bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pretransplant 4β‐hydroxycholesterol does not predict tacrolimus exposure or dose requirements during the first days after kidney transplantation
Authors: Vanhove Thomas , Hasan Mahmoud , Annaert Pieter , Oswald Stefan , Kuypers Dirk R. J.
Published: June 2017

Aims

The CYP3A metric 4β‐hydroxycholesterol (4βOHC) has been shown to correlate with tacrolimus steady‐state apparent oral clearance (CL/F). Recently, pretransplant 4βOHC was shown not to predict tacrolimus CL/F after transplantation in a cohort of renal recipients (n = 79). The goal of the current study was determine whether these findings could be validated in a substantially larger cohort.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis of 279 renal recipients, tacrolimus trough concentrations (C0), daily dose, haematocrit and other relevant covariates were registered every day for the first 14 days after transplantation. 4βOHC and cholesterol were quantified on plasma collected immediately pretransplant using liquid chromatography tandem‐mass spectrometry. Patients were genotyped for CYP3A5*1 and CYP3A4*22.

Results

A total of 3551 tacrolimus C0 concentrations were registered. In a linear mixed model for the 14‐day period, determinants of tacrolimus C0 were CYP3A5 genotype, haematocrit, age and weight (overall R2 = 0.179). Determinants of daily dose were CYP3A5 genotype, age, methylprednisolone dose, tacrolimus formulation, ALT and estimated glomerular filtration rate (overall R2 = 0.242). Considering each of the first 5 days separately, 4βOHC had a limited effect on tacrolimus C0 on day 3 only (−1.00 ng ml−1 per ln, P = 0.035) but not on any other day, and no effect on dose or C0/dose. During the first 5 days, haematocrit and age, which were previously established as determinants of tacrolimus disposition under steady‐state conditions, never explained more than 17.7% of between‐subject variability in tacrolimus C0/dose.

Conclusions

The CYP3A metric 4βOHC cannot be used to predict tacrolimus dose requirements in the first days after transplantation.
The financial needs vs. the realities of in situ conservation: an analysis of federal funding for protected areas in Brazil's Caatinga
Authors: de Oliveira Ana Paula Carneiro , Bernard Enrico
Published: June 2017

In situ conservation is an effective strategy to protect biodiversity, and Brazil has one of the largest protected area (PA) systems in the world. However, the distribution of Brazilian PAs is uneven and the Caatinga drylands are poorly protected. As financial resources are essential for effectively managing PAs, we analyzed the Brazilian Government's budget allocated to 20 federal PAs in the Caatinga between 2008 and 2014, which ranged from 231,575 USD in 2008 to 13.5 Mi USD in 2011. Neither expenses, nor the availability of funds, were homogeneous among PAs or throughout the years. Land acquisition in a single PA consumed ~75% of the budget, and the two smallest PAs received proportionally the most money. Excluding land acquisition, the 20 PAs received 0.50 USD/ha/year. Funds were allocated not to biodiversity conservation per se but mainly to securing offices, cars, and equipment. From 2012 onwards, the PA budget was reduced. Even including salaries, the budget allocated for these PAs is ~13 times lower than what the Ministry of the Environment declared necessary for the basic operation of protected areas in Brazil, 1.5 times lower than values spent worldwide, up to 5 times lower than spent in Latin American and African parks, and up to 72 times lower than spent in the European Union, exposing one cause of the precarious situation of the Caatinga PAs.
Characterization of V‐set and immunoglobulin domain containing 1 exerting a tumor suppressor function in gastric, lung, and esophageal cancer cells
Authors: Inoue Yusuke , Matsuura Shun , Yoshimura Katsuhiro , Iwashita Yuji , Kahyo Tomoaki , Kawase Akikazu , Tanahashi Masayuki , Maeda Matsuyoshi , Ogawa Hiroshi , Inui Naoki , Funai Kazuhito , Shinmura Kazuya , Niwa Hiroshi , Suda Takafumi , Sugimura Haruhiko
Published: June 2017

V‐set and immunoglobulin domain containing 1 (VSIG1) is a newly discovered member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of proteins, expressed in normal stomach and testis. In cancers, however, the clinical and biological roles of VSIG1 remain unknown. Here we investigated VSIG1 expression in 11 cancers and assessed the prognostic roles of VSIG1 in patients with gastric cancer (GC) (n = 362) and non‐small‐cell lung cancer (n = 650). V‐set and immunoglobulin domain containing 1 was downregulated in 60.5% of GC specimens, and high VSIG1 expression was identified as an independent favorable prognostic factor for overall survival in GC patients (hazard ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.35–0.96). Among lung adenocarcinomas (n = 428), VSIG1 was significantly and inversely associated with thyroid transcription factor 1 expression and was frequently expressed in the invasive mucinous subtype (17 of 19, 89.5%). In addition, VSIG1 was expressed in a subset of pancreatic, ovarian, and prostate cancers. The variant 2 VSIG1 transcript was the dominant form in these tissues and cancer cells. Introduction of VSIG1 significantly reduced the proliferative ability of MKN1 and MKN28 GC cells and H1299 lung cancer cells and downregulated cell migration of these cells, as well as of KYSE150, an esophageal cancer cell line. Cell invasion of MKN1, MKN28, and KYSE150 cells was also reduced by VSIG1 introduction. In vitro characterization revealed that VSIG1 forms homodimers through homophilic cis‐interactions but not through homophilic trans‐interactions. These results suggest that VSIG1 possesses tumor suppressive functions that are translated into favorable prognosis of VSIG1‐expressing GC patients.
Prognostic value of serum Epstein–Barr virus antibodies in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and undetectable pretreatment Epstein–Barr virus DNA
Authors: Yao Ji‐Jin , Lin Li , Jin Ya‐Nan , Wang Si‐Yang , Zhang Wang‐Jian , Zhang Fan , Zhou Guan‐Qun , Cheng Zhi‐Bin , Qi Zhen‐Yu , Sun Ying
Published: June 2017

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is closely associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Serum IgA antibodies against early antigen (EA‐IgA) and viral capsid antigen (VCA‐IgA) are the most commonly used to screen for NPC in endemic areas. However, the prognostic value of serum EA‐IgA and VCA‐IgA in patients with NPC is less clear. We hypothesize that serum EA‐IgA and VCA‐IgA levels have prognostic impact for survival outcomes in NPC patients with undetectable pretreatment EBV (pEBV) DNA. In this series, 334 patients with non‐metastatic NPC and undetectable pEBV DNA were included. Serum EA‐IgA and VCA‐IgA were determined by ELISA. After analysis, serum EA‐IgA and VCA‐IgA loads correlated positively with T, N, and overall stage (all P < 0.05). Serum EA‐IgA was not associated with survival outcome in univariable analyses. But patients with serum VCA‐IgA >1:120 had significantly inferior 5‐year progression‐free survival (80.4% vs 89.6%, P = 0.025), distant metastasis‐free survival (88.4% vs 94.8%, P = 0.050), and locoregional relapse‐free survival (88.4% vs 95.6%, P = 0.023; log–rank test). Multivariable analyses revealed that N stage was the only independent prognostic factor (all P < 0.05), but the VCA‐IgA became insignificant. Further analyses revealed that serum VCA‐IgA was not an independent prognostic factor in early N (N0–1) or advanced N (N2–3) stage NPC. In summary, although both EA‐IgA and VCA‐IgA correlate strongly with TNM stage, our analyses do not suggest that these antibodies are prognostic biomarkers in patients with NPC and undetectable pEBV DNA.
Prognostic significance of tumour regression grade after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for a cohort of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer: an 8‐year retrospective single‐institutional study
Authors: Xu L. , Cai S. , Xiao T. , Chen Y. , Qiu H. , Wu B. , Lin G. , Sun X. , Lu J. , Zhou W. , Xiao Y.
Published: June 2017

Aim

Locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is frequently treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) to reduce the risk of local recurrence and improve survival. Tumour response to NACRT is variable and may influence the prognosis after subsequent surgery. This study compared the prognostic values of tumour regression grade (TRG) and neoadjuvant pathological (ypTNM) downstaging in patients with Stage II and III rectal cancer treated with NACRT followed by curative surgery.

Method

This study included 185 patients with LARC treated with long‐course radiotherapy (45 Gy in 25 fractions) plus 5‐fluorouracil over 5 weeks between 2005 and 2013. We used multivariate analysis to assess the relationship of Dworak's five‐tier TRG, ypTNM stage and ypTNM downstaging with clinicopathological factors, 5‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) and 5‐year overall survival (OS).

Results

Total regression (TRG4), good regression (TRG3), moderate regression (TRG2), minor regression (TRG1) and no regression (TRG0) were seen in 38 (20.6%), 65 (35.2%), 43 (23.2%), 28 (15.1%) and 11 (5.9%) patients, respectively. TNM downstaging following NACRT occurred in 109 (58.9%) patients. The 5‐year DFS rates after NACRT for TRG0, TRG1, TRG2, TRG3 and TRG4 were 0%, 58.5%, 66.4%, 80.4% and 82.6%, respectively (P < 0.001). The ypTNM stage correlated with 5‐year DFS (P = 0.004) but not 5‐year OS (P = 0.075). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that TRG was related to both DFS and OS (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

TRG measured on a five‐tier system was better than ypTNM stage for predicting outcome in patients with LARC treated with NACRT and surgery.
Job Loss and Immigrant Labour Market Performance
Authors: Bratsberg Bernt , Raaum Oddbjørn , Røed Knut
Published: June 2017

While integration policies typically focus on labour market entry, we present evidence showing that immigrants from low‐income countries tend to have more precarious jobs, and face more severe consequences of job loss, than natives. For immigrant workers in the Norwegian private sector, the probability of job loss in the near future is more than twice that of native workers. Using corporate bankruptcy filings for identification, we find that the adverse effects of job loss on future employment and earnings are twice as large for immigrant employees from low‐income source countries.
The Pattern of Plasma Insulin Response to Glucose in Patients with a Previous Myocardial Infarction—The Respective Effects of Age and Disease
Authors: Malherbe C. , de Gasparo M. , Berthet P. , de Hertogh R. , Hoet J. J.
Published: June 2017

Plasma insulin and blood sugar variations were investigated during oral (OGTT) and intravenous (IVGTT) glucose tolerance tests in 10 patients aged 32 to 41 and 10 Patients aged 48 to 60 who had suffered a myocardial infarction at least three months previously. The results obtained in each group of patients were compared with those of ten normal subjects of corresponding age. The respective influences of age and cardio‐vascular disease on the pattern of the plasma insulin and blood sugar responses to the glucose load were dissociated on the basis of analysis of variance.—Advancing age was associated with a rise in the mean blood sugar level during OGTT and a lowering of the glucose assimilation coefficient during IVGTT, but it was not accompanied by a significant change in the plasma insulin levels during either of the two tests.—Cardiovascular disease was associated with an augmentation of the mean blood sugar level during OGTT, but also with a prolonged and excessive response in plasma insulin. During IVGTT the glucose assimilation coefficient and the plasma insulin variations were not statistically different in the patients with a previous myocardial infarction and in the normal subjects.—The previous occurrence of a myocardial infarction is thus associated with a hyperinsulinism during OGTT, but not after a rapid stimulation as realized during IVGTT. The nature of the gastrointestinal factors involved in the genesis of this hyperinsulinism remains a matter of conjecture.
Lymphatic and Portal Venous Transport of α‐Tocopherol and Cholesterol
Authors: MACMAHON M. T. , NEALE G. , THOMPSON G. R.
Published: June 2017

The absorption of 3H‐α‐tocopherol was studied in rats after intraduodenal administration in micellar solutions. Net absorption from mixed micelles in lymph fistula rats was 66%, but only 42% appeared in lymph and 3% was excreted in urine. Administration of 3H‐α‐tocopherol in taurocholate micelles reduced both the rate of absorption into lymph and the proportion carried in chylomicrons. In studies with lymph and bile duct cannulated rats, up to 8% of the radioactivity was excreted in bile, irrespective of whether the cannula was in the mesenteric or thoracic lymph duct. These findings suggested that radioactivity was being absorbed via the portal vein, which was confirmed by demonstrating a higher concentration in portal than in aortic plasma. Radioactivity in plasma partly consisted of polar metabolites, in contrast to lymph where over 90% was free α‐tocopherol. In parallel experiments with 14C‐cholesterol, significant amounts of radioactivity were excreted in bile and the ratio of portal: aortic radioactivity again suggested absorption via the portal route. The majority of 14C‐cholesterol in portal plasma was free sterol, in contrast to lymph where it was mainly esterified. These results suggest that small amounts of both α‐tocopherol and free cholesterol can be transported from the intestine via the portal vein, although under normal circumstances absorption of both compounds occurs mainly via the lymphatic pathway.
3D In vitro model of the re‐epithelialization phase in the wound‐healing process
Authors: Deshayes Nathalie , Bloas Fabienne , Boissout Florian , Lecardonnel Jennifer , Paris Maryline
Published: June 2017

Keratinocytes of the basal layer function are to maintain tissue homoeostasis and to fulfil skin repair in response to an external aggression. In wound‐healing, during re‐epithelialization phase, epithelial precursor cells gradually migrate from the edges of the wound. The epidermal reconstruction model called standard model allows the vertical skin regeneration process (proliferation/differentiation) to being investigated, and keratinocyte function in preserving skin homoeostasis to being assessed. Here, we developed and characterized a 3D migration model, which introduces a step of keratinocytes migration such as the one observed in the phase of re‐epithelialization in wound‐healing process. We validated the added value and the discriminative potential of this model by demonstrating pro‐epithelializing effects of compounds. This new model allows the role of keratinocytes in different biomechanical and environmental requests to being better understood, and brings a new tool for compound screening and the study of mechanisms involved in skin regeneration.
Characterization of the chloroquine‐induced mouse model of pruritus using an automated behavioural system
Authors: Tarrasón Gema , Carcasona Carla , Eichhorn Peter , Pérez Bibiana , Gavaldà Amadeu , Godessart Núria
Published: June 2017

Pruritus is a major symptom of several dermatological diseases but has limited therapeutic options available. Animal models replicating the pathophysiology of pruritus are needed to support the development of new drugs. Induction of pruritus by chloroquine (CQ) in mice is widely used, although, as with similar models, it has low throughput and does not distinguish between antipruritic effects and confounding factors such as sedation. To overcome these issues, we incorporated into the model an automated system that measures both scratching and locomotor behaviour simultaneously. We combined this system with the determination of CQ levels in different tissues to understand the impact of the route of CQ administration on the pruritogenic response. We concluded that whereas oral CQ does not induce pruritus due to insufficient skin levels, the bell‐shaped curve of pruritus observed following subcutaneous administration is due to toxicity at high doses. We validated the model with several drugs currently used in humans: nalfurafine, aprepitant, cyproheptadine and amitriptyline. By comparing the effects of the drugs on both scratching and locomotor activity, we concluded that nalfurafine and aprepitant can exhibit efficacy at doses devoid of central effects, whereas central effects drove the efficacy of the other two drugs. This was further confirmed using non‐brain‐penetrant drugs. Moreover, as anticipated, anti‐inflammatory drugs showed no efficacy. In conclusion, the use of an automated integrated behavioural assessment in CQ‐induced pruritus makes the assay suitable for screening purposes and allows for a correct interpretation of the antipruritic effect of the compounds evaluated.
MiR‐30a increases MDSC differentiation and immunosuppressive function by targeting SOCS3 in mice with B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Xu Zhen , Ji Jianjian , Xu Jingjing , Li Dan , Shi Guoping , Liu Fei , Ding Liang , Ren Jing , Dou Huan , Wang Tingting , Hou Yayi
Published: June 2017

Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), including granulocytic (G)‐MDSCs and monocytic (M)‐MDSCs, play a critical role in tumor‐induced T cell tolerance. MDSC immunosuppressive function and differentiation are significantly promoted in patients and B‐cell lymphoma model mice. However, the mechanisms regulating these processes remain largely unclear. In the present study, we observed increased microRNA (miR)‐30a expression both in G‐MDSCs and in M‐MDSCs from B cell lymphoma model mice. After transfection with miR‐30a mimics, the differentiation and suppressive capacities of MDSCs were significantly increased via up‐regulation of arginase‐1. Moreover, we showed that the 3′‐UTR of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) mRNA is a direct target of miR‐30a. Decreased SOCS3 expression and activated Janus kinase‐signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling promote MDSC differentiation and suppressive activities. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying MDSC expansion and function during B cell lymphoma development.
Benthic foraminifera contribution to fjord modern carbon pools: A seasonal study in Adventfjorden, Spitsbergen
Authors: Pawłowska J. , Łącka M. , Kucharska M. , Szymańska N. , Koziorowska K. , Kuliński K. , Zajączkowski M.
Published: June 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the amount of organic and inorganic carbon in foraminifera specimens and to provide quantitative data on the contribution of foraminifera to the sedimentary carbon pool in Adventfjorden. The investigation was based on three calcareous species that occur commonly in Svalbard fjords: Cassidulina reniforme, Elphidium excavatum and Nonionellina labradorica. Our results show that the species investigated did not contribute substantially to the organic carbon pool in Adventfjorden, because they represented only 0.37% of the organic carbon in the sediment. However, foraminiferal biomass could have been underestimated as it did not include arenaceous or monothalamous taxa. Foraminiferal carbonate constituted up to 38% of the inorganic carbon in the sediment, which supports the assumption that in fjords where non‐calcifying organisms dominate the benthic fauna foraminifera are among the major producers of calcium carbonate and that they play crucial roles in the carbon burial process. The results presented in this study contribute to estimations of changes in foraminiferal carbon levels in contemporary environments and could be an important reference for palaeoceanographic studies.
Cooperative advertising programs: are accrual constraints necessary?
Authors: Chatterjee Punya , Karray Salma , Sigué Simon Pierre
Published: June 2017

This paper investigates how the use of an accrual constraint in a cooperative advertising program affects channel members' profits in a bilateral monopoly, as well as their pricing and advertising decisions. The main findings indicate that, compared to unconstrained cooperative advertising programs, when an accrual constraint is used and the manufacturer's contribution to the retailer's advertising costs exceeds the accrued cooperative advertising budget, the retailer reduces both her retail price and advertising efforts to the level where cooperative advertising is not offered; while the manufacturer also reduces his wholesale price and advertising efforts, but this time, the wholesale price remains higher than when there is no cooperative advertising. These strategic moves translate to less (more) profits for the manufacturer (retailer). The use of an accrual constraint is counterproductive for the manufacturer as the retailer uses the accrued advertising fund as a side payment rather than a direct incentive to invest more in advertising. The manufacturer and retailer are better off when unconstrained cooperative advertising programs are supplemented with other incentives, including side payments and advertising support services.
Book Reviews
Authors: Affleck Gordon Burt
Published: June 2017

AN ANTITRUST PRIMER BY EARL W. KINTNER (New York, New York: The Macmillan Co., 1964. 316 pages. $7.95)
Book Reviews
Authors: Cox Kenneth
Published: June 2017

TECHNIQUES IN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT NAA RESEARCH REPORT NO. 40 (New York: National Association of Accountants, 1964. 115 pages. $2.)
Book Reviews
Authors: Winters Frank J.
Published: June 2017

PURCHASING HANDBOOK, By GEORGE W. ALJIAN, (New York: McGraw‐Hill Book Co., Third edition, 1973. 1290 pages. $29.50)
Thermal behavior of mullite between 4 K and 1320 K
Authors: Murshed Mohammad Mangir , Šehović Malik , Fischer Michael , Senyshyn Anatoliy , Schneider Hartmut , Gesing Thorsten M.
Published: June 2017

The evolution of metric parameters of 2:1 and 3:2 mullites have been measured between 4 K and 1320 K using neutron and X‐ray powder diffraction. Negative thermal expansion was observed at low temperature for thea‐cell parameter and consequently for the cell‐volume, which is more pronounced for 2:1 mullite than those for 3:2 mullite. Each parameter is simulated using Grüneisen first‐order approximation for the zero pressure equation of state at 0 K, where the vibrational energy was calculated using microscopic approach. While theb‐ andc‐cell parameters require only one Debye term, a second Debye spectrum with negative Grüneisen parameter was required to fit thea‐cell parameter as well as the cell volume. At 4 K, 300 K and 1320 K the model, respectively, calculates the volume thermal expansion coefficients of 0.09x10−6K−1, 9x10−6K−1, and 17.3x10−6K−1for 2:1 mullite, and 0.09x10−6K−1, 8.7x10−6K−1, and 17.3x10−6K−1for 3:2 mullite. Temperature‐dependent Raman spectra and phonon density of states hint for the possible microscopic sources of the cell contraction at low temperature. A simple polynomial approach is presented to calculate the elastic stiffness coefficients of the 3:2 mullite, which are not available from experiments.
Aromatherapy Massage for Neuropathic Pain and Quality of Life in Diabetic Patients
Authors: Gok Metin Zehra , Arikan Donmez Ayse , Izgu Nur , Ozdemir Leyla , Arslan Ismail Emre
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the effects of aromatherapy massage on neuropathic pain severity and quality of life (QoL) in patients suffering from painful diabetic neuropathy.

Design and Methods

This open‐label randomized controlled clinical study was conducted in a university hospital endocrine outpatient clinic in Turkey. The study sample consisted of 46 patients, randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 21) and a control group (n = 25). The intervention group received aromatherapy massage three times per week for a period of 4 weeks. The control group received only routine care. Data were collected from patients using the Douleur Neuropathique questionnaire, the visual analog scale, and the Neuropathic Pain Impact on Quality of Life questionnaire.

Findings

Neuropathic pain scores significantly decreased in the intervention group compared with the control group in the fourth week of the study. Similarly, QoL scores significantly improved in the intervention group in the fourth week of the study.

Conclusions

Aromatherapy massage is a simple and effective nonpharmacological nursing intervention that can be used to manage neuropathic pain and improve QoL in patients with painful neuropathy.

Clinical Relevance

Aromatherapy massage is a well‐tolerated, feasible, and safe nonpharmacological method that can be readily integrated into clinical settings by nursing staff. The essential oils rosemary, geranium, lavender, eucalyptus, and chamomile can be safely used by nurses in the clinical setting, if applicable. However, training and experience of nurses in aromatherapy massage is critical to achieving positive results.
Older Adult Residents' Perceptions of Daily Lives in Nursing Homes
Authors: Cho Eunhee , Kim Hyejin , Kim Jeongah , Lee Kyongeun , Meghani Salimah H. , Chang Soo Jung
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This study aimed to explore older adults’ perceptions of their daily lives in South Korean nursing homes.

Design

We employed a qualitative descriptive study using semistructured interviews.

Methods

We conducted individual, semistructured interviews with 21 older adult residents from five nursing homes in South Korea and analyzed the data using thematic analysis.

Findings

Five themes related to older adults’ perceptions of their daily lives in nursing homes emerged: enhanced comfort, aspiring to maintain physical and cognitive functions as human beings, desire for meaningful interpersonal relationships, feelings of confinement and limited autonomy, and acceptance of and adaptation to life in a facility. These themes indicated the positive and negative aspects of nursing home residence, and facilitators and challenges to enhancing older adult residents’ quality of life (QOL).

Conclusions

Policy, practice, and research endeavors are required to improve older adult residents’ QOL, such as adequate professional nursing care for physical and psychological comfort and residents’ health and functional status, sufficient activity programs and meaningful relationships, person‐centered care to enhance residents’ autonomy, and homelike environments.

Clinical Relevance

This study demonstrates that healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers should consider nursing home residents’ QOL to examine the quality of care within the setting and facilitate the development of appropriate strategies to improve QOL among this population.
Advice about infant feeding for allergy prevention: A confusing picture for Australian consumers?
Authors: Netting Merryn J , Allen Katrina J
Published: June 2017

Aim

Early feeding plays an important role in programming the immune system, particularly the risk of food allergy. There are many infant feeding guides published for consumers available in Australia, with most based on the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2012 Infant Feeding Guidelines for Health Workers and the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Infant Feeding Advice for allergy prevention. We sought to compare allergy‐specific content of infant feeding educational material written for parents with these two documents.

Methods

Australian websites of children's hospitals, early child health organisations and consumer groups providing information about diet during pregnancy, breastfeeding and early infancy were compared with NHMRC and ASCIA guidelines.

Results

Twenty‐five sets of infant feeding information were identified. Food allergy was discussed in 18 resources. Recommended length of exclusive breastfeeding and timing of commencing solid foods was consistently around 6 months, with some variation in wording. Advice regarding to include and not delay introduction of common allergens into babies’ diets was generally consistent with NHMRC and ASCIA recommendations, however the audit identified some resources that still recommended delayed introduction of common allergens.

Conclusion

As consumers have access to a plethora of health information it is imperative that information about infant feeding from health‐care authorities is simple, evidence‐based and consistent to avoid confusion. Use of consensus wording related to infant feeding guidelines to prevent allergies will provide clear messages related to the timing of introduction to solid foods and inclusion of allergens in the early diet.
Evaluation of the effects of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) in broiler diets
Authors: Pandi J. , Glatz P. , Forder R. , Komolong B. , Chousalkar K.
Published: June 2017

Cereal grains such as maize and wheat are used extensively in feed formulations for poultry as the primary source of carbohydrates. High cost of these grains in many developing countries necessitates the evaluation of other ingredients that are grown locally. Sweet potato is one such crop. The study was conducted as a proof of concept experiment to test the hypothesis that in the presence and absence of enzyme, sweet potato roots when included in diets of broiler chickens may affect the total metabolisable energy content of the diets which may exert certain influences on dry matter digestibility of these diets as well as impacting on production and certain gut parameters. A total of 120 chicks were raised on a commercial starter feed from day 0 to 19. On day 22, the birds were individually weighed and allocated to 96 single bird metabolism cages to conduct a 7‐day classical apparent metabolisable energy (AME) assay. The test diets contained 0% and 25% sweet potato flour (SPF) with and without enzyme supplementation (Rovabio Excel AP T‐flex) and replicated 24 times. AME of the control diet with and without enzyme was 14.05 and 13.91 MJ/kg whilst the AME of the SPF diets with and without enzymes were 13.45 and 13.43 MJ/kg respectively. AME of SPF was 12.08 MJ/kg. Birds fed the SPF had significantly reduced end weights (p = .002) and weight gains (p < .001) leading to significantly higher intake (p = .004) and FCRs (p < .001) in birds. These effects in growth parameters highlight the need to balance dietary protein and total amino acids when using SPF in broiler diets and may not be a negative effect of SPF per say as AME and dry matter digestibility of SPF diets were comparable to the control diet. The level of sucrase activity in the jejunum was significantly (p < .001) lower due to enzyme inclusion. Use of SPF in the current study did not negatively influence the activities of the brush border enzymes maltase and sucrase, gut morphology in the jejunum of broilers or the load of Enterobacteriaceae in the caecal of birds. This finding is promising in that the gut parameters associated with digestive capacity and gut health were not compromised with feeding of SPF to broilers.
The effect of feed supplementation with a copper‐glycine chelate and copper sulphate on selected humoral and cell‐mediated immune parameters, plasma superoxide dismutase activity, ceruloplasmin and cytokine concentration in broiler chickens
Authors: Jarosz Ł. S. , Marek A. , Grądzki Z. , Kwiecień M. , Kaczmarek B.
Published: June 2017

The varied bioavailability and different effects of organic forms of copper on the immune system of poultry have prompted the search for new feed additives based on copper compounds containing modified chelate complexes. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of inorganic and organic forms of copper on selected parameters of the cellular and humoral immune response in broiler chickens by determining the percentages of CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+ and CD25+ lymphocytes, cells with MHC Class II expression, and BU‐1+ cells, as well as the concentrations of SOD, IL‐2, IL‐10 and TNF‐α in the peripheral blood. The experiments were conducted using 500 one‐day‐old Ross 308 roosters divided into five groups. Cu was added in inorganic form (CuSO4), in inorganic form with the addition of phytase (CuSO4 + F), in organic form in combination with glycine (Cu‐Gly) and in organic form in combination with glycine and a phytase supplement (Cu‐Gly+F). The results of the study indicate an increase in the percentage of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD25+ T cells, and cells expressing MHC class II molecules, and in the concentration of ceruloplasmin, activity of superoxide dismutase and the concentration of IL‐2 in the groups that received copper, particularly copper‐glycine chelates. Based on the study, we can conclude that supplementation of poultry feed with copper chelates activates mainly the Th1 cellular immune response and the response of peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Furthermore, it promotes secretion of cytokines, which are involved in potentiation and regulation of the immune response in birds.
Increase in multiple paternity across the reproductive lifespan in a sperm‐storing, hermaphroditic freshwater snail
Authors: Bürkli Anja , Jokela Jukka
Published: June 2017

Polyandry is a common phenomenon and challenges the traditional view of stronger sexual selection in males than in females. In simultaneous hermaphrodites, the physical proximity of both sex functions was long thought to preclude the operation of sexual selection. Laboratory studies suggest that multiple mating and polyandry in hermaphrodites may actually be common, but data from natural populations are sparse. We therefore estimated the rate of multiple paternity and its seasonal variability in the annual, sperm‐storing, simultaneously hermaphroditic freshwater snail Radix balthica for the entire duration of the reproductive lifespan. We also tested whether multiple paternity was associated with clutch size or embryonic development. To obtain these data, we measured and genotyped 60 field‐collected egg clutches using nine highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. Overall, 50% of the clutches had multiple fathers, and both the frequency (20–93% of clutches) and magnitude of multiple paternity (mean 1.3–3.8 fathers per clutch) substantially increased over time, probably because of extensive sperm storage. Most multiply sired clutches (83%) had a dominant father, but neither clutch size nor the proportion of developed embryos per clutch was associated with levels of multiple paternity. Both the evident promiscuity and the frequent skew of paternity shares suggest that sexual selection may be an important evolutionary force in the study population.
The Bacillus subtilis germinant receptor GerA triggers premature germination in response to morphological defects during sporulation
Authors: Ramírez‐Guadiana Fernando H. , Meeske Alexander J. , Wang Xindan , Rodrigues Christopher D. A. , Rudner David Z.
Published: June 2017

During sporulation in Bacillus subtilis, germinant receptors assemble in the inner membrane of the developing spore. In response to specific nutrients, these receptors trigger germination and outgrowth. In a transposon‐sequencing screen, we serendipitously discovered that loss of function mutations in the gerA receptor partially suppress the phenotypes of > 25 sporulation mutants. Most of these mutants have modest defects in the assembly of the spore protective layers that are exacerbated in the presence of a functional GerA receptor. Several lines of evidence indicate that these mutants inappropriately trigger the activation of GerA during sporulation resulting in premature germination. These findings led us to discover that up to 8% of wild‐type sporulating cells trigger premature germination during differentiation in a GerA‐dependent manner. This phenomenon was observed in domesticated and undomesticated wild‐type strains sporulating in liquid and on solid media. Our data indicate that the GerA receptor is poised on a knife's edge during spore development. We propose that this sensitized state ensures a rapid response to nutrient availability and also elicits premature germination of spores with improperly assembled protective layers resulting in the elimination of even mildly defective individuals from the population.
The Historical Presidency: George Washington and the First Presidential Cabinet
Authors: Chervinsky Lindsay M.
Published: June 2017

Scholars have long focused on President George Washington's dynamic and quarrelsome cabinet. Yet scholars often assume the cabinet played a static role throughout Washington's presidency. This article demonstrates how Washington gradually created the cabinet to provide advice, not fully embracing weekly meetings until faced with an international crisis in 1793. This article also examines how Washington sidelined the cabinet in the final years of his presidency, returning to individual conferences and correspondence. As a result, Washington ensured the cabinet remained institutionally weak and a tool for the president to use at will—a legacy that survives in the twenty‐first century.
A Reliability‐Based Capability Approach
Authors: Tabandeh Armin , Gardoni Paolo , Murphy Colleen
Published: June 2017

This article proposes a rigorous mathematical approach, named a reliability‐based capability approach (RCA), to quantify the societal impact of a hazard. The starting point of the RCA is a capability approach in which capabilities refer to the genuine opportunities open to individuals to achieve valuable doings and beings (such as being mobile and being sheltered) called functionings. Capabilities depend on what individuals have and what they can do with what they have. The article develops probabilistic predictive models that relate the value of each functioning to a set of easily predictable or measurable quantities (regressors) in the aftermath of a hazard. The predicted values of selected functionings for an individual collectively determine the impact of a hazard on his/her state of well‐being. The proposed RCA integrates the predictive models of functionings into a system reliability problem to determine the probability that the state of well‐being is acceptable, tolerable, or intolerable. Importance measures are defined to quantify the contribution of each functioning to the state of well‐being. The information from the importance measures can inform decisions on optimal allocation of limited resources for risk mitigation and management.
The Abl‐1 Kinase is Dispensable for NK Cell Inhibitory Signalling and is not Involved in Murine NK Cell Education
Authors: Ganesan S. , Luu T.T. , Chambers B. J. , Meinke S. , Brodin P. , Vivier E. , Wetzel D. M. , Koleske A.J. , Kadri N. , Höglund P.
Published: June 2017

Natural killer (NK) cell responsiveness in the mouse is determined in an education process guided by inhibitory Ly49 and NKG2A receptors binding to MHC class I molecules. It has been proposed that inhibitory signalling in human NK cells involves Abl‐1 (c‐Abl)‐mediated phosphorylation of Crk, lowering NK cell function via disruption of a signalling complex including C3G and c‐Cbl, suggesting that NK cell education might involve c‐Abl. Mice deficient in c‐Abl expression specifically in murine NK cells displayed normal inhibitory and activating receptor repertoires. Furthermore, c‐Abl‐deficient NK cells fluxed Ca2+ normally after triggering of ITAM receptors, killed YAC‐1 tumour cells efficiently and showed normal, or even slightly elevated, capacity to produce IFN‐γ after activating receptor stimulation. Consistent with these results, c‐Abl deficiency in NK cells did not affect NK cell inhibition via the receptors Ly49G2, Ly49A and NKG2A. We conclude that signalling downstream of murine inhibitory receptors does not involve c‐Abl and that c‐Abl plays no major role in NK cell education in the mouse.
Impact of rest duration on Achilles tendon structure and function following isometric training
Authors: Waugh C. M. , Alktebi T. , de Sa A. , Scott A.
Published: June 2017

Intervention programs are often sought to strengthen the Achilles tendon (AT) due to its high injury rate. Long rest periods between loading cycles have been found to increase collagen synthesis by tenocytes, suggesting rest duration may be important for tendon adaptation in vivo; however, exercise programs comparing long and short rest duration have not been directly compared. Fourteen adults completed a 12‐week progressive training intervention; training sessions consisted of 5×10 isometric plantarflexion contractions each of 3‐s duration performed at 90% of MVC three times weekly. Each leg was randomly allocated to long (LRT, 10‐s rest) or short rest training (SRT, 3‐s rest). We hypothesized that the leg allocated to LRT would demonstrate superior AT collagen organization compared to the leg receiving SRT, which would be related to improved biomechanical function. AT collagen organization and morphology were measured using ultrasound tissue characterization. AT properties were assessed before and after the intervention using a combination of dynamometry, ultrasound imaging, EMG, and motion capture. Contrary to our hypothesis, collagen organization did not improve following either training protocol; conversely, an unexpected decrease in echotype I proportion was seen after SRT (P<.001) but not LRT (P=.58), indicating an apparent protective effect of rest on collagen organization during isometric training. In contrast, AT adaptation was not appreciably enhanced by increasing intercycle rest duration; both protocols were equally effective at inducing significant strength gains and AT mechanical and material adaptation (P≤.001). Further research is necessary to identify optimal loading characteristics for injury prevention and rehabilitation.
‘Back to Africa’: increased taxon sampling confirms a problematic Australia‐to‐Africa bee dispersal event in the Eocene
Authors: KAYAALP PELIN , STEVENS MARK I. , SCHWARZ MICHAEL P.
Published: June 2017

Colletidae is a predominantly southern hemisphere bee family with a Late Cretaceous origin and with an inferred ancestral region covering late Gondwanan South America, Antarctica and Australia. One highly diverse colletid subfamily, Euryglossinae, is entirely restricted to Australia and the strictly Afrotropical subfamily Scrapterinae has been inferred as its sister clade. This has led to suggestions that Scrapterinae represents a highly unusual post‐Gondwanan dispersal from Australia to Africa, but phylogenetic studies to date have included only minimal representatives from each subfamily. Here we greatly increase the level of species sampling of both subfamilies and develop a molecular phylogeny based on one mitochondrial and two nuclear genes. Our results indicate that the broad results of earlier studies are robust to substantially greater taxon sampling, and we infer a divergence date between the two subfamilies in the early Eocene. Dispersal pathways between Africa and Australia during that time are problematic, with several studies suggesting dispersals via the now largely submerged Kerguelen and Crozet Plateaus. Our results contribute another example of a puzzling sister‐clade relationship between African and Australian taxa and indicate the need to better understand southern hemisphere subaerial configurations, including Antarctica, and ocean and wind currents at those times.
Formulae for predicting non-acoustical parameters of deformed fibrous porous materials
Authors: Hirosawa Kunikazu , Nakagawa Hiroshi
Published: June 2017

Formulae to predict non-acoustical parameters (i.e., flow resistivity, tortuosity, and viscous and thermal characteristic lengths) of deformed fibrous porous materials are proposed provided that the original values of these parameters are known in advance. These formulae are developed using numerical fluid analyses. The flow resistivity was calculated by using the finite element method for a two-dimensional incompressible viscous fluid approximated by Oseen flow. The tortuosity and characteristic lengths were calculated by using the complex variable boundary element method for a two-dimensional potential flow. These calculations showed that the flow resistivity was inversely proportional to the porosity multiplied by the three-halves power of the compression ratio, that the tortuosity can be represented by a linear expression of the porosity, and that both characteristic lengths changed in the same manner with respect to the porosity. These tendencies agreed well with measurements of real glass wools of various bulk densities. The proposed prediction formulae for the parameters were then derived from the tendencies obtained from the numerical analyses. The predicted parameter values were compared with the calculated parameters and good agreement was obtained, confirming the validity of the proposed formulae.
Acoustics of naturally ventilated double transparent facades
Authors: Urbán Daniel , Roozen Bert , Zaťko Peter , Rychtarikova Monika , Tomašovč Peter , Glorieux Christ
Published: June 2017

This publication presents results of research on naturally ventilated Double Transparent Facades (DTF). The influence of the structural design of DTFs on the airborne sound insulation was investigated. For this purpose, 9 DTFs were measured in situ and 9 Double Transparent Façade Elements (DTF) were measured in a laboratory environment. The influence of the cavity thickness, the parallelism of the constitution layers, the amount of absorbing surfaces in the cavity, and the effect of ventilation slots were investigated. Based on the performed measurements, a prediction model that allows a fast engineering calculation of the sound insulation of DTF’s was developed.
A dual mode hemispherical sparse array for B-mode skull localization and passive acoustic mapping within a clinical MRI guided focused ultrasound platform
Authors: Crake Calum , Brinker Spencer , McDannold Nathan
Published: June 2017

Previous work has demonstrated that passive acoustic imaging may be used alongside MRI for monitoring of focused ultrasound therapy. However, current implementations have generally made use of either linear arrays originally designed for diagnostic imaging or custom narrowband arrays specific to in-house therapeutic transducer designs, neither of which is fully compatible with clinical MR-guided focused ultrasound devices. Here we have designed an array which is suitable for use within an FDA-approved MR-guided transcranial focused ultrasound device, within the bore of a 3 Tesla clinical MRI scanner. The array is constructed from 5 × 0.4mm piezoceramic disc elements arranged in pseudorandom fashion on a low profile laser-cut acrylic frame designed to fit between the therapeutic elements of a 230 kHz InSightec ExAblate 4000 transducer. By exploiting thickness and radial resonance modes of the piezo discs the array is capable of both B-mode imaging at 5 MHz for skull localization, as well as passive reception at the second harmonic of the therapy array for mapping of acoustic sources such as emissions from cavitation. The strengths and limitations of the system for passive acoustic imaging during in vivo experiments will be discussed, utilizing robust and conventional time and frequency domain beamforming methods.
Characterization of arctic ambient noise environment
Authors: Chen Rui , Schmidt Henrik
Published: June 2017

Historically, ambient noise in arctic ocean is predominately produced by diffuse thermal ice cracking events or ice ridge grinding. Isotropic, range-distributed noise sources models are typically utilized to simulate this environment. However, the presence of the Beaufort Lens and changes in the arctic climate have altered its ambient noise environment. Specifically, the new noise environment consists mostly of ice cracking events which occur at discrete ranges and bearings. As a result, these noise models may no longer be adequate. This study analyzes ambient noise data collected in the Beaufort Sea during the 2016 ICEX US Navy Exercise to characterize the new arctic ambient noise environment. Points of focus include determining whether ice cracking noises in the new environment are discrete in time or continuous as is the result from analysis of the SIMI’94 arctic ambient noise data. Statistics on the ice cracking events in the new noise environment, such as the events’ amplitude distribution, are also presented with the motivation of better describing the environment so that more precise models may be created.