bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increasing the Rate of Influenza Vaccination in Children With Asthma Using a Clinic Staff and Provider Educational Intervention
Authors: McCreary Lorie
Published: November 2013

Objective. The purpose of this quality improvement study was to evaluate how the use of an educational intervention aimed at staff and providers at a pediatric primary care clinic compared with no intervention would affect influenza vaccination rates over a 3-month period during the prime vaccination season. Methods. A retrospective-descriptive design was used. Billing records were evaluated for an asthma-related diagnosis and for receipt of an influenza vaccine from September 10 through December 10 in 2011 and 2012. Results. In 2011, 1814 pediatric patients visited the clinic, and 6% (n = 109) had a billable asthma-related diagnosis. In 2012, 1723 pediatric patients visited the clinic, with 5% (n = 92) with asthma. In 2011, 69% (n = 75) of children with asthma received an influenza vaccine, and 56 (75%) received the vaccine at a shot-only flu clinic. In 2012, 70% (n = 64) of children with asthma were vaccinated, 41 (64%) at a shot-only flu clinic. In 2011, 43 (44%) children with asthma presented to the clinic for an illness-related visit, and 9 (21%) were vaccinated. In 2012, 48 (52%) children with asthma presented for an illness-related visit, and 20 (42%) received a vaccine. The change in proportion of children with asthma vaccinated at an illness-related visit did not reach statistical significance ( P = .058). In 2011, 50% (n = 912) of the total clinic population received an influenza vaccine. In 2012, 57% (n = 981) received an influenza vaccine. The difference in the proportion of the total clinic population vaccinated was found to be statistically significant ( P < .001). Conclusions. Despite staff education, there were no statistically significant differences in influenza vaccination rates in children with asthma. Perhaps a multi-interventional approach would be more effective in increasing the vaccination rates in this high-risk group.
Reflexive Governance Dynamics Operative Within Round One of World Religious Leaders’ Dialogue With the G8 (2005-2013)
Authors: Steiner Sherrie
Published: November 2013

This case study of the World Religious Leaders’ Summits illustrates reflexive governance dynamics operative within the religious summitry process from 2005 to 2013. Past research explored reflexivity within the cultural capital produced by religious leaders and delivered to G8 political leaders. Data are drawn from qualitative interviews, questionnaires, and summit presentations to further explore how reflexivity variously opens up and closes down throughout the 9-year cycle. Rather than choosing between keeping up action capacity or opening problem handling for further contextualization, reflexive governance is best understood as that which both interplays and combines variously. A coevolutionary approach to the reflexive governance of religious summitry is discussed in light of the changing dynamics associated with the upcoming transition from Millennium Development Goals to the proposed Sustainable Development Goals.
Winner-Take-All Markets
Authors: Frank Robert H. , Cook Philip J.
Published: November 2013

In recent decades, explosive growth in the salaries of top earners, combined with income stagnation or decline for most others, has formed a renewed challenge to the claim that a free market serves the public interest. These trends lend new urgency to understanding why some people earn so much more than others and what the consequences of growing income gaps are for economic growth and well being. In this article, we build on earlier work by Alfred Marshall and Sherwin Rosen to argue that it is the distribution of opportunities, not the distribution of talent, that has been changing in recent decades. The reason for this shift is partly technological. As the revolution in information processing and transmission continues, there is increasing leverage for the talents of those who occupy top positions, and correspondingly less room for others to find a lucrative niche. In effect, the reward structure common in entertainment and sports—where thousands compete for a handful of big prizes at the top—has now permeated many other sectors of the economy. The payoffs in these markets are not only skewed but depend more on rank order than productivity in the traditional sense. We describe general conditions under which markets organized like tournaments will attract a wastefully large share of inputs. The article’s conclusions do not fit comfortably into any one intellectual camp. We begin with the presumption that markets work (low transaction costs, free entry) and that observed trends reflect underlying economic forces. But unlike many economists, we conclude that markets do not always serve the public interest well—indeed, that much of the rivalry for society’s top prizes is both costly and unproductive. And unlike most economists, we conclude that rising inequality is more likely to curtail economic growth than to stimulate it. We argue that cooperative agreements to reduce the top prizes and curb some forms of competition need not lead inevitably to socialist squalor.
Can a Merger Take Place among Symmetric Firms?
Authors: Fikru Mahelet G. , Lahiri Sajal
Published: November 2013

The literature on mergers and acquisitions shows that a merger among identical firms does not take place because it is not profitable. This study forms a theoretical framework for understanding mergers among identical firms in a pollution-intensive sector. When a merger occurs the market structure changes and so do optimal environmental policies. This flexibility in policy provides the incentive to merge even if there are no efficiency gains.
On the Mixed Extension of a Strategic Game1
Authors: Haller Hans
Published: November 2013

The mixed extension of a strategic game is said to exist if each joint mixed strategy yields a well-defined and finite expected payoff for every player. With finitely many players, a mixed extension exists if and only if all payoff functions are bounded. In contrast, the mixed extension exists for some but by no means all games with infinitely many players and unbounded payoff functions.
Bigger Countries with Probably Lower Commodity Taxes
Authors: Liu Xin , Madden Paul
Published: November 2013

The article studies a spatial model of commodity tax competition between two countries that may differ in both population density and land mass, synthesizing two earlier contributions where pure strategy equilibria always existed and where the ‘bigger’ country (that with the larger population) set the higher tax. In our more general setting, pure strategy equilibria may not exist, but we can compute a mixed strategy equilibrium, which offers probabilistic alternatives to the empirically questionable ‘big country-high tax’ correlation; the bigger country may have a lower ‘expected’ tax rate and may be ‘more likely’ to be the low tax country.
Risk as Determinant of Income and Cross-border Pricing of Multinational Enterprises
Authors: Lutz Stefan , Kleinfeldt Daniel
Published: November 2013

International taxation rules for multi-national enterprises (MNEs) prescribe that international prices for goods and services of different subsidiaries—and therefore incomes of these subsidiaries—must be comparable to those set between independent international firms for the purpose of taxation. These rules also prescribe that risk should be accounted for in pricing and income. Since current practice of price comparisons does not yet fully allow accounting for risk, prices and in turn earnings and taxation may be distorted. We analyze a panel of about 160,000 European manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade firms for the years 1992 to 2007 in order to establish to what extent earnings do take risk into account. Risk measured by earnings volatility emerges as one major determinant of income. When earnings are set in relation to invested capital, risk emerges as the only stable determinant of income. Results indicate that both MNEs and independent firms regularly account for risk as a major determinant of income when pricing international goods and services.
Cost-sharing Rules and Efficient Provisions of Public Goods
Authors: Xu Yongsheng , Zhang Li , Zheng Xinye
Published: November 2013

We develop a simple scheme for the provision of public good and show that, under certain conditions, the equilibrium provision of the public good is at the efficient level. Our scheme is based on conventional games of private provision of the public good with an exogenously given cost structure to share the cost of the provision of the public good. We also give a characterization of the class of cost-sharing rules that induce the efficient provision of the public good at the equilibrium.
CeO2 induced dispersive distribution of TiB2 particles in in situ TiB2/Al composite
Authors: Xue J. , Han Y. F. , Lei J. B. , Wang J. , Sun B. D.
Published: November 2013

The roles of CeO2 additive during preparation of in situ TiB2/Al composite, alleviating particle settlement in composite melt and significantly improving particle dispersion in final microstructure, are studied in this paper. It is evidenced that the CeO2 additive reacts with Al melts to release Ce solute into the melts, and the released surface active Ce is absorbed in the Al/TiB2 interfaces without any other reaction products. First principles calculations show that the interfacial energy of Al/TiB2 interfaces is reduced owing to the presence of Ce in Al/TiB2 interfacial area. Therefore, the wettability of molten Al on TiB2 surface is increased and the dispersion of TiB2 particles in Al matrix is eventually improved.
Minimum generalized degree distance of n-vertex tricyclic graphs
Authors: Hamzeh Asma , Iranmanesh Ali , Hossein-Zadeh Samaneh
Published: November 2013

In (Hamzeh et al. in Stud. Univ. Babeş-Bolyai, Chem., 4:73-85, 2012), we introduced a generalization of a degree distance of graphs as a new topological index. In this paper, we characterize the n-vertex tricyclic graphs which have the minimum generalized degree distance.

MSC:05C12, 05C35, 05C05.
Identification and characterization of EBV genomes in spontaneously immortalized human peripheral blood B lymphocytes by NGS technology
Authors: Lei Haiyan , Li Tianwei , Hung Guo-Chiuan , Li Bingjie , Tsai Shien , Lo Shyh-Ching
Published: November 2013

Background

We conducted genomic sequencing to identify Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) genomes in 2 human peripheral blood B lymphocytes that underwent spontaneous immortalization promoted by mycoplasma infections in culture, using the high-throughput sequencing (HTS) Illumina MiSeq platform. The purpose of this study was to examine if rapid detection and characterization of a viral agent could be effectively achieved by HTS using a platform that has become readily available in general biology laboratories.

Results

Raw read sequences, averaging 175 bps in length, were mapped with DNA databases of human, bacteria, fungi and virus genomes using the CLC Genomics Workbench bioinformatics tool. Overall 37,757 out of 49,520,834 total reads in one lymphocyte line (# K4413-Mi) and 28,178 out of 45,335,960 reads in the other lymphocyte line (# K4123-Mi) were identified as EBV sequences. The two EBV genomes with estimated 35.22-fold and 31.06-fold sequence coverage respectively, designated K4413-Mi EBV and K4123-Mi EBV (GenBank accession number KC440852 and KC440851 respectively), are characteristic of type-1 EBV.

Conclusions

Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis among K4413-Mi EBV, K4123-Mi EBV and the EBV genomes previously reported to GenBank as well as the NA12878 EBV genome assembled from database of the 1000 Genome Project showed that these 2 EBVs are most closely related to B95-8, an EBV previously isolated from a patient with infectious mononucleosis and WT-EBV. They are less similar to EBVs associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) from Hong Kong and China as well as the Akata strain of a case of Burkitt’s lymphoma from Japan. They are most different from type 2 EBV found in Western African Burkitt’s lymphoma.
Resistance exercise leading to failure versus not to failure: effects on cardiovascular control
Authors: De Souza Jéssica Cardoso , Tibana Ramires Alsamir , Cavaglieri Claudia Regina , Vieira Denis César Leite , De Sousa Nuno Manuel Frade , Felipe Augusto Dos Santos Mendes , Tajra Vitor , Martins Wagner Rodrigues , De Farias Darlan Lopes , Balsamo Sandor , Navalta James Wilfred , Campbell Carmen Silvia Grubert , Prestes Jonato
Published: November 2013

Background

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute effects of resistance exercise (RE) leading to failure and RE that was not to failure on 24 h blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) in sedentary normotensive adult women.

Methods

Ten women (33.2 ± 5.8 years; 159.3 ± 9.4 cm; 58.0 ±6.4 kg; body fat 28.4 ± 2.8%) randomly underwent three experimental sessions: control (40 minutes of seated rest), RE leading to failure with 3 sets of 10 repetitions maximum (10-RM), and RE not to failure at 60% of 10-RM with 3 sets of 10 repetitions. Immediately post session BP and HRV were measured for 24 h.

Results

Ratings of perceived exertion and heart rate were higher during the 10-RM session when compared with 60% of 10-RM (6.4 ± 0.5 vs 3.5 ± 0.8 and 123.7 ± 13.9 vs 104.5 ± 7.3 bpm, respectively). The systolic, diastolic and mean BP decreased at 07:00 a.m. after the 10-RM session when compared with the control session (−9.0 ± 7.8 mmHg, -16.0 ± 12.9 mmHg and −14.3 ± 11.2 mmHg, respectively). The root mean square of the squared differences between R-R intervals decreased after both the 60% of 10-RM and 10-RM sessions compared with the control session.

Conclusions

An acute RE session leading to failure induced a higher drop of BP upon awakening, while both RE sessions reduced cardiac parasympathetic modulation. RE may be an interesting training strategy to acutely decrease BP in adult women.
Genomic comparative analysis and gene function prediction in infectious diseases: application to the investigation of a meningitis outbreak
Authors: Lavezzo Enrico , Toppo Stefano , Franchin Elisa , Di Camillo Barbara , Finotello Francesca , Falda Marco , Manganelli Riccardo , Palù Giorgio , Barzon Luisa
Published: November 2013

Background

Next generation sequencing (NGS) is being increasingly used for the detection and characterization of pathogens during outbreaks. This technology allows rapid sequencing of pathogen full genomes, useful not only for accurate genotyping and molecular epidemiology, but also for identification of drug resistance and virulence traits.

Methods

In this study, an approach based on whole genome sequencing by NGS, comparative genomics, and gene function prediction was set up and retrospectively applied for the investigation of two N. meningitidis serogroup C isolates collected from a cluster of meningococcal disease, characterized by a high fatality rate.

Results

According to conventional molecular typing methods, all the isolates had the same typing results and were classified as outbreak isolates within the same N. meningitidis sequence type ST-11, while full genome sequencing demonstrated subtle genetic differences between the isolates. Looking for these specific regions by means of 9 PCR and cycle sequencing assays in other 7 isolates allowed distinguishing outbreak cases from unrelated cases. Comparative genomics and gene function prediction analyses between outbreak isolates and a set of reference N. meningitidis genomes led to the identification of differences in gene content that could be relevant for pathogenesis. Most genetic changes occurred in the capsule locus and were consistent with recombination and horizontal acquisition of a set of genes involved in capsule biosynthesis.

Conclusions

This study showed the added value given by whole genome sequencing by NGS over conventional sequence-based typing methods in the investigation of an outbreak. Routine application of this technology in clinical microbiology will significantly improve methods for molecular epidemiology and surveillance of infectious disease and provide a bulk of data useful to improve our understanding of pathogens biology.
Population-based analysis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use among children in four European countries in the SOS project: what size of data platforms and which study designs do we need to assess safety issues?
Authors: Valkhoff Vera E , Schade René , ‘t Jong Geert W , Romio Silvana , Schuemie Martijn J , Arfe Andrea , Garbe Edeltraut , Herings Ron , Lucchi Silvia , Picelli Gino , Schink Tania , Straatman Huub , Villa Marco , Kuipers Ernst J , Sturkenboom Miriam CJM
Published: November 2013

Background

Data on utilization patterns and safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in children are scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utilization of NSAIDs among children in four European countries as part of the Safety Of non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SOS) project.

Methods

We used longitudinal patient data from seven databases (GePaRD, IPCI, OSSIFF, Pedianet, PHARMO, SISR, and THIN) to calculate prevalence rates of NSAID use among children (0–18 years of age) from Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and United Kingdom. All databases contained a representative population sample and recorded demographics, diagnoses, and drug prescriptions. Prevalence rates of NSAID use were stratified by age, sex, and calendar time. The person-time of NSAID exposure was calculated by using the duration of the prescription supply. We calculated incidence rates for serious adverse events of interest. For these adverse events of interest, sample size calculations were conducted (alpha = 0.05; 1-beta = 0.8) to determine the amount of NSAID exposure time that would be required for safety studies in children.

Results

The source population comprised 7.7 million children with a total of 29.6 million person-years of observation. Of those, 1.3 million children were exposed to at least one of 45 NSAIDs during observation time. Overall prevalence rates of NSAID use in children differed across countries, ranging from 4.4 (Italy) to 197 (Germany) per 1000 person-years in 2007. For Germany, United Kingdom, and Italian pediatricians, we observed high rates of NSAID use among children aged one to four years. For all four countries, NSAID use increased with older age categories for children older than 11. In this analysis, only for ibuprofen (the most frequently used NSAID), enough exposure was available to detect a weak association (relative risk of 2) between exposure and asthma exacerbation (the most common serious adverse event of interest).

Conclusions

Patterns of NSAID use in children were heterogeneous across four European countries. The SOS project platform captures data on more than 1.3 million children who were exposed to NSAIDs. Even larger data platforms and the use of advanced versions of case-only study designs may be needed to conclusively assess the safety of these drugs in children.
Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of recurrent miscarriage: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Yang Guo-Yan , Luo Hui , Liao Xing , Liu Jian-Ping
Published: November 2013

Background

Traditional Chinese medicine has been widely used for the treatment of recurrent miscarriage in China and other Asian countries for long time. We conducted this review to systematically summarize the evidences of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for the prevention and treatment of recurrent miscarriage in randomized trials, and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CHM compared with placebo or conventional medicine.

Methods

We searched studies in PubMed, ClinicalTrials, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, SinoMed and VIP databases until December, 2012. Randomized trials on CHM alone or in combination with conventional medicine for recurrent miscarriage compared with placebo or conventional medicine were included. We evaluated the methodological quality of each included trials using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results

A total of 41 RCTs (3660 participants) were included. The majority of trials had a high or unclear risk of bias. CHM used alone or plus progesterone-based treatment showed superior effect over progesterone-based treatment in improving live birth rate and embryonic developmental state (measured by B ultrasound). However, there is substantial heterogeneity within each subgroup analysis (I

2
ranging from 35% to 71%). CHM plus progesterone and hCG-based treatment was superior to progesterone and hCG-based treatment in improving the embryonic developmental state, but not live birth rate. No severe adverse events were reported in relation to CHM.

Conclusions

Some Chinese herbal medicines or in combination with progesterone-based treatment demonstrated potentially beneficial effect in improving live birth rate and embryonic developmental state for women with recurrent miscarriage. However, due to the substantial heterogeneity among the herbal interventions and limitations of methodological quality of the included trials, it is not possible to recommend any specific CHMs for recurrent miscarriage. Further rigorous clinical trials are warranted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHM.
Optimizing Escherichia coli as a protein expression platform to produce Mycobacterium tuberculosis immunogenic proteins
Authors: Piubelli Luciano , Campa Manuela , Temporini Caterina , Binda Elisa , Mangione Francesca , Amicosante Massimo , Terreni Marco , Marinelli Flavia , Pollegioni Loredano
Published: November 2013

Background

A number of valuable candidates as tuberculosis vaccine have been reported, some of which have already entered clinical trials. The new vaccines, especially subunit vaccines, need multiple administrations in order to maintain adequate life-long immune memory: this demands for high production levels and degree of purity.

Results

In this study, TB10.4, Ag85B and a TB10.4-Ag85B chimeric protein (here-after referred as full) - immunodominant antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis - were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The rational design of expression constructs and optimization of fermentation and purification conditions allowed a marked increase in solubility and yield of the recombinant antigens. Indeed, scaling up of the process guaranteed mass production of all these three antigens (2.5-25 mg of pure protein/L cultivation broth). Quality of produced soluble proteins was evaluated both by mass spectrometry to assess the purity of final preparations, and by circular dichroism spectroscopy to ascertain the protein conformation. Immunological tests of the different protein products demonstrated that when TB10.4 was fused to Ag85B, the chimeric protein was more immunoreactive than either of the immunogenic protein alone.

Conclusions

We reached the goal of purifying large quantities of soluble antigens effective in generating immunological response against M. tuberculosis by a robust, controlled, scalable and economically feasible production process.
Survey of Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-1 and chloroquine resistance transporter alleles in Haiti
Authors: ElBadry Maha A , Existe Alexandre , Victor Yves S , Memnon Gladys , Fukuda Mark , Dame John B , Yowell Charles A , Okech Bernard A
Published: November 2013

Background

In Haiti where chloroquine (CQ) is widely used for malaria treatment, reports of resistance are scarce. However, recent identification of CQ resistance genotypes in one site is suggestive of an emerging problem. Additional studies are needed to evaluate genetic mutations associated with CQ resistance, especially in thePlasmodium falciparummulti-drug resistance-1 gene (pfmdr1) while expanding the already available information onP. falciparumCQ transporter gene (pfcrt) in Haiti.

Methods

Blood samples were collected on Whatman filter cards (FTA) from eight clinics spread across Haiti. Following the confirmation ofP. falciparumin the samples, PCR protocols were used to amplify regions ofpfmdr1andpfcrtcodons of interest, (86, 184, 1034, 1042, and 1246) and (72-76), respectively. Sequencing and site-specific restriction enzyme digestions were used to analyse these DNA fragments for the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) known to confer resistance to anti-malarial drugs.

Results

P. falciparuminfection was confirmed in160 samples by amplifying a segment of theP. falciparum18S small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (pfssurrna). The sequence ofpfmdr1in 54 of these samples was determined between codons 86,184 codons 1034, 1042 and 1246. No sequence differences from that of the NF54 clone 3D7 were found among the 54 samples except at codon 184, where a non-silent mutation was found in all samples predicted to alter the amino acid sequence replacing tyrosine with phenylalanine (Y184F). This altered sequence was also confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion. The sequence ofpfmdr1 at codons 86, 184, 1034 and 1042 encoded the NFSN haplotype. The sequence ofpfcrtcodons 72-76 from 79 samples was determined and found to encode CVMNK, consistent with a CQ sensitive genotype.

Conclusion

The presence of the Y184F mutation in pfmdr1ofP. falciparumparasites in Haiti may have implications for resistance to antimalarial drugs. The absence of mutation inpfcrtat codon 76 among 79 isolates tested suggests that sensitivity to CQ in Haiti remains common. Wide-spread screening of thepfmdr1andpfcrtespecially among patients experiencing treatment failure may be a useful tool in early detection of the emergence of antimalarial drug resistance in Haiti.
The relevance of the intrinsic subtype to the clinicopathological features and biomarkers in Japanese breast cancer patients
Authors: Tamaki Masako , Kamio Takako , Kameoka Shingo , Kojimahara Noriko , Nishikawa Toshio
Published: November 2013

Background

Breast cancer is a disease rich in diversity, and it can be categorized into the immunohistochemical intrinsic subtypes : ER/PR + and HER2-, ER/PR + and HER2+, HER2 type, basal-like and unclassified.

Methods

In this study, in addition to the clinicopathological features potentially associated with the intrinsic subtypes, protein expression and genetic mutations of key molecules associated with breast cancer prognosis and treatment sensitivity were analyzed. The distribution of subtypes in the patient population and the differences in marker distribution across the subtypes were investigated.

Results

The immunohistochemical features of 471 consecutive surgical cases of women with primary breast cancer, treated in a single institution, were examined. There were 306 patients who were ER/PR + HER2- (65%); 41 who were ER/PR + HER2+ (8.7%); 59 with HER2 type (12.5%); 37 with basal-like (7.9%); and 28 patients whose breast cancer was unclassified (5.9%). There were no significant differences between the subtypes regarding age, menopausal status, disease stage, lymphatic invasion, blood vessel invasion and lymph node metastasis. Statistically significant differences were found for histological type and grade. Regarding protein expression and genetic mutation, significant differences were found in the distribution within each subtype for six out of 12 molecules investigated.

Conclusions

This study revealed that subtypes differ not only in their clinical pathological profiles, such as histological types and histological grades, but also in molecular expression. The molecular expression patterns observed for each intrinsic subtype may help the selection of an optimal treatment strategy.
Association between community garden participation and fruit and vegetable consumption in rural Missouri
Authors: Barnidge Ellen K , Hipp Pamela R , Estlund Amy , Duggan Kathleen , Barnhart Kathryn J , Brownson Ross C
Published: November 2013

Background

Fruit and vegetable consumption reduces chronic disease risk, yet the majority of Americans consume fewer than recommended. Inadequate access to fruits and vegetables is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to low consumption of healthy foods. Emerging evidence shows the effectiveness of community gardens in increasing access to, and consumption of, fruits and vegetables.

Methods

Two complementary studies explored the association of community garden participation and fruit and vegetable consumption in rural communities in Missouri. The first was with a convenience sample of participants in a rural community garden intervention who completed self-administered surveys. The second was a population-based survey conducted with a random sample of 1,000 residents in the intervention catchment area.

Results

Participation in a community garden was associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption. The first study found that individuals who worked in a community garden at least once a week were more likely to report eating fruits and vegetables because of their community garden work (X2 (125) = 7.78, p = .0088). Population-based survey results show that 5% of rural residents reported participating in a community garden. Those who reported community garden participation were more likely to report eating fruits 2 or more times per day and vegetables 3 or more times per day than those who did not report community garden participation, even after adjusting for covariates (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.76, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.35 to 5.65).

Conclusion

These complementary studies provide evidence that community gardens are a promising strategy for promoting fruit and vegetable consumption in rural communities.
Brouwer fixed point theorem in "Equation missing"
Authors: Drapeau Samuel , Karliczek Martin , Kupper Michael , Streckfuß Martin
Published: November 2013

The classical Brouwer fixed point theorem states that in

R
d

every continuous function from a convex, compact set on itself has a fixed point. For an arbitrary probability space, let

L
0

=

L
0

(
Ω
,
A
,
P
)

be the set of random variables. We consider

(

L
0

)

d

as an

L
0

-module and show that local, sequentially continuous functions on

L
0

-convex, closed and bounded subsets have a fixed point which is measurable by construction.

MSC:47H10, 13C13, 46A19, 60H25.
Human Papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus co-infection in Cervical Carcinoma in Algerian women
Authors: Khenchouche Abdelhalim , Sadouki Nabila , Boudriche Arab , Houali Karim , Graba Abdelaziz , Ooka Tadamasa , Bouguermouh Abdelmadjid
Published: November 2013

Background

Despite the fact that the implication of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the carcinogenesis and prognosis of cervical cancer is well established, the impact of a co-infection with high risk HPV (HR-HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is still not fully understood.

Methods

Fifty eight randomly selected cases of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the uterine cervix, 14 normal cervices specimens, 21 CIN-2/3 and 16 CIN-1 cases were examined for EBV and HPV infections. Detection of HR-HPV specific sequences was carried out by PCR amplification using consensus primers of Manos and by Digene Hybrid Capture. The presence of EBV was revealed by amplifying a 660 bp specific EBV sequence of BALF1. mRNA expression of LMP-1 in one hand and protein levels of BARF-1, LMP-1 and EBNA-1 in the other hand were assessed by RT-PCR and immunoblotting and/or immunohischemistry respectively.

Results

HR-HPV infection was found in patients with SCC (88%), low-grade (75%) and high grade (95%) lesions compared to only 14% of normal cervix cases. However, 69%, 12.5%, 38.1%, and 14% of SCC, CIN-1, CIN-2/3 and normal cervix tissues, respectively, were EBV infected. The highest co-infection (HR-HPV and EBV) was found in squamous cell carcinoma cases (67%). The latter cases showed 27% and 29% expression of EBV BARF-1 and LMP-1 oncogenes respectively.

Conclusion

The high rate of HR-HPV and EBV co-infection in SCC suggests that EBV infection is incriminated in cervical cancer progression. This could be taken into account as bad prognosis in this type of cancer. However, the mode of action in dual infection in cervical oncogenesis needs further investigation.
A device for single leaf labelling with CO2 isotopes to study carbon allocation and partitioning in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Kölling Katharina , Müller Antonia , Flütsch Patrick , Zeeman Samuel C
Published: November 2013

Background

Plant biomass consists primarily of carbohydrates derived from photosynthesis. Monitoring the assimilation of carbon via the Calvin-Benson cycle and its subsequent utilisation is fundamental to understanding plant growth. The use of stable and radioactive carbon isotopes, supplied to plants as CO2, allows the measurement of fluxes through the intermediates of primary photosynthetic metabolism, long-distance transport of sugars in the vasculature, and the synthesis of structural and storage components.

Results

Here we describe the design of a system for supplying isotopically labelled CO2 to single leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. We demonstrate that the system works well using short pulses of 14CO2 and that it can be used to produce robust qualitative and quantitative data about carbon export from source leaves to the sink tissues, such as the developing leaves and the roots. Time course experiments show the dynamics of carbon partitioning between storage as starch, local production of biomass, and export of carbon to sink tissues.

Conclusion

This isotope labelling method is relatively simple to establish and inexpensive to perform. Our use of 14CO2 helps establish the temporal and spatial allocation of assimilated carbon during plant growth, delivering data complementary to those obtained in recent studies using 13CO2 and MS-based metabolomics techniques. However, we emphasise that this labelling device could also be used effectively in combination with 13CO2 and MS-based techniques.
Doppler ultrasound evaluation in preeclampsia
Authors: Lopez-Mendez Maria A , Martinez-Gaytan Victoria , Cortes-Flores Raul , Ramos-Gonzalez Rene M , Ochoa-Torres Mauro A , Garza-Veloz Idalia , Martinez-Acuña Monica I , Badillo-Almaraz Jose I , Martinez-Fierro Margarita L
Published: November 2013

Background

Worldwide preeclampsia (PE) is the leading cause of maternal death and affects 5 to 8% of pregnant women. PE is characterized by elevated blood pressure and proteinuria. Doppler Ultrasound (US) evaluation has been considered a useful method for prediction of PE; however, there is no complete data about the most frequently altered US parameters in the pathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the uterine, umbilical, and the middle cerebral arteries using Doppler US parameters [resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), notch (N), systolic peak (SP) and their combinations] in pregnant women, in order to make a global evaluation of hemodynamic repercussion caused by the established PE.

Results

A total of 102 pregnant Mexican women (65 PE women and 37 normotensive women) were recruited in a cases and controls study. Blood velocity waveforms from uterine, umbilical, and middle cerebral arteries, in pregnancies from 24 to 37 weeks of gestation were recorded by trans-abdominal examination with a Toshiba Ultrasound Power Vision 6000 SSA-370A, with a 3.5 MHz convex transducer. Abnormal general Doppler US profile showed a positive association with PE [odds ratio (OR) = 2.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2 - 7.3, P = 0.021)], and a specificity and predictive positive value of 89.2% and 88.6%, respectively. Other parameters like N presence, RI and PI of umbilical artery, as well as the PI of middle cerebral artery, showed differences between groups (P values < 0.05).

Conclusion

General Doppler US result, as well as N from uterine vessel, RI from umbilical artery, and PI from umbilical and middle cerebral arteries in their individual form, may be considered as tools to determine hemodynamic repercussion caused by PE.
Parasite epigenetics and immune evasion: lessons from budding yeast
Authors: Wyse Brandon A , Oshidari Roxanne , Jeffery Daniel CB , Yankulov Krassimir Y
Published: November 2013

The remarkable ability of many parasites to evade host immunity is the key to their success and pervasiveness. The immune evasion is directly linked to the silencing of the members of extended families of genes that encode for major parasite antigens. At any time only one of these genes is active. Infrequent switches to other members of the gene family help the parasites elude the immune system and cause prolonged maladies. For most pathogens, the detailed mechanisms of gene silencing and switching are poorly understood. On the other hand, studies in the budding yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaehave revealed similar mechanisms of gene repression and switching and have provided significant insights into the molecular basis of these phenomena. This information is becoming increasingly relevant to the genetics of the parasites. Here we summarize recent advances in parasite epigenetics and emphasize the similarities betweenS. cerevisiaeand pathogens such asPlasmodium,Trypanosoma,Candida, andPneumocystis. We also outline current challenges in the control and the treatment of the diseases caused by these parasites and link them to epigenetics and the wealth of knowledge acquired from budding yeast.
Will vaccination against rotavirus infection with RIX4414 be cost-saving in Germany?
Authors: Knoll Stefanie , Mair Christoph , Benter Ursula , Vouk Katja , Standaert Baudouin
Published: November 2013

Background

Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) is a frequent disease in young children. The recommended German paediatric immunisation schedule does not currently include rotavirus vaccination. A lack of economic data on the impact of routine vaccination is stated as one of the reasons. As a result, the current coverage rate is low, around 26%. This study investigated whether rotavirus vaccination using the two-dose rotavirus vaccine RIX4414 (Rotarix®, GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines) would be a cost-saving intervention from the perspective of the statutory health insurance (SHI) in Germany.

Objective

The objective of the study was to analyse health outcomes (number of RVGE cases and hospitalisations prevented) and the associated cost to the SHI when comparing 100% rotavirus vaccination with no vaccination in Germany.

Methods

A Markov cohort model simulated the number of RVGE events and related costs in a German birth cohort over the first 60 months of life with current disease management. The model compared an unvaccinated cohort with a fully vaccinated cohort. Vaccine efficacy data from international clinical trials were combined with German-specific epidemiological and cost data. Results were tested using extensive sensitivity analyses.

Results

Full vaccination of a birth cohort against rotavirus disease would be expected to prevent 82% of RVGE cases, reducing RVGE frequency from 28 to 5 events per 100 children in the birth cohort up to age 5 years. The estimated cost reduction with vaccination for that period is predicted to be €9.2 million with 100% coverage (€6.9 million with 75% coverage), mainly due to reductions in SHI reimbursement for productivity losses, hospital stays and visits to office-based physicians due to the vaccine’s efficacy against severe disease.

Conclusions

Routine rotavirus vaccination in Germany would reduce the number of hospitalised and outpatient cases. The associated investment could be fully offset by costs avoided in hospital stays, physician visits and SHI reimbursement of productivity losses. Sensitivity analysis indicated that vaccination would be cost-saving in 95% of simulations. Incremental cost was observed only under extreme conditions, especially when the time spent at home due to rotavirus disease was low or when vaccine efficacy against severe disease was heavily decreased.
Experimental measurement of surface strains and local lattice rotations combined with 3D microstructure reconstruction from deformed polycrystalline ensembles at the micro-scale
Authors: Shade Paul A , Groeber Michael A , Schuren Jay C , Uchic Michael D
Published: November 2013

This article describes a new approach to characterize the deformation response of polycrystalline metals using a combination of novel micro-scale experimental methodologies. An in-situ scanning electron microscope (SEM)-based tension testing system was used to deform micro-scale polycrystalline samples to modest and moderate plastic strains. These tests included measurement of the local displacement field with nm-scale resolution at the sample surface. After testing, focused ion beam serial sectioning experiments that incorporated electron backscatter diffraction mapping were performed to characterize both the internal 3D grain structure and local lattice rotations that developed within the deformed micro-scale test samples. This combination of experiments enables the local surface displacements and internal lattice rotations to be directly correlated with the underlying 3D polycrystalline microstructure, and such information can be used to validate and guide further development of modeling and simulation methods that predict the local plastic deformation response of polycrystalline ensembles.
The inclusion of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in a sensitive screening strategy for systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension: a cohort study
Authors: Thakkar Vivek , Stevens Wendy , Prior David , Youssef Peter , Liew Danny , Gabbay Eli , Roddy Janet , Walker Jennifer G , Zochling Jane , Sahhar Joanne , Nash Peter , Lester Susan , Rischmueller Maureen , Proudman Susanna M , Nikpour Mandana
Published: November 2013

Introduction

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major cause of mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Screening guidelines for PAH recommend multiple investigations, including annual echocardiography, which together have low specificity and may not be cost-effective. We sought to evaluate the predictive accuracy of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in combination with pulmonary function tests (PFT) (‘proposed’ algorithm) in a screening algorithm for SSc-PAH.

Methods

We evaluated our proposed algorithm (PFT with NT-proBNP) on 49 consecutive SSc patients with suspected pulmonary hypertension undergoing right heart catherisation (RHC). The predictive accuracy of the proposed algorithm was compared with existing screening recommendations, and is presented as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV).

Results

Overall, 27 patients were found to have pulmonary hypertension (PH) at RHC, while 22 had no PH. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the proposed algorithm for PAH was 94.1%, 54.5%, 61.5% and 92.3%, respectively; current European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines achieved a sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 94.1%, 31.8%, 51.6% and 87.5%, respectively. In an alternate case scenario analysis, estimating a PAH prevalence of 10%, the proposed algorithm achieved a sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for PAH of 94.1%, 54.5%, 18.7% and 98.8%, respectively.

Conclusions

The combination of NT-proBNP with PFT is a sensitive, yet simple and non-invasive, screening strategy for SSc-PAH. Patients with a positive screening result can be referred for echocardiography, and further confirmatory testing for PAH. In this way, it may be possible to shift the burden of routine screening away from echocardiography. The findings of this study should be confirmed in larger studies.
SerpinB1 regulates homeostatic expansion of IL-17+ γδ and CD4+ Th17 cells
Authors: Zhao Picheng , Hou Lifei , Farley Kalamo , Sundrud Mark S , Remold-O'Donnell Eileen
Published: November 2013

SerpinB1 is an endogenous inhibitor of serine proteases recognized for its anti-inflammatory and host-protective properties. Although loss of serpinB1 in mice does not result in gross immune deregulation, serpinb1a−/− mice display increased mortality and inflammation-associated morbidity upon challenge with influenza virus. Here, we show that IL-17A+ γδ and CD4+ Th17 cells are already expanded in the lungs of serpinb1a−/− mice at steady-state. Both γδ and αβ+ CD4+ CCR6+ T cells isolated from the lungs of naive serpinb1a−/− mice displayed a skewed transcriptional profile relative to WT cells, including increased Th17 signature transcripts [Il17a, l17f, and Rorc (RORγt)] and decreased Th1 signature transcripts [Ifng, Cxcr3, and Tbx21 (T-bet)] in γδ T cells. In addition to the lung, IL-17A+ γδ and CD4+ Th17 cells were increased in the spleen of naive serpinb1a−/− mice, despite normal αβ and γδ T cell development in the thymus. Within the γδ T cell compartment, loss of serpinb1a prompted selective expansion of Vγ4+ and Vγ6/Vδ1+ cells, which also displayed elevated expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Ki-67, and IL-17A. Given that serpinb1a is preferentially expressed in WT IL-17A+ γδ and CD4+ Th17 cell subsets vis-à-vis other T cell lineages, our findings reveal a novel function of serpinB1 in limiting untoward expansion of lymphocytes with a Th17 phenotype.
Bmp7 and Lef1 Are the Downstream Effectors of Androgen Signaling in Androgen-Induced Sex Characteristics Development in Medaka
Authors: Ogino Yukiko , Hirakawa Ikumi , Inohaya Keiji , Sumiya Eri , Miyagawa Shinichi , Denslow Nancy , Yamada Gen , Tatarazako Norihisa , Iguchi Taisen
Published: November 2013

Androgens play key roles in the morphological specification of male type sex attractive and reproductive organs, whereas little is known about the developmental mechanisms of such secondary sex characters. Medaka offers a clue about sexual differentiation. They show a prominent masculine sexual character for appendage development, the formation of papillary processes in the anal fin, which has been induced in females by exogenous androgen exposure. This current study shows that the development of papillary processes is promoted by androgen-dependent augmentation of bone morphogenic protein 7 (Bmp7) and lymphoid enhancer-binding factor-1 (Lef1). Androgen receptor (AR) subtypes, ARα and ARβ, are expressed in the distal region of outgrowing bone nodules of developing papillary processes. Development of papillary processes concomitant with the induction of Bmp7 and Lef1 in the distal bone nodules by exposure to methyltestosterone was significantly suppressed by an antiandrogen, flutamide, in female medaka. When Bmp signaling was inhibited in methyltestosterone-exposed females by its inhibitor, dorsomorphin, Lef1 expression was suppressed accompanied by reduced proliferation in the distal bone nodules and retarded bone deposition. These observations indicate that androgen-dependent expressions of Bmp7 and Lef1 are required for the bone nodule outgrowth leading to the formation of these secondary sex characteristics in medaka. The formation of androgen-induced papillary processes may provide insights into the mechanisms regulating the specification of sexual features in vertebrates.