bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transfer of Angular Momentum in Electron Collisions with Alkali Atoms
Authors: Hall B. V. , Shurgalin M. , Murray A. J. , MacGillivray W. R. , Standage M. C.
Published: June 2013

Measurements of the transfer of angular momentum to rubidium and sodium atoms
in collisions with electrons are reported. For excitation of the rubidium
52S1/2–52
P3/2 transition, it is found that existing first
order distorted wave Born approximation calculations show poor agreement with
the data and that a model which includes the relativistic interaction between
the electrons and the atoms in the potential is needed. For the de-excitation
of the sodium
42S1/2
–32 P3/2 transition, a
long standing proposal relating to the sign of the transferred angular
momentum is not supported except at small scattering angles. A convergent
close coupling calculation displays excellent agreement with the measured
data.
Light Amplification and Attenuation in Stratified Structures with Complex Refractive Index
Authors: Bulgakov Sergei A. , Nieto-Vesperina Manuel
Published: June 2013

We study the electromagnetic wave propagation inside a one-dimensional
photonic lattice with dielectric permittivity having a non-zero imaginary
part. A detailed investigation of the influence of gains and losses on both
the transmission/reflection coefficients and the electromagnetic field
distribution is provided. A duality phenomenon between loss and gain is
discussed. Upon investigation of the reflected spectrum, we show the existence
of huge resonances associated with laser thresholds. Some of these resonances
stem from the wave reflection, while others are due to the wave propagation
regime. For a regular finite periodic structure with a complex dielectric
permittivity, we show a symmetry in the positions of the resonances along the
frequency axis.
A New Energy-dependent Δ Width in Coherent Pion Production
Authors: Deutchman P. A.
Published: June 2013

A new derivation for the energy-dependent Δ width inside nuclei is
presented which includes the all important, energy-dependent nuclear form
factor describing the decay of the Δ particle from its harmonic
oscillator, bound state back to a captured nucleon and outgoing pion.
Additional improvements include relativistic kinematics, generalisation beyond
the static limit in the kinematics, and inclusion of the
ΔN Π energy-dependent vertex form factor. The
new decay width provides a reasonable cut-off at high pion momenta and gives
the correct momentum dependence in the limit of single-particle decay at low
momenta. The results of calculations for the energy-dependent widths and their
effects on the energy distributions of exclusive coherent pion production for
12 C+ 12 C →
12 C+ 12 C*
(T = 1)+ Π 0 at
incident energies below and above the pion threshold are shown and discussed.
The new energy dependence is compared to the free Δ width used
previously and it is seen that the new results give a smoother and more
realistic shape to the pion energy distributions.
Impact of gonadotropins on oocyte maturation, fertilisation and developmental competence in vitro
Authors: Wang Xuemei , Tsai Tony , Qiao Jie , Zhang Zhan , Feng Huai L.
Published: June 2013

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dose-dependent effects of gonadotropins, either singly (Bravelle (B), Luveris (L), Menupur (M), Repronex (R), Gonal-F (G), Follism (F) and Norvarel (N)) or in combination (Menupur + Bravelle; Repronext + Bravelle; and Bravelle + Norvarel), on rates of oocyte maturation, fertilisation and early embryo development in vitro in an animal model. Bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were purchased commercially and cultured in TCM-199 with 10% fetal bovine serum supplemented with varying concentrations of gonadotropin (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 IU or United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) mL–1) for 24 and 48 h according to current IVF clinical stimulation protocols. All gonadotropins enhanced oocyte maturation in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Individually, Gonal-F (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Follism (Merck Co, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA) and Repronext (Ferring, Parsippany, NJ, USA) promoted oocyte maturation; in combination, they effectively enhanced COC expansion and increased the maturation competence of MII oocytes. However, high concentrations of gonadotropins may result in maturation arrest. Specific combinations of gonadotropins may change the rate of early embryonic development (8–16-cells) and morula–blastocyst formation. These data provide support for the responsiveness of bovine oocytes to gonadotropins in vitro and the need to consider variations in the relative concentrations and ratio of combinations (FSH/LH or human chorionic gonadotropin) for optimisation of oocyte developmental competence. The results of the present study could be applied to therapeutic clinical stimulation protocols and help improve IVF success rates.
16 microsatellite loci for the Australian Great Artesian Basin spring amphipod, Wangiannachiltonia guzikae
Authors: Robertson Hannah L. , Murphy Nicholas P.
Published: June 2013

454 Next Generation sequencing was used to develop a set of microsatellite markers for the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) amphipod, Wangiannachiltonia guzikae. Primers were designed for 42 microsatellite loci. A total of 22 loci were successfully amplified and 16 characterised using 30 individuals from a single GAB spring population. Across these 16 loci, observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 0.818 (mean = 0.445) and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 12 (mean = 6.688). Of these 16 loci, however, only 10 were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, though all 16 loci should be retained for further studies in the event that stochastic events affected equilibrium of this single population.
Preserving Australian native fauna: zoo-based breeding programs as part of a more unified strategic approach
Authors: Hogg Carolyn J.
Published: June 2013

High extinction rates and loss of biodiversity is a critical conservation matter. Twenty-two Australian mammal species have become extinct in the last 200 years. Of the 95 mammal species under the EPBC Act, 51 have recovery plans and 15 of these have captive components. Zoo-based programs as part of a recovery plan can ‘buy’ time for critically endangered species. In Australia, programs are established as a result of government recovery plans, though more consultation with the zoo industry in initial development phase is needed. Often by the time the decision is taken to remove individuals from the wild for captive breeding, the source populations are fragmented and small. As zoo-based programs become more successful, issues with space limitations arise. This may be rectified with regular release of individuals or avoidance of maintaining post-reproductive and/or non-reproductive animals long-term. Those involved in recovery efforts should make few assumptions on the captive productivity of species, unless the species has been held before. Success of the captive component of a recovery program can be measured by the number of animals bred for release and the level of genetic diversity retained by the program. Although recovery teams are responsible for strategy development, good communication between parties from an early stage is essential. Where a captive component is needed, a more unified strategy, developed early, should provide our native fauna with a realistic chance of recovery. Zoo-based breeding programs are useful in assisting with the preservation of some Australian fauna, whilst for others they will have limited relevance.
Tourism and biodiversity conservation: the case of community-based natural resource management in Southern Africa.
Authors: Mbaiwa J. E. , Kolawole O. D.
Published: June 2013

This review analyses the potential of tourism to contribute to biodiversity conservation with particular reference to developing countries. In the last quarter of a century, there has been a global concern about the extent of biodiversity decline. Biodiversity decline is partly a result of the overutilization of resources by local communities who live in resource-rich areas. This review makes use of published and unpublished articles and reports on community-based approaches to biodiversity conservation. Focus was paid to the role that community-based or integrated approaches play in the promotion of biodiversity conservation. The review indicates that where community-based tourism projects are being undertaken, they have mixed results. That is, some projects have collapsed, while others are succeeding in generating the expected economic benefits such as income, employment and funds used for community projects. The Southern African countries of Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe have been implementing community-based tourism projects for almost two decades. Economic benefits from tourism contribute to poverty alleviation and improved livelihoods. In the process, local communities have developed positive attitudes towards biodiversity, and hence are more inclined to use such resources sustainably. The paper concludes that tourism could serve as a potential tool for stimulating biodiversity conservation and rural development not only in developing countries but also in other similar social-ecological contexts.
Life Cycle Assessment as applied to environmental choices regarding farmed or wild-caught fish.
Authors: Aubin J.
Published: June 2013

Fish production is facing increasing worldwide demand while fish landings are plateauing. Fish production is the only kind of animal production that is still dominated by extractive activity, endangered because of overexploitation of natural resources and a rearing activity with a rapid expansion. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which estimates local- to global-scale environmental impacts, has been adapted to seafood production systems. Scientific publications increasingly propose methodological improvements and case-study applications of LCA in the fishery and aquaculture sectors, with the combined objectives of better describing and understanding their biophysical interactions with the environment and supporting decision-making and eco-labelling of seafood products. In particular, the development of innovative indicators better defines impacts of fisheries on the marine ecosystem (e.g., benthos damage, by-catch, biotic resource use). Nevertheless, the lack of consensus about methodological questions (e.g., co-product allocation rules, system boundary definition) weakens comparisons between studies and limits the generalization of results and dissemination of methods. This paper reviews published applications of LCA to farmed and wild-caught fish.
Slicing the REDD+ pie: controversies around the distribution of benefits.
Authors: Skutsch M.
Published: June 2013

This review presents some main themes in the debates that are currently ongoing on the subject of distribution of benefits under new international policy on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), as represented in academic and 'grey' literature. After a brief introduction to REDD+, the review describes how issues of equity, carbon rights and ownership, and procedural and distributive justice have been presented in the context of REDD+. It then analyses how these themes play out at the international level-distribution of benefits between developing countries - and at the national level-distribution of benefits within national programmes and in projects.
Phytophthora ramorum
- a pathogen linking network epidemiology, landscape pathology and conservation biogeography.
Authors: Pautasso M.
Published: June 2013

Phytophthora ramorum
is a generalist plant pathogen that has been subject to a remarkable amount of research activity. One decade after its description, this oomycete now affects a wide range of hosts in both North America and Europe, both in the wild and in ornamental plant trade (e.g.,
Camellia
,
Rhododendron
,
Pieris
). Research on the biology, epidemiology and management of
P. ramorum
has not only rapidly expanded, but has also become increasingly interdisciplinary. In this overview, three examples of interdisciplinary collaboration concerning
P. ramorum
are presented: (1) network epidemiology (the application of network theory to epidemiology), (2) landscape pathology (the use of landscape ecology tools in the study of regional outbreaks of tree pathogens) and (3) conservation biogeography (a biogeographical perspective in conservation biology). Building on these approaches, three-way collaboration among network epidemiologists, landscape pathologists and conservation biogeographers (as well as e.g., molecular biologists, social and climate change scientists) is now needed to improve our understanding and management of the
P. ramorum
emergency, and many other challenges to plant health worldwide.
The Role of Azerbaijani Turkish in Safavid Iran
Authors: Floor Willem , Javadi Hasan
Published: June 2013

Turkic languages and dialects played a much more important role in Safavid Iran than is generally thought, while Azerbaijani Turkish in particular was widely spoken and written in Safavid Iran. It was not only the language of the court and the army, but it was also used in poetry, even by renowned poets who usually wrote in Persian. The Safavid shahs, many of whom wrote poetry in Turkish themselves, promoted its literary use. Also, Turkish was used in the court's official correspondence, for both internal and external affairs.
Authoritative Copies and Divine Originals: Lucretian Metaphor, Painting on Stone, and the Problem of Originality in Michelangelo’s Rome*
Authors: Calvillo Elena
Published: June 2013

Focusing on two painted Pietàs, this essay examines the means by which the artists Giulio Clovio (1498–1578) and Sebastiano del Piombo (1485–1547) simultaneously copied Michelangelo’s figures and made claims about their own pictorial mastery. Within the context of concerns about sacred images articulated in theDiálogos em Roma(1548) of Francisco de Holanda (1517–84), Clovio’s and Sebastiano’s painting techniques are discussed for their ability to approximate divine and semi-divine archetypes while signaling ontological difference and the authority of Rome. The metaphoric potential of Clovio’s and Sebastiano’s technical innovations, one invoking a Lucretian veil of atoms according to Holanda and the other a pictorial touchstone, also reveal the extent to which these artists ambitiously tied theory to practice.
Pre-packed Administrations: An Empirical Social Rights Analysis
Authors: Creighton-Selvay Kate
Published: June 2013

This article considers the relationship between worker protection legislation and pre-packed administrations: the sale of a business or assets of a failing company negotiated in principle prior to the initiation of formal insolvency proceedings and effected immediately after entry into such proceedings by the insolvency practitioner appointed to administer them. The author seeks to explain pre-packs’ significance for British employment law and evaluate how employment law should respond. The findings of a qualitative empirical study on the use of ‘high-end pre-pack administrations’ are presented along with a consideration of institutional treatment of pre-packs to date and an analysis of the legal nature of transactions effected by pre-pack under the applicable insolvency laws. The article argues that the focus of labour law doctrinal discussion in this area to date has been misplaced and that the focus of the labour law debate now needs to shift to how employees are protected in a restructuring environment where management and senior creditors are concerned with restructuring debt rather than with labour issues, and where the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations may have only limited application.
Principles of evidence-based medicine
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Principles of evidence-based medicine
Principles of good surgical practice
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Principles of good surgical practice
Principles of admission management
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Principles of admission management
Day case surgery
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Day case surgery
Perioperative fasting
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Perioperative fasting
Perioperative medical complications
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Cardiovascular complications - Respiratory complications - Renal complications -
Neurological complications
Preoperative assessment of bleeding risk
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Preoperative assessment of bleeding risk
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis
Principles of pain management
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Principles of pain management
Principles of nutritional support
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Principles of nutritional support
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
Peptic ulcer disease
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Peptic ulcer disease
Surgery for obesity
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Surgery for obesity
Constipation in adults
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Constipation in adults
Diverticular disease
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Diverticular disease
Anal fissures
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Anal fissures
Pancreatic cancer
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Pancreatic cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Hepatocellular carcinoma
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Benign breast diseases
Authors: Jibawi Abdullah , Cade David
Published: June 2013

Benign breast diseases
Measuring CD38 (ADP-Ribosyl Cyclase/Cyclic ADP-Ribose Hydrolase) Activity by Reverse-Phase HPLC
Authors: Kirchberger Tanja , Guse Andreas H.
Published: June 2013

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) is a Ca2+-mobilizing second messenger active in many cell types, tissues, and organisms. The mammalian NAD-glycohydrolase CD38 catalyzes formation of cADPR by removing nicotinamide and forming a new intramolecular bond between N1 of adenine and C1 of the “northern” ribose. In contrast to the ADP-ribosyl cyclase (ADPRC) fromAplysia californica, which almost exclusively catalyzes the formation of cADPR, CD38 mainly produces adenosine diphosphoribose (ADPR), while cADPR is found as a side product. Interestingly, CD38 also catalyzes the breakdown of cADPR to ADPR. These enzyme activities can be determined by incubating the substrates NAD or cADPR with either crude membranes, purified proteins, or intact cells expressing CD38; the latter is possible because the catalytic site of CD38 is on the cell surface. Analysis of substrate and products is performed by reverse-phase (RP) HPLC. Before HPLC analysis, cells and proteins must be removed from samples by centrifugation and/or ultrafiltration to stop further metabolism and to prevent HPLC columns from clogging.
Purification of Astrocytes from Transgenic Rodents by Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting
Authors: Foo Lynette C.
Published: June 2013

The purification of astrocytes by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) requires that an astrocyte-specific promoter drive the expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Our laboratory uses FACS to acutely isolate astrocytes from young and old tissue as well as to isolate GFP-negative neurons at the end of the FACS sorting to conduct comparative unbiased, large-scale gene expression studies. Because of the relatively harsh nature of FACS sorting, few astrocytes or neurons survive long enough after the sort to be cultured.
Preparation of Drosophila Embryos for Quantitative Imaging of Gene Expression
Authors: Surkova Svetlana , Myasnikova Ekaterina , Kozlov Konstantin N. , Pisarev Andrei , Reinitz John , Samsonova Maria
Published: June 2013

Quantitative measurements derived using sophisticated microscopy techniques are essential for understanding the basic principles that control the behavior of biological systems. We have developed a five-step data pipeline to extract quantitative data on segmentation gene expression from confocal images of gene expression patterns in Drosophila. This protocol describes the preparation of Drosophila embryos for imaging by confocal microscopy. Embryos are collected at the appropriate developmental stage and fixed. They are then stained with both primary antibodies and secondary antibodies conjugated with fluorophores to reveal the segmentation gene expression patterns.
Transfection of Genetically Encoded Photoswitchable Probes for STORM Imaging
Authors: Bates Mark , Jones Sara A. , Zhuang Xiaowei
Published: June 2013

Conventional fluorescence microscopy is limited by its spatial resolution, leaving many biological structures too small to be studied in detail. Stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) is a method for superresolution fluorescence imaging based on the high accuracy localization of individual fluorophores. It uses optically switchable fluorophores: molecules that can be switched between a nonfluorescent and a fluorescent state by exposure to light. This protocol describes the transfection of genetically encoded photoswitchable probes for STORM imaging. It includes a discussion of how to choose a photoswitchable fluorescent protein; standard molecular biology techniques should be used to generate a plasmid containing the sequence of the photoswitchable protein linked to the gene of interest. Once the plasmid has been generated and has been verified, it can be introduced into cells via any standard means of gene delivery, such as lipofection or electroporation. Optimal conditions will vary considerably for different cell lines and plasmids. Here, we present an example protocol for the transfection of BS-C-1 cells with an mEos2-vimentin plasmid using the lipid-based reagent FuGENE6.
Preparation of Photoswitchable Labeled Antibodies for STORM Imaging
Authors: Bates Mark , Jones Sara A. , Zhuang Xiaowei
Published: June 2013

Stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) is a method for superresolution fluorescence imaging based on the high accuracy localization of individual fluorophores. It uses optically switchable fluorophores: molecules that can be switched between a nonfluorescent and a fluorescent state by exposure to light. Many synthetic fluorescent dye molecules show photoswitchable fluorescence emission. In particular, photoswitchable cyanine fluorophores such as Cy5, Alexa 647, and Cy7, may be paired with a second fluorophore, which serves as an activator, determining the wavelength of light that re-activates the fluorescence of the photoswitchable molecule. This protocol describes the preparation of antibodies labeled with one such pairing scheme of synthetic fluorophores, Alexa 405 and Alexa 647. It may easily be adapted for labeling with other fluorophores or for labeling other substrate molecules.
Preparation of Nuclear Extracts from HeLa Cells
Authors: Nilsen Timothy W.
Published: June 2013

HeLa cells are the archetypal tissue culture cell line for the preparation of mammalian cell-free systems. These cells, derived from a cervical carcinoma, have been maintained in culture since the late 1940s. They grow with a doubling time of ∼24 h and can be cultured in medium containing fetal bovine serum (optimal serum for growth) or medium containing horse serum (in which they grow more slowly, but this serum is considerably less expensive). Nuclear extracts prepared from these cells have been used to determine the mechanisms of splicing and polyadenylation, and such extracts have been characterized extensively. HeLa cells are usually the cell type of choice for initiating cell-free analysis of nearly any aspect of mammalian gene expression. In some instances (e.g., analysis of tissue-specific alternative splicing), it is necessary to use nuclei from a different cell type. We have found that the protocol described here can be used successfully to prepare active nuclear extracts from a wide variety of tissue culture cells, including Drosophila S2 cells.
Analysis of Pre-mRNA Splicing Using HeLa Cell Nuclear Extracts
Authors: Nilsen Timothy W.
Published: June 2013

This protocol is used to determine the splicing behavior of pre-mRNAs in cell extracts that are capable of carrying out splicing (e.g., nuclear extracts from HeLa cells). 32P-labeled RNA is incubated under splicing conditions for various times, and the resulting products are analyzed on denaturing polyacrylamide gels.
Optimizing the Sampling Scheme for a Stereological Study: How Many Individuals, Sections, and Probes Should Be Used
Authors: West Mark J.
Published: June 2013

Stereology provides meaningful quantitative descriptions of the geometry of three-dimensional (3D) structures from measurements that are made on two-dimensional (2D) images. A pilot stereological study will provide information that can be used to rationalize how many individuals, sections, and probes should be used to ensure that one is sampling enough, but not too much, to achieve the goal of a study. This general approach is exemplified in the thought experiment described here, which involves a comparison of the means of estimates of the total number of neurons N in two groups, using the simplest of statistical tests, the Student's t-test. It is also applicable to studies involving other estimates of total quantities such as volume, surface, and length obtained from a parallel series of sections.
Fixed eruption due to quinine in tonic water: A case report with high‐performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet A analyses
Authors: Ohira Aoi , Yamaguchi Sayaka , Miyagi Takuya , Yamamoto Yu‐ichi , Yamada Satoshi , Shiohira Hideo , Hagiwara Keisuke , Uno Tsukasa , Uezato Hiroshi , Takahashi Kenzo
Published: June 2013

Fixed drug eruption is a common cutaneous adverse reaction in young patients with a characteristic clinical appearance. However, the diagnosis and identification of the substance may be difficult if food or food additives provoke the fixed eruption. A 26‐year‐old man had a history of two episodes of cutaneous erythema with residual pigmentation. Close examination of the history including his diet in addition to an oral challenge test and patch testing led to the diagnosis of fixed eruption secondary to quinine in tonic water. We examined for the presence of quinine in commercially available brands of tonic water using ultraviolet A and irradiation and high‐performance liquid chromatography. Both Schweppes and CANADA DRY brands of tonic water emitted fluorescent light upon ultraviolet A irradiation, and contained quinine at concentrations of 67.9 and 61.3 mg/L, respectively. Quinine contained in some tonic waters may trigger fixed eruption.
Clinicopathological features of mycosis fungoides in patients exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War
Authors: Jang Min Soo , Jang Jun Gyu , Han Sang Hwa , Park Jong Bin , Kang Dong Young , Kim Sang Tae , Suh Kee Suck
Published: June 2013

There are no reports on the clinicopathological features of mycosis fungoides (MF) among veterans exposed to Agent Orange, one of the herbicides used during the Vietnam War. To evaluate the clinical, histopathological and genotypic findings of Vietnam War veterans with MF and a positive history of exposure to Agent Orange, we performed a comparative clinicopathological study between MF patients with a history of Agent Orange exposure and those without a history of Agent Orange exposure. Twelve Vietnam War veterans with MF were identified. The mean interval from Agent Orange exposure to diagnosis was 24.5 years (range, 9–35). Skin lesions were significantly present on exposed and unexposed areas. Most patients (75%) experienced pruritus (mean visual analog scale score of 6.7). MF was manifested by plaques in 10 patients and by lichenification in five. Histopathological features of most cases were consistent with MF. Biopsy specimens also demonstrated irregular acanthosis (66.7%). In the comparative study, MF patients with a history of Agent Orange exposure differed significantly from those without exposure to Agent Orange in demographic and clinical characteristics. In addition, patients with exposure had an increased tendency for lesions in the exposed area. Notably, our patients showed a higher frequency (33.3%) of mycosis fungoides palmaris et plantaris than in previous studies. Histologically, irregular acanthosis was more frequently observed than ordinary MF. Our results indicate that dermatologists should pay close attention to these clinicopathological differences. Careful assessment of history of exposure to defoliants is warranted in some cases suspicious for MF.
Case of neuro‐Behçet's disease successfully maintained a remission using infliximab for 2 years
Authors: Kanemaru Hisashi , Makino Takamitsu , Jinnin Masatoshi , Yonemitsu Aya , Makino Katsunari , Ihn Hironobu
Published: June 2013

Behçet's disease is a systemic inflammatory disorder with chronic remissions and relapses. Involvement of the central nervous system, called neuro‐Behçet's disease (NBD), is a serious complication. Although corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents are used, there is no definite standard of treatment with long term‐effects for NBD. Here, we report a female case with NBD successfully treated by infliximab and corticosteroids for 2 years. Our report suggests treatment with infliximab may be effective for long‐term remission of NBD.
Metastatic basosquamous carcinoma detected by sentinel lymph node biopsy
Authors: Yoshida Yuichi , Shiomi Tatsushi , Tahira Makoto , Yamamoto Osamu
Published: June 2013

We describe a rare case of basosquamous carcinoma (BSC) in a 69‐year‐old man. He had noticed a pigmented nodule on his left thigh. Dermoscopic examination showed ulceration at the center and non‐typical leaf‐like areas at the periphery. Linear‐irregular vessels were also seen. He underwent tumor excision in addition to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Histopathological examination revealed both features of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma. The sentinel lymph node was positive for tumor cells. Immunostaining for Ber‐EP4 was focally positive for invasive tumor cells. Although complete inguinal lymphadenectomy had been performed, multiple in‐transit metastases around the primary lesion and left iliac lymph node metastasis developed after the operation. It is considered that BSC has a worse prognosis than BCC with a potential for metastasis. Based on the findings of previously reported cases and our case, SLNB may be applied for certain high‐risk cases including BSC larger than 3 cm in size and careful follow up is recommended for patients with BSC.
Determinants of Acidobacteria activity inferred from the relative abundances of 16S rRNA transcripts in German grassland and forest soils
Authors: Foesel Bärbel U. , Nägele Verena , Naether Astrid , Wüst Pia K. , Weinert Jan , Bonkowski Michael , Lohaus Gertrud , Polle Andrea , Alt Fabian , Oelmann Yvonne , Fischer Markus , Friedrich Michael W. , Overmann Jörg
Published: June 2013

16S rRNA genes and transcripts of Acidobacteria were investigated in 57 grassland and forest soils of three different geographic regions. Acidobacteria contributed 9–31% of bacterial 16S rRNA genes whereas the relative abundances of the respective transcripts were 4–16%. The specific cellular 16S rRNA content (determined as molar ratio of rRNA : rRNA genes) ranged between 3 and 80, indicating a low in situ growth rate. Correlations with flagellate numbers, vascular plant diversity and soil respiration suggest that biotic interactions are important determinants of Acidobacteria 16S rRNA transcript abundances in soils. While the phylogenetic composition of Acidobacteria differed significantly between grassland and forest soils, high throughput denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting detected 16S rRNA transcripts of most phylotypes in situ. Partial least squares regression suggested that chemical soil conditions such as pH, total nitrogen, C : N ratio, ammonia concentrations and total phosphorus affect the composition of this active fraction of Acidobacteria. Transcript abundance for individual Acidobacteria phylotypes was found to correlate with particular physicochemical (pH, temperature, nitrogen or phosphorus) and, most notably, biological parameters (respiration rates, abundances of ciliates or amoebae, vascular plant diversity), providing culture‐independent evidence for a distinct niche specialization of different Acidobacteria even from the same subdivision.
Honey bee larval peritrophic matrix degradation during infection with Paenibacillus larvae, the aetiological agent of American foulbrood of honey bees, is a key step in pathogenesis
Authors: Garcia‐Gonzalez Eva , Genersch Elke
Published: June 2013

Paenibacillus larvae, the aetiological agent of American foulbrood (AFB) of honey bees, causes a fatal intestinal infection in larvae and invades the haemocoel by breaching the midgut. The peritrophic matrix lining the midgut epithelium in insects constitutes an effective barrier against abrasive food particles, xenobiotics, toxins and pathogens. Pathogens like P. larvae entering the host through the gut first need to overcome this barrier. To better understand AFB pathogenesis, we analysed the fate of the peritrophic matrix in honey bee larvae during P. larvae infection. Using histochemical techniques, we first established that chitin is a major component of the honey bee larval peritrophic matrix. Rearing larvae on a diet containing a fluorochrome blocking formation of the peritrophic matrix or a bacterial endochitinase revealed that a fully formed peritrophic matrix is essential for larval survival. Larvae infected by P. larvae showed total degradation of the peritrophic matrix enabling the bacteria to directly attack the epithelial cells. Carbon source utilization tests confirmed that P. larvae is able to metabolize colloidal chitin. We propose that P. larvae degrades the peritrophic matrix to allow direct access of the bacteria or of bacterial toxins to the epithelium to prepare the breakthrough of the epithelial layer.
Balancing the diet and the budget: Food purchasing practices of food‐insecure families in New Zealand
Authors: Smith Claire , Parnell Winsome Ruth , Brown Rachel Clare , Gray Andrew R.
Published: June 2013

Aim

The aims of this study were to examine total food expenditure and the types of food purchased in food‐insecure households with children, to compare these by severity of food insecurity (moderate or low food security) and furthermore to estimate food expenditure as a percentage of net household income.

Methods

The study was conducted in Dunedin, New Zealand (NZ) (from June 2009 to May 2010), and included low‐income (≤NZ$45 000/year), food‐insecure households with children (n = 165). The main food preparer was interviewed to determine the food security status of the household. Households collected food shopping receipts and recorded all food that was purchased for four weeks.

Results

Households reported spending NZ$132/week on food. The greatest percentage of food dollars was allocated to the food group meat, fish and poultry (14.5%), followed by fruit and vegetables (13.7%). Households with low food security reported spending less money compared to households with moderate food security on total food and the food groups fruit and vegetables and cereals but not on the food groups meat, fish and poultry or dairy and eggs (excluding milk). Food expenditure was estimated to be more than 30% of net income for households with an annual income of less than NZ$35 000.

Conclusions

For the core foods fruit, vegetables and cereals, reported food spending was less for households with low food security compared to households with moderate food security. This is likely to contribute to poor health in addition to being an undesirable and stressful condition for a household.
Dietary sources and meal distribution of sodium and potassium in a sample of Australian adults
Authors: Margerison Claire , Riddell Lynnette J. , Wattanapenpaiboon Naiyana , Nowson Caryl A.
Published: June 2013

Aim

Reducing dietary sodium and increasing dietary potassium are recommended to reduce blood pressure. This study aimed to determine the main foods sources of sodium and potassium.

Methods

Participants were recruited via advertisements or blood pressure screening sessions. Food sources of sodium and potassium were assessed via 24‐hour dietary records in 299 free‐living Australian adults (141 male, 158 female; age 54.6(9.5)years; BMI 29.4(3.9)kg/m2).

Results

The mean sodium intake was 118(51)mmol/d (2725(1176)mg/d) and the mean potassium intake was 91(28)mmol/d (3550(1098)mg/d). Breads and cereals provided the majority (38%) of sodium with bread contributing 20%. Vegetable products/dishes contributed most potassium (23%) with potatoes providing 9%. Main meals provided 89% of sodium and 85% of potassium. Lunch and dinner provided similar sodium proportions (34% and 38%, respectively) but more energy was consumed at dinner (26% vs 40%, respectively). Lunch had the highest sodium density of all meals (420 mg/MJ).

Conclusion

A reduction in the salt content of processed foods, particularly bread, is recommended to decrease sodium intake. This reduction in salt content combined with meal specific education focusing on choosing lower sodium foods at lunch in particular, as well as incorporating more fruits and vegetables, could effectively reduce dietary sodium and increase potassium.
‘It is Not Easy What to Say of our Condition, Much Less to Write It’: The Continued Importance of Scribal News in the Early 18th Century
Authors: Barber Alex W.
Published: June 2013

This article engages with recent work on the nature of the press in the late 17th and early 18th centuries that has emphasized that print, and more specifically printed news, came to dominate religious and political affairs. Recent scholarship has suggested that political elites embraced the new opportunities that the lapse of licensing (1695) offered by reading and buying newspapers and periodicals in ever greater numbers. Inherent in this portrayal of news culture is a sense that censorship had little effect on news‐writers. Journalists, so it is claimed, were left alone to pursue their trade free from any consistent interference. This article, by contrast, argues that scribal news – handwritten newspapers – continued to be important in the 18th century. The reason for the survival of scribal news‐writers such as John Dyer can be found, I argue, in understanding the complex relationship between press and parliament. Far from embracing the press, most members of parliament were, in fact, reluctant to allow unhindered publication of their discussions. While recognizing the importance of news to political debate, this article insists that the continued production of scribal news is indispensable for understanding both the nature of censorship and the power of the press in post‐licensing England.
Autocracies and Terrorism: Conditioning Effects of Authoritarian Regime Type on Terrorist Attacks
Authors: Wilson Matthew C. , Piazza James A.
Published: June 2013

Although empirical research has generally demonstrated that democracies experience more terrorism than autocracies, research suggests that this depends upon complex institutional differences that go beyond the democracy‐autocracy divide. This study examines these differences, linking institutions to strategies of coercion and co‐optation. Using zero‐inflated negative binomial regression estimations on Geddes’ (2003) autocratic regime‐type data for 161 countries between 1970 and 2006, we find that single‐party authoritarian regimes consistently experience less domestic and international terrorism relative to military autocracies and democracies. This finding is robust to a large number of specifications, underscoring the explanatory power of regime type for predicting terrorism. Our explanation for these findings is that party‐based autocracies have a wider range of coercion and co‐option strategies that they can employ to address grievance and dissent than do other, more strategically restricted, regimes.
Functional dyspepsia: the economic impact to patients
Authors: Lacy B. E. , Weiser K. T. , Kennedy A. T. , Crowell M. D. , Talley N. J.
Published: June 2013

Background

Although highly prevalent, little is known about the economic impact of functional dyspepsia (FD).

Aims

To quantify FD patients' health care utilisation patterns and to estimate direct and indirect costs of FD to patients.

Methods

ICD‐9 codes identified adult patients with dyspepsia. A validated questionnaire was mailed to patients who met Rome III criteria for FD.

Results

Three hundred and fifty‐five patients met all inclusion criteria. The response rate was 63%. The respondents' mean age was 50 (14) years; 75% were women; 52% of respondents rated their FD as moderate. Patients reported 3 visits (mean) to their PCP over 12 months; 75% reported having blood work, 92% an EGD, 59% an ultrasound and 40% a CT scan. The direct cost of testing using Medicare reimbursement rates per patient was $582. To treat FD symptoms, 89% tried dietary changes, 89% over‐the‐counter medications, 87% prescription medications and 25% alternative therapies. Mean patient expenditure over the last year was $246 for OTC medications (range $0–12,000), $290 for co‐payments (range $0–9,000) and $110 for alternative treatments (range $0–3,741). Total mean direct cost yearly to patients was $699. In the 7 days prior to completing the questionnaire, respondents reported a mean of 1.4 h absence from work. Extrapolating the results to the US population, we conservatively calculate the costs of FD were $18.4 billion in 2009.

Conclusions

Functional dyspepsia patients incur significant direct and indirect costs and work productivity is impaired by dyspeptic symptoms.
Colonisation by Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and maintenance of clinical remission in patients with ulcerative colitis
Authors: Varela E. , Manichanh C. , Gallart M. , Torrejón A. , Borruel N. , Casellas F. , Guarner F. , Antolin M.
Published: June 2013

Background

Although incrimination of the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of IBD is widely accepted, few data are available about the role of specific bacteria. Potentially, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, bacteria with anti‐inflammatory properties, might be deficient in ulcerative colitis (UC).

Aim

To quantify F. prausnitzii in the faecal microbiota of UC patients in remission and determine its relationship with relapse.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study included 116 UC patients in remission, 29 first‐degree relatives and 31 healthy controls. A subset of eighteen patients, recruited during the first month of remission, underwent a 1‐year follow‐up. Total bacteria and F. prausnitzii were measured by quantitative Real Time PCR (qPCR, copies/g). Calprotectin was determined as inflammatory index (μg/g).

Results

We found that F. prausnitzii was reduced in patients (median, IQR: 1.4 × 108, 5.1 × 107–4.5 × 108) and relatives (1.7 × 108, 9.3 × 107–5.1 × 108) vs. controls (6.5 × 108, 3.7 × 108–1.6 × 109, P < 0.0001). Moreover, low counts of F. prausnitzii were associated with less than 12 months of remission (8.0 × 107, 2.0 × 107–3.5 × 108 vs. 2.1 × 108, 1.0 × 108–7.9 × 108, P < 0.001) and more than 1 relapse/year (8.0 × 107, 3.2 × 107–3.8 × 108 vs. 1.9 × 108, 6.8 × 107–6.0 × 108, P < 0.01). When patients were followed up, F. prausnitzii increased steadily until reaching similar levels to those of controls if remission persisted (2.9 × 108, 9.3 × 106–1.2 × 109; calprotectin: 76, 19–212), whereas it remained low if patients relapsed (2.2 × 108, 1.4 × 106–3.3 × 108; calprotectin: 1760, 844–3662 P < 0.05 vs. controls).

Conclusions

Defective gut colonisation by F. prausnitzii occurred in UC patients during remission and in their unaffected relatives. The recovery of the F. prausnitzii population after relapse is associated with maintenance of clinical remission.
A Model for Managing Corporate Sustainability
Authors: Macagno Thomas
Published: June 2013

The world is faced with unprecedented global economic, environmental, and social challenges. Sustainable development has emerged as an organizing principle for addressing these issues. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is seen as the business contribution to sustainable development. The article defines CSR as an organization's efforts to secure resources and legitimacy for survival or competitive advantage by managing nonmarket and nonregulated issues arising from complex social and environmental problems. Supporting this definition, the “sustainability issue management” (SIM) model is presented to help managers and researchers assess and manage CSR issues. Based on ecological economics, the tool originated from a larger study. The model is used to explain and discuss how the UK Government's National Indicator 185 (requiring carbon reporting from Local Authorities) shaped the action of a supplier to Local Authorities. The case illustrates how the SIM model can help both managers and researchers understand and manage CSR issues.
David v. Goliath: A Brief Assessment of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2011 Ruling Denying Class Certification in Dukes v. Wal‐Mart
Authors: Adams Ronald J.
Published: June 2013

In 2001, Betty Dukes, then a 54‐year‐old African American, filed suit against her employer, Wal‐Mart, alleging that she had been the victim of gender discrimination. Ms. Dukes alleged that Wal‐Mart, the nation's largest private employer, routinely paid women less than men for comparable work and arbitrarily favored men over women in promotion decisions. In 2004, a U.S. District Court entered an order granting class certification, potentially extending the retailer's financial liability to thousands of current and past Wal‐Mart employees. At that time, the Wal‐Mart suit was the largest class action lawsuit ever approved in the United States. In 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the lower court's ruling. Writing for the majority, Justice Scalia cited Wal‐Mart's long‐standing explicit gender‐neutral employment policy and the decentralized manner in which local managers have discretion to adjust salaries and recommend applicants for promotion—factors that led the majority to question “the glue” binding the class together. Proponents of the Court's decision hailed the ruling as a victory for business and a step in the direction of needed legal reform. Critics viewed the decision as another in a series of defeats for minority interests by a pro‐business, ideologically divided Court. Did the Court get it right, or is this yet another example of might defeating right?
The integrity of social psychology turns on the free will dilemma: Reply toBaumeister,Vonasch, andBargh
Authors: Miles James B.
Published: June 2013

The observation that whileRoyBaumeister does not accept that there is a strong link between belief in free choice and malign effects on the weak and unlucky, theBaumeister andVonasch study newly evidences discrimination against the poor and unlucky through belief in free choice. Baumeister also acknowledges that institutional‐level injustice is exacerbated by belief in free will. Bargh seems to acknowledgeBaumeister's inconsistency, but introduces a different fallacy when he suggests the debate is not really about freedom of choice. Miles argues that even for a self‐styled ‘compatibilist’ likeJohnBargh, this debate is all about free choice.