bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Middleware for wireless sensor networks: an outlook
Authors: Mottola Luca , Picco Gian Pietro
Published: November 2011

In modern distributed computing, applications are rarely built directly atop operating system facilities, e.g., sockets. Higher-level middleware abstractions and systems are often employed to simplify the programmer’s chore or to achieve interoperability. In contrast, real-world wireless sensor network (WSN) applications are almost always developed by relying directly on the operating system.

Why is this the case? Does it make sense to include a middleware layer in the design of WSNs? And, if so, is it the same kind of software system as in traditional distributed computing? What are the fundamental concepts, reasonable assumptions, and key criteria guiding its design? What are the main open research challenges, and the potential pitfalls? Most importantly, is it worth pursuing research in this field?

This paper provides a (biased) answer to these and other research questions, preceded by a brief account on the state of the art in the field.
Australian Franchising Research: Review, Synthesis and Future Research Directions
Authors: Wright Owen , McAuley Andrew
Published: November 2011

This article represents a brief history of the development of franchising in Australia and its regulatory framework and links this to an analysis of relevant research. Findings indicate a disparate ad hoc approach to research including scoping studies at the embryonic stage of franchise development; significant evidence of census style research culminating in a trajectory of disparate studies utilising more sophisticated research methods. For franchising research to advance there appears to be a need to interface with other research domains in SME and entrepreneurship research, extend the range of issues which are the subject of franchising research; begin longitudinal studies in order to better understand change over time; promote studies which have a sectoral focus in order to improve knowledge and understanding at that level of analysis; and, increase the representation of cross-border/cultural research in the volume of work being undertaken.
Intranet Portals: Marketing and Managing Individuals’ Acceptance and Use
Authors: Neill William D. , Richard James E.
Published: November 2011

With increasing pressure on businesses to digitalize and integrate their internal communications, intranet portals are becoming popular as knowledge banks that distribute tailored information throughout organizations. However, user acceptance of intranet portals is often an issue that could lead to failure of core business functions. This study provides increased understanding of the uptake of intranet portals by developing and testing an intranet portal usage (IPU) model containing antecedents to user acceptance of a recently introduced intranet portal. SEM was used to test the relationships between prior experience, Internet self-efficacy, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, intention to use and usage. Results from a survey of university students indicate that internal marketing communications focused on portal experience and functionality provides the greatest value to the acceptance and use of intranet portals within organizations, while Internet self-efficacy leveraged through portal experience provides a complex relationship to perceived usefulness. Ongoing collaboration between marketing and IT departments benefits the perceived usefulness of portals as users gain familiarity
Buckling of a thin-layer Couette flow
Authors: Slim Anja C. , Teichman Jeremy , Mahadevan L.
Published: November 2011

We analyse the buckling stability of a thin, viscous sheet when subject to simple shear, providing conditions for the onset of the dominant out-of-plane modes using two models: (i) an asymptotic theory for the dynamics of a viscous plate, and (ii) the full Stokes equations. In either case, the plate is stabilized by a combination of viscous resistance, surface tension and buoyancy relative to an underlying denser fluid. In the limit of vanishing thickness, plates buckle at a shear rate $\gamma / (\ensuremath{\mu} d)$ independent of buoyancy, where $2d$ is the plate thickness, $\gamma $ is the average surface tension between the upper and lower surfaces, and $\ensuremath{\mu} $ is the fluid viscosity. For thicker plates stabilized by an equal surface tension at the upper and lower surfaces, at and above onset, the most unstable mode has moderate wavelength, is stationary in the frame of the centreline, spans the width of the plate with crests and troughs aligned at approximately $4{5}^{\ensuremath{\circ} } $ to the walls, and closely resembles elastic shear modes. The thickest plates that can buckle have an aspect ratio (thickness/width) of approximately 0.6 and are stabilized only by internal viscous resistance. We show that the viscous plate model can only accurately describe the onset of buckling for vanishingly thin plates but provides an excellent description of the most unstable mode above onset. Finally, we show that, by modifying the plate model to incorporate advection and make the model material-frame-invariant, it is possible to extend its predictive power to describe relatively short, travelling waves.
An arabinoxylan-rich fraction from wheat enhances caecal fermentation and protects colonocyte DNA against diet-induced damage in pigs
Authors: Belobrajdic Damien P. , Bird Anthony R. , Conlon Michael A. , Williams Barbara A. , Kang Seungha , McSweeney Christopher S. , Zhang Dagong , Bryden Wayne L. , Gidley Michael J. , Topping David L.
Published: November 2011

Population studies show that greater red and processed meat consumption increases colorectal cancer risk, whereas dietary fibre is protective. In rats, resistant starches (a dietary fibre component) oppose colonocyte DNA strand breaks induced by high red meat diets, consistent with epidemiological data. Protection appears to be through SCFA, particularly butyrate, produced by large bowel carbohydrate fermentation. Arabinoxylans are important wheat fibre components and stimulate large bowel carbohydrate SCFA production. The present study aimed to determine whether an arabinoxylan-rich fraction (AXRF) from wheat protected colonocytes from DNA damage and changed colonic microbial composition in pigs fed with a diet high (30 %) in cooked red meat for 4 weeks. AXRF was primarily fermented in the caecum, as indicated by higher tissue and digesta weights and higher caecal (but not colonic) acetate, propionate and total SCFA concentrations. Protein fermentation product concentrations (caecalp-cresol and mid- and distal colonic phenol) were lower in pigs fed with AXRF. Colonocyte DNA damage was lower in pigs fed with AXRF. The microbial profiles of mid-colonic mucosa and adjacent digesta showed that bacteria affiliating withPrevotellaspp. and Clostridial cluster IV were more abundant in both the mucosa and digesta fractions of pigs fed with AXRF. These data suggest that, although AXRF was primarily fermented in the caecum, DNA damage was reduced in the large bowel, occurring in conjunction with lower phenol concentrations and altered microbial populations. Further studies to determine the relationships between these changes and the lowering of colonocyte DNA damage are warranted.
Population genetics and abundance of the Endangered grey-headed lemurEulemur cinereicepsin south-east Madagascar: assessing risks for fragmented and continuous populations
Authors: Brenneman Rick A. , Johnson Steig E. , Bailey Carolyn A. , Ingraldi Christina , Delmore Kira E. , Wyman Tracy M. , Andriamaharoa Hubert E. , Ralainasolo Fidimalala B. , Ratsimbazafy Jonah H. , Louis Edward E.
Published: November 2011

Knowledge of both population size and genetic diversity is critical for assessing extinction risk but few studies include concurrent estimates of these two components of population biology. We conducted an investigation of population density and size, and genetic variation and past demographic events, of the Endangered grey-headed lemurEulemur cinereicepsin south-east Madagascar. We estimated lemur density using line-transect surveys and used satellite imagery to calculate forest fragment area in three localities. We collected tissue samples from 53 individuals and used 26 polymorphic microsatellite loci to obtain measures of population structure (divergence and diversity) across these localities. We tested the probability of past bottleneck events using three models. Contrary to expectation, there were no significant differences in population density across localities. Genetic diversity decreased, but not significantly, with decreasing habitat area and population size. We found a higher likelihood of past bottleneck events in the fragmented coastal populations. The low population size and prior decline in diversity in coastal patches are consistent with their isolation, anthropogenic disturbance, and exposure to cyclone activity. The similarities in the estimates of density between continuous and fragmented sites may indicate recent population growth in the fragments but these populations nevertheless remain at risk from reduced levels of genetic variation. These patterns should be confirmed with more extensive sampling across the limited range ofE. cinereiceps.
BAAL/CUP Seminars 2010
Authors: Donohue James
Published: November 2011

The Open University, Milton Keynes, 21 April 2010

This seminar, organised by Caroline Coffin and Jim Donohue (both from the Open University, UK), took the form of a day of dialogue between invited experts and other interested parties, including academic writing practitioners, researchers and postgraduate students. The invited speakers were asked to form panels representing either Academic Literacies or Systemic Functional Linguistics.
Probable Alzheimer's Disease Patients Presenting as “Focal Temporal Lobe Dysfunction” Show a Slow Rate of Cognitive Decline
Authors: Marra Camillo , Villa Giampiero , Quaranta Davide , Valenza Alessandro , Vita Maria Gabriella , Gainotti Guido
Published: November 2011

Several authors have recently shown that anterograde amnesia is often associated with semantic memory impairment in amnesic MCI patients. Similarly, after the MCI condition, some patients who convert to Alzheimer's disease (AD) show the classic onset (cAD) characterized by the impairment of memory and executive functions, whereas other AD patients show isolated defects of episodic and semantic memory without deficits in other cognitive domains. The latter have been considered an AD variant characterized by ‘focal Temporal Lobe Dysfunction’ (TLD). The aim of the present study was to assess the differences in disease progression between cAD and TLD. For this purpose a continuous series of newly diagnosed probable AD patients presenting as cAD (n = 30) and TLD (n = 25), matched for severity, and 65 healthy controls underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation at baseline; TLD and cAD were re-evaluated at a 24-month follow-up. At follow-up, TLD patients showed no significant worsening of cognitive functions, whereas cAD subjects displayed a significant worsening in all explored cognitive domains. In conclusion, our results confirm that probable AD presenting as TLD represents a specific onset of AD characterized by a slower rate of progression. (JINS, 2012, 18, 144–150)
Promoter cloning and characterization of the human programmed cell death protein 4 (pdcd4) gene: evidence for ZBP-89 and Sp-binding motifs as essential Pdcd4 regulators
Authors: Leupold Jörg Hendrik , Asangani Irfan Ahmed , Mudduluru Giridhar , Allgayer Heike
Published: November 2011

Pdcd4 (programmed cell death protein 4) is an important novel tumour suppressor inhibiting transformation, translation, invasion and intravasation, and its expression is down-regulated in several cancers. However, little is known about the transcriptional regulation and the promoter of this important tumour suppressor. So far the following is the first comprehensive study to describe the regulation of Pdcd4 transcription by ZBP-89 (zinc-finger-binding protein 89), besides characterizing the gene promoter. We identified the transcriptional start sites of the human pdcd4 promoter, a functional CCAAT-box, and the basal promoter region. Within this basal region, computer-based analysis revealed several potential binding sites for ZBPs, especially for Sp (specificity protein) family members and ZBP-89. We identified four Sp1/Sp3/Sp4-binding elements to be indispensable for basal promoter activity. However, overexpression of Sp1 and Sp3 was not sufficient to enhance Pdcd4 protein expression. Analysis in different solid cancer cell lines showed a significant correlation between pdcd4 and zbp-89 mRNA amounts. In contrast with Sp transcription factors, overexpression of ZBP-89 led to an enhanced expression of Pdcd4 mRNA and protein. Additionally, specific knockdown of ZBP-89 resulted in a decreased pdcd4 gene expression. Reporter gene analysis showed a significant up-regulation of basal promoter activity by co-transfection with ZBP-89, which could be abolished by mithramycin treatment. Predicted binding of ZBP-89 to the basal promoter was confirmed by EMSA (electrophoretic mobility-shift assay) data and supershift analysis for ZBP-89. Taken together, data for the first time implicate ZBP-89 as a regulator of Pdcd4 by binding to the basal promoter either alone or by interacting with Sp family members.
Regarding ‘National Health and Hospital Reform Commission final report and patient-centred suggestions for reform’ by T. Jowsey, L. Yen, R. Wells and S. Leeder
Authors: Murphy Brett
Published: November 2011

The recently published article by Jowsey et al. (2011, Australian Journal of Primary Health 17, 162–168) highlighted key inclusions and omissions from the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission final report with respect to patient-centred care for people with chronic illness. However, the author proposes that this study could have further addressed dimensions of equity and patient-centred practice by including participants with chronic mental illness. The author suggests that interventions to improve chronic illness care typically remain disease specific, which fails to address the realities that face consumers or service providers. References to the literature and professional experience are provided to support the inclusion of mental illness within discussion, services and policy concerning chronic illness.
Effects of a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor on ovarian function in cattle
Authors: Yapura M. Jimena , Mapletoft Reuben J. , Singh Jaswant , Pierson Roger , Naile Jonathan , Giesy John P. , Chang Hong , Higley Eric , Hecker Markus , Adams Gregg P.
Published: November 2011

Effects of the non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor letrozole on ovarian function in cattle were determined. The hypothesis that letrozole would arrest growth of the dominant follicle, resulting in emergence of a new follicular wave at a predictable post-treatment interval, was tested. Heifers were assigned randomly to four groups 4 days after follicular ablation (~2½ days after wave emergence) and given intravenous doses of 500 (n = 9), 250 (n = 10), or 125 µg kg–1 (n = 10) letrozole or phosphate-buffered saline (controls; n = 10). Blood was collected and ovarian structures were monitored daily by transrectal ultrasonography. Plasma concentrations of LH and FSH were measured by radioimmunoassay; plasma concentrations of letrozole were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. A single intravenous dose of letrozole did not induce regression of the dominant follicle present at the time of treatment, nor did it directly affect FSH release. Conversely, treatment with letrozole increased endogenous concentrations of LH and extended the lifespan of the dominant follicle, which delayed the next FSH surge and subsequent follicular wave emergence. Letrozole continues to have potential as a non-steroidal treatment for controlling ovarian function in cattle.
Workplace spirituality and employee engagement
Authors: Saks Alan M.
Published: November 2011

Interest in workplace spirituality and employee engagement has increased considerably over the last decade among practitioners and scholars. However, even though both topics focus on the importance of the spirit at work, they have emerged independent of each other with little attention
to how they are related. In this paper, I describe how workplace spirituality and employee engagement are related and the implications of workplace spirituality for employee engagement. In particular, I describe the importance of workplace spirituality for meaningfulness at work and for engagement
maintenance and generalization. A model of workplace spirituality and employee engagement is presented in which three dimensions of workplace spirituality (transcendence, community, and spiritual values) relate to employee engagement through four psychological conditions (meaningfulness in
work, meaningfulness at work, safety, and availability). The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the model for research and practice on workplace spirituality and employee engagement.
Spiritual power: the internal, renewable social power source
Authors: Goltz Sonia M.
Published: November 2011

Models of social power have not included spirituality as a source of power, which may miss an important dynamic in organizations. A definition of spiritual power is proposed based on empirically demonstrated effects of spiritual practice. Unlike other sources of power, spiritual power
is independent of external resources, does not deplete as it is spent, and stimulates transcendent responses. The article discusses how the concept of spiritual power contributes to the existing literatures on workplace spirituality and social power.
Antagonistic Interaction of BLADE-ON-PETIOLE1 and 2 with BREVIPEDICELLUS and PENNYWISE Regulates Arabidopsis Inflorescence Architecture
Authors: Khan Madiha , Xu Mingli , Murmu Jhadeswar , Tabb Paul , Liu Yuanyuan , Storey Kathryn , McKim Sarah M. , Douglas Carl J. , Hepworth Shelley R.
Published: November 2011

The transition to flowering in many plant species, including Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), is marked by the elongation of internodes to make an inflorescence upon which lateral branches and flowers are arranged in a characteristic pattern. Inflorescence patterning relies in part on the activities of two three-amino-acid loop-extension homeodomain transcription factors: BREVIPEDICELLUS (BP) and PENNYWISE (PNY) whose interacting products also promote meristem function. We examine here the genetic interactions between BP-PNY whose expression is up-regulated in stems at the floral transition, and the lateral organ boundary genes BLADE-ON-PETIOLE1 (BOP1) and BOP2, whose expression is restricted to pedicel axils. Our data show that bp and pny inflorescence defects are caused by BOP1/2 gain of function in stems and pedicels. Compatible with this, inactivation of BOP1/2 rescues these defects. BOP expression domains are differentially enlarged in bp and pny mutants, corresponding to the distinctive patterns of growth restriction in these mutants leading to compacted internodes and clustered or downward-oriented fruits. Our data indicate that BOP1/2 are positive regulators of KNOTTED1-LIKE FROM ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA6 expression and that growth restriction in BOP1/2 gain-of-function plants requires KNOTTED1-LIKE FROM ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA6. Antagonism between BOP1/2 and BP is explained in part by their reciprocal regulation of gene expression, as evidenced by the identification of lignin biosynthetic genes that are repressed by BP and activated by BOP1/2 in stems. These data reveal BOP1/2 gain of function as the basis of bp and pny inflorescence defects and reveal how antagonism between BOP1/2 and BP-PNY contributes to inflorescence patterning in a model plant species.
Assessing noise sources at synchrotron infrared ports
Authors: Lerch Ph. , Dumas P. , Schilcher T. , Nadji A. , Luedeke A. , Hubert N. , Cassinari L. , Boege M. , Denard J.-C. , Stingelin L. , Nadolski L. , Garvey T. , Albert S. , Gough Ch. , Quack M. , Wambach J. , Dehler M. , Filhol J.-M.
Published: November 2011

Today, the vast majority of electron storage rings delivering synchrotron radiation for general user operation offer a dedicated infrared port. There is growing interest expressed by various scientific communities to exploit the mid-IR emission in microspectroscopy, as well as the far infrared (also called THz) range for spectroscopy. Compared with a thermal (laboratory-based source), IR synchrotron radiation sources offer enhanced brilliance of about two to three orders of magnitude in the mid-IR energy range, and enhanced flux and brilliance in the far-IR energy range. Synchrotron radiation also has a unique combination of a broad wavelength band together with a well defined time structure. Thermal sources (globar, mercury filament) have excellent stability. Because the sampling rate of a typical IR Fourier-transform spectroscopy experiment is in the kHz range (depending on the bandwidth of the detector), instabilities of various origins present in synchrotron radiation sources play a crucial role. Noise recordings at two different IR ports located at the Swiss Light Source and SOLEIL (France), under conditions relevant to real experiments, are discussed. The lowest electron beam fluctuations detectable in IR spectra have been quantified and are shown to be much smaller than what is routinely recorded by beam-position monitors.
A scanning Kelvin probe for synchrotron investigations: thein situdetection of radiation-induced potential changes
Authors: Salgin Bekir , Vogel Dirk , Pontoni Diego , Schröder Heiko , Schönberger Bernd , Stratmann Martin , Reichert Harald , Rohwerder Michael
Published: November 2011

A wide range of high-performance X-ray surface/interface characterization techniques are implemented nowadays at every synchrotron radiation source. However, these techniques are not always `non-destructive' because possible beam-induced electronic or structural changes may occur during X-ray irradiation. As these changes may be at least partially reversible, anin situtechnique is required for assessing their extent. Here the integration of a scanning Kelvin probe (SKP) set-up with a synchrotron hard X-ray interface scattering instrument for thein situdetection of work function variations resulting from X-ray irradiation is reported. First results, obtained on bare sapphire and sapphire covered by a room-temperature ionic liquid, are presented. In both cases a potential change was detected, which decayed and vanished after switching off the X-ray beam. This demonstrates the usefulness of a SKP forin situmonitoring of surface/interface potentials during X-ray materials characterization experiments.
In-house SAD phasing with surface-bound cerium ions
Authors: Vennila K. Natesan , Velmurugan Devadasan
Published: November 2011

The anomalous signal of cerium(III) ions present in a derivative of hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) crystals obtained by the addition of 0.025 M cerium chloride to the crystallization medium was used for phasing. X-ray intensity data were collected to 2 Å resolution using an in-house Cu Kα radiation data-collection facility. Phasing of a single-wavelength data set purely based on its f′′ led to a clearly interpretable electron-density map. Automated substructure solution by AutoSol in PHENIX resulted in four highest peaks corresponding to cerium(III) ions with data limited to 3 Å resolution, and about 90% of the residues were built automatically by AutoBuild in PHENIX. Cerium(III) ions bound on the surface of the enzyme are found to interact mainly with the main-chain and side-chain carbonyl groups of Asn, Glu, Tyr and Asp and with water molecules. Ce3+ ions were used as potential anomalous scatterers for the in-house single-wavelength anomalous scattering technique, and this is proposed as a tool for macromolecular phasing and for the study of the interactions of trivalent metal ions with proteins and other macromolecules.
Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray characterization of a haemagglutinin from the seeds of Jatropha curcas
Authors: Nair Divya N. , Suresh C. G. , Singh Desh Deepak
Published: November 2011

The plant Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) is an important source of biofuel from the inedible oil present in its toxic seeds. The toxicity arises from the presence of curcin, a ribosome-inactivating protein showing haemagglutination activity. In this communication, the purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray characterization are reported of a small protein isolated from J. curcas seeds with a molecular mass of ∼10 kDa that agglutinates rabbit erythrocytes. The protein was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method and also by the microbatch method in 72-well HLA plates, using PEG 8000 as the precipitant in both conditions. X-ray diffraction data collected from the rod-shaped crystals were processed in the orthorhombic space group P212121. The crystals diffracted to 2.8 Å resolution at 103 K.
Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of dextranase from Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Suzuki Nobuhiro , Kim Young-Min , Fujimoto Zui , Momma Mitsuru , Kang Hee-Kwon , Funane Kazumi , Okuyama Masayuki , Mori Haruhide , Kimura Atsuo
Published: November 2011

Streptococcus mutans dextranase hydrolyzes the internal α-1,6-linkages of dextran and belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 66. An N- and C-terminal deletion mutant of S. mutans dextranase was crystallized by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals diffracted to a resolution of 1.6 Å and belonged to space group P21, with unit-cell parameters a = 53.2, b = 89.7, c = 63.3 Å, β = 102.3°. Assuming that the asymmetric unit of the crystal contained one molecule, the Matthews coefficient was calculated to be 4.07 Å3 Da−1; assuming the presence of two molecules in the asymmetric unit it was calculated to be 2.03 Å3 Da−1.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of VibE, a vibriobactin-specific 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate-AMP ligase fromVibrio cholerae
Authors: Liu Xiuhua , Wang Zhi , Zhu Deyu , Wei Tiandi , Gu Lichuan , Xu Sujuan
Published: November 2011

Vibriobactin synthetases (VibABCDEFH) catalyze the biosynthesis of vibriobactin in the pathogenic bacteriumVibrio cholerae. VibE, a vibriobactin-specific 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate-AMP ligase, plays a critical role in the transfer of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate to the aryl carrier protein domain of holo VibB. Here, the cloning, protein expression and purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of VibE fromV. choleraeare reported. The VibE crystal diffracted to 2.3 Å resolution. The crystal belonged to space groupP21, with unit-cell parametersa= 56.471,b= 45.927,c= 77.014 Å, β = 95.895°. There is one protein molecule in the asymmetric unit, with a corresponding Matthews coefficient of 1.63 Å3 Da−1and solvent content of 24.41%.
Overexpression, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of shikimate dehydrogenase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus
Authors: Lee Hyung Ho
Published: November 2011

Shikimate dehydrogenase (SDH), which catalyses the NADPH-dependent reduction of 3-dehydroshikimate to shikimate in the shikimate pathway, is an attractive target for the development of herbicides and antimicrobial agents. Previous structural studies have shown that SDH exists in two conformations, an open and a closed form, and it is believed that the conformational state is crucial to understanding its catalytic mechanism. In order to facilitate further structural comparisons among SDHs, including the conformational state, structural analysis of an SDH from Archaeoglobus fulgidus encoded by the Af2327 gene has been initiated. SeMet-labelled SDH from A. fulgidus was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and crystallized at 296 K using ammonium sulfate as a precipitant in order to use the MAD method for structure determination. Crystals of A. fulgidus SDH grown in the presence of NADP+ diffracted to 2.8 Å resolution and belonged to the trigonal space group P3221 (or P3221), with unit-cell parameters a = 111.3, b = 111.3, c = 76.2 Å. Three diffraction data sets were collected. The asymmetric unit contains two monomers, with a corresponding V
M of 2.34 Å3 Da−1 and a solvent content of 47% by volume.
Results of ambulatory pH monitoring do not reliably predict response to therapy in patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis
Authors: Francis D. L. , Foxx‐Orenstein A. , Arora A. S. , Smyrk T. C. , Jensen K. , Nord S. L. , Alexander J. A. , Romero Y. , Katzka D. A.
Published: November 2011

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2012; 35: #–#

Background  The consensus statements for eosinophilic oesophagitis recommend that ambulatory pH monitoring is one means of determining if gastro‐oesophageal reflux is the cause of oesophageal eosinophilia and should guide pharmacological therapy.

Aim  To evaluate prospectively the accuracy of pH monitoring as a predictor of endoscopic, histological and symptomatic response in patients with oesophageal eosinophilia.

Methods  We conducted a prospective trial in which patients with oesophageal eosinophilic infiltration with ≥15 eos/hpf underwent a 24‐h pH study and were placed in one of two treatment arms for 6 weeks based on positive or negative results. Patients with abnormal acid exposure were treated with esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily and others were treated with oral viscous budesonide 1 g twice daily. Response to treatment was assessed by oesophageal histology (<5 eos/hpf) and symptoms.

Results  A total of 51 patients were enrolled in the study. The average patient age was 39 years and 31 patients (61%) were male. The average number of eosinophils per hpf, prior to study enrolment was 41.2 (range 15–140, s.d. 27.7). Nineteen (37%) had positive pH studies and 32 (63%) had negative pH studies. Eighteen patients completed treatment with esomeprazole. Only eleven (61%) had histological response and, of these eleven, five (46%) had symptomatic improvement. A total of 28 patients with normal acid exposure completed treatment with budesonide. Only 16 (57%) had histological and 11 (69%) had symptomatic improvement.

Conclusion  In this prospective trial of pH‐guided treatment, neither positive nor negative results of initial pH monitoring accurately predicted response to therapy.
The world in a grain of sand: evolutionarily relevant, small‐scale freshwater bioregions on subtropical dune islands
Authors: PAGE TIMOTHY J. , MARSHALL JONATHAN C. , HUGHES JANE M.
Published: November 2011

1. Conservation plans are required to safeguard freshwater biodiversity in the face of increasing threats. Traditionally plans have used surrogates for biodiversity that do not account for the evolutionary process, but genetic data in the form of comparative phylogeography can fulfil this role.

2. Comparative phylogeographic analyses of multiple freshwater fish and decapod crustacean species were carried out with specimens from two model systems, namely the sand dune islands of Fraser and North Stradbroke in eastern Australia.

3. Almost all of the species studied from both islands displayed an intraspecific evolutionary split between sides of the island (east/west on North Stradbroke Island, and north/south on Fraser Island), indicating that each side of each island hosts its own distinct community of populations of freshwater animals.

4. The probable process responsible for both of these divergent communities is different source populations for each side of each island.

5. This study shows that biodiversity will not always follow obvious geography and that significant diversity may exist at small scales within multiple species. These evolutionarily relevant units of biodiversity should be incorporated at the beginning of the conservation and resource management planning process.
Organizational risk management of resistance to care episodes in health facilities
Authors: Kable Ashley , Guest Maya , McLeod Mary
Published: November 2011

kable a., guest m. & mcleod m. (2012) Organizational risk management of resistance to care episodes in health facilities. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(9), 1933–1943.

Aims.  This article reports a study of organizational risk management approaches to resistance to care episodes in specific clinical areas: prevention measures, provision of subsequent support and follow‐up by management and resultant organizational change.

Background.  Resistance to care describes a patient’s unwillingness to be assisted by healthcare staff and is manifested in defensive behaviours ranging from minor non‐compliance/dissent to aggression. It has previously been studied in aged care settings and focused on patient behaviours and appropriate responses.

Methods.  This was a cross‐sectional survey of a representative sample of nurses (n = 5044) who were members of the New South Wales Nurses’ Association in Australia, in 2008–2009.

Results.  Of 1132 participants, 80% reported being involved in resistance to care episodes during the previous month and this was higher in some settings. Episodes were not routinely reported internally, and often did not lead to organizational change. Nurses reported that talking with other staff was the most effective action in dealing with the consequences of these episodes. Half of the respondents considered that they were provided with sufficient support and follow‐up after a resistance to care episode. Prevention measures and follow‐up strategies adopted by employers varied across clinical settings.

Conclusion.  Resistance to care is not confined to aged care settings, and risk management of resistance to care can increase safety in the workplace. Preventive strategies such as increased staff, training and security should be focused on high risk clinical areas; and appropriate support, follow‐up and organizational change instituted in response to these episodes.
Task uncertainty and communication during nursing shift handovers
Authors: Mayor Eric , Bangerter Adrian , Aribot Myriam
Published: November 2011

mayor e., bangerter a. & aribot m. (2012) Task uncertainty and communication during nursing shift handovers. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(9), 1956–1966.

Aims.  We explore variations in handover duration and communication in nursing units. We hypothesize that duration per patient is higher in units facing high task uncertainty. We expect both topics and functions of communication to vary depending on task uncertainty.

Background.  Handovers are changing in modern healthcare organizations, where standardized procedures are increasingly advocated for efficiency and reliability reasons. However, redesign of handover should take environmental contingencies of different clinical unit types into account. An important contingency in institutions is task uncertainty, which may affect how communicative routines like handover are accomplished.

Method.  Nurse unit managers of 80 care units in 18 hospitals were interviewed in 2008 about topics and functions of handover communication and duration in their unit. Interviews were content‐analysed. Clinical units were classified into a theory‐based typology (unit type) that gradually increases on task uncertainty. Quantitative analyses were performed.

Findings.  Unit type affected resource allocation. Unit types facing higher uncertainty had higher handover duration per patient. As expected, unit type also affected communication content. Clinical units facing higher uncertainty discussed fewer topics, discussing treatment and care and organization of work less frequently. Finally, unit type affected functions of handover: sharing emotions was less often mentioned in unit types facing higher uncertainty.

Conclusion.  Task uncertainty and its relationship with functions and topics of handover should be taken into account during the design of handover procedures.
Prostasomes are mediators of intercellular communication: from basic research to clinical implications
Authors: Ronquist G.
Published: November 2011

Ronquist G (University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden). Prostasomes are mediators of intercellular communication: from basic research to clinical implications (Review). J Intern Med 2012; 271: 400–413

Abstract.  Prostasomes are nanosized microvesicles secreted by acinar epithelial cells of the prostate gland. Furthermore, they are intracellular microvesicles inside another larger vesicle, a so‐called storage vesicle, equivalent to multivesicular bodies of late endosomal origin. Prostasomes are thought to play an important role in intercellular communication by direct interaction primarily between the immobile acinar cells of the prostate gland and the mobile spermatozoa. Prostasomes transfer not only membrane components but also genetic material to spermatozoa. They are rich in various transferable bioactive molecules (e.g. receptors and enzymes) that promote the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa. In this review, the pleiotropic biological effects of prostasomes that are relevant for successful fertilization will be discussed. The ability to synthesize and export prostasomes to the extracellular space is observed not only in normal prostate epithelial cells but also in malignant prostate cells. Release of prostasomes by prostate cancer cells suggests a role in malignant cell growth and proliferation. These findings may provide new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.
Adult female desert locusts require contact chemicals and light for progeny gregarization
Authors: MAENO KOUTARO , TANAKA SEIJI
Published: November 2011

Crowding causes many organisms to express phenotypic plasticity in various traits. Phase polyphenism in desert locusts represents one extreme example in which a solitary form (solitarious phase) turns into a gregarious form (gregarious phase) in response to crowding. Conspicuous differences in body size and colour occur even in hatchlings. The phase‐specific differences in hatchling characteristics are caused by the tactile stimuli perceived by the antennae of their mother. However, the nature of the tactile stimuli and the mechanism by which the perceived stimuli are processed as a gregarizing signal remain unknown. To explore this problem, the antennae of solitarious adult females of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria are touched with the bodies of conspecific locusts at different physiological stages and those of other species. The results suggest that a cuticular chemical factor at a specific developmental stage of conspecific locusts causes the solitarious females to produce large eggs that give rise to black hatchlings characteristic of gregarious forms (progeny gregarization), and that this or a similar compound occurs in other acridids, crickets and cockroaches but not in beetles. The involvement of a chemical substance is also supported by hexane extracts of cuticular surfaces of locusts that induce the same effects. Interestingly, crowding induces such gregarizing effects only when the female receives the appropriate stimulus in the presence of light. Solitarious female S. gregaria with their head capsule coated with phosphorescent paint exhibit progeny gregarization in response to crowding and light pulses in darkness, whereas those treated in the same way without light pulses fail to do so.
Pretransplant serologic testing to identify the risk of polyoma BK viremia in pediatric kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Ali Abdalla M. , Gibson Ian W. , Birk Patricia , Blydt‐Hansen Tom D.
Published: November 2011

Ali AM, Gibson IW, Birk P, Blydt‐Hansen TD. Pretransplant serologic testing to identify the risk of polyoma BK viremia in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.  Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15:827–834. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  This study investigated the age‐related prevalence of a prior polyoma BKV infection at the time of transplantation and association with subsequent development of BKV viremia. We measured BKV‐specific antibody titers in stored serum samples obtained before transplantation in 94 pediatric kidney transplant recipients (in a single‐center, retrospective analysis) and 40 matched donors from 1986 to 2007. Titers were categorized as LOW or HIGH serostatus at titers of ≤1:2560 and ≥1:10 240, respectively. Of these, 36 recipients transplanted since 2002 were prospectively screened for BKV viremia. Seventeen percent of recipients aged 0–6 yr had HIGH BKV serostatus compared with 73% of older recipients (p < 0.002). The prevalence of HIGH donor BKV serostatus was 73%. Five prospectively screened patients (14%) developed early BKV viremia, and an additional 4 (11%) had late onset of BKV viremia. There were three cases (8%) of BKVAN. LOW BKV serostatus was significantly associated with early BKV viremia (p = 0.02). Donor HIGH to recipient LOW (HIGH/LOW) had the highest risk of BKV viremia (4/7; 57%), compared with LOW/LOW (0/3; 0%) and recipient HIGH (1/26; 4%) (p = 0.004). BKV IgG titers are low in young pediatric kidney transplant recipients, and LOW BKV serostatus is associated with an increased risk of early BKV infection post‐transplant, particularly in the context of donor with HIGH BKV serostatus.
An update on immunizations before and after transplantation in the pediatric solid organ transplant recipient
Authors: Abuali Mayssa M. , Arnon Ronen , Posada Roberto
Published: November 2011

Abuali MM, Arnon R, Posada R. An update on immunizations before and after transplantation in the pediatric solid organ transplant recipient.  Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 770–777. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  Vaccination offers a unique opportunity to decrease the burden of infectious complications following solid organ transplantation. In this paper we review the current guidelines for routine immunizations before and after solid organ transplantation, including the recent updates and changes to recommendations for certain vaccines. We also address the issue of waning immunity in solid organ transplant recipients and discuss the current data on vaccinating this patient population with live vaccines after transplantation.
A simple and rapid procedure for identification of seed coat colour at the early developmental stage of Brassica juncea and Brassica napus seeds
Authors: Lu Ying , Liu Xianjun , Liu Shuyan , Yue Yingchun , Guan Chunyun , Liu Zhongsong
Published: November 2011

With 4 figures and 2 tables

The yellow seed is a desirable trait in oilseed Brassica species. However, seed coat colour cannot be observed until the maturation of the seed. Identification of seed coat colour at early seed development will allow for the early detection of yellow‐seeded individual plants in the segregating populations at the same generation and thus speed up yellow‐seeded rapeseed breeding programme. Colour of seed coats from Brassica juncea and Brassica napus can precisely be determined as early as 15 days after pollination by staining with 0.5% vanillin–HCl solution for 5 min, which is shown to be simple, rapid and reliable. Flowering duration of an individual plant usually lasts for approximately 25–35 days in Brassica species and so the seed coat colour of an individual plant can be determined 10–20 days before the end of its flowering. Through this technique, breeding for the yellow‐seeded trait can now be advanced one generation earlier by vanillin staining than by conventional visual observation of testa colour of mature Brassica seeds.
Gene Expression Profiling of Rat Testis Development During the Early Post‐Natal Stages
Authors: Liu TD , Yu BY , Luo FH , Zhang XL , Wu SCL , Liu LH , Wu YJ
Published: November 2011

Content

Spermatogenesis is a complex biological process that requires precise regulation of gene expression in the germ cells and their surrounding somatic cells. Some testis‐specific genes are involved in different stages of spermatogenesis; however, the precise mechanisms of stage‐specific spermatogenesis are still not elucidated. In this study, we first examined the expression patterns of SYCP3, Tnp2, CDH1, glial cell‐line‐derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) and GFRA1 mRNAs on post‐natal days (PNDs) 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25 and 30 in rat testis. SYCP3 mRNA was firstly detected from PND 15, while Tnp2 transcript was only found on PND 30. CDH1 mRNA was highly expressed before PND 6, but decreased dramatically on PND 8, then gradually increased until it started to decrease after 12 dpp. Low GDNF and GFRA1 mRNAs were found before PND 6, but gradually increased to the peak on PND 12, then gradually decreased to low level. According to the expression patterns of CDH1, GDNF and GFRA1, we hypothesized that PNDs 6‐10 are critical period in the early spermatogenesis. We, therefore, explored gene expression pattern on PNDs 6, 8 and 10 using cDNA microarray. 700 (PND 8 vs PND 6), 4519 (PND 10 vs PND 8), and 4298 (PND 10 vs PND 6) differentially expressed genes (≥2‐fold) were identified from the comparisons, which cover thousands of gene ontology categories (GO terms) and hundreds of signalling pathways. High consistency between microarray data and quantative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) was verified from five genes (LOC686076, Trib3, Cxcl6, LOC682508 and C2cd4d). These data provide more information to understand the precisely regulatory mechanism at the early stage of spermatogenesis.
Thirteen‐year‐old female with an unusual presentation of deep venous thrombosis
Authors: Chatzidaki Virginia , Richards Michael , Darling Jonathan C
Published: November 2011

We report a case of a 13‐year‐old female presenting with deep venous thrombosis in her left lower limb. Investigations led by her symptoms and history revealed persistently positive lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies, indicating the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome. Double‐stranded DNA antibodies were detected positive pointing to the coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Antiphospholipid syndrome‐related vascular occlusive events are causing high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is mandatory for the recognition of children being at risk for primary or recurrent thrombotic complications.
Exhaled carbon monoxide levels in preschool‐age children with episodic asthma
Authors: Ohara Yoichiro , Ohara Takahiro , Ohrui Takashi , Morikawa Toshio , Asamura Takaaki , Sasaki Hidetada , Arai Hiroyuki
Published: November 2011

Background:  The concentration of exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) in young children with stable asthma and during acute asthma attack is not known.

Methods:  A sampling bag was developed to collect the exhaled air of preschool children. A total of 257 preschool‐age children (≥3 years and ≤6 years old) were studied; 111 had a diagnosis of asthma (43 suffering a mild asthma attack and 68 without active asthmatic symptom), 99 had upper respiratory infection (URI) and 47 were healthy.

Results:  In preschool‐age children, eCO levels of those with asthma attacks (mean ± SE, 2.7 ± 0.3 p.p.m., n= 43) were significantly higher than those of subjects with asymptomatic asthma (0.5 ± 0.1 p.p.m., P < 0.05), URI (0.8 ± 0.1 p.p.m., P < 0.05) and healthy children (0.4 ± 0.1 p.p.m., P < 0.05). A multivariate linear regression model showed that eCO was higher in children with asthma attacks independent of age and gender. In 33 asthmatic children followed before and after treatment, eCO levels during asthma attacks significantly decreased after inhalation therapy with a combination of salbutamol and sodium cromoglycate (before therapy, 2.9 ± 0.4 p.p.m.; after therapy, 0.6 ± 0.1 p.p.m., P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:  The measurement of eCO using a novel collecting system is useful in the recognition of asthma in preschool children.