bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of cholesterol oxides by gas chromatography‐flame ionization detection/mass selective detection and their occurence in lanolin‐containing cosmetics and ointments
Authors: Schrack S. , Hohl C. , Schwack W. , Niederer M. , Roux B.
Published: July 2015

Synopsis

Objective

Cholesterol oxides (COPs) are thought to be of toxicological relevance in cholesterol‐containing foods. For cholesterol‐containing cosmetics and the like, no information is available up to this date. Therefore, the first of two main aims of this study was to develop and validate a method for determining COPs in lanolin‐containing cosmetics such as lipsticks and fatty creams as well as in nipple ointments. The second aim was to study the occurrence of COPs and their concentration levels in the respective product classes.

Methods

The procedure is based on a published method for food comprising some necessary modifications. Sample preparation consisted of transesterfication, solid‐phase extraction and silylation of target compounds. Separation of the derivatized COPs and their quantification were performed with gas chromatography (GC) using a flame ionization detector (FID) or a mass spectrometer (MS).

Results

The successful validation and the trouble‐free application during the market survey showed that the method was fit for purpose. Total COP levels found were in the low per cent range (up to 3%) and surprisingly high, being many orders of magnitude higher than those published for foods.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, we present for the first time a method for the determination of COPs in non‐food consumer products. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that lanolin‐containing cosmetics may be an additional exogenous source of COPs. We further show evidence, that at least part of the COPs are already formed on the sheep's wool.
Recovering proteins from potato juice by complexation with natural polyelectrolytes
Authors: Kong Xiangzhen , Kong Lingzhi , Ying Yusang , Hua Yufei , Wang Li
Published: July 2015

Potato proteins (PP) in the lab‐made potato juice consists of patatins (38.1%), protease inhibitors (56.7%) and other high molecular weight proteins (5.1%) as characterised by Tricine‐SDS‐PAGE and MALDI‐TOF/TOF‐MS. To recover PP from potato juice, the complex behaviours of PP with several natural polyelectrolytes as a function of pH and protein to polyelectrolyte ratio (RPP/Polysaccharide) were studied by turbidimetric titration. Results indicated that the turbidity curves of PP‐polysaccharides displayed a shift to higher pH for chitosan and lower pH for anionic polysaccharides with the decreasing of RPP/Polysaccharide. Chitosan could be used to selectively recover patatin with the purity of 88.6%, and the highest protein yield (51.9%) was achieved at pH 6.0 and RPP/chitosan of 1:2. Carrageenan, one typical anionic polysaccharide, could recover all the PP in potato juice at pH 3.5 and RPP/carrageenan of 2.5:1 with no special protein selectivity.
Human platelet antigen genotyping of platelet donors in southern Brazil
Authors: Merzoni J. , Fagundes I. S. , Lunardi L. W. , Lindenau J. D.‐R. , Gil B. C. , Jobim M. , Dias V. G. , Merzoni L. , Sekine L. , Onsten T. G. H. , Jobim L. F.
Published: July 2015

Human platelet antigens (HPA) are immunogenic structures that result from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) leading to single amino acid substitutions. This study sought to determine the allele and genotype frequencies of HPA‐1, HPA‐2, HPA‐3, HPA‐4, HPA‐5 and HPA‐15 in platelet donors from the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, and compare their allele frequencies to those observed in other populations. HPA genotyping was performed by PCR‐SSP method. The study sample comprised 201 platelet donors (167 Caucasians and 34 non‐Caucasians). Allele ‘a’ was that most commonly found for HPA‐1 to 5 in both groups. The HPA‐15ab genotype predominated over homozygous genotypes of this system. Fisher's exact test revealed statistically significant differences for the HPA‐5 system, with a greater prevalence of the HPA‐5b allele in non‐Caucasians. The neighbour‐joining method and principal components analysis revealed genetic proximity between our Caucasian group and European populations. We conclude that the allele frequencies of HPA‐1 to 5 and HPA‐15 found in our Caucasian sample are similar to those reported for European populations. These findings corroborate the ethnic makeup of the population of RS. The higher frequency of the HPA‐5b allele found in the non‐Caucasian group of our sample suggests the possibility of allosensitization in patients who receive platelet transfusions from genetically incompatible donors.
Infant–Mother and Infant–Caregiver Emotional Relationships: Process Analyses of Interactions in Three Contemporary Childcare Arrangements
Authors: Bornstein Marc H. , Putnick Diane L. , Suwalsky Joan T. D.
Published: July 2015

Emotional relationships in infant–mother dyads in families where mothers provided full‐time childcare were compared with those of families where mothers used in‐home childcare providers and family childcare providers (N = 245). Infant relationships with childcare providers were also studied. Emotional relationships were adequate in all three childcare arrangements, but infant–mother dyads in in‐home childcare arrangements displayed healthier emotional relationships than infant–mother dyads in mother care arrangements; no differences in the health of emotional relationships with infants emerged among the three types of childcare providers (mother care, in‐home childcare, family childcare). Infant–mother dyads in in‐home childcare arrangements also displayed healthier emotional relationships than infant–in‐home childcare caregiver dyads, but infant–mother and infant–caregiver dyads were comparable in family childcare families. Emotional relationships in infant–mother and infant–caregiver dyads were not correlated, regardless of the type of childcare.
Lower temperature at the wound edge detected by thermography predicts undermining development in pressure ulcers: a pilot study
Authors: Kanazawa Toshiki , Kitamura Aya , Nakagami Gojiro , Goto Taichi , Miyagaki Tomomitsu , Hayashi Akitatsu , Sasaki Sanae , Mugita Yuko , Iizaka Shinji , Sanada Hiromi
Published: July 2015

Undermined pressure ulcers (PUs) are troublesome complications that are likely to delay wound healing. Early skin incision and debridement can prevent the deterioration of undermined PUs, thus it is necessary to identify devitalised tissue areas to determine the appropriate timing for such interventions. This retrospective cohort study evaluated whether a lower temperature at the wound edge than the wound bed and periwound skin, detected by thermography, can predict undermining development in PUs 1 week after the assessment. Twenty‐two participants with category III, IV, or unstageable PUs who were examined by interdisciplinary PU team and were followed up for at least two consecutive weeks were analysed. We found 9/11 PUs without a lower temperature at the wound edge did not develop undermining development, whereas 8/11 PUs with the lower temperature did develop undermining. The relative risk of undermining development after 1 week in PUs with the lower temperature was 4·00 (95% confidence intervals: 1·08–14·7). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 0·80, 0·75, 0·73 and 0·81, respectively. A thermal imaging assessment focusing on a lower temperature pattern at the wound edge may provide sufficient information to predict undermining development.
Labour provisions in EU trade agreements: What potential for channelling labour standards‐related capacity building?
Authors: EBERT Franz Christian
Published: July 2015

The labour provisions of the EU's trade agreements have been of limited effectiveness as a means of enforcing labour standards within the jurisdictions of the respective parties. However, the author argues, these provisions could serve other useful purposes in this regard. In particular, he focuses on their potential as a framework for channelling capacity‐building activities relating to labour standards through the EU's development cooperation instruments. He also considers options for increasing the potential effectiveness of labour provisions in framing capacity‐building activities through a change in their design, particularly by reducing the parties’ discretion in applying the relevant provisions.
The architecture of global labour governance
Authors: HENDRICKX Frank , MARX Axel , RAYP Glenn , WOUTERS Jan
Published: July 2015

In their introduction to this Special Issue, the authors situate the architecture of global labour governance against the background of the challenges posed by globalization. Noting the limitations of a conventional governmental approach to labour governance, they suggest considering new “hybrid” regulatory modes and mechanisms, which involve a combination of public and private actors and initiatives alongside or instead of traditional international labour law. The authors conclude by examining possible explanations for the emergence of gaps in the enforcement of labour rights, looking in particular at the issues of labour‐standard “selectivity” and the stringency with which standards are enforced.
Where did all the trees come from? A novel multispecies approach reveals the impacts of biogeographical history and functional diversity on rain forest assembly
Authors: Rossetto Maurizio , McPherson Hannah , Siow Juelian , Kooyman Robert , van der Merwe Marlien , Wilson Peter D.
Published: July 2015

Aim

We take advantage of next generation sequencing‐based technology to assess how landscape‐level dynamics, biogeographical history and functional factors shape the distribution of genetic diversity in rain forest trees. To achieve this, we explore chloroplast genomic diversity and divergence patterns across multiple, co‐distributed species from three major centres of rain forest diversity.

Location

Subtropical rain forests in south‐eastern Australia: Nightcap–Border Ranges, Dorrigo and Washpool.

Methods

We assembled chloroplast genomic data from whole‐genome shotgun libraries for 71 species collected across three major centres of rain forest diversity. Chloroplast single nucleotide polymorphisms were used to measure genetic variation within and between multiple populations, species and locations, and we used this information to identify patterns related to landscape‐level processes, biogeographical origins and functional characteristics.

Results

We identified Nightcap–Border Ranges and Dorrigo as containing multiple refugia and Washpool as primarily a recolonized area. We found that rapidly expanding lineages of Indo‐Malesian origin exhibit significantly lower levels of genetic diversity than Gondwanan lineages with longer local histories. Functional traits related to persistence and dispersal were the most important in regulating the distribution of genetic diversity.

Main conclusions

The distribution and assembly of species reflect interactions and competition between different floristic elements at different stages of continental occupation. Additionally, given the multiple evolutionary origins and histories of the Australian rain forest flora, it is important to avoid treating rain forest communities as single management units.
Anti‐B lymphocyte immunotherapy is associated with improvement of periodontal status in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Coat Juliette , Demoersman Julien , Beuzit Sébastien , Cornec Divi , Devauchelle‐Pensec Valérie , Saraux Alain , Pers Jacques‐Olivier
Published: July 2015

Aim

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis present many similar features. The benefits of anti‐B lymphocyte therapy (rituximab) on reducing tissue resorption in RA prompted us to assess its potential efficacy on the periodontal status of patients with RA treated with rituximab.

Materials and Methods

Periodontal status was assessed in 21 subjects with RA, divided into two groups: Group I consisted in 11 subjects assessed before their first infusion of rituximab and again 6 months later. Five of them were also assessed for up to 4 years after their first rituximab infusion. The 10 subjects in group II had received more than two courses of two rituximab infusions at the time of periodontal assessment.

Results

Pocket depth and attachment loss were significantly decreased 6 months after treatment with rituximab in group I. The periodontal status of the five subjects from group I followed for up to 48 months after rituximab treatment was improved irrespective of the clinical parameter observed. Patients from group II had a better periodontal status than patients from group I before treatment with rituximab.

Conclusions

Anti‐B lymphocyte therapy could be beneficial to improve periodontitis suggesting a major role of B cells in this disease.
A randomized controlled trial comparing surgical and non‐surgical periodontal therapy: a 3‐year clinical and cost‐effectiveness analysis
Authors: Miremadi S. Reza , De Bruyn Hugo , Steyaert Harold , Princen Katrijn , Cosyn Jan
Published: July 2015

Aim

To compare immediate surgery to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of advanced periodontitis focusing on the prevalence of residual pockets after treatment and cost‐effectiveness (1); to elucidate the adjunctive effects of azithromycin in a second‐treatment phase (2) up to 36 months.

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐nine patients (18 males, 21 females; mean age: 54.6) received oral hygiene instructions and were randomly allocated to surgery (n = 19) or SRP (n = 20). Patients with residual pockets (≥6 mm) at 6 months received re‐debridement of these sites and systemic azithromycin. Clinical measurements were performed at 12, 24 and 36 months whereby residual pockets underwent re‐debridement. Patients were evaluated in terms of clinical response parameters and cost‐effectiveness. Chair‐time was used to assess the financial impact of treatment.

Results

Only six patients in the surgery group required additional treatment at 6 months, whereas 14 patients in the SRP underwent this therapy. Both treatment arms were equally effective in terms of clinical outcome demonstrating <2% residual pockets at 36 months. Surgery imposed an extra 746 Euro on the patient up to 6 months compared to SRP. At 36 months, 69 Euro of this amount could be offset due to the lower need for re‐treatment during maintenance phase.

Conclusions

Surgery was ultimately associated with a significantly lower need for re‐treatment during supportive care, however, at significantly higher costs over the 3 years.
Uncovering Cryptic Diversity in Two Amoebozoan Species Using Complete Mitochondrial Genome Sequences
Authors: Fučíková Karolina , Lahr Daniel J. G.
Published: July 2015

The Amoebozoa are a major eukaryotic lineage that encompasses a wide range of amoeboid organisms. The group is understudied from a systematic perspective: molecular tools have only been applied in the last 15 yr. Hence, there is an undersampling of both genes and taxa in the group especially compared to plants, animals, and fungi. Here, we present the complete mitochondrial genomes of two ubiquitous and abundant morpho‐species (Acanthamoeba castellanii and Vermamoeba vermiformis). Both have mitochondrial genomes of close relatives previously available, enabling insights into recent divergences at a genomic scale, while simultaneously offering comparisons with divergence estimates obtained from traditionally used single genes, SSU rDNA and cox1. The newly sequenced mt genomes are significantly divergent from their previously sequenced conspecifics (A. castellannii 16.4% divergence at nucleotide level and 10.4% amino acid; V. vermiformis 21.6% and 13.1%, respectively), while divergence at the small subunit ribosomal DNA is below 1% within both species. Morphological analyses determined that these lineages are indistinguishable from their previously sequenced counterparts. Phylogenetic reconstructions using 26 mt genes also indicate a level of divergence that is comparable to divergence among species, while reconstructions using the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) do not. In addition, we demonstrate that between closely related taxa, there are high levels of synteny, which can be explored for primer design to obtain larger fragments than the traditional barcoding genes. We conclude that, although most systematic work has relied on SSU, this gene alone can severely underestimate diversity. Thus, we suggest that the mt genome emerges as an alternative for unraveling the lower level phylogenetic relationships of Amoebozoa.
Social Novelty Investigation in the Juvenile Rat: Modulation by the μ‐Opioid System
Authors: Smith C. J. W. , Wilkins K. B. , Mogavero J. N. , Veenema A. H.
Published: July 2015

The drive to approach and explore novel conspecifics is inherent to social animals and may promote optimal social functioning. Juvenile animals seek out interactions with novel peers more frequently and find these interactions to be more rewarding than their adult counterparts. In the present study, we aimed to establish a behavioural paradigm to measure social novelty‐seeking in juvenile rats and to determine the involvement of the opioid, dopamine, oxytocin and vasopressin systems in this behaviour. To this end, we developed the social novelty preference test to assess the preference of a juvenile rat to investigate a novel over a familiar (cage mate) conspecific. We show that across the juvenile period both male and female rats spend more time investigating a novel conspecific than a cage mate, independent of subject sex or repeated exposure to the test. We hypothesised that brain systems subserving social information processing and social motivation/reward (i.e. the opioid, dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin systems) might support social novelty preference. To test this, receptor antagonists of each of these systems were administered i.c.v. prior to exposure to the social novelty preference test and, subsequently, to the social preference test, to examine the specificity of these effects. We find that μ‐opioid receptor antagonism reduces novel social investigation in both the social novelty preference and social preference tests while leaving the investigation of a cage mate (social novelty preference test) or an object (social preference test) unaffected. In contrast, central blockade of dopamine D2 receptors (with eticlopride), oxytocin receptors (with des‐Gly‐NH2,d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Thr4]OVT) or vasopressin V1a receptors [with (CH2)5Tyr(Me2)AVP] failed to alter social novelty preference or social preference. Overall, we have established a new behavioural test to study social novelty‐seeking behaviour in the juvenile rat and show that the μ‐opioid system facilitates this behaviour, possibly by reducing risk avoidance and enhancing the hedonic and/or motivational value of social novelty.
Serum cortisol level and disc displacement disorders of the temporomandibular joint
Authors: Lin S.‐L. , Wu S.‐L. , Tsai C.‐C. , Ko S.‐Y. , Yang J.‐W.
Published: July 2015

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a significant public health problem, affecting approximately 5–12% of the population. Objectives: This retrospective cross‐sectional study investigated the relationship between 8 AM serum cortisol levels (8ASC) and disc displacement disorders (DDD) of TMD. One hundred and forty patients with DDD were recruited. Among them, 60 patients comprised the case group of disc displacement without reduction with limited opening (DDWORWLO, age 37·7 ± 17·22), and 80 were ‘other DDD’ for the control group (age 36·4 ± 13·08). The independent variables included domains of demography, history, malocclusion, comorbid symptoms, comorbid TMD and 8ASC. Data were analysed with the chi‐square test, logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results of multiple logistic regression showed that 8ASC was the only factor significantly related to DDWORWLO (P = 0·006). Receiver operating characteristic analysis of DDWORWLO and 8ASC indicated an area under the curve of 0·669, standard error of 0·049 and P value of 0·001. The adequate cut‐off point of 8ASC was 12·45 (μg dL−1), with sensitivity of 0·636, and specificity of 0·729. 8 AM serum cortisol level can be used as a clinical clue to differentiate DDWORWLO from other DDD.
Review of dietary supplements for the management of osteoarthritis in dogs in studies from 2004 to 2014
Authors: Comblain F. , Serisier S. , Barthelemy N. , Balligand M. , Henrotin Y.
Published: July 2015

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, painful, degenerative and inflammatory disease that affects the synovial joints and leads finally to the loss of mobility. It is highly prevalent in dogs. Nowadays, no cure exists, and the pharmacological treatment is limited to clinical signs alleviation. Some positive beneficial effects have been highlighted with dietary supplements in the course of dog OA. The goals of this narrative review are to summarize the scientific data available in the literature on dietary supplements assessed in dog OA and to discuss some trails about how to improve several aspects of research and issues with dietary supplements, such as bioavailability and dosage regimen. Chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine, undenaturated type II collagen, avocado–soya bean unsaponifiables, curcumin and polyunsaturated fatty acids were studied in dog OA and therefore discussed in the present review. Most of them showed anticatabolic and anti‐inflammatory effects. Unfortunately, few data exist concerning their pharmacokinetics. Their bioavailability is low, but new formulations are developed to enhance their gastrointestinal absorption. The clinical relevance of these new formulations compared to native forms should be demonstrated in good clinical trials. Even if further investigations are needed, dietary supplements should be considered in OA management.
On the relative roles of background selection and genetic hitchhiking in shaping human cytomegalovirus genetic diversity
Authors: Renzette Nicholas , Kowalik Timothy F. , Jensen Jeffrey D.
Published: July 2015

A central focus of population genetics has been examining the contribution of selective and neutral processes in shaping patterns of intraspecies diversity. In terms of selection specifically, surveys of higher organisms have shown considerable variation in the relative contributions of background selection and genetic hitchhiking in shaping the distribution of polymorphisms, although these analyses have rarely been extended to bacteria and viruses. Here, we study the evolution of a ubiquitous, viral pathogen, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), by analysing the relationship among intraspecies diversity, interspecies divergence and rates of recombination. We show that there is a strong correlation between diversity and divergence, consistent with expectations of neutral evolution. However, after correcting for divergence, there remains a significant correlation between intraspecies diversity and recombination rates, with additional analyses suggesting that this correlation is largely due to the effects of background selection. In addition, a small number of loci, centred on long noncoding RNAs, also show evidence of selective sweeps. These data suggest that HCMV evolution is dominated by neutral mechanisms as well as background selection, expanding our understanding of linked selection to a novel class of organisms.
Kinect‐Based Pedestrian Detection for Crowded Scenes
Authors: Chen Xiaofeng , Henrickson Kristian , Wang Yinhai
Published: July 2015

Pedestrian movement data including volumes, walking speeds, and trajectories are essential in transportation engineering, planning, and research. Although traditional image‐based pedestrian detectors provide very rich information, their performance degrades quickly with increased occurrence of occlusion. The three‐dimensional sensing capabilities of Microsoft's Kinect present a potential cost‐effective solution for occlusion‐robust pedestrian detection. This article proposes an efficient pedestrian detection approach for crowded scenes by fusing RGB and depth images from the Kinect. More specifically, we first extract the pedestrian contour regions from RGB images using background subtraction. Then, we develop a region clustering algorithm to extract pedestrians from the contour regions using depth information. Finally, a tracking and counting algorithm is designed to acquire pedestrian volumes. The proposed approach was proven effective with an average detection accuracy of 93.1% at 20 frames per second. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using the low‐cost Kinect device for real‐world pedestrian detection in crowded scenes.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis oriC sequestration by MtrA response regulator
Authors: Purushotham Gorla , Sarva Krishna B. , Blaszczyk Ewelina , Rajagopalan Malini , Madiraju Murty V.
Published: July 2015

The regulators of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA replication are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that in synchronously replicating M. tuberculosis, MtrA access to origin of replication (oriC) is enriched in the post‐replication (D) period. The increased oriC binding results from elevated MtrA phosphorylation (MtrA∼P) as evidenced by reduced expression of dnaN, dnaA and increased expression of select cell division targets. Overproduction of gain‐of‐function MtrAY102C advanced the MtrA oriC access to the C period, reduced dnaA and dnaN expression, interfered with replication synchrony and compromised cell division. Overproduction of wild‐type (MtrA+) or phosphorylation‐defective MtrAD56N did not promote oriC access in the C period, nor affected cell cycle progression. MtrA interacts with DnaA signaling a possibility that DnaA helps load MtrA on oriC. Therefore, oriC sequestration by MtrA∼P in the D period may normally serve to prevent untimely initiations and that DnaA–MtrA interactions may facilitate regulated oriC replication. Finally, despite the near sequence identity of MtrA in M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis, the M. smegmatis oriC is not MtrA‐target. We conclude that M. tuberculosis oriC has evolved to be regulated by MtrA and that cell cycle progression in this organisms are governed, at least in part, by oscillations in the MtrA∼P levels.
Tacrolimus combined with corticosteroids versus Modified Ponticelli regimen in treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy: Randomized control trial
Authors: Ramachandran Raja , Hn Harsha Kumar , Kumar Vinod , Nada Ritambhra , Yadav Ashok Kumar , Goyal Ajay , Kumar Vivek , Rathi Manish , Jha Vivekanand , Gupta Krishan Lal , Sakhuja Vinay , Kohli Harbir Singh
Published: July 2015

Aim

There have been very few studies comparing cyclophosphamide (CTX) and calcineurin inhibitor based regimens in the management of non‐immunosuppressive symptomatic therapy (NIST) resistant idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). The present study was aimed at comparing the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus (TAC)/steroids with cyclical CTX/steroids (Modified Ponticelli regimen (MPR)) in patients with IMN.

Methods

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy patients (n = 70) with persistent nephrotic syndrome after at least 6 months of antiproteinuric therapy or with complications of nephrotic syndrome were equally randomized to receive TAC with oral prednisolone (TAC*) or MPR. Antibodies against m‐type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R Ab) were tested for at baseline and, at 6 and 12 months after the start of therapy. The primary end point was achievement of remission and secondary objectives were adverse effects and estimated glomerular filtration rate in both the study groups.

Results

Intention‐to‐treat analysis showed that remissions at the end of 6 (74% with TAC* vs. 60% with MPR; P = 0.30) and 12 months (71% with TAC* vs. 77% with MPR; P = 0.78) were comparable. PLA2R Ab titres at 6/12 months correlated with urine protein (r 0.54/0.58) and serum albumin (r −0.49/−0.53) at the end of therapy. Patients on CTX had a significantly higher risk of amenorrhea and while those on TAC had a greater risk of reversible nephrotoxicity.

Conclusion

In NIST refractory IMN, both TAC* and MPR are comparable, but with different adverse effect profile. PLA2R Ab has a very good association with proteinuria, and should be regularly monitored on clinical follow‐up.
The conserved carboxyl domain of MorC, an inner membrane protein of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, is essential for membrane function
Authors: Smith K.P. , Voogt R.D. , Ruiz T. , Mintz K.P.
Published: July 2015

Morphogenesis protein C (MorC) of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is important for maintaining the membrane morphology and integrity of the cell envelope of this oral pathogen. The MorC sequence and operon organization were found to be conserved in Gammaproteobacteria, based on a bioinformatic analysis of 435 sequences from representative organisms. Functional conservation of MorC was investigated using an A. actinomycetemcomitans morC mutant as a model system to express MorC homologs from four phylogenetically diverse representatives of the Gammaproteobacteria: Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Moraxella catarrhalis. The A. actinomycetemcomitans strains expressing the homologous proteins were assessed for sensitivity to bile salts, leukotoxin secretion, autoaggregation and membrane morphology. MorC from the most closely related organism (H. influenzae) was functionally identical to MorC from A. actinomycetemcomitans. However, the genes from more distantly related organisms restored some but not all A. actinomycetemcomitans mutant phenotypes. In addition, deletion mutagenesis indicated that the most conserved portion of the protein, the C‐terminus DUF490 domain, was necessary to maintain the integrity of the membrane. Deletion of the last 10 amino acids of this domain of the A. actinomycetemcomitans MorC protein was sufficient to disrupt membrane stability and leukotoxin secretion. The data suggest that the MorC sequence is functionally conserved across Gammaproteobacteria and the C‐terminus of the protein is essential for maintaining membrane physiology.
A ‘HEART OF GOAL’ AND THE WILL TO SUCCEED: GOAL COMMITMENT AND TASK PERFORMANCE AMONG TEACHERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Authors: PEDERSEN MOGENS JIN
Published: July 2015

Much research suggests that employee goal commitment is predictive of work behaviour and performance. However, public administration research has yet to establish the linkage between goal commitment and task performance in the context of public service employees. Using survey data on school teachers with administrative data on students, this article employs within‐student between‐teachers fixed effects and shows how teachers' goal commitment affects their task performance. Moreover, the article shows how task difficulty moderates this relationship. The findings suggest that higher goal commitment promotes teacher task performance, in particular, at moderate to high levels of task difficulty.
Modern Confucianism and Chinese Theories of Modernization
Authors: Rošker Jana S.
Published: July 2015

The Confucian revival, which manifests itself in the modern Confucian current, belongs to the most influential and important streams of thought in contemporary Chinese philosophy and represents a crucial part of the new prevailing ideologies in P. R. China. Although many books and articles on this topic are available in Chinese, academic studies in Western languages are still few and far between. The present article aims to introduce this stream of thought which is grounded in the conviction that traditional Confucianism, understood as a specifically Chinese social, political, and moral system of thought can, if renewed and adapted to meet the conditions of the modern era, serve as the foundation for an ethically meaningful modern life. Simultaneously, modern Confucian philosophers also aim to provide a spiritual antidote to the alienation which is seen by them as a collateral effect of the capitalistic glorification of competition and the single‐minded pursuit of profit. The scholars belonging to this stream sought to reconcile ‘Western’ and ‘traditional Chinese’ values, in order to create a theoretical model of modernization that would not be confused or equated with ‘Westernization’.
Decision Tree Identified Risk Groups with High Suicidal Ideation in South Korea: A Population‐Based Study
Authors: Kim Hyun Kyung , Kim Ji Young , Kim Jong Hyen , Hyoung Hee Kyoung
Published: July 2015

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify risk groups with high suicidal ideation among South Korean adults.

Design and Sample

A descriptive cross‐sectional design was adopted using secondary data from the 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A total of 5,963 adults aged 19 years and older who participated in the 2011 KNHANES served as participants.

Measures

The prevalence of suicidal ideation and its related factors, including physical, psychological, health behavioral, and sociodemographic characteristics, were examined. Descriptive statistics and a decision tree were used for data analysis.

Results

Nine groups with high suicidal ideation were identified. The coexistence of depression and high levels of stress increased the prevalence of suicidal ideation. The highest risk group was widowed or divorced adults with depression and high levels of stress, and 82.5% of these participants had suicidal ideation (the prevalence rate of this group was 5.7 times higher than the mean suicidal ideation prevalence rate in this study).

Conclusion

Public health nurses and community mental health professionals should recognize risk groups with high suicidal ideation, and target these groups when implementing preventive interventions.
Experimental Explication
Authors: Schupbach Jonah N.
Published: July 2015

Two recently popular metaphilosophical movements, formal philosophy and experimental philosophy, promote what seem to be conflicting methodologies. Nonetheless, I argue that the two can be mutually supportive. I propose an experimentally‐informed variation on explication, a powerful formal philosophical tool introduced by Carnap. The resulting method, which I call “experimental explication,” provides the formalist with a means of responding to explication's gravest criticism. Moreover, this method introduces a philosophically salient, positive role for survey‐style experiments while steering clear of several objections that critics of “positive experimental philosophy” raise. Thus, it provides the experimentalist with a more defensible example of how empirical work can have positive philosophical import. For these reasons, experimental explication should appeal to experimental philosophers (at least those working within the positive program) and formal philosophers alike.
Characteristics of depression in community‐dwelling elderly people as indicated by the tree‐drawing test
Authors: Murayama Norio , Endo Tadashi , Inaki Koichiro , Sasaki Shinsai , Fukase Yuko , Ota Kazumi , Iseki Eizo , Tagaya Hirokuni
Published: July 2015

Background

The tree‐drawing test (TDT) is a typical projective method, but previous studies have paid little attention to it for elderly people. We investigated the characteristics of depression in community‐dwelling elderly people as indicated by the TDT.

Methods

This study was a complete enumeration survey of elderly people conducted through home visits. The contents of the survey included gender, age, presence or absence of housemates, frequency of going out, the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale, and TDT. The subjects were divided into three groups (normal, depressed tendency, and depressed) according to the total 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale score.

Results

In TDT, no significant difference was observed in drooping crown, shadow of the whole tree, or shadow near the base, which have been regarded as indices of depression in younger people. However, the values concerning the size of the tree, such as the height and width of the whole tree, height and width of the crown, and number of occupied areas (of the paper), were significantly lower in the depressed group than in the other groups. In addition, the width of the trunk was significantly smaller in the depressed group than in the normal group. Subjects were classified as being in a ‘depressed state’ if they used 40 or fewer areas for drawing (i.e. occupied areas) and a ‘non‐depressed state’ if they used 41 or more areas. This enabled depression to be detected (sensitivity: 71.4%; specificity: 79.9%).

Conclusions

The size of the tree in TDT is suggested to reflect characteristics of depression in elderly people, such as introversion, reserve, antisocial attitude, a feeling of inferiority, weakness of ego, and lack of vigour. Furthermore, the numbers of occupied areas were found to be relatively useful in detecting depression in elderly people.
Evidence for a vestigial pinna‐orienting system in humans
Authors: Hackley Steven A.
Published: July 2015

Although some people can voluntarily move their ears, overt reflexive control of the pinnae has been lost during the course of primate evolution. Humans and apes do not move their ears to express emotion, they do not defensively retract them when startled, and they do not point them at novel, salient, or task‐relevant stimuli. Nevertheless, it is the thesis of this review that neural circuits for pinna orienting have survived in a purely vestigial state for over 25 million years. There are three lines of evidence: (1) Shifting the eyes hard to one side is accompanied by electromyographic (EMG) activity in certain ear muscles and by a barely visible (2–3 mm) curling of the dorsal edge of the pinna. (2) The capture of attention by a novel, unexpected sound emanating from behind and to one side has been found to trigger a weak EMG response in the muscle behind the corresponding ear. (3) Reflexive EMG bursts recorded during a selective attention task suggested that subjects were unconsciously attempting to orient their ears toward the relevant sounds. In addition to pinna orienting, the possibility that pinna startle might have survived in a vestigial state is also considered. It is suggested that the postauricular reflex to sudden, intense sounds constitutes a vestigial startle response, but that the reflex arc is dominated by a pathway that bypasses the main organizing center for startle.
Falls by individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A preliminary 12‐month prospective cohort study
Authors: Oliveira Cristino C. , Lee Annemarie L. , McGinley Jennifer , Thompson Michelle , Irving Louis B. , Anderson Gary P. , Clark Ross A. , Clarke Sandy , Denehy Linda
Published: July 2015

Background and objective

Despite evidence of an increased fall risk in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is a paucity of prospective fall data in this population. This preliminary study aimed to prospectively examine the prevalence rate, incidence rate and associated risk factors for falls in a sample of community‐dwelling people with COPD over 1 year.

Methods

Forty‐one participants with stable COPD (mean ± SD) aged 71 ± 8 years with a forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 45.1 ± 16.2% predicted were included. At baseline, participants' demographic, physical function and fall‐related measures were documented. Falls were monitored for 12 months following initial assessments.

Results

The prevalence of people having falls was 40% (95% CI: 24–56%); amongst these, 75% had frequent falls. The overall fall incidence rate was 1.17 falls/person‐year. Risk factors associated with a higher fall incidence rate ratio (IRR) in COPD were: number of pack‐years (IRR: 1.02; 95%CI: 1.00,1.04), comorbidities (IRR: 2.02; 95%CI: 1.42,3.06), number of medications (IRR: 1.15; 95%CI: 1.00,1.34), history of falls in the previous year (IRR: 1.89; 95%CI: 1.10,3.34), fear of falling (IRR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02,1.14) and higher score in a fall risk assessment questionnaire for older adults (IRR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05,1.25); P ≤ 0.05. When adjusted for age, only pack‐years (P = 0.01), number of comorbidities (P < 0.001) and history of falls (P = 0.03) were related to an increased fall incidence.

Conclusions

These preliminary findings demonstrated the fall prevalence and incidence rate in community‐dwelling people with stable COPD and identified prospective risk factors for an increased fall incidence, which suggest potential mitigation strategies.
‘All skillful praises sing’: how congregations sang the psalms in early modern England
Authors: Temperley Nicholas
Published: July 2015

The tunes of The Whole Book of Psalms would become the foundation of congregational singing in England. But when Thomas Sternhold published his first collection of paraphrases (circa 1548) he expected them to be sung in a private domestic context, and the few extant Edwardian settings do not differ in character from secular songs and dances of the time. There is no record of congregational singing until it was adopted by the Marian exiles under the direct influence of Calvin. The first tunes were printed as part of the 1556 Anglo‐Genevan service book. They were clearly modelled on the grandly solemn tunes of the French Psalter, but the fundamental differences between French and English prosody created a conflict that was too much for anyone in the small English colonies to resolve satisfactorily. Nevertheless, congregational singing of ‘Geneva psalms’ was rapidly adopted in English churches from 1559 onwards. The tune selection was revised and enlarged, and had settled into a permanent ‘canon’ by the time the 1565 edition of The Whole Book of Psalms appeared. Metrical psalm‐singing soon became popular well beyond the Puritan faction, both in church and in private settings. The tunes, like the psalms, were reprinted with only minor changes for the rest of Elizabeth's reign. There is evidence, however, that by the 1590s many of them had been abandoned in practice as too difficult, or perhaps too tedious, as they slowed down year after year. They were largely replaced by a handful of short, simple tunes of unknown authorship, which became known as the ‘common tunes’ because they were not tied to specific texts. In some respects the common tunes were a return to the more popular idiom of Edwardian times. Many of them outlived the psalm paraphrases themselves and are still in widespread use as hymn tunes today.
Mehmed II, Malatesta and Matteo De’ Pasti: a match of mutual benefit between the ‘Terrible Turk’ and a ‘Citizen of Hell’
Authors: Gatward Cevizli Antonia
Published: July 2015

In 1461 the notorious Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, sent his court artist Matteo De’ Pasti to portray the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II. The artist never reached his destination, being arrested as a spy by Venetian authorities in Crete. Despite the mission's failure it has as much to contribute to our understanding of Italian–Ottoman relations as other fruitful visits. Malatesta had selected Valturio's military treatise De re militari along with maps of Italy as gifts for the sultan. The treatise has been dismissed by many as having no practical use. However, this is to overlook the fact that it explained developments in Italian military architecture that would have been beneficial to the Ottomans. Furthermore, it will be argued that De’ Pasti's services could have extended beyond the production of portrait medals by bringing to light his experience as an inspector of fortifications. The gifts that were sent and the knowledge possessed by the loaned artist highlight the diversity of attitudes to be found within the Italian city‐states towards the ostensible enemy. In fact, the fractured political system of the Italian peninsula will be shown to have been fertile ground for the nurturing of this obliging friendship with the Ottomans.
An Empirical Analysis of Life Jacket Effectiveness in Recreational Boating
Authors: Viauroux Christelle , Gungor Ali
Published: July 2015

This article gives a measure of life jacket (LJ) effectiveness in U.S. recreational boating. Using the U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Accident Report Database from 2008 to 2011, we find that LJ wear is one of the most important determinants influencing the number of recreational boating fatalities, together with the number of vessels involved, and the type and engine of the vessel(s). We estimate a decrease in the number of deceased per vessel of about 80% when the operator wears their LJs compared to when they do not. The odds of dying are 86% higher than average if the accident involves a canoe or kayak, but 80% lower than average when more than one vessel is involved in the accident and 34% lower than average when the operator involved in the accident has more than 100 hours of boating experience. Interestingly, we find that LJ effectiveness decreases significantly as the length of the boat increases and decreases slightly as water temperature increases. However, it increases slightly as the operator's age increases. We find that between 2008 and 2011, an LJ regulation that requires all operators to wear their LJs—representing a 20% increase in wear rate—would have saved 1,721 (out of 3,047) boaters or 1,234 out of 2,185 drowning victims. The same policy restricted to boats 16–30 feet in length would have saved approximately 778 victims. Finally, we find that such a policy would reduce the percentage of drowning victims compared to other causes of death.
Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Dextramers: New Tools for the Detection of antigen‐Specific, CD4 T Cells in Basic and Clinical Research
Authors: Massilamany C. , Krishnan B. , Reddy J.
Published: July 2015

The advent of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) tetramer technology has been a major contribution to T cell immunology, because tetramer reagents permit detection of antigen‐specific T cells at the single‐cell level in heterogeneous populations by flow cytometry. However, unlike MHC class I tetramers, the utility of MHC class II tetramers has been less frequently reported. MHC class II tetramers can be used successfully to enumerate the frequencies of antigen‐specific CD4 T cells in cells activated in vitro, but their use for ex vivo analyses continues to be a problem, due in part to their activation dependency for binding with T cells. To circumvent this problem, we recently reported the creation of a new generation of reagents called MHC class II dextramers, which were found to be superior to their counterparts. In this review, we discuss the utility of class II dextramers vis‐a‐vis tetramers, with respect to their specificity and sensitivity, including potential applications and limitations.
Intercorrelations and developmental pathways of mothers' and fathers' loneliness during pregnancy, infancy and toddlerhood – STEPS study
Authors: Junttila Niina , Ahlqvist‐Björkroth Sari , Aromaa Minna , Rautava Päivi , Piha Jorma , Räihä Hannele
Published: July 2015

Our aim was to study the inter‐correlations and developmental pathways of mothers' and fathers' social and emotional loneliness during pregnancy (20th pregnancy week), infancy (child aged 8 months), and early childhood (child aged 18 months). Moreover, we aimed to study whether mothers and fathers who have different developmental profiles (identified by latent growth curve mixture models) differ in their experiences of marital dissatisfaction (RDAS), social phobia (SPIN) and depression (BDI) during pregnancy. Both mothers' social and emotional loneliness and fathers' social and emotional loneliness were highly stable, and within individuals these loneliness factors were strongly correlated. However, the correlations between mothers' loneliness experiences and fathers' loneliness experiences were weaker than expected. Separate latent growth curve groups were identified, which differed in feelings of marital dissatisfaction, social phobia, and depression. These groupings revealed that the higher the loneliness was, the more the parents experience these other psychosocial problems.