bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The non-backtracking spectrum of the universal cover of a graph
Authors: Angel Omer , Friedman Joel , Hoory Shlomo
Published: December 2014

A non-backtracking walk on a graph,

H
H

, is a directed path of directed edges of

H
H

such that no edge is the inverse of its preceding edge. Non-backtracking walks of a given length can be counted using the non-backtracking adjacency matrix,

B
B

, indexed by

H
H

’s directed edges and related to Ihara’s Zeta function.

We show how to determine

B
B

’s spectrum in the case where

H
H

is a tree covering a finite graph. We show that when

H
H

is not regular, this spectrum can have positive measure in the complex plane, unlike the regular case. We show that outside of

B
B

’s spectrum, the corresponding Green function has “periodic decay ratios”. The existence of such a “ratio system” can be effectively checked and is equivalent to being outside the spectrum.

We also prove that the spectral radius of the non-backtracking walk operator on the tree covering a finite graph is exactly

g
r

\sqrt {\mathrm {gr}}

, where

g
r

\mathrm {gr}

is the cogrowth of

B
B

, or growth rate of the tree. This further motivates the definition of the graph theoretical Riemann hypothesis proposed by Stark and Terras.

Finally, we give experimental evidence that for a fixed, finite graph,

H
H

, a random lift of large degree has non-backtracking new spectrum near that of

H
H

’s universal cover. This suggests a new generalization of Alon’s second eigenvalue conjecture.
Community Structure ofAspergillus flavusandA. parasiticusin Major Almond-Producing Areas of California, United States
Authors: Donner Matthias , Lichtemberg Paulo S. F. , Doster Mark , Picot Adeline , Cotty Peter J. , Puckett Ryan D. , Michailides Themis J.
Published: December 2014

Several nut crops, including almond, pistachio, and walnut, can become contaminated with mycotoxins. Of greatest economic significance are aflatoxins, which are mainly produced by members of Aspergillus section Flavi. The distribution of the two sclerotial-size morphotypes of Aspergillus flavus (i.e., S and L strains) and A. parasiticus, the main species responsible for aflatoxin production among section Flavi, was monitored in the soil of almond orchards in California over a 5-year period from 2007 to 2011, excluding 2009. In total, 4,349 Aspergillus isolates were collected from 28 almond orchards located in the northern, central, and southern Central Valley in California. Overall, A. flavus L strain was the most frequent, followed by A. parasiticus and A. flavus S strain. However, variations in the spatial distribution of these three taxa were found between the three regions. Over the 5-year period, higher frequencies of L strain were more often observed in the southern region (79.9 to 95.1%, depending on year) compared with the northern region (21.4 to 47.1%). In the north, A. parasiticus was the most common strain, with frequencies of 28.5 to 61% for the various years. In addition, the frequency of aflatoxin-producing isolates among L strains fluctuated from year to year. A significant increase (P = 0.0001) was observed from 2008 (75% of the isolates produced aflatoxins) to 2007 (59%), and a decrease was observed from 2010 (61%) to 2011 (53%). Aflatoxin-producing L strain isolates were significantly more prevalent than atoxigenic isolates in each region during the 5-year survey, except in 2011 in the north, where more isolates were atoxigenic (56%) than aflatoxin-producing (44%). Our results indicate that the structure of A. flavus and A. parasiticus communities in the soil and the proportion of toxigenic isolates vary across regions and years. Such knowledge may help devise appropriate aflatoxin control strategies, including the use of atoxigenic isolates as biological control agents adapted to the soil environments in each region.
Integration of Brassica Cover Crop with Host Resistance and Azoxystrobin for Management of Rice Sheath Blight
Authors: Handiseni Maxwell , Jo Young-Ki , Zhou Xin-Gen (Shane)
Published: December 2014

Sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani is the most important rice disease that can cause significant losses in grain yield and quality in the southern United States. Current management options for sheath blight primarily consist of fungicides, tolerant cultivars, and cultural practices. These options are not always very effective. Brassica plants have been used for soil fumigation to manage a variety of different soilborne pathogens. In this field study, the efficacy of a Brassica juncea cover crop integrated with use of a tolerant rice cultivar and fungicide application was evaluated in 2011, 2012, and 2013. The B. juncea cover crop significantly lowered sheath blight severity in all 3 years and led to a significantly higher grain yield in 2013 as compared with the fallow control. ‘Presidio’ rice had lower sheath blight severity and higher yield than ‘Cocodrie’ in 2012 and 2013. Fungicide applications with azoxystrobin at the label rate (0.16 kg a.i./ha) or half the label rate (0.08 kg a.i./ha) significantly reduced sheath blight severity in all 3 years, resulting in a yield increase in 2 of the 3 years. B. juncea along with use of a tolerant rice cultivar and half the label rate of azoxystrobin can be an effective approach for management of sheath blight in rice.
Impact of Pratylenchus penetrans on Establishment of Red Raspberry
Authors: Zasada Inga A. , Weiland Jerry E. , Han Z. , Walters T. W. , Moore P.
Published: December 2014

The plant-parasitic nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans, is a major constraint to red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) production. To determine the impact of P. penetrans on the establishment and productivity of eight raspberry cultivars, R. niveus, and R. leucodermis, plants were grown in fumigated and nonfumigated soil. Then, soil and root populations of P. penetrans and plant productivity (vigor, cane height, biomass, and yield) were monitored over 2 years. In a separate experiment, the role that soil type plays in mediating P. penetrans populations and raspberry establishment was investigated. At 6 and 12 months after planting, population densities of P. penetrans were lower in fumigated than in nonfumigated soil; this trend continued 18 months after planting. All cultivars and R. leucodermis were found to be extremely susceptible to damage caused by P. penetrans. By the end of the experiment, yield was the most sensitive indicator of plant productivity among cultivars, with losses in nonfumigated soil ranging from 63 to 100% of those observed in fumigated soil. However, there was no difference in the productivity of R. niveus plants grown in nonfumigated versus fumigated soils. Results also indicated that the damage potential of P. penetrans was greater on sandy loam versus silt loam soils. The total plant biomass of ‘Meeker’ raspberry was 46% lower in a sandy loam soil containing P. penetrans compared with soil without P. penetrans; this trend was not observed consistently in a silt loam soil. Despite the fact that soil fumigation is increasingly more limited by regulations, this study shows the utility of fumigation in reducing P. penetrans populations for a sufficient period of time to ensure that newly planted raspberry seedlings can become successfully established.
Effects of Potato-Psyllid-Vectored ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ Infection on Potato Leaf and Stem Physiology
Authors: Wallis C. M. , Rashed A. , Chen J. , Paetzold L. , Workneh F. , Rush C. M.
Published: December 2014

The bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ is associated with zebra chip disease (ZC), a threat to potato production in North America and New Zealand. It is vectored by potato psyllids. Previous studies observed that ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ infection causes potato tubers to undergo ZC-symptom-associated shifts in physiology, such as increased levels of amino acids, sugars, and phenolics. However, little is known about how ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ infections caused by psyllid vector feeding may affect metabolism in potato foliage and stems. This study compared metabolism in potato plants fed upon by ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’-positive psyllids with potato plants not exposed to psyllids. Foliar levels of asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamine, fructose, glucose, sucrose, a ferulic acid derivative, and quinic acid were lower in ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’-inoculated than noninfected plants. However, foliar levels of proline, serine, four phenolic compounds, and most terpenoids were greater in ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’-inoculated than noninfected plants. Upper stem levels of asparagine and aspartic acid, upper and lower stem levels of ellagitannins and most monoterpenoids, and lower stem level of sesquiterpenoids were greater in ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’-inoculated than noninfected plants. These results suggest that many defense-related terpenoid compounds might increase in plants which had psyllids inoculate ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’. This could impact progression and spread of ZC.
Accessible DNA and Relative Depletion of H3K9me2 at Maize Loci Undergoing RNA-Directed DNA Methylation
Authors: Gent Jonathan I. , Madzima Thelma F. , Bader Rechien , Kent Matthew R. , Zhang Xiaoyu , Stam Maike , McGinnis Karen M. , Dawe R. Kelly
Published: December 2014

RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) in plants is a well-characterized example of RNA interference-related transcriptional gene silencing. To determine the relationships between RdDM and heterochromatin in the repeat-rich maize (Zea mays) genome, we performed whole-genome analyses of several heterochromatic features: dimethylation of lysine 9 and lysine 27 (H3K9me2 and H3K27me2), chromatin accessibility, DNA methylation, and small RNAs; we also analyzed two mutants that affect these processes, mediator of paramutation1 and zea methyltransferase2. The data revealed that the majority of the genome exists in a heterochromatic state defined by inaccessible chromatin that is marked by H3K9me2 and H3K27me2 but that lacks RdDM. The minority of the genome marked by RdDM was predominantly near genes, and its overall chromatin structure appeared more similar to euchromatin than to heterochromatin. These and other data indicate that the densely staining chromatin defined as heterochromatin differs fundamentally from RdDM-targeted chromatin. We propose that small interfering RNAs perform a specialized role in repressing transposons in accessible chromatin environments and that the bulk of heterochromatin is incompatible with small RNA production.
Flight response of slope‐soaring birds to seasonal variation in thermal generation
Authors: Duerr Adam E. , Miller Tricia A. , Lanzone Michael , Brandes David , Cooper Jeff , O'Malley Kieran , Maisonneuve Charles , Tremblay Junior A. , Katzner Todd
Published: December 2014

Animals respond to a variety of environmental cues, including weather conditions, when migrating. Understanding the relationship between weather and migration behaviour is vital to assessing time‐ and energy limitations of soaring birds. Different soaring modes have different efficiencies, are dependent upon different types of subsidized lift and are weather dependent.

We collected GPS locations from 47 known‐age golden eagles that moved along 83 migration tracks. We paired each location with weather to determine meteorological correlates of migration during spring and fall as birds crossed three distinct ecoregions in north‐east North America.

Golden eagle migration was associated with weather conditions that promoted thermal development, regardless of season, ecoregion or age. Eagle migration showed age‐ and season‐specific responses to weather conditions that promoted orographic lift.

In spring, adult eagles migrated earlier, over fewer days, and under more variable weather conditions than did pre‐adults, suggesting that adults were time limited and pre‐adults made choices to conserve energy. In fall, we found no difference in the time span of migration or when each age class migrates; however, we saw evidence that pre‐adults were less efficient migrants than adults.

The decision by soaring birds to migrate when thermals developed allowed individuals to manage trade‐offs between migratory speed and migratory efficiency. When time was limited (i.e. spring movement of adults speeding towards nesting territories), use of whatever lift was available decreased the time span of migration. When migration was not time limited (e.g. spring movements by pre‐adults, all movements in fall), eagles avoided suboptimal flight conditions by pausing migration, thus increasing the time span of migration while reducing energetic costs.
Missing in action: inclusion and exclusion in the first days of AIDS in The Netherlands
Authors: Dijstelbloem Huub
Published: December 2014

Approaches combining social and political theory with ontology have rarely been utilised in the evaluation of decision‐making processes. Drawing on such an approach clarifies the questions that still need to be asked about the policy response toHIV/AIDSin The Netherlands in the early 1980s. The initial response in The Netherlands is internationally regarded as an example of successful cooperation between public authorities, health organisations, blood banks and the gay movement. In comparison with other countries, deeply dividing social conflicts as well as dramatic medical disasters were avoided. This image, however, is misleading. Although it was on a smaller scale than the disasters with contaminated blood products in other countries, The Netherlands had their blood scandal too. A reconstruction of this episode offers the opportunity to evaluate the role objects are granted in theories of institutionalisation and to critically examine the procedural notion of politics in actor network theory. The aim of the article is to show that analyses of decision‐making processes under conditions of uncertainty ought to engage more carefully with processes of exclusion and the transformative role of objects.
Trust in health care encounters and systems: a case study of British pensioners living in Spain
Authors: Legido‐Quigley Helena , McKee Martin , Green Judith
Published: December 2014

Research on trust in health care faces two enduring challenges. Firstly, there are conceptual ambiguities in distinguishing trust from related concepts, such as confidence or dependence. Second, the tacit understandings which underpin the ‘faith’ element of trust are difficult to explicate. A case study of British pensioners who have moved to Spain provides an opportunity to explore trust in a setting where they often have a choice of where to access health care (UK or Spain), and are therefore not in a state of dependence, and in which the ‘differences’ of a new field generates reflection on their tacit expectations of providers and systems. In accounting for decisions to use (or not to use) Spanish health care, British pensioners cited experiential knowledge of symbolic indicators of trustworthy institutions (they were hygienic, modern, efficient), which contributed to background confidence in the system, and interpersonal qualities of practitioners (respect for older people, embodied empathy and reciprocity) which evoked familiar relations, within which faith is implicit. In contrast, with limited recent access to the British system, their background confidence had been compromised by reports of poor performance, with few opportunities to rebuild the interrelational bases of trust.
Nutrigerontology: why we need a new scientific discipline to develop diets and guidelines to reduce the risk of aging‐related diseases
Authors: Verburgh Kris
Published: December 2014

Many diets and nutritional advice are circulating, often based on short‐ or medium‐term clinical trials and primary outcomes, like changes in LDL cholesterol or weight. It remains difficult to assess which dietary interventions can be effective in the long term to reduce the risk of aging‐related disease and increase the (healthy) lifespan. At the same time, the scientific discipline that studies the aging process has identified some important nutrient‐sensing pathways that modulate the aging process, such as the mTOR and the insulin/insulin‐like growth factor signaling pathway. A thorough understanding of the aging process can help assessing the efficacy of dietary interventions aimed at reducing the risk of aging‐related diseases. To come to these insights, a synthesis of biogerontological, nutritional, and medical knowledge is needed, which can be framed in a new discipline called ‘nutrigerontology’.
Antibodies with specificity for native and denatured forms of ovalbumin differ in reactivity between enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays
Authors: Holm Bettina Eide , Bergmann Ann Christina , Hansen Paul Robert , Koch Claus , Houen Gunnar , Trier Nicole Hartwig
Published: December 2014

In this study, polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to native and denatured chicken ovalbumin (OVA) were produced to compare their dependency on continuous and three‐dimensional epitopes. These antibodies were characterized with respect to reactivity to native and denatured OVA by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing surface‐bound OVA and streptavidin‐capture ELISA to determine whether effects of different coating influence antibody specificity and with respect to epitope specificity by peptide ELISA, using overlapping peptides, covering the complete OVA sequence. Polyclonal antibodies to native OVA reacted strongly with native and denatured OVA in both assays, but did not react with the overlapping peptides. Polyclonal antibodies to denatured OVA reacted strongly with both OVA forms and with several of the overlapping peptides. Monoclonal antibodies to native OVA reacted preferentially with three‐dimensional epitopes on native OVA and not with denatured OVA. Monoclonal antibodies to denatured OVA showed reactivity to both OVA forms. Two of these monoclonal antibodies, HYB 94‐06 and 94‐07, showed reactivity to overlapping peptides and their epitopes were identified as flexible structures constituting amino acids 130–135 and 136–141, respectively. Moreover, comparison of antibody reactivity to N OVA revealed that in the streptavidin‐capture ELISA, antibody reactivity was notably reduced compared to ELISA employing surface‐bound OVA. Collectively, immunization with native OVA preferentially generates highly specific antibodies reacting with three‐dimensional epitopes, whereas immunization with denatured OVA generates antibodies occasionally reacting with continuous epitopes. Moreover, as differences in monoclonal antibody reactivity was found between the two assays, monoclonal antibodies always should be selected by an assay mimicking the desired use of the final antibodies as closely as possible.
Combined effects of prenatal medication use and delivery type are associated with eczema at age 2 years
Authors: Wegienka G. , Havstad S. , Zoratti E. M. , Kim H. , Ownby D. R. , Johnson C. C.
Published: December 2014

Background

Separately, prenatal antibiotics and Caesarian delivery have been found to be associated with increased risk of allergic diseases. It is not clear whether these factors may modify the effect of each other.

Objective

To assess whether the associations between delivery types and eczema, sensitization and total IgE at age 2 years were modified by maternal use of prenatal medications.

Methods

Prenatal charts of women enrolled in the WHEALS birth cohort were reviewed for delivery mode and medications prescribed and administered throughout their entire pregnancy, including systemic antibiotics and vaginally applied antifungal medications. The associations between the delivery mode and select medications and, eczema, sensitization (≥ 1 of 10 allergen‐specific IgE ≥ 0.35 IU/mL) and total IgE at age 2 years were assessed.

Results

There was a lower risk of eczema among vaginally vs. c‐section born children (relative risk adjusted for race = aRR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.56, 1.05). Although not statistically significantly different, this association was stronger among the subset of children born vaginally to a mother who did not use systemic antibiotics or vaginal antifungal medications (aRR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.44, 1.08) compared to those born vaginally to mothers who used systemic antibiotics or vaginal antifungals (aRR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.57, 1.14). A protective association between vaginal birth and sensitization (aRR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.72, 1.03) was similar for those children born vaginally to a mother who did not (aRR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.69, 1.10) and who did (RR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.70, 1.04) use systemic antibiotics or vaginal antifungal medications. There were no associations with total IgE.

Conclusions

Children born vaginally had lower risk of eczema and sensitization compared with those born via c‐section; however, the protective association with eczema may be slightly weakened when mothers took systemic antibiotics or vaginally applied medications during pregnancy.
Elevated presence of myeloid dendritic cells in nasal polyps of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Poposki J. A. , Peterson S. , Welch K. , Schleimer R. P. , Hulse K. E. , Peters A. T. , Norton J. , Suh L. A. , Carter R. , Harris K. E. , Grammer L. C. , Tan B. K. , Chandra R. K. , Conley D. B. , Kern R. C. , Kato A.
Published: December 2014

Background

Although chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is characterized by Th2 inflammation, the mechanism underlying the onset and amplification of this inflammation has not been fully elucidated. Dendritic cells (DCs) are major antigen‐presenting cells, central inducers of adaptive immunity and critical regulators of many inflammatory diseases. However, the presence of DCs in CRS, especially in nasal polyps (NPs), has not been extensively studied.

Objective

The objective of this study was to characterize DC subsets in CRS.

Methods

We used real‐time PCR to assess the expression of mRNA for markers of myeloid DCs (mDCs; CD1c), plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs; CD303) and Langerhans cells (LCs; CD1a, CD207) in uncinate tissue (UT) from controls and patients with CRS as well as in NP. We assayed the presence of DCs by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry.

Results

Compared to UT from control subjects (n = 15) and patients with CRS without NP (CRSsNP) (n = 16) and CRSwNP (n = 17), mRNAs for CD1a and CD1c were significantly elevated in NPs (n = 29). In contrast, CD207 mRNA was not elevated in NPs. Immunohistochemistry showed that CD1c+ cells but not CD303+ cells were significantly elevated in NPs compared to control subjects or patients with CRSsNP. Flow cytometric analysis showed that CD1a+ cells in NPs might be a subset of mDC1s and that CD45+CD19−CD1c+CD11c+CD141−CD303−HLA‐DR+ mDC1s and CD45+CD19−CD11c+CD1c−CD141high HLA‐DR+ mDC2s were significantly elevated in NPs compared to UT from controls and CRSsNP, but CD45+CD11c−CD303+HLA‐DR+ pDCs were only elevated in NPs compared to control UT.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

Myeloid DCs are elevated in CRSwNP, especially in NPs. Myeloid DCs thus may indirectly contribute to the inflammation observed in CRSwNP.
Genetic testing for RAD51C mutations: in the clinic and community
Authors: Sopik V. , Akbari M.R. , Narod S.A.
Published: December 2014

Much of the observed familial clustering of breast and ovarian cancer cannot be explained by mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Several other cancer susceptibility genes have been identified, but their value in routine clinical genetic testing is still unclear. Germline mutations in RAD51C have been identified in about 1% of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer families. RAD51C mutations are predominantly found in families with a history of ovarian cancer and are rare in families with a history of breast cancer alone. RAD51C is primarily an ovarian cancer susceptibility gene. A mutation is present in approximately 1% of unselected ovarian cancers. Among mutation carriers, the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is approximately 9%. The average age at onset is approximately 60 years; this suggests that preventive oophorectomy can be delayed until after natural menopause. Under current guidelines, genetic testing for RAD51C is expected to have a limited impact on ovarian cancer incidence at a population level. This is because the penetrance is 9% to age 80; the great majority of families with mutations would be represented by a single case of ovarian cancer, these are potentially preventable through population screening but not through screening of established ovarian cancer families.
National Culture and Internal Control Disclosures: A Cross‐country Analysis
Authors: Hooghiemstra Reggy , Hermes Niels , Emanuels Jim
Published: December 2014

Manuscript Type

Empirical

Research Question/Issue

This study examines the association between national culture and the amount of information on internal controls listed companies disclose in their annual reports. In particular, we argue that culture affects managers' perceptions of the costs and benefits of disclosing information and, consequently, drive managers' disclosure choices. In addition, we investigate whether culture indirectly, via investor protection, determines disclosure decisions.

Research Findings/Insights

Using unique hand‐collected data from a sample of 4,370 firm‐year observations for 1,559 firms from 29 countries for the period 2005 to 2007, we find that national culture directly affects such disclosures. Moreover, we show that national culture also indirectly affects disclosures via the level of investor protection in a country.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

This article is the first to examine cultural determinants of internal control disclosures using a framework in which managers' disclosing decisions are determined by the trade‐off between the costs and benefits of disclosing such information. Moreover, we are the first to demonstrate that culture not only directly but also indirectly, via investor protection, influences disclosure choices.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

This study contributes to the debate on the development and design of corporate governance practices. Accounting scandals and corporate failures in recent years have raised calls for improved internal controls, as well as enhanced reporting about these internal controls. Many of these calls are characterized by the view that there is an optimal way of developing such systems. We show that differences in internal control disclosures are influenced by cultural differences. Therefore, introducing a uniform approach to demanding disclosure of information on internal controls may not necessarily translate into uniform reporting practices.
The GAD65 knock out mouse – a model for GABAergic processes in fear‐ and stress‐induced psychopathology
Authors: Müller Iris , Çalışkan Gürsel , Stork Oliver
Published: December 2014

The γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA) synthetic enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)65 is critically involved in the activity‐dependent regulation of GABAergic inhibition in the central nervous system. It is also required for the maturation of the GABAergic system during adolescence, a phase that is critical for the development of several neuropsychiatric diseases. Mice bearing a null mutation of the GAD65 gene develop hyperexcitability of the amygdala and hippocampus, and a phenotype of increased anxiety and pathological fear memory reminiscent of posttraumatic stress disorder. Although genetic association of GAD65 in human has not yet been reported, these findings are in line with observations of reduced GABAergic function in these brain regions of anxiety disorder patients. The particular value of GAD65(−/−) mice thus lies in modeling the effects of reduced GABAergic function in the mature nervous system. The expression of GAD65 and a second GAD isozyme, GAD67, are differentially regulated in response to stress in limbic brain areas suggesting that by controlling GABAergic inhibition these enzymes determine the vulnerability for the development of pathological anxiety and other stress‐induced phenotypes. In fact, we could recently show that GAD65 haplodeficiency, which results in delayed postnatal increase of GABA levels, provides resilience to juvenile‐stress‐induced anxiety to GAD65(+/−) mice thus foiling the increased fear and anxiety in homozygous GAD65(−/−) mice.
IRE‐1/XBP‐1 pathway of the unfolded protein response is required for properly localizing neuronal UNC‐6/Netrin for axon guidance in C. elegans
Authors: Asakura Taro , Ogura Ken‐ichi , Goshima Yoshio
Published: December 2014

During developing nervous system, neurons project axons to their targets precisely. In this process, axon guidance molecules provide positional information to the axons. Therefore, the spatially and temporally controlled localization of the axon guidance molecules is required for the proper structure formation of the complex nervous system. In C. elegans, UNC‐6/Netrin is a secreted protein that elicits both attractive and repulsive response in axon guidance. UNC‐6/Netrin secreted from ventral cells may establish a concentration gradient from the ventral to the dorsal side of the animal, thus providing dorso‐ventral positional information. However, the mechanisms specifying positional information of UNC‐6/Netrin are largely unknown. Here, we show that the ire‐1/xbp‐1 pathway of the unfolded protein response (UPR) is required for axonal distribution of UNC‐6/Netrin in the ventral neurons. In addition, the ire‐1/xbp‐1 pathway is also required for dorso‐ventral axon guidance mediated by UNC‐6/Netrin. Our results suggest that the ire‐1/xbp‐1 pathway of the UPR is crucial for establishing positional information of UNC‐6/Netrin. We propose that the proper secretion of UNC‐6/Netrin from the ventral neurons requires the activity of IRE‐1.
Brain metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma: The impact of radiotherapy on control of intracranial hemorrhage
Authors: Yamakawa Yushi , Moriguchi Michihisa , Aramaki Takeshi , Mitsuya Koichi , Asakura Koiku , Sawada Akihiro , Endo Masahiro , Nakasu Yoko
Published: December 2014

Aim

Brain metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rare and causes devastating outcomes with intracranial hemorrhage. We retrospectively analyzed the impact of radiotherapy in preventing hemorrhagic events among patients with brain metastasis from HCC.

Methods

Patients who underwent treatment for brain metastasis from HCC at our cancer center between January 2003 and December 2012 were identified from a prospectively compiled hospital database. Clinical characteristics were analyzed in patients with and without radiotherapy.

Results

Fifteen HCC patients with brain metastasis from HCC were classified into two groups: 11 patients underwent radiotherapy (group R) and four patients received best supportive care without radiotherapy (group N). Six patients (54.5%) in group R and four patients (100%) in group N showed intracranial hemorrhage at presentation of brain metastasis. No patients in group R experienced intracranial hemorrhage during follow up, although two patients in group N did. Median overall survival was 22.4 weeks (range, 5.42–69.1) in group R and 2.24 weeks (range, 1.0–15.4) in group N.

Conclusion

For patients with brain metastasis from HCC, radiotherapy appears useful for controlling brain lesions, preventing intracranial hemorrhage and improving survival. Radiotherapy may contribute to control of intracranial tumor and prevention of intracranial hemorrhage for selected patients with brain metastasis from HCC.
Simultaneous reconstruction of the oral commissure, lip and buccal mucosa with microvascular transfer of combined first–second toe web and dorsalis pedis flap
Authors: Ciudad Pedro , Maruccia Michele , Sapountzis Stamatis , Chen Hung‐Chi
Published: December 2014

The reconstruction of oral commissure, lip and mucosa defects following tumour resection is a challenging task to the reconstructive surgeon owing to the increasing aesthetic and functional demands. The authors describe a case in which the use of combined first–second toe web with dorsalis pedis flap was transferred and an optimal result was achieved for the oral commissure, lip and buccal mucosa following resection of squamous cell carcinoma and local flap failure.
Incidence of hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers – a population‐based cohort study
Authors: Gardiner Joseph C , Reed Philip L , Bonner Joseph D , Haggerty Diana K , Hale Daniel G
Published: December 2014

Our study sought to estimate the association between race, gender, comorbidity and body mass index (BMI) on the incidence of hospital‐acquired pressure ulcer (PU) from a population‐based retrospective cohort comprising 242 745 unique patient hospital discharges in two fiscal years from July 2009 to June 2010 from 15 general and tertiary care hospitals. Cases were patients with a single inpatient encounter that led to an incidentPU. Controls were patients without aPUat any encounter during the two fiscal years with the earliest admission retained for analysis. Logistic regression models quantified the association of potential risk factors forPUincidence. Spline functions captured the non‐linear effects of age and comorbidity. Overall 2·68% of patients experienced an incidentPUduring their inpatient stay. Unadjusted analyses revealed statistically significant associations by age, gender, race, comorbidity,BMI, admitted for a surgical procedure, source of admission and fiscal year, but differences by gender and race did not persist in adjusted analyses. Interactions between age, comorbidity andBMIcontributed significantly to the likelihood ofPUincidence. Patients who were older, with multiple comorbidities and admitted for a surgical diagnosis‐related groups (DRG) were at greater risk of experiencing aPUduring their stay.
Induced Abortions and Unintended Pregnancies in Pakistan
Authors: Sathar Zeba , Singh Susheela , Rashida Gul , Shah Zakir , Niazi Rehan
Published: December 2014

During the past decade, unmet need for family planning has remained high in Pakistan and gains in contraceptive prevalence have been small. Drawing upon data from a 2012 national study on postabortion‐care complications and a methodology developed by the Guttmacher Institute for estimating abortion incidence, we estimate that there were 2.2 million abortions in Pakistan in 2012, an annual abortion rate of 50 per 1,000 women. A previous study estimated an abortion rate of 27 per 1,000 women in 2002. After taking into consideration the earlier study's underestimation of abortion incidence, we conclude that the abortion rate has likely increased substantially between 2002 and 2012. Varying contraceptive‐use patterns and abortion rates are found among the provinces, with higher abortion rates in Baluchistan and Sindh than in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. This suggests that strategies for coping with the other wise uniformly high unintended pregnancy rates will differ among provinces. The need for an accelerated and fortified family planning program is greater than ever, as is the need to implement strategies to improve the quality and coverage of postabortion services.
Accuracy of Standard Measures of Family Planning Service Quality: Findings from the Simulated Client Method
Authors: Tumlinson Katherine , Speizer Ilene S. , Curtis Siân L. , Pence Brian W.
Published: December 2014

In the field of international family planning, quality of care as a reproductive right is widely endorsed, yet we lack validated data‐collection instruments that can accurately assess quality in terms of its public health importance. This study, conducted within 19 public and private facilities in Kisumu, Kenya, used the simulated client method to test the validity of three standard data‐collection instruments used in large‐scale facility surveys: provider interviews, client interviews, and observation of client–provider interactions. Results found low specificity and low positive predictive values in each of the three instruments for a number of quality indicators, suggesting that the quality of care provided may be overestimated by traditional methods of measurement. Revised approaches to measuring family planning service quality may be needed to ensure accurate assessment of programs and to better inform quality‐improvement interventions.
The Early Bird Gets the Worm! Congruency Between Intentions and Behavior is Highest When Plans to Exercise are Made for the Morning
Authors: Bailey Kaitlyn J. , Jung Mary E.
Published: December 2014

Minimizing the exercise intention–behavior gap remains an ongoing research pursuit. Based on a limited resource model of self‐regulation, we hypothesized the existence of a more prominent exercise intention–behavior gap later in the day. The current studies assessed exercise intention follow through over the course of a week (Study 1 = 115 working adults; Study 2 = 191 students). Both studies demonstrated a greater inconsistency between exercise intentions and actual exercise bouts in the evening compared to the morning. Specifically, the greatest number of intentions not carried through occurred for intentions made between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. These results provide preliminary evidence suggesting that exercise intentions set for the morning are more successful than those set for the evening, translating to practical advice when to schedule exercise bouts.
Associations Between Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory‐2‐Restructured Form (MMPI‐2‐RF) Scores, Workers' Compensation Status, and Spine Surgery Outcome
Authors: Block Andrew R. , Marek Ryan J. , Ben‐Porath Yossef S. , Ohnmeiss Donna D.
Published: December 2014

This study examines whether workers' compensation (WC) patients respond more poorly to spine surgery than non‐WC patients and whether poorer outcome is associated with individual differences in personality and emotional variables, as assessed by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory‐2‐Restructured Form (MMPI‐2‐RF). Three‐hundred eighty‐two patients underwent presurgical psychological screening that included a diagnostic interview and psychometric testing. Pain level, functional ability, work status, medication use, and emotional distress were assessed at baseline and at an average of 6 months postoperative. WC patients showed significantly poorer response to spine surgery than did non‐WC patients on measures of pain level, functional ability, work status, medication use, and emotional distress. MMPI‐2‐RF scales assessing demoralization, somatic complaints, and low positive emotions were found to be incrementally associated with diminished surgery results.
Expected net benefit of clinical pharmacy in intensive care medicine: a randomized interventional comparative trial with matched before‐and‐after groups
Authors: Claus Barbara O.M. , Robays Hugo , Decruyenaere Johan , Annemans Lieven
Published: December 2014

Rationale, aims and objectives

This study evaluated clinical pharmacy costs against drug costs.

Method

We conducted a randomized interventional comparative trial at the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of Ghent University Hospital, Belgium (period B: group B1 with pharmacist consultation; control group B0). We obtained before (period A) and after (period C) control groups using 1:1 propensity score matching with B1 and B0. Mean daily ICU drug costs with standard error of the mean (SEM) were compared between B1 and B0 (primary analysis) and between matched pairs (AB1, AB0, CB1 and CB0; secondary analysis). For B, we performed a 1000 bootstrapping (by resampling B1 and B0), calculated the benefit‐cost ratio using pharmacy time (gross salary) as cost (euros) and drug cost savings as benefit. We performed sensitivity analysis with and without outlier drug costs (i.e. twice the standard deviation). Perspective: Belgian health care payer.

Results

In period B, 135 patients were randomized: B0, n = 60; B1, n = 75. Pharmacists provided recommendations in 148/706 (21.0%) therapies with 83.1% acceptance. Mean drug cost difference between B0 (430.6 euros, SEM 406.0) and B1 (221.2 euros, SEM 58.7) (P = 0.870) became significant after excluding outlier drug costs (B0, 184.4 euros, SEM 42.5; B1, 90.5 euros, SEM 17.7; P < 0.001). Recommendations were cost‐beneficial (break‐even drug costs or savings) in 53.8% of patients with a benefit‐cost ratio of 25:1 (confidence interval –5:1 to 94:1). In sensitivity analysis excluding outlier drug costs, B0 costs were significantly higher than both A and C, indicating high baseline expenses in B0.

Conclusions

The randomized interventional comparative trial in a small ICU patient group suggested the potential cost‐benefit of clinical pharmacy on daily ICU drug costs. However, after matching, this benefit was attenuated. A final conclusion demands a larger randomized trial adopting a similar design with matched controls. Future research should include clinical impact of recommendations.
Development of a behaviour‐based measurement tool with defined intervention level for assessing acute pain in cats
Authors: Calvo G. , Holden E. , Reid J. , Scott E. M. , Firth A. , Bell A. , Robertson S. , Nolan A. M.
Published: December 2014

OBJECTIVES

To develop a composite measure pain scale tool to assess acute pain in cats and derive an intervention score.

METHODS

To develop the prototype composite measure pain scale‐feline, words describing painful cats were collected, grouped into behavioural categories and ranked. To assess prototype validity two observers independently assigned composite measure pain scale‐feline and numerical rating scale scores to 25 hospitalised cats before and after analgesic treatment. Following interim analysis the prototype was revised (revised composite measure pain scale‐feline). To determine intervention score, two observers independently assigned revised composite measure pain scale‐feline and numerical rating scale scores to 116 cats. A further observer, a veterinarian, stated whether analgesia was necessary.

RESULTS

Mean ± sd decrease in revised composite measure pain scale‐feline and numerical rating scale scores following analgesia were 2 · 4 ± 2 · 87 and 1 · 9 ± 2 · 34, respectively (95% confidence interval for mean change in revised composite measure pain scale‐feline between 1 · 21 and 3 · 6). Changes in revised composite measure pain scale‐feline and numerical rating scale were significantly correlated (r = 0 · 8) (P < 0001). Intervention level score of ≥4/16 was derived for revised composite measure pain scale‐feline (26 · 7% misclassification) and ≥3/10 for numerical rating scale (14 · 5% misclassification).

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

A valid instrument with a recommended analgesic intervention level has been developed to assess acute clinical pain in cats that should be readily applicable in practice.
Dyadic Nexus Fighting Two‐Front Battles: A Study of the Microlevel Process of the Official‐Religion‐State Relationship in China
Authors: Huang Ke‐hsien
Published: December 2014

This article provides a microlevel perspective of the interacting dynamics between religion and the Chinese state, demonstrating how religious leaders and local officials negotiate with each other pragmatically, continually withstanding pressure from hardline religious masses and state bureaucracy. This perspective, constructed using qualitative data on the True Jesus Church, also helps to answer a critical empirical question left open in scholarly discussions: When and how does the state regulative power on religion come to the fore in the economic reform emphasizing pragmatic religion‐state cooperation? The findings show how religious leaders and local officials have become pragmatic, cooperating to form a dyadic nexus that tackles regular affairs in a practical way, though it may run the risk of fracture when lay members and bureaucratic superiors pressure leaders and officials, respectively, to take hardline positions. The leaders and officials have continually fought two‐front battles while shuttling between negotiations with their nexus partner and aligning with their hardline sources of pressure. This study may shed light on future research of the Chinese religion‐state relationship in general by illustrating a microlevel, integrative, dynamic approach.
Personality traits and obesity: a systematic review
Authors: Gerlach G. , Herpertz S. , Loeber S.
Published: December 2014

Based on a bio‐social‐ecological systems model of the development and maintenance of obesity, there has been in the last few years a growing research interest in the association of obesity and personality traits. The aim of the present review was a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the existing literature taking into account the methodological quality of studies to enhance our understanding of personality traits associated with body weight, the development of overweight and obesity as well as the effectiveness of weight loss interventions including bariatric surgery. Personality traits play an important role both as risk as well as protective factors in the development of overweight and obesity. While thus in particular ‘neuroticism’, ‘impulsivity’ and ‘sensitivity to reward’ appear as risk factors, ‘conscientiousness’ and ‘self‐control’ have been shown to have a protective function in relation to weight gain. Conscientiousness is a measure of regulation of internal urges and self‐discipline, and may thus provide a potential source of control over impulsive reward‐oriented behaviour. The results of the present review suggest that, within the context of therapeutic weight reduction measures, it is meaningful to identify subgroups of patients for whom specific treatment options need to be developed, such as measures for strengthening self‐control skills.
Increased Perforation Risk with an MRI‐Conditional Pacing Lead: A Single‐Center Study
Authors: ACHA MOSHE RAV , KEANEY JOHN J. , LUBITZ STEVEN A. , MILAN DAVID J. , MANSOUR MOUSSA , E. HEIST KEVIN , PTASZEK LEON M. , SINGH JAGMEET P. , BLENDEA DAN , MELA THEOFANIE
Published: December 2014

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been considered contraindicated in patients with cardiac pacemakers (PPMs). Recently, Medtronic (MDT) MRI SureScan PPM (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) and leads were introduced into clinical practice in the United States of America.

Objective

To compare MDT CapSureFix 5086 MRI SureScan lead‐associated perforation and dislodgement rates with MDT non‐MRI SureScan active fixation leads.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the records of all patients implanted with MDT CapSureFix 5086 MRI SureScan leads as well as all patients implanted with MDT 4076 and 5076 leads at our institution from April 2011 to April 2014.

Results

Four of 72 patients implanted with MDT CapSureFix 5086 MRI SureScan leads (5.5%) had evidence of lead perforation, necessitating pericardiocentesis in three cases and lead revision in one case. Three of the four perforations were delayed perforations, presenting more than 3 weeks postimplant. Two patients implanted with MDT CapSureFix 5086 MRI SureScan leads (2.8%) had lead dislodgement. Of 420 patients implanted with MDT non‐MRI SureScan leads, there were two perforations (0.47%) and four dislodgements (0.9%). There were significantly increased lead perforations associated with MDT CapSureFix 5086 MRI SureScan leads (P = 0.005) and a nonsignificant trend toward increased dislodgements (P = 0.18) when compared with MDT non‐MRI SureScan leads.

Conclusion

In contradiction to prior studies, this retrospective study suggests an increased perforation rate with MDT CapSureFix 5086 MRI SureScan leads. Most perforations were delayed perforations, presenting more than 3 weeks postimplant. Higher volume prospective studies with longer follow‐up are needed to confirm our findings.
Allergic airway diseases in childhood: An update
Authors: Hofmaier Stephanie
Published: December 2014

Complex multifactorial diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma are not only becoming an increasing burden to healthcare systems, but especially affect the life quality of children and families suffering from their allergic symptoms. Also physicians are challenged by the multifaceted diseases as their work involves not only the often difficult decisions on case‐adapted diagnostics, treatment, and monitoring, but also possible preventive measures. This review gives an outline of the latest scientific developments related to the etiology, diagnosis, and management of allergic airway diseases in childhood, as well as prenatal and early life risk factors and strategies for prevention.