bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the short‐form Child Perceptions Questionnaire for 11‐14‐year‐olds for assessing oral health needs of children
Authors: Salinas‐Martínez Ana María , Hernández‐Elizondo Raquenel Teresa , Núñez‐Rocha Georgina Mayela , Ramos Peña Esteban Gilberto
Published: November 2013

Objective

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the short‐form of the Children Perceived Oral Health Questionnaire aimed at assessing child's oral health‐related quality of life of children aged 11‐14 years (CPQ11‐14). A secondary objective was to explore its screening qualities for evaluating oral health needs and immediate referral for treatment.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted during August‐December of 2011 in Monterrey, Mexico (n = 303 schoolchildren). The CPQ11‐14 consisted of 16 items and 2 key questions. Dental caries was diagnosed by visual‐tactile exam, and malocclusion by WHO index. We estimated Cronbach's alpha and Spearman's correlations and compared rank scores with the Mann‐Whitney test. As we did not have a preestablished cutoff point score, we identified one with the best combination of sensitivity/specificity values using receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

Internal consistency was 0.85. Correlation was 0.40 (P < 0.001) between CPQ11‐14 scores and self‐perceived oral health rating and 0.51 (P < 0.001) between CPQ11‐14 score and general well‐being rating (concurrent validity). The mean score was 11.6 ± 8.6 for children in need of oral care and 8.1 ± 7.2 for those not in need of oral care (P < 0.01; discriminating validity). Sensitivity was 79.4% and specificity 48.7%; the positive and negative predictive values were 81.6% and 45.2%, respectively.

Conclusions

The Spanish version short‐form CPQ11‐14 registered acceptable psychometric properties. We were able to identify a cutoff point score with acceptable sensitivity and positive predictive value but still needs future validation before generalizing its use.
Effect of dietary microbially produced gamma‐linolenic acid and plant extracts on enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants in various broiler chicken organs
Authors: Fejerčáková A. , Vašková J. , Bača M. , Vaško L. , Marcinčák S. , Hertelyová Z. , Petrášová D. , Guothová L.
Published: November 2013

Plant extracts and fungal fermented feed with gamma‐linolenic acid‐rich microbial oils are perspective additives for use in animal nutrition as appetite and digestion stimulants, stimulants of physiological functions, for the prevention and treatment for certain pathological conditions, and as antioxidants. The activity of antioxidant enzymes and the level of reduced glutathione were measured in the plasma and in liver, heart and kidney mitochondria after 42 days of feeding broiler chickens both regular and combination diets. These were selected based on our previous experience. The administration of agrimony and gamma‐linolenic acid resulted in a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity in all four bodies in contrast to plant extracts. We conclude that the decrease in activity is due to decreased production, and hence dismutation, of superoxide radicals to peroxides followed by lower activity of glutathione peroxidase, which was not seen in the case of only plant extract administration. Generally, higher glutathione reductase activity would be in response to increased demands on reduced glutathione as a cofactor for the reaction catalysed by glutathione peroxidase and the utilization of glutathione itself. However, measured levels of reduced glutathione showed no change. The results argue against any oxidative stress conditions. The application of agrimony extract appears to be suitable for the antioxidant effect against peroxidation of gamma‐linolenic acid. As the efficacy of measuring the effects of diets on the oxidative stability of meat caused by selected antioxidant enzymes is rather low, additional data from the experiment will be processed to clearly assess the influence of this combination of diets.
Catecholamines promote the expression of virulence and oxidative stress genes in Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Graziano T. S. , Closs P. , Poppi T. , Franco G. C. , Cortelli J. R. , Groppo F. C. , Cogo K.
Published: November 2013

Background and Objective

Stress has been identified as an important risk factor in the development of many infectious diseases, including periodontitis. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram‐negative oral anaerobic bacterium, is considered an important pathogen in chronic periodontitis. Microorganisms, including P. gingivalis, that participate in infectious diseases have been shown to respond to catecholamines released during stress processes by modifying their growth and virulence. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline on the growth, antimicrobial susceptibility and gene expression in P. gingivalis.

Material and Methods

P. gingivalis was incubated in the presence of adrenaline and noradrenaline (100 μm) for different time‐periods in rich (Tryptic soy broth supplemented with 0.2% yeast extract, 5 μg/mL of hemin and 1 μg/mL of menadione) and poor (serum‐SAPI minimal medium and serum‐SAPI minimal medium supplemented with 5 μg/mL of hemin and 1 μg/mL of menadione) media, and growth was evaluated based on absorbance at 660 nm. Bacterial susceptibility to metronidazole was examined after exposure to adrenaline and noradrenaline. The expression of genes involved in iron acquisition, stress oxidative protection and virulence were also evaluated using RT‐quantitative PCR.

Results

Catecholamines did not interfere with the growth of P. gingivalis, regardless of nutritional or hemin conditions. In addition, bacterial susceptibility to metronidazole was not modified by exposure to adrenaline or noradrenaline. However, the expression of genes related to iron acquisition (hmuR), oxidative stress (tpx, oxyR, dps, sodB and aphC) and pathogenesis (hem, hagA and ragA) were stimulated upon exposure to adrenaline and/or noradrenaline.

Conclusion

Adrenaline and noradrenaline can induce changes in gene expression related to oxidative stress and virulence factors in P. gingivalis. The present study is, in part, a step toward understanding the stress–pathogen interactions that may occur in periodontal disease.
Does age worsen sleep‐dependent memory consolidation?
Authors: Cherdieu Melaine , Reynaud Emanuelle , Uhlrich Josselin , Versace Remy , Mazza Stephanie
Published: November 2013

Slow wave sleep (SWS) is known to favour episodic memory consolidation. Given that ageing is associated with a reduction in SWS and episodic memory impairment, our aim was to investigate whether memory continues to benefit from sleep in older adults. Episodic memory consolidation was tested in 20 young (22.1 ± 1.7 years) and 20 older volunteers (68.9 ± 5.3 years) who performed a visuospatial two‐dimensional object‐location task. Retention capacities were evaluated after 12 h of wakefulness or 12 h of sleep. Performances before and after the interval allowed us to calculate a forgetting rate. Sleep architecture was measured by polysomnography (older adults = 410 min; young adults: 467 min). Our results showed that the beneficial effect of sleep on memory consolidation was reduced in older adults compared to young adults. In older adults, sleep did not enhance memory consolidation significantly compared to wakefulness. Sleep prevented young adults from forgetting (−0.10% ± 2.1), while the forgetting rate in older adults was still important after a period of sleep (16.60% ± 4.2; P = 0.05). The sleep architecture of older adults was characterized by a decrease in sleep efficiency (−12%; P < 0.05), in total cycle time (−137 min; P < 0.05), in percentage of total cycle time (−21%; P < 0.05) and in rapid eye movement time (−41 min; P < 0.05) compared to young adults. However, no difference in slow wave sleep was observed (−1%; not significant) and no correlation was found with performance. Age‐related changes in sleep parameters may have a negative impact on memory consolidation in older adults.
Responses to fire differ betweenSouthAfrican andNorthAmerican grassland communities
Authors: Kirkman Kevin P. , Collins Scott L. , Smith Melinda D. , Knapp Alan K. , Burkepile Deron E. , Burns Catherine E. , Fynn Richard W.S. , Hagenah Nicole , Koerner Sally E. , Matchett Katherine J. , Thompson Dave I. , Wilcox Kevin R. , Wragg Peter D.
Published: November 2013

Question

Does fire frequency affect mesic grassland plant community structure and composition similarly inNorthAmerica andSouthAfrica?

Location

KonzaPrairieBiologicalStation (KNZ),Kansas,USA, and Ukulinga Research Farm (URF), KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa.

Methods

Plant community structure and composition were compared among annually burned, unburned and intermediate treatments within two long‐term fire frequency manipulation experiments in native grasslands in North America and South Africa using comparable methodology over a 5‐yr period. Because fire may reduce soil nitrogen (N) availability and thus affect plant community structure, N additions were superimposed on the fire treatments as a means of assessing direct vs indirect mechanisms driving responses to fire.

Results

The total number of species was higher atURF(183) than atKNZ(57). Overall divergence in plant community response to fire frequency occurred despite similar responses to nutrient additions. AtKNZ, more frequent fire resulted in dominance by a few, tall, deep‐rooted rhizomatous grasses (e.g.Andropogon gerardii). On unburned sites, shorter, more shade‐tolerant species such asPoa pratensisincreased in abundance, althoughA. gerardiiremained dominant. Species richness increased with decreasing fire frequency atKNZ. AtURF, frequent fire resulted in short, diverse grassland weakly dominated by a range of grass species, includingThemeda triandra,Tristachya leucothrixandHyparrhenia hirta. Decreasing fire frequency reduced species richness and resulted in dominance by a few, relatively tall caespitose grasses such asAristida junciformis. There was a complete turnover of dominant species between annually burned and unburned treatments atURF, while atKNZA. gerardiiandSorghastrum nutansoccurred across the range of treatments. N addition reduced species richness in both sites.

Conclusions

Different responses to fire frequency betweenKNZandURFare likely linked to the dominant species and their characteristic traits, including height and method of clonal reproduction, with the rhizomatous growth form ofA. gerardiidominating the North American grassland. South Africa does not have an equivalent grass species; instead, a range of tufted, non‐rhizomatous species dominate across the fire frequency treatments atURF. Reductions in soil N due to frequent fire did not appear to be a common mechanism driving responses in community composition in these two grasslands.
Molecular epidemiology ofRabbitHaemorrhagicDiseaseVirus inAustralia: when one became many
Authors: Kovaliski John , Sinclair Ron , Mutze Greg , Peacock David , Strive Tanja , Abrantes Joana , Esteves Pedro J. , Holmes Edward C.
Published: November 2013

RabbitHaemorrhagicDiseaseVirus (RHDV) was introduced intoAustralia in 1995 as a biological control agent against the wildEuropean rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We evaluated its evolution over a 16‐year period (1995–2011) by examining 50 isolates collected throughoutAustralia, as well as the original inoculum strains. Phylogenetic analysis of capsid proteinVP60 sequences of theAustralian isolates, compared with those sampled globally, revealed that they form a monophyletic group with the inoculum strains (CAPMV‐351 andRHDV351INOC). Strikingly, despite more than 3000 rereleases ofRHDV351INOCsince 1995, only a single viral lineage has sustained its transmission in the long‐term, indicative of a major competitive advantage. In addition, we find evidence for widespread viral gene flow, in which multiple lineages entered individual geographic locations, resulting in a marked turnover of viral lineages with time, as well as a continual increase in viral genetic diversity. The rate ofRHDVevolution recorded inAustralia −4.0 (3.3–4.7) × 10−3nucleotide substitutions per site per year – was higher than previously observed inRHDV, and evidence for adaptive evolution was obtained at twoVP60 residues. Finally, more intensive study of a single rabbit population (Turretfield) inSouthAustralia provided no evidence for viral persistence between outbreaks, with genetic diversity instead generated by continual strain importation.
Intrinsic functional connectivity of the brain swallowing network during subliminal esophageal acid stimulation
Authors: Babaei A. , Siwiec R. M. , Kern M. , Douglas Ward B. , Li S.‐J. , Shaker R.
Published: November 2013

Background

Intrinsic synchronous fluctuations of the functional magnetic resonance imaging signal are indicative of the underlying ‘functional connectivity’ (FC) and serve as a technique to study dynamics of the neuronal networks of the human brain. Earlier studies have characterized the functional connectivity of a distributed network of brain regions involved in swallowing, called brain swallowing network (BSN). The potential modulatory effect of esophageal afferent signals on the BSN, however, has not been systematically studied.

Methods

Fourteen healthy volunteers underwent steady state functional magnetic resonance imaging across three conditions: (i) transnasal catheter placed in the esophagus without infusion; (ii) buffer solution infused at 1 mL/min; and (iii) acidic solution infused at 1 mL/min. Data were preprocessed according to the standard FC analysis pipeline. We determined the correlation coefficient values of pairs of brain regions involved in swallowing and calculated average group FC matrices across conditions. Effects of subliminal esophageal acidification and nasopharyngeal intubation were determined.

Key Results

Subliminal esophageal acid stimulation augmented the overall FC of the right anterior insula and specifically the FC to the left inferior parietal lobule. Conscious stimulation by nasopharyngeal intubation reduced the overall FC of the right posterior insula, particularly the FC to the right prefrontal operculum.

Conclusions & Inferences

The FC of BSN is amenable to modulation by sensory input. The modulatory effect of sensory pharyngoesophageal stimulation on BSN is mainly mediated through changes in the FC of the insula. The alteration induced by subliminal visceral esophageal acid stimulation is in different insular connections compared with that of conscious somatic pharyngeal stimulation.
The development of pediatric fluid resuscitation: an interview with Dr. Frederic A. ‘Fritz’ Berry
Authors: Mai Christine L. , Yaster Myron , Chu Larry , Ahmed Zulfiqar , Firth Paul G.
Published: November 2013

Dr. Frederic A. ‘Fritz’ Berry (1935), Professor Emeritus of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics at the University of Virginia, has played a pioneering role in the development of pediatric anesthesiology through training generations of anesthesiologists. He identifies his early advocacy of balanced electrolyte solution for perioperative fluid resuscitation as his defining contribution. Based on his clinical experiences, he pushed to extend the advances in adult fluid resuscitation into pediatric practice. He imparted these and other insights to his colleagues although textbooks, book chapters, original journal publications, and decades of Refresher Course Lectures at the American Society of Anesthesiologists' annual meetings. A model educator, clinician, and researcher, he shaped the careers of hundreds of physicians‐in‐training while advancing the field of pediatric anesthesiology.
Implementation of a Diabetes Prevention Program in Public Housing Communities
Authors: Whittemore Robin , Rosenberg Alana , Gilmore Lisa , Withey Mary , Breault Allison
Published: November 2013

Objective

The purpose of this study was to describe the process of implementing a diabetes prevention program provided by homecare nurses to residents of public housing communities.

Design and Sample

A cluster randomization pilot study was conducted comparing enhanced standard care (2 interactive classes on diabetes prevention) to a diabetes prevention program (7 interactive classes and behavioral support). The sample (n = 67) was primarily female (79%), nonwhite (76%), unpartnered (83%), with a mean age of 40 years, and an average of 3 children. Mixed methods were used to evaluate the implementation process.

Measures

Data were collected on attendance, attrition, and protocol implementation. Interviews were conducted with nurses and community health workers who assisted with program implementation.

Results

Homecare nurses were able to implement a diabetes prevention program in public housing communities, with a protocol implementation of 83% across classes and groups. Attendance was suboptimal with 60% for the enhanced standard care group and 54% for the diabetes prevention group. Nurses and community health workers were resourceful and positive about program implementation.

Conclusion

Linking existing resources, such as a homecare agency with a public housing community, is one approach to disseminate diabetes prevention programs.
The Evolving Role of CITES in Regulating the International Timber Trade
Authors: Oldfield Sara F.
Published: November 2013

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) applies to the full range of animal and plant species and products that are or may become adversely affected by international trade. It is perhaps best known for its role in the conservation of charismatic mammals such as elephants and rhinos that have been targeted for centuries for their valuable wildlife products. Few species of plants have received the same level of attention under the Convention. International trade in timber is the most valuable form of wildlife trade and illegal sourcing and trade in timber is widespread. The use of CITES to control international trade in valuable timber species was originally considered controversial with other international mechanisms, generally non‐regulatory, considered more appropriate. This article describes how CITES is becoming increasingly accepted as a tool to demonstrate and monitor the legality of trade in timber species listed in the Appendices of the Convention.
CYFRA 21‐1 as a disease severity marker for autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
Authors: Arai Toru , Inoue Yoshikazu , Sugimoto Chikatoshi , Inoue Yasushi , Nakao Keiko , Takeuchi Naoko , Matsumuro Akiko , Hirose Masaki , Nakata Koh , Hayashi Seiji
Published: November 2013

Background and objective

Serum markers, including Krebs von den Lungen (KL‐6), surfactant protein (SP)‐D, SP‐A and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), are reported to reflect autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (APAP) disease severity. We evaluated serum CYFRA21‐1 levels as a marker of APAP.

Methods

In addition to KL‐6, SP‐D and CEA, we prospectively measured serum CYFRA 21‐1 levels in 48 patients with APAP, consecutively diagnosed between 2002 and 2010. Diagnostic usefulness of CYFRA 21‐1 was determined from 68 patients with interstitial lung diseases by receiver operator characteristic curve analysis. We evaluated the association between these serum markers and other disease severity markers, including pulmonary function parameters, alveolar‐arterial oxygen gradient, British Medical Research Council score reflecting shortness of breath, and disease severity score. CYFRA 21‐1 localization in the lung was examined by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Receiver operator characteristic curve demonstrated that CYFRA 21‐1 effectively identified APAP. Serum CYFRA 21‐1 levels at diagnosis were significantly associated with the measured disease severity parameters. Following whole lung lavage (n = 10) and granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) inhalation (n = 20), serum CYFRA 21‐1 levels were significantly decreased. Responders (n = 11) to GM‐CSF inhalation revealed significantly higher serum CYFRA 21‐1 levels than non‐responders (n = 9). Serum CYFRA 21‐1 appeared to be a significant predictor of effectiveness of GM‐CSF based on regression analysis. Immunohistochemistry showed that CYFRA 21‐1 was localized on hyperplastic alveolar type II cells and lipoproteinaceous substances in alveoli.

Conclusions

Serum CYFRA 21‐1 is a sensitive and useful serum marker for diagnosis and evaluation of disease severity of APAP, and may predict the response to GM‐CSF inhalation.
Facilitators and barriers to twice daily tooth brushing among children with special health care needs
Authors: Campanaro Maria , Huebner Colleen E. , Davis Beth Ellen
Published: November 2013

Purpose

The oral hygiene routines of preschool‐age children with special health care needs (CSHCN) were examined to identify caregiver behaviors and beliefs associated with twice daily tooth brushing.

Methods

Ninety caregivers of CSHCN, ages 23 to 62 months, were interviewed to determine supports or barriers to tooth brushing.

Results

Ninety‐eight percent of caregivers had begun brushing their child's teeth and half reported brushing twice daily. Caregivers’ brushing skills and the availability of child‐friendly supplies were associated with twice daily versus less frequent brushing (p = .02).

Conclusions

This study adds insight into the challenges of establishing daily oral health care for children who must rely on others for their care. The facilitators and barriers to tooth brushing by caregivers of CSHCN are similar to those noted previously among parents of typically developing children. Efforts to improve all caregivers’ oral hygiene skills are needed. For caregivers of CSHCN, oral health teaching opportunities may exist among professionals who provide ongoing medical care, special services and therapies.
Nurses' narratives on termination of primary nursing relationship with parents in neonatal intensive care
Authors: Korhonen Anne , Kangasniemi Mari
Published: November 2013

Background

Primary nursing working model in the neonatal intensive care unit enables a long‐lasting caring relationship with the infants and their parents. Terminating this kind of relationship is seldom discussed.

Aim

The aim of the study was to describe nurses' experiences of terminating the primary nursing relationship with the parents in neonatal intensive care.

Methods

Qualitative design using narrative method was used because there is a little knowledge relating to the topic. The data were collected with active interviews and analysed with narrative analysis. Seven nurses with experience of neonatal intensive care and primary nursing were recruited by convenience sampling. The approval was granted according to the hospital guidelines.

Results

The results gave rise to the three narratives that described the relationship between the primary nurse and the parents as the nursing relationship ends. All narratives shared a common plot, ‘regulation of the closeness on nursing relationship', but it was manifested in different ways in each narrative. The plot in the narratives changed on a closeness–distance axis according to how the primary nurse regulated the nursing relationship and its termination. In the first narrative, the regulation of the relationship promoted distance, in the second connection and in the third closeness and connection.

Conclusions

The long‐lasting nature of the primary nursing working model may allow different caring relationships which will be revealed in terminating phase of care. This phenomenon is poorly recognised. It is important to study the caring relationship between the primary nurse and the parents of a hospitalised child, because the caring relationship is the core of nursing and needs to be considered in research and supported in practice.
Changing patient population in Dhaka Hospital and Matlab Hospital of icddr,b
Authors: Das S. K. , Rahman A. , Chisti M. J. , Ahmed S. , Malek M. A. , Salam M. A. , Bardhan P. K. , Faruque A. S. G.
Published: November 2013

The Diarrhoeal Disease Surveillance System of icddr,b noted increasing number of patients ≥60 years at urban Dhaka and rural Matlab from 2001 to 2012. Shigella and Vibrio cholerae were more frequently isolated from elderly people than children under 5 years and adults aged 5–59 in both areas. The resistance observed to various drugs of Shigella in Dhaka and Matlab was trimethoprim–sulphamethoxazole (72–63%), ampicillin (43–55%), nalidixic acid (58–61%), mecillinam (12–9%), azithromycin (13–0%), ciprofloxacin (11–13%) and ceftriaxone (11–0%). Vibrio cholerae isolated in Dhaka and Matlab was resistant to trimethoprim–sulphamethoxazole (98–94%), furazolidone (100%), erythromycin (71–53%), tetracycline (46–44%), ciprofloxacin (3–10%) and azithromycin (3–0%).
English‐medium instruction at a university in Macau: Policy and realities
Authors: BOTHA WERNER
Published: November 2013

This paper discusses the sociolinguistic background to the use of English in higher education in Macau by presenting the results of a sociolinguistic survey on the use of English in a privately‐owned university in the special administrative region of Macau. A survey of language use and attitudes was administered to 26 teaching staff and 227 undergraduate students at the university in mid‐2012. The results report on the status and functions of English at the university, as well as attitudes and ideologies. However, they also point to a gap between the stated policy of the institution and the realities of language use at the university, and also provide insights into the ways in which English is used outside the formal curriculum.
Experimental Perspective on the Buckling of Pressure Vessel Components
Authors: Błachut J.
Published: November 2013

This review aims to complement a milestone monograph by Singer et al. (2002, Buckling Experiments—Experimental Methods in Buckling of Thin-Walled Structures, Wiley, New York). Practical aspects of load bearing capacity are discussed under the general umbrella of “buckling.” Plastic loads and burst pressures are included in addition to bifurcation and snap-through/collapse. The review concentrates on single and combined static stability of conical shells, cylinders, and their bowed out counterpart (axial compression and/or external pressure). Closed toroidal shells and domed ends onto pressure vessels subjected to internal and/or external pressures are also discussed. Domed ends include: torispheres, toricones, spherical caps, hemispheres, and ellipsoids. Most experiments have been carried in metals (mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum); however, details about hybrids (copper-steel-copper) and shells manufactured from carbon/glass fibers are included in the review. The existing concerns about geometric imperfections, uneven wall thickness, and influence of boundary conditions feature in reviewed research. They are supplemented by topics like imperfections in axial length of cylinders, imperfect load application, or erosion of the wall thickness. The latter topic tends to be more and more relevant due to ageing of vessels. While most experimentation has taken place on laboratory models, a small number of tests on full-scale models are also referenced.
Lipid A’s Structure Mediates Neisseria gonorrhoeae Fitness during Experimental Infection of Mice and Men
Authors: Hobbs Marcia M. , Anderson James E. , Balthazar Jacqueline T. , Kandler Justin L. , Carlson Russell W. , Ganguly Jhuma , Begum Afrin A. , Duncan Joseph A. , Lin Jessica T. , Sparling P. Frederick , Jerse Ann E. , Shafer William M.
Published: November 2013

Phosphoethanolamine (PEA) on
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
lipid A influences gonococcal inflammatory signaling and susceptibility to innate host defenses in
in vitro
models. Here, we evaluated the role of PEA-decorated gonococcal lipid A in competitive infections in female mice and in male volunteers. We inoculated mice and men with mixtures of wild-type
N. gonorrhoeae
and an isogenic mutant that lacks the PEA transferase, LptA. LptA production conferred a marked survival advantage for wild-type gonococci in the murine female genital tract and in the human male urethra. Our studies translate results from test tube to animal model and into the human host and demonstrate the utility of the mouse model for studies of virulence factors of the human-specific pathogen
N. gonorrhoeae
that interact with non-host-restricted elements of innate immunity. These results validate the use of gonococcal LptA as a potential target for development of novel immunoprophylactic strategies or antimicrobial treatments.

IMPORTANCE
Gonorrhea is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections, and increasing antibiotic resistance threatens the use of currently available antimicrobial therapies. In this work, encompassing
in vitro
studies and
in vivo
studies of animal and human models of experimental genital tract infection, we document the importance of lipid A’s structure, mediated by a single bacterial enzyme, LptA, in enhancing the fitness of
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
. The results of these studies suggest that novel agents targeting LptA may offer urgently needed prevention or treatment strategies for gonorrhea.
Selection criteria for patients with chronic ankle instability in controlled research: a position statement of the International Ankle Consortium
Authors: Gribble Phillip A , Delahunt Eamonn , Bleakley Chris , Caulfield Brian , Docherty Carrie , Fourchet François , Fong Daniel Tik-Pui , Hertel Jay , Hiller Claire , Kaminski Thomas , McKeon Patrick , Refshauge Kathryn , van der Wees Philip , Vincenzino Bill , Wikstrom Erik
Published: November 2013

While research on chronic ankle instability (CAI) and awareness of its impact on society and health care systems has grown substantially in the last 2 decades, the inconsistency in participant/patient selection criteria across studies presents a potential obstacle to addressing the problem properly. This major gap within the literature limits the ability to generalise this evidence to the target patient population. Therefore, there is a need to provide standards for patient/participant selection criteria in research focused on CAI with justifications using the best available evidence. The International Ankle Consortium provides this position paper to present and discuss an endorsed set of selection criteria for patients with CAI based on the best available evidence to be used in future research and study designs. These recommendations will enhance the validity of research conducted in this clinical population with the end goal of bringing the research evidence to the clinician and patient.
Use of symptom-relieving drugs before and after surgery for urinary incontinence in women: a cohort study
Authors: Guldberg Rikke , Brostrøm Søren , Kesmodel Ulrik Schiøler , Kærlev Linda , Hansen Jesper Kjær , Hallas Jesper , Nørgård Bente Mertz
Published: November 2013

Objective

To describe the use of symptom-relieving drugs (antimuscarinic drugs or duloxetine) before and after surgery for urinary incontinence (UI); and for those with use of antimuscarinic drugs or duloxetine before surgery, to estimate the risk of being a postoperative user, relative to those without use before surgery.

Design

A historical population-based cohort study.

Setting

Denmark.

Participants

Women ≥18 years with a first-time surgical procedure for UI from the county of Funen, Denmark between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 2006, extended to the Region of Southern Denmark from 1 January 2007 to the end of 2010. For these women, data on redeemed prescriptions ±365 days of date of surgery were extracted.

Main outcome measures

Effect of preoperative use of antimuscarinic drugs or duloxetine on the risk of being a postoperative user of these drugs.

Results

Of 2151 women with a first-time surgical procedure for UI, 358 (16.6%) were preoperative users of antimuscarinic drugs or duloxetine and 1793 were not (83.4%). A total of 110 (30.7%) of the preoperative users also redeemed prescriptions for these drugs within 0–60 days after surgery, and 152 (42.5%) of the preoperative users redeemed prescriptions for these drugs within 61–365 days after surgery. Among preoperative non-users, 25 (1.4%) and 145 (8.1%) redeemed prescriptions within 0–60 and 61–365 days after surgery, respectively. Presurgery exposure to antimuscarinic drugs or duloxetine was a strong risk factor of postoperative drug use, both within 0–60 days (adjusted OR=33.0, 95% CI 20.0 to 54.7) and 61–365 days (OR=7.2, 95% CI 5.4 to 9.6).

Conclusions

A substantial number of women will continue to be prescribed symptom-relieving drugs after surgery for UI within a year of follow-up. Only a minority of preoperative non-users initiated usage of symptom-relieving drugs after surgery. Compared with other factors included in the regression model, preoperative use of antimuscarinic drugs or duloxetine was the strongest risk factor for postoperative use.
Developing e-store marketing strategies to satisfy customers' needs using a new hybrid gray relational model
Authors: Chiu Wan Yu , Tzeng Gwo Hshiung , Li Han Lin
Published: November 2013

With the increasing popularity of online shopping services, e-stores are experiencing ever more fierce competition. Thus, it is imperative that managers take steps to improve their services and ensure customer loyalty, and this can only be done by understanding their customers' needs and developing appropriate marketing strategies. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to propose a new hybrid gray relational model to enhance strategies by adopting innovation and creativity to achieve the aspiration level in each dimension/criterion of satisfying/promoting human life and convenient service. This new hybrid gray relational model, which can improve the performance of each criteria to close the aspiration level of each reference point, will address interdependent problems among dimensions/criteria in the real world and provide feedback. More specifically, a DANP (DEMATEL-based ANP) and a gray relational assessment model will be combined to produce an influential network relationship map (INRM), showing the influential weights and gaps between the actual performance and the level of aspiration. As such, the contribution made by this research will be to produce the best strategies for e-store managers to improve their business model in order to meet customers' needs, encourage them to repurchase, and to enable stores to provide the most effective and efficient service for their customers.
PROBABILISTIC NON-NEGATIVE MATRIX FACTORIZATION: THEORY AND APPLICATION TO MICROARRAY DATA ANALYSIS
Authors: BAYAR BELHASSEN , BOUAYNAYA NIDHAL , SHTERENBERG ROMAN
Published: November 2013

Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) has proven to be a useful decomposition technique for multivariate data, where the non-negativity constraint is necessary to have a meaningful physical interpretation. NMF reduces the dimensionality of non-negative data by decomposing it into two smaller non-negative factors with physical interpretation for class discovery. The NMF algorithm, however, assumes a deterministic framework. In particular, the effect of the data noise on the stability of the factorization and the convergence of the algorithm are unknown. Collected data, on the other hand, is stochastic in nature due to measurement noise and sometimes inherent variability in the physical process. This paper presents new theoretical and applied developments to the problem of non-negative matrix factorization (NMF). First, we generalize the deterministic NMF algorithm to include a general class of update rules that converges towards an optimal non-negative factorization. Second, we extend the NMF framework to the probabilistic case (PNMF). We show that the Maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimate of the non-negative factors is the solution to a weighted regularized non-negative matrix factorization problem. We subsequently derive update rules that converge towards an optimal solution. Third, we apply the PNMF to cluster and classify DNA microarrays data. The proposed PNMF is shown to outperform the deterministic NMF and the sparse NMF algorithms in clustering stability and classification accuracy.
PhD7FASTER: PREDICTING CLONES PROPAGATING FASTER FROM THE Ph.D.-7 PHAGE DISPLAY PEPTIDE LIBRARY
Authors: RU BEIBEI , 'T HOEN PETER A. C. , NIE FULEI , LIN HAO , GUO FENG-BIAO , HUANG JIAN
Published: November 2013

Phage display can rapidly discover peptides binding to any given target; thus, it has been widely used in basic and applied research. Each round of panning consists of two basic processes: Selection and amplification. However, recent studies have showed that the amplification step would decrease the diversity of phage display libraries due to different propagation capacity of phage clones. This may induce phages with growth advantage rather than specific affinity to appear in the final experimental results. The peptides displayed by such phages are termed as propagation-related target-unrelated peptides (PrTUPs). They would mislead further analysis and research if not removed. In this paper, we describe PhD7Faster, an ensemble predictor based on support vector machine (SVM) for predicting clones with growth advantage from the Ph.D.-7 phage display peptide library. By using reduced dipeptide composition (ReDPC) as features, an accuracy (Acc) of 79.67% and a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.595 were achieved in 5-fold cross-validation. In addition, the SVM-based model was demonstrated to perform better than several representative machine learning algorithms. We anticipate that PhD7Faster can assist biologists to exclude potential PrTUPs and accelerate the finding of specific binders from the popular Ph.D.-7 library. The web server of PhD7Faster can be freely accessed at http://immunet.cn/sarotup/cgi-bin/PhD7Faster.pl .
A pyroclastic flow deposit on Venus
Authors: Ghail Richard C. , Wilson Lionel
Published: November 2013

Explosive volcanism on Venus is severely inhibited by its high atmospheric pressure and lack of water. This paper shows that a deposit located near 16°S, 145°E, here referred to as Scathach Fluctus, displays a number of morphological characteristics consistent with a pyroclastic flow deposit. These characteristics, particularly the lack of channelization and evidence for momentum- rather than cooling-limited flow length, contrast with fissure-fed lava flow deposits. The total erupted volume is estimated to have been between 225 and 875 km
3
but this may have been emplaced in more than one event. Interaction between Scathach Fluctus and a small volcanic cone constrains the flow velocity to 48 m s
−1
, and plausible volatile concentrations to at least 1.8 wt% H
2
O, 4.3 wt% CO
2
or 6.1 wt% SO
2
, the latter two values implying that magma was sourced directly from the mantle. The deposit has radar characteristics, particularly an exponential backscatter function, that are similar to those of nearly half the planetary surface, implying that pyroclastic deposits may be much more common on Venus than has been recognized to date, and suggesting both a relatively volatile-rich mantle and a volcanic source for atmospheric SO
2
.
Long-term disruption of maternal glucose homeostasis induced by prenatal glucocorticoid treatment correlates with miR-29 upregulation
Authors: Gomes Patrícia R. , Graciano Maria F. , Pantaleão Lucas C. , Rennó André L. , Rodrigues Sandra C. , Velloso Licio A. , Latorraca Márcia Q. , Carpinelli Angelo R. , Anhê Gabriel F. , Bordin Silvana
Published: November 2013

Excess of glucocorticoids (GCs) during pregnancy is strongly associated with the programming of glucose intolerance in the offspring. However, the impact of high GC levels on maternal metabolism is not clearly documented. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that mothers exposed to elevated levels of GCs might also display long-term disturbances in glucose homeostasis. Dexamethasone (DEX) was administered noninvasively to the mothers via drinking water between the 14th and the 19th days of pregnancy. Mothers were subjected to glucose and insulin tolerance tests at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 mo postweaning. Pregnant rats not treated with DEX and age-matched virgin rats were used as controls. Pancreatic islets were isolated at the 20th day of pregnancy and 12 mo postweaning in order to evaluate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The expression of the miR-29 family was also studied due to its responsiveness to GCs and its well-documented role in the regulation of pancreatic β-cell function. Rats treated with DEX during pregnancy presented long-term glucose intolerance and impaired insulin secretion. These changes correlated with 1) increased expression of miR-29 and its regulator p53, 2) reduced expression of syntaxin-1a, a direct target of miR-29, and 3) altered expression of genes related to cellular senescence. Our data demonstrate that the use of DEX during pregnancy results in deleterious outcomes to the maternal metabolism, hallmarked by reduced insulin secretion and glucose intolerance. This maternal metabolic programming might be a consequence of time-sustained upregulation of miR-29s in maternal pancreatic islets.
The atherogenicScarb1null mouse model shows a high bone mass phenotype
Authors: Martineau Corine , Martin-Falstrault Louise , Brissette Louise , Moreau Robert
Published: November 2013

Scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), the Scarb1 gene product, is a receptor associated with cholesteryl ester uptake from high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which drives cholesterol movement from peripheral tissues toward the liver for excretion, and, consequently, Scarb1 null mice are prone to atherosclerosis. Because studies have linked atherosclerosis incidence with osteoporosis, we characterized the bone metabolism in these mice. Bone morphometry was assessed through microcomputed tomography and histology. Marrow stromal cells (MSCs) were used to characterize influence of endogenous SR-BI in cell functions. Total and HDL-associated cholesterol in null mice were increased by 32–60%, correlating with its role in lipoprotein metabolism. Distal metaphyses from 2- and 4-mo-old null mice showed correspondingly 46 and 37% higher bone volume fraction associated with a higher number of trabeculae. Histomorphometric analyses in 2-mo-old null male mice revealed 1.42-fold greater osteoblast surface, 1.37-fold higher percent mineralizing surface, and 1.69-fold enhanced bone formation rate. In vitro assays for MSCs from null mice revealed 37% higher proliferation rate, 48% more alkaline phosphatase activity, 70% greater mineralization potential and a 2-fold osterix ( Sp7) expression, yet a 0.5-fold decrease in caveolin-1 ( Cav1) expression. Selective uptake levels of HDL-associated cholesteryl oleate and estradiol were similar between MSC from wild-type and Scarb1 null mice, suggesting that its contribution to this process is not its main role in these cells. However, Scarb1 knockout stunted the HDL-dependent regulation of Cav1 genic expression. Scarb1 null mice are not prone to osteoporosis but show higher bone mass associated with enhanced bone formation.
Spiritual Needs in Patients Suffering from Fibromyalgia
Authors: Offenbaecher M. , Kohls N. , Toussaint L. L. , Sigl C. , Winkelmann A. , Hieblinger R. , Walther A. , Büssing A.
Published: November 2013

The objective of this study was to assess spiritual needs of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and to evaluate correlations with disease and health associated variables. Using a set of standardized questionnaires (i.e., Spiritual Needs Questionnaire, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, SF-36's Quality of Life, Brief Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale, etc.), we enrolled 141 patients (95% women, mean age 58 ± 10 years). Here, needs forinner peaceandgiving/generativityscored the highest, whileexistential needsandreligious needsscored lowest. Particularlyinner peaceneeds andexistential needscorrelated with different domains of reduced mental health, particularly with anxiety, the intention to escape from illness, and psychosocial restrictions. Thirty-eight percent of the patients stated needs to be forgiven and nearly half to forgive someone from their past life. Therefore, the specific spiritual needs of patients with chronic diseases should be addressed in clinical care in order to identify potential therapeutic avenues to support and stabilize their psychoemotional situation.
Thiol Modification of Psyllium Husk Mucilage and Evaluation of Its Mucoadhesive Applications
Authors: Bhatia Meenakshi , Ahuja Munish
Published: November 2013

Thiol functionalization of psyllium was carried out to enhance its mucoadhesive potential. Thiolation of psyllium was achieved by esterification with thioglycolic acid. Thiolation was observed to change the surface morphology of psyllium from fibrous to granular and result in a slight increase in the crystallinity and swelling. Thiolated psyllium was found to contain 3.282 m moles of thiol groups/g of the polymer. Mucoadhesive applications of thiolated psylium were explored by formulating gels using metronidazole as the model drug. On comparative evaluation thiolated psyllium gels showed 3‐fold higher mucoadhesive strength than the psyllium gels as determined by modified physical balance using chicken buccal pouch. The results of in vitro release study revealed that thiolated psyllium gels provided a prolonged release of metronidazole. Further, the psyllium and thiolated psyllium gels were found to release the drug following first‐order kinetics by combination of polymer relaxation and diffusion through the matrix.
Stability and Hopf Bifurcation in a Delayed SEIRS Worm Model in Computer Network
Authors: Zhang Zizhen , Yang Huizhong
Published: November 2013

A delayed SEIRS epidemic model with vertical transmission in computer network is considered. Sufficient conditions for local stability of the positive equilibrium and existence of local Hopf bifurcation are obtained by analyzing distribution of the roots of the associated characteristic equation. Furthermore, the direction of the local Hopf bifurcation and the stability of the bifurcating periodic solutions are determined by using the normal form theory and center manifold theorem. Finally, a numerical example is presented to verify the theoretical analysis.
Fault Tolerance and Energy Consumption Scheme of a Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Park Doo-Soon
Published: November 2013

The commercialization of detection and surveillance systems by sensor networks has recently become more popular in various industries and in ordinary life. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) may be utilized in areas such as military defense systems, u-care services, and disaster prevention systems. WSNs, which have three primary elements, should be able to communicate through a combination of network and sensor functions. When the size of a sensor network is small, the cost of building it accounts for a large fraction of the total cost. In large-scale sensor networks, however, maintenance costs to replace nodes when they are out of order, and batteries used for wireless communications, greatly increase, in addition to the cost of constructing them. Therefore, measures to detect and respond to sensor faults in a sensor network, as well as a mechanism to predict the energy consumption of sensors, are necessary. Accordingly, this paper proposes a measure to detect and deal with sensors by dividing WSN into fixed WSN and mobile WSN. This paper also suggests a method to predict and express the energy consumption of a sensor network.