bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Add‐on therapy with montelukast in the treatment of Henoch–Schönlein purpura
Authors: Wu Sheng‐Hua , Liao Pei‐Yuan , Chen Xiao‐Qing , Yin Pei‐Ling , Dong Ling
Published: December 2013

Background

Previous studies suggested that leukotrienes (LT) were involved in the pathogenesis of Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP). This study investigated the efficacy of an add‐on therapy with montelukast in the treatment of HSP.

Methods

In this four‐center, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel paired comparative study, 130 children with HSP were divided into two large groups: 84 patients without nephritis and 46 patients with nephritis. For each pair of patients with the same severity of disease, one subject was randomly allocated to one subgroup and the other allocated to the other subbroup; one subgroup received routine treatment plus placebo treatment, while the other subgroup received routine treatment plus montelukast treatment for 3 months. The efficacy was determined using Severity Scale Score (SSS). Blood eosinophil count, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), IgE, interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐17, LTB4, and urinary LTE4 were measured.

Results

Add‐on therapy with montelukast alleviated the symptoms of HSP including purpura, abdominal pain, stool occult blood, arthritis, proteinuria and hematuria, and, accordingly, shortened the length of hospital stay, and lowered blood eosinophil count, ECP, IgE, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐17, LTB4, and urinary LTE4 production, and also lowered the HSP relapse rate during the 3 months of treatment, but did not alter the outcome of nephritis at the end of follow up.

Conclusions

Add‐on therapy with montelukast alleviated the symptoms of HSP. HSP may be improved by add‐on therapy with a leukotriene receptor antagonist.
Factors related to patterns of body mass index in early infancy: 18 month longitudinal study
Authors: Fujiwara Tohru , Oguni Tatsuya , Unishi Gen , Tanabe Takuya , Ohbayashi Kazuhiko , Kaneko Kazunari
Published: December 2013

Background

Children with early adiposity rebound (AR), measured using individual body mass index (BMI) growth curves, have an increased risk of metabolic disease as adults. The children with early AR, however, are not fully characterized. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of the infants who develop early AR.

Methods

A total of 1248 full‐term children and their mothers participated in the present study. Pre‐pregnancy, prenatal, birth, 4 month and 18 month records were collected. Children were classified into two groups: a decrease (D) group, in which the 18 month BMI was lower than the 4 month BMI (n = 1097), in keeping with the standard BMI percentile curve, and an increase (I) group, in which the 18 month BMI was higher than the 4 month BMI (n = 151).

Results

Although children in both groups had similar body size at birth, those in the I group had a lower weight at 4 months and higher weight at 18 months than those in the D group (P < 0.001). Fewer mothers in the I group exclusively breast‐fed their infants (P = 0.012). These characteristics of infants in the I group suggested a pattern of low fatness level followed by rapid increased fat gain.

Conclusions

Approximately 10% (151/1248) of infants did not follow the standard BMI percentile curves between 4 months and 18 months of age. They were more likely not to be exclusively breast‐fed. This finding further stresses the importance of breast‐feeding in early infancy.
Clinical features of late‐onset schizophrenia in Japan: comparison with early‐onset cases
Authors: Yasuda Manabu , Kobayashi Toshiyuki , Kato Satoshi , Kishi Koichiro
Published: December 2013

Background

Although the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders abandoned the use of the specifier ‘late‐onset’, a considerable number of studies have reported clinical characteristics of late‐onset schizophrenia. Still, only limited research has been conducted on late‐onset schizophrenia, especially in Asian countries. In this epidemiological study, the clinical characteristics of late‐onset schizophrenia were examined in comparison with early‐onset schizophrenia.

Methods

All patients with schizophrenia admitted to the psychiatric ward of Jichi Medical University Hospital between 1 April 1993 and 31 March 2006 were divided into two groups according to age at first onset: ≥40 years (late‐onset group) and <40 years (early‐onset group). The sex ratio, presence or absence of depression, schizophrenia subtype, premorbid character, marital history, and employment history at first onset were compared between the two groups.

Results

Of the 316 patients with schizophrenia identified, 38 patients were assigned to the late‐onset group and 278 patients to the early‐onset group. Mean age at onset was 23.9 ± 8.2 years for all men and 28.0 ± 13.5 years for all women. The late‐onset group was characterized by more women, more paranoid type, more depressive symptoms, less introverted premorbid character, better premorbid adaptation and less neuroleptics.

Conclusion

The characteristics of late‐onset schizophrenia in Japan are in line those reported previously.
Culture Within Sites, Culture as Resources, and Culture as Wider Contexts: A Typology of How Culture Works in Social Movement Theory
Authors: Fuist Todd Nicholas
Published: December 2013

Sociologists of social movements agree that culture matters for studying collective action, and have proposed a variety of theoretical concepts to understand culture and mobilization, including framing, free spaces, and collective identity. Despite this, what we mean when we say “culture matters” remains unclear. In this paper, I draw on 30 years of social movement theory and research to construct a typology of three ways that culture is seen as shaping social movement activity: (i) culture renders particular sites fruitful for social movements to mobilize out of; (ii) culture serves as a resource that assists in movement action; and (iii) culture provides wider contexts that shape movement activity. This typology represents the analytic building blocks of theories about culture and social movements, and is presented towards the end of clarifying and sharpening our theoretical concepts. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research that draw on, refine, and extend these three building blocks.
Making Sense of Social Change: Observing Collective Action in Networked Cultures
Authors: Rodriguez Sandra
Published: December 2013

This article presents an overview of rising trends in the study of networked interactions conveyed by social media technologies and the emergence of new meanings associated with social change. In recent years, a healthy amount of studies has focused on ICT uses within collective action, considering social media tools to have become crucial components of many transnational movements and social change projects. Crossing boundaries between social movements theories, political science, and communication studies, literature suggests that ‘online activism’ and increasingly networked interactions may have transformed the meanings and definitions associated with ‘collective action’ and ‘social change’. To make sense of these meanings, we identify three approaches used by scholars, which focus on (i) the actual networking of actors, (ii) the diffusion of new repertoires and frames through networks, and (iii) making sense of new meanings conveyed within networkedcultures. We conclude by suggesting the need for more comprehensive research to better observe and make sense of how's actors define collective action and how they use social media tools when striving to convey social change.
Gender and Organizational Justice Preferences
Authors: Clay‐Warner Jody , Culatta Elizabeth , James Katie R.
Published: December 2013

Despite evidence that women and men possess similar workplace values, debate continues regarding gendered preferences for justice in the workplace. In particular, some have argued that women and men have fundamentally different justice orientations, which lead men to value fair outcomes and women to value fair procedures. Recent research finds that such beliefs may influence managers to reward men with greater monetary rewards than those provided to women. Here, we review this literature and argue that men and women do not have fundamentally different justice orientations. Instead, the few findings of gender difference in preferences for procedural vs. distributive justice in the workplace are a function of status differences between men and women.
Social Networks and Employment: Outcomes (Part 2)
Authors: Castilla Emilio J. , Lan George J. , Rissing Ben A.
Published: December 2013

In this second article, we continue to survey research that addresses work and employment from a social network perspective. Building on a companion article in this volume, which explores in‐depth the main network mechanisms presented in the literature, this article reviews studies addressing how social networks may shape key employment outcomes for both individuals and organizations. Network access and activation may shape individuals' selection into employment opportunities in addition to a variety of post‐hire outcomes including employee performance, promotion, rewards, job satisfaction, and termination. Organizations too may be influenced by their network position and by the activation of certain ties, ultimately affecting key outcomes such as firm performance, innovation, and learning measures. We conclude by discussing promising areas for future research on how social networks interact with employment.
Seeking the Soul of Democracy: A Review of Recent Research into Citizens' Political Talk Culture
Authors: Schmitt‐Beck Rüdiger , Lup Oana
Published: December 2013

This article provides a review of extant empirical research on ordinary citizens' everyday political communication, its phenomenology, determinants, consequences, and relevance for democratic politics. It highlights the recent upsurge in interest in the study of political conversations against the background of both classic and more recent developments in democratic theory and empirical research that served as intellectual inspirations. The article discusses conceptual and methodological issues of research into interpersonal political communication and presents key findings with regard to the background and consequences of political talk, tapping into fundamental aspects of democratic citizenship such as political preferences, participation, cognitive involvement with politics as well as orientations towards fellow citizens and towards the democratic political system. It concludes with an assessment of the state of the art in this field of study, highlighting desirable avenues for future empirical research.
Building on Solid Ground: Robust Case Selection in Multi‐Method Research
Authors: Rohlfing Ingo , Starke Peter
Published: December 2013

The social sciences are currently witnessing a trend toward multi‐method research (MMR). However, many important issues have not been sufficiently addressed so far. The focus of this paper is case selection for process tracing on the basis of regression results, which is the main point of intersection between the two methods. Based on a review, we first show that the current empirical and methodological literature does not fully appreciate the implications of modeling uncertainty and non‐robust quantitative results. The major problem is that non‐robust regression results may lead to invalid choices and faulty inferences. We develop a novel selection procedure that takes these issues into account and improves causal inference inMMR.
Identification of KIR3DL1*0200101 by long‐range sequence‐based techniques
Authors: Yindom L.‐M. , Wang L. , Dong T. , Rowland‐Jones S. L.
Published: November 2013

The new KIR3DL1*0200101 differs from KIR3DL1*01502 with 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two exons and seven introns.
HLA‐DRB1, ‐DRB3, ‐DRB4 and ‐DRB5 genotyping at a super‐high resolution level by long range PCR and high‐throughput sequencing
Authors: Ozaki Y. , Suzuki S. , Shigenari A. , Okudaira Y. , Kikkawa E. , Oka A. , Ota M. , Mitsunaga S. , Kulski J. K. , Inoko H. , Shiina T.
Published: November 2013

Super high‐resolution single molecule sequence‐based typing (SS‐SBT) is a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DNA typing method to the field 4 level of allelic resolution (formerly known as eight‐digit typing) to efficiently detect new and null alleles without phase ambiguity by combination of long ranged polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. We previously reported the development and application of the SS‐SBT method for the eight classical HLA loci, A, B, C, DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1. In this article, we describe the development of the SS‐SBT method for three DRB1 linked loci, DRB3, DRB4 and DRB5 (DRB3/4/5) and characterization of DRB1‐DRB3/4/5 haplotype structures to the field 4 level. Locus specific PCR primers for DRB3/4/5 were designed to amplify the gene regions from intron 1 to exon 6 [3′ untranslated region (3′UTR)]. In total 20 DRB1 and 13 DRB3/4/5 allele sequences were determined by the SS‐SBT to the field 4 level without phase ambiguity using 19 DR51, DR52 and DR53 positive genomic DNA samples obtained from Japanese. Moreover, 18 DRB1‐DRB3/4/5 haplotypes were estimated to the field 4 level by the SS‐SBT method in contrast to 10 haplotypes estimated by conventional methods to the field 1 level (formerly known as two digit typing). Therefore, DRB1‐DRB3/4/5 haplotyping by SS‐SBT is expected to provide informative data for improved HLA matching in medical research, transplantation procedures, HLA‐related disease studies and human population diversity studies.
rs3827440, a nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism within GPR174 gene in X chromosome, is associated with Graves' disease in Polish Caucasian population
Authors: Szymański K. , Miśkiewicz P. , Pirko K. , Jurecka‐Lubieniecka B. , Kula D. , Hasse‐Lazar K. , Krajewski P. , Bednarczuk T. , Płoski R.
Published: November 2013

Recently Chu et al. conducted a two‐stage genome wide association study in Chinese that identified a novel X‐linked Graves' disease (GD) susceptibility marker at rs3827440 – a nonsynonymous (P162S) nucleotide transition (519C<T) within G protein‐coupled receptor 174 (GPR174) gene. We aimed to replicate this finding in Caucasians. Using the TaqMan approach we typed rs3827440 in 560 GD patients from Warsaw and 196 patients from Gliwice as well as ethically matched controls (N = 748, N = 198, respectively). We found an association of the rs3827440 T allele with GD using both an allelic and genotype comparison [odds ratio (OR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.38, P = 0.021; OR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.03–1.69, P = 0.03, respectively]. There was no difference in distribution of rs3827440 alleles/genotypes vs gender, tobacco smoking, ophthalmopathy or age at disease onset. Also, no statistically significant differences were observed after stratifying patients for DRB1*03‐ or GD‐associated variants in CTLA4 or TSHR genes. Our study provides the first replication in a Caucasian population of the association between GD and rs3827440 originally reported among Chinese. Our results also validate statistical methodology used by Chu et al. to detect associations with X‐linked markers.
Prolonged respiratory viral shedding in transplant patients
Authors: de Lima C.R.A. , Mirandolli T.B. , Carneiro L.C. , Tusset C. , Romer C.M. , Andreolla H.F. , Baethgen L.F. , Pasqualotto A.C.
Published: December 2013

Respiratory viral infections are frequent causes of morbidity in transplant patients. We screened symptomatic adult transplant recipients for respiratory viruses in a cohort of patients attending a referral medical center in Brazil. The duration of viral shedding and the prevalence of viral codetections were also determined. During a 1‐year period (2011–2012), swabs were obtained from 50 patients. An in‐house polymerase chain reaction panel designed to detect 10 viruses was used. Viruses were identified in 19 (38%) patients, particularly parainfluenza III (32%) and the respiratory syncytial virus (20%); multiple viruses were identified in 26% of patients. Prolonged viral shedding was observed with 60% of individuals excreting viruses for >10 days. The clinical and epidemiologic relevance of prolonged viral shedding remains to be determined.
Direct visualization of Agrobacterium‐delivered VirE2 in recipient cells
Authors: Li Xiaoyang , Yang Qinghua , Tu Haitao , Lim Zijie , Pan Shen Q.
Published: December 2013

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a natural genetic engineer widely used to deliver DNA into various recipients, including plant, yeast and fungal cells. The bacterium can transfer single‐stranded DNA molecules (T–DNAs) and bacterial virulence proteins, including VirE2. However, neither the DNA nor the protein molecules have ever been directly visualized after the delivery. In this report, we adopted a split‐GFP approach: the small GFP fragment (GFP11) was inserted into VirE2 at a permissive site to create the VirE2‐GFP11 fusion, which was expressed in A. tumefaciens; and the large fragment (GFP1–10) was expressed in recipient cells. Upon delivery of VirE2‐GFP11 into the recipient cells, GFP fluorescence signals were visualized. VirE2‐GFP11 was functional like VirE2; the GFP fusion movement could indicate the trafficking of Agrobacterium‐delivered VirE2. As the natural host, all plant cells seen under a microscope received the VirE2 protein in a leaf‐infiltration assay; most of VirE2 moved at a speed of 1.3–3.1 μm sec−1 in a nearly linear direction, suggesting an active trafficking process. Inside plant cells, VirE2‐GFP formed filamentous structures of different lengths, even in the absence of T‐DNA. As a non‐natural host recipient, 51% of yeast cells received VirE2, which did not move inside yeast. All plant cells seen under a microscope transiently expressed the Agrobacterium‐delivered transgene, but only 0.2% yeast cells expressed the transgene. This indicates that Agrobacterium is a more efficient vector for protein delivery than T‐DNA transformation for a non‐natural host recipient: VirE2 trafficking is a limiting factor for the genetic transformation of a non‐natural host recipient. The split‐GFP approach could enable the real‐time visualization of VirE2 trafficking inside recipient cells.
Multiple host‐cell recombination pathways act in Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation of plant cells
Authors: Mestiri Imen , Norre Frédéric , Gallego Maria E. , White Charles I.
Published: December 2013

Using floral‐dip, tumorigenesis and root callus transformation assays of both germline and somatic cells, we present here results implicating the four major non‐homologous and homologous recombination pathways in Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana. All four single mutant lines showed similar mild reductions in transformability, but knocking out three of four pathways severely compromised Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation. Although integration of T–DNA into the plant genome is severely compromised in the absence of known DNA double‐strand break repair pathways, it does still occur, suggesting the existence of other pathways involved in T–DNA integration. Our results highlight the functional redundancy of the four major plant recombination pathways in transformation, and provide an explanation for the lack of strong effects observed in previous studies on the roles of plant recombination functions in transformation.
PCR detects bands consistent with the expression of receptors associated with pruritus in canine dorsal root ganglia
Authors: Rossbach Kristine , Bäumer Wolfgang
Published: December 2013

Background

Various mediators are involved in the induction of itch, i.e. pruritus; however, the in vivo pharmacology of pruritus seems to be different in distinct species, and little is known about receptors that are involved in the induction of itch in dogs. The species differences in the mediation of pruritus might be explained by species differences in receptor expression in the sensory nerves, including the dorsal root ganglia (DRG).

Hypothesis/Objectives

The aim of the study was to analyse the expression of receptors for various mediators of pruritus in canine DRG.

Methods

Dorsal root ganglia of 14 dogs, which were euthanized for reasons not related to this study, were analysed. Multiple DRG per dog were dissected and, after homogenization of the DRG tissues, total RNA was isolated, reverse transcribed to complementary DNA and amplified with custom‐synthesized primers.

Results

The following receptors were found in canine DRG: transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1, tachykinin receptor 1, Toll‐like receptor 7, endothelin receptor type A, opioid receptors μ1 and κ1, histamine H1–H4 receptors and the interleukin‐31 receptor complex.

Conclusions and clinical importance

PCR analysis detected bands consistent with the expression of receptors associated with pruritus in canine DRG.
On the Relation of the Principle of Maximum Dissipation to the Principles of Jourdain and Gauss for Rigid Body Systems
Authors: Yunt Kerim
Published: November 2013

A dissipation based definition of the principle of Jourdain is presented for rheonomic (explicitly time dependent) mechanical systems, which evolve under the influence of convex dissipation potentials. It is shown, that the variational condition of the dissipative principle of Jourdain is the necessary condition for the maximization of the total dissipated power with respect to generalized velocities. The principle of maximum dissipation is shown to be the dual principle of the dissipative principle of Jourdain. A dissipative principle of Gauss is formulated by making use of nonsmooth analysis and potential theory and its dual principle is formulated.
An Analytical Method for Prediction of Limiting Drawing Ratio For Redrawing Stages of Axisymmetric Deep Drawn Components
Authors: Fazli Ali , Arezoo Behrooz
Published: November 2013

In this paper, an analytical method for estimating the limiting drawing ratio (LDR) of the redrawing stages in deep drawing process of axisymmetric components is represented. In this method, the effects of parameters of blankholder arc, die arc, and punch arc region are taken into account for the analytical determination of LDR. The presented method can predict the limiting drawing ratio for redrawing with/without intermediate annealing processes. The results are compared to numerical results and experimental results reported in the literature and also industrial results reported in handbooks. It is shown that the presented method is in good agreement with the experimental and numerical results. Using the presented method, the effect of some process parameters on the LDR is investigated. It is shown that process parameters such as, coefficient of friction, strain hardening exponent, normal plastic anisotropy ratio, ratio of die arc radius to blank thickness and ratio of blank thickness to diameter has significant effect on the LDR. The effect of intermediate annealing process is also examined.
Stabilization of Markovian Jump Linear Systems With Log-Quantized Feedback
Authors: Xu Qing , Zhang Chun , Dullerud Geir E.
Published: November 2013

This paper is concerned with mean-square stabilization of single-input Markovian jump linear systems (MJLSs) with logarithmically quantized state feedback. We introduce the concepts and provide explicit constructions of stabilizing mode-dependent logarithmic quantizers together with associated controllers, and a semi-convex way to determine the optimal (coarsest) stabilizing quantization density. An example application is presented as a special case of the developed framework, that of feedback stabilizing a linear time-invariant (LTI) system over a log-quantized erasure channel. A hardware implementation of this application on an inverted pendulum testbed is provided using a finite word-length approximation.
Computational Fluid Dynamics-Based Numerical Analysis of Acoustic Attenuation and Flow Resistance Characteristics of Perforated Tube Silencers
Authors: Liu Chen , Ji Zhenlin
Published: November 2013

The 3D time-domain computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach is used to calculate the acoustic attenuation performance of perforated tube silencers without and with flow. For the crossflow perforated tube silencer and straight-through perforated tube silencers, the transmission loss predictions agree well with the experimental measurements available in the literature. Then, the 3D time-domain CFD approach is employed to investigate the effects of flow velocity and temperature on the acoustic attenuation performance of perforated tube silencers. The numerical results demonstrated that the transmission loss is increased at most frequencies for the crossflow perforated tube silencer as the air flow increases, while the air flow has little influence on the acoustic attenuation in the plane wave range and increases the acoustic attenuation at higher frequencies for the straight-through perforated tube silencers. Increasing the air temperature shifts the transmission loss curve to higher frequency and lowers the resonance peaks somewhat. The pressure drops of perforated tube silencers are predicted by performing the 3D steady flow computation using CFD. The pressure drop of the crossflow perforated tube silencer is much higher than those of the straight-through perforated tube silencer at the same flow conditions, and the pressure drop of the straight-through perforated tube silencer increases gradually as the porosity increases.
X-ray reflectivity characterization of atomic layer deposition Al2O3/TiO2 nanolaminates with ultrathin bilayers
Authors: Sintonen Sakari , Ali Saima , Ylivaara Oili M. E. , Puurunen Riikka L. , Lipsanen Harri
Published: December 2013

Nanolaminate structures have many prospective uses in mechanical, electrical, and optical applications due to the wide selection of materials and precise control over layer thicknesses. In this work, ultrathin Al2O3/TiO2 nanolaminate structures deposited by atomic layer deposition from Me3Al, TiCl4, and H2O precursors with intended bilayer thicknesses ranging from 0.1 to 50 nm were characterized by x-ray reflectivity (XRR) measurements. The measurements were simulated to obtain values for thickness, density, and roughness of constituting layers. XRR analysis shows that the individual layers within the nanolaminate remain discrete for bilayers as thin as 0.8 nm. Further reduction in bilayer thickness produces a composite of the two materials.
The Myeloma Drug Lenalidomide Promotes the Cereblon-Dependent Destruction of Ikaros Proteins
Authors: Lu Gang , Middleton Richard E. , Sun Huahang , Naniong MarkVic , Ott Christopher J. , Mitsiades Constantine S. , Wong Kwok-Kin , Bradner James E. , Kaelin William G.
Published: November 2013

Drug With a (Re)Purpose

Thalidomide, once infamous for its deleterious effects on fetal development, has re-emerged as a drug of great interest because of its beneficial immunomodulatory effects. A derivative drug called lenalidomide significantly extends the survival of patients with multiple myeloma, but the molecular mechanisms underlying its efficacy remain unclear (see the Perspective by

Stewart

). Building on a previous observation that thalidomide binds to cereblon, a ubiquitin ligase,

Lu
et al.

(p.
305
, published online 28 November) and

Krönke
et al.

(p.
301
, published online 28 November) show that in the presence of lenalidomide, cereblon selectively targets two B cell transcription factors (Ikaros family members, IKZF1 and IKZF3) for degradation. In myeloma cell lines and patient cells, down-regulation of IKZF1 and IKZF3 was necessary and sufficient for the drug's anticancer activity. Thus, lenalidomide may act, at least in part, by “grepurposing” a ubiquitin ligase.
First-Photon Imaging
Authors: Kirmani Ahmed , Venkatraman Dheera , Shin Dongeek , Colaço Andrea , Wong Franco N. C. , Shapiro Jeffrey H. , Goyal Vivek K
Published: November 2013

Computing an Image

Firing off a burst of laser pulses and detecting the back-reflected photons is a widely used method for constructing three-dimensional (3D) images of a scene.

Kirmani
et al.

(p.
58
, published online 29 November) describe an active imaging method in which pulsed laser light raster scans a scene and a single-photon detector is used to detect the first photon of the back-reflected laser light. Exploiting spatial correlations of photons scattered from different parts of the scene allows computation of a 3D image. Importantly, for biological applications, the technique allows the laser power to be reduced without sacrificing image quality.
Insertion Sequence Element Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Typing Provides Insights into the Population Structure and Evolution of Mycobacterium ulcerans across Africa
Authors: Vandelannoote Koen , Jordaens Kurt , Bomans Pieter , Leirs Herwig , Durnez Lies , Affolabi Dissou , Sopoh Ghislain , Aguiar Julia , Phanzu Delphin Mavinga , Kibadi Kapay , Eyangoh Sara , Manou Louis Bayonne , Phillips Richard Odame , Adjei Ohene , Ablordey Anthony , Rigouts Leen , Portaels Françoise , Eddyani Miriam , de Jong Bouke C.
Published: December 2013

Buruli ulcer is an indolent, slowly progressing necrotizing disease of the skin caused by infection with
Mycobacterium ulcerans
. In the present study, we applied a redesigned technique to a vast panel of
M. ulcerans
disease isolates and clinical samples originating from multiple African disease foci in order to (i) gain fundamental insights into the population structure and evolutionary history of the pathogen and (ii) disentangle the phylogeographic relationships within the genetically conserved cluster of African
M. ulcerans
. Our analyses identified 23 different African insertion sequence element single nucleotide polymorphism (ISE-SNP) types that dominate in different areas where Buruli ulcer is endemic. These ISE-SNP types appear to be the initial stages of clonal diversification from a common, possibly ancestral ISE-SNP type. ISE-SNP types were found unevenly distributed over the greater West African hydrological drainage basins. Our findings suggest that geographical barriers bordering the basins to some extent prevented bacterial gene flow between basins and that this resulted in independent focal transmission clusters associated with the hydrological drainage areas. Different phylogenetic methods yielded two well-supported sister clades within the African ISE-SNP types. The ISE-SNP types from the “pan-African clade” were found to be widespread throughout Africa, while the ISE-SNP types of the “Gabonese/Cameroonian clade” were much rarer and found in a more restricted area, which suggested that the latter clade evolved more recently. Additionally, the Gabonese/Cameroonian clade was found to form a strongly supported monophyletic group with Papua New Guinean ISE-SNP type 8, which is unrelated to other Southeast Asian ISE-SNP types.
Variations in Virulence and Molecular Biology among Emerging Strains of Clostridium difficile
Authors: Hunt Jonathan J. , Ballard Jimmy D.
Published: December 2013

Clostridium difficile
is a Gram-positive, spore-forming organism which infects and colonizes the large intestine, produces potent toxins, triggers inflammation, and causes significant systemic complications. Treating
C. difficile
infection (CDI) has always been difficult, because the disease is both caused and resolved by antibiotic treatment. For three and a half decades,
C. difficile
has presented a treatment challenge to clinicians, and the situation took a turn for the worse about 10 years ago. An increase in epidemic outbreaks related to CDI was first noticed around 2003, and these outbreaks correlated with a sudden increase in the mortality rate of this illness. Further studies discovered that these changes in CDI epidemiology were associated with the rapid emergence of hypervirulent strains of
C. difficile
, now collectively referred to as NAP1/BI/027 strains. The discovery of new epidemic strains of
C. difficile
has provided a unique opportunity for retrospective and prospective studies that have sought to understand how these strains have essentially replaced more historical strains as a major cause of CDI. Moreover, detailed studies on the pathogenesis of NAP1/BI/027 strains are leading to new hypotheses on how this emerging strain causes severe disease and is more commonly associated with epidemics. In this review, we provide an overview of CDI, discuss critical mechanisms of
C. difficile
virulence, and explain how differences in virulence-associated factors between historical and newly emerging strains might explain the hypervirulence exhibited by this pathogen during the past decade.
Mx Proteins: Antiviral Gatekeepers That Restrain the Uninvited
Authors: Verhelst Judith , Hulpiau Paco , Saelens Xavier
Published: December 2013

Fifty years after the discovery of the mouseMx1gene, researchers are still trying to understand the molecular details of the antiviral mechanisms mediated by Mx proteins. Mx proteins are evolutionarily conserved dynamin-like large GTPases, and GTPase activity is required for their antiviral activity. The expression ofMxgenes is controlled by type I and type III interferons. A phylogenetic analysis revealed thatMxgenes are present in almost all vertebrates, usually in one to three copies. Mx proteins are best known for inhibiting negative-stranded RNA viruses, but they also inhibit other virus families. Recent structural analyses provide hints about the antiviral mechanisms of Mx proteins, but it is not known how they can suppress such a wide variety of viruses lacking an obvious common molecular pattern. Perhaps they interact with a (partially) symmetrical invading oligomeric structure, such as a viral ribonucleoprotein complex. Such an interaction may be of a fairly low affinity, in line with the broad target specificity of Mx proteins, yet it would be strong enough to instigate Mx oligomerization and ring assembly. Such a model is compatible with the broad “substrate” specificity of Mx proteins: depending on the size of the invading viral ribonucleoprotein complexes that need to be wrapped, the assembly process would consume the necessary amount of Mx precursor molecules. These Mx ring structures might then act as energy-consuming wrenches to disassemble the viral target structure.
Herbal medicines for the treatment of acute otitis media: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Son Mi Ju , Kim Yun Hee , Kim Young-Eun , Lee Hye Won , Lee Myeong Soo
Published: November 2013

Introduction

The aim of this systematic review is to analyse the trial data on the efficacy of herbal medicines for acute otitis media.

Methods and analysis

The following 11 databases will be searched from their inception: MEDLINE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), China Network Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and five Korean databases (Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), DBPIA, KoreaMed, Research Information Service System (RISS) and the Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS)). The selection of the studies, the data abstraction and the validations will be performed independently by two researchers.

Dissemination

The systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The review will also be disseminated electronically and in print. Updates of the review will be conducted to inform and guide the healthcare practice and policy.

Trial registration number

PROSPERO 2013:CRD42013005100.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding infant feeding among HIV-infected pregnant women in Gaborone, Botswana: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Ndubuka Justina , Ndubuka Nnamdi , Li Ying , Marshall Caitlin M , Ehiri John
Published: November 2013

Objectives

To assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding infant feeding among HIV-positive pregnant women in Gaborone, Botswana, and factors that influence their infant feeding choices.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Methods and study setting

A questionnaire survey of 96 HIV-positive pregnant women attending four public infectious disease control clinics in Gaborone, Botswana.

Results

Only about half of the study participants had knowledge about prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services related to breastfeeding, and very few (19.8%) chose to breastfeed their infants exclusively. Results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that receiving infant feeding counselling as part of the PMTCT programme was significantly associated with a decision to exclusively breastfeed (OR (95% CI) 5.38 (1.83 to 15.81)). Similarly, HIV-positive pregnant women who received breastfeeding counselling through the PMTCT programme had higher knowledge of PMTCT practices related to appropriate infant feeding (OR (95% CI) 5.91 (1.06 to 34.31)). Women who did not express concern about HIV stigma had significantly higher knowledge of PMTCT practices related to infant feeding (OR (95% CI) 5.91 (1.69 to 15.56)). Knowledge of PMTCT practices related to breastfeeding was negatively associated with the belief that breastfeeding could transmit HIV to the baby (OR (95% CI) 9.73 (3.37 to 28.08)).

Conclusions

Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to breastfeeding among HIV-positive pregnant women need further improvement, and the PMTCT programme should strengthen infant feeding counselling services to assist HIV-positive mothers in making informed and appropriate decisions regarding infant feeding.
The management of ureteric stones in the Accident and Emergency department
Authors: Dawson Kirsty , Dawson Lindsay
Published: November 2013

Ureteric stones is a common cause for attendance to the A&E department. Active or conservative management is delivered dependent on the relevant history, clinical condition, and investigation results. The majority of patients can be treated conservatively and do not require admission. However, some cases of ureteric stones present as a urological emergency if, for example, there is an infected obstructed system. An initial audit over a two month period of A&E admissions with radiologically proven ureteric stones demonstrated there was no easily accessible, specific criteria used to guide which patients were admitted and which patients were discharged from A&E. Therefore, an admission criteria and discharge proforma was developed and implemented in the A&E department to ensure patients were appropriately discharged if they could be managed conservatively and appropriately admitted if they potentially required further observation and intervention. A repeat audit using the same methods and criteria was carried out and demonstrated fewer unnecessary admissions and fewer inappropriate discharges.
Chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH) is a powerful method to detect ALK-positive non-small cell lung carcinomas
Authors: Wagner F , Streubel A , Roth A , Stephan-Falkenau S , Mairinger T
Published: November 2013

Aim

We assessed the potential of a chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH) assay in comparison with quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR (qPCR) to detect anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) break apart-positive lung carcinomas.

Methods

Dual-colour CISH using a break apart probe for the ALK gene on 2p23 was performed with 181 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue and agar block sections from 175 cases of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Stained slides were analysed with a standard bright-field microscope at 1000× magnification by counting signals from 60 non-overlapping nuclei from three different tumour areas. Samples with ≥15% of positive nuclei were judged as ALK break apart-positive. All samples were simultaneously analysed by qPCR for EML4-ALK to validate CISH results, and positive samples were subject to Sanger sequencing.

Results

CISH was successful with 173 of 181 hybridised samples (96%), and seven ALK break apart-positive cases were detected. CISH signals were specific and distinct for both colours. All positive cases were confirmed by qPCR and Sanger sequencing, and concordance between CISH and qPCR was 100%. Nearly all samples (9/10) which failed by qPCR were accessible to CISH analysis.

Conclusions

CISH is a very reliable, convenient and inexpensive method to detect ALK-positive NSCLC. CISH success rate is comparably high as with qPCR, and it detects all ALK break apart events in a single assay. It is of special value when RNA quality is poor, or when small biopsies with a very limited amount of tumour cells have to be analysed.
Dual contraceptive use among adolescents and young adults: correlates and implications for condom use and sexually transmitted infection outcomes
Authors: Hood Julia E , Hogben Matthew , Chartier Maggie , Bolan Gail , Bauer Heidi
Published: November 2013

Background

Simultaneous condom and hormonal contraception usage (‘dual method use’) maximises protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI), although there is concern that promotion of this strategy could result in diminished condom use and inadvertently increase STI risk. In this study, we (1) assessed how the use of dual methods, versus condoms alone, related to STI and consistency of condom use and (2) described the correlates of dual use.

Methods

A sample of 1450 young people aged 12–25 years were surveyed and screened for chlamydia and gonorrhoea at non-clinical sites in two high morbidity Californian counties in 2002–2003. Differences in STI prevalence and reported consistency of condom use were assessed for ‘condom only’ and ‘dual method’ users. Correlates of dual use were analysed via multivariate polytomous logistic regression.

Results

Condom only and dual method users did not significantly differ in terms of STI prevalence or reported consistency of condom use. Sex, age, race and relationship tenure were significant correlates of dual use.

Discussion

In these observational data, dual method use did not detrimentally affect STI risk. If interpreted alongside each subgroups’ risk patterns for STI and unplanned pregnancy, the correlates of dual use can inform STI and pregnancy prevention interventions.
AN ANALYTICAL TREATMENT OF THE NEUTRINO MASSES AND MIXINGS
Authors: JORA RENATA , SCHECHTER JOSEPH , SHAHID M. NAEEM
Published: December 2013

We obtain analytical formulas which connect the neutrino masses and the leptonic mixing matrix with the entries in the mass matrix for the approximation in which the charged lepton mixing matrix is the unit matrix. We also extract the CP violation phase and determine the conditions in which this is present.
A FAST AND FAIR SHARED BUFFER FOR HIGH-RADIX ROUTER
Authors: ZHANG HEYING , WANG KEFEI , ZHANG JIANMIN , WU NAN , DAI YI
Published: December 2013

High-radix router based on the tile structure requires large amount of buffer resources. To reduce the buffer space requirement without degrading the throughput of the router, shared buffer management schemes like dynamically allocated multi-queue (DAMQ) can be used by improving the buffer utilization. Unfortunately, it is commonly regarded that DAMQ is slow in write and read. To address this issue, we propose a fast and fair DAMQ structure called F2DAMQ for high-radix routers in this paper. It uses a fast FIFO structure in the implementation of idle address list as well as data buffer and achieves some critical performance improvement such as continuous and concurrent write and read with zero-delay. Besides, F2DAMQ also uses a novel credit management mechanism which is efficient in avoiding one virtual channel (VC) monopolizing the shared part of the buffer and achieving fairness among competing VCs sharing the buffer. The analyses and simulations show that F2DAMQ performs well in achieving low latency, high throughput and good fairness under different traffic patterns.
An Interactive Signed Distance Approach for Multiple Criteria Group Decision-Making Based on Simple Additive Weighting Method with Incomplete Preference Information Defined by Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Sets
Authors: Chen Ting-Yu
Published: December 2013

Interval type-2 fuzzy sets (T2FSs) with interval membership grades are suitable for dealing with imprecision or uncertainties in many real-world problems. In the Interval type-2 fuzzy context, the aim of this paper is to develop an interactive signed distance-based simple additive weighting (SAW) method for solving multiple criteria group decision-making problems with linguistic ratings and incomplete preference information. This paper first formulates a group decision-making problem with uncertain linguistic variables and their transformation to interval type-2 trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Concerning the relative importance of multiple decision-makers and group consensus of fuzzy opinions, a procedure using hybrid averages is then employed to construct a collective decision matrix. By an appropriate extension of the classical SAW approach, this paper utilizes the concept of signed distances and establishes an integrated programming model to manage multi-criteria group decisions under the incomplete and inconsistent preference structure. Further, an interactive procedure is established for group decision making. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methods are illustrated by a collaborative decision-making problem of patient-centered care (PCC).
Environment Performance Evaluation Under Emission Quota Constraint
Authors: Bi Gongbing , Luo Yan , Du Shaofu
Published: December 2013

The primary purpose of our paper is to evaluate environmental performance as well as to model some nonseparable inputs and outputs using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model. The efficiency analysis takes emission quota into consideration with the objectives of minimizing both total undesirable emissions and consumption of input resources. The value of emission quota that directly influences the environmental performance is obtained. The proposed model is applied to the data of power industries in 30 Chinese provinces. In addition, the sensitivity of the efficiency with respect to the value of emission quota is investigated. The results show the environmental protection in the power industry can be further improved. Our conclusion is that strict environmental regulations often enhance economic development rather than hinder it. This strongly suggests the government needs to pay more attention to pollution abatement because of its promoting effects on environmental performance.
An Extension Collaborative Innovation Model in the Context of Big Data
Authors: Li Xingsen , Tian Yingjie , Smarandache Florentin , Alex Rajan
Published: December 2013

The processes of generating innovative solutions mostly rely on skilled experts who are usually unavailable and their outcomes have uncertainty. Computer science and information technology are changing the innovation environment and accumulating Big Data from which a lot of knowledge is to be discovered. However, it is a rather nebulous area and there still remain several challenging problems to integrate the multi-information and rough knowledge effectively to support the process of innovation. Based on the new cross discipline Extenics, the authors have presented a collaborative innovation model in the context of Big Data. The model has two mutual paths, one to transform collected data into an information tree in a uniform basic-element format and another to discover knowledge by data mining, save the rules in a knowledge base, and then explore the innovation paths and solutions by a formularized model based on Extenics. Finally, all possible solutions are scored and selected by 3D-dependent function. The model which integrates different departments to put forward the innovation solutions is proved valuable for a user of the Big Data by a practical innovation case in management.