bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Symbolic dynamics to discriminate healthy and ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy populations: an application to the variability of heart period and QT interval
Authors: Valencia José Fernando , Vallverdu Montserrat , Rivero Isidre , Voss Andreas , de Luna Antonio Bayes , Porta Alberto , Caminal Pere
Published: December 2014

Myocardial ischaemia is hypothesized to stimulate the cardiac sympathetic excitatory afferents and, therefore, the spontaneous changes of heart period (approximated as the RR interval), and the QT interval in ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) patients might reflect this sympathetic activation. Symbolic analysis is a nonlinear and powerful tool for the extraction and classification of patterns in time-series analysis, which implies a transformation of the original series into symbols and the construction of patterns with the symbols. The aim of this work was to investigate whether symbolic transformations of RR and QT cardiac series can provide a better separation between IDC patients and healthy control (HC) subjects compared with traditional linear measures. The variability of these cardiac series was studied during daytime and night-time periods and also during the complete 24 h recording over windows of short data sequences of approximately 5 min. The IDC group was characterized by an increase in the occurrence rate of patterns without variations (0 V%) and a reduction in the occurrence rate of patterns with one variation (1 V%) and two variations (2 V%). Concerning the RR variability during the daytime, the highest number of patterns had 0 V%, whereas the rates of 1 V% and 2 V% were lower. During the night, 1 V% and 2 V% increased at the expense of diminishing 0 V%. Patterns with and without variations between consecutive symbols were able to increase the separation between the IDC and HC groups, allowing accuracies higher than 80%. With regard to entropy measures, an increase in RR regularity was associated with cardiac disease described by accuracy >70% in the RR series and by accuracy >60% in the QTc series. These results could be associated with an increase in the sympathetic tone in IDC patients.
Reconstructing gene content in the last common ancestor of cellular life: is it possible, should it be done, and are we making any progress?
Authors: Mushegian Arcady
Published: December 2014

I review recent literature on the reconstruction of gene repertoire of the Last Universal Common Ancestor of cellular life (LUCA). The form of the phylogenetic record of cellular life on Earth is important to know in order to reconstruct any ancestral state; therefore I also discuss the emerging understanding that this record does not take the form of a tree. I argue that despite this, “tree-thinking” remains an essential component in evolutionary thinking and that “pattern pluralism” in evolutionary biology can be only epistemological, but not ontological.
Crystal structure refinement withSHELXL
Authors: Sheldrick George M.
Published: December 2014

The improvements in the crystal structure refinement programSHELXLhave been closely coupled with the development and increasing importance of the CIF (Crystallographic Information Framework) format for validating and archiving crystal structures. An important simplification is that now only one file in CIF format (for convenience, referred to simply as `a CIF') containing embedded reflection data andSHELXLinstructions is needed for a complete structure archive; the programSHREDCIFcan be used to extract the .hkl and .ins files required for further refinement withSHELXL. Recent developments inSHELXLfacilitate refinement against neutron diffraction data, the treatment of H atoms, the determination of absolute structure, the input of partial structure factors and the refinement of twinned and disordered structures.SHELXLis available free to academics for the Windows, Linux and Mac OS X operating systems, and is particularly suitable for multiple-core processors.
Paraneoplastic pemphigus: Two cases of intra‐abdominal malignancy presenting solely as treatment refractory oral ulceration
Authors: Kelly Shane , Schifter Mark , Fulcher David A. , Lin Ming‐Wei
Published: December 2014

Two patients with initial diagnoses of oral lichen planus and pemphigus vulgaris presented with refractory oral mucosal blistering. Subsequent positive serology results for paraneoplastic pemphigus led to the discovery of occult intra‐abdominal malignancies in both, unicentric Castleman's and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. The diagnosis of paraneoplastic pemphigus should be considered in patients with recalcitrant oral ulceration, even in the absence of clinical features of malignancy.
A novel sister clade to the enterobacteria microviruses (family Microviridae) identified in methane seep sediments
Authors: Bryson Samuel Joseph , Thurber Andrew R. , Correa Adrienne M. S. , Orphan Victoria J. , Vega Thurber Rebecca
Published: December 2014

Methane seep microbial communities perform a key ecosystem service by consuming the greenhouse gas methane prior to its release into the hydrosphere, minimizing the impact of marine methane sources on our climate. Although previous studies have examined the ecology and biochemistry of these communities, none has examined viral assemblages associated with these habitats. We employed virus particle purification, genome amplification, pyrosequencing and gene/genome reconstruction and annotation on two metagenomic libraries, one prepared for ssDNA and the other for all DNA, to identify the viral community in a methane seep. Similarity analysis of these libraries (raw and assembled) revealed a community dominated by phages, with a significant proportion of similarities to the Microviridae family of ssDNA phages. We define these viruses as the Eel River Basin Microviridae (ERBM). Assembly and comparison of 21 ERBM closed circular genomes identified five as members of a novel sister clade to the Microvirus genus of Enterobacteria phages. Comparisons among other metagenomes and these Microviridae major‐capsid sequences indicated that this clade of phages is currently unique to the Eel River Basin sediments. Given this ERBM clade's relationship to the Microviridae genus Microvirus, we define this sister clade as the candidate genus Pequeñovirus.
Diversity and distribution of unicellular opisthokonts along the European coast analysed using high‐throughput sequencing
Authors: del Campo Javier , Mallo Diego , Massana Ramon , de Vargas Colomban , Richards Thomas A. , Ruiz‐Trillo Iñaki
Published: December 2014

The opisthokonts are one of the major super groups of eukaryotes. It comprises two major clades: (i) the Metazoa and their unicellular relatives and (ii) the Fungi and their unicellular relatives. There is, however, little knowledge of the role of opisthokont microbes in many natural environments, especially among non‐metazoan and non‐fungal opisthokonts. Here, we begin to address this gap by analysing high‐throughput 18S rDNA and 18S rRNA sequencing data from different European coastal sites, sampled at different size fractions and depths. In particular, we analyse the diversity and abundance of choanoflagellates, filastereans, ichthyosporeans, nucleariids, corallochytreans and their related lineages. Our results show the great diversity of choanoflagellates in coastal waters as well as a relevant representation of the ichthyosporeans and the uncultured marine opisthokonts (MAOP). Furthermore, we describe a new lineage of marine fonticulids (MAFO) that appears to be abundant in sediments. Taken together, our work points to a greater potential ecological role for unicellular opisthokonts than previously appreciated in marine environments, both in water column and sediments, and also provides evidence of novel opisthokont phylogenetic lineages. This study highlights the importance of high‐throughput sequencing approaches to unravel the diversity and distribution of both known and novel eukaryotic lineages.
A holistic view of polyhydroxyalkanoate metabolism in Pseudomonas putida
Authors: Prieto Auxiliadora , Escapa Isabel F. , Martínez Virginia , Dinjaski Nina , Herencias Cristina , de la Peña Fernando , Tarazona Natalia , Revelles Olga
Published: December 2014

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) metabolism has been traditionally considered as a futile cycle involved in carbon and energy storage. The use of cutting‐edge technologies linked to systems biology has improved our understanding of the interaction between bacterial physiology, PHA metabolism and other cell functions in model bacteria such as Pseudomonas putida KT2440. PHA granules or carbonosomes are supramolecular complexes of biopolyester and proteins that are essential for granule segregation during cell division, and for the functioning of the PHA metabolic route as a continuous cycle. The simultaneous activities of PHA synthase and depolymerase ensure the carbon flow to the transient demand for metabolic intermediates to balance the storage and use of carbon and energy. PHA cycle also determines the number and size of bacterial cells. The importance of PHAs as nutrients for members of the microbial community different to those that produce them is illustrated here via examples of bacterial predators such as Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus that prey on PHA producers and produces specific extra‐cellular depolymerases. PHA hydrolysis confers Bdellovibrio ecological advantages in terms of motility and predation efficiency, demonstrating the importance of PHA producers predation in population dynamics. Metabolic modulation strategies for broadening the portfolio of PHAs are summarized and their properties are compiled.
Lethal Laryngopyocele
Authors: Byard Roger W. , Gilbert John D.
Published: December 2014

A 44‐year‐old man collapsed after complaining of difficulty breathing. Layer dissection of the neck at autopsy revealed a large mixed internal and external laryngopyocele occluding the upper airway. It contained 30 mls of yellow‐gray pus. Mechanisms of death in laryngoceles involve obstruction of the opening into the larynx resulting in accumulation of mucus or air within the sac causing airway occlusion. Once infection supervenes, deaths in laryngopyocoeles result either from accumulated pus causing airway occlusion from a mass effect (as in the current case) or the discharge of pus into the airway causing death from aspiration. Sudden death in laryngopyoceles is a very rare event that requires careful dissection at autopsy to demonstrate the characteristics of the underlying lesion and the possible mechanism of death. Laryngopyocele should be considered in the differential diagnosis of natural conditions causing acute, potentially lethal, upper airway obstruction.
Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia as a Contributory Factor in a Drug‐related Death
Authors: Moreau Emilie , Rérolle Camille , Deveaux Marc , Paraf François , Saint‐Martin Pauline
Published: December 2014

Postmortem investigation often reveals various conditions, which may or may not have played a part in the death of the individual. The case of a 32‐year‐old woman is reported, with a long history of drug addiction. She was found dead in her bed. The autopsy revealed diffuse pulmonary edema with congestion of the lungs, brain, liver, and spleen. Microscopic examination of the lungs showed multiple intra‐alveolar and interstitial foamy macrophages and extracellular fat droplets surrounded by polynuclear giant cells. Death was attributed to acute polydrug intoxication. As microscopic examination had revealed severe pulmonary lesions, lipoid pneumonia was considered as a contributing factor to death. Lipoid pneumonia is an uncommon entity with the characteristic radiograph features and histologic findings of alveoli filled with vacuolated, lipid‐laden histiocytes. It can be either exogenous or endogenous in cause, based on the source of the lipid. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia usually results from aspiration or inhalation of fat‐like material, such as mineral oil or petroleum‐based lubricants and decongestants, resulting in pulmonary inflammatory reactions.
Child Suicide in the North of Portugal
Authors: Mendes Ricardo , Santos Sara , Taveira Francisco , Dinis‐Oliveira Ricardo Jorge , Santos Agostinho , Magalhães Teresa
Published: December 2014

Suicide in children is a rare finding and is probably motivated by acts of impulsiveness. This study aims to contribute to the characterization of child suicide in a forensic perspective in the Portuguese population. Data of forensic autopsies from 2004 to 2012 related to suicide victims under 18 years were reviewed. A total of 17 cases, with a male predominance (64.7%) and a mean age of 15.24 ± 1.348 for both genders, were registered. The leading suicide method was hanging (35.3%), and a suicide note was found in 41.2%. Psychological autopsy proved to be useful in promoting a better understanding of these incidents and their antecedents. This study also offers useful information, namely the implied risk factors, for future programs of suicide research and prevention.
An autotrophic H2‐oxidizing, nitrate‐respiring, Tc(VII)‐reducing Acidovorax sp. isolated from a subsurface oxic‐anoxic transition zone
Authors: Lee Ji‐Hoon , Fredrickson James K. , Plymale Andrew E. , Dohnalkova Alice C. , Resch Charles T. , McKinley James P. , Shi Liang
Published: December 2014

Increasing concentrations of H2 with depth were observed across a geologic unconformity and associated redox transition zone in the subsurface at the Hanford Site in south‐central Washington, USA. An opposing gradient characterized by decreasing O2 and nitrate concentrations was consistent with microbial‐catalysed biogeochemical processes. Sterile sand was incubated in situ within a multilevel sampler placed across the redox transition zone to evaluate the potential for Tc(VII) reduction and for enrichment of H2‐oxidizing denitrifiers capable of reducing Tc(VII). H2‐driven TcO4− reduction was detected in sand incubated at all depths but was strongest in material from a depth of 17.1 m. Acidovorax spp. were isolated from H2‐nitrate enrichments from colonized sand from 15.1 m, with one representative, strain JHL‐9, subsequently characterized. JHL‐9 grew on acetate with either O2 or nitrate as electron acceptor (data not shown) and on medium with bicarbonate, H2 and nitrate. JHL‐9 also reduced pertechnetate (TcO4−) under denitrifying conditions with H2 as the electron donor. H2‐oxidizing Acidovorax spp. in the subsurface at Hanford and other locations may contribute to the maintenance of subsurface redox gradients and offer the potential for Tc(VII) reduction.
Glutamatergic and neurometabolic alterations in chronic cocaine users measured with 1H‐magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Hulka Lea M. , Scheidegger Milan , Vonmoos Matthias , Preller Katrin H. , Baumgartner Markus R. , Herdener Marcus , Seifritz Erich , Henning Anke , Quednow Boris B.
Published: December 2014

Cocaine addiction is a chronically relapsing disorder that is associated with harmful consequences. Relapses occur frequently and effective pharmacotherapies are currently sparse. Preclinical studies suggest that altered glutamatergic signaling is crucial for the maintenance of cocaine self‐administration. However, the translational validity of these models is currently unknown. Therefore, we investigated potential differences of glutamate, glutamine and further metabolite levels in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) of chronic cocaine users and controls using the PRior knOwledge FITting 2.0 tool in combination with two‐dimensional J‐resolved single‐voxel 1H‐magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3T and voxel tissue composition and relaxation correction. Glutamate and glutamine levels did not differ between cocaine users and controls, but higher weekly cocaine use and higher cocaine hair concentrations were associated with lower glutamine/creatine ratios in the pgACC. Interestingly, cocaine users exhibited higher glucose/total creatine ratios than controls in the pgACC and higher choline/creatine ratios in the pgACC and rDLPFC. These results imply that cocaine use is associated with altered cortical glucose metabolism and membrane turnover. Finally, cocaine use over the past 6 months appears to decrease cortical glutamine levels indicating changes in glutamate cycling.
Xenophobic Rhetoric and Its Political Effects on Immigrants and Their Co‐Ethnics
Authors: Pérez Efrén O.
Published: December 2014

Though political scientists generally understand the origins of native‐born reactions to foreigners, less is known about how anti‐immigrant contexts trigger a political response within immigrant groups. I address this question by studying the connection between xenophobic rhetoric and Latino politics. I claim that xenophobic rhetoric raises the salience of ethnic identity and impugns its worth. This identity threat leads high‐identifying group members to engage in political efforts that assert their group's positive value, whereas low identifiers shun political opportunities to bolster their group's devaluation. I test these claims with an experiment embedded in a nationally representative opinion survey of Latino adults. In light of xenophobic rhetoric, I find that relative to low identifiers, high‐identifying Latinos become less politically trusting, more ethnocentric, and increasingly supportive of policies that emphasize ingroup pride. These results clarify xenophobic rhetoric's role in amplifying the influence of ethnic identity on immigrant politics.
The Nature of Legal Change on the U.S. Supreme Court: Jurisprudential Regimes Theory and Its Alternatives
Authors: Bartels Brandon L. , O'Geen Andrew J.
Published: December 2014

Jurisprudential regimes theory (JRT) posits that legal change on the U.S. Supreme Court occurs in a drastic, structural‐break‐like manner. Methodological debates present conflicting evidence for JRT, which has implications for the important law versus ideology debate. We confront this debate by first elaborating two alternative theoretical perspectives to JRT—evolutionary change and legal stability. Our analytical framework focuses on two key substantive effects of jurisprudential categories on the Court's case outcomes—relative differences between categories over multiple time periods and longitudinal differences across time periods. Importantly, different pieces of empirical evidence can provide support for different dynamic processes. The extent to which “law matters” is not necessarily tied to one particular model of legal change. Empirical analysis of updated and backdated free expression data generates key findings consistent with JRT, legal stability, and evolutionary change. We discuss the implications of the results for understanding legal change and legal influence.
Distractions during critical phases of anaesthesia for caesarean section: an observational study
Authors: Jenkins A. , Wilkinson J. V. , Akeroyd M. A. , Broom M. A.
Published: December 2014

Aviation's ‘sterile cockpit’ rule holds that distractions on the flight deck should be kept at a minimum during critical phases of flight. To assess current practice at comparable points during obstetric regional anaesthesia, we measured ambient noise and distracting events during 30 caesarean sections in three phases: during establishment of regional anaesthesia; during testing of regional blockade; and after delivery of the fetal head. Mean (SD) noise levels were 62.5 (3.9) dB during establishment of blockade, 63.9 (4.1) dB during testing and 66.8 (5.0) dB after delivery (p < 0.001). The median rates of sudden, loud (> 70 dB) noises, non‐clinical conversations and numbers of staff present in the operating theatre increased during each of the three phases. Conversely, entrances into, and exits from, theatre per minute were highest during establishment of regional anaesthesia and decreased over the subsequent two time periods (p < 0.001).
Implementation of the WHO‐6‐step method in the medical curriculum to improve pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills
Authors: Keijsers Carolina J. P. W. , Segers Wieke S. , de Wildt Dick J. , Brouwers Jacobus R. B. J. , Keijsers Loes , Jansen Paul A. F.
Published: December 2014

Aim

The only validated tool for pharmacotherapy education for medical students is the 6‐step method of the World Health Organization. It has proven effective in experimental studies with short term interventions. The generalizability of this effect after implementation in a contextual‐rich medical curriculum was investigated.

Methods

The pharmacology knowledge and pharmacotherapy skills of cohorts of students, from years before, during and after implementation of a WHO‐6‐step‐based integrated learning programme were tested using a standardized assessment containing 50 items covering knowledge of basic (n = 25) and clinical (n = 24) pharmacology, and pharmacotherapy skills (n = 1 open question). All scores are expressed as a percentage of the maximum score possible per (sub)domain.

Results

In total, 1652 students were included between September 2010 and July 2014 (participation rate 89%). The WHO‐6‐step‐based learning programme improved students’ knowledge of basic pharmacology (mean score ± SD, 60.6 ± 10.5% vs. 63.4 ± 10.9%, P < 0.01) and clinical or applied pharmacology (63.7 ± 10.4% vs. 67.4 ± 10.3%, P < 0.01), and improved their pharmacotherapy skills (68.8 ± 26.1% vs. 74.6% ± 22.9%, P 0.02). Moreover, satisfaction with education increased (5.7 ± 1.3 vs. 6.3 ± 1.0 on a 10‐point scale, P < 0.01) and as did students’ confidence in daily practice (from −0.81 ± 0.72 to −0.50 ± 0.79 on a −2 to +2 scale, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

The WHO‐6‐step method was successfully implemented in a medical curriculum. In this observational study, the integrated learning programme had positive effects on students’ knowledge of basic and applied pharmacology, improved their pharmacotherapy skills, and increased satisfaction with education and self‐confidence in prescribing. Whether this training method leads to better patient care remains to be established.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New Eugenol Mannich Bases as Promising Antifungal Agents
Authors: Abrão Pedro Henrique O. , Pizi Rafael B. , de Souza Thiago B. , Silva Naiara C. , Fregnan Antonio M. , Silva Fernanda N. , Coelho Luiz Felipe L. , Malaquias Luiz Cosme C. , Dias Amanda Latercia T. , Dias Danielle F. , Veloso Marcia P. , Carvalho Diogo T.
Published: December 2014

New Mannich base‐type eugenol derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anticandidal activity using a broth microdilution assay. Among the synthesized compounds, 4‐allyl‐2‐methoxy‐6‐(morpholin‐4‐ylmethyl) phenyl benzoate (7) and 4‐{5‐allyl‐2‐[(4‐chlorobenzoyl)oxy]‐3‐methoxybenzyl}morpholin‐4‐ium chloride (8) were found to be the most effective antifungal compounds with low IC50 values, some of them well below those of reference drug fluconazole. The most significant IC50 values were those of 7 against C. glabrata (1.23 μm), C. albicans and C. krusei (both 0.63 μm). Additionally, the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic effects on human mononuclear cells. As result, the cytotoxic activity of eugenol in eukaryotic cells decreased with the introduction of the morpholinyl group. Given these findings, we point out compounds 7 and 8 as the most promising derivatives because they showed potency values greater than those of eugenol and fluconazole and they also presented high selectivity indexes.
Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 induced interleukin-19 dampens immune reactions and associates inversely with spondyloarthritis disease activity
Authors: Kragstrup T W , Andersen T , Holm C , Schiøttz-Christensen B , Jurik A G , Hvid M , Deleuran B
Published: December 2014

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of immune mediated inflammatory diseases affecting joints, gut, skin and entheses. The inflammatory process involves activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR-4 and production of cytokines and chemokines such as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (CCL2/MCP-1). This proinflammatory chemokine recruits monocytes to sites of inflammation and is central in the development of several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Interleukin (IL)-19 is a member of the IL-10 family of cytokines. IL-19-deficient mice are more susceptible to innate-mediated colitis and develop more severe inflammation in response to injury. In this work, we studied inducers of IL-19 production and effect of IL-19 on the production of CCL2/MCP-1 and proinflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy controls (HCs) and in PBMCs and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) from SpA patients. Further, we measured IL-19 in plasma from HCs and in plasma and synovial fluid from SpA patients. Constitutive IL-19 expression was present in both PBMCs and SFMCs and the secretion of IL-19 was increased by TLR-2 and TLR-4 ligands. Neutralizing IL-19 in HC PBMCs and SpA SFMCs resulted in increased production of CCL-2/MCP-1. IL-19 concentrations were decreased in synovial fluid compared with plasma and associated inversely with disease activity in SpA. SpA SFMCs produced less IL-19 in response to LPS compared with HC PBMCs. These findings indicate that IL-19 production is diminished in SpA. Taken together, impaired IL-19 control of the innate immune system might be involved in the pathogenesis of SpA.
Identification of high‐risk Dukes B colorectal cancer by microRNA expression profiling: a preliminary study
Authors: Aslam M. I. , Venkatesh J. , Jameson J. S. , West K. , Pringle J. H. , Singh B.
Published: December 2014

Aim

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) from tumour tissue and common gene mutations were studied to determine whether they predict the development of metastasis in patients with Dukes B colorectal cancer.

Method

Patients who underwent curative resection for Dukes B colorectal cancer who subsequently developed distant metastatic disease at some stage in the following 5 years (‘high‐risk B’) were compared with case‐matched controls of Dukes A, Dukes B (no metastases, ‘low‐risk B’) and Dukes C patients without any detectable metastasis at 5 years of follow‐up. MiRNAs from tumour and adjacent normal tissue and common gene mutations (KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA) in primary cancer tissue were analysed to identify prognostic tissue markers for the development of metastasis in patients with Dukes B colorectal cancer.

Results

Expression of miR‐15b and miR‐135b was significantly downregulated (P < 0.001) in ‘high‐risk B’ tumours compared with Dukes A, ‘low‐risk B’ and C without metastasis. No significant differences were noted for mutation status and the development of metastasis.

Conclusion

The study suggests that the development of metastasis in Dukes B tumours may be predictable based on the miRNA expression of miR‐15b and miR‐135b. This requires further study on a much larger cohort.
Endoscopic findings for predicting gastric acid secretion status
Authors: Hatta Waku , Iijima Katsunori , Koike Tomoyuki , Kondo Yutaka , Ara Nobuyuki , Asanuma Kiyotaka , Uno Kaname , Asano Naoki , Imatani Akira , Shimosegawa Tooru
Published: December 2014

Background and Aim

Gastric acidic abnormalities are related to various types of diseases in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection status. However, no studies have shown correlations between many tiny endoscopic findings and the acid secretion level simultaneously. In the present study, we investigated predictive tiny endoscopic findings of hyperchlorhydria and hypochlorhydria.

Methods

A total of 223 subjects without organic diseases who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and endoscopic gastrin test (EGT) for estimating gastrin‐stimulated gastric acid secretory response between 1999 and 2012 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Two blinded expert endoscopists reviewed the images independently and recorded the endoscopic findings.

Results

According to the EGT values, the enrolled subjects were categorized into hyperchlorhydria, normal acid secretion, and hypochlorhydria groups. In all subjects, hematin (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 3.32 [1.40–7.84]) and antral erosion(2.88 [1.24–6.70]) were the predictive endoscopic findings for hyperchlorhydria, and swelling of areae gastricae (14.4 [5.74–36.1]) and open‐type atrophy (15.1 [7.35–31.1]) were those for hypochlorhydria. In addition, the predictive endoscopic findings for hyperchlorhydria differed according to the H. pylori infection status, hematin in H. pylori‐positive subjects and antral erosion in H. pylori‐negative subjects, in contrast to those for hypochlorhydria, which were the same irrespective of the H. pylori infection status.

Conclusions

We could predict the acid secretion status based on the endoscopic findings regardless of H. pylori infection status, which would be of some help for evaluating the risk for acid‐related diseases.
BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS IN SOCIAL NETWORKS
Authors: Conte Anna , Di Cagno Daniela T. , Sciubba Emanuela
Published: December 2014

In this article, we focus on the analysis of individual decision‐making for the formation of social networks, using experimentally generated data. We analyze the determinants of the individual demand for links under the assumption of agents' static expectations and identify patterns of behavior that correspond to three specific objectives: players propose links so as to maximize expected profits (myopic best response strategy); players attempt to establish the largest number of direct links (reciprocator strategy); and players maximize expected profits per direct link (opportunistic strategy). These strategies explain approximately 74% of the observed choices. We demonstrate that they are deliberately adopted and, by means of a finite mixture model, well identified and separated in our sample. (JEL C33, C35, C90, D85)
Binding body and self in visuo‐vestibular conflicts
Authors: Macauda Gianluca , Bertolini Giovanni , Palla Antonella , Straumann Dominik , Brugger Peter , Lenggenhager Bigna
Published: December 2014

Maintenance of the bodily self relies on the accurate integration of multisensory inputs in which visuo‐vestibular cue integration is thought to play an essential role. Here, we tested in healthy volunteers how conflicting visuo‐vestibular bodily input might impact on body self‐coherence in a full body illusion set‐up. Natural passive vestibular stimulation was provided on a motion platform, while visual input was manipulated using virtual reality equipment. Explicit (questionnaire) and implicit (skin temperature) measures were employed to assess illusory self‐identification with either a mannequin or a control object. Questionnaire results pointed to a relatively small illusion, but hand skin temperature, plausibly an index of illusory body ownership, showed the predicted drop specifically in the condition when participants saw the mannequin moving in congruence with them. We argue that this implicit measure was accessible to visuo‐vestibular modulation of the sense of self, possibly mediated by shared neural processes in the insula involved in vestibular and interoceptive signalling, thermoregulation and multisensory integration.
Differential contributions of de novo and maintenance DNA methyltransferases to object memory processing in the rat hippocampus and perirhinal cortex – a double dissociation
Authors: Mitchnick Krista A. , Creighton Samantha , O'Hara Matthew , Kalisch Bettina E. , Winters Boyer D.
Published: December 2014

Epigenetic mechanisms are increasingly acknowledged as major players in memory formation. Specifically, DNA methylation is necessary for the formation of long‐term memory in various brain regions, including the hippocampus (HPC); however, its role in the perirhinal cortex (PRh), a structure critical for object memory, has not been characterized. Moreover, the mnemonic effects of selective DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibition have not yet been investigated systematically, despite distinct roles for de novo (DNMT3a, 3b) and maintenance (DNMT1) methyltransferases. Consequently, we assessed the effects of various DNMT inhibitors within the HPC and PRh of rats using the object‐in‐place paradigm, which requires both brain regions. The non‐nucleoside DNA methyltransferase inhibitor RG‐108 impaired long‐term object‐in‐place memory in both regions. Furthermore, intracranial administration of Accell short‐interference RNA sequences to inhibit the expression of individual DNMTs implicated DNMT3a and DNMT1 in the HPC and PRh effects, respectively. mRNA expression analyses revealed a complementary pattern of results, as only de novo DNMT3a and DNMT3b mRNA was upregulated in the HPC (dentate gyrus) following object‐in‐place learning, whereas DNMT1 mRNA was selectively upregulated in the PRh. These results reinforce the established functional double dissociation between the HPC and PRh and imply the operation of different epigenetic mechanisms in brain regions dedicated to long‐term memory processing for different types of information.
Prose memory impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients is related to hippocampus volume
Authors: Raaphorst J. , van Tol M. J. , de Visser M. , van der Kooi A. J. , Majoie C. B. , van den Berg L. H. , Schmand B. , Veltman D. J.
Published: December 2014

Background and purpose

Thirty per cent of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients have non‐motor symptoms, including executive and memory deficits. The in vivo anatomical basis of memory deficits in ALS has not been elucidated. In this observational study, brain atrophy in relation to memory function was investigated in ALS patients and controls.

Methods

Twenty‐six ALS patients without dementia and 21 healthy volunteers matched for gender, age and education level underwent comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation and T1‐ and T2‐weighted 3 T magnetic resonance imaging scanning of the brain. Grey and white matter brain volumes were analysed using voxel‐based morphometry and age related white matter changes were assessed. The most frequently abnormal memory test (<2 SD below normative data corrected for age, gender and education) was correlated with regional brain volume variations by multiple regression analyses with age, gender and total grey matter volumes as covariates.

Results

Immediate and delayed story recall scores were abnormal in 23% of ALS patients and correlated to bilateral hippocampus grey matter volume (r = 0.52 for both memory tests; P < 0.05; corrected for age, gender and total grey matter volume). This correlation was not found in healthy controls with similar age, education, anxiety and depression levels and white matter changes.

Conclusions

Prose memory impairment is a frequent finding in this cohort and is associated with hippocampus volume in ALS patients without dementia. These findings complement previous hippocampus changes in imaging studies in ALS and suggest involvement of the hippocampus in cognitive dysfunction of ALS.
Impact of dental caries on quality of life among preschool children: emphasis on the type of tooth and stages of progression
Authors: Ramos‐Jorge Joana , Alencar Bruna Mota , Pordeus Isabela Almeida , Soares Maria Eliza da Consolação , Marques Leandro Silva , Ramos‐Jorge Maria Letícia , Paiva Saul Martins
Published: December 2014

The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to evaluate the impact of dental caries on the quality of life of preschool children and their parents/caretakers, with an emphasis on the type of tooth and stage of progression. A randomly selected sample of preschool children, 3–5 yrs of age, underwent an oral examination for the assessment of dental caries using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System II (ICDAS II) criteria. Parents/caretakers answered two questionnaires, one on the oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) of the child [the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS)], and the other on the socio‐economic characteristics of the family. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi‐square test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, and Poisson regression. A total of 451 preschool children participated in the study. The majority of carious lesions exhibited severe decay (60.6%) and were found in both anterior (incisors/canines) and posterior (molars) teeth. The final Poisson model revealed negative impacts on quality of life from more advanced stages of dental caries, both in incisors/canines and molars. Child's age and household income were also associated with impact on quality of life. Carious lesions in more advanced stages of progression in anterior and posterior teeth were associated with a negative impact on the quality of life of preschool children.
Temporal and spatial characteristics of high frequency oscillations as a new biomarker in epilepsy
Authors: Dümpelmann Matthias , Jacobs Julia , Schulze‐Bonhage Andreas
Published: December 2014

Objective

Interictal high frequency oscillations (HFOs) are a promising candidate as a biomarker in epilepsy as well as for defining the seizure‐onset zone as for the prediction of the surgical outcome after epilepsy surgery. The purpose of the study is to investigate properties of HFOs in long‐term recordings with respect to the sleep–wake cycle and anatomic regions to verify previous results based on observations from short intervals and patients mainly with temporal lobe epilepsy to the analysis of hours of recordings and focal epilepsies with extratemporal origin.

Methods

Automatic HFO detection using a radial basis function neural network detector was performed in long‐term recordings of 15 presurgical patients investigated with subdural strip, grid, and depth contacts. Periods with visual marked sleep stages based on parallel scalp recordings from two consecutive nights were compared to awake intervals. Statistical analysis was based on the Kruskal‐Wallis test, Mann‐Whitney U‐test and Spearman's rank correlations.

Results

HFO rates in seizure‐onset contacts differed from other brain regions independent of the sleep–wake cycle. For temporal contacts, the HFO rate increased significantly with sleep stage. In addition, contacts covering the parietal lobe, including rolandic cortex, showed a significant increase of HFO rates during sleep. However, no significant HFO rate changes depending on the sleep–wake cycle were found for frontal contacts.

Significance

The rate of interictal HFOs predicted the SOZ with statistical significance at the group level, but properties other than the HFO rate may need to be considered to improve the diagnostic utility of HFOs. This study gives evidence that the modulation of HFO rates by states of the sleep–wake cycle has particular characteristics within different neocortical regions and in mesiotemporal structures, and contributes to the establishment of HFOs as a biomarker in epilepsy.
Evaluation of orange‐brown precipitate formed in root canals after irrigation with chlorhexidine and QMix and spectroscopic analysis of precipitates produced by a mixture of chlorhexidine/NaOCl and QMix/NaOCl
Authors: Arslan H. , Uygun A. D. , Keskin A. , Karatas E. , Seçkin F. , Yıldırım A.
Published: December 2014

Aims

(i) To compare chlorhexidine and QMixTM in terms of orange‐brown precipitate generation in root canals and (ii) to analyse the precipitate produced by mixing chlorhexidine and QMix™ with NaOCl to determine whether para‐chloroaniline was produced.

Methodology

The root canals of 57 single‐rooted anterior teeth were prepared using ProTaper Universal rotary instruments up to size F4. Two millilitres of 2.5% NaOCl was used between each instrument change. The specimens were then divided randomly into three groups (n = 19) and irrigated as follows: group 1, 5 mL of distilled water (control group) for 60 s; group 2, 5 mL of 2% chlorhexidine for 60 s; and group 3, 5 mL of QMix for 60 s. The roots were split longitudinally, and one of the halves was photographed using a stereomicroscope. The amount of orange‐brown precipitate was evaluated using a four‐grade scoring system. The data were analysed statistically using the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U‐tests (P = 0.05). To evaluate whether the precipitates included para‐chloroaniline, 5 mL of 2% chlorhexidine and 5 mL QMix were separately mixed with 5 mL of 2.5% NaOCl in two flasks. After centrifugation, precipitates were obtained and analysed using 1H NMR spectra. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests at a 95% confidence level (P = 0.05).

Results

Chlorhexidine had significantly higher scores than QMix™ in terms of orange‐brown precipitate formed in the root canals (P < 0.001). According to the 1H NMR spectra, para‐chloroaniline was present in the mixture of chlorhexidine and NaOCl. However, the mixture of QMix™ and NaOCl did not result in para‐chloroaniline formation.

Conclusion

QMix™ does not form para‐chloroaniline when associated with NaOCl.
The Gap between the Theory and Practice of Corporate Valuation: Survey of European Experts
Authors: Bancel Franck , Mittoo Usha R.
Published: December 2014

The valuation of companies or their assets is at the heart of most financing and investment decisions. Over the last five decades, academics have developed several simple and sophisticated models for corporate valuation. Yet valuation estimates of a firm or its assets appear to vary widely among practitioners. It is unclear whether these differences arise from practitioners' use of different valuation models or from differences in their assumptions about the inputs used in those models.

To provide some insights into this issue, the authors recently surveyed 365 European finance practitioners with CFAs or equivalent professional degrees. They find that almost all survey respondents use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model (along with some version of Relative Valuation that relies on the use of “comparables”). But the estimation methods of such practitioners for almost all inputs in the DCF model, including beta, the equity market risk premium, leverage, cost of debt, and terminal value, vary widely. This can be a serious problem because even small differences in inputs can cause huge variations in valuations. Such differences arise primarily because theory provides little guidance on how to estimate parameters, leaving practitioners to make their own assumptions and judgments.

In sum, the authors' findings suggest that the process of estimating valuation parameters can be as important as the choice of the valuation model itself, and requires the serious attention of academics and practitioners. The authors recommend that key valuation parameter estimates be disclosed in financial and valuation reports. Their findings are also relevant to policy makers because the concept of “fair value” plays such a central role in post‐crisis regulation.
Persistent infections with infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) of different virulence in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L
Authors: Julin K , Johansen L‐H , Sommer A‐I , Jørgensen J B
Published: December 2014

Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) is a prevalent pathogen in fish worldwide. The virus causes substantial mortality in Atlantic salmon juveniles and smolts when transferred to sea water and persistent infection in surviving fish after disease outbreaks. Here, we have investigated the occurrence of the virus as well as the innate immune marker Mx in the head kidney (HK) of Atlantic salmon throughout an experimental challenge covering both a fresh and a seawater phase. The fish were challenged with a high (HV) and low virulence (LV) IPNV. Both isolates caused mortality due to reactivation of the virus after transfer to sea water. In the freshwater phase, higher levels of virus transcripts were detected in the HK of fish infected with LV IPNV compared to HV, suggesting that the HV isolate is able to limit its own replication to a level where the innate immune system is not alerted. Further, ex vivoHK leucocytes derived from fish infected with the two isolates were stimulated with CpG DNA. Significantly, higher IFN levels were found in the LV compared to the HV group in the freshwater phase. This suggests that the viruses attenuate the antiviral host immune response at different levels which may contribute to the observed differences in disease outcome.
Background intensity correction for terabyte‐sized time‐lapse images
Authors: CHALFOUN J. , MAJURSKI M. , BHADRIRAJU K. , LUND S. , BAJCSY P. , BRADY M.
Published: December 2014

Several computational challenges associated with large‐scale background image correction of terabyte‐sized fluorescent images are discussed and analysed in this paper. Dark current, flat‐field and background correction models are applied over a mosaic of hundreds of spatially overlapping fields of view (FOVs) taken over the course of several days, during which the background diminishes as cell colonies grow. The motivation of our work comes from the need to quantify the dynamics of OCT‐4 gene expression via a fluorescent reporter in human stem cell colonies. Our approach to background correction is formulated as an optimization problem over two image partitioning schemes and four analytical correction models. The optimization objective function is evaluated in terms of (1) the minimum root mean square (RMS) error remaining after image correction, (2) the maximum signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) reached after downsampling and (3) the minimum execution time. Based on the analyses with measured dark current noise and flat‐field images, the most optimal GFP background correction is obtained by using a data partition based on forming a set of submosaic images with a polynomial surface background model. The resulting image after correction is characterized by an RMS of about 8, and an SNR value of a 4 × 4 downsampling above 5 by Rose criterion. The new technique generates an image with half RMS value and double SNR value when compared to an approach that assumes constant background throughout the mosaic. We show that the background noise in terabyte‐sized fluorescent image mosaics can be corrected computationally with the optimized triplet (data partition, model, SNR driven downsampling) such that the total RMS value from background noise does not exceed the magnitude of the measured dark current noise. In this case, the dark current noise serves as a benchmark for the lowest noise level that an imaging system can achieve. In comparison to previous work, the past fluorescent image background correction methods have been designed for single FOV and have not been applied to terabyte‐sized images with large mosaic FOVs, low SNR and diminishing access to background information over time as cell colonies span entirely multiple FOVs. The code is available as open‐source from the following link https://isg.nist.gov/.
Localizing and extracting filament distributions from microscopy images
Authors: BASU S. , LIU C. , ROHDE G.K.
Published: December 2014

Detailed quantitative measurements of biological filament networks represent a crucial step in understanding architecture and structure of cells and tissues, which in turn explain important biological events such as wound healing and cancer metastases. Microscopic images of biological specimens marked for different structural proteins constitute an important source for observing and measuring meaningful parameters of biological networks. Unfortunately, current efforts at quantitative estimation of architecture and orientation of biological filament networks from microscopy images are predominantly limited to visual estimation and indirect experimental inference. Here, we describe a new method for localizing and extracting filament distributions from 2D microscopy images of different modalities. The method combines a filter‐based detection of pixels likely to contain a filament with a constrained reverse diffusion‐based approach for localizing the filaments centrelines. We show with qualitative and quantitative experiments, using both simulated and real data, that the new method can provide more accurate centreline estimates of filament in comparison to other approaches currently available. In addition, we show the algorithm is more robust with respect to variations in the initial filter‐based filament detection step often used. We demonstrate the application of the method in extracting quantitative parameters from confocal microscopy images of actin filaments and atomic force microscopy images of DNA fragments.