bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica protects wheat from fusarium crown rot disease in simulated UK autumn conditions
Authors: Rabiey M. , Ullah I. , Shaw M. W.
Published: December 2014

The root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica (Sebacinacea) forms mutualistic symbioses with a broad range of host plants, increasing their biomass production and resistance to fungal pathogens. This study evaluated the effect of P. indica on fusarium crown rot disease of wheat, under in vitro and glasshouse conditions. Interaction of P. indica and Fusarium isolates under axenic culture conditions indicated no direct antagonistic activity of P. indica against Fusarium isolates. Seedlings of wheat were inoculated with P. indica and pathogenic Fusarium culmorum or F. graminearum and grown in sterilized soil‐free medium or in a non‐sterilized mix of soil and sand. Fusarium alone reduced emergence and led to visible browning and reduced root growth. Roots of seedlings in pots inoculated with both Fusarium isolates and P. indica were free of visible symptoms; seed emergence and root biomass were equivalent to the uninoculated. DNA was quantified by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The ratio of FusariumDNA to wheat DNA rose rapidly in the plants inoculated with Fusarium alone; isolates and species were not significantly different. Piriformospora indica inoculation reduced the ratio of Fusarium to host DNA in the root systems. The reduction increased with time. The ratio of P. indica to wheat DNA initially rose but then declined in root systems without Fusarium. With Fusarium, the ratio rose throughout the experiment. The absolute amount of FusariumDNA in root systems increased in the absence of P. indica but was static in plants co‐inoculated with P. indica.
Point Predictions and the Punctuated Equilibrium Theory: A Data Mining Approach—U.S. Nuclear Policy as Proof of Concept
Authors: Hegelich Simon , Fraune Cornelia , Knollmann David
Published: December 2014

In Punctuated Equilibrium Theory (PET), information processing under the constraints of limited attention and bounded rationality leads to stick‐slip dynamics in policy outcomes. Empirical work in this field often focuses on the macro level. Using the case of nuclear energy policy in theUnitedStates as proof of concept, we demonstrate how decisive budget changes in a specific policy subsystem can be linked to attention of Congress and the president. We utilize a mixed‐methods data‐mining approach: Maximum likelihood estimation is used to analyze the distribution of the nuclear energyRD&Dbudget. Then attention data of both Congress and the president are structured by means of cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Finally, these data are used in a generalized linear model to predict specific budget shifts. The article is designed as a proof of concept: In the case of nuclear energy policy, we are able to predict budget shifts without violating the assumptions ofPET. More importantly: we can demonstrate that attention is not only affecting the final policy outcome but also the corridor of the possible.
Turning defiance into compliance with procedural justice: Understanding reactions to regulatory encounters through motivational posturing
Authors: Murphy Kristina
Published: December 2014

This paper usesBraithwaite's motivational posturing framework to explain how individuals react to encounters with regulatory authorities. Of interest is whetherprocedural justicecan reduce defiance and improve self‐reported compliance among individuals who are either resistant or dismissive of regulatory authority. Using longitudinal survey data collected from tax offenders (Study 1), and individuals who had a recent police‐citizen interaction (Study 2), it will be shown that procedural justice can promote compliance behavior. Procedural justice is also found to be effective for reducing resistant forms of defiance over time, but not dismissive defiance. Further, the results reveal that neither resistant defiance nor dismissive defiance moderate the effect of procedural justice on compliance, suggesting procedural justice works equally well for both low and high resisters and low and high disengagers. Finally, an unexpected result reveals that resistance, but not dismissive defiance, mediates the effect of procedural justice on self‐reported compliance behavior. The findings have implications for procedural justice research and for the regulation of defiance.
Innovation and public space: The developmental possibilities of regulation in the global south
Authors: Samford Steven
Published: December 2014

Important product and process innovations are often developed in “public spaces” that promote collaboration and provide shelter from market competition. Given that most collaborative spaces are costly to establish, the possible implications are bleak for economically strapped developing countries. This paper highlights a less conspicuous – if not unknown – source of collaborative space: the regulatory process. Regulators can induce innovation by promoting collaboration across organizational, sectoral, and disciplinary boundaries in the interest of regulatory compliance. This paper documents the innovative consequences of efforts to regulate the use of lead‐based glazes in the Mexican ceramics industry and reconsiders several recent studies of upgrading in other countries that appear to have been driven, at least in part, by the regulatory process. Drawing on these cases, this paper makes four primary points: (i) that innovation in regulatory spaces is more common than previously acknowledged and is producing meaningful improvements in product quality and working conditions in developing economies; (ii) that promoting innovation in these regulatory spaces is an important developmental tool for countries that are “regulation‐takers” and have many low‐tech sectors; (iii) that this dynamic extends current conceptions of regulatory discretion, as well as development literature on state‐society synergies; and (iv) that establishing collaborative public spaces as a common conceptual framework is a critical step toward understanding the consequences of social regulation on upgrading.
Selecting the increment size for a maximal incremental cycle test in patients with COPD
Authors: Hartman Jorine E. , Slebos Dirk‐Jan , Boezen H. Marike , de Greef Mathieu H.G. , Kerstjens Huib A.M. , ten Hacken Nick H.T.
Published: December 2014

Currently, to our knowledge, there are no chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)‐specific formulas to predict the maximum workload of an incremental cycle ergometer test. The aim of the study was to investigate different prediction models including COPD‐specific variables of maximum workload in 113 mild to very severe COPD patients. This study shows that simple measures like forced expiratory volume in 1 s, chair‐stand test and modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea score may improve the accuracy of the predicted maximum workload in COPD patients.
Decomposing Poverty Change: Deciphering Change in Total Population and Beyond
Authors: Mishra Srijit
Published: December 2014

In the understanding of decomposing poverty change, the growth effect of mean income is replaced with the growth effect of total income and the impact of change in total population. These two, along with changes in inequality, form the three broader effects that can be computed in multiple ways depending upon the base period and the sequence of calculation. Changing the base does not alter the broader effects while specific attributions within each effect get interchanged. For a given base, there will be six possible sequences and we take an average of these to compute the three broad effects. Finally, poverty change on account of the three broad effects comprising growth of total income, change in inequality, and change in total population are shown as part of the within‐group effect while change in population shares, which is different from change in total population, is a between‐group effect. We provide empirical illustrations with data from India.
Laws, the Inference Problem, and Uninstantiated Universals
Authors: Rives Bradley
Published: December 2014

The difficulties facing Humean regularity accounts of laws have led some philosophers to a theory that takes laws to be necessitation relations between universals. In this paper I evaluate David Armstrong's version of this theory by considering two of its key elements: its solution to the so‐called “Inference Problem” and its denial of uninstantiated universals. After considering some potential problems with each of these elements on their own, I argue that Armstrong's solution to the Inference Problem and his denial of uninstantiated universals are not two independent aspects of his view. His solution to the Inference Problem depends upon his denial of uninstantiated universals.
Kantian Moral Retributivism: Punishment, Suffering, and the Highest Good
Authors: O'Connell Eoin
Published: December 2014

Against the view of some contemporary Kantians who wish to downplay Kant's retributivist commitments, I argue that Kant's theory of practical of reason implies a retributive conception of punishment. I trace this view to Kant's distinction between morality and well‐being and his attempt to synthesize these two concerns in the idea of the highest good. Well‐being is morally valuable only insofar as it is proportional to virtue, and the suffering inflicted on wrongdoers as punishment for wrongdoing is morally good so long as it is proportional to the wrongdoing. According to Kantian retributivism, punishment is warranted as a means to promote proportionality between well‐being and virtue.
Can Policy Be Risk‐Based? The Cultural Theory of Risk and the Case of Livestock Disease Containment
Authors: Duckett Dominic , Wynne Brian , Christley Rob M. , Heathwaite A. Louise , Mort Maggie , Austin Zoe , Wastling Jonathan M. , Latham Sophia M. , Alcock Ruth , Haygarth Philip
Published: December 2014

This article explores the nature of calls for risk‐based policy present in expert discourse from a cultural theory perspective. Semi‐structured interviews with professionals engaged in the research and management of livestock disease control provide the data for a reading proposing that the real basis of policy relating to socio‐technical hazards is deeply political and cannot be purified through ‘escape routes’ to objectivity. Scientists and risk managers are shown calling, on the one hand, for risk‐based policy approaches while on the other acknowledging a range of policy drivers outside the scope of conventional quantitative risk analysis including group interests, eventualities such as outbreaks, historical antecedents, emergent scientific advances and other contingencies. Calls for risk‐based policy are presented, following cultural theory, as ideals connected to a reductionist epistemology and serving particular professional interests over others rather than as realistic proposals for a paradigm shift.
Cross‐evaluation of optimal glycerol concentration to enhance optical tissue clearing efficacy
Authors: Son T. , Jung B.
Published: December 2014

Background/aims

The efficacy of light therapeutic and diagnostic applications can be enhanced by employing optical tissue clearing (OTC) agents to minimize light scattering in tissue. This study aimed to investigate the optimal concentration of glycerol, so that it can be efficiently used as an OTC agent in dermatology.

Methods

Glycerol was topically applied to avoid the possibility of edema that could be caused by dermal injection. The efficacy of glycerol was quantitatively evaluated for various concentrations using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate light scattering and ultrasound imaging modality to evaluate collagen dissociation.

Results

The intensity in the OCT images in the deeper regions increased over time after glycerol application owing to enhanced light penetration caused by glycerol permeation into the sample. A comparable decrease over time in the collagen distribution was observed in the ultrasound images after glycerol application.

Conclusion

The optimal concentration of glycerol to maximize OTC was found to be 70%. The finding of this study may provide a guideline regarding the use of glycerol for efficient light diagnosis and therapy in dermatology.
Effects of dexmedetomidine on pulse pressure variation changes induced by hemorrhage followed by volume replacement in isoflurane‐anesthetized dogs
Authors: Diniz Miriely S. , Teixeira‐Neto Francisco J. , Cândido Thaísa D. , Zanuzzo Felipe S. , Teixeira Lívia R. , Klein Adriana V. , do Nascimento Paulo
Published: December 2014

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on changes in pulse pressure variation (PPV) induced by hemorrhage followed by volume replacement (VR) during isoflurane (ISO) anesthesia.

Design

Prospective, randomized, crossover study.

Setting

Research laboratory at a veterinary teaching hospital.

Animals

Eight adult dogs.

Interventions

Anesthesia was maintained with 1.3 times the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of ISO alone or ISO with DEX (ISO‐DEX, 1.6 μg/kg [bolus], followed by 2 μg/kg/h). Atropine was administered 30 minutes prior to hemorrhage in the ISO‐DEX treatment. Ventilation was controlled (tidal volume of 12 mL/kg, positive end‐expiratory pressure of 7 cm H2O, respiratory rate of 16–20/min) under neuromuscular blockade. After recording baseline data, progressive withdrawal of 10%, 20%, and 30% of blood volume (HV10, HV20, and HV30, respectively [measurements during hemorrhage, indicating x% of blood volume removed]) was followed by VR with autologous blood.

Measurements and Main Results

In 4 of 8 ISO dogs, hemorrhage decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 60 mm Hg. Based on mean arterial pressure after hemorrhage, dogs were assigned to hypotensive (HG) and normotensive (NG) groups post hoc. During ISO, stroke index and cardiac index decreased with hemorrhage (P < 0.05), while VR normalized or increased these variables. The PPV (%, mean [range]) was increased by hemorrhage from 7 (5–9) to 20 (12–27) and 27 (17–40) at HV20 and HV30, respectively, only in ISO dogs in the HG; PPV returned to baseline after VR. Dexmedetomidine caused increases in systemic vascular resistance (in dogs in HG and NG), and prevented the increase in PPV with hemorrhage.

Conclusions

During ISO anesthesia, PPV increases in individuals prone to developing hypotension from hypovolemia. Because DEX prevents the increase in PPV associated with hypovolemia, PPV should not be used to guide VR in dogs that have been given DEX.
A study on the ability of quaternary ammonium groups attached to a polyurethane foam wound dressing to inhibit bacterial attachment and biofilm formation
Authors: Tran Phat L. , Hamood Abdul N. , de Souza Anselm , Schultz Gregory , Liesenfeld Bernd , Mehta Dilip , Reid Ted W.
Published: December 2014

Bacterial infection of acute and chronic wounds impedes wound healing significantly. Part of this impediment is the ability of bacterial pathogens to grow in wound dressings. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of a polyurethane (PU) foam wound dressings coated with poly diallyl‐dimethylammonium chloride (pDADMAC‐PU) to inhibit the growth and biofilm development by three main wound pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii, within the wound dressing. pDADMAC‐PU inhibited the growth of all three pathogens. Time‐kill curves were conducted both with and without serum to determine the killing kinetic of pDADMAC‐PU. pDADMAC‐PU killed S. aureus, A. baumannii, and P. aeruginosa. The effect of pDADMAC‐PU on biofilm development was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative analysis, colony‐forming unit assay, revealed that pDADMAC‐PU dressing produced more than eight log reduction in biofilm formation by each pathogen. Visualization of the biofilms by either confocal laser scanning microscopy or scanning electron microscopy confirmed these findings. In addition, it was found that the pDADMAC‐PU‐treated foam totally inhibited migration of bacteria through the foam for all three bacterial strains. These results suggest that pDADMAC‐PU is an effective wound dressing that inhibits the growth of wound pathogens both within the wound and in the wound dressing.
Wound repair and regeneration: Mechanisms, signaling, and translation
Authors: Eming Sabine A. , Martin Paul , Tomic-Canic Marjana
Published: December 2014

The combination of an advanced scientific understanding of tissue repair and regeneration and the identification of knowledge gaps and the limitations of past clinical trials will provide a strong basis to advance viable clinical approaches for treating patients with wound-healing pathologies.
PET/CT imaging correlates with treatment outcome in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
Authors: Chen Ray Y. , Dodd Lori E. , Lee Myungsun , Paripati Praveen , Hammoud Dima A. , Mountz James M. , Jeon Doosoo , Zia Nadeem , Zahiri Homeira , Coleman M. Teresa , Carroll Matthew W. , Lee Jong Doo , Jeong Yeon Joo , Herscovitch Peter , Lahouar Saher , Tartakovsky Michael , Rosenthal Alexander , Somaiyya Sandeep , Lee Soyoung , Goldfeder Lisa C. , Cai Ying , Via Laura E. , Park Seung-Kyu , Cho Sang-Nae , Barry Clifton E.
Published: December 2014

PET/CT imaging in humans with TB correlates with drug response and final treatment outcomes.
Effectiveness of exome and genome sequencing guided by acuity of illness for diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Soden Sarah E. , Saunders Carol J. , Willig Laurel K. , Farrow Emily G. , Smith Laurie D. , Petrikin Josh E. , LePichon Jean-Baptiste , Miller Neil A. , Thiffault Isabelle , Dinwiddie Darrell L. , Twist Greyson , Noll Aaron , Heese Bryce A. , Zellmer Lee , Atherton Andrea M. , Abdelmoity Ahmed T. , Safina Nicole , Nyp Sarah S. , Zuccarelli Britton , Larson Ingrid A. , Modrcin Ann , Herd Suzanne , Creed Mitchell , Ye Zhaohui , Yuan Xuan , Brodsky Robert A. , Kingsmore Stephen F.
Published: December 2014

Molecular diagnosis of pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders by genomic sequencing is frequently informative and cost-effective and can affect clinical care.
Clinical Severity of Visceral Leishmaniasis Is Associated with Changes in Immunoglobulin G Fc N-Glycosylation
Authors: Gardinassi Luiz Gustavo , Dotz Viktoria , Hipgrave Ederveen Agnes , de Almeida Roque Pacheco , Nery Costa Carlos Henrique , Costa Dorcas Lamounier , de Jesus Amélia Ribeiro , Mayboroda Oleg A. , Garcia Gustavo Rocha , Wuhrer Manfred , de Miranda Santos Isabel Kinney Ferreira
Published: December 2014

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has a high fatality rate if not treated; nevertheless, the majority of human infections with the causative agent,
Leishmania infantum chagasi
, are asymptomatic. Although VL patients often present with increased levels of serum immunoglobulins, the contribution of antibodies to resistance or progression to disease remains unknown. Effector and regulatory functions of antibodies rely on their interactions with type I and II Fc receptors, and these interactions are tuned by the patterns of antibody Fc N-glycosylation. In view of these facts, we applied a robust method of IgG Fc N-glycopeptide profiling of serum samples from 187 patients with VL, 177 asymptomatic individuals, 116 endemic controls (individuals residing in areas where VL is endemic) and 43 nonendemic controls (individuals living in an area where VL is not endemic). We show that, in comparison to the overall IgG Fc N-glycan profiles of asymptomatic or uninfected healthy individuals, those of patients with VL are profoundly altered. These changes correlate with levels of serum cytokines and the inflammation marker C-reactive protein. We also fitted univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression models to demonstrate the ability of IgG Fc N-glycosylation features and immunity regulators present in serum to predict disease severity in VL patients. Importantly, we show that Fc N-glycosylation profiles change after treatment of VL. This study introduces important concepts contributing to the understanding of antibody responses in infections with
Leishmania
parasites and provides new insights into the pathology of human VL.

IMPORTANCE
Immunoglobulins (Ig) have been shown to present pro- and anti-inflammatory functions according to the profile of carbohydrates attached to their Fc region. Glycosylation features of serum IgG have been examined in relation to several autoimmune and infectious diseases and provide a mechanistic basis for the protective or pathogenic role of antibodies.
Leishmania infantum chagasi
is the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in South America, and we show that VL patients produce IgG with patterns of Fc glycans similar to those found in other inflammatory conditions. Specific Fc N-glycosylation features and levels of serum cytokines and C-reactive protein are significantly associated with the development of severe clinical symptoms and, notably, Fc glycosylation changes after treatment. The modifications detected in the N-glycosylation features of IgG Fc from VL patients raise new perspectives on the effector or regulatory role of antibodies in immune responses elicited by infection with
Leishmania
parasites.
Candida albicans Hypha Formation and Mannan Masking of β-Glucan Inhibit Macrophage Phagosome Maturation
Authors: Bain Judith M. , Louw Johanna , Lewis Leanne E. , Okai Blessing , Walls Catriona A. , Ballou Elizabeth R. , Walker Louise A. , Reid Delyth , Munro Carol A. , Brown Alistair J. P. , Brown Gordon D. , Gow Neil A. R. , Erwig Lars P.
Published: December 2014

Candida albicans
is a major life-threatening human fungal pathogen in the immunocompromised host. Host defense against systemic
Candida
infection relies heavily on the capacity of professional phagocytes of the innate immune system to ingest and destroy fungal cells. A number of pathogens, including
C. albicans
, have evolved mechanisms that attenuate the efficiency of phagosome-mediated inactivation, promoting their survival and replication within the host. Here we visualize host-pathogen interactions using live-cell imaging and show that viable, but not heat- or UV-killed
C. albicans
cells profoundly delay phagosome maturation in macrophage cell lines and primary macrophages. The ability of
C. albicans
to delay phagosome maturation is dependent on cell wall composition and fungal morphology. Loss of cell wall
O
-mannan is associated with enhanced acquisition of phagosome maturation markers, distinct changes in Rab GTPase acquisition by the maturing phagosome, impaired hyphal growth within macrophage phagosomes, profound changes in macrophage actin dynamics, and ultimately a reduced ability of fungal cells to escape from macrophage phagosomes. The loss of cell wall
O
-mannan leads to exposure of β-glucan in the inner cell wall, facilitating recognition by Dectin-1, which is associated with enhanced phagosome maturation.

IMPORTANCE
Innate cells engulf and destroy invading organisms by phagocytosis, which is essential for the elimination of fungal cells to protect against systemic life-threatening infections. Yet comparatively little is known about what controls the maturation of phagosomes following ingestion of fungal cells. We used live-cell microscopy and fluorescent protein reporter macrophages to understand how
C. albicans
viability, filamentous growth, and cell wall composition affect phagosome maturation and the survival of the pathogen within host macrophages. We have demonstrated that cell wall glycosylation and yeast-hypha morphogenesis are required for disruption of host processes that function to inactivate pathogens, leading to survival and escape of this fungal pathogen from within host phagocytes. The methods employed here are applicable to study interactions of other pathogens with phagocytic cells to dissect how specific microbial features impact different stages of phagosome maturation and the survival of the pathogen or host.
Anteromedial pneumothorax in a neonate: ‘The diagnostic dilemma’ and the importance of clinical signs
Authors: Razak Abdul , Mohanty Pankaj Kumar , Venkatesh HA
Published: December 2014

A premature neonate born at 32 weeks of gestation was admitted to the neonatal unit with respiratory distress syndrome. The infant received late rescue surfactant therapy with continued mechanical ventilation in view of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) failure. Owing to worsening distress and an air leak, he was switched over to high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. The air leak required drainage for possible pneumopericardium. This was initially attempted ineffectually with echo-assisted pericardial drainage, and later successfully with the use of chest tubes for anteromedial pneumothorax.
Gallstone ileus obstructing within an incarcerated lumbar hernia: an unusual presentation of a rare diagnosis
Authors: Ziesmann Markus Tyler , Alotaiby Nouf , Abbasi Thamer Al , Rezende-Neto Joao B
Published: December 2014

We describe an unusual case of a 74-year-old woman who presented with signs and symptoms of small-bowel obstruction and a clinically appreciable, irreducible, left-sided lumbar hernia associated with previous iliac crest bone graft harvesting. Palpation of the hernia demonstrated a small, firm mass within the loops of herniated bowel. CT scanning recognised an intraluminal gallstone at the transition point, establishing the diagnosis of gallstone ileus within an incarcerated lumbar hernia. The proposed explanatory mechanism is that of a gallstone migrating into an easily reducible hernia containing small bowel causing obstruction at the hernia neck by a ball-valve mechanism, resulting in proximal bowel dilation and thus hernia incarceration; it remains unclear when the stone entered the hernia, and whether it enlarged in situ or prior to entering the enteral tract. This is only the second reported instance in the literature of an intraluminal gallstone causing hernia incarceration.
Developing a new model for patient recruitment in mental health services: a cohort study using Electronic Health Records
Authors: Callard Felicity , Broadbent Matthew , Denis Mike , Hotopf Matthew , Soncul Murat , Wykes Til , Lovestone Simon , Stewart Robert
Published: December 2014

Objectives

To develop a new model for patient recruitment that harnessed the full potential of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Gaining access to potential participants’ health records to assess their eligibility for studies and allow an approach about participation (‘consent for contact’) is ethically, legally and technically challenging, given that medical data are usually restricted to the patient's clinical team. The research objective was to design a model for identification and recruitment to overcome some of these challenges as well as reduce the burdensome (and/or time consuming) gatekeeper role of clinicians in determining who is appropriate or not to participate in clinical research.

Setting

Large secondary mental health services context, UK.

Participants

2106 patients approached for ‘consent for contact’. All patients in different services within the mental health trust are gradually and systematically being approached by a member of the clinical care team using the ‘consent for contact’ model. There are no exclusion criteria.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Provision of ‘consent for contact’.

Results

A new model (the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust Consent for Contact model (SLaM C4C)) for gaining patients’ consent to contact them about research possibilities, which is built around a de-identified EHR database. The model allows researchers to contact potential participants directly. Of 2106 patients approached by 25 October 2013, nearly 3 of every 4 gave consent for contact (1560 patients; 74.1%).

Conclusions

The SLaM C4C model offers an effective way of expediting recruitment into health research through using EHRs. It reduces the gatekeeper function of clinicians; gives patients greater autonomy in decisions to participate in research; and accelerates the development of a culture of active research participation. More research is needed to assess how many of those giving consent for contact subsequently consent to participate in particular research studies.
Validation of the automatic image analyser to assess retinal vessel calibre (ALTAIR): a prospective study protocol
Authors: Garcia-Ortiz Luis , Gómez-Marcos Manuel A , Recio-Rodríguez Jose I , Maderuelo-Fernández Jose A , Chamoso-Santos Pablo , Rodríguez-González Sara , de Paz-Santana Juan F , Merchan-Cifuentes Miguel A , Corchado-Rodríguez Juan M
Published: December 2014

Introduction

The fundus examination is a non-invasive evaluation of the microcirculation of the retina. The aim of the present study is to develop and validate (reliability and validity) theALTAIRsoftware platform (Automatic image analyser to assess retinal vessel calibre) in order to analyse its utility in different clinical environments.

Methods and analysis

A cross-sectional study in the first phase and a prospective observational study in the second with 4 years of follow-up. The study will be performed in a primary care centre and will include 386 participants. The main measurements will include carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity by Sphygmocor, cardio-ankle vascular index through the VASERA VS-1500, cardiac evaluation by a digital ECG and renal injury by microalbuminuria and glomerular filtration. The retinal vascular evaluation will be performed using a TOPCON TRCNW200 non-mydriatic retinal camera to obtain digital images of the retina, and the developed software (ALTAIR) will be used to automatically calculate the calibre of the retinal vessels, the vascularised area and the branching pattern. For software validation, the intraobserver and interobserver reliability, the concurrent validity of the vascular structure and function, as well as the association between the estimated retinal parameters and the evolution or onset of new lesions in the target organs or cardiovascular diseases will be examined.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been approved by the clinical research ethics committee of the healthcare area of Salamanca. All study participants will sign an informed consent to agree to participate in the study in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the WHO standards for observational studies. Validation of this tool will provide greater reliability to the analysis of retinal vessels by decreasing the intervention of the observer and will result in increased validity through the use of additional information, especially in the areas of vascularisation and vessel branching patterns.

Trial registration number

Clinical Trials.gov Identifier:NCT02087605.
An exploration of counterfeit medicine surveillance strategies guided by geospatial analysis: lessons learned from counterfeit Avastin detection in the US drug supply chain
Authors: Cuomo Raphael E , Mackey Tim K
Published: December 2014

Objective

To explore healthcare policy and system improvements that would more proactively respond to future penetration of counterfeit cancer medications in the USA drug supply chain using geospatial analysis.

Design

A statistical and geospatial analysis of areas that received notices from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the possibility of counterfeit Avastin penetrating the US drug supply chain. Data from FDA warning notices were compared to data from 44 demographic variables available from the US Census Bureau via correlation, means testing and geospatial visualisation. Results were interpreted in light of existing literature in order to recommend improvements to surveillance of counterfeit medicines.

Setting/participants

This study analysed 791 distinct healthcare provider addresses that received FDA warning notices across 30 431 zip codes in the USA.

Outcomes

Statistical outputs were Pearson's correlation coefficients and t values. Geospatial outputs were cartographic visualisations. These data were used to generate the overarching study outcome, which was a recommendation for a strategy for drug safety surveillance congruent with existing literature on counterfeit medication.

Results

Zip codes with greater numbers of individuals age 65+ and greater numbers of ethnic white individuals were most correlated with receipt of a counterfeit Avastin notice. Geospatial visualisations designed in conjunction with statistical analysis of demographic variables appeared more capable of suggesting areas and populations that may be at risk for undetected counterfeit Avastin penetration.

Conclusions

This study suggests that dual incorporation of statistical and geospatial analysis in surveillance of counterfeit medicine may be helpful in guiding efforts to prevent, detect and visualise counterfeit medicines penetrations in the US drug supply chain and other settings. Importantly, the information generated by these analyses could be utilised to identify at-risk populations associated with demographic characteristics. Stakeholders should explore these results as another tool to improve on counterfeit medicine surveillance.
Communication skills assessment in the final postgraduate years to established practice: a systematic review
Authors: Gillis Amy E , Morris Marie C , Ridgway Paul F
Published: December 2014

Introduction

Communication breakdown is a factor in the majority of all instances of medical error. Despite the importance, a relative paucity of time is invested in communication skills in postgraduate curricula. Our objective is to systematically review the literature to identify the current tools used to assess communication skills in postgraduate trainees in the latter 2 years of training and in established practice.

Methods

Two reviewers independently reviewed the literature identifying communication skill assessment tools, for postgraduate trainees in the latter 2 years of training and in established practice following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework, and inclusion/exclusion criteria from January 1990 to 15 August 2014. Databases: PubMed/CINAHL/ERIC/EMBASE/PsycInfo/Psyc Articles/Cochrane.

Results

222 articles were identified; after review, 34 articles fulfilled criteria for complete evaluation; the majority (26) had a high level of evidence scoring 3 or greater on the Best Evidence Medical Education guide. 22 articles used objective structured clinical examination/standardised patient (SP)-based formats in an assessment or training capacity. Evaluation tools included author-developed questionnaires and validated tools. Nineteen articles demonstrated an educational initiative.

Conclusions

The reviewed literature is heterogeneous for objectives and measurement techniques for communication. Observed interactions, with patients or SPs, is the current favoured method of evaluation using author-developed questionnaires. The role of self-evaluation of skill level is questioned. The need for a validated assessment tool for communication skills is highlighted.
Infrared thermometry for lesion monitoring in cattle lameness
Authors: Wood S. , Lin Y. , Knowles T. G. , Main D. C. J
Published: December 2014

Infrared thermometry is a non‐invasive tool shown to be useful in detecting claw abnormalities in cattle at an individual and herd level. This study used the technology to monitor foot temperature and investigate the association with lesion presence over time. A 990 cow dairy herd was enrolled and followed for six months, with data collection fortnightly, lesions were identified by examination of any cow with a mobility score >2, using the 0–3 scale. Two level, multilevel analysis of the association between ambient temperature and foot temperature found that the former was a significant predictor of the latter (coefficient estimate (se)=0.277 (0.02)). Actual foot temperatures were calculated by adjusting for this covariate to allow monitoring over time. Presence of a lesion was also found to be a significant predictor of foot temperature (coefficient estimate (se)=0.623 (0.19)), when added to the model, furthermore some lesion types, claw horn and multiple lesions, were found to be associated with differential foot temperatures. When monitoring lesions over time, the mean adjusted foot temperature was highest at the point of lesion identification. A marked drop in temperature then followed after the lesion was trimmed, with the lowest mean temperature recorded six weeks after treatment, significantly different from the point of lesion identification (P=0.003). This temperature was also lower than the six weeks prior to diagnosis of the lesion, suggesting inflammation was present for at least six weeks prior to the behavioural sign of lameness was seen.
Pathology in perspective
Authors: Scudamore Cheryl
Published: December 2014

The veterinary degree is a great starting point for a variety of career options. Cheryl Scudamore, of the Royal Veterinary College, discusses the role of veterinary pathologists
Second known occurrence of the early Paleocene plesiadapiform Pandemonium (Mammalia: Primates), with description of a new species
Authors: Fox Richard C. , Rankin Brian D. , Scott Craig S. , Sweet Arthur R.
Published: December 2014

Pandemonium hibernalis sp. nov., from a middle? Puercan (earliest Paleocene) locality in the upper Scollard Formation, Wintering Hills, southern Alberta, represents the second discovered occurrence of the enigmatic plesiadapiform primate Pandemonium Van Valen and the first from Canada. The holotype of Pandemonium hibernalis is the only known specimen of Pandemonium documented by multiple teeth from a single individual. Pandemonium hibernalis closely resembles the type species Pandemonium dis from Purgatory Hill, middle–late Puercan, Tullock Formation, Montana, but differs in having wider, more bunodont lower molar crowns and a more expanded posterior talonid lobe of m3, specializations suggesting enhanced capacity for crushing and grinding of soft food materials during mastication. Pandemonium hibernalis joins other recent discoveries in Alberta and elsewhere in the North American Western Interior in documenting a moderate radiation of basal plesiadapiforms that evolved unexpectedly early during primate evolution.
Improved production of isomaltulose by a newly isolated mutant of Serratia sp. cells immobilized in calcium alginate
Authors: Kim Yonghwan , Koo Bong-Seong , Lee Hyeon-Cheol , Yoon Youngdae
Published: December 2014

Isomaltulose, also known as palatinose, is produced by sucrose isomerase and has been highlighted as a sugar substitute due to a number of advantageous properties. For the massive production of isomaltulose, high resistance to sucrose and stability of sucrose isomerase as well as sucrose conversion yields would be critical factors. We describe a series of screening procedures to isolate the mutant strain of Serratia sp. possessing enhanced isomaltulose production with improved stability. The new Serratia sp. isolated from a series of screening procedures allowed us to produce isomaltulose from 60% sucrose solution, with over 90% conversion yield. Moreover, when this strain was immobilized in calcium alginate beads and placed in a medium containing 60% sucrose, it showed over 70% sucrose conversion yields for 30 cycles of repeated-batch reactions. Thus, improved conversion activity and stability of the newly isolated Serratia sp. strain in the present study would be highly valuable for industries related to isomaltulose production.
Phase transitions in models with discrete symmetry
Authors: Ksenzov V. G. , Romanov A. I.
Published: December 2014

We investigate a class of models with a massless fermion and a self-interacting scalar field with the Yukawa interaction between these two fields. The models considered are formulated in two and four spacetime dimensions and possess a discrete symmetry. We calculate the chiral condensates which are calculated in the one-loop approximation. We show that the models have phase transitions as a function of the coupling constants.
Black hole radiation of spin-1 particles in (1+2) dimensions
Authors: Kruglov S. I.
Published: December 2014

The radiation of vector particles by black holes in (1+2) dimensions is investigated within the WKB approximation. We consider the process of quantum tunneling of bosons through an event horizon of the black hole. The emission temperature for the Schwarzschild background geometry coincides with the Hawking temperature and for the Rindler spacetime the temperature is the Unruh temperature. We also obtain the radiation temperature for the de Sitter spacetime.
Analogies between nuclear physics and dark matter
Authors: Cárcamo D. , Riveros A. , Gamboa J.
Published: December 2014

A fermionic description of dark matter using analogies with nuclear physics is developed. At tree level, scalar and vector processes are considered and the two-body potential are explicitly calculated using the Breit approximation. We show that the total cross-sections in both cases exhibit Sommerfeld enhancement.
Unraveling the nature of gravity through our clumpy universe
Authors: Baghram Shant , Tavasoli Saeed , Habibi Farhang , Mohayaee Roya , Silk Joseph
Published: December 2014

We propose a new probe to test the nature of gravity at various redshifts through large-scale cosmological observations. We use our void catalog, extracted from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS, DR10), to trace the distribution of matter along the lines of sight to SNe Ia that are selected from the Union II catalog. We study the relation between SNe Ia luminosities and convergence and also the peculiar velocities of the sources. We show that the effects, on SNe Ia luminosities, of convergence and of peculiar velocities predicted by the theory of general relativity and theories of modified gravities are different and hence provide a new probe of gravity at various redshifts. We show that the present sparse large-scale data does not allow us to determine any statistically-significant deviation from the theory of general relativity but future more comprehensive surveys should provide us with means for such an exploration.
Connecting early and late universe by f(R) gravity
Authors: Capozziello Salvatore , De Laurentis Mariafelicia , Luongo Orlando
Published: December 2014

Inflation and dark energy are two of the most relevant aspects of modern cosmology. These different epochs provide the universe is passing through accelerated phases soon after the Big–Bang and at present stage of its evolution. In this review paper, we discuss that both eras can be, in principle, described by a geometric picture, under the standard of f(R) gravity. We give the fundamental physics motivations and outline the main ingredients of f(R) inflation, quintessence and cosmography. This wants to be a quick summary of f(R) paradigm without claiming of completeness.
CONTAGION EFFECTS AND COLLATERALIZED CREDIT VALUE ADJUSTMENTS FOR CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS
Authors: FREY RÜDIGER , RÖSLER LARS
Published: December 2014

The paper is concerned with counterparty credit risk for credit default swaps in the presence of default contagion. In particular, we study the impact of default contagion on credit value adjustments such as the Bilateral Collateralized Credit Value Adjustment (BCCVA) of Brigo et al. (2014) and on the performance of various collateralization strategies. We use the incomplete-information model of Frey & Schmidt (2012) for our analysis. We find that contagion effects have a substantial impact on the effectiveness of popular collateralization strategies. We go on and derive improved collateralization strategies that account for contagion. Theoretical results are complemented by a simulation study.
Alternative splicing can lead to chaos
Authors: Likhoshvai Vitaly A. , Kogai Vladislav V. , Fadeev Stanislav I. , Khlebodarova Tamara M.
Published: December 2014

Alternative splicing is a widespread phenomenon in higher eukaryotes, where it serves as a mechanism to increase the functional diversity of proteins. This phenomenon has been described for different classes of proteins, including transcription regulatory proteins. We demonstrated that in the simplest genetic system model the formation of the alternatively spliced isoforms with opposite functions (activators and repressors) could be a cause of transition to chaotic dynamics. Under the simplest genetic system we understand a system consisting of a single gene encoding the structure of a transcription regulatory protein whose expression is regulated by a feedback mechanism. As demonstrated by numerical analysis of the models, if the synthesized isoforms regulate the expression of their own gene acting through different sites and independently of each other, for the generation of chaotic dynamics it is sufficient that the regulatory proteins have a dimeric structure. If regulatory proteins act through one site, the chaotic dynamics is generated in the system only when the repressor protein is either a tetrameric or a higher-dimensional multimer. In this case the activator can be a dimer. It was also demonstrated that if the transcription factor isoforms exhibit either activating or inhibiting activity and are lower-dimensional multimers (< 4), independently of the regulation type the model demonstrates either cyclic or stationary trajectories.
Interaction sorting method for molecular dynamics on multi-core SIMD CPU architecture
Authors: Matvienko Sergey , Alemasov Nikolay , Fomin Eduard
Published: December 2014

Molecular dynamics (MD) is widely used in computational biology for studying binding mechanisms of molecules, molecular transport, conformational transitions, protein folding, etc. The method is computationally expensive; thus, the demand for the development of novel, much more efficient algorithms is still high. Therefore, the new algorithm designed in 2007 and called interaction sorting (IS) clearly attracted interest, as it outperformed the most efficient MD algorithms. In this work, a new IS modification is proposed which allows the algorithm to utilize SIMD processor instructions. This paper shows that the improvement provides an additional gain in performance, 9% to 45% in comparison to the original IS method.
Features of three-photon polarization states: Entanglement and polarization
Authors: Fedorov M. V.
Published: December 2014

In a general form, three-photon polarization states are superpositions of contributions from four three-photon polarization modes with four arbitrary complex coefficients. Entanglement of such states is defined as entanglement between their one-photon and two-photon parts. The degree of entanglement is found explicitly in terms of such entanglement quantifiers as the generalized concurrence, entropy of reduced states and the Schmidt parameter. Polarization Stokes vectors, as well as the Schmidt decompositions of three-photon states are found and discussed. Similarity and differences with respect to biphoton polarization states are discussed too.