bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does insect mother know under what conditions it will make their offspring live?
Authors: Kohandani Fatemeh , Le Goff Guillaume Jean , Hance Thierry
Published: November 2015

According to the optimal oviposition theory, the larval success of insects depends on the oviposition site selection by females. Females are expected to choose a site with many resources and few competitors or predators to allow the best performance for their progeny, assuming that “mother knows best.” However, this is not systematically observed. The Aphidoletes aphidimyza larvae are generalist aphid predators and females consequently lay their eggs near or inside aphid colonies. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of intraspecific competition on oviposition behavior of A. aphidimyza females. First, we counted the number of eggs laid by a female on a leaf with 20 aphids, in the presence of 0, 2, 4, or 6 conspecific eggs or in the absence of eggs but in presence of 3 virgin females. The same experiment was also performed under choice condition with 2 oviposition sites. Our results show that the presence of low densities of conspecific eggs, or the presence of conspecific females, have no significant impact on the number of eggs laid by A. aphidimyza females. One of the hypotheses advanced to explain these results is the advantages of conspecifics presence. At low densities, the presence of eggs on an oviposition site can indicate the suitability of the site for the females. The conspecific presence can also insure a dilution effect against predator and increase the presence of potential mating partners for this monogenic species.
Validity of the alcohol purchase task: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Kiselica Andrew M. , Webber Troy A. , Bornovalova Marina A.
Published: November 2015

Background and Aims

Behavioral economists assess alcohol consumption as a function of unit price. This method allows construction of demand curves and demand indices, which are thought to provide precise numerical estimates of risk for alcohol problems. One of the more commonly used behavioral economic measures is the Alcohol Purchase Task (APT). Although the APT has shown promise as a measure of risk for alcohol problems, the construct validity and incremental utility of the APT remain unclear. This paper presents a meta‐analysis of the APT literature.

Methods

Sixteen studies were included in the meta‐analysis. Studies were gathered via searches of the PsycInfo, PubMed, Web of Science and EconLit research databases. Random‐effects meta‐analyses with inverse variance weighting were used to calculate summary effect sizes for each demand index‐drinking outcome relationship. Moderation of these effects by drinking status (regular versus heavy drinkers) was examined. Additionally, tests of the incremental utility of the APT indices in predicting drinking problems above and beyond measuring alcohol consumption were performed.

Results

The APT indices were correlated in the expected directions with drinking outcomes, although many effects were small in size. These effects were typically not moderated by the drinking status of the samples. Additionally, the intensity metric demonstrated incremental utility in predicting alcohol use disorder symptoms beyond measuring drinking.

Conclusions

The Alcohol Purchase Task appears to have good construct validity, but limited incremental utility in estimating risk for alcohol problems.
Perceptions towards aqua‐based exercise among older adults with osteoarthritis who have discontinued participation in this exercise mode
Authors: Fisken Alison L , Waters Debra L , Hing Wayne A , Keogh Justin W
Published: November 2015

Aim

This study aimed to investigate reasons for ceasing participation in aqua‐based exercise among older adults with osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

Eleven adults over 60 years of age with OA participated in one of two focus groups, during which they discussed barriers to aqua‐based exercise and the potential benefits of this exercise mode. Each focus group was audiotaped, transcribed and then analysed using the general inductive thematic approach. The investigators reached a consensus on all coding categories and then identified themes.

Results

Key barriers identified were: a lack of suitable classes; insufficient instructor knowledge, which often led to increased pain; cold water and the changing facilities. Key perceived benefits included increased physical ability in water and social interaction.

Conclusions

A greater understanding of reasons for ceasing participation in aqua‐based exercise among older adults with OA may help facilitate development of suitable exercise programs that minimise barriers for this group.
Incidence and outcomes after bariatric surgery in older patients: a state‐wide data‐linked cohort study
Authors: Morgan David J. R. , Ho Kwok Ming
Published: November 2015

Background

The burgeoning problem of obesity is seen most profoundly in older populations. Despite the dramatic increase in bariatric surgery rates over the last 20 years, weight reduction surgery is largely restricted to younger patients.

Methods

This retrospective, longitudinal, self‐matched, population‐based cohort study assessed the incidence and outcomes of all patients undergoing bariatric surgery who were ≥55 years old in Western Australia between 2007 and 2011. The mean preoperative and post‐operative follow‐up periods were 2.5 years and 3.4 years, respectively.

Results

Of the 12 062 bariatric surgical operations recorded during the study period, 2179 (18.1%) were performed in patients aged ≥55 years old. Older bariatric patients were statistically more likely to require longer hospital admissions (2.85 versus 2.65 days, P < 0.001), have post‐operative complications (12.0 versus 6.3%, P < 0.001) and require intensive care admissions (8.2 versus 4.3%, P = 0.001) compared to patients <55 years old. However, both 30‐day (no deaths in the older cohort) and long‐term mortality rates (1.07 versus 0.42 deaths per 1000 patient–years, P = 0.10) remained relatively low. All‐cause long‐term hospitalization rates were also significantly reduced (P < 0.001) after bariatric surgery for patients who were older than 55 years compared to before surgery.

Conclusion

Despite older age being associated with a higher risk of complications and longer hospital stays, there was a reduction in subsequent overall hospitalizations for older patients after bariatric surgery, suggesting that bariatric surgery may still confer health benefits to carefully selected obese older patients who cannot achieve weight loss by other means.
Pharmacokinetic/pharmaco–dynamic modelling and simulation of the effects of different cannabinoid receptor type 1 antagonists on Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol challenge tests
Authors: Guan Zheng , Klumpers Linda E. , Oyetayo Olubukayo‐Opeyemi , Heuberger Jules , van Gerven Joop M. A. , Stevens Jasper
Published: November 2015

Aim

The severe psychiatric side effects of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) antagonists hampered their wide development but this might be overcome by careful management of drug development with pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analyses. PK/PD models suitable for direct comparison of different CB1 antagonists in Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) challenge tests in healthy volunteer were constructed.

Methods

The pharmacokinetic models of THC and four CB1 antagonists were built separately. THC‐induced effects on heart rate and the visual analogue scale of feeling high in healthy volunteers and inhibitive effects of CB1 antagonists on THC‐induced effects were modelled in PD models linked to the PK models. Simulations were then applied to evaluate the reduction rate of each antagonist on the reversal of the THC‐induced effect in a unified simulation scenario.

Results

The final PK model of THC and antagonists was a two compartment model. An Emax model and logistic regression model were used for effect measures and the antagonist effect was added in these models in a competitive binding manner. t1/2ke0 ranged from 0.00462 to 63.7 h for heart rate and from 0.964 to 150 h for VAS. IC50 ranged from 6.42 to 202 ng ml−1 for heart rate and from 12.1 to 376 ng ml−1 for VAS. Benchmark simulation showed different dose–efficacy profiles of two efficacy measures for each CB1 antagonist.

Conclusions

PK/PD modelling and simulation approach was suitable for describing and predicting heart rate and feeling high for CB1 antagonists in THC challenge tests. Direct comparison of four antagonists based on simulated efficacy profiles might be of benefit to guide future studies.
Application of pharmacometric approaches to evaluate effect of weight and renal function on pharmacokinetics of alogliptin
Authors: Naik Himanshu , Czerniak Richard , Vakilynejad Majid
Published: November 2015

Aims

The aims of the study were to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) of alogliptin in healthy and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects using a population PK approach and to assess the influence of various covariates on alogliptin exposure.

Methods

Plasma concentration data collected from two phase 1 studies and one phase 3 study following administration of alogliptin (12.5–400 mg) were used for the PK model development. One‐ and two‐compartment models were evaluated as base structural PK models. The impact of selected covariates was assessed using stepwise forward selection and backward elimination procedures. The predictability and robustness of the final model was evaluated using visual predictive check and bootstrap analyses. The final model was used to perform simulations and guide appropriate dose adjustments.

Results

A two‐compartment model with first‐order absorption and elimination best described the alogliptin concentration vs. time profiles. Creatinine clearance and weight had a statistically significant effect on the oral clearance (CL/F) of alogliptin. The model predicted a lower CL/F (17%, 35%, 80%) and a higher systemic exposure (56%, 89%, 339%) for subjects with mild, moderate and severe renal impairment, respectively, compared with healthy subjects. Effect of weight on CL/F was not considered clinically relevant. Simulations at different doses of alogliptin support the approved doses of 12.5 mg and 6.25 mg for patients with moderate and severe renal impairment, respectively.

Conclusions

The PK of alogliptin was well characterized by the model. The analysis suggested an alogliptin dose adjustment for subjects with moderate‐to‐severe renal impairment and no dose adjustments based on weight.
On the role of oxytocin in borderline personality disorder
Authors: Brüne Martin
Published: November 2015

Objectives

Interpersonal dysfunction is central to borderline personality disorder (BPD). Recent research has focused on the role of oxytocin (OT) in BPD, particularly regarding associations of OT activity with symptoms, genetic polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor coding gene (OXTR) in BPD, and experimental modification of interpersonal core problems of patients with BPD such as hypervigilance towards threat detection, mistrust, and non‐verbal behaviour during social interaction by intranasal application of OT.

Methods

A literature (‘medline’) review was performed using the keywords ‘oxytocin’ and ‘borderline personality disorder’. Secondary literature on trauma and attachment in relation to OT was also considered relevant.

Results

Together, findings suggest that in BPD OT is associated with enhanced defensive mechanisms and avoidance behaviour. Moreover, gene–environment interaction concerning polymorphic variations of the OXTR gene and childhood adversity in BPD suggests that these genes convey developmental flexibility or ‘differential susceptibility’ to environmental contingencies, whereby BPD resides at the poor outcome end of the spectrum.

Conclusions

In view of the conflicting literature, it needs to be studied carefully whether OT can serve as a therapeutic agent given adjunct to psychotherapy in BPD. More research about the role of OT is also required with regard to the prevention of the non‐genetic intergenerational transmission of BPD. Clarifying the role of OT in BPD may also benefit from research in non‐human animals targeting the interaction between early adversity and OT availability more directly.

Practitioner points

The study of oxytocin can contribute to the understanding of the neurobiology of borderline personality disorder.

Oxytocin is critically involved in attachment security, and methylation of the oxytocin receptor may play a role in the epigenetic modulation of early adversity.

The intranasal application of oxytocin may be a useful therapeutic adjunct to psychotherapy.

Insecure attachment and childhood adversity may produce differential neurobiological effects on the oxytocinergic system in borderline personality disorder.

There is insufficient knowledge of how oxytocin interacts with vasopressin, testosterone, dopamine, and serotonin, which are also important key players in the experience of social reward and stress responsivity.

It is unclear whether or not oxytocin could be beneficial in preventing the intergenerational (non‐genetic) transmission of borderline personality traits.
Evaluating equality in psoriasis healthcare: a cohort study of the impact of age on prescription of biologics
Authors: Geale K. , Henriksson M. , Schmitt-Egenolf M.
Published: November 2015

Background

Inequality in healthcare has been identified in many contexts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating age inequality in the form of prescription patterns of biologics in psoriasis care.

Objectives

To determine whether patients with psoriasis have equal opportunities to receive biological medications as they age. If patients did not receive equal treatment, a subsequent objective was to determine the magnitude of the disparity.

Methods

A cohort of biologic-naive patients with psoriasis was analysed using Cox proportional hazards models to measure the impact of each additional year of life on the likelihood of initiating biological treatment, after controlling for sex, body mass index, comorbidities, disease activity and educational level. A supporting analysis used a nonparametric graphical method to study the proportion of patients initiating biological treatment as age increased, after controlling for the same covariates.

Results

The Cox proportional hazards model resulted in hazard ratios of a 1-year increase in age of 0·96–0·97 depending on calendar-year stratification, which implies that an increase in age of 30 years corresponds to a reduced likelihood of initiating biological treatment by 61·3–67·6%. The estimated proportion of patients initiating biological medication always decreased as age increased, at a statistically significant level.

Conclusions

Patients with psoriasis have fewer opportunities to access biological medications as they age. This result was shown to be applicable at all stages in a patient's life course and was not only restricted to the elderly, although it implies greater disparities as the age difference between patients increases. These results show that inequality in access to biological treatments due to age is prevalent in clinical practice today. Further research is needed to investigate the extent to which this result is influenced by patient preferences.
Guideline of guidelines: follow‐up after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Williamson Timothy J. , Pearson John R. , Ischia Joseph , Bolton Damien M. , Lawrentschuk Nathan
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this article was to review and compare the international guidelines and surveillance protocols for post‐nephrectomy renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PubMed database searches were conducted, according to the PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews, to identify current international surveillance guidelines and surveillance protocols for surgically treated and clinically localized RCC. A total of 17 articles were reviewed. These included three articles on urological guidelines, three on oncological guidelines and 11 on proposed strategies. Guidelines and strategies varied significantly in relation to follow‐up, specifically with regard to the frequency and timing of radiological imaging. Although there is currently no consensus within the literature regarding surveillance protocols, various guidelines and strategies have been developed using both patient and tumour characteristics.
Fractionation of grain size in terrestrial sediment routing systems
Authors: Allen Philip A. , Michael Nikolaos A. , D’Arcy Mitchall , Roda‐Boluda Duna C. , Whittaker Alexander C. , Duller Robert A. , Armitage John J.
Published: November 2015

Sediment is fractionated by size during its cascade from source to sink in sediment routing systems. It is anticipated, therefore, that the grain size distribution of sediment will undergo down‐system changes as a result of fluvial sorting processes and selective deposition. We assess this hypothesis by comparing grain size statistical properties of samples from within the erosional source region with those that have undergone different amounts of transport. A truncated Pareto distribution describes well the coarser half of the clast size distribution of regolith, coarse channel bed sediment and proximal debris flows (particularly their levees), as well as the coarser half of the clast size distribution of gravels that have undergone considerable amounts of transport in rivers. The Pareto shape parameter a evolves in response to mobilization, sediment transport and, importantly, the selective extraction of particles from the surface flow to build underlying stratigraphy. A goodness of fit statistic, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov vertical difference, illustrates the closeness of the observed clast size distributions to the Pareto, Weibull and log‐normal models as a function of distance from the depositional apex. The goodness of fit of the particle size distribution of regolith varies with bedrock geology. Bedload sediment at catchment outlets is fitted well by the log‐normal and truncated Pareto models, whereas the exponential Weibull model provides a less good fit. In the Eocene Escanilla palaeo‐sediment routing system of the south‐central Pyrenees, the log‐normal and truncated Pareto models provide excellent fits for distances of up to 80 km from the depositional apex, whereas the Weibull fit progressively worsens with increasing transport distance. A similar trend is found in the Miocene–Pliocene gravels of the Nebraskan Great Plains over a distance of >300 km. Despite the large fractionation in mean grain size and gravel percentage from source region to depositional sink, particle size distributions therefore appear to maintain log‐normality over a wide range of transport distance. Use of statistical models enables down‐system fractionation of sediment released from source regions to be better understood and predicted and is a potentially valuable tool in source‐to‐sink approaches to basin analysis.
Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 as a novel biomarker for disease activity and renal pathology changes in lupus nephritis
Authors: Ding H , Kharboutli M , Saxena R , Wu T
Published: November 2015

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most serious manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. Invasive renal biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis and management of LN. The objective of this study is to validate serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) as a novel biomarker for clinical disease and renal pathology in LN. Eighty-five biopsy-proven lupus nephritis patients, 18 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and 20 healthy controls were recruited for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing of serum IGFBP-2 levels. Compared to CKD patients of origins other than lupus or healthy controls, serum IGFBP-2 levels were elevated significantly in LN patients. Serum IGFBP-2 was able to discriminate LN patients from the other two groups of patients [area under the curve (AUC) = 0·65, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0·52–0·78; P = 0·043 for LN versus CKD; 0·97, 95% CI = 0·93–1·00; P < 0·0001 for LN versus healthy controls]. Serum IGFBP-2 was a potential indicator of both global disease activity and renal disease activity in LN patients, correlated with serum creatinine levels (r = 0·658, P < 0·001, n = 85) and urine protein-to-creatinine levels (r = 0·397, P < 0·001, n = 85). More importantly, in 19 concurrent patient samples, serum IGFBP-2 correlated with the chronicity index of renal pathology (r = 0·576, P = 0·01, n = 19) but not renal pathological classification. In conclusion, serum IGFBP-2 is a promising biomarker for lupus nephritis, reflective of disease activity and chronicity changes in renal pathology.
Association of intra‐tumoral tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio is an independent prognostic factor in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Dirican Nigar , Karakaya Yeliz Arman , Gunes Sedat , Daloglu Ferah Tuncel , Dirican Ahmet
Published: November 2015

Background

Studies suggest that tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and inflammation markers have independent roles in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the relationship between the two pronostic factors remains unclear. In this study, we investigated TILs and inflammation markers in with patients advanced stage NSCLC and assessed the association of their levels with prognosis.

Materials and Methods

TILs were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3) and cluster of differentiation 5 (CD5) and by hematoxylin and eosin staining for non‐specific lymphocyte. We investigated the localisation pattern of TILs in advanced stage NSCLC. We divided all cases into two groups: TILs‐high and TILs‐low groups, by 75th percentile of the population of. In our study, inflammation markers were assessed by C‐reactive protein (CRP) and the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR).

Results

The results showed that the presence of intra‐tumoral high CD3+ and low CD5+ were an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (respectively, P = 0.022 and P = 0.025). Moreover, the high NLR and serum high CRP levels were associated with poor survival (respectively, P = 0.008; P = 0.027). In multi‐variate survival analysis, the high CD3+, low CD5+, high NLR, tumour node metastasis (TNM) stage, depth of tumour invasion and lymph node metastasis remained independent prognostic factors (respectively, P = 0.018, P = 0.020, P = 0.024, P = 0.038, P = 0.020 and P = 0.047).The high NLR was detected negative correlation with intra‐tumoral CD3+ and positive correlation with intra‐tumoral CD5+ (respectively, r = −0.623, P = 0.012; r = 0.628, P = 0.028).

Conclusions

This study is first report demonstrating the prognostic value of intra‐tumoral low CD5+ with NSCLC. Increased CD3+ and low CD5+ was observed in patients with poor prognosis; the two molecules were correlated with NLR, suggesting that inflammation might be used as improve therapeutic efficacy to immunotherapy for advanced NSCLC.
Immigrants' outcome after a first‐episode psychosis
Authors: Abdel‐Baki Amal , Ouellet‐Plamondon Clairélaine , Medrano Sofia , Nicole Luc , Rousseau Cécile
Published: November 2015

Aim

Immigration is a risk factor for psychosis emergence, and previous studies show that immigrants are less likely to engage in treatment for psychosis. However, the literature on outcome is scant and heterogeneous. This study was designed to compare first‐generation (FGI) and second‐generation immigrants (SGI) to non‐immigrants' symptomatic and functional outcomes 2 years after a first‐episode psychosis (FEP).

Methods

A 2‐year prospective longitudinal study of 223 FEP patients between 18 and 30 years took place in two early intervention services (EIS) in Montreal, Canada.

Results

Forty‐two per cent of the sample were immigrants (FGI (n = 56), SGI (n = 38)). Compared with non‐immigrants, immigrants had similar symptomatic and functioning profiles at baseline, 1 and 2 years, except that fewer SGI had a history of homelessness and more were living with their families. FGI were less likely to have a substance use disorder but more likely to pursue their studies and to present depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Even if immigrants are known to be at greater risk of developing psychosis, probably secondary to stress related to immigration, their symptomatic and functional outcomes, once engaged in EIS treatment, are similar to or sometimes better than non‐immigrants' outcomes. Because immigrants tend to be less engaged in their follow‐up, understanding why they disengage from treatment is crucial to develop better therapeutic approaches to better engage them as EIS treatment can improve their outcomes effectively.
Prognostic significance of forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) expression and antitumour effect of FoxM1 inhibition in melanoma
Authors: Ito Takamichi , Kohashi Kenichi , Yamada Yuichi , Maekawa Akira , Kuda Masaaki , Furue Masutaka , Oda Yoshinao
Published: November 2015

Aims

Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is a transcription factor that regulates cell‐cycle progression and tumour progression, but limited information is available regarding its clinical significance in melanoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the potency of FoxM1 as a therapeutic target in melanoma.

Methods and results

We investigated 60 melanoma clinical samples and a melanoma WM266‐4 cell line using immunohistochemical staining and molecular biological approaches. Patients with a FoxM1‐overexpressing melanoma had significantly shorter survival [both for melanoma‐specific survival (MSS) and disease‐free survival (DFS)] than the other patients (P < 0.001, respectively). The FoxM1 overexpression was also an adverse prognostic factor for both MSS and DFS on the Cox multivariate analyses [hazard ratio (HR): 3.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12–14.27, P = 0.032; HR: 3.21, 95% CI: 1.08–9.67, P = 0.037, respectively). FoxM1 inhibition using siRNA and an inhibitor (thiostrepton) each suppressed the cell proliferation of the melanoma cell line. Furthermore, FoxM1 inhibition improved chemosensitivity to dacarbazine, whereas it reduced cell migration and invasion. These results suggest that FoxM1 plays important roles in tumour progression and the chemoresistance of melanoma.

Conclusion

We have shown the prognostic impact of FoxM1 on melanoma patients. FoxM1 inhibition may be a potential therapeutic option for advanced melanoma.
Clinical evaluation of the use of an intracardiac electrocardiogram to guide the tip positioning of peripherally inserted central catheters
Authors: Zhao Ruiyi , Chen Chunfang , Jin Jingfen , Sharma Komal , Jiang Nan , Shentu Yingqin , Wang Xingang
Published: November 2015

The use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) provides important central venous accesses for clinical treatments, tests and monitoring. Compared with the traditional methods, intracardiac electrocardiogram (ECG)‐guided method has the potential to guide more accurate tip positioning of PICCs. This study aimed to clinically evaluate the effectiveness of an intracardiac ECG to guide the tip positioning by monitoring characteristic P‐wave changes. In this study, eligible patients enrolled September 2011 to May 2012 according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria received the catheterization monitored by intracardiac ECG. Then chest radiography was performed to check the catheter position. The results revealed that, with 117 eligible patients, all bar one patient who died (n = 116) completed the study, including 60 males and 56 females aged 51.2 ± 15.1 years. Most (n = 113, > 97%) had characteristic P‐wave changes. The intracardiac ECG‐guided positioning procedure achieved correct placement for 112 patients (96.56%), demonstrating 99.12% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In conclusion, the intracardiac ECG can be a promising technique to guide tip positioning of PICCs. However, since the sample size in this study is limited, more experience and further study during clinical practice are needed to demonstrate achievement of optimal catheterization outcomes.
A novel approach for preparation of the antisera reagent for potency determination of inactivated H7N9 influenza vaccines
Authors: Schmeisser Falko , Jing Xianghong , Joshi Manju , Vasudevan Anupama , Soto Jackeline , Li Xing , Choudhary Anil , Baichoo Noel , Resnick Josephine , Ye Zhiping , McCormick William , Weir Jerry P.
Published: November 2015

Background

The potency of inactivated influenza vaccines is determined using a single‐radial immunodiffusion (SRID) assay and requires standardized reagents consisting of a Reference Antigen and an influenza strain‐specific antiserum. Timely availability of reagents is a critical step in influenza vaccine production, and the need for backup approaches for reagent preparation is an important component of pandemic preparedness.

Objectives

When novel H7N9 viruses emerged in China in 2013, candidate inactivated H7N9 influenza vaccines were developed for evaluation in clinical trials, and reagents were needed to measure vaccine potency.

Methods

We previously described an alternative approach for generating strain‐specific potency antisera, utilizing modified vaccinia virus Ankara vectors to produce influenza hemagglutinin (HA)‐containing virus‐like particles (VLPs) for immunization. Vector‐produced HA antigen is not dependent upon the success of the traditional bromelain‐digestion and HA purification.

Results

Antiserum for H7N9 vaccines, produced after immunization of sheep with preparations of bromelain‐HA (br‐HA), was not optimal for the SRID assay, and the supply of antiserum was limited. However, antiserum obtained from sheep boosted with VLPs containing H7 HA greatly improved the ring quality in the SRID assay. Importantly, this antiserum worked well with both egg‐ and cell‐derived antigen and was distributed to vaccine manufacturers.

Conclusions

Utilizing a previously developed approach for preparing vaccine potency antiserum, we have addressed a major bottleneck encountered in preparation of H7N9 vaccine reagents. The combination of br‐HA and mammalian VLPs for sequential immunization represents the first use of an alternative approach for producing an influenza vaccine potency antiserum.
Linear‐time graph distance and diameter approximation
Authors: Machado Raphael C.S. , de Figueiredo Celina M.H.
Published: November 2015

In this study, we consider the problem of estimating the diameter of a graph, that is, the maximum distance between any two vertices, in linear time. We address a question posed in the literature—whether there exists an interesting graph class with arbitrarily large cycles for which breadth first search (BFS) would always return high‐eccentricity vertices. We answer this question positively, defining a class of graphs that generalizes AT‐free graphs and has no bound on the size of induced cycles, yet BFS always returns a vertex whose eccentricity is within a constant difference from the diameter. In addition, we consider the question—also explicitly stated in the literature—whether some variant of the so‐called multisweep algorithm would always return a high‐eccentricity vertex. We show that the answer is negative by describing a family of graphs for which no variant of multisweep BFS can return a vertex of eccentricity higher than half of the diameter plus a constant.
The significance of structured parental educational intervention on childhood atopic dermatitis: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Pustišek N. , Šitum M. , Vurnek Živković M. , Ljubojević Hadžavdić S. , Vurnek M. , Niseteo T.
Published: November 2015

Background

Parental education is important in managing childhood chronic diseases.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a short‐term structured educational programme for parents of children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis ( AD), aged 3 months to 7 years, on the clinical course of AD, parental stress, anxiety and the quality of family life.

Methods

One hundred thirty‐four parents with AD children were recruited in a randomized controlled clinical trial at the Outpatient Unit of Pediatric Dermatology, Children's Hospital in Zagreb. The primary outcome was change in the severity of eczema measured using SCORing AD (SCORAD) and Patient Oriented (PO) SCORAD index, changes of symptom scores for pruritus and sleep disturbance. Secondary outcomes included change in stress level according to the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); change in anxiety level according to State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and change in the quality of family life according to the Croatian version of the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index (FDLQI).

Results

Participants in the intervention group had a significantly lower SCORAD (P = 0.000), PO SCORAD (P = 0.000) index, pruritus (P = 0.000), sleep disturbance (P = 0.001), level of perceived stress (P = 0.024) and anxiety as a state (P = 0.42) than those in the control group at the second visit. After the educational programme, participants in the intervention group had a significantly lower impact of AD on the total quality of family life (P = 0.006). We found a statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to additional education received between the visits. The control group had acquired significantly more additional education (P = 0.007). There was no significant difference between groups in the amount of corticosteroid used.

Conclusion

Our structured educational programme had a positive effect on AD severity, quality of family life, parental stress and anxiety.
Neutralizing salivary pH by mouthwashes after an acidic challenge
Authors: Dehghan Mojdeh , Tantbirojn Daranee , Kymer‐Davis Emily , Stewart Colette W. , Zhang Yanhui H , Versluis Antheunis , Garcia‐Godoy Franklin
Published: November 2015

Aim

The aim of the present study was to test the neutralizing effect of mouthwashes on salivary pH after an acidic challenge.

Methods

Twelve participants were recruited for three visits, one morning per week. Resting saliva was collected at baseline and after 2‐min swishing with 20 mL orange juice as an acidic challenge. Participants then rinsed their mouth for 30 s with 20 mL water (control), an over‐the‐counter mouthwash (Listerine), or a two‐step mouthwash, randomly assigned for each visit. Saliva was collected immediately, 15, and 45 min after rinsing. The pH values of the collected saliva were measured and analyzed with anova, followed by Student–Newman–Keuls post‐hoc test (significance level: 0.05).

Results

Orange juice significantly lowered salivary pH. Immediately after rinsing, Listerine and water brought pH back to baseline values, with the pH significantly higher in the Listerine group. The two‐step mouthwash raised pH significantly higher than Listerine and water, and higher than the baseline value. Salivary pH returned to baseline and was not significantly different among groups at 15 and 45 min post‐rinsing.

Conclusions

Mouth rinsing after an acidic challenge increased salivary pH. The tested mouthwashes raised pH higher than water. Mouthwashes with a neutralizing effect can potentially reduce tooth erosion from acid exposure.
Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Objective Efficacy and Impact of a Chairside Fabricated Mandibular Advancement Device
Authors: Marty Mathieu , Lacaze Olivier , Arreto Charles Daniel , Pierrisnard Laurent , Bour Florence , Chéliout‐Héraut Fawzia , Simonneau Gérald
Published: November 2015

Purpose

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been described as a common sleep respiratory disorder. Its prevalence in the adult population has been reported to be high, varying from 3% to 28%. Dental practitioners play a key role in the treatment of this disease, using tailor‐made mandibular advancement devices (MADs). This pilot study assessed the efficacy and compliance of a custom‐fitted thermoplastic MAD for the treatment of moderate to severe OSA syndrome.

Materials and Methods

In this open study without a control group, OSA syndrome sufferers were enrolled by four centers. One specific MAD was custom fitted to the patients. Polysomnography, Epworth, and snoring scales were administered from inclusion to 45 days postinclusion.

Results

The study population consisted of 33 men and 8 women; 35 patients completed the study. Patient response was high with 69% of them considered as responders, and 60% showing a complete response. Also, 77.3% of patients with moderate OSA syndrome presented a complete response. An improvement was observed in the apnea hypopnea index, which decreased from 34.1 ± 18.9 to 12.8 ± 14.1. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, snoring, and quality of sleep scores decreased with the device (p < 0.0001). Compliance rates were high, with patients wearing the device 6.5 nights a week. Side effects and patient complaints were minor and transient.

Conclusion

This custom‐fitted MAD improved respiratory and somnolence parameters, with response rates similar to those published in the literature with other devices.
A Retrospective 2‐Year Clinical Study of Immediate Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Edentulous Jaws with Four Implants and Prefabricated Bars
Authors: Sannino Gianpaolo , Bollero Patrizio , Barlattani Alberto , Gherlone Enrico
Published: November 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this retrospective investigation was to evaluate the use of a prefabricated bar system for immediately loaded implants placed and restored according to the All‐on‐Four concept with up to 24‐month follow‐up.

Materials and Methods

A total of 51 patients (31 males and 20 females; mean age 63.4 years) presented with edentulous or partially edentulous jaws with severe atrophy of the posterior regions. All patients were treated with full‐arch fixed prostheses (28 maxillary, 34 mandibular) each supported by four implants (two vertical, two distally tilted). The implants were immediately loaded with screw‐retained full‐arch restorations. Each prosthesis was supported by a prefabricated metal bar combined with high‐density acrylic resin. Follow‐up visits were scheduled at 6, 12, and 24 months after initial prosthetic loading. Intraoral radiographs were obtained immediately after surgery and at each follow‐up visit by using a custom radiograph holder and parallel technique. Marginal bone levels were assessed using digital image analysis. Implant and prosthetic survival and success rates were evaluated. Patient satisfaction was further assessed using a 100‐mm visual analog scale (VAS). Data were compared by means of the Mantel‐Haenszel test.

Results

No drop‐outs occurred. The overall implant survival rates were 100% and 98.38% for the vertical and tilted implants respectively. Two of the 62 definitive fixed prostheses were lost during the observation period due to implant failure. Since restoration replacement due to implant failure was not judged a prosthodontic failure according to the survival criteria provided in this study, the overall prosthetic survival rate was 100%. No statistically significant differences in marginal bone levels between vertical and tilted implants were detected at 24‐month follow‐up evaluation in either jaw. All participants were functionally and esthetically satisfied with their definitive restorations after 2 years functioning, as confirmed by the average VAS scores (masticatory function: 99.7; phonetic function: 99.5, esthetics: 99.2).

Conclusions

The preliminary 24‐month results indicate that immediate loading of vertical and tilted implants using the evaluated prefabricated bar system may be a viable solution for edentulous jaw rehabilitation; however, more long‐term prospective clinical trials are needed to affirm the effectiveness of this surgical‐prosthetic protocol.
Statistical Inference for Unified Garch–Itô Models with High‐Frequency Financial Data
Authors: Kim Donggyu
Published: November 2015

The existing estimation methods for the model parameters of the unified GARCH–Itô model (Kim and Wang, ) require long period observations to obtain the consistency. However, in practice, it is hard to believe that the structure of a stock price is stable during such a long period. In this article, we introduce an estimation method for the model parameters based on the high‐frequency financial data with a finite observation period. In particular, we establish a quasi‐likelihood function for daily integrated volatilities, and realized volatility estimators are adopted to estimate the integrated volatilities. The model parameters are estimated by maximizing the quasi‐likelihood function. We establish asymptotic theories for the proposed estimator. A simulation study is conducted to check the finite sample performance of the proposed estimator. We apply the proposed estimation approach to the Bank of America stock price data.
Symbols of Terror: ‘9/11’ as the Word of the Thing and the Thing of the Word
Authors: Kilby Laura
Published: November 2015

This paper adopts a social representations approach to examine the ‘9/11’ symbol which is argued to be a centrally organising, communication oriented, symbolic resource within contemporary representations of terrorism. Within the context of the events of September 11 2001 as a point of shared history which has come to be understood as a significant world event (Liu et al., ), the ‘9/11’ symbol is argued to fulfil a triple function in contemporary representations of terrorism. Firstly, the ‘9/11’ symbol provides a central anchor for the events of September 11 2001. Secondly the ‘9/11’ symbol acts as a powerful rhetorical resource for objectifying the abstract concept of terrorism. Lastly, alongside the capacity to objectify the abstract, the ‘9/11’ symbol also enables a counter process of transcendentalisation (Billig, ) whereby it transforms the object into the abstract. As a result the ‘9/11’ symbol is highly suited to widespread mobilisation of easily apprehended notions defining what terrorism is, which do not readily provoke contest and are widely constructed as mundane forms of ‘truth’ amongst a community of users.
Cryptic diversity, high host specificity and reproductive synchronization in army ant‐associated Vatesus beetles
Authors: von Beeren Christoph , Maruyama Munetoshi , Kronauer Daniel J. C.
Published: November 2015

Army ants and their arthropod symbionts represent one of the most species‐rich animal associations on Earth, and constitute a fascinating example of diverse host–symbiont interaction networks. However, despite decades of research, our knowledge of army ant symbionts remains fragmentary due to taxonomic ambiguity and the inability to study army ants in the laboratory. Here, we present an integrative approach that allows us to reliably determine species boundaries, assess biodiversity, match different developmental stages and sexes, and to study the life cycles of army ant symbionts. This approach is based on a combination of community sampling, DNA barcoding, morphology and physiology. As a test case, we applied this approach to the staphylinid beetle genus Vatesus and its different Eciton army ant host species at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. DNA barcoding led to the discovery of cryptic biodiversity and, in combination with extensive community sampling, revealed strict host partitioning with no overlap in host range. Using DNA barcoding, we were also able to match the larval stages of all focal Vatesus species. In combination with studies of female reproductive physiology, this allowed us to reconstruct almost the complete life cycles of the different beetle species. We show that Vatesus beetles are highly adapted to the symbiosis with army ants, in that their reproduction and larval development are synchronized with the stereotypical reproductive and behavioural cycles of their host colonies. Our approach can now be used to study army ant‐symbiont communities more broadly, and to obtain novel insights into co‐evolutionary and ecological dynamics in species‐rich host–symbiont systems.
Insulin Sensitivity Determines Effects of Insulin and Meal Ingestion on Systemic Vascular Resistance in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Woerdeman Jorn , Meijer Rick I. , Eringa Etto C. , Hoekstra Trynke , Smulders Yvo. M. , Serné Erik H.
Published: November 2015

Objective

In addition to insulin's metabolic actions, insulin can dilate arterioles which increase blood flow to metabolically active tissues. This effect is blunted in insulin‐resistant subjects. Insulin's effect on SVR, determined by resistance arterioles, has, however, rarely been examined directly. We determined the effects of both hyperinsulinemia and a mixed meal on SVR and its relationship with insulin sensitivity.

Methods

Thirty‐seven lean and obese women underwent a hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamp, and 24 obese volunteers underwent a mixed‐meal test. SVR was assessed using CPP before and during hyperinsulinemia as well as before and 60 and 120 minutes after a meal.

Results

SVR decreased significantly during hyperinsulinemia (−13%; p < 0.001) and after the meal (−11%; p < 0.001). Insulin decreased SVR more strongly in insulin‐sensitive individuals (standardized β: −0.44; p = 0.01). In addition, SVR at 60 minutes after meal ingestion was inversely related to the Matsuda index (β: −0.39; p = 0.04) and the change in postprandial SVR was directly related to postprandial glycemia (β: 0.53; p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Hyperinsulinemia and meal ingestion decrease SVR, which is directly associated with metabolic insulin resistance. This suggests that resistance to insulin‐induced vasodilatation contributes to regulation of vascular resistance.
A highly conserved metalloprotease effector enhances virulence in the maize anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum graminicola
Authors: Sanz‐Martín José M. , Pacheco‐Arjona José Ramón , Bello‐Rico Víctor , Vargas Walter A. , Monod Michel , Díaz‐Mínguez José M. , Thon Michael R. , Sukno Serenella A.
Published: November 2015

Colletotrichum graminicola causes maize anthracnose, an agronomically important disease with a worldwide distribution. We have identified a fungalysin metalloprotease (Cgfl) with a role in virulence. Transcriptional profiling experiments and live cell imaging show that Cgfl is specifically expressed during the biotrophic stage of infection. To determine whether Cgfl has a role in virulence, we obtained null mutants lacking Cgfl and performed pathogenicity and live microscopy assays. The appressorium morphology of the null mutants is normal, but they exhibit delayed development during the infection process on maize leaves and roots, showing that Cgfl has a role in virulence. In vitro chitinase activity assays of leaves infected with wild‐type and null mutant strains show that, in the absence of Cgfl, maize leaves exhibit increased chitinase activity. Phylogenetic analyses show that Cgfl is highly conserved in fungi. Similarity searches, phylogenetic analysis and transcriptional profiling show that C. graminicola encodes two LysM domain‐containing homologues of Ecp6, suggesting that this fungus employs both Cgfl‐mediated and LysM protein‐mediated strategies to control chitin signalling.