bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tumour‐induced immune suppression: role of inflammatory mediators released by myelomonocytic cells
Authors: Mao Y. , Poschke I. , Kiessling R.
Published: March 2014

Tumour‐induced immune dysfunction is a serious challenge to immunotherapy for cancer, and intact adaptive and innate cellular immunity is key to its success. Myelomonocytic cells have a central role in this immune suppression, and tumour‐associated macrophages, eosinophils, neutrophils and myeloid‐derived suppressor cells have all been shown to be of major importance. These myelomonocytic cells secrete a broad repertoire of inflammatory mediators providing them with powerful tools to inhibit tumour‐reactive T cells and natural killer cells; free oxygen radicals including reactive oxygen species and NO, arginase, indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase, prostaglandins, the pro‐inflammatory heterodimer S100A8/9 and cytokines, such as granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor and transforming growth factor‐β, have proven particularly potent in suppressing antitumour cellular immunity. Determining which of these factors prevail in individual cancer patients and designing methods aimed at neutralization or inhibition of their effects on target tissues have the potential to greatly enhance the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy.
Noninvasive Fractional Flow on MRA Predicts Stroke Risk of Intracranial Stenosis
Authors: Liebeskind David S. , Kosinski Andrzej S. , Lynn Michael J. , Scalzo Fabien , Fong Albert K. , Fariborz Pari , Chimowitz Marc I. , Feldmann Edward
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Fractional flow may identify hemodynamic effects and ischemic risk beyond percent stenosis of an artery. We hypothesized that diminished TOF‐MRA signal intensity distal to an intracranial stenosis predicts stroke risk.

METHODS

TOF‐MRA was acquired prospectively in the SONIA‐WASID trials. The distal/proximal signal intensity ratio (SIR) was calculated from 3 mm regions of interest, blinded to outcome. Univariate and multivariate analyses included clinical variables, SIR, and invasive angiography measures to identify predictors for risk of stroke in the territory.

RESULTS

189 patients with 50‐99% symptomatic intracranial stenosis in SONIA‐WASID had TOF‐MRA available. In univariate analysis, the hazard ratio (HR) for stroke in the territory of the symptomatic artery with SIR < .9 was 5.2 (1.8, 15.3; P < .001) as compared to SIR ≥ .9. Multivariate analysis correcting for baseline systolic blood pressure, LDL, centrally measured percent stenosis, recency of symptoms, TICI and downstream collaterals, the HR for SIR < .9 was 10.9 (2.0, 58.9; P < .001). In those with <70% stenosis, a SIR < .9 maintained a significant association with recurrent stroke in the territory (P = .006), with a 2‐year event rate of 17.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

Fractional flow assessed by TOF‐MRA SIR may be a useful noninvasive tool to identify high‐risk intracranial lesions.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION‐URL

This trial was not registered because enrollment began prior to July 1, 2005.
Correlation between Leukoaraiosis Volume and Circle of Willis Variants
Authors: Saba Luca , Raz Eytan , Fatterpekar Girish , Montisci Roberto , di Martino Michele , Bassareo Pier Paolo , Piga Mario
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Circle of Willis (COW) is the main collateral system between the bilateral carotid systems and the posterior circulation. COW normal variants are encountered in up to 62% of subjects. We hypothesize that, in patients with carotid artery stenosis, the presence of COW variants is a risk factor for leukoaraiosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty‐seven patients (mean age 72.1 ± 9 years, males = 39) with carotid artery stenosis admitted for carotid endarterectomy were included and underwent an admission brain MRI/MRA. Two neuroradiologists evaluated the COW variants. FLAIR‐leukoaraiosis lesion‐volume was performed using a semiautomated segmentation technique. Mann–Whitney and Pearson correlations were conducted to identify the correlation between the FLAIR‐leukoaraiosis lesion‐volume and the COW variants. ROC analysis was performed to evaluate the AUC of FLAIR‐leukoaraiosis lesion‐volume and presence/absence of COW variants.

RESULTS

Pearson correlation demonstrated that the leukoaraiosis lesion‐volume is significantly associated with the COW variants number (rho = .358, P = .0215). When patients were dicotomized in two subgroups, with and without COW variants, the lesion‐volume was significantly higher in the variants group (P = .0405). The ROC curve analysis showed an AUC of .688 (SE = .083, 95%CI = .525‐.823) with a statistically significant P = .0225, between the presence of COW variants and the FLAIR‐leukoaraiosis lesion‐volume.

CONCLUSION

The presence and the number of COW variants are associated with a higher leukoaraiosis volume in patients with significant internal carotid artery stenosis.
Behavior Phenotype: A Synthesis of Research to Understand Age‐Related Change in Behavior in Several Syndromes
Authors: Couzens Donna
Published: March 2014

Knowledge of behavior change with age can inform our understanding of maturation and contextual influences on functions and precursors of behavior and optimal timing of supports. The author reviewed current information on age‐related change in problem behaviors related to etiology of intellectual disability and synthesized behavioral research using select domains of theAberrantBehaviorChecklist (hyperactivity/noncompliance, lethargy/social withdrawal, irritability/agitation, and stereotypic behavior). Syntheses of available data demonstrated an absence of problem behavior for many individuals with Down syndrome and normative behaviors in all domains (except irritability/agitation) for individuals withPrader–Willi syndrome and (except for hyperactivity/noncompliance) for those with fragileXand Angelman syndromes. Significant behavior problems across all domains were evident for individuals withSmith–Magenis syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. The author identified problems with available data and concluded that web‐based technologies offer an avenue for collaborative and sustainable longitudinal research. Such technologies may engage individuals and their communities in participatory research and enrich the information available for these groups.
Detection of flavonoids in microalgae from different evolutionary lineages
Authors: Goiris Koen , Muylaert Koenraad , Voorspoels Stefan , Noten Bart , De Paepe Domien , E Baart Gino J. , De Cooman Luc
Published: March 2014

Flavonoids are important secondary plant metabolites believed to be present mainly in land plants. As phenolics were detected previously in microalgae using photometric assays, we wanted to investigate the nature of these phenolics and verify whether flavonoids are present. Therefore, in this study, we used state‐of‐the‐art ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography‐two‐dimensional mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐MS/MS) technology to investigate whether microalgae also contain flavonoids. For this, representative microalgal biomass samples from divergent evolutionary lineages (Cyanobacteria, Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta, Haptophyta, Ochrophyta) were screened for a set of carefully selected precursors, intermediates, and end products of the flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. Our data unequivocally showed that microalgae contain a wide range of flavonoids and thus must possess the enzyme pool required for their biosynthesis. Further, some of the microalgae displayed an intricate flavonoid pattern that is compatible with the established basic flavonoid pathway as observed in higher plants. This implies that the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway arose much earlier in evolution compared to what is generally accepted.
Regional and Temporal Variations ofLeptospiraSeropositivity in Dogs in the United States, 2000–2010
Authors: Lee H.S. , Levine M. , Guptill‐Yoran C. , Johnson A.J. , von Kamecke P. , Moore G.E.
Published: March 2014

Background

Previous studies have reported a seasonal increased risk for leptospirosis, but there is no consistent seasonality reported across regions in the United States.

Objectives

To evaluate and compare seasonal patterns in seropositivity for leptospirosis in dogs for 4USregions (northeast [NE], midwest [MW], south‐central [SC], and California‐southern west coast [CS]).

Animals

Forty four thousand nine hundred and sixteen canine serum samples submitted to a commercial laboratory for microscopic agglutination tests (MAT) from 2000 through 2010.

Methods

In this retrospective study, positive cases were defined asMATtiters ≥1 : 3,200 for at least one of 7 tested serovars. Four geographic regions were defined, andMATresults were included in regional analyses based on hospital zipcode. A seasonal‐trend decomposition method for times series was utilized for the analysis. Monthly variation in the seropositive rate was evaluated using a seasonal cycle subseries plot and logistic regression.

Results

Two thousand and twelve of 44,916 (4.48%) samples were seropositive. Compared to seropositive rates for February, significantly higher monthly rates occurred during the 2nd half of the year in theMW(OR 3.92–6.35) andNE(OR 2.03–4.80) regions, and only in January (OR 2.34) and December (OR 1.74) in theSCregion. Monthly seropositive rates indicative of seasonality were observed earlier in the calendar year for bothCSandSCregions.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Seasonal patterns for seropositivity to leptospires differed by geographic region. Although risk of infection in dogs can occur year round, knowledge of seasonal trends can assist veterinarians in formulating differential diagnoses and evaluation of exposure risk.
Influence of Beta Blockers on Survival in Dogs with Severe Subaortic Stenosis
Authors: Eason B.D. , Fine D.M. , Leeder D. , Stauthammer C. , Lamb K. , Tobias A.H.
Published: March 2014

Background

Subaortic stenosis (SAS) is one of the most common congenital cardiac defects in dogs. Severe SAS frequently is treated with a beta adrenergic receptor blocker (beta blocker), but this approach largely is empirical.

Objective

To determine the influence of beta blocker treatment on survival time in dogs with severe SAS.

Methods

Retrospective review of medical records of dogs diagnosed with severe, uncomplicated SAS (pressure gradient [PG] ≥80 mmHg) between 1999 and 2011.

Results

Fifty dogs met the inclusion criteria. Twenty‐seven dogs were treated with a beta blocker and 23 received no treatment. Median age at diagnosis was significantly greater in the untreated group (1.2 versus 0.6 years, respectively; P = .03). Median PG at diagnosis did not differ between the treated and untreated groups (127 versus 121 mmHg, respectively; P = .2). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify the influence of PG at diagnosis, age at diagnosis, and beta blocker treatment on survival. In the all‐cause multivariate mortality analysis, only age at diagnosis (P = .02) and PG at diagnosis (P = .03) affected survival time. In the cardiac mortality analysis, only PG influenced survival time (P = .03). Treatment with a beta blocker did not influence survival time in either the all‐cause (P = .93) or cardiac‐cause (P = .97) mortality analyses.

Conclusions

Beta blocker treatment did not influence survival in dogs with severe SAS in our study, and a higher PG at diagnosis was associated with increased risk of death.
Cost‐effectiveness of intravenous acetaminophen for pediatric tonsillectomy
Authors: Subramanyam Rajeev , Varughese Anna , Kurth Charles Dean , Eckman Mark H.
Published: March 2014

Objective

The primary outcome of this study was to examine the cost‐effectiveness of the intraoperative combination of intravenous (IV) acetaminophen and IV opioids, versus IV opioids alone, as a part of an inhalational anesthetic technique for tonsillectomy in children.

Methods

We used Decision Maker® software to construct and analyze a decision analytic model. Base‐case and sensitivity analyses were performed. We studied the use of rescue analgesics in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), adverse effects of acetaminophen and opioids, and costs associated with adverse effects. Costs were in 2013 US dollars, and effectiveness was measured as frequency of avoiding the need for rescue analgesics. Direct medical costs included medication, equipment, supplies, and labor associated with the treatment of adverse events from pain medications. Medication costs assumed single‐dose vials.

Results

In the base case, IV acetaminophen in combination with opioids was both less costly ($17.12) and more effective (3.3% fewer rescue events). In sensitivity analyses, the combination strategy remained cost‐effective as long as the frequency of rescue analgesic administration was less than that in the opioid‐alone strategy. Although medication costs of the combination strategy were higher, the overall costs were less than the competing strategy due to reduced adverse effects and reduced time spent in PACU.

Conclusions

The routine use of IV acetaminophen as an adjuvant to IV opioids for tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy in children aged <17 years should be considered as a means to reduce the need for rescue analgesia and in turn reduce costs.
Failure of isolated kidney transplantation in a pediatric patient with primary hyperoxaluria type 2
Authors: Naderi GholamHossein , Latif AmirHossein , Tabassomi Firouzeh , Esfahani Seyed Taher
Published: March 2014

PH type 2 is caused by decreased activity ofGRHPRenzyme that eventually leads toESRDand systemic oxalosis. Here, we describe an Iranian pediatric patient withPH2 and earlyESRDdevelopment who received recommended treatment by undergoing isolated kidney transplantation. Diagnosis criteria included a history of reoccurring calcium oxalate renal stones and elevated oxalate levels combined with liver biopsy and decreased enzymatic activity at age five.ESRDprompted transplantation and was performed at age nine. On Day 12 post‐op, his serum creatinine level increased. A graft biopsy showed calcium oxalate crystal deposits in renal tubes with no evidence of acute rejection, which resolved with intensive hydration and administration of a potassium citrate solution. Subsequent biopsies confirmed results found in first biopsy. Despite the immunosuppressive therapy, his serum creatinine level increased again after 11 months. Renal tubular obstruction then led to graft nephrectomy. Pathological analysis of tissue confirmed findings of past biopsies. This was a very rare case of earlyESRDinPH2 resulting in a failed isolated kidney transplant. As theGRHPRenzyme is predominantly expressed in liver, we suggest a combined liver‐kidney transplant may be beneficial in patients withPH2.
Spinoza on Physical Science
Authors: Peterman Alison
Published: March 2014

In this paper, I discuss Spinoza on the proper methods and content of physical science. I start by showing how Spinoza's epistemology leads him to a kind of pessimism about the prospects of empirical and mathematical methods in natural philosophy. While they are useful for life, they do not tell us about nature, as Spinoza puts it, “as it is in itself.” At the same time, Spinoza seems to allow that we have some knowledge of physical things and their behavior. So I go on to outline and critique a few of the accounts of how Spinoza thinks we can do this, focusing on the role of the common notions in physics. In the third section, I discuss the possible contents of physics, for Spinoza, and argue that they are not, as is usually thought, fundamentally Cartesian. I conclude by pointing to some promising directions for future research and suggesting a few heuristics for such research.
Phosphorylation of Histone H2AX Generated by Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates and its Suppression by UVB Exposure
Authors: Kubota Toru , Toyooka Tatsushi , Zhao Xiaoxu , Ibuki Yuko
Published: March 2014

We previously demonstrated that the nonionic surfactants, nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOs) induced the phosphorylation of histone H2AX (γ‐H2AX), accompanied by DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs), and that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) degraded NPEOs, which sometimes enhanced their DNA‐damaging ability. In this study, we showed that linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), general anion surfactants, also generated DSBs with γ‐H2AX, and this ability was attenuated by UVB exposure. In the human breast adenocarcinoma cell line, MCF‐7, γ‐H2AX was generated in a dose‐dependent manner immediately after cells were treated with LAS, and this was attributed to the formation of DSBs and was independent of cell cycle phases. The ability to generate γ‐H2AX was markedly reduced in LAS exposed to UVB. HPLC analysis revealed that LAS were a mixture of various alkyl chain lengths, the peaks of which were detected at individual retention times. UVB evenly decreased all peaks of LAS, without migration of peaks to other retention times, which indicated that UVB may degrade the benzene ring of LAS, but did not shorten the alkyl chains. UVB is an important environmental factor in the degradation of LAS exhibiting the ability to induce DSBs, the most serious type of DNA damage.
Akaline, saline and mixed saline–alkaline stresses induce physiological and morpho‐anatomical changes in Lotus tenuis shoots
Authors: Paz R. C. , Reinoso H. , Espasandin F. D. , González Antivilo F. A. , Sansberro P. A. , Rocco R. A. , Ruiz O. A. , Menéndez A. B.
Published: March 2014

Saline, alkaline and mixed saline–alkaline conditions frequently co‐occur in soil. In this work, we compared these plant stress sources on the legume Lotus tenuis, regarding their effects on shoot growth and leaf and stem anatomy. In addition, we aimed to gain insight on the plant physiological status of stressed plants. We performed pot experiments with four treatments: control without salt (pH = 5.8; EC = 1.2 dS·m−1) and three stress conditions, saline (100 mm NaCl, pH = 5.8; EC = 11.0 dS·m−1), alkaline (10 mm NaHCO3, pH = 8.0, EC = 1.9 dS·m−1) and mixed salt–alkaline (10 mm NaHCO3 + 100 mm NaCl, pH = 8.0, EC = 11.0 dS·m−1). Neutral and alkaline salts produced a similar level of growth inhibition on L. tenuis shoots, whereas their mixture exacerbated their detrimental effects. Our results showed that none of the analysed morpho‐anatomical parameters categorically differentiated one stress from the other. However, NaCl‐ and NaHCO3‐derived stress could be discriminated to different extents and/or directions of changes in some of the anatomical traits. For example, alkalinity led to increased stomatal opening, unlike NaCl‐treated plants, where a reduction in stomatal aperture was observed. Similarly, plants from the mixed saline–alkaline treatment characteristically lacked palisade mesophyll in their leaves. The stem cross‐section and vessel areas, as well as the number of vascular bundles in the sectioned stem were reduced in all treatments. A rise in the number of vessel elements in the xylem was recorded in NaCl‐treated plants, but not in those treated exclusively with NaHCO3.
Exploring the Legal Status of Wolf‐Dog Hybrids and Other Dubious Animals: International and EU Law and the Wildlife Conservation Problem of Hybridization with Domestic and Alien Species
Authors: Trouwborst Arie
Published: March 2014

Hybridization with domestic or alien species poses a threat to many species of wild fauna. However, hybridization is not explicitly addressed in the provisions of the principal international legal instruments on nature conservation. This article reviews the relevance, scope and substance of wildlife protection obligations under the Bern Convention on European Wildlife and Natural Habitats and the European Union's Habitats Directive with respect to this issue. The problem of wolf‐dog hybridization is singled out as a case study. The article concludes that addressing hybridization through preventive and mitigation measures is in conformity with the obligations of States under the Convention and the Directive, and may indeed be essential in order to comply with these obligations. In the wolf‐dog context, this includes dealing with feral and stray dogs and captive hybrids, and removing hybrid animals from the wild. At the same time, it appears that the national prohibitions on the killing and capturing of wolves and other strictly protected species, as prescribed by the Convention and the Directive, also cover free‐ranging wolf‐dog hybrids and similar hybrids living in the wild. This entails that the removal of such hybrid animals from the wild is subject to the rules concerning derogations from strict protection. These rules, however, do not appear to stand in the way of such removal. The article's central recommendation is for the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention and the European Commission to adopt express guidance concerning hybridization.
Memories of War: Sources of Vietnam Veteran Pro‐ and Antiwar Political Attitudes
Authors: Flores David
Published: March 2014

The sources of political attitudes are among the most studied phenomena of modern politics. Moving away from the traditional focus on party systems, the demographic characteristics of voters, or political socialization, I consider instead how memory and narrative shape political consciousness. Specifically, I focus on how culturally sanctioned memories of warfare influence the political attitudes of 24 Vietnam veterans. I compare two groups of Vietnam veterans who went to Vietnam in support of the war and political status quo, but who returned with opposing attitudes toward war. How can we understand these contrasting outcomes? Specifically, how do memories of war shape political attitudes? Antiwar veterans relate similar narratives of having their idealistic views of war challenged and experiencing a major rethinking of their support when they learn the true nature of warfare. On the other hand, pro‐war veterans share a patterned narrative of indifference rather than idealism when describing their continued support of the war and political status quo after they return from Vietnam. I conclude by arguing that memory and narrative are an important mechanism for shaping political attitudes.
Schema via Structure? Personal Network Density and the Moral Evaluation of Infidelity
Authors: Schafer Markus H.
Published: March 2014

This article considers whether the density of a person's social network is related to his/her moral attitudes toward infidelity. Integrating recent sociological thinking on moral schemas with network theory's insights about deviance and structural independence, I employ data from a representative sample of American men aged 57–85. Findings indicate that men with the densest personal networks are least likely to condone infidelity. This association, moreover, was independent of men's education, their beliefs about religion and sex, and attitudes about their partners, among other factors. The findings imply an affinity between micro‐social structure and moral judgment, suggesting that network density can help constrain even the expression of moral attitudes.
Transnational Traders: El Salvador's Women Couriers in Historical Perspective
Authors: Garni Alisa
Published: March 2014

An estimated one‐third to one‐half of Salvadorans who carry remittances and goods between El Salvador and the United States are women. Scholars studying these viajeras argue that their work simultaneously represents a break from traditional gender relations confining women to the home and an extension of gender traits that favor women in developing social ties. Although social ties are crucial to the courier trade, this argument ignores antecedents to viajeras' work in El Salvador and suggests that transnationalism pushes women into realms of labor and physical mobility that have been gendered masculine. Using ethnographic methods, I examine the relationship between women's historical work in El Salvador and their current work as viajeras, as well the relationship between viajeras' experiences and those of women transnational traders in other parts of the world. My findings contribute to a small but growing body of research suggesting that instead of merely being excluded from or manipulated by global processes, many women in the Global South have expanded the realm of their activities to help shape variable forms of global capitalism. Studying how they do so sheds light on local mechanisms for combating gender inequality and promoting development.
The Good Society: Core Social Values, Social Norms, and Public Policy
Authors: Perrucci Robert , Perrucci Carolyn C.
Published: March 2014

This essay is an attempt to transcend the contentious political environment by offering a conceptual framework for discussing the outlines of a “good society” and its constituent elements. We offer an argument that is grounded in social theory that identifies a way to develop public policies to remedy long‐standing economic and social problems in American society. The development of public policies that can unify individuals and groups to provide their support depends upon the existence of core social values and shared social norms to realize those values. We proceed by first identifying a set of core social values that we believe most Americans would endorse, and then present a set of guides for behavior that would advance those values. Finally, we propose a series of public policies that are consistent with the core values and social norms and that would help to create what we have called the “good society.” Our assumption is that when a citizenry endorses a set of core values and acts in a fashion that supports those values, the usually divided political factions will be compelled to respond with real solutions.
Professional Development Strategically Connecting Mathematics and Science: The Impact on Teachers' Confidence and Practice
Authors: Baxter Juliet A. , Ruzicka Angie , Beghetto Ronald A. , Livelybrooks Dean
Published: March 2014

The press to integrate mathematics and science comes from researchers, business leaders, and educators, yet research that examines ways to support teachers in relating these disciplines is scant. Using research on science and mathematics professional development, we designed a professional development project to help elementary teachers improve their teaching of mathematics and science by strategically connecting these disciplines. The purposes of this study are: (a) to identify changes in teachers' confidence and practice after participating in the professional development and (b) to identify different ways to connect mathematics and science during the professional development. We use a Likert‐scale survey to assess changes in teachers' confidence related to teaching mathematics and science. In addition, we report on a thematic analysis of teachers' written responses to open‐ended questions that probed teachers' perceived changes in practice. We analyze field notes from observations of project workshops to document different types of opportunities for connecting mathematics and science. We conclude with implications for future professional development that connects mathematics and science in meaningful ways, as well as suggestions for future research.
A High‐Quality Professional Development for Teachers of Grades 3–6 for Implementing Engineering into Classrooms
Authors: Guzey S. Selcen , Tank Kristina , Wang Hui‐Hui , Roehrig Gillian , Moore Tamara
Published: March 2014

With the increasing emphasis on integrating engineering into K‐12 classrooms to help meet the needs of our complex and multidisciplinary society, there is an urgent need to investigate teachers' engineering‐focused professional development experiences as they relate to teacher learning, implementation, and student achievement. This study addresses this need by examining the effects of a professional development program focused on engineering integration, and how teachers chose to implement engineering in their classrooms as a result of the professional development. 198 teachers in grades 3–6 from 43 schools in 17 districts participated in a yearlong professional development program designed to help integrate the new state science standards, with a focus on engineering, into their teaching. Posters including lesson plans and student artifacts were used to assess teachers' engineering practices and the implementation in their classrooms. Results indicated that the majority of the teachers who participated in the professional development were able to effectively implement engineering design lessons in their classrooms suggesting that the teachers' success in implementing engineering lessons in their classroom was closely related to the structure of the professional development program.
Climatic vs. tectonic signals in a continental extensional basin (Teruel, NE Spain) from stable isotope (δ18O) and sequence stratigraphical evolution
Authors: Ezquerro Lope , Luzón Aránzazu , Navarro Marta , Liesa Carlos L. , Simón José L.
Published: March 2014

Alluvial fans and shallow carbonate lakes interfered in the Teruel half‐graben during the Late Miocene–Pliocene. Tectonic influence is recorded in alluvial and lacustrine–palustrine successions, with long‐term climate changes being recorded in detail in the isotopic signatures of carbonates. Episodes of tectonic activity induced alluvial fan progradation and lake retraction in the whole basin. Three lacustrine stages have been identified, which support the idea that climate also exerted an important control on sedimentation. The transition between stages 1 and 2 occurred during a tectonically calm episode due to an increase in aridity in the Early Turolian; small fans with source areas next to the lake margin prograded, inducing lake‐shore retraction. The transition from stage 2 to 3 was caused by the superimposition of increasing tectonic activity and aridity effects. Our study demonstrates that discrimination of allogenic factors controlling sedimentation in continental closed basins is possible using sequence stratigraphy in combination with other techniques such as geochemistry of carbonates.
TimeBliography: A Dynamic and OnlineBibliography on TemporalGIS
Authors: Siabato Willington , Claramunt Christophe , Manso‐Callejo Miguel Ángel , Bernabé‐Poveda Miguel Ángel
Published: March 2014

This article introduces an online bibliography on temporalGIS, a research area in which different scientific fields and researchers have provided substantial results and literature over the past few years. We first define the scientific domain of temporalGIS, its origin and recent evolution, and the context of this bibliography. Then, the components and functionalities of the web‐based application that support the online bibliography are described. The bibliography, entitledTimeBliography, is accessible on the Web athttp://spaceandtime.wsiabato.info.
Itraconazole prophylaxis for invasive Aspergillus infection in lung transplantation
Authors: Kato K. , Nagao M. , Nakano S. , Yunoki T. , Hotta G. , Yamamoto M. , Matsumura Y. , Ito Y. , Takakura S. , Chen F. , Bando T. , Matsuda Y. , Matsubara K. , Date H. , Ichiyama S.
Published: March 2014

Invasive Aspergillus infection (IA) is a significant cause of morbidity in lung transplantation (LT). However, its optimal prophylaxis is unclear. We routinely administer itraconazole (ITCZ) prophylaxis to all patients undergoing LT. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the duration of prophylaxis and risk factors of IA. Among 30 adult patients who underwent LT, 5 patients developed IA. All patients with IA stopped ITCZ treatment within 1 year. At least 1 year of ITCZ prophylaxis is essential for the prevention of IA. Cytomegalovirus infection, renal replacement therapy, and tracheotomy were risk factors for IA.
Pneumonia in solid organ transplant recipients: a prospective multicenter study
Authors: Giannella M. , Muñoz P. , Alarcón J.M. , Mularoni A. , Grossi P. , Bouza E. ,   the PISOT study group
Published: March 2014

Background

Pneumonia frequently affects solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, with high morbidity and mortality. However, the few studies on pneumonia in this population are mainly retrospective, single‐center, and long‐term studies, or include patients with only one type of SOT or a specific etiology. We performed a point prevalence study to investigate epidemiology, diagnosis, therapy, and outcome of pneumonia in an unselected SOT population.

Methods

Italian and Spanish transplant centers were invited to report on all SOT recipients with pneumonia treated during 2 separate weeks (1 each in February and June 2012).

Results

In total, 35 centers (18 in Italy, 17 in Spain) agreed to participate and collected 54 cases. The incidence of pneumonia was 10.1 episodes/1000 recipients/year. Pneumonia was classified as late (>6 months) in 70.4% of cases. Pneumonia was also classified as community‐acquired (CAP), healthcare‐associated (HCAP), and hospital‐acquired (HAP) pneumonia in 40.7%, 38.9%, and 20.4% of cases, respectively. An attempt to microbiological diagnosis (≥1 sample) was made in 94.4% of patients, with a diagnostic yield of 60.7%. Causative agents included bacteria (87.1%), virus (29%), and fungi (6.4%). A multidrug‐resistant bacterium was isolated in 18.2%, 40%, and 100% of patients with CAP, HCAP, and HAP (P = 0.007), respectively. Overall, 11.1% of patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, 3.7% developed graft rejection, and graft function deteriorated in 18.5%. In‐hospital mortality was 1.9%.

Conclusion

Pneumonia remains a frequent problem in SOT recipients, although it occurs later in patients who are in better physical health. Therefore, harmful pathogens and worse outcome are less common than previously thought.
The use of novel lymphatic endothelial cell‐specific immunohistochemical markers to differentiate cutaneous angiosarcomas in dogs
Authors: Halsey C. H. C. , Worley D. R. , Curran K. , Charles J. B. , Ehrhart E. J.
Published: March 2014

Lymphangiosarcomas are uncommon vascular neoplasms that arise from lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). They efface and replace normal subcutaneous tissue and are characterised by arborising, vascular channels lined by a single layer of pleomorphic endothelial cells and a paucity of erythrocytes. Lymphangiosarcomas are architecturally similar to hemangiosarcomas, a common malignancy of vascular origin arising from blood vascular endothelial cells. Common immunohistochemical markers for vascular endothelium, such as Factor VIII‐related antigen (F8RA) and CD31, have traditionally been used to confirm the diagnosis of tumours of vascular origin. However, these markers fail to differentiate between lymphangiosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma, which often show overlapping morphologic features, disparate clinical behaviour and require different treatment modalities. Here we describe the use of two novel LEC‐specific markers, lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor‐1 (LYVE‐1) and prospero‐related homeobox gene‐1 (PROX‐1), to further differentiate between vascular tumours of lymphatic (lymphangiosarcoma) and blood (hemangiosarcoma) endothelial cell origin in the dog.
Influence of pulse power amplitude on plasma properties and film deposition in high power pulsed plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Lundin Daniel , Jensen Jens , Pedersen Henrik
Published: March 2014

The discharge characteristics in high power pulsed plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition is studied with the aim to characterize the impact of high power pulses (HiPP). Using a power scheme of combined HiPP and direct current (DC) to ignite the plasma discharge, and adjusting the HiPP/DC time-averaged power ratio while keeping the total power constant, the effect of the high power pulses was isolated from the total power. By monitoring the discharge current along with the optical emission from the plasma, it is found that the amount of available ions increased with increasing HiPP/DC ratio, which indicates a higher plasma density. Using carbon films deposited from acetylene in an argon plasma as model system, a strong increase in deposition rate with higher HiPP/DC is observed. The increased deposition rate is ascribed to a more efficient plasma chemistry generated by the denser plasma.
A fully automatic extraction of magnetic resonance image features in glioblastoma patients
Authors: Zhang Jing , Barboriak Daniel P. , Hobbs Hasan , Mazurowski Maciej A.
Published: March 2014

Purpose:

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor. It is characterized by low median survival time and high survival variability. Survival prognosis for glioblastoma is very important for optimized treatment planning. Imaging features observed in magnetic resonance (MR) images were shown to be a good predictor of survival. However, manual assessment of MR features is time‐consuming and can be associated with a high inter‐reader variability as well as inaccuracies in the assessment. In response to this limitation, the authors proposed and evaluated a computer algorithm that extracts important MR image features in a fully automatic manner.

Methods:

The algorithm first automatically segmented the available volumes into a background region and four tumor regions. Then, it extracted ten features from the segmented MR imaging volumes, some of which were previously indicated as predictive of clinical outcomes. To evaluate the algorithm, the authors compared the extracted features for 73 glioblastoma patients to the reference standard established by manual segmentation of the tumors.

Results:

The experiments showed that their algorithm was able to extract most of the image features with moderate to high accuracy. High correlation coefficients between the automatically extracted value and reference standard were observed for the tumor location, minor and major axis length as well as tumor volume. Moderately high correlation coefficients were also observed for proportion of enhancing tumor, proportion of necrosis, and thickness of enhancing margin. The correlation coefficients for all these features were statistically significant (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

The authors proposed and evaluated an algorithm that, given a set of MR volumes of a glioblastoma patient, is able to extract MR image features that correlate well with their reference standard. Future studies will evaluate how well the computer‐extracted features predict survival.
Adapted Physical Activity: Influential Impacts to Establish a Field of Study
Authors: McCubbin Jeff
Published: March 2014

The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe key research contributions that have shaped the field of adapted physical activity. That was not an easy task as the area of adapted physical activity is relatively new. The field is also quite broad and has been influenced by many people and sociopolitical influences. In an effort to constrain the scope of influences, this paper will focus on studies related to motor performance and health-related physical fitness of persons with intellectual disabilities (ID). This was done in part because that is an area where I believe that my work and that of students and colleagues at Oregon State University, helped to contribute small fraction of what is known and in a way to help substantiate how much more there is to know. It is challenging to answer the questions of whose work significantly influenced what we now know about the health and fitness status of persons with ID. And more importantly what direction does this area of research need to go for us to change health related outcomes of this group?
What Goes Around Comes Around … Or Does It? Disrupting the Cycle of Traditional, Sport-Based Physical Education
Authors: Ennis Catherine D.
Published: March 2014

As typically taught, sport-based, multiactivity approaches to physical education provide students with few opportunities to increase their skill, fitness, or understanding. Alternative curriculum models, such as Sport Education, Teaching Games for Understanding, and Fitness for Life, represent a second generation of models that build on strong statements of democratic, student-centered practice in physical education. In the What Goes Around section of the paper, I discuss the U.S. perspective on the origins of alternative physical education curriculum models introduced in the early and mid-20th century as a response to sport and exercise programs of the times. Today, with the help of physical educators, scholars are conducting research to test new curricular alternatives or prototypes to provide evidence-based support for these models. Yet, the multiactivity, sport-based curriculum continues to dominate in most U.S. physical education classes. I discuss reasons for this dogged persistence and propose reforms to disrupt this pervasive pattern in the future.
Sport History: We're More Than Just the Back in Back to the Future
Authors: Wrynn Alison M.
Published: March 2014

This article examines the past, present, and future of historical research in sport and physical education. Due to time and space limitations, the focus is on work that has emerged and is emerging in North America—particularly the United States—but it must be noted there are very active sport historians throughout the world; in departments of kinesiology, history, and American studies. This article covers two broad categories: the past to the present and the present to the future of research in sport history. Within these two sections, there is also an analysis of changes in the conduct of research by historians as this has had, and will continue to have, a major impact on the kinds of work that will be produced in the future.
Localized Oncolytic Virotherapy Overcomes Systemic Tumor Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Blockade Immunotherapy
Authors: Zamarin Dmitriy , Holmgaard Rikke B. , Subudhi Sumit K. , Park Joon Seok , Mansour Mena , Palese Peter , Merghoub Taha , Wolchok Jedd D. , Allison James P.
Published: March 2014

Intratumoral treatment with an oncolytic virus results in inflammatory infiltrates in distant tumors and sensitizes the tumors to immune-mediated rejection in the setting of immunotherapy with CTLA-4 blocking antibodies.
Comparative Genomics and Immunoinformatics Approach for the Identification of Vaccine Candidates for Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7
Authors: García-Angulo Víctor A. , Kalita Anjana , Kalita Mridul , Lozano Luis , Torres Alfredo G.
Published: March 2014

Enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
(EHEC) O157:H7 strains are major human food-borne pathogens, responsible for bloody diarrhea and hemolytic-uremic syndrome worldwide. Thus far, there is no vaccine for humans against EHEC infections. In this study, a comparative genomics analysis was performed to identify EHEC-specific antigens useful as potential vaccines. The genes present in both EHEC EDL933 and Sakai strains but absent in nonpathogenic
E. coli
K-12 and HS strains were subjected to an
in silico
analysis to identify secreted or surface-expressed proteins. We obtained a total of 65 gene-encoding protein candidates, which were subjected to immunoinformatics analysis. Our criteria of selection aided in categorizing the candidates as high, medium, and low priority. Three members of each group were randomly selected and cloned into pVAX-1.
Candida
tes were pooled accordingly to their priority group and tested for immunogenicity against EHEC O157:H7 using a murine model of gastrointestinal infection. The high-priority (HP) pool, containing genes encoding a Lom-like protein (pVAX-31), a putative pilin subunit (pVAX-12), and a fragment of the type III secretion structural protein EscC (pVAX-56.2), was able to induce the production of EHEC IgG and sIgA in sera and feces. HP candidate-immunized mice displayed elevated levels of Th2 cytokines and diminished cecum colonization after wild-type challenge. Individually tested HP vaccine candidates showed that pVAX-12 and pVAX-56.2 significantly induced Th2 cytokines and production of fecal EHEC sIgA, with pVAX-56.2 reducing EHEC cecum colonization. We describe here a bioinformatics approach able to identify novel vaccine candidates potentially useful for preventing EHEC O157:H7 infections.
The Effect of Malnutrition on Norovirus Infection
Authors: Hickman Danielle , Jones Melissa K. , Zhu Shu , Kirkpatrick Ericka , Ostrov David A. , Wang Xiaoyu , Ukhanova Maria , Sun Yijun , Mai Volker , Salemi Marco , Karst Stephanie M.
Published: March 2014

Human noroviruses are the primary cause of severe childhood diarrhea in the United States, and they are of particular clinical importance in pediatric populations in the developing world. A major contributing factor to the general increased severity of infectious diseases in these regions is malnutrition—nutritional status shapes host immune responses and the composition of the host intestinal microbiota, both of which can influence the outcome of pathogenic infections. In terms of enteric norovirus infections, mucosal immunity and intestinal microbes are likely to contribute to the infection outcome in substantial ways. We probed these interactions using a murine model of malnutrition and murine norovirus infection. Our results reveal that malnutrition is associated with more severe norovirus infections as defined by weight loss, impaired control of norovirus infections, reduced antiviral antibody responses, loss of protective immunity, and enhanced viral evolution. Moreover, the microbiota is dramatically altered by malnutrition. Interestingly, murine norovirus infection also causes changes in the host microbial composition within the intestine but only in healthy mice. In fact, the infection-associated microbiota resembles the malnutrition-associated microbiota. Collectively, these findings represent an extensive characterization of a new malnutrition model of norovirus infection that will ultimately facilitate elucidation of the nutritionally regulated host parameters that predispose to more severe infections and impaired memory immune responses. In a broad sense, this model may provide insight into the reduced efficacy of oral vaccines in malnourished hosts and the potential for malnourished individuals to act as reservoirs of emergent virus strains.

IMPORTANCEMalnourished children in developing countries are susceptible to more severe infections than their healthy counterparts, in particular enteric infections that cause diarrhea. In order to probe the effects of malnutrition on an enteric infection in a well-controlled system devoid of other environmental and genetic variability, we studied norovirus infection in a mouse model. We have revealed that malnourished mice develop more severe norovirus infections and they fail to mount effective memory immunity to a secondary challenge. This is of particular importance because malnourished children generally mount less effective immune responses to oral vaccines, and we can now use our new model system to probe the immunological basis of this impairment. We have also determined that noroviruses evolve more readily in the face of malnutrition. Finally, both norovirus infection and malnutrition independently alter the composition of the intestinal microbiota in substantial and overlapping ways.
Breast gangrene: a rare source of severe sepsis
Authors: Agrawal Swati , Jayant Kumar , Agarwal Rajendra
Published: March 2014

We present a very rare case of breast gangrene in a 26-year-old woman, lactating primipara, referred to the emergency department of our hospital with a 1-day history of difficulty in breathing, high-grade fever associated with chills and rigor and failure to pass urine. After initial resuscitation, stabilisation and thorough examination her right breast was found to be gangrenous, with satellite lesions at the periphery. Later, under local anaesthesia and appropriate antibiotic coverage, the patient was taken for emergency debridement. She gradually recovered and as the wound developed healthy granulation tissue and wound culture became sterile, grafting of the affected area was carried out. The graft took well following which she was discharged.