bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alterations in innate and adaptive immune leukocytes are involved in paediatric obesity
Authors: Inzaugarat M. E. , Billordo L. A. , Vodánovich F. , Cervini G. M. , Casavalle P. L. , Vedire C. , Cherñavsky A. C.
Published: July 2013

What is already known about this subject

Circulating immune cells such as monocytes and T cells infiltrate adipose tissue in the context of obesity.

Plasma leptin and free fatty acid levels are usually elevated in obesity.

Apart from the involvement of the innate immune response in obesity, the role of adaptive immunity is now beginning to be unravelled.

What this study adds

Circulating monocytes and T cells are committed to a pro‐inflammatory state regardless of their entry into the adipose tissue of obese children.

Leptin and linoleic acid effects on monocytes contribute to the promotion of inflammation in obesity.

An increased Th1 and cytotoxic commitment and a higher leptin‐mediated up‐regulation of interferon gamma in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are observed in obese children.

Background

Adipose tissue is the main source of the cytokines and adipokines that are increased in the context of obesity. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytokines by circulating immune cells can be regulated by these pro‐inflammatory factors even before infiltration into adipose tissue.

Objective

To investigate the alterations that can occur in circulating monocytes and lymphocytes in paediatric obesity.

Methods

In this study, 54 paediatric obese patients and 30 age‐matched metabolically healthy individuals were enrolled. Intracellular cytokines were analyzed after phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or leptin plus PMA stimulation of lymphocytes and monocytes by flow cytometry. ROS generation was measured using dichlorofluorescein‐diacetate. Both a ‘stimulation index’ and a ‘fold of increase’ were calculated for statistical purposes.

Results

Both interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) production by circulating CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and ROS production by monocytes following PMA stimulation were increased in obese patients. Leptin induced an increased production of IFN‐γ in both subsets of T cells and tumour necrosis factor alpha in monocytes, and linoleic acid induced a higher ROS production in monocytes.

Conclusions

The distinct functional responses of circulating cells suggest that alterations in both innate and adaptive immune cells are involved in the maintenance of low‐grade inflammation in paediatric obesity.
Effects of connectivity, dispersal directionality and functional traits on the metacommunity structure of river benthic diatoms
Authors: Liu Jing , Soininen Janne , Han Bo‐Ping , Declerck Steven A. J.
Published: July 2013

Aim

Dendritic ecological networks (DENs), such as river systems, combine features that challenge the traditional conceptual views and empirical approaches applied to metacommunities. As a result of their dendritic branching geometry and stream flow directionality, they are strongly hierarchical and asymmetrical. We analysed the metacommunity structure of benthic diatoms in a large‐scale river system with the aim of evaluating the importance of potential causal influences. Furthermore, we hypothesized that metacommunities of diatoms that are strongly attached to their substrata show a different spatial structure than metacommunities of other, more weakly attached diatoms.

Location

The study was carried out in the Dong River, a 32,275 km2 subtropical river network located in southern China.

Methods

We surveyed benthic diatom communities during three seasons (dry, intermediate and wet). Using partial redundancy analysis, we partitioned community variation among environmental models and different spatial eigenfunction models to evaluate the influence of alternative dispersal pathways (overland versus water course dispersal), stream directionality, man‐made dams and diatom functional traits on diatom metacommunity structure.

Results

Models based on hydrological connections and water directionality represent spatial patterns better than overland distances, suggesting that the dynamics of benthic diatom metacommunities are mainly confined to the river network and influenced by the prevailing water flow. We found significant effects of man‐made dams on the spatial structure of important limnological variables and diatom metacommunity structure. The metacommunity of strongly attached diatoms also showed a weaker signature of flow directionality than that of other growth forms, especially in seasons with high water levels.

Main conclusions

We conclude that the consideration of among‐site connectivity, flow directionality and species traits is key to a better understanding of the spatial ecology of passively dispersing microbial organisms in river systems.
Susceptibility to Cry proteins of a Spanish Ostrinia nubilalis glasshouse population repeatedly sprayed with Bacillus thuringiensis formulations
Authors: Crava C. M. , Bel Y. , Ferré J. , Escriche B.
Published: July 2013

Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a major pest of corn in temperate climates, can feed on other crops due to its polyphagous behaviour. In particular, this species became a serious problem in some sweet pepper commercial glasshouses in south‐eastern Spain repeatedly sprayed with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) products to control Spodoptera exigua Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The susceptibility of an O. nubilalis colony established from individuals collected in these Bt‐sprayed glasshouses was compared with a reference laboratory colony. Differences in susceptibility between the two colonies to Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac and Cry2Aa proteins were found. However, our results indicate that the O. nubilalis control failure in the glasshouse was not due to selection for resistance. Intraspecific variation probably accounts for differences between the glasshouse‐derived population and the laboratory strain. This conclusion is based on several lines of evidence: the glasshouse‐derived population retained its susceptibility to a Bt standard product and to most of its individual components (both in the form of protoxins and in the form of activated toxins), and it did not respond to laboratory selection with high doses of Cry1Ab.
Effects of Temperature and Mixer Speed Rotation on Rheological Properties of Spreads with Maltitol
Authors: Petković Marko , Pajin Biljana , Tomić Jelena
Published: July 2013

Sucrose‐free spreads containing different share of maltitol (100, 70 and 30% as a bulking agents) are investigated with the aim to improve energy. Spreads with maltitol were produced in ball mill. The quality of produced spread mass is determined by moisture, size of the largest cocoa particle, yield stress and Casson plastic viscosity. The lowest energy values have spreads containing 100% maltitol. Spreads with maltitol do not have hygroscopic nature (moisture parameters are constant). Regardless of the sweetener type, spreads produced at maximum mixer speed rotation (50 r/min) have the lowest size of largest particle. Spreads containing 100% maltitol have greater plastic viscosity and significant viscous properties. Dynamic oscillatory measurements showed the spreads with different maltitol share are the viscoelastic solids, with dominate elastic component. The viscous component is dominant at lower frequencies (frequency <2 Hz). According to the rheology parameters, the best and the worst solution is if sucrose is replaced with maltitol, as a bulking agent, 100 and 30%, respectively.

Practical Application

Sugar‐free confectionary products have become very popular nowadays. The energy value of spreads could be improved by selection of appropriate sweetener (maltitol). Hence, the maltitol share in this study would benefit the reducing energy value of spreads. It would be also useful for the future research to find the optimal maltitol share in spreads under different process conditions. The results confirm that rheology properties of spreadable food play important role in consumers' acceptability, because they indicate the moment that system starts to flow.
Inflation and Welfare in Retail Markets: Prior Production and Imperfectly Directed Search
Authors: MASTERS ADRIAN
Published: July 2013

This paper considers the effect of monetary policy and inflation on retail markets: goods are dated and produced prior to being retailed; buyers direct their search on price and general quality; buyers’ match‐specific tastes are private information. Sellers set the same price for all buyers, some of whom do not value the good highly enough to buy it. The market economy is typically inefficient as a social planner would have the good consumed. Under free entry of sellers, the Friedman rule is optimal policy. When the upper bound on the number of participating sellers binds, moderate levels of inflation can be welfare improving.
International Evidence on the New Keynesian Phillips Curve Using Aggregate and Disaggregate Data
Authors: BYRNE JOSEPH P. , KONTONIKAS ALEXANDROS , MONTAGNOLI ALBERTO
Published: July 2013

We present a unique empirical analysis of the properties of the New Keynesian Phillips Curve (NKPC) using an international data set of aggregate and disaggregate sectoral inflation. Our results from panel time‐series estimation clearly indicate that sectoral heterogeneity has important consequences for aggregate inflation behavior. Heterogeneity helps to explain the overestimation of inflation persistence and underestimation of the role of marginal costs in empirical investigations of the NKPC that use aggregate data. We find that combining disaggregate information with heterogeneous‐consistent estimation techniques helps to reconcile, to a large extent, the NKPC with the data.
Rapid Transition of NESTIN‐Expressing Dividing Cells from PROP1‐Positive to PIT1‐Positive Advances Prenatal Pituitary Development
Authors: Yoshida S. , Kato T. , Higuchi M. , Yako H. , Chen M. , Kanno N. , Ueharu H. , Kato Y.
Published: July 2013

We recently reported that the quantitative and qualitative transition of stem/progenitor cells occurs by the acquisition of a novel mechanism in the terminal differentiation during postnatal development of the anterior pituitary. We hypothesised that this novel mechanism is an alteration of a cell supply system accompanying proliferation of the progenitor cells. In the present study, we examined the proliferation activities of progenitor cells by indication of the expression of Nestin, a marker of rapidly dividing progenitor cells, aiming to verify our hypothesis and to resolve another outstanding issue regarding whether the Nestin gene is expressed in the pituitary. We found that NESTIN‐positive dividing cells certainly exist in the pituitary through all stages of development. Almost all of the PROP1‐positive progenitor cells express Nestin in early embryonic pituitary development. Thereafter, Nestin‐expressing dividing cells involved in the cell supply system transfer from PROP1‐positive progenitor cells to committed progenitor cells, such as PIT1‐positive cells, on neonatal pituitary development. Furthermore, our data, together with the findings of previous studies on cell lineage tracing analyses using Nestin‐Cre mice derived by the central nervous system (CNS)‐specific Nestin promoter, suggest that at least two regulation systems for Nestin‐expression exist in the pituitary, with the majority of these not being CNS‐specific.
Different context, different results: venous ulcer healing and the use of two high‐compression technologies
Authors: Nelson E Andrea , Harrison Margaret B ,   Canadian Bandage Trial Team
Published: July 2013

Aims and objectives

To update the evidence for the relative effectiveness of the four‐layer and short‐stretch compression technologies used for the treatment of venous ulcers.

Background

Compression bandages are the most effective method for venous ulcer healing. Both four‐layer and short‐stretch compression are effective but the relative benefit of one over the other is not fully understood.

Design

Meta‐analysis of data from randomised trials of short‐stretch and four‐layer compression bandages.

Methods

We conducted a hazards ratio meta‐analysis that combined the results from the existing review evidence with the latest randomised trial.

Results

Prior to inclusion of the Canadian Bandaging Trial, the meta‐analysis of the available evidence from four trials indicated that short‐stretch bandaging was associated with a lower chance of healing than four‐layer bandaging. Adding this trial to the meta‐analysis however, the relative benefit for the four‐layer bandaging did not persist.

Conclusions

Addition of the largest trial of compression technologies attenuated the apparent relative benefit for four‐layer bandaging over short‐stretch seen in the previous systematic reviews. This may be because the latest trial was large and found no difference in healing rates, attributed to the fact that both technologies were in common use in the trial centres, rather than being a trial of a new bandaging technology over an existing technology.

Relevance to clinical practice

This analysis indicates that the choice of a compression system can be safely made with equal regard to clinician choice, patient preference and economic considerations as these technologies appear comparable in terms of healing rates.
Influence of growth hormone on circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 levels in humans
Authors: Lundberg J. , Höybye C. , Krusenstjerna‐Hafstrøm T. , Bina H. A. , Kharitonenkov A. , Angelin B. , Rudling M.
Published: July 2013

Objective

Findings from animal studies indicate that growth hormone (GH) may stimulate the production of the putative metabolic regulator fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). We investigated whether circulating FGF21 levels are altered in patients with GH deficiency and characterized how levels of this growth factor are influenced by acute and long‐term administration of GH, and the potential relationship between FGF21 and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs).

Design and setting

GH‐deficient patients (n = 9) were studied prior to and during 1 year of replacement with GH. Healthy subjects (n = 8) received an intravenous bolus of GH with or without concomitant oral glucose. Healthy subjects and patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (n = 23) were monitored following increasing doses of GH for 3 weeks. The main outcome measures were serum FGF21 and NEFA levels. Studies were performed at two academic centres.

Results

GH‐deficient patients had FGF21 levels within the normal range, and GH replacement did not influence circulating FGF21 or NEFA concentrations. Acute GH administration to healthy control subjects did not change FGF21 levels, whereas an oral glucose load increased serum FGF21 by 25% and reduced NEFA levels by 48%. Similar effects were seen on administration of glucose together with GH. However, FGF21 levels increased dose dependently up to 3.7‐fold in control subjects treated with GH for 3 weeks; simultaneously NEFA levels were increased by 47%.

Conclusions

GH is not critical for the maintenance of basal serum FGF21 levels in humans, but circulating FGF21 levels increase following administration of GH to healthy individuals. There is no correlation between plasma NEFA and circulating FGF21 levels.
The ability ofH1orH2receptor antagonists or their combination in counteracting the glucocorticoid‐induced alveolar bone loss in rats
Authors: Ezzat Bassant A. , Abbass Marwa M.S.
Published: July 2013

Background

The aim of the present study was to compare between three possible osteoporotic treatments in prevention of glucocorticoid‐induced alveolar bone loss.

Methods

Fifty adult female Wistar rats with an average weight 150–200 g were randomized into five groups: group I (control) was intraperitoneally injected with saline. The other experimental groups (II&III,IV& V) were intraperitoneally injected with 200 µg/100 g body weight dexamethasone. The experimental groupsIII,IVand V received intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg/day pheniramine maleate (H1 receptor antagonist), ranitidine hydrochloride (H2 receptor antagonist) and concomitant doses of both H1 & H2 receptor antagonists respectively. After 30 days, the rats have been sacrificed. The mandibles were examined histologically, histochemically and histomorphometrically. The bone mineral density was measured using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

Results

Histopathologically the glucocorticoid group showed wide medullary cavities with wide osteocytic lacunae. These marrow cavities were reduced in the prophylactic groups (III, IV) but increased in group V. Bone histomorphometric analysis revealed improvement in static bone parameters in groups III and IV and deterioration in group V in comparison to group II. TheDEXArevealed significant reduction in the bone mineral density in all experimental groups compared to the control group.

Conclusions

In a rat model, the administration ofH1 orH2 receptor antagonists separately could minimize the alveolar bone loss caused by the administration of glucocorticoids while concomitant administration of bothH1 andH2 receptor antagonists deteriorated the bone condition.
The role of Toll‐like receptor 2 and 4 in gingival tissues of chronic periodontitis subjects with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Promsudthi A. , Poomsawat S. , Limsricharoen W.
Published: July 2013

Background and Objective

Diabetes is one important risk factor of chronic periodontitis. However, the roles of toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4, which are implicated in the inflammatory process in both chronic periodontitis and diabetes, have not been studied. This study aimed to determine whether TLR2 and TLR4 might be involved in the relationship between chronic periodontitis and diabetes by examining TLR2 and TLR4 expression in gingival tissues from subjects with chronic periodontitis without diabetes (CP) and with diabetes (CP+DM) and from periodontally healthy subjects without diabetes (PH) and with diabetes (PH+DM).

Material and Methods

Gingival tissues were collected from 23 CP subjects, 21 CP+DM subjects, 22 PH subjects and 20 PH+DM subjects. The expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in gingival tissues was determined using an immunohistochemical method. In gingival epithelium, staining patterns and intensity levels of TLR2 and TLR4 expression were studied. In connective tissues, the percentages of TLR2‐ and TLR4‐positive cells were calculated. The intensity levels and the percentages of positive cells were statistically analyzed.

Results

Chronic periodontitis or diabetes showed no significant effect on TLR2 expression in the oral epithelium. However, diabetes increased the expression of TLR2 in sulcular epithelium and changed the pattern of TLR2 expression in gingival epithelium. Chronic periodontitis decreased the expression of TLR4 in gingival epithelium. In connective tissue under sulcular epithelium, CP+DM subjects showed statistically significant higher percentages of TLR2‐ and TLR4‐positive cells compared with PH and PH+DM subjects.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that hyperglycemia and chronic periodontitis had effects on TLR2 and TLR4 expression in gingival tissue. The differences in TLR2 and TLR4 expression could contribute to a greater inflammatory response, leading to periodontal disease initiation and progression.
Embodied Cognition, Representationalism, and Mechanism: A Review and Analysis
Authors: Spackman Jonathan S. , Yanchar Stephen C.
Published: July 2013

Embodied cognition has attracted significant attention within cognitive science and related fields in recent years. It is most noteworthy for its emphasis on the inextricable connection between mental functioning and embodied activity and thus for its departure from standard cognitive science's implicit commitment to the unembodied mind. This article offers a review of embodied cognition's recent empirical and theoretical contributions and suggests how this movement has moved beyond standard cognitive science. The article then clarifies important respects in which embodied cognition has not departed fundamentally from the standard view. A shared commitment to representationalism, and ultimately, mechanism, suggest that the standard and embodied cognition movements are more closely related than is commonly acknowledged. Arguments against representationalism and mechanism are reviewed and an alternative position that does not entail these conceptual undergirdings is offered.
The Impact of Multinationals on the Size of the Banking System
Authors: Schoenmaker Dirk , Werkhoven Dewi
Published: July 2013

After the global financial crisis, the size of the banking sector has become a hotly debated topic. To measure the size of the banking system a country's banking assets divided by the country's gross domestic product (GDP) is commonly applied as a general yardstick. This paper shows that this yardstick does not take into account differences in financial needs. In particular, countries differ with regard to the number and size of multinational enterprises. In a cross‐country empirical study, we find a statistically significant relationship between the presence of large banks and the presence of multinationals, after controlling for the size of the country. That is why we develop an additional specific yardstick for firm specific financial needs.
Past and future demographic dynamics of alpine species: limited genetic consequences despite dramatic range contraction in a plant from the Spanish Sierra Nevada
Authors: Blanco‐Pastor J. L. , Fernández‐Mazuecos M. , Vargas P.
Published: July 2013

Anthropogenic global climate change is expected to cause severe range contractions among alpine plants. Alpine areas in the Mediterranean region are of special concern because of the high abundance of endemic species with narrow ranges. This study combined species distribution models, population structure analyses and Bayesian skyline plots to trace the past and future distribution and diversity of Linaria glacialis, an endangered narrow endemic species that inhabits summits of Sierra Nevada (Spain). The results showed that: (i) the habitat of this alpine‐Mediterranean species in Sierra Nevada suffered little changes during glacial and interglacial stages of late Quaternary; (ii) climatic oscillations in the last millennium (Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age) moderately affected the demographic trends of L. glacialis; (iii) future warming conditions will cause severe range contractions; and (iv) genetic diversity will not diminish at the same pace as the distribution range. As a consequence of the low population structure of this species, genetic impoverishment in the alpine zones of Sierra Nevada should be limited during range contraction. We conclude that maintenance of large effective population sizes via high mutation rates and high levels of gene flow may promote the resilience of alpine plant species when confronted with global warming.
Bacteria like sharing their sweets
Authors: Cuccui Jon , Wren Brendan W.
Published: July 2013

Protein glycosylation and capsular polysaccharide formation are increasingly recognized as playing central roles in the survival and virulence of bacterial pathogens. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, structural analysis in Acinetobacter baumannii 17978 revealed that a pentasaccharide that decorates glycoproteins is formed of the same building blocks used for capsule biosynthesis demonstrating split roles for this glycan. Disruption of PglC, the initiating glycosyltransferase responsible for attachment of the first sugar to undecaprenylphosphate abolished glycoprotein production and capsule biosynthesis. Both pathways are demonstrated to be important in biofilm formation and pathogenesis, and disabling their synthesis should provide a useful route for antimicrobial design. Shared polysaccharide usage reduces the genetic and metabolic burden in a bacterial cell and is an emerging theme among bacterial pathogens that need to be energy efficient for their streamlined lifestyle.
Empirical Amphotericin B therapy on Day 4 or Day 8 of Febrile Neutropenia
Authors: Malhotra Pankaj , Makkar Akash , Guru Murthy Guru Subramanian , Varma Neelam , Varma Subhash , Chakrabarti Arunaloke
Published: July 2013

Febrile neutropenic patients are at greater risk of getting bacterial and fungal infections. Empirical antifungal therapy is considered if the fever persists despite broad‐spectrum antibiotics including vancomycin. However, the timing of initiating empirical antifungal therapy can vary from 3 to 8 days of non‐response to antibiotics. We choose to determine the response of empirical amphotericin B deoxycholate (dAMB) starting either on day 4 or day 8 in febrile neutropenic patients not responding to broad‐spectrum antibiotics and without localisation of fever. Fifty‐six patients with persistent neutropenic fever despite 72 h of antibiotic therapy were randomly assigned to receive dAMB either starting on day 4 (group A, n = 27, median age 23 years) or starting on day 8 (group B, n = 29, median age 25 years). Satisfactory response (patient remaining afebrile for 48 h and maintaining absolute neutrophil count >500 μl−1) occurred in 85.2% of patients in group A vs. 69.5% in group B (P = 0.209). Patients in group A took significantly fewer days to become afebrile than group B (5.4 ± 3.9 days vs. 11.3 ± 4.0 days, P = 0.0001). The adverse side effects of dAMB (nephrotoxicity, hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia) occurred at similar rates in both groups. Early addition of empirical dAMB in febrile neutropenic patients leads to their early defervescence and decreased dose requirement.
Influence of gastric emptying on gastro‐esophageal reflux: a combined pH‐impedance study
Authors: Gourcerol G. , Benanni Y. , Boueyre E. , Leroi A. M. , Ducrotte P.
Published: July 2013

Background

The involvement of delayed gastric emptying (GE) in the pathophysiology of gastro‐esophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains debated and has been to date only assessed using esophageal pH‐metry that only detects acidic reflux. We therefore investigated whether delay in GE could impact on liquid, mixed, and gas reflux detected using combined esophageal pH‐impedance recording.

Patients and methods

Thirty consecutive patients were explored with GE and esophageal pH‐impedance measurement in the workup of typical symptoms of GERD. Gastric emptying was assessed using the 13C–octanoic acid breath test and an ambulatory esophageal pH‐impedance recording was performed off proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for 24 h.

Key Results

Gastric emptying was normal in 17 patients and delayed in 13 patients. Delay in GE increased the daily number of liquid/mixed reflux events detected by combined esophageal pH‐impedance monitoring, but had no effect of esophageal acid exposure or gas reflux. This translated in increased number of postprandial reflux events, with a longer bolus clearance time and increased esophageal proximal extension. In patient with delayed GE, symptomatic reflux had a higher proximal extension and a longer bolus clearance time compared to symptomatic reflux events from patients with normal GE.

Conclusions & Inferences

Delay in GE increases daily and postprandial liquid/mixed reflux events. Reflux characteristics differently trigger symptoms in patients with normal and delayed GE, and may impact on the therapeutic strategy.
Diurnal patterns of productivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi revealed with the Soil Ecosystem Observatory
Authors: Hernandez Rebecca R. , Allen Michael F.
Published: July 2013

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are the most abundant plant symbiont and a major pathway of carbon sequestration in soils. However, their basic biology, including their activity throughout a 24‐h day : night cycle, remains unknown.

We employed the in situ Soil Ecosystem Observatory to quantify the rates of diurnal growth, dieback and net productivity of extra‐radical AM fungi. AM fungal hyphae showed significantly different rates of growth and dieback over a period of 24 h and paralleled the circadian‐driven photosynthetic oscillations observed in plants.

The greatest rates (and incidences) of growth and dieback occurred between noon and 18:00 h. Growth and dieback events often occurred simultaneously and were tightly coupled with soil temperature and moisture, suggesting a rapid acclimation of the external phase of AM fungi to the immediate environment.

Changes in the environmental conditions and variability of the mycorrhizosphere may alter the diurnal patterns of productivity of AM fungi, thereby modifying soil carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling and host plant success.
Resveratrol in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a dietary and clinical perspective
Authors: Tomé‐Carneiro João , Gonzálvez Manuel , Larrosa Mar , Yáñez‐Gascón María J. , García‐Almagro Francisco J. , Ruiz‐Ros José A. , Tomás‐Barberán Francisco A. , García‐Conesa María T. , Espín Juan Carlos
Published: July 2013

Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) aims to avoid a first event in subjects that are at risk but have not yet been diagnosed with heart disease. Secondary prevention of CVD aims to avoid new events in patients with established heart disease. Both approaches involve clinical intervention and implementation of healthy lifestyles. The grape and wine polyphenol resveratrol (3,5,4′‐trihydroxy‐trans‐stilbene) has shown cardioprotective benefits in humans. Most of these approaches deal with rather high doses and short follow‐ups, and do not address the issue of long‐term resveratrol consumption safety, especially in medicated individuals. Here, we review the trials conducted with resveratrol in patients at risk for or with established CVD, focusing on the two longest human clinical trials reported so far (1‐year follow‐up). We also discuss the expectations for resveratrol from a dietary and clinical perspective in relation to CVD. However, statistically significant changes in CVD‐risk markers do not necessarily equal clinical significance in the daily care of patients.
Epidemiology and variables involved in dental abscess: survey of dental emergency unit in Trieste
Authors: Ottaviani G , Costantinides F , Perinetti G , Luzzati R , Contardo L , Visintini E , Tirelli G , Di Lenarda R , Gobbo M , Biasotto M
Published: July 2013

Objectives

The objective of this epidemiologic study was to estimate the healing time of acute dental abscesses and to evaluate the main variables involved in the healing process itself.

Subjects and Methods

Among a sample of over 24 000 patients visited at the emergency dental unit, 688 subjects were diagnosed with dental abscess and enrolled in the study. Case histories of all patients were collected to investigate the clinical course and healing time of dental abscess according to anamnestic and diagnostic data and therapeutic management. A multiple logistic regression model was performed to evaluate the association of each variable with the healing time required for dental abscess.

Results

Variables associated with increased healing time were spring seasonality at admission, pyretic state, trismus, involvement of multiple anatomic spaces, and spontaneous drainage. Moreover, administration of some, but not all, classes of antibiotics was also associated with an increased healing time.

Conclusions

The knowledge of variables involved in healing time for dental abscess is crucial in the optimization of managing such infections in terms of cost–benefit ratio. This would represent a valuable way to ensure a shortened and more effective healing.
Using an Academic‐Community Partnership Model and Blended Learning to Advance Community Health Nursing Pedagogy
Authors: Ezeonwu Mabel , Berkowitz Bobbie , Vlasses Frances R.
Published: July 2013

This article describes a model of teaching community health nursing that evolved from a long‐term partnership with a community with limited existing health programs. The partnership supported RN–BSN students' integration in the community and resulted in reciprocal gains for faculty, students and community members. Community clients accessed public health services as a result of the partnership. A blended learning approach that combines face‐to‐face interactions, service learning and online activities was utilized to enhance students' learning. Following classroom sessions, students actively participated in community‐based educational process through comprehensive health needs assessments, planning and implementation of disease prevention and health promotion activities for community clients. Such active involvement in an underserved community deepened students' awareness of the fundamentals of community health practice. Students were challenged to view public health from a broader perspective while analyzing the impacts of social determinants of health on underserved populations. Through asynchronous online interactions, students synthesized classroom and community activities through critical thinking. This paper describes a model for teaching community health nursing that informs students' learning through blended learning, and meets the demands for community health nursing services delivery.
Dedicated Transportation Subnetworks: Design, Analysis, and Insights
Authors: Rajapakshe Tharanga , Dawande Milind , Gavirneni Srinagesh , Sriskandarajah Chelliah , Panchalavarapu P. Rao
Published: July 2013

A dedicated subnetwork (DSN) refers to a subset of lanes, with associated loads, in a shipper's transportation network, for which resources—trucks, drivers, and other equipment—are exclusively assigned to accomplish shipping requirements. The resources assigned to a DSN are not shared with the rest of the shipper's network. Thus, a DSN is an autonomously operated subnetwork and, hence, can be subcontracted. We address a novel problem of extracting a DSN for outsourcing to one or more subcontractors, with the objective of maximizing the shipper's savings. In their pure form, the defining conditions of a DSN are often too restrictive to enable the extraction of a sizable subnetwork. We consider two notions— deadheading and lane‐sharing—that aid in improving the size of the DSN. We show that all the optimization problems involved are both strongly NP‐hard and APX‐hard, and demonstrate several polynomially solvable special cases arising from topological properties of the network and parametric relationships. Next, we develop a network‐flow‐based heuristic that provides near‐optimal solutions to practical instances in reasonable time. Finally, using a test bed based on data obtained from a national 3PL company, we demonstrate the substantial monetary impact of subcontracting a DSN and offer useful managerial insights.
Brachypodium distachyon exhibits compatible interactions with Oculimacula spp. and Ramularia collo‐cygni, providing the first pathosystem model to study eyespot and ramularia leaf spot diseases
Authors: Peraldi A. , Griffe L. L. , Burt C. , McGrann G. R. D. , Nicholson P.
Published: July 2013

Brachypodium distachyon (Bd) has established itself as an essential tool for comparative genomic studies in cereals and increasing attention is being paid to its potential as a model pathosystem. Eyespot and ramularia leaf spot (RLS) are important diseases of wheat, barley and other small‐grain cereals for which very little is known about the mechanisms of host resistance despite urgent requirements for plant breeders to develop resistant varieties. This work aimed to test the compatibility of interaction of two Bd accessions with the cereal pathogens Oculimacula spp. and Ramularia collo‐cygni, the causal agents of eyespot and RLS diseases, respectively. Results showed that both Bd accessions developed symptoms similar to those on the natural host for all pathogen species tested. Microscopy images demonstrated that R. collo‐cygni produced secondary conidia and both Oculimacula spp. formed characteristic infection structures on successive tissue layers. Visual disease assessment revealed that quantitative differences in disease severity exist between the two Bd accessions. The results presented here provide the first evidence that Bd is compatible with the main causal agents of eyespot and RLS diseases, and suggest that future functional genetic studies can be undertaken to investigate the mechanisms of eyespot and RLS disease resistance using Bd.
Maternal Birthweight Is Associated with Subsequent Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency in Early Pregnancy
Authors: Huang Jonathan Y. , Qiu Chunfang , Miller Raymond S. , Siscovick David S. , Williams Michelle A. , Enquobahrie Daniel A.
Published: July 2013

Background

Maternal low birthweight and vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy are associated with a similar spectrum of adverse pregnancy outcomes including pre‐eclampsia and gestational diabetes. However, the relationship between maternal birthweight and subsequent vitamin D concentrations in early pregnancy is largely unknown.

Methods

We assessed whether self‐reported maternal birthweight was associated with risk of early pregnancy vitamin D deficiency (≤20 ng/mL) among a pregnancy cohort (n = 658). Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectroscopy.

Results

Adjusting for maternal characteristics and month of blood draw, a 100‐g higher maternal birthweight was associated with a 5.7% decreased risk of early pregnancy 25(OH)D deficiency [odds ratio (OR) = 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90, 0.99]. Low‐birthweight (<2500 g) women were 3.7 times as likely to have early pregnancy 25(OH)D deficiency compared with normal‐birthweight women [OR = 3.69; 95% CI 1.63, 8.34]. These relationships were not modified by either pre‐pregnancy overweight status [body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2] or adulthood weight trajectory (BMI change ≥2 kg/m2 from age 18 to pre‐pregnancy).

Conclusions

Further research on shared developmental mechanisms that determine birthweight and vitamin D homeostasis may help identify targets and related preventative measures for adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Some Considerations on the Definition of Risk Based on Concepts of Systems Theory and Probability
Authors: Andretta Massimo
Published: July 2013

The concept of risk has been applied in many modern science and technology fields. Despite its successes in many applicative fields, there is still not a well‐established vision and universally accepted definition of the principles and fundamental concepts of the risk assessment discipline. As emphasized recently, the risk fields suffer from a lack of clarity on their scientific bases that can define, in a unique theoretical framework, the general concepts in the different areas of application. The aim of this article is to make suggestions for another perspective of risk definition that could be applied and, in a certain sense, generalize some of the previously known definitions (at least in the fields of technical and scientific applications). By drawing on my experience of risk assessment in different applicative situations (particularly in the risk estimation for major industrial accidents, and in the health and ecological risk assessment for contaminated sites), I would like to revise some general and foundational concepts of risk analysis in as consistent a manner as possible from the axiomatic/deductive point of view. My proposal is based on the fundamental concepts of the systems theory and of the probability. In this way, I try to frame, in a single, broad, and general theoretical context some fundamental concepts and principles applicable in many different fields of risk assessment. I hope that this article will contribute to the revitalization and stimulation of useful discussions and new insights into the key issues and theoretical foundations of risk assessment disciplines.
Technical Progress and Real Wages Once again
Authors: Batra Ravi , Beladi Hamid , Oladi Reza
Published: July 2013

We construct a general equilibrium model of trade and show that an economy can experience technological progress and declining real wages provided that it is open to trade and import demand is sufficiently inelastic in both countries. This is a puzzling outcome so far as marginal productivity paradigm is concerned. In this context we demonstrate that new technology works differently in a closed vs an open economy. In an open economy, technical improvements may generate a fall in labor real earnings, but not in a closed economy. In addition, technical progress in manufacturing must increase manufacturing–service wage gap according to marginal productivity doctrine. We show that the opposite outcome can occur theoretically in an open economy—yet another seemingly puzzling labor market outcome.
The Transnational Assembling of Marina Bay, Singapore
Authors: Yap Erica X.Y.
Published: July 2013

From Shanghai's Pudong to Dubai's Marina, waterfront developments are increasingly popular urban forms worldwide. Drawing on the literature on urban assemblages, I explore how urban waterfronts are produced out of the transnational assembling of models, knowledge and expertise. My case study here is Marina Bay, Singapore, a landscape that like much of the rest of Singapore is a product of talent and ideas from elsewhere. In this paper, two strategies employed by Singapore's urban authorities to court global expertise for Marina Bay's development are examined – their formation of an international panel of experts in the fields of urban planning, policy and design, and their launching of international competitions to attract top design firms. Like transfer agents that enable policies to travel, I argue that these individuals and firms are situated within wider knowledge circuits that straddle the globe, and are thus well placed to filter and channel ideas from elsewhere to Singapore. Drawing on selected developments within Marina Bay, I trace the routes taken by these ideas, the changes they underwent as they travelled, as well as their relationships with the actors that facilitated their journeys. In doing so, I hope to demonstrate the usefulness of understanding the urban as more‐than‐territorial in both theory and practice.
Millimeter wave silicon micromachined waveguide probe as an aid for skin diagnosis – results of measurements on phantom material with varied water content
Authors: Dancila D. , Augustine R. , Töpfer F. , Dudorov S. , Hu X. , Emtestam L. , Tenerz L. , Oberhammer J. , Rydberg A.
Published: July 2013

Background

More than 2 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States, which makes it the most common form of cancer in that country. Early detection of cancer usually results in less extensive treatment and better outcome for the patient. Millimeter wave silicon micromachined waveguide probe is foreseen as an aid for skin diagnosis, which is currently based on visual inspection followed by biopsy, in cases where the macroscopical picture raises suspicion of malignancy.

Aims

Demonstration of the discrimination potential of tissues of different water content using a novel micromachined silicon waveguide probe. Secondarily, the silicon probe miniaturization till an inspection area of 600 × 200 μm2, representing a drastic reduction by 96.3% of the probing area, in comparison with a conventional WR‐10 waveguide. The high planar resolution is required for histology and early‐state skin‐cancer detection.

Material and methods

To evaluate the probe three phantoms with different water contents, i.e. 50%, 75% and 95%, mimicking dielectric properties of human skin were characterized in the frequency range of 95‐105 GHz. The complex permittivity values of the skin are obtained from the variation in frequency and amplitude of the reflection coefficient (S11), measured with a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), by comparison with finite elements simulations of the measurement set‐up, using the commercially available software, HFSS. The expected frequency variation is calculated with HFSS and is based on extrapolated complex permittivities, using one relaxation Debye model from permittivity measurements obtained using the Agilent probe.

Results

Millimeter wave reflection measurements were performed using the probe in the frequency range of 95‐105 GHz with three phantoms materials and air. Intermediate measurement results are in good agreement with HFSS simulations, based on the extrapolated complex permittivity. The resonance frequency lowers, from the idle situation when it is probing air, respectively by 0.7, 1.2 and 4.26 GHz when a phantom material of 50%, 75% and 95% water content is measured.

Discussion

The results of the measurements in our laboratory set‐up with three different phantoms indicate that the probe may be able to discriminate between normal and pathological skin tissue, improving the spatial resolution in histology and on skin measurements, due to the highly reduced area of probing.

Conclusion

The probe has the potential to discriminate between normal and pathological skin tissue. Further, improved information, compared to the optical histological inspection can be obtained, i.e. the complex permittivity characterization is obtained with a high resolution, due to the highly reduced measurement area of the probe tip.
Impacts of land‐use intensity on soil organic carbon content, soil structure and water‐holding capacity
Authors: Acín‐Carrera M. , José Marques M. , Carral P. , Álvarez A. M. , López C. , Martín‐López B. , González J. A.
Published: July 2013

The impact of land‐use intensity is evaluated through changes in the soil properties in different areas of the traditional central Spanish landscape. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content, bulk density, aggregate stability and water‐holding capacity (WHC) in the topsoil of active and abandoned vineyards, livestock routes (LR) and young Quercus afforested areas were analysed. These different types of land use can be interpreted as having a gradient of progressively less impact on soil functions or conservation. As soil use intensity declines, there is an increase in SOC content (from 0.2 to 0.6%), WHC (from 0.2 to 0.3 g H2O per g soil) and aggregate stability (from 4 to 33 drop impacts). Soils beneath vines have lost their upper horizon (15 cm depth) because of centuries‐old tillage management of vineyards. Except for an increase in bulk density (from 1.2 to 1.4 g/cm3), there were no differences in soil characteristics 4 yr after the abandonment of vine management. LR can be considered sustainable uses of land, which preserve or improve soil characteristics, as there were no significant differences between topsoil from LR and that from a 40‐yr‐old Quercus afforested area. SOC content, one of the main indicators for soil conservation, is considered very low in every case analysed, even in the more conservative uses of land. These data can be useful in understanding the slow rate of recovery of soils, even after long‐term cessation of agricultural land use.