bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postictal immobility and generalized EEG suppression are associated with the severity of respiratory dysfunction
Authors: Kuo Jonathan , Zhao Wenjie , Li Chin‐Shang , Kennedy Jeffrey D. , Seyal Masud
Published: January 2016

Objective

The pathophysiology of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) remains undetermined. Seizures are accompanied by respiratory dysfunction (RD). Postictal generalized electroencephalography (EEG) suppression (PGES) may follow generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCS). Following GTCS patients have impaired arousal and may be motionless. Patients with SUDEP are usually prone. Postictal immobility (PI) may contribute to SUDEP by not permitting repositioning of the head to allow unimpeded ventilation. To determine whether RD and/or ictal characteristics are associated with PI, we analyzed patients with GTCS in the epilepsy monitoring unit.

Method

We investigated for associations between PI duration and PGES, ictal/postictal oxygen saturation (SpO2), end‐tidal CO2 (ETCO2), seizure localization, duration, and tonic and total convulsive phase duration. We investigated for linkage between PGES and these measures.

Results

Seventy patients with 181 GTCS and available SpO2 and/or ETCO2 data were studied. Simple linear regression analysis by seizures showed that PI duration was associated with peak periictal ETCO2 (p = 0.03), duration of oxygen desaturation (p = 0.005) and with SpO2 nadir (p = 0.02). PI duration was not associated with tonic, convulsive phase or total seizure duration. Analysis by patients also showed significant association of PI with RD. Duration of PI was longer following seizures with PGES (p < 0.001). PGES was not associated with the tonic, convulsive phase or total seizure duration. SpO2 nadir was lower in seizures with PGES (p = 0.046), ETCO2 peak change (p = 0.003) was higher, and duration of ETCO2 elevation (p = 0.03) was longer. Multivariable regression analysis showed that PGES and severe RD were associated with PI duration.

Significance

The duration of PI and presence of PGES are associated with periictal RD. The duration of PI is also associated with the presence of PGES. Seizure duration or duration of the convulsive phase is not associated with PI or PGES. Interventions aimed at reversing impaired arousal and PI may reduce SUDEP risk.
Offene Welt—Beschränktes Glück: Jean Pauls “Leben des vergnügten Schulmeisterlein Maria Wutz” als literarisches Zeugnis einer Übergangsepoche
Authors: Niethardt Sandra M. C.
Published: January 2016

Jean Pauls Erzählung über das “Leben des vergnügten Schulmeisterlein Wutz in Auenthal. Eine Art Idylle” (1791/1793) stammt aus einer Zeit, die Historiker, Soziologen und Literaturwissenschaftler wie Reinhart Koselleck, Niklas Luhmann, Friedrich Kittler u.a. als eine Zeit des Übergangs und umfassender Veränderungen beschrieben haben. An Jean Pauls Text haben Forscher bis jetzt vor allem die Gegenüberstellung von Wutz' idyllischer Welt und der von Todesbewusstsein und der Suche nach Sinn geprägten Welt des Erzählers hervorgehoben, in der sich der Erzähler als modernes, autonomes Subjekt behaupten muss. In dem vorliegenden Artikel stelle ich jedoch die These auf, dass solch eine dichotome Interpretation der Komplexität des Textes nicht gerecht wird und daran scheitert, Inkonsistenzen und scheinbare Paradoxa im Erzählerbericht zu erklären. Vielmehr verfolge ich die These, dass diese Brechungen als Symptome der Sinnsuche des Erzählers gelesen werden können, nachdem herkömmliche Autoritäten diesen nicht mehr bereitzustellen in der Lage sind. Retrospektiv kann so Jean Pauls Text als Zeugnis eines Prozesses der Des‐ und Neuorientiemng gelesen werden, der den Übergang von Früher Neuzeit zur Moderne begleitete. Statt eines vollausgebildeten modernen Subjekts tritt uns so im “Schulmeisterlein Wutz” ein Erzähler entgegen, an dem wir beobachten können, welch mühsame Aufgabe die Entwicklung einer neuen Identität ist.
Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) carers' perceptions of oral care in residential aged care settings in Perth, Western Australia
Authors: Adebayo Bola , Durey Angela , Slack‐Smith Linda M.
Published: January 2016

Objective

The aims of the study were twofold: to explore African migrant carers' perceptions of oral health who worked in residential aged care and to investigate their perspectives of oral care for aged care residents.

Background

Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) carers are strongly represented in Australian residential aged care facilities.

Methods

Exploratory qualitative research targeted carers from African backgrounds working in residential aged care facilities in Perth, Western Australia. Fifteen African carers were recruited through community networks and participated in semistructured interviews. Data were analysed for key themes related to the study's aims noting similarities and differences between participants.

Results

All participants considered oral health important to individual well‐being and quality of life. Most had limited knowledge of prevention and early detection of oral disease resulting from regular dental check‐ups with the majority visiting dental professionals only for dental pain. Yet participants considered oral health care for residents needed improvement. Suggestions included dental professionals on staff and training and professional development for all staff not just in oral health care but also in working respectfully and sensitively with residents and staff from CALD backgrounds.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that, to ensure residents receive high quality oral health care, ongoing professional development is required, not only for CALD carers in oral health but also for non‐CALD staff in care that is respectful of cultural differences.
Glass–ceramics bonding in geriatric patients: comparison with young teeth
Authors: Türk Ayşe Gözde , Cal Ebru , Unal Sena , Güneri Pelin , Ulusoy Mübin , Ozden Meltem
Published: January 2016

Objective

The aim of the study was to assess whether in geriatric patients, the shear bond strength (SBS) of glass–ceramics differed when compared to young controls.

Background

In the need of aesthetic restorations for geriatric patients, reliable bonding of glass–ceramics should be accomplished; however, glass–ceramics bonding on aged tooth structures is still unclear.

Materials and methods

Sixty extracted molars from young and geriatric patients [18–25 (Y), and 65–80 (O)] were cut buccolingually to prepare enamel (E) and dentin (D) surfaces. Both surfaces were randomly divided into three groups according to the resin cements: Variolink II (V); Superbond (S); and Clearfil Esthetic Cement (C) (n = 10). Disc‐shaped glass–ceramics (IPS E‐max Press) (n = 120) were prepared. Specimens were bonded and subjected to thermocycling. SBS test was performed using a universal testing machine (0.5 mm/min). After debonding, the surfaces were examined using stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope. Data were statistically analysed with Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Levene, anova and Bonferroni tests (p = 0.05).

Results

There were no significant differences between the old and young teeth surfaces. V showed the highest SBS [MPa(SD)] on both enamel and dentin [36.7 (6.5) (YE), 23.2 (13.2) (YD), 32.1 (16.2) (OE), 25.5 (8.6) (OD), respectively]. Significant differences were observed between resin cements (p < 0.05). The failure types were 43% adhesive between tooth and cement, 48% mix, 9% adhesive between cement and ceramic, regardless of cement type.

Conclusion

In geriatric patients, the shear bond strength of glass–ceramics did not differ when compared to that of young controls. On the dentin surface, etch–rinse resin cements appear to be more appropriate for glass–ceramics bonding.
SSB binds to the RecG and PriA helicases in vivo in the absence of DNA
Authors: Yu Cong , Tan Hui Yin , Choi Meerim , Stanenas Adam J. , Byrd Alicia K. , D. Raney Kevin , Cohan Christopher S. , Bianco Piero R.
Published: January 2016

The E. coli single‐stranded DNA‐binding protein (SSB) binds to the fork DNA helicases RecG and PriA in vitro. Typically for binding to occur, 1.3 m ammonium sulfate must be present, bringing into question the validity of these results as these are nonphysiological conditions. To determine whether SSB can bind to these helicases, we examined binding in vivo. First, using fluorescence microscopy, we show that SSB localizes PriA and RecG to the vicinity of the inner membrane in the absence of DNA damage. Localization requires that SSB be in excess over the DNA helicases and the SSB C‐terminus and both PriA and RecG be present. Second, using the purification of tagged complexes, our results show that SSB binds to PriA and RecG in vivo, in the absence of DNA. We propose that this may be the ‘storage form’ of RecG and PriA. We further propose that when forks stall, RecG and PriA are targeted to the fork by SSB, which, by virtue of its high affinity for single‐stranded DNA, allows these helicases to outcompete other proteins. This ensures their actions in the early stages of the rescue of stalled replication forks.
Characteristics of non‐obese non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease: Effect of genetic and environmental factors
Authors: Honda Yasushi , Yoneda Masato , Kessoku Takaomi , Ogawa Yuji , Tomeno Wataru , Imajo Kento , Mawatari Hironori , Fujita Koji , Hyogo Hideyuki , Ueno Takato , Chayama Kazuaki , Saito Satoru , Nakajima Atsushi , Hotta Kikuko
Published: January 2016

Aim

There are a considerable number of patients with non‐obese non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the clinical characteristics of non‐obese NAFLD is not fully understood. We investigated genetic and other clinical parameters in non‐obese and obese NAFLD.

Methods

The single nucleotide polymorphism rs738409 in the patatin‐like phospholipase 3 gene (PNPLA3) was genotyped by the Invader assay in 540 NAFLD patients (134 non‐obese and 406 obese) and 1012 control subjects (782 non‐obese and 230 obese). All NAFLD patients underwent liver biopsy. Odds ratios were calculated by multiple logistic regression analysis using age, sex, body mass index (BMI), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and rs738409 genotype as explanatory variables.

Results

Non‐obese NAFLD subjects had a higher rs738409 GG genotype than obese NAFLD. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the odds ratios of T2DM and rs738409 GG genotype for NAFLD were higher in non‐obese than in obese groups. In non‐obese NAFLD, rs738409 GG genotype was associated with lobular inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning and NAFLD activity score. In obese NAFLD, BMI and T2DM but not rs738409 GG genotype were associated with severity of histology.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that the risk factors for the development and progression of NAFLD were different between non‐obese and obese patients and that PNPLA3 rs738409 was strongly associated with the development and progression of non‐obese NAFLD.
Medieval Misogyny or Gendered Politics: Rethinking John Gerson (1363–1429)
Authors: McLoughlin Nancy
Published: January 2016

The late medieval Parisian university chancellor Jean Gerson (1363–1429) offers a productive case study for integrating biographically centered intellectual histories with feminist critiques as a means of understanding the perpetuation and evolution of misogyny. Gerson's famous denunciations of medieval women's mysticism contributed to the early modern European witch hunts and an intensification of clerical oversight of pious women's spiritual practices. Gerson, however, also defended women's capacity for contemplation and right to well‐informed and conscientious pastoral care. This essay juxtaposes Gerson‐centered and feminist treatments of Gerson's misogynist legacy for the sake of focusing researchers' attention on the forces that conspired to encourage Gerson and other similar individuals, who have been sympathetic to women's concerns in some instances, to make aggressive and virulent contributions to misogynist ideas and policies.
New Directions in the Study of Visigothic Spain
Authors: Wood Jamie , Martínez Jiménez Javier
Published: January 2016

Since the fall of the Visigothic kingdom in 711, analysis of its history has been tied to contemporary Spanish politics. Political and economic developments in Spain since the 1970s have driven research into the late antique and early medieval period. Most notably, archaeological evidence has come to play a much more prominent role in analyses of the Visigothic period in Spain. This article synthesises archaeological and historical research from the past 20 years. It draws on recent developments in urban and rural archaeology in order to examine key avenues of research on the period: the negotiated nature of power, post‐Roman identity politics, and law and literacy.
Private Lives, Public History: Navigating Historical Consciousness in Australia
Authors: Clark Anna
Published: January 2016

Contests over Australian history captivate governments, historians and public commentators; they grab headlines and spawn endless public commentary. The ‘history wars’, as those debates have come to be known, play out over museum exhibits, national commemorations, public apologies and the ways we teach the past to the next generation: should the Australian War Memorial commemorate the victims of the Australian frontier wars? Should Australians be sorry for historical actions in the past? Should Australian history be compulsory in school? (And so on.) But does that ‘national story’ have any meaning for Australian families and communities? This paper canvasses some recent qualitative research into historical consciousness in Australia to explore the ways those historical discourses operate beyond the public domain. It asks participants to speak in their own words about what history means: how they relate to their local and family histories, and how they engage with Australian history more broadly. Importantly, the project reveals a depth and complexity to Australians' historical engagement and demonstrates that public and personal discourses about the past do indeed intersect in everyday life around the country.
Microwave Dielectric Properties of Aluminum‐Substituted Ba6−3xNd8+2xTi18O54 Ceramics
Authors: Chen Hetuo , Tang Bin , Xiong Zhe , Zhang Shuren
Published: January 2016

According to solid‐state reaction routine, microwave dielectric ceramics of aluminum‐supplanted Ba6−3xNd8+2xTi18O54 (0.5 ≤ x ≤ 0.75) ceramics were synthesized and the effects of composition on microwave dielectric properties were determined. As x value increasing from 0.5 to 0.75, with high‐quality factor values (Q × f > 8000 GHz), both dielectric constant (εr) and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) dropped. The X‐ray diffraction patterns showed a single phase for all compositions. Typically, the research gained temperature coefficients at resonant frequency around + 10 ppm/°C, while kept high relative permittivity and quality factor value.
Interface Properties of Dielectric Oxides
Authors: Klein Andreas
Published: January 2016

Chemical and electronic properties of dielectric oxide interfaces as obtained using photoelectron spectroscopy are presented and discussed. Interface preparation includes the deposition of metals onto dielectrics and vice versa as well as the effect of postdeposition treatments. Most interfaces are not abrupt as either reduction in the oxide surface occurs during metal deposition or oxidation of the metal substrate is induced by oxide deposition. The Schottky barrier heights at these interfaces are strongly affected by the interface chemistry. Reactive interfaces exhibit a strong Fermi level pinning due to defect formation. Nonreactive interfaces, which are obtained by depositing metallic oxide electrodes, exhibit an unpinned Schottky–Mott‐like barrier formation. Barrier heights can therefore be modified by more than 1 eV with suitable electrode material and processing. Postdeposition oxidation and reduction treatments and ferroelectric polarization can lead to comparable changes of barrier height. Interface studies between dielectric oxides reveal the dependence of valence band maximum and conduction band minimum energies. Due to transitivity of band alignment, these can be arranged on an absolute energy scale. The range of Fermi level positions in dielectric oxides, which can also be obtained from photoelectron spectroscopy and which is limited by intrinsic defect formation, is comparable when the oxides aligned on the energy scale determined by the photoemission experiments. The band alignment therefore indicates if a material can be made n‐type or p‐type by donor or acceptor doping. The range of Fermi levels in the oxides corresponds also with the range of the Fermi levels at oxide/metal interfaces.
Revising the biome concept for understanding and predicting global change impacts
Authors: Moncrieff Glenn R. , Bond William J. , Higgins Steven I.
Published: January 2016

Biomes are globally distributed, structurally and functionally similar vegetation units defined without reference to plant species composition. The boundaries between biomes are presumed to correspond with species turnover and changes in biogeochemical cycling. Determining the controls of biome distributions is thus critical for anticipating global change impacts. Historically, climate and soils have been understood to adequately explain the global distribution of biomes. Convergent evolution and environmental filtering are assumed to be pervasive, ultimately resulting in deterministic patterns of vegetation structure and function in relation to prevailing environmental conditions. Recent studies have highlighted significant problems with this view of biomes. Firstly, systematic structural and functional divergence within biomes has been identified when comparing environmentally similar, yet floristically distinct regions. Secondly, climatic determinism is being further undermined by evidence suggesting multiple stable biome states are possible for some combinations of climatic drivers. We argue that biomes remain useful and necessary constructs for organizing our knowledge of how ecosystems function and for predicting how they might respond to change. However, biome concepts should acknowledge the limits to predictability from environmental conditions alone and the influence of historical processes on modern vegetation patterns. We discuss how direct mapping of plant structure and function, the incorporation of insights into biome evolution and a new generation of vegetation models will lead to improvements in the concept of what biomes are, where they occur, and efforts to predict their distribution.
Masked Hypertension in Low‐Income South African Adults
Authors: Ware Lisa J. , Rennie Kirsten L. , Gafane Lebo F. , Nell Tarryn M. , Thompson Jane E.S. , Van Rooyen Johannes M. , Schutte Rudolph , Schutte Aletta E.
Published: January 2016

While South Africa has one of the highest hypertension rates globally, there are few data on masked hypertension (MHT) and white‐coat hypertension (WCHT). This study measured the frequency of MHT and WCHT in low‐income (<$500 US per month) South African adults, evaluating cardiovascular risk by arterial stiffness. Participants (n=101, 50% male; mean age 39.4±9.7 years) were recruited from a large North‐West Province employer. Clinic and 24‐hour blood pressure (BP) and pulse wave analysis were recorded. Clinic BP identified 18% of patients as hypertensive, while 24‐hour BP showed that 63% of patients were hypertensive. The frequency of MHT was high (33 of 81, 41%) with only one case of WCHT. In comparison to those with normal clinic and 24‐hour BP, augmentation index and pulse wave velocity were significantly higher in those with hypertensive 24‐hour BP irrespective of clinic BP, indicating that, in this group, masked and sustained hypertension carry a similar elevated cardiovascular risk.
Sampling large geographic areas for rare species using environmental DNA: a study of bull trout Salvelinus confluentus occupancy in western Montana
Authors: McKelvey K. S. , Young M. K. , Knotek W. L. , Carim K. J. , Wilcox T. M. , Padgett‐Stewart T. M. , Schwartz M. K.
Published: January 2016

This study tested the efficacy of environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling to delineate the distribution of bull trout Salvelinus confluentus in headwater streams in western Montana, U.S.A. Surveys proved fast, reliable and sensitive: 124 samples were collected across five basins by a single crew in c. 8 days. Results were largely consistent with past electrofishing, but, in a basin where S. confluentus were known to be scarce, eDNA samples indicated that S. confluentus were more broadly distributed than previously thought.
Skeletal anomaly assessment in diploid and triploid juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and the effect of temperature in freshwater
Authors: Amoroso G , Adams M B , Ventura T , Carter C G , Cobcroft J M
Published: January 2016

Triploid Atlantic salmon tend to develop a higher prevalence of skeletal anomalies. This tendency may be exacerbated by an inadequate rearing temperature. Early juvenile all‐female diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon were screened for skeletal anomalies in consecutive experiments to include two size ranges: the first tested the effect of ploidy (0.2–8 g) and the second the effect of ploidy, temperature (14 °C and 18 °C) and their interaction (8–60 g). The first experiment showed that ploidy had no effect on skeletal anomaly prevalence. A high prevalence of opercular shortening was observed (average prevalence in both ploidies 85.8%) and short lower jaws were common (highest prevalence observed 11.3%). In the second experiment, ploidy, but not temperature, affected the prevalence of short lower jaw (diploids > triploids) and lower jaw deformity (triploids > diploids, highest prevalence observed 11.1% triploids and 2.7% diploids) with a trend indicating a possible developmental link between the two jaw anomalies in triploids. A radiological assessment (n = 240 individuals) showed that at both temperatures triploids had a significantly (P < 0.05) lower number of vertebrae and higher prevalence of deformed individuals. These findings (second experiment) suggest ploidy was more influential than temperature in this study.
Visual processing of emotional dynamic faces in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
Authors: Franchini M. , Schaer M. , Glaser B. , Kott‐Radecka M. , Debanné M. , Schneider M. , Menghetti S. , Sander D. , Eliez S.
Published: January 2016

Introduction

The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is a neurogenetic syndrome. Individuals affected by this syndrome present poor social functioning and a high risk for the development of psychiatric disorders. Accurate emotion recognition and visual exploration of faces represent important skills for appropriate development of social cognition in individuals with 22q11DS. For these reasons, there is elevated interest in establishing relevant ways to test the mechanisms associated with emotion recognition in patients with 22q11DS.

Methods

This study investigated emotional recognition and visual exploration of emotional faces in persons with 22q11DS, with a dynamic emotion task using an eye‐tracking device. To our knowledge, no previous studies have used emotional dynamic stimuli with 22q11DS, despite improved ecological validity of dynamic stimuli compared with static images. Furthermore, these stimuli provide the opportunity to collect reaction times, as indicators of the emotional intensity necessary for identifying each emotion.

Results

In our task, we observed comparable accuracy in emotion recognition in the 22q11DS and healthy control groups. However, individuals with 22q11DS were slower to recognise the emotions. They also spent less time looking at the nose during happy and fearful faces.

Conclusions

These results suggest that individuals with 22q11DS may need either more time or more pronounced emotional cues to correctly label facial expressions.
Medication Safety During Pregnancy: Improving Evidence‐Based Practice
Authors: Sinclair Susan M. , Miller Richard K. , Chambers Christina , Cooper Elizabeth M
Published: January 2016

Nearly 90% of women in the United States have taken medications during pregnancy. Medication exposures during pregnancy can result in adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes including birth defects, fetal loss, intrauterine growth restriction, prematurity, and longer‐term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Advising pregnant women about the safety of medication use during pregnancy is complicated by a lack of data necessary to engage the woman in an informed discussion. Routinely, health care providers turn to the package insert, yet this information can be incomplete and can be based entirely on animal studies. Often, adequate safety data are not available. In a busy clinical setting, health care providers need to be able to quickly locate the most up‐to‐date information in order to counsel pregnant women concerned about medication exposure. Deciding where to locate the best available information is difficult, particularly when the needed information does not exist. Pregnancy registries are initiated to obtain more data about the safety of specific medication exposures during pregnancy; however, these studies are slow to produce meaningful information, and when they do, the information may not be readily available in a published form. Health care providers have valuable data in their everyday practice that can expand the knowledge base about medication safety during pregnancy. This review aims to discuss the limitations of the package insert regarding medication safety during pregnancy, highlight additional resources available to health care providers to inform practice, and communicate the importance of pregnancy registries for expanding knowledge about medication safety during pregnancy.
“Reforms Looked Really Good on Paper”: Rural Food Service Responses to the Healthy, Hunger‐Free Kids Act of 2010
Authors: Cornish Disa , Askelson Natoshia , Golembiewski Elizabeth
Published: January 2016

BACKGROUND

The Healthy, Hunger‐Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHKA) required schools to make changes to meals provided to children. Rural school districts have limited resources, with increased obesity rates and local food insecurity. In this study we sought to understand the perceptions of rural food service directors and the barriers to implementing the changes.

METHODS

Food service directors from rural school districts were invited to complete a semistructured telephone interview and online survey. A total of 51 respondents completed both, 6 completed only the online survey, and 16 completed only the telephone interview. Qualitative interview data were analyzed through open thematic coding; descriptive statistics were calculated for the quantitative data.

RESULTS

Food service directors mostly perceived the changes as negative, challenging, and burdensome. They believed that the changes resulted from concern about childhood obesity, which they did not view as a problem for their students. Diverse challenges were reported related to cost, preparation, and student preference.

CONCLUSIONS

Food service directors in isolated, rural areas need support to enhance understanding of HHKA requirements, build professional networks to learn from one another, and communicate with students, families, and other stakeholders. Future efforts should focus on changing perceptions and supporting directors in order to make implementation a success.
Suppression of bacterial infection in rice by treatment with a sulfated peptide
Authors: Wei Tong , Chern Mawsheng , Liu Furong , Ronald Pamela C.
Published: January 2016

The rice XA21 receptor kinase confers robust resistance to bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). A tyrosine‐sulfated peptide from Xoo, called RaxX, triggers XA21‐mediated immune responses, including the production of ethylene and reactive oxygen species and the induction of defence gene expression. It has not been tested previously whether these responses confer effective resistance to Xoo. Here, we describe a newly established post‐inoculation treatment assay that facilitates investigations into the effect of the sulfated RaxX peptide in planta. In this assay, rice plants were inoculated with a virulent strain of Xoo and then treated with the RaxX peptide 2 days after inoculation. We found that post‐inoculation treatment of XA21 plants with the sulfated RaxX peptide suppresses the development of Xoo infection in XA21 rice plants. The treated plants display restricted lesion development and reduced bacterial growth. Our findings demonstrate that exogenous application of sulfated RaxX activates XA21‐mediated immunity in planta, and provides a potential strategy for the control of bacterial disease in the field.
High frequency of Candida fabianii among clinical isolates biochemically identified as Candida pelliculosa and Candida utilis
Authors: Svobodova L. , Bednarova D. , Ruzicka F. , Chrenkova V. , Dobias R. , Mallatova N. , Buchta V. , Kocmanova I. , Olisarova P. , Stromerova N. , Thongsri Y. , Hamal P.
Published: January 2016

Clinical yeast isolates belonging to Candida pelliculosa, Candida utilis and Candida fabianii are difficult to distinguish in a routine mycology laboratory using common biochemical tests. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of C. pelliculosa, C. utilis and C. fabianii in clinical samples and to compare their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to systemic antifungals. Two hundred and forty‐eight clinical yeast isolates obtained from eight large hospitals in the Czech Republic were included in this study. Identification was performed biochemically using ID 32C kit and by MALDI‐TOF MS. MICs were determined using colorimetric broth dilution Sensititre YeastOne panels. From a total number of 248 isolates, 175 were identified as C. pelliculosa and 73 as C. utilis using the biochemical kit. In contrast, MALDI‐TOF MS identified 222 isolates as C. fabianii, 20 as C. pelliculosa and 6 as C. utilis. The highest mean MICs were found in C. fabianii and, regardless of the studied species, in isolates from blood cultures and central venous catheters. MALDI‐TOF MS revealed C. fabianii to be most prevalent in clinical samples as compared with the other studied species. Higher MIC values in C. fabianii support the importance of correct identification of this species.
Primula wawushanica sp. nov. (Primulaceae) from Sichuan, southwestern China
Authors: Xu Yuan , Li Ce‐Hong , Hu Chi‐Ming , Hao Gang
Published: January 2016

A new species of Primulaceae, Primula wawushanica G. Hao, C. M. Hu & Y. Xu, from Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated. In general morphology it is clearly allied to P. sect. Petiolares subsect. Davidii, characterized by firmly papery or leathery leaves, with adaxially impressed veins which are often prominently raised and alveolate abaxially. However, from other species of this subsection, P. wawushanica is distinguished by its glabrous and sessile leaves, smaller flowers, and by the shorter scape at flowering time.
Phylogeny of the genus Tordylium (Tordylineae, Apioideae, Apiaceae) inferred from morphological data
Authors: Doğru–Koca Aslı
Published: January 2016

Tordylium is a medium‐sized genus characterized by an annual habit, 1–3‐pinnate leaves, dorsally compressed mericarps, and thickened mericarp margins. Eighteen Tordylium species occur in Turkey, of which seven are endemic. Although the morphology of the genus is well known, evolutionary relationships among its species have never been evaluated. In this study, phylogenetic relationships within Tordylium are investigated using parsimony analysis based on morphological data from 17 ingroup and 15 outgroup taxa from Turkey. The results indicate that Tordylium is paraphyletic due to the inclusion of Ormosciadium. Further, it suggests that Hasselquistia, Condylocarpus and Ainsworthia are nested within Tordylium, confirming their current taxonomic treatment as synonyms. Within the paraphyletic Tordylium, two major clades are apparent, but these clades are not compatible with the current sub‐generic classification. Tordylium lanatum, T. aegyptiacum and T. elegans, which have dimorphic mericarps, form a monophyletic subclade. In addition, it is suggested that T. aegaeum should be accepted as a distinct species rather than as a synonym of T. pestalozzae.
Preservational bias controls the fossil record of pterosaurs
Authors: Dean Christopher D. , Mannion Philip D. , Butler Richard J.
Published: January 2016

Pterosaurs, a Mesozoic group of flying archosaurs, have become a focal point for debates pertaining to the impact of sampling biases on our reading of the fossil record, as well as the utility of sampling proxies in palaeo‐diversity reconstructions. The completeness of the pterosaur fossil specimens themselves potentially provides additional information that is not captured in existing sampling proxies, and might shed new light on the group's evolutionary history. Here we assess the quality of the pterosaur fossil record via a character completeness metric based on the number of phylogenetic characters that can be scored for all known skeletons of 172 valid species, with averaged completeness values calculated for each geological stage. The fossil record of pterosaurs is observed to be strongly influenced by the occurrence and distribution of Lagerstätten. Peaks in completeness correlate with Lagerstätten deposits, and a recovered correlation between completeness and observed diversity is rendered non‐significant when Lagerstätten species are excluded. Intervals previously regarded as potential extinction events are shown to lack Lagerstätten and exhibit low completeness values: as such, the apparent low diversity in these intervals might be at least partly the result of poor fossil record quality. A positive correlation between temporal patterns in completeness of Cretaceous pterosaurs and birds further demonstrates the prominent role that Lagerstätten deposits have on the preservation of smaller bodied organisms, contrasting with a lack of correlation with the completeness of large‐bodied sauropodomorphs. However, we unexpectedly find a strong correlation between sauropodomorph and pterosaur completeness within the Triassic–Jurassic, but not the Cretaceous, potentially relating to a shared shift in environmental preference and thus preservation style through time. This study highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between various taphonomic controls when correcting for sampling bias, and provides additional evidence for the prominent role of sampling on observed patterns in pterosaur macroevolution.
Comparable disparity in the appendicular skeleton across the fish–tetrapod transition, and the morphological gap between fish and tetrapod postcrania
Authors: Ruta Marcello , Wills Matthew A.
Published: January 2016

Appendicular skeletal traits are used to quantify changes in morphological disparity and morphospace occupation across the fish–tetrapod transition and to explore the informativeness of different data partitions in phylogeny reconstruction. Anterior appendicular data yield trees that differ little from those built from the full character set, whilst posterior appendicular data result in considerable loss of phylogenetic resolution and tree branch rearrangements. Overall, there is a significant incongruence in the signals associated with pectoral and pelvic data. The appendicular skeletons of fish and tetrapods attain similar levels of morphological disparity (at least when data are rarefied at the maximum sample size for fish in our study) and occupy similarly sized regions of morphospace. However, fish appear more dispersed in morphospace than tetrapods do. All taxa show a heterogeneous distribution in morphospace, and there is a clear separation between fish and tetrapods despite the presence of several evolutionarily intermediate taxa.
Early diagnosis of asymptomatic neurocutaneous melanosis (60 month follow‐up)
Authors: Markovic Ivana , Milenkovic Zoran , Jovanović Marina , Jakubi Bosanka Jocić , Sekulovic‐Stefanovic Ljiljana
Published: January 2016

Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is a rare, sporadic, congenital neuroectodermal dysplasia. Large congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) can evolve in a certain percentage of patients to NCM. Meningeal deposits are benign, but can be prone to malignant transformation in some cases. We describe the case of an infant with asymptomatic NCM, and typical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. The diagnosis was established shortly after delivery, and the patient was followed for 60 months. At that time, the girl did not have any neurologic symptoms; she reached normal developmental milestones and did not show mental retardation and did not develop malignant melanoma; further follow‐up will be needed, although there are no reliable guidelines as to the time range of follow up of asymptomatic NCM in the literature. We report the typical MRI signal abnormalities of the brain, and present a review of the literature regarding this rare and mysterious congenital disorder.
Adenocarcinoma arising in urinary bladder endocervicosis
Authors: Nakaguro Masato , Tsuzuki Toyonori , Shimada Satoko , Taki Tetsuro , Tsuchiyama Mari , Kitamura Atsuko , Suzuki Yasuhiko , Nakano Yojiro , Ono Kenzo
Published: January 2016

Endocervicosis is a rare benign condition characterized by the presence of endocervical‐type mucinous glands. Urinary bladder endocervicosis forms an elevated lesion in the posterior wall of the urinary bladder and is sometimes misdiagnosed as a malignant tumor clinically and pathologically. Herein we describe the first case of adenocarcinoma arising in urinary bladder endocervicosis. The patient, a 58‐year‐old woman, presented with asymptomatic hematuria. Cystoscopy revealed a nodular mass measuring 4 cm in diameter in the posterior wall, and total cystectomy was performed. Histology revealed that the elevated lesion of the bladder wall was composed of haphazard proliferation of cystic glands lined by benign endocervical‐type epithelium. An adenocarcinoma arose at the center of this endocervicosis. Mucin histochemistry revealed the presence of sulfomucin in both the endocervicosis and adenocarcinoma components. Immunohistochemically, the endocervicosis was positive for cytokeratin (CK) 7, AE1/AE3, CAM5.2, HBME1, CA19‐9, and estrogen receptor (ER), and negative for CK20, CDX2, progesterone receptor (PR), MUC5AC, and β‐catenin. The adenocarcinoma showed similar immunohistochemical results, except for loss of ER expression and a slight increase in the ratio of Ki‐67‐positive cells. This case indicates that endocervicosis, known as a benign lesion, harbors the possibility of malignant transformation.
Survival ofPhoma koolunga, a causal agent of ascochyta blight, on field pea stubble or as pseudosclerotia in soil
Authors: Khani M. , Davidson J. A. , Sosnowski M. R. , Scott E. S.
Published: January 2016

Phoma koolungais a recently recognized pathogen in the ascochyta blight complex of field pea (Pisum sativum). Unlike the other three ascochyta blight pathogens, survival ofP. koolungais poorly understood. Survival of this fungus was examined on field pea stubble and as pseudosclerotia on the surface of, and buried in, field soil. Pseudosclerotia were formed in plates containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) mixed with sand or amended with fluorocytocin. After 1 month,P. koolungawas recovered on amendedPDAfrom 93% of stubble sections retrieved from the soil surface, 36% of buried stubble sections and 100% of pseudosclerotia buried in field soil, pasteurized or not. The frequency of recovery ofP. koolungadecreased over time and the fungus was not recovered from stubble on the soil surface at 15 months, nor was it recovered from stubble buried in soil at 11 months or later, or from pseudosclerotia buried for 18 months. In a pot bioassay, most ascochyta blight lesions developed on plants inoculated with stubble retrieved from the soil surface after 1 month. Infectivity of the inoculum decreased over time. Disease on plants inoculated with stubble that had been buried or left on the soil surface for up to 6 and 5 months, respectively, and pseudosclerotia retrieved at 14 months and later from field soil did not differ from the non‐inoculated control. These results suggest that field pea stubble may play a role in survival ofP. koolunga, especially if it remains on the soil surface. In addition, pseudosclerotia were able to persist in soil and infect field pea plants into the next season.
Fuzzy rule‐based decision support system for evaluation of long‐established forest restoration projects
Authors: Ocampo‐Melgar Anahí , Valls Aida , Alloza Jose Antonio , Bautista Susana
Published: January 2016

Although the importance of monitoring and evaluation of restoration actions is increasingly acknowledged, availability of accurate, quantitative monitoring data is very rare for most restoration areas, particularly for long‐established restoration projects. We propose using fuzzy rule‐based expert systems to evaluate the degree of success of restoration actions when available information on project results and impacts largely relies on expert‐based qualitative assessments and rough estimates of quantitative values. These systems use fuzzy logic to manage the uncertainty present in the data and to integrate qualitative and quantitative information. To illustrate and demonstrate the potential of fuzzy rule‐based systems for restoration evaluation, we applied this approach to seven forest restoration projects implemented in Spain between 1897 and 1952, using information compiled in the REACTION database on Mediterranean forest restoration projects. The information available includes both quantitative and expert‐based qualitative data, and covers a wide variety of indicators grouped into technical, structural, functional, and socioeconomic criteria. The fuzzy rule‐based system translates expert knowledge of restoration specialists and forest managers into a set of simple logic rules that integrate information on individual indicators into more general evaluation criteria. The rule‐based approach proposed here can be readily applicable to any kind of restoration project, provided that some information, even if vague and uncertain, is available for a variety of assessment indicators. The evaluation of long‐established forest restoration projects implemented in Spain revealed important asymmetries in the degree of restoration success between technical, structural, functional, and socioeconomic criteria.
Interim prosthesis preventing tongue protrusion following mandibular alveolar ridge and lower lip resection in a surgically compromised patient
Authors: Aggarwal Himanshi , Kumar Pradeep , Ranabhatt Rani , Singh Saumyendra V.
Published: January 2016

Carcinomas of the mandibular buccogingival region being aggressive rapidly destroy the supporting bone and adjacent soft tissues, making it mandatory for the oncosurgeon to resect substantial amounts of involved hard and soft tissues. Segmental mandibulectomy ­followed by immediate bony and soft tissue reconstruction is the most acceptable approach. However, immediate reconstruction may not always be feasible or possible due to high recurrences potential of lesion, inaccessible residual pathology, or systemic ­conditions that pose a risk for graft inosculation. In certain cases, where large portion of lower lip also needs to be sacrificed with alveolar resection, protrusion of tongue through the defect beyond the lip confines leads to drooling of saliva, difficulty in speech and worsening of esthetic appearance, social isolation, and compromised quality of life. So, pending reconstruction and definitive rehabilitation, patients would require provisional treatment to control some of the ill effects. This article presents a simple technique for fabrication of a provisional prosthesis for preventing tongue protrusion, salivary drooling following mandibular alveolar ridge and lip resection.
Patient engagement in clinical communication: an exploratory study
Authors: Chaboyer Wendy , McMurray Anne , Marshall Andrea , Gillespie Brigid , Roberts Shelley , Hutchinson Alison M. , Botti Mari , McTier Lauren , Rawson Helen , Bucknall Tracey
Published: January 2016

Aim

Existing practice strategies for actively involving patients in care during hospitalisation are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore how healthcare professionals engaged patients in communication associated with care transitions.

Method

An instrumental, collective case study approach was used to generate empirical data about patient transitions in care. A purposive sample of key stakeholders representing (i) patients and their families; (ii) hospital discharge planning team members; and (iii) healthcare professionals was recruited in five Australian health services. Individual and group semi‐structured interviews were conducted to elicit detailed explanations of patient engagement in transition planning. Interviews lasted between 30 and 60 minutes and were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data collection and analysis were conducted simultaneously and continued until saturation was achieved. Thematic analysis was undertaken.

Results

Five themes emerged as follows: (i) organisational commitment to patient engagement; (ii) the influence of hierarchical culture and professional norms on patient engagement; (iii) condoning individual healthcare professionals' orientations and actions; (iv) understanding and negotiating patient preferences; and (v) enacting information sharing and communication strategies. Most themes illustrated how patient engagement was enabled; however, barriers also existed.

Conclusion

Our findings show that strong organisational and professional commitment to patient‐centred care throughout the organisation was a consistent feature of health services that actively engaged patients in clinical communication. Understanding patients' needs and preferences and having both formal and informal strategies to engage patients in clinical communication were important in how this involvement occurred.
When the safe place does not protect: reports of victimisation and adverse experiences in psychiatric institutions
Authors: dos Santos Mesquita Cristina , da Costa Maia Ângela
Published: January 2016

Psychiatric patients report higher levels of victimisation and are at risk for further victimisation in different contexts, such as psychiatric institutions. Studies in this field tend to focus on hospital staff as victims, experiencing classic forms of victimisation (e.g. physical assault, threats, verbal abuse), through qualitative studies. This is a quantitative retrospective study that aims to know the occurrence of psychiatric victimisation and other adverse experiences in Portuguese psychiatric patients. Ninety‐five psychiatric patients, between 20 and 79 years old (M – 45.18, SD – 13.06), with a history of psychiatric hospitalisation answered the Experiences in Psychiatric Institution Inventory. Participants were recruited in four psychiatric hospitals. Inpatients were approached during their hospitalisation; outpatients were approached in scheduled appointment days. Only 23 (24.2%) participants reported no victimisation. Total Experiences of Self varied from 0 to 7 (M – 1.75, SD – 1.72), Total Witnessed Experiences varied from 0 to 7 (M – 1.17, SD – 1.64), and Total Global Experiences varied from 0 to 14 (M – 2.92, SD – 3.01). These results show that victimisation and adverse experiences in psychiatric contexts are frequent and go beyond classic forms of victimisation. A deeper knowledge of these experiences and their impact in the mental health of psychiatric patients may promote quality of care provided and lead to more effective treatments, thus reducing the number and length of hospitalisations, and the financial burden for public health services.