiko , Inamoto Yoshihiro , Miyamura Koichi , Sawa Masashi , Murata Makoto , Karasuno Takahiro , Taniguchi Shuichi , Nagafuji Koji , Atsuta Yoshiko , Suzuki Ritsuro , Fukumoto Mariko , Naoe Tomoki , Morishita Yoshihisa ,   the Nagoya Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group
Published: May 2012

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with targeted oral busulfan (BU) and cyclophosphamide (CY) in a phase II study. Busulfan (1.0 mg/kg) was given initially in six doses. Based on the estimated concentration at steady state after the first dose of BU, subsequent (7th–16th) doses were adjusted to obtain a targeted overall concentration at steady state of 700–900 ng/mL. The primary endpoint was 1‐year overall survival (OS). Fifty patients were registered and 46 (median age, 53 years; range, 18–62 years) received planned transplant, including 24 with AML, 16 with myelodysplastic syndrome, and six with CML. Fourteen patients were categorized as standard risk. Nineteen patients received transplant from human leukocyte antigen‐identical siblings, 27 from unrelated donors. The BU dose required reduction in 32 patients and escalation in six patients. One‐year OS was 65% (95% confidence interval, 50–77%). Cumulative incidence of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome was 11%. One‐year transplant‐related mortality was 18%. Both OS and transplant‐related mortality were favorable in this study, including patients of older age and with high risk diseases. Individual dose adjustment based on BU pharmacokinetics was feasible and effective in the current phase II study. This trial is registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry System (UMIN‐CTR, ID:C000000156).
Induction of DNA strand breaks is critical to predict the cytotoxicity of gemtuzumab ozogamicin against leukemic cells
Authors: Yamauchi Takahiro , Matsuda Yasufumi , Tasaki Toshiki , Negoro Eiju , Ikegaya Satoshi , Takagi Kazutaka , Yoshida Akira , Urasaki Yoshimasa , Ueda Takanori
Published: May 2012

Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) consists of the CD33 antibody linked to calicheamicin. The binding of GO to the CD33 antigen on leukemic cells results in internalization followed by the release of calicheamicin, thereby inducing DNA strand breaks. We hypothesized that the induction of DNA strand breaks would be a surrogate marker of GO cytotoxcity. Here, two GO‐resistant variants (HL/GO‐CSA [225‐fold], HL/GO [200‐fold]) were established by serially incubating human leukemia HL‐60 cells with GO with or without a P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) inhibitor, cyclosporine A, respectively. The CD33 positivity was reduced in both variants. The HL/GO‐CSA cells showed an increased multidrug resistance protein‐1 (MRP1) transcript, and an MRP1 inhibitor partially reversed GO resistance. The HL/GO cells had neither P‐gp nor MRP1 overexpression. Microarray analysis and Western blotting indicated elevated levels of DNA repair‐associated proteins in both variants. Two other leukemic subclones, showing either P‐gp or MRP1 overexpression, were also GO‐resistant. Using single cell gel electrophoresis analysis, it was determined that GO‐induced DNA strand breaks increased dose‐dependently in HL‐60 cells, whereas the number of breaks was reduced in the GO‐resistant cell lines. The induction of DNA strand breaks was correlated with GO sensitivity among these cell lines. The CD33 positivity and the expression levels of transporters were not proportional to drug sensitivity. Using primary leukemic cells, the induction of DNA strand breaks appeared to be associated with GO sensitivity. Thus, GO‐induced DNA strand breaks as the final output of the mechanism of action would be critical to predict GO cytotoxicity.
Predictors and impact of microsurgical complications in patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chen Ya‐Wei , Chen Chia‐Yu , Chiang Shu‐Chiung , Lui Man‐Tin , Kao Shou‐Yen , Yang Muh‐Hwa
Published: May 2012

Microvascular free flap transfer for post‐oncologic reconstructive surgery in oral cancer is considered to be a challenge due to the complexity of the anatomy and function of the region. We sought to identify possible factors associated with microsurgical complications and to assess the impact of these complications in relation to patient survival. Following the inclusion and exclusion protocol, 142 patients with stage III and IV oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) who underwent immediate free flap reconstruction after tumor ablation were included in the study. Clinical and surgical procedural‐related factors were retrieved from a database and analyzed retrospectively; survival data were evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Major complications that required re‐anastomosis of the flap vessels occurred in 23 patients (16.2%); total necrosis of the flaps, regardless of salvage treatment, occurred in seven cases, with 95.1% of full flap survival. The American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, types of neck dissection, and number of flaps were regarded as strong predictors for surgical complications. Patients with these complications appeared to have a shortened survival (5‐year cancer‐specific survival of approximately 60%, both in stage III and IV OSCC). However, the impact of surgical complications on survival was significant only in stage III OSCC (P = 0.037). Strategies to minimize surgical complications should be used to ensure better prognoses for these patients.
Molecular biology of chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Maru Yoshiro
Published: May 2012

Detailed information on the crystal structure of the pharmacologically targeted domains of the BCR‐ABL molecule and on its intracellular signaling, which are potentially involved in growth, anti‐apoptosis, metabolism and stemness, has made the study of chronic myeloid leukemia the most successful field in tumor biology. However, we now face the issue of drug resistance due to deregulation in the quality control of both DNA and protein. BCR‐ABL is basically a misfolded protein with intrinsically disordered regions, which not only produces endoplasmic reticulum stress followed by unfolded protein response in some settings, but also conformational plasticity that may affect the structure of the whole molecule. The intercellular signaling derived from the leukemic cell microenvironment may influence the intracellular responses that take place in a manner both dependent on and independent of BCR‐ABL tyrosine kinase activity.
Zinc finger E‐box binding homeobox 1 promotes invasion and bone metastasis of small cell lung cancer in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Liu Yi , Zhang Ning , Wang Yanxia , Xu Min , Liu Na , Pang Xiaowen , Cao Jian , Ma Ningqiang , Pang Hailin , Liu Lili , Zhang Helong
Published: May 2012

Bone is one of the most frequent targets of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) metastasis and is closely associated with a poor prognosis, but the specific cellular gene alterations responsible for SCLC with bone metastasis are unclear. Zinc finger E‐box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) as an E‐box transcriptional repressor has been suggested that an important inducer of the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and a promoter of tumor metastasis in colon, breast and lung cancers. However, the relationship between ZEB1 and SCLC with bone metastasis is unclear. In this study, ZEB1 was found to be highly expressed in bone‐metastatic SCLC tissues and cell lines as compared with those that were non‐metastatic (P < 0.05). Using a lentivirus RNA interference technique to knockdown ZEB1 expression in bone‐metastatic SCLC cells (SBC‐5 cell line), we found that ZEB1 siRNA could inhibit the invasive and migratory ability and decrease parathyroid hormone‐related protein expression, as determined by invasion assays and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Besides, ZEB1 siRNA significantly inhibited the bone metastasis of SBC‐5 cells in vivo. Furthermore, overexpression of ZEB1 in SBC‐3 cells, which demonstrate promoted bone‐metastatic potential, dramatically promoted their invasive and migratory ability and parathyroid hormone‐related proteinexpression as well as increased the number and sites of bone metastases in vivo compare to the control group. We also found that SBC‐3 cells underwent EMT, as indicated by decreased epithelial markers and increased mesenchymal marker expression. Taken together, these results indicate that ZEB1 promoted the invasive ability and bone metastasis of SCLC cells, and that this was partially mediated via the EMT pathway. (Cancer Sci, doi: 10.1111/j.1349‐7006.2012.02347.x, 2012)
Comparative study of the value of dual tracer PET/CT in evaluating breast cancer
Authors: Tateishi Ukihide , Terauchi Takashi , Akashi‐Tanaka Sadako , Kinoshita Takayuki , Kano Daisuke , Daisaki Hiromitsu , Murano Takeshi , Tsuda Hitoshi , Macapinlac Homer A.
Published: May 2012

The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between tumor uptake and pathologic findings using dual‐tracer PET/computed tomography (CT) in patients with breast cancer. Seventy‐four patients with breast cancer (mean age 54 years) who underwent 11C‐choline and 2‐[18F]fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose (18F‐FDG) PET/CT prior to surgery on the same day were enrolled in the present study. Images were reviewed by a board‐certified radiologist and two nuclear medicine specialists who were unaware of any clinical information and a consensus was reached. Uptake patterns and measurements of dual tracers were compared with the pathologic findings of resected specimens as the reference standard. Mean (±SD) tumor size was 5.9 ± 3.2 cm. All primary tumors were identified on 18F‐FDG PET/CT and 11C‐choline PET/CT. However, 18F‐FDG PET/CT demonstrated focal uptake of the primary tumor with (n = 38; 51%) or without (n = 36; 49%) diffuse background breast uptake. Of the pathologic findings, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed an independent association between fibrocystic change and diffuse background breast uptake (odds ratio [OR] 8.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.86–25.66; P < 0.0001). Tumors with higher histologic grade, nuclear grade, structural grade, nuclear atypia, and mitosis had significantly higher maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) and tumor‐to‐background ratios (TBR) for both tracers. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that only the degree of mitosis was independently associated with a high SUVmax (OR 7.45; 95%CI 2.21–25.11; P = 0.001) and a high TBR (OR 5.41; 95%CI 1.13–25.96; P = 0.035) of 11C‐choline PET/CT. In conclusion, 11C‐choline may improve tumor delineation and reflect tumor aggressiveness on PET/CT in patients with breast cancer.
Randomized controlled trial of a novel cannabis use intervention delivered by telephone
Authors: Gates Peter J. , Norberg Melissa M. , Copeland Jan , Digiusto Erol
Published: May 2012

Aims

To evaluate the efficacy of a telephone‐based intervention consisting of four sessions of motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) designed to assist individuals to reduce their cannabis use and related problems.

Design

Random allocation to intervention or delayed treatment control with 4‐ and 12‐week follow‐up assessments.

Setting

Counsellors from the Cannabis Information and Helpline (CIH), an Australian reactive telephone service, delivered the intervention to callers seeking treatment.

Participants

A total of 160 participants were recruited by the CIH, with 110 participants completing the final follow‐up assessment (69% retention).

Measurements

Cannabis use, dependence and related problems and other substance use were assessed at baseline and follow‐up.

Findings

Intervention participants reported greater reductions in dependence symptoms [P < 0.001, d = 0.9 (0.5–1.3)] and related problems [P < 0.001, d = 0.5 (0.1–0.9)] compared with control participants at both follow‐up assessments. Compared with control, intervention participants reported greater confidence to reduce cannabis use at 4 weeks [P = 0.002, d = 0.5 (0.1–0.9)], and in turn reported a greater percentage of abstinent days at 12 weeks [P = 0.019, d = 0.6 (0.2–1.0)].

Conclusions

A brief course of motivational interviewing plus cognitive behavioural therapy delivered by telephone can help to reduce cannabis dependence and promote abstinence in the short term.
Beliefs about the harms of long‐term use of nicotine replacement therapy: perceptions of smokers inEngland
Authors: Black Andrew , Beard Emma , Brown Jamie , Fidler Jenny , West Robert
Published: May 2012

Aims

Previous research has shown that a substantial proportion of smokers believe that nicotine causes serious diseases such as cancer, possibly deterring the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation or smoking reduction. This study examined beliefs about the harms specifically from long‐term use ofNRTand associations between these and its use for smoking cessation and smoking reduction.

Design and setting

Data were collected from 1657 smokers and recent ex‐smokers involved in theSmokingToolkitStudy, a series of monthly household surveys ofEnglish adults aged 16 and over.

Measurements

Participants were asked if they thought the use ofNRTfor a year or more was harmful, and if so, to volunteer what they believed the harms to be. They were also asked if they were usingNRTfor smoking reduction and/or if they had usedNRTin the past year during a quit attempt.

Findings

Six percent and 25% of smokers respectively, believed that the long term use of NRT was very or quit harmful to health; and a further 29% reported that they ‘didn't know’. The most commonly reported harms were addiction and lung cancer. There was no association between these beliefs and use ofNRTfor smoking reduction or smoking cessation.

Conclusion

A significant minority of smokers inEngland believe that the use of nicotine replacement therapy for a year or more is harmful. However, belief that long‐term nicotine replacement therapy use can cause health harm does not appear to act as a deterrent to using it in a quit attempt or for smoking reduction.
The impact of media campaigns on smoking cessation activity: a structural vector autoregression analysis
Authors: Langley Tessa E. , McNeill Ann , Lewis Sarah , Szatkowski Lisa , Quinn Casey
Published: May 2012

Aims

To evaluate the effect of tobacco control media campaigns and pharmaceutical company‐funded advertising for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) on smoking cessation activity.

Design

Multiple time series analysis using structural vector autoregression, January 2002–May 2010.

Setting

England and Wales.

Data sources

Tobacco control campaign data from the Central Office of Information; commercial NRT campaign data; data on calls to the National Health Service (NHS) stop smoking helpline from the Department of Health; point‐of‐sale data on over‐the‐counter (OTC) sales of NRT; and prescribing data from The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a database of UK primary care records.

Measurements

Monthly calls to the NHS stop smoking helpline and monthly rates of OTC sales and prescribing of NRT.

Findings

A 1% increase in tobacco control television ratings (TVRs), a standard measure of advertising exposure, was associated with a statistically significant 0.085% increase in calls in the same month (P = 0.007), and no statistically significant effect in subsequent months. Tobacco control TVRs were not associated with OTC NRT sales or prescribed NRT. NRT advertising TVRs had a significant effect on NRT sales which became non‐significant in the seasonally adjusted model, and no significant effect on prescribing or calls.

Conclusions

Tobacco control campaigns appear to be more effective at triggering quitting behaviour than pharmaceutical company NRT campaigns. Any effect of such campaigns on quitting behaviour seems to be restricted to the month of the campaign, suggesting that such campaigns need to be sustained over time.
A three‐dimensional stratigraphic model for the Messinian crisis in the Pannonian Basin, eastern Hungary
Authors: Csato I. , Granjeon D. , Catuneanu O. , Baum G. R.
Published: May 2012

A three‐dimensional quantitative stratigraphic forward model is employed to investigate the controls leading to the Messinian events in the lacustrine Pannonian Basin of Central Paratethys, and the link between the Messinian salinity crisis in the Mediterranean and the late Miocene‐Pliocene stratigraphy of the Pannonian Basin. Subsurface geological data show that a prominent unconformity surface formed during Messinian time in the Pannonian Basin associated with a sudden forced regression, abrupt basinward shift of facies and a subsequent, prolonged lowstand normal regression. The lowstand prograding series filled up the shallow basin fast, while, at the same time, the marginal areas of the basin were subject to tectonic inversion. The Dionisos program used in this research is built on a nonlinear water‐driven sediment diffusion process, and it employs multiple sediment classes, basin flexure and compaction. Four different scenarios were built in the experiments to test possible basin histories with different rates and timing of tectonic inversion. Each scenario was modelled in two versions: including and not including a lake‐level fall in the Messinian. The results confirm that the Pannonian Basin in the study area has undergone a tectonic inversion since the Messinian, although the exact rates of uplift at different locations remain uncertain. The unconformity and the observed stratigraphic architecture and facies pattern could be modelled adequately only in the versions that applied a Messinian lake‐level fall. Our research concludes that the Messinian unconformity in the Pannonian Basin was caused by an absolute lake‐level drop, likely linked to the desiccation of the Mediterranean, followed by subsidence and normal regression in the basin centre and concomitant tectonic inversion and uplift along the basin margins.
Skin prick test and specific serum IgE in the diagnostic evaluation of suspected cow's milk and hen's egg allergy in children: does one replace the other?
Authors: Mehl A. , Niggemann B. , Keil T. , Wahn U. , Beyer K.
Published: May 2012

Background

The measurement of specific serum immunoglobulin E (sIgE) and the skin prick test (SPT) are accepted tools in the diagnostic work‐up of suspected food allergy. Often only one of the methods is used to determine sensitization; however, it is still under debate whether these two methods can be used interchangeably.

Objectives

To investigate the concordance of SPT and sIgE serum assays with regard to suspected food allergy.

Methods

In 395 children referred to our clinic with suspected cow's milk allergy and in 268 children with suspected hen's egg allergy specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) was measured, a SPT and an oral food challenge performed. A weal size ≥ 3 mm and sIgE ≥ 0.35 kU/L were considered positive. The weal size of the SPT and the level of food‐specific IgE were tested for correlation for each allergen.

Results

Of the 395 (23%) children orally challenged with cow's milk, 92 showed no corresponding results for SPT and sIgE as either positive or negative. For hen's egg, in 27 of 268 (10%) children differing test results for SPT and sIgE in serum were obtained. Moreover, regarding the quantitative values for sIgE and SPT in children with or without clinically relevant food allergy, sIgE and SPT correlated badly.

Conclusions

The concordance between SPT and sIgE is surprisingly low for cow's milk and hen's egg on an individual basis. Therefore, the tests should not be used interchangeably. Especially in children who receive a negative test result the alternative test should also be used. Furthermore, our data indicate again that oral food challenges are still the method of choice to diagnose food allergies.
Effects of winter conditions on Daphnia dynamics and genetic diversity in a dimictic temperate reservoir
Authors: HÜLSMANN STEPHAN , WAGNER ANNEKATRIN , PITSCH MATTHIAS , HORN WOLFGANG , PAUL RÜDIGER , ROTHER ANNE , ZEIS BETTINA
Published: May 2012

1. Winter conditions shape plankton dynamics and community composition in temperate regions, but their effect on dynamics and genetic composition of cyclical parthenogens like Daphnia is largely unclear.

2. For 5 years, we studied the dynamics, hatching from resting eggs and genetic structure of a D. galeata × longispina hybrid complex in a dimictic, temperate reservoir. Our main hypothesis was that higher spring densities and an earlier population peak will be observed after warmer winters, with a lower genetic diversity because of a lower contribution of resting eggs to population growth.

3. The study period could clearly be categorised into cold‐winter years (n = 3) and warm‐winter years (n = 2). Daphnia densities at the end of spring overturn were ∼10‐fold lower after cold winters than after warm ones, but no pattern emerged concerning the timing and the height of the population peak in early summer.

4. Hatching intensity from resting eggs was higher and contributed up to 8.5% to Daphnia abundance in a cold‐winter year compared to a negligible contribution in a warm‐winter year. Consistent with this finding, new multilocus genotypes (MLGs) adding to the overwintering stock after the end of spring overturn and presumably originating from resting eggs increased genetic diversity and attained high frequencies within the population only after a cold winter. New MLGs were recorded also after warm winters, but they never gained dominance and no shift in genetic diversity was observed. However, genetic diversity was not generally reduced after warm winters.

5. Our results confirm earlier findings that winter conditions have only a limited effect on the main growth phase and the peak of Daphnia during late spring and early summer. However, winter conditions determine the contribution of resting eggs to the population development, which may profoundly alter the genetic composition of the population compared to the previous season.
Diel vertical migration of freshwater fishes – proximate triggers, ultimate causes and research perspectives
Authors: MEHNER THOMAS
Published: May 2012

1. Diel vertical migrations (DVM) are typical for many cold‐water fish species such as Pacific salmons (Oncorhynchus spp.) and coregonids (Coregonus spp.) inhabiting deep lakes. A comprehensive recent overview of DVM in freshwater fish has not been available, however.

2. The main proximate trigger of DVM in freshwater fish is the diel change in light intensity, with declining illumination at dusk triggering the ascent and the increase at dawn triggering the descent. Additional proximate cues are hydrostatic pressure and water temperature, which may guide fish into particular water layers at night.

3. Ultimate causes of DVM encompass bioenergetics efficiency, feeding opportunities and predator avoidance. None of these factors alone can explain the DVM in all cases. Multi‐factorial hypotheses, such as the ‘antipredation window’ combined with the thermal niche hypothesis, are more likely to explain DVM. It is suggested that planktivorous fish move within a layer sufficiently well illuminated to capture zooplankton, but too dark for predators to feed upon the migrating fish. In complete darkness, fish seek layers with a temperature that optimises bioenergetics efficiency. The strength of each factor may differ from lake to lake, and hence system‐specific individual analyses are needed.

4. Mechanistic details that are still poorly explored are the costs of buoyancy regulation and migration, the critical light thresholds for feeding of planktivorous and piscivorous fish, and predator assessment by (and size‐dependent predation risk of) the prey fish.

5. A comprehensive understanding of the adaptive value of DVM can be attained only if the behaviour of individual fish within migrating populations is explicitly taken into account. Size, condition and reproductive value differ between individuals, suggesting that migrating populations should split into migrants and non‐migrants for whom the balance between mortality risk and growth rate can differ. There is increasing evidence for this type of partial DVM within populations.

6. Whereas patterns of DVM are well documented, the evolution of DVM is still only poorly understood. Because experimental approaches at realistic natural scales remain difficult, a combination of comprehensive data sets with modelling is likely to resolve the relative importance of different proximate and ultimate causes behind DVM in fish.
An inversion approach to separating sources in marine simultaneous shooting acquisition – application to a Gulf of Mexico data set
Authors: van Borselen Roald , Baardman Rolf , Martin Tony , Goswami Bedanta , Fromyr Eivind
Published: May 2012

The simultaneous firing of marine sources can provide a significant uplift in terms of acquisition efficiency and data quality enhancement. However, the seismic interference resulting from one or more ‘other’ sources needs to be well understood and the appropriate processing strategies need to be developed for the method to fulfil its promise.

In this paper, a modified inversion approach is presented for the effective separation of sources in marine simultaneous shooting acquisition. The method aims to distribute all energy in the simultaneous shot records by reconstructing the individual shot records at their respective locations. The method is applied to a wide azimuth data set acquired in the Gulf of Mexico where two sources out of four in total were fired simultaneously. Results demonstrate that the individual sources can be separated satisfactory, both at the prestack and post‐stack level.
The acquisition and processing of dithered slip‐sweep vibroseis data
Authors: Bagaini Claudio , Daly Mark , Moore Ian
Published: May 2012

We introduce the distance‐separated dithered slip‐sweep vibroseis acquisition technique with the objective of maximizing acquisition productivity for land data whilst maintaining the prestack amplitude fidelity required for detailed amplitude analysis. High productivity is achieved through the use of simultaneous sources and the technique is enabled by the large channel count, continuous recording and rule‐based acquisition technologies inherent in modern land acquisition systems. The technique is very flexible and allows surveys to be designed such that the source‐interference effects, after source separation, are limited to an acceptable level.

Two examples illustrate the effectiveness of the technique. Firstly, we simulate a 2D, dithered data set by summing pairs of shots acquired conventionally. After separation using a sparse inversion technique, the interference noise due to simultaneous shooting is substantially eliminated and the prestack and post‐stack data are comparable with those obtainable with sequential shooting using the same number of shot locations.

The second example is based on a 3D field test, in which up to 3 fleets of 2 vibrators were swept simultaneously and up to 4 fleets swept with some time overlap. The simultaneous‐source data set is coincident with existing data sets acquired with flip‐flop and slip‐sweep methods in the same area, each requiring significantly more acquisition effort. Migrated images for all three data sets are equivalent, even when no specific attempt is made to remove the interference in the simultaneous‐source data set. Separation using sparse inversion is effective in attenuating this interference prestack and is necessary for detailed amplitude analysis. It is envisaged that separation by sparse inversion will become more important as the number of simultaneous sources is increased, or the minimum distance between fleets that sweep simultaneously is decreased.
Malignant disease in the haemophilic population: moving towards a management consensus?
Authors: Astermark J. , Makris M. , Mauser‐Bunschoten E. , Nemes L. , D'oiron R. , Oldenburg J. , Ingerslev J. ,   The Malignancy in Haemophilia Workshop Group
Published: May 2012

The Malignancy in Haemophilia Workshop Group convened a consensus working group of haematologists and oncologists to review topics related to malignancy in haemophilia. The treatment of malignant disease in this population is increasingly relevant as both outcome and lifespan continue to improve. Although adequate guidance exists for control of spontaneous bleeding episodes and of haemostasis in general surgery, information for management of haemostasis in patients with various malignancies is sparse. To date, no clinical guidelines exist for management of complex bleeding problems, diagnosis, therapy and follow‐up of malignancies in haemophilia. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether or not morbidity and mortality outcomes associated with malignancies are affected by haemophilia or by its treatment. Through presentation of five malignancies – prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, acute leukaemia, bladder cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma – important issues are highlighted, such as risk from bleeding as a symptom of malignancy; risks from invasive screenings and how these should be handled in haemophilic individuals; the implications of chemotherapy and treatment schedules, bone marrow suppression, radiotherapy, or surgery; and the likelihood of an interaction between treatment for haemophilia and malignancy outcomes. Ultimately, the aim is to establish consensus guidelines to direct and harmonize future treatment policy for malignant disease in the haemophilic population.
Medical radiation exposure in children with bleeding disorders: an institutional experience
Authors: Crawford C. C. , Meeks S. L. , Dunn A. L.
Published: May 2012

Patients with bleeding disorders may be exposed to ionizing radiation during medical care. We hypothesized that children with severe haemophilia may have higher radiation exposure than those with mild bleeding disorders (MBDs). To compare medical radiation exposure rates between children with severe haemophilia and MBDs. Charts of 35 pediatric patients with severe haemophilia were randomly selected from a database of active male patients followed in our bleeding disorders clinic from 2000 to 2010. Case patients were age and sex matched with two control patients with MBDs [Type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD) or mild platelet function defect (PFD)]. By retrospective review, data on radiation exposure in millisieverts (mSv) was collected from radiological studies performed within Emory/CHOA. The rates of exposure between cohorts were compared using the Mann–Whitney Test. Case patients had a mean of 11.3 (median 8, IQR = 29) radiographic studies compared with 1.8 (median 1, IQR = 11) for controls (P < 0.001). The mean effective dose of radiation per patient per year of study was two mSv for case patients (median 0.4, IQR = 3) and 0.4 mSv for control patients (median 0.01, IQR = 0.3) (P < 0.001). Overall, 1.4% of controls and 31.4% of cases accumulated high to very high levels of exposure ( > 20 mSv). Case patients with severe hemophilia accumulated significantly more medical radiation exposure than controls. While the use of ionizing radiation is often necessary for management of these patients, avoidance of unnecessary exposure along with exploration of alternative imaging techniques and low dose protocols should be considered whenever possible.
Dosing and effectiveness of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIA) in congenital haemophilia with inhibitors by bleed type and location: the experience of the Haemophilia and Thrombosis Research Society (HTRS) Registry (2004–2008)
Authors: Young G. , Cooper D. L. , Gut R. Z. ,   The HTRS Investigators
Published: May 2012

Control of bleeding in patients with congenital haemophilia with inhibitors requires use of bypassing agents such as recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa). Due to the difficulties in performing prospective clinical trials in this small subgroup of patients with haemophilia and the need for postmarketing surveillance, a large‐scale database was developed by the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Research Society. This report comprises an analysis of the database with respect to assessing dosing and efficacy of rFVIIa by bleed type and location. Between January 2004 and November 2008, data from 129 inhibitor patients with 2041 rFVIIa‐treated bleeds were analysed. The bleeds were primarily spontaneous (58%) and traumatic (30%). The most common locations were joints (57%), muscle (20%), mucosal (7%) and subcutaneous (6%). Median total rFVIIa doses per bleeding episode for spontaneous and traumatic bleeds were 540 mcg kg−1 (4 injections/2 days) and 300 mcg kg−1 (2.5 injections/1 day) respectively. Median total rFVIIa dose (mean dose, number of injections) was 480 mcg kg−1 (110 mcg kg−1, 3) for joint; 557 mcg kg−1 (120 mcg kg−1, 4) for muscle; 360 mcg kg−1 (120 mcg kg−1, 3) for mucosal and 402 mcg kg−1 (117 mcg kg−1, 3) for subcutaneous. Overall efficacy ranged from 89% to 93%; bleeding stopped in 89% of spontaneous and 93% of traumatic bleeds, 90% of joint bleeds, and 89% of muscle, mucosal,and subcutaneous bleeds. Although spontaneous bleeds require slightly higher doses than traumatic bleeds, most bleeds were treated with a median of 3–4 injections (110–130 mcg kg−1). Effectiveness of rFVIIa was consistently high across bleeding types and locations.