bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk of fall (RoF) intervention by affecting visual egocenter through gait analysis and yoked prisms
Authors: Padula William V. , Subramanian Prem , Spurling April , Padula William V. , Jenness Jonathan
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUND:

Following a neurologic event such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and chronic neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy a shift in the visual midline (egocenter) can directly affect posture, balance and spatial orientation. As a consequence, this increases the risk of fall (RoF) and injury that imposes a major financial burden on the public health system.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine if there is a statistically significant change in balance with the intervention of yoked prisms to reduce the risk of fall in subjects with neurological impairments.

METHODS:

Ambulation of thirty-six subjects was evaluated on a pressure sensitive mat before and after intervention with yoked prisms. Changes in gait and balance were analyzed in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) axes during ambulation.

RESULTS:

T-tests for each measure comparing the difference-of-differences to a zero change at baseline returned statistically significant reductions in both AP ( p <  0.0001; 95% CI: 1.368– 2.976) and ML ( p = 0.0002; 95% CI: 1.472– 4.173) imbalances using specifically directed yoked prisms to correct the visual midline deviation.

CONCLUSION:

These findings demonstrate that yoked prisms have the potential to provide a cost-effective means to restore the visual midline thereby improving balance, reduce RoF and subsequent injury.
Livestock-Associated MRSA: The Impact on Humans
Authors: Cuny Christiane , Wieler Lothar , Witte Wolfgang
Published: November 2015

During the past 25 years an increase in the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) was recorded worldwide. Additionally, MRSA infections may occur outside and independent of hospitals, caused by community associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). In Germany, we found that at least 10% of these sporadic infections are due to livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA), which is initially associated with livestock. The majority of these MRSA cases are attributed to clonal complex CC398. LA-MRSA CC398 colonizes the animals asymptomatically in about half of conventional pig farms. For about 77%–86% of humans with occupational exposure to pigs, nasal carriage has been reported; it can be lost when exposure is interrupted. Among family members living at the same farms, only 4%–5% are colonized. Spread beyond this group of people is less frequent. The prevalence of LA-MRSA in livestock seems to be influenced by farm size, farming systems, usage of disinfectants, and in-feed zinc. LA-MRSA CC398 is able to cause the same kind of infections in humans as S. aureus and MRSA in general. It can be introduced to hospitals and cause nosocomial infections such as postoperative surgical site infections, ventilator associated pneumonia, septicemia, and infections after joint replacement. For this reason, screening for MRSA colonization at hospital admittance is recommended for farmers and veterinarians with livestock contacts. Intrahospital dissemination, typical for HA-MRSA in the absence of sufficient hygiene, has only rarely been observed for LA-MRSA to date. The proportion of LA-MRSA among all MRSA from nosocomial infections is about 3% across Germany. In geographical areas with a comparatively high density of conventional farms, LA-MRSA accounts for up to 10% of MRSA from septicemia and 15% of MRSA from wound infections. As known from comparative genome analysis, LA-MRSA has evolved from human-adapted methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, and the jump to livestock was obviously associated with several genetic changes. Reversion of the genetic changes and readaptation to humans bears a potential health risk and requires tight surveillance. Although most LA-MRSA (>80%) is resistant to several antibiotics, there are still sufficient treatment options.
Revealing the Complexity of Breast Cancer by Next Generation Sequencing
Authors: Verigos John , Magklara Angeliki
Published: November 2015

Over the last few years the increasing usage of “-omic” platforms, supported by next-generation sequencing, in the analysis of breast cancer samples has tremendously advanced our understanding of the disease. New driver and passenger mutations, rare chromosomal rearrangements and other genomic aberrations identified by whole genome and exome sequencing are providing missing pieces of the genomic architecture of breast cancer. High resolution maps of breast cancer methylomes and sequencing of the miRNA microworld are beginning to paint the epigenomic landscape of the disease. Transcriptomic profiling is giving us a glimpse into the gene regulatory networks that govern the fate of the breast cancer cell. At the same time, integrative analysis of sequencing data confirms an extensive intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity and plasticity in breast cancer arguing for a new approach to the problem. In this review, we report on the latest findings on the molecular characterization of breast cancer using NGS technologies, and we discuss their potential implications for the improvement of existing therapies.
Distribution and Source of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Water Dissolved Phase, Suspended Particulate Matter and Sediment from Weihe River in Northwest China
Authors: Chen Yuyun , Jia Rui , Yang Shengke
Published: November 2015

Weihe River is a typical river located in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China. In this study, the distribution and sources of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Weihe River were investigated. The concentrations of ∑PAHs ranged from 351 to 4427 ng/L with a mean value of 835.4 ng/L in water dissolved phase (WDP), from 3557 ng/L to 147,907 ng/L with a mean value of 20,780 ng /L in suspended particulate matter (SPM), and from 362 to 15,667 ng/g dry weight (dw) with a mean value of 2000 ng/g dw in sediment, respectively. The concentrations of PAHs in Weihe River were higher compared with other rivers in the world. In both WDP and sediment, the highest concentrations of ∑PAHs were observed in the middle reach, while the lowest concentrations of ∑PAHs were found in the lower reach. For SPM, however, the PAHs concentrations in the lower reach were highest and the PAHs concentrations in the upper reach were lowest. The ratios of anthracene/(anthracene + phenanthrene) and fluoranthene/ (fluoranthene + pyrene) reflected a pattern of both pyrolytic and petrogenic input of PAHs in Weihe River. The potential ecosystem risk assessment indicated that harmful biological impairments occur frequently in Weihe River.
Exposure Knowledge and Perception of Wireless Communication Technologies
Authors: Freudenstein Frederik , Correia Luis , Oliveira Carla , Sebastião Daniel , Wiedemann Peter
Published: November 2015

The presented survey investigates risk and exposure perceptions of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) associated with base stations, mobile phones and other sources, the key issue being the interaction between both sets of perceptions. The study is based on a cross-sectional design, and conducted with an online sample of 838 citizens from Portugal. The results indicate that respondents’ intuitive exposure perception differs from the actual exposure levels. Furthermore, exposure and risk perceptions are found to be highly correlated. Respondents’ beliefs about exposure factors, which might influence possible health risks, is appropriate. A regression analysis between exposure characteristics, as predictor variables, and RF EMF risk perception, as the response variable, indicates that people seem to use simple heuristics to form their perceptions. What is bigger, more frequent and longer lasting is seen as riskier. Moreover, the quality of exposure knowledge is not an indicator for amplified EMF risk perception. These findings show that exposure perception is key to future risk communication.
Contribution of the Type II Chaperonin, TRiC/CCT, to Oncogenesis
Authors: Roh Soung-Hun , Kasembeli Moses , Bakthavatsalam Deenadayalan , Chiu Wah , Tweardy David
Published: November 2015

The folding of newly synthesized proteins and the maintenance of pre-existing proteins are essential in sustaining a living cell. A network of molecular chaperones tightly guides the folding, intracellular localization, and proteolytic turnover of proteins. Many of the key regulators of cell growth and differentiation have been identified as clients of molecular chaperones, which implies that chaperones are potential mediators of oncogenesis. In this review, we briefly provide an overview of the role of chaperones, including HSP70 and HSP90, in cancer. We further summarize and highlight the emerging the role of chaperonin TRiC (T-complex protein-1 ring complex, also known as CCT) in the development and progression of cancer mediated through its critical interactions with oncogenic clients that modulate growth deregulation, apoptosis, and genome instability in cancer cells. Elucidation of how TRiC modulates the folding and function of oncogenic clients will provide strategies for developing novel cancer therapies.
Connexin 50 Expression in Ependymal Stem Progenitor Cells after Spinal Cord Injury Activation
Authors: Rodriguez-Jimenez Francisco , Alastrue-Agudo Ana , Stojkovic Miodrag , Erceg Slaven , Moreno-Manzano Victoria
Published: November 2015

Ion channels included in the family of Connexins (Cx) help to control cell proliferation and differentiation of neuronal progenitors. Here we explored the role of Connexin 50 (Cx50) in cell fate modulation of adult spinal cord derived neural precursors located in the ependymal canal (epSPC). epSPC from non-injured animals showed high expression levels of Cx50 compared to epSPC from animals with spinal cord injury (SCI) (epSPCi). When epSPC or epSPCi were induced to spontaneously differentiate in vitro we found that Cx50 favors glial cell fate, since higher expression levels, endogenous or by over-expression of Cx50, augmented the expression of the astrocyte marker GFAP and impaired the neuronal marker Tuj1. Cx50 was found in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of glial cells, astrocytes and oligodendrocyte-derived cells. Similar expression patterns were found in primary cultures of mature astrocytes. In addition, opposite expression profile for nuclear Cx50 was observed when epSPC and activated epSPCi were conducted to differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes, suggesting a different role for this ion channel in spinal cord beyond cell-to-cell communication. In vivo detection of Cx50 by immunohistochemistry showed a defined location in gray matter in non-injured tissues and at the epicenter of the injury after SCI. epSPCi transplantation, which accelerates locomotion regeneration by a neuroprotective effect after acute SCI is associated with a lower signal of Cx50 within the injured area, suggesting a minor or detrimental contribution of this ion channel in spinal cord regeneration by activated epSPCi.
Retention Strength of PMMA/UDMA-Based Crowns Bonded to Dentin: Impact of Different Coupling Agents for Pretreatment
Authors: Stawarczyk Bogna , Teuss Simona , Eichberger Marlis , Roos Malgorzata , Keul Christine
Published: November 2015

Computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) polymers for long-term dental restorations benefit from enhanced mechanical properties. However, the quantification of their bonding properties on teeth is lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the retention strength (RS) of differently pretreated new developed polymethylmethacrylate/ urethanedimethacrylate-based CAD/CAM polymer bonded on dentin. In summary, 120 human caries-free molars were prepared, and polymeric crowns were milled and pretreated (n = 20): visio.link (VL), Scotchbond Universal (SU), Monobond Plus/Heliobond (MH), Margin Bond (MB), Margin Bond mixed with acetone (1:1) (MBA) or not pretreated (CG). Half of the specimens were cemented using Variolink II and the other half with RelyX Ultimate. Specimens were stored for 24 h in distilled water and thermal cycled (5000 ×, 5 °C/55 °C). The retention load was measured and failure types were defined. RS was calculated and analyzed using both two- and one-way ANOVA with a post-hoc Scheffé-test, unpaired t-test, Kaplan–Meier with Breslow–Gehan test and chi-squared test (p < 0.05). Crowns bonded using RelyX Ultimate showed higher RS than those bonded using Variolink II. The pretreatment showed no impact on the RS. However, survival analysis within Variolink II found an impact of pretreatment. The median RS for MH was the lowest and statistically different from MB, MBA and CG. For Variolink II MH had the poorest survival as the estimated cumulative failure function of the debonded crown increased very quickly with increasing TBS. Within the RelyX Ultimate groups, no significant differences were determined. The newly developed CAD/CAM polymer showed the highest bonding properties after cementation using RelyX Ultimate.
A Class of Extended Mittag–Leffler Functions and Their Properties Related to Integral Transforms and Fractional Calculus
Authors: Parmar Rakesh
Published: November 2015

In a joint paper with Srivastava and Chopra, we introduced far-reaching generalizations of the extended Gammafunction, extended Beta function and the extended Gauss hypergeometric function. In this present paper, we extend the generalized Mittag–Leffler function by means of the extended Beta function. We then systematically investigate several properties of the extended Mittag–Leffler function, including, for example, certain basic properties, Laplace transform, Mellin transform and Euler-Beta transform. Further, certain properties of the Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals and derivatives associated with the extended Mittag–Leffler function are investigated. Some interesting special cases of our main results are also pointed out.
Synergy and Other Interactions between Polymethoxyflavones from Citrus Byproducts
Authors: García Benito , Torres Ascensión , Macías Francisco
Published: November 2015

The citrus by-products released from citrus processing plants may contain high levels of potentially bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, which are a widely distributed group of polyphenolic compounds with health-related properties based on their antioxidant activity. In the study reported here, the potential bioactivities and antioxidant activities of extracts, fractions and compounds from citrus by-products were evaluated along with the chemical interactions of binary mixtures of compounds and complex mixtures. The bioactivities and interactions were evaluated in wheat coleoptile bioassays and the antioxidant activity was evaluated by the al DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhdrazyl radical) radical scavenging assay. The extracts, fractions and most of the isolated compounds (mainly polymethoxyflavones) showed high activity in the wheat coleoptile bioassay. However, the antioxidant activity was not consistently high, except in the acetone extract fractions. Moreover, a study of the interactions with binary mixtures of polymethoxyflavones showed the occurrence of synergistic effects. The complex mixtures of fractions composed mainly of polymethoxyflavones caused a synergistic effect when it was added to a bioactive compound such as anethole. The results reported here highlight a new application for the wheat coleoptile bioassay as a quick tool to detect potential synergistic effects in compounds or mixtures.
Diet, Microbiota and Immune System in Type 1 Diabetes Development and Evolution
Authors: Mejía-León María , Barca Ana
Published: November 2015

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the second most frequent autoimmune disease in childhood. The long-term micro- and macro-vascular complications of diabetes are associated with the leading causes of disability and even mortality in young adults. Understanding the T1D etiology will allow the design of preventive strategies to avoid or delay the T1D onset and to help to maintain control after developing. T1D development involves genetic and environmental factors, such as birth delivery mode, use of antibiotics, and diet. Gut microbiota could be the link between environmental factors, the development of autoimmunity, and T1D. In this review, we will focus on the dietary factor and its relationship with the gut microbiota in the complex process involved in autoimmunity and T1D. The molecular mechanisms involved will also be addressed, and finally, evidence-based strategies for potential primary and secondary prevention of T1D will be discussed.
A Dynamic Range Enhanced Readout Technique with a Two-Step TDC for High Speed Linear CMOS Image Sensors
Authors: Gao Zhiyuan , Yang Congjie , Xu Jiangtao , Nie Kaiming
Published: November 2015

This paper presents a dynamic range (DR) enhanced readout technique with a two-step time-to-digital converter (TDC) for high speed linear CMOS image sensors. A multi-capacitor and self-regulated capacitive trans-impedance amplifier (CTIA) structure is employed to extend the dynamic range. The gain of the CTIA is auto adjusted by switching different capacitors to the integration node asynchronously according to the output voltage. A column-parallel ADC based on a two-step TDC is utilized to improve the conversion rate. The conversion is divided into coarse phase and fine phase. An error calibration scheme is also proposed to correct quantization errors caused by propagation delay skew within −Tclk~+Tclk. A linear CMOS image sensor pixel array is designed in the 0.13 μm CMOS process to verify this DR-enhanced high speed readout technique. The post simulation results indicate that the dynamic range of readout circuit is 99.02 dB and the ADC achieves 60.22 dB SNDR and 9.71 bit ENOB at a conversion rate of 2 MS/s after calibration, with 14.04 dB and 2.4 bit improvement, compared with SNDR and ENOB of that without calibration.
Are Australian Universities Making Good Use of ICT for CSR Reporting?
Authors: Sánchez Raquel , Bolívar Manuel , Hernández Antonio
Published: November 2015

The higher education system in Australia has witnessed various government initiatives that have provided funding to integrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues and thus contribute to the training of professionals with a strong sense of ethics, social values and concern for the repercussions of business activities in society. There are increasing demands from stakeholders for more transparent and more accountable information, including questions related to CSR. This paper analyses the policies and communication strategies regarding CSR information applied in Australian universities and considers whether they are making good use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to facilitate interaction with stakeholders. The results show that ICT have not been considered a relevant tool in terms of improving accountability regarding CSR concerns in Australian universities, although they could represent a differentiation factor in the competitive environment of higher education.
Carbon Footprint of Tree Nuts Based Consumer Products
Authors: Volpe Roberto , Messineo Simona , Volpe Maurizio , Messineo Antonio
Published: November 2015

This case study shows results of a calculation of carbon footprint (CFP) resulting from the production of nuts added value products for a large consumer market. Nuts consumption is increasing in the world and so is the consumer awareness of the environmental impact of goods, hence the calculation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of food production is of growing importance for producers. Calculation of CO2eq emissions was performed for all stages of the production chain to the final retail point for flour, grains, paste, chocolate covered nuts and spreadable cream produced from almonds, pistachios and hazelnuts grown and transformed in Italy and for peanuts grown in Argentina and transformed in Italy. Data from literature was used to evaluate CFP of raw materials, emissions from transport and packing were calculated using existing models, while emissions deriving from transformation were calculated empirically by multiplying the power of production lines (electrical and/or thermal) by its productivity. All values were reported in kg of CO2 equivalent for each kg of packed product (net weight). Resulting values ranged between 1.2 g of CO2/kg for a 100 g bag of almond to 4.8 g of CO2/kg for the 100 g bag of chocolate covered almond. The calculation procedure can be well used for similar cases of large consumer food productions.
Questionnaire about the Adverse Events and Side Effects Following Botulinum Toxin A Treatment in Patients with Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Blaszczyk Izabela , Foumani Nazli , Ljungberg Christina , Wiberg Mikael
Published: November 2015

Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections for treatment of spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) have been used for about two decades. The treatment is considered safe but a low frequency of adverse events (AE) has been reported. A good method to report AEs is necessary to verify the safety of the treatment. We decided to use an active surveillance of treatment-induced harm using a questionnaire we created. We studied the incidence of reported AEs and side effects in patients with CP treated with BoNT-A. We investigated the relationship between the incidence of AEs or side effects and gender, age, weight, total dose, dose per body weight, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and number of treated body parts. Seventy-four patients with CP participated in our study. In 54 (51%) of 105 BoNT-A treatments performed in 45 (61%) patients, there were 95 AEs and side effects reported, out of which 50 were generalized and/or focal distant. Severe AEs occurred in three patients (4%), and their BoNT-A treatment was discontinued. Consecutive collection of the AE and side-effect incidence using our questionnaire can increase the safety of BoNT-A treatment in patients with CP.
Resistance of Hepatitis C Virus to Inhibitors: Complexity and Clinical Implications
Authors: Perales Celia , Quer Josep , Gregori Josep , Esteban Juan , Domingo Esteban
Published: November 2015

Selection of inhibitor-resistant viral mutants is universal for viruses that display quasi-species dynamics, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is no exception. Here we review recent results on drug resistance in HCV, with emphasis on resistance to the newly-developed, directly-acting antiviral agents, as they are increasingly employed in the clinic. We put the experimental observations in the context of quasi-species dynamics, in particular what the genetic and phenotypic barriers to resistance mean in terms of exploration of sequence space while HCV replicates in the liver of infected patients or in cell culture. Strategies to diminish the probability of viral breakthrough during treatment are briefly outlined.
Oncolytic Replication of E1b-Deleted Adenoviruses
Authors: Cheng Pei-Hsin , Wechman Stephen , McMasters Kelly , Zhou Heshan
Published: November 2015

Various viruses have been studied and developed for oncolytic virotherapies. In virotherapy, a relatively small amount of viruses used in an intratumoral injection preferentially replicate in and lyse cancer cells, leading to the release of amplified viral particles that spread the infection to the surrounding tumor cells and reduce the tumor mass. Adenoviruses (Ads) are most commonly used for oncolytic virotherapy due to their infection efficacy, high titer production, safety, easy genetic modification, and well-studied replication characteristics. Ads with deletion of E1b55K preferentially replicate in and destroy cancer cells and have been used in multiple clinical trials. H101, one of the E1b55K-deleted Ads, has been used for the treatment of late-stage cancers as the first approved virotherapy agent. However, the mechanism of selective replication of E1b-deleted Ads in cancer cells is still not well characterized. This review will focus on three potential molecular mechanisms of oncolytic replication of E1b55K-deleted Ads. These mechanisms are based upon the functions of the viral E1B55K protein that are associated with p53 inhibition, late viralmRNAexport, and cell cycle disruption.
Performance Assessment of Hydrological Models Considering Acceptable Forecast Error Threshold
Authors: Dong Qianjin , Lu Fan
Published: November 2015

It is essential to consider the acceptable threshold in the assessment of a hydrological model because of the scarcity of research in the hydrology community and errors do not necessarily cause risk. Two forecast errors, including rainfall forecast error and peak flood forecast error, have been studied based on the reliability theory. The first order second moment (FOSM) and bound methods are used to identify the reliability. Through the case study of the Dahuofang (DHF) Reservoir, it is shown that the correlation between these two errors has great influence on the reliability index of hydrological model. In particular, the reliability index of the DHF hydrological model decreases with the increasing correlation. Based on the reliability theory, the proposed performance evaluation framework incorporating the acceptable forecast error threshold and correlation among the multiple errors can be used to evaluate the performance of a hydrological model and to quantify the uncertainties of a hydrological model output.
Spatial Modeling of Rainfall Patterns over the Ebro River Basin Using Multifractality and Non-Parametric Statistical Techniques
Authors: Valencia José , Tarquis Ana , Saa Antonio , Villeta María , Gascó José
Published: November 2015

Rainfall, one of the most important climate variables, is commonly studied due to its great heterogeneity, which occasionally causes negative economic, social, and environmental consequences. Modeling the spatial distributions of rainfall patterns over watersheds has become a major challenge for water resources management. Multifractal analysis can be used to reproduce the scale invariance and intermittency of rainfall processes. To identify which factors are the most influential on the variability of multifractal parameters and, consequently, on the spatial distribution of rainfall patterns for different time scales in this study, universal multifractal (UM) analysis—C1, α, and γs UM parameters—was combined with non-parametric statistical techniques that allow spatial-temporal comparisons of distributions by gradients. The proposed combined approach was applied to a daily rainfall dataset of 132 time-series from 1931 to 2009, homogeneously spatially-distributed across a 25 km × 25 km grid covering the Ebro River Basin. A homogeneous increase in C1 over the watershed and a decrease in α mainly in the western regions, were detected, suggesting an increase in the frequency of dry periods at different scales and an increase in the occurrence of rainfall process variability over the last decades.
Sensitivity Analysis of Flow and Temperature Distributions of Density Currents in a River-Reservoir System under Upstream Releases with Different Durations
Authors: Chen Gang , Fang Xing
Published: November 2015

A calibrated three-dimensional Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code model was applied to simulate unsteady flow patterns and temperature distributions in the Bankhead river-reservoir system in Alabama, USA. A series of sensitivity model runs were performed under daily repeated large releases (DRLRs) with different durations (2, 4 and 6 h) from Smith Dam Tailrace (SDT) when other model input variables were kept unchanged. The density currents in the river-reservoir system form at different reaches, are destroyed at upstream locations due to the flow momentum of the releases, and form again due to solar heating. DRLRs (140 m3/s) with longer durations push the bottom cold water further downstream and maintain a cooler bottom water temperature. For the 6-h DRLR, the momentum effect definitely reaches Cordova (~43.7 km from SDT). Positive bottom velocity (density currents moving downstream) is achieved 48.4%, 69.0% and 91.1% of the time with an average velocity of 0.017, 0.042 and 0.053 m/s at Cordova for the 2-h, 4-h and 6-h DRLR, respectively. Results show that DRLRs lasting for at least 4 h maintain lower water temperatures at Cordova. When the 4-h and 6-h DRLRs repeat for more than 6 and 10 days, respectively, bottom temperatures at Cordova become lower than those for the constant small release (2.83 m3/s). These large releases overwhelm the mixing effects due to inflow momentum and maintain temperature stratification at Cordova.
Shifts in diversification rates linked to biogeographic movement into new areas: An example of a recent radiation in the Andes
Authors: Uribe‐Convers Simon , Tank David C.
Published: November 2015

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

Clade‐specific bursts in diversification are often associated with the evolution of key innovations. However, in groups with no obvious morphological innovations, observed upticks in diversification rates have also been attributed to the colonization of a new geographic environment. In this study, we explore the systematics, diversification dynamics, and historical biogeography of the plant clade Rhinantheae in the Orobanchaceae, with a special focus on the Andean clade of the genusBartsia.

METHODS:

We sampled taxa from across Rhinantheae, including a representative sample of AndeanBartsiaspecies. Using standard phylogenetic methods, we reconstructed evolutionary relationships, inferred divergence times among the clades of Rhinantheae, elucidated their biogeographic history, and investigated diversification dynamics.

KEY RESULTS:

We confirmed that the South AmericanBartsiaspecies form a highly supported monophyletic group. The median crown age of Rhinantheae was determined to be ca. 30 Myr, and Europe played an important role in the biogeographic history of the lineages. South America was first reconstructed in the biogeographic analyses around 9 Myr ago, and with a median age of 2.59 Myr, this clade shows a significant uptick in diversification.

CONCLUSIONS:

Increased net diversification of the South American clade corresponds to biogeographic movement into the New World. This movement happened at a time when the Andes were reaching the necessary elevation to host an alpine environment. Although a specific route could not be identified with certainty, we provide plausible hypotheses to how the group colonized the New World.
Exploring the fossil history of pleurocarpous mosses: Tricostaceae fam. nov. from the Cretaceous of Vancouver Island, Canada
Authors: Shelton Glenn W.K. , Stockey Ruth A. , Rothwell Gar W. , Tomescu Alexandru M.F.
Published: November 2015

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

Mosses, very diverse in modern ecosystems, are currently underrepresented in the fossil record. For the pre‐Cenozoic, fossil mosses are known almost exclusively from compression fossils, while anatomical preservation, which is much more taxonomically informative, is rare. The Lower Cretaceous of Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada) hosts a diverse anatomically preserved flora at Apple Bay. While the vascular plant component of the Apple Bay flora has received much attention, the numerous bryophytes identified at the locality have yet to be characterized.

METHODS:

Fossil moss gametophytes in more than 20 carbonate concretions collected from the Apple Bay locality on Vancouver Island were studied in serial sections prepared using the cellulose acetate peel technique.

KEY RESULTS:

We describe Tricosta plicata gen. et sp. nov., a pleurocarpous moss with much‐branched gametophytes, tricostate plicate leaves, rhizoid‐bearing bases, and delicate gametangia (antheridia and archegonia) borne on specialized branches. A new family of hypnanaean mosses, Tricostaceae fam. nov., is recognized based on the novel combination of characters of T. plicata.

CONCLUSIONS:

Tricosta plicata reveals pleurocarpous moss diversity unaccounted for in extant floras. This new moss adds the first bryophyte component to an already diverse assemblage of vascular plants described from the Early Cretaceous at Apple Bay and, as the oldest representative of the Hypnanae, provides a hard minimum age for the group (136 Ma).
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Collard Landraces and their Relationship to Other Brassica oleracea Crops
Authors: Pelc Sandra E. , Couillard David M. , Stansell Zachary J. , Farnham Mark W.
Published: November 2015

Landraces have the potential to provide a reservoir of genetic diversity for crop improvement to combat the genetic erosion of the food supply. A landrace collection of the vitamin‐rich specialty crop collard (Brassica oleracea L. var. viridis) was genetically characterized to assess its potential for improving the diverse crop varieties of B. oleracea. We used the Illumina 60K Brassica SNP BeadChip array with 52,157 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to (i) clarify the relationship of collard to the most economically important B. oleracea crop types, (ii) evaluate genetic diversity and population structure of 75 collard landraces, and (iii) assess the potential of the collection for genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) through characterization of genomic patterns of linkage disequilibrium. Confirming the collection as a valuable genetic resource, the collard landraces had twice the polymorphic markers (11,322 SNPs) and 10 times the variety‐specific alleles (521 alleles) of the remaining crop types examined in this study. On average, linkage disequilibrium decayed to background levels within 600 kilobase (kb), allowing for sufficient coverage of the genome for GWAS using the physical positions of the 8273 SNPs polymorphic among the landraces. Although other relationships varied, the previous placement of collard with the cabbage family was confirmed through phylogenetic analysis and principal coordinates analysis (PCoA).
A Population Structure and Genome‐Wide Association Analysis on the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection
Authors: Bandillo Nonoy , Jarquin Diego , Song Qijian , Nelson Randall , Cregan Perry , Specht Jim , Lorenz Aaron
Published: November 2015

Population structure analyses and genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) conducted on crop germplasm collections provide valuable information on the frequency and distribution of alleles governing economically important traits. The value of these analyses is substantially enhanced when the accession numbers can be increased from ∼1,000 to ∼10,000 or more. In this research, we conducted the first comprehensive analysis of population structure on the collection of 14,000 soybean accessions [Glycine max (L.) Merr. and G. soja Siebold & Zucc.] using a 50K‐SNP chip. Accessions originating from Japan were relatively homogenous and distinct from the Korean accessions. As a whole, both Japanese and Korean accessions diverged from the Chinese accessions. The ancestry of founders of the American accessions derived mostly from two Chinese subpopulations, which reflects the composition of the American accessions as a whole. A 12,000 accession GWAS conducted on seed protein and oil is the largest reported to date in plants and identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with strong signals on chromosomes 20 and 15. A chromosome 20 region previously reported to be important for protein and oil content was further narrowed and now contains only three plausible candidate genes. The haplotype effects show a strong negative relationship between oil and protein at this locus, indicating negative pleiotropic effects or multiple closely linked loci in repulsion phase linkage. The vast majority of accessions carry the haplotype allele conferring lower protein and higher oil. Our results provide a fuller understanding of the distribution of genetic variation contained within the USDA soybean collection and how it relates to phenotypic variation for economically important traits.
Pregnancy Outcomes in Subjects Exposed to Certolizumab Pegol
Authors: Clowse Megan E.B. , Wolf Douglas C. , Förger Frauke , Cush John J. , Golembesky Amanda , Shaughnessy Laura , De Cuyper Dirk , Mahadevan Uma
Published: November 2015

Objective.

To provide information on pregnancy outcomes in women receiving certolizumab pegol (CZP).

Methods.

The UCB Pharma safety database was searched for pregnancies through to September 1, 2014. Reports for maternal and paternal CZP exposure were included and outcomes examined, and data on CZP exposure, pregnancy, comorbidities, and infant events were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Concomitant medications and disease activity were reviewed for clinical trial patients.

Results.

Of 625 reported pregnancies, 372 (59.5%) had known outcomes. Paternal exposure pregnancies (n = 33) reported 27 live births, 4 miscarriages, 1 induced abortion, and 1 stillbirth. Maternal exposure pregnancies (n = 339) reported 254 live births, 52 miscarriages, 32 induced abortions, and 1 stillbirth. Almost all reported pregnancies had exposure to CZP in the first trimester, when organogenesis takes place, and a third of them continued the drug into the second and/or third trimesters. The most frequent indications for maternal CZP use were Crohn disease (192/339) and rheumatic diseases (118/339). Twelve cases of congenital malformation and a single neonatal death were reported.

Conclusion.

Analysis of pregnancy outcomes after exposure to CZP supports previous reports, suggesting a lack of harmful effect of maternal CZP exposure on pregnancy outcomes. However, additional data from a larger number of outcomes after exposure and studies including an unexposed comparison group are required to fully evaluate CZP safety and tolerability in pregnancy.
Effects of Aerobic Training in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Jennings Fábio , Oliveira Hilda Alcântara , de Souza Marcelo Cardoso , Cruz Vaneska da Graça , Natour Jamil
Published: November 2015

Objective.

To evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods.

Seventy patients classified with AS by the modified New York criteria were included. The patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups. The intervention group (IG) performed 50 min of walking followed by stretching exercises 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The control group (CG) performed only stretching exercises. The outcome measurements were the Bath indexes [Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI)], Health Assessment Questionnaire for the Spondyloarthropathies (HAQ-S), AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), the 6-min walk test (6MWT), chest expansion, and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. Aerobic capacity was assessed by ergospirometry on a treadmill. Routine laboratory techniques were used in determining lipid levels. Assessments were performed immediately before randomization and after 6, 12, and 24 weeks.

Results.

Thirty-five patients were randomized to the IG and 35 to the CG. There was significant improvement in the BASFI, HAQ-S, BASMI, BASDAI, and ASDAS in both groups (p < 0.05), but did not differ between groups. There was a significant increase in the walking distance in the 6MWT in the IG compared with CG (p < 0.001). The IG showed significant improvement in cardiopulmonary capacity compared with CG. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels did not change in either group.

Conclusion.

In patients with AS, aerobic training improved walking distance and aerobic capacity. Aerobic training did not provide additional benefits in functional capacity, mobility, disease activity, quality of life, and lipid levels when compared with stretching exercises alone.
La Suisse au service des intérêts américains à Cuba ou le succès de la politique de neutralité et solidarité (1961-1963)
Authors: Fracheboud Virginie
Published: November 2015

R ésumé . – Cet article analyse le rôle de la Suisse comme puissance protectrice des intérêts américains à Cuba entre 1961 et 1963. À un moment d’escalade sans précédent des tensions entre Cuba et les États-Unis, les diplomates suisses sont soumis aux pressions intenses de ces deux pays. Cette position au cœur de la Guerre froide pourrait exposer la Suisse à des critiques contre sa neutralité. Toutefois, une ouverture prudente de la part des représentants helvétiques à l’égard des autorités cubaines leur permet de gagner la confiance de ces dernières et ainsi de faciliter leur mission, en dépit de l’alignement de Berne sur la politique américaine. Le succès de sa diplomatie des bons offices à La Havane vaut à la Suisse de voir l’utilité politique de sa neutralité reconnue par Washington.
Une défense discrète et flexible des intérêts économiques suisses. Les cas du Ghana et du Congo au début de leur indépendance
Authors: Humbert Mathieu
Published: November 2015

R ésumé . – Au début des années 1960, le vif intérêt que suscitent le Ghana et la République du Congo (Léopoldville) dans les milieux économiques suisses, attirés par le dynamisme de ces marchés nouvellement indépendants, est rapidement mis à mal par les politiques autoritaires de Nkrumah et de Mobutu qui bouleversent la physionomie des activités commerciales et financières en vigueur durant la colonisation. Dans cet article, nous nous focalisons sur la défense des intérêts helvétiques dans ces deux territoires, alors au centre des enjeux la Guerre froide en Afrique subsaharienne. Nous avançons que la Confédération helvétique n’a pas encore mis en place de stratégie claire pour soutenir les activités des acteurs suisses au cours des premières années d’indépendance, mais que cette situation ne les empêche toutefois pas d’éviter les multiples écueils qui menacent leurs intérêts au Ghana et dans la République du Congo.
Los gonfotéridos (Mammalia, Proboscidea) de Uruguay: taxonomía, estratigrafía y cronología
Authors: Perea D. , Alberdi M. T.
Published: November 2015

En Uruguay se han hallado numerosos aunque relativamente fragmentarios restos de Gomphotheriidae. Pertenecientes a esta familia existen materiales asignados a la Formación Camacho (Mioceno tardío), y a unidades del Pleistoceno y Holoceno temprano (formaciones Sopas, Libertad y Dolores). Las formaciones Camacho y Sopas contienen restos de Gomphotheridae indeterminados, mientras que la especie Stegomastodon platensis está identificada para las formaciones Libertad y Dolores. Entendemos taxonómicamente adecuado el criterio de mantener a los gonfotéridos habitantes de las planicies sudamericanas bajo el género Stegomastodon y considerar dicha especie como única representante del género en Sudamérica.
Agregación de sedimentos en una cuenca de llanura: utilización del Microscopio Electrónico de Barrido como herramienta de evaluación
Authors: Suarez P. , Orfeo O.
Published: November 2015

El estudio de materiales movilizados a través de los sistemas fluviales es de gran interés para resolver cuestiones tanto ambientales como de ingeniería. La presencia de sedimentos formando agregados, es frecuente en sistemas fluviales con lechos ricos en materiales finos. La abundante presencia de materia orgánica, la alta concentración de sales, y la baja velocidad de la corriente son algunos factores que favorecen esta agregación, la cual afecta directamente las posibilidades de movilización de los sedimentos. En este trabajo se evaluó la presencia de agregados naturales en los sedimentos de fondo del río Negro, tributario del río Paraná, ubicado en la provincia del Chaco (Argentina). Para ello se realizaron análisis granulométricos en etapas consecutivas de procesamiento de muestras que evaluaron los efectos de la presencia de materia orgánica y las sales disueltas en el estado de agregación de las partículas sedimentarias. En cada etapa las muestras fueron observadas bajo Microscopio Electrónico de Barrido (MEB). Los resultados conseguidos representan la primera evaluación cuantitativa sobre la presencia de agregados naturales de sedimentos en un río de la llanura Chaqueña, pudiéndose usar además como referencia para la caracterización de otros ríos similares. Los resultados obtenidos permiten apreciar un aumento marcado de la fracción limo al eliminar materia orgánica, y de la fracción arcilla al eliminar el efecto electroquímico producto de las altas concentraciones salinas. Se concluye que para estudios destinados a interpretaciones ambientales no es recomendable el uso de técnicas que incluyan eliminación de materia orgánica particulada fina y la dispersión química, pues la información generada puede conducir a una interpretación sesgada de la dinámica de transporte de los sedimentos en el medio natural.
Vasopressors and Development of Pressure Ulcers in Adult Critical Care Patients
Authors: Cox Jill , Roche Sharon
Published: November 2015

Background

Vasopressors are lifesaving agents used to raise mean arterial pressure in critically ill patients in shock states. The pharmacodynamics of these agents suggest vasopressors may play a role in development of pressure ulcers; however, this aspect has been understudied.

Objective

To examine associations between type, dose, and duration of vasopressors (norepinephrine, epinephrine, vasopressin, phenylephrine, dopamine) and development of pressure ulcers in medical-surgical and cardiothoracic intensive care unit patients and to examine predictors of the development of pressure ulcers in these patients.

Methods

A retrospective correlational design was used in a sample of 306 medical-surgical and cardiothoracic intensive care unit patients who received vasopressor agents during 2012.

Results

Norepinephrine and vasopressin were significantly associated with development of pressure ulcers; vasopressin was the only significant predictor in multivariate analysis. In addition, mean arterial pressure less than 60 mm Hg in patients receiving vasopressors, cardiac arrest, and mechanical ventilation longer than 72 hours were predictive of development of pressure ulcers. Patients with a cardiac diagnosis at the time of admission to the intensive care unit were less likely than patients without such a diagnosis to experience pressure ulcers while in the unit.

Conclusion

The addition of vasopressin administered concomitantly with a first-line agent (often norepinephrine) may represent the point at which the risk for pressure ulcers escalates and may be an early warning to heighten strategies to prevent pressure ulcers. Conversely, because vasopressors cannot be terminated to avert development of pressure ulcers, these findings may add to the body of knowledge on factors that potentially contribute to the development of unavoidable pressure ulcers.
Increasing Parental Participation During Rounds in a Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Blankenship Angela , Harrison Sheilah , Brandt Sarah , Joy Brian , Simsic Janet M.
Published: November 2015

Background

Inviting parents of sick children to participate during the rounding process may reduce parents’ anxiety and improve communication between the parents and the health care team.

Objectives

To increase the percentage of available parents invited to participate in morning rounds in a pediatric cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CTICU).

Methods

Invitations to parents to participate in morning CTICU rounds were randomly audited from June 2012 to April 2014 (mean, 15 audits per month). From June 2012 to February 2013 (before intervention), 73% of parents available during morning rounds received an invitation to participate. From April 2013 to May 2013, the following interventions (family participation bundle) were implemented: (1) staff education, (2)“Invitation to Rounds” handout added to the parent welcome packet with verbal explanation, (3) bedside tool provided for parents to communicate desire to participate in rounds with the team, (4) reminder to invite parents added to nursing rounding sheet. Following interventions, family feedback was obtained by 1-on-1 (physician-parent) open-ended conversation.

Results

From April 2013 to April 2014, 94% of parents available during morning rounds received an invitation to participate. Reasons for not participating: chose not to participate (63%), sleeping—staff reluctant to wake (25%), not English speaking (7%), breastfeeding (5%).

Conclusion

Implementation of a family participation bundle was successful in increasing invitations to parents to participate during morning rounds in the CTICU. Engagement of staff and addressing specific staff concerns was instrumental in the project’s success.