bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
System‐Wide Information About Family Carers of Adults With Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities—A Scoping Review of the Literature
Authors: Lunsky Yona , Tint Ami , Robinson Suzanne , Gordeyko Marcia , Ouellette‐Kuntz Hélène
Published: March 2014

Family carers play an important role supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) into adulthood. Funders of services often desire this ongoing involvement by family members yet they rarely collect data about family carers. As policy makers and planners are increasingly recognizing the need for information related to indicators of system performance, a scoping review was conducted to identify system‐wide information needed about family carers of adults with I/DD that would help improve the quality of service provided. A final review of 87 research articles was organized in terms of service use, service need, and permanency planning by family carers of adults with I/DD. Service use and need were associated with the presence of challenging behaviors among individuals with I/DD as well as carer demographics and health status. In addition, carers' subjective view of how well they think they can provide for their child in the future was an important determining factor of service need. Permanency planning was associated with child level of functioning as well as parent income, social support, and compound caregiving demands. Studies highlighted the importance of measuring family carers' mental and physical health and their perceptions of the adequacy of services received. Considered also were methodological limitations, highlighting considerations for future system monitoring. Methodological limitations of studies reviewed include reliance on cross‐sectional data, samples consisting of families already receiving at least some services, and little information about the process of seeking and obtaining services. Areas to target in future system monitoring include information on who needs services, what services are needed, families' perceptions of the caregiving experience and families' experiences waiting for services over time. Understanding the experiences of family carers as seekers of formal services can help inform policy and practice.
A Call for the Integration of Trauma‐Informed Care Among Intellectual and Developmental Disability Organizations
Authors: Keesler John M.
Published: March 2014

Research exploring the occurrence of trauma among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) has grown over the past decade. Yet there is a dearth of literature investigating the impact of organizational factors on the trauma experience despite this population's need for organizational supports. Trauma‐informed care (TIC), a systems‐focused model for service delivery, is a fast‐developing interest among the broader field of trauma in the general population. It recognizes the prevalence and impact of trauma, and creates a culture of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. The author synthesized relevant literature from both the intellectual and developmental disabilities areas and integrated this with TIC and trauma literature drawn from the general population. Explored are the implications of organizations for service delivery and the potential assimilation of TIC within I/DD organizations. The effectiveness of TIC applications and their potential barriers are discussed and related to the philosophy of quality of life and organizational culture. The author notes that some individuals with I/DD comprise a vulnerable subgroup of the population that in large part relies upon the support of organizational services to foster quality of life. Given the implications of the focus on quality of life, he posits that TIC presents as a viable response for organizations, complimenting and augmenting current efforts.
Agreement of Serum Spec cPL with the 1,2‐o‐Dilauryl‐Rac‐Glycero Glutaric Acid‐(6′‐methylresorufin) Ester (DGGR) Lipase Assay and with Pancreatic Ultrasonography in Dogs with Suspected Pancreatitis
Authors: Kook P.H. , Kohler N. , Hartnack S. , Riond B. , Reusch C.E.
Published: March 2014

Background

SpeccPLis the most sensitive and specific test for diagnosing pancreatitis in dogs. Its results have not been compared to those of the 1,2‐o‐dilauryl‐rac‐glycero‐3‐glutaric acid‐(6′‐methylresorufin) ester (DGGR) lipase assay or those of abdominal ultrasonography.

Objectives

To investigate agreement of SpeccPLwithDGGRlipase activity and pancreatic ultrasonography in dogs with suspected pancreatitis.

Animals

One hundred and forty‐two dogs.

Methods

DGGRlipase activity (reference range, 24–108 U/L) and SpeccPLwere measured using the same sample. The time interval between ultrasonography and lipase determinations was <24 hours. The agreement of the 2 lipase assays at different cutoffs and the agreement between pancreatic ultrasonography and the 2 tests were assessed using Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ).

Results

DGGRlipase (>108, >216 U/L) and SpeccPL(>200 μg/L) had κ values of 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69–0.9) and 0.70 (CI, 0.58–0.82).DGGRlipase (>108, >216 U/L) and SpeccPL(>400 μg/L) had κ values of 0.55 (CI, 0.43–0.67) and κ of 0.80 (CI, 0.71–0.9). An ultrasonographic diagnosis of pancreatitis andDGGRlipase (>108, >216 U/L) had κ values of 0.29 (CI, 0.14–0.44) and 0.35 (CI, 0.18–0.52). Ultrasonographically diagnosed pancreatitis and SpeccPL(>200, >400 μg/L) had κ values of 0.25 (CI, 0.08–0.41) and 0.27 (CI, 0.09–0.45).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Although both lipase assays showed high agreement, agreement between ultrasonography and lipase assays results was only fair. Because lipase results are deemed more accurate, ultrasonography results should be interpreted carefully.
Legalism: Introducing a Concept and Analyzing Aspects of Han Fei's Political Philosophy
Authors: Harris Eirik Lang
Published: March 2014

‘Legalism’ is a term that has long been used to categorize a group of early Chinese philosophers including, but not limited to, Han Fei (Han Feizi), Shen Dao, Shen Buhai, and Shang Yang. However, the usefulness of this term has been contested for nearly as long. This essay has the goal of introducing the idea of ‘Legalism’ and laying out aspects of the political thought of Han Fei, the most prominent of these thinkers. In this essay, I first lay out how the term Legalism could be useful and what would be necessary in order for it to serve that use. I then turn to an investigation of certain aspects of the most prominent Legalist philosopher, Han Fei, that is quite important for understanding his philosophy and situating him in the context of the early Chinese philosophical milieu. In particular, I focus on an analysis of Han Fei's conception of the Way (dao), arguing that features of his philosophy most often discussed, namely, his advocacy of law (fa), administrative techniques (shu), and positional power (shi), arise out of his conception of a cosmic Way. I then turn to Han Fei's understanding of the role of history, demonstrating how it differs radically from the views of his contemporaries, raising serious challenges to Confucian, Daoist, and Mohist conceptions of history.
Main sugar composition of floral nectar in three species groups of Scrophularia (Scrophulariaceae) with different principal pollinators
Authors: Rodríguez‐Riaño T. , Ortega‐Olivencia A. , López J. , Pérez‐Bote J. L. , Navarro‐Pérez M. L.
Published: March 2014

In some angiosperm groups, a parallelism between nectar traits and pollination syndromes has been demonstrated, whereas in others there is not such relationship and it has been explained as due to phylogenetic constraints. However, nectar trait information remains scarce for many plant groups. This paper focuses on three groups of Scrophularia species, with different flower sizes and principal pollinators, to find out whether nectar sugar composition is determined by pollinator type or reflects taxonomic affinities. Since the species we examined have protogynous flowers, and gender bias in nectar sugar composition has been noted in few plant groups, we also investigated whether sexual phase influenced Scrophularia nectar composition. The sugar composition was found to be similar in all species, having high‐sucrose nectar, except for the Macaronesian Scrophularia calliantha, which was the only species with balanced nectar; this last kind of nectar could be associated with the high interaction rates observed between S. calliantha and passerine birds. The nectar sugar composition (high in sucrose) was unrelated to the principal pollinator group, and could instead be considered a conservative taxonomic trait. No gender bias was observed between functionally female and male flowers for nectar volume or concentration. However, sexual phase significantly affected sucrose percentage in the largest‐flowered species, where the female phase flowers had higher sucrose percentages than the male phase flowers.
Two Notions of Shame
Authors: Berkovski Y. Sandy
Published: March 2014

On most accounts present in the literature, the complex experience of shame has the injury to self‐esteem as its main component. A rival view, originally propounded byStAugustine, relates shame to the structure of human agency, and more specifically, to the conflict between will and desire. A recent version of this view developed byDavidVelleman relates shame to the capacity of self‐presentation and the need for privacy. I examine two different interpretations ofVelleman's theory and argue that neither suggests a credible alternative to the received view.
Social Closure and Educational Attainment
Authors: Fasang Anette Eva , Mangino William , Brückner Hannah
Published: March 2014

This article examines how network closure among parents affects adolescents’ educational attainment. First, we introduce a distinction between informal closure and school‐based closure. Second, we investigate whether and how the effect of informal and school‐based parental network closure varies across social contexts. Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) and multilevel models show that parental network closure modestly impacts educational outcomes. Moreover, educational benefits of informal closure in parent networks are contingent on social context. Closure only benefits educational attainment in low‐poverty schools. In high‐poverty schools, informal closure in parent networks lowers educational attainment. The social closure generated in informal connections among parents thereby contributes to the encapsulation of disadvantage in areas of concentrated poverty, which is not the case for school‐based closure.
Opting Out, Scaling Back, or Business‐as‐Usual? An Occupational Assessment of Women's Employment
Authors: Landivar Liana Christin
Published: March 2014

After decades of growth, women's labor force participation stagnated in the 2000s, prompting widespread interest in work–family balance and opting out. However, much of the research and media attention is limited to small samples of women in managerial and professional occupations. Using data from the 2009 American Community Survey, this article examines mothers' labor force participation and work hours across 92 occupations to assess whether mothers in nonmanagerial and nonprofessional occupations exhibit similar work patterns. I find that mothers in managerial and professional occupations are the least likely to remain out of the labor force but most likely to work reduced hours. The results indicate that there is significant occupational variation in women's work–family strategies, and these comparisons provide insight into the differential structures of disadvantage that encourage different work–family outcomes.
Leadership as a Dominant Cultural Myth: A Strain‐Based Perspective on Leadership Approaches
Authors: Islam Gazi
Published: March 2014

The current paper is a review of leadership theory from the perspective of “strain” theories of conceptual development. From this perspective, key cultural concepts emerge to the extent that they can mediate between contradictory cultural values and symbolically capture both sides of opposing dimensions, leading such concepts to become both generally attractive and semantically ambiguous. I argue that the leadership literature, with its highly varied and sometimes contradictory conceptualizations of leadership, can be understood as such a symbolic mediation. To illustrate, the review illustrates several classical leadership approaches as attempts to capture both sides of the value dimensions of individualism–collectivism and agency–structure. While generally privileging one side of each dimension, each leadership approach tries to explain both sides, with some approaches taking borderline or hybrid positions. The potential of this approach to understanding leadership scholarship, and to building reflexivity in scholarship, is discussed.
Teachers' Reflections on Their Subject Matter Knowledge Structures and Their Influence on Classroom Practice
Authors: Bartos Stephen A. , Lederman Norman G. , Lederman Judith S.
Published: March 2014

Research has indicated that experts' subject matter knowledge structures (SMKSs) differ from those of novices in that they contain more cross‐linking, interconnections, and overarching thematic elements, characteristics that are in accordance with those espoused in current reform documents. Unfortunately, teachers' SMKSs are not necessarily translated into classroom practice, for either novice or more experienced classroom teachers. A means to facilitate the translation of teachers' SMKSs into practice would ensure that those desired characteristics of experts' subject matter knowledge manifest themselves in teachers' classroom practice. Four experienced physics teachers diagrammed their SMKSs, which were then compared to those inferred from their classroom practice. Prior to instruction, two teachers, as part of the explicit‐reflective treatment, were asked to reflect at multiple time points on congruence between their SMKSs and classroom practice focusing on the presence of essential concepts, interconnections, and overarching thematic elements. No discernible difference was apparent between control and treatment groups, as teachers from both groups showed a high‐degree of congruence between inferred and diagrammed SMKSs. Results further substantiate the challenges in identifying a means for both developing and facilitating the enactment of coherent, connected, and dynamic SMKSs or, in effect, accelerating teachers' pedagogical content knowledge.
Comparison of different diagnostic tools for the detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dogs
Authors: Barth Charlotte , Straubinger Reinhard K. , Müller Elisabeth , Sauter‐Louis Carola , Hartmann Katrin
Published: March 2014

Background

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is common in dogs, but the best way to diagnose an infection is still not determined. Antibody detection assays are frequently used in veterinary practice. Additionally, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is available for detection of A phagocytophilum DNA. It is still unknown, how well different diagnostic methods correlate.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to compare 2 antibody detection assays, an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and the ELISA SNAP4Dx, and to determine the correlation of these assays by evaluating the sensitivity and specificity compared with PCR as a direct detection method of the organism.

Methods

Sera of 200 prospectively included dogs were tested for antibodies to A phagocytophilum using IFA and SNAP4Dx. DNA of the organism was detected by PCR on whole blood. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values, including their 95% confidence intervals, were calculated for IFA and SNAP4Dx in relation to PCR.

Results

Four of 200 animals were PCR‐positive. Sensitivity of IFA and SNAP4Dx was 100% (95% CI 51.01–100). Specificity of IFA was 52.9% (95% CI 50.42–64.17) and that of SNAP4Dx, 57.4% (95% CI 45.83–59.70). Agreement of the 2 antibody tests was fair (κ 0.334).

Conclusions

Immunofluorescence assay and SNAP4Dx were very sensitive and therefore can be useful as screening tests for A phagocytophilum infection. However, the specificity was low, and agreement between both antibody tests was insufficient. This could be due to either false‐positive antibody test results, or false‐negative PCR results in dogs that were actually infected.
Experimental Investigation of the Thermal Characteristics of Li-Ion Battery for Use in Hybrid Locomotives
Authors: Arendas Andrew , Majumdar Pradip , Schroeder David , Kilaparti S. Rao
Published: March 2014

The demand for the development of hybrid electric locomotives is increasing due to increased demand and cost of diesel oil, uncertainty in the steady supply of oil, and increased emissions standards. Electrical energy is lost from diesel-electric locomotives in the form of heat during dynamic braking. Using a regenerative braking system can improve the overall efficiency as it can be used later to provide traction force during acceleration. The objective of this study is to evaluate experimentally battery performance considering different discharge and charge rate, and investigate the thermal management requirements and thermal runaway effect of the batteries under a variety of environmental conditions. This was done in an environmental chamber, which controls temperature and humidity. This chamber is also fitted with an external window designed to allow thermal imaging from outside the unit. The batteries were monitored with thermal sensors and a thermal imaging camera while they were run through different load scenarios. Loads were applied using a computerized battery analyzer, which allows control over discharge rates and load cycles. Results indicate high discharge rates, above 1 C, and low operating temperatures, below 20 °C, greatly diminish capacity.
Effect of Expertise on 3D Force Application During the Starting Block Phase and Subsequent Steps in Sprint Running
Authors: Otsuka Mitsuo , Shim Jae Kun , Kurihara Toshiyuki , Yoshioka Shinsuke , Nokata Makoto , Isaka Tadao
Published: March 2014

In sprinters with different levels of block acceleration, we investigated differences in their three-dimensional force application in terms of the magnitude, direction, and impulse of the ground reaction force (GRF) during the starting block phase and subsequent two steps. Twenty-nine participants were divided into three groups (well-trained, trained, and nontrained sprinters) based on their mean anteroposterior block acceleration and experience with a block start. The participants sprinted 10 m from a block start with maximum effort. Although the mean net resultant GRF magnitude did not differ between the well-trained and trained sprinters, the net sagittal GRF vector of the well-trained sprinters was leaned significantly further forward than that of the trained and nontrained sprinters during the starting block phase. In contrast, during the starting block phase and the subsequent steps, the transverse GRF vectors which cause the anteroposterior and mediolateral acceleration of the whole-body was directed toward the anterior direction more in the well-trained sprinters as compared with the other sprinters. Therefore, a more forward-leaning GRF vector and a greater anteroposterior GRF may particularly allow well-trained sprinters to generate a greater mean anteroposterior block acceleration than trained and nontrained sprinters.
Gait Biomechanics of a Second Generation Unstable Shoe
Authors: Gardner Jacob K. , Zhang Songning , Paquette Max R. , Milner Clare E. , Brock Elizabeth
Published: March 2014

The recent popularity of unstable shoes has sparked much interest in the efficacy of the shoe design. Anecdotal evidence suggests that earlier designs appear bulky and less aesthetically appealing for everyday use. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of a second generation unstable shoe on center of pressure (COP), ground reaction force (GRF), kinematics, and kinetics of the ankle joint during level walking at normal and fast speeds. In addition, findings were compared with results from the first generation shoe. Fourteen healthy males performed five successful level walking trials in four testing conditions: walking in unstable and control shoes at normal (1.3 m/s) and fast (1.8 m/s) speeds. The unstable shoe resulted in an increase in mediolateral COP displacement, first peak vertical GRF loading rate, braking GRF, ankle eversion range of motion (ROM), and inversion moment; as well as a decrease in anteroposterior COP displacement, second peak vertical GRF, ankle plantarflexion ROM, and dorsiflexion moment. Only minor differences were found between the shoe generations. Results of the generational comparisons suggest that the lower-profile second generation shoe may be as effective at achieving the desired unstable effects while promoting a smoother transition from heel contact through toe off compared with the first generation shoe.
Effects of String Stiffness on Muscle Fatigue After a Simulated Tennis Match
Authors: Fabre Jean Bernard , Martin Vincent , Borelli Gil , Theurel Jean , Grélot Laurent
Published: March 2014

We tested the influence of string stiffness on the occurrence of forearm muscle fatigue during a tennis match. Sixteen tennis players performed two prolonged simulated tennis matches with low-stiffness or high-stiffness string. Before and immediately after exercise, muscle fatigability was evaluated on the forearm muscles during a maximal intermittent gripping task. Groundstroke ball speeds and the profile of acceleration of the racquet frame at collision were recorded during each match. The peak-to-peak amplitude of acceleration and the resonant frequency of the frame were significantly greater with high- (5060 ± 1892 m/s2 and 204 ± 29 Hz, respectively) than with low-stiffness string (4704 ± 1671 m/s2 and 191 ± 16 Hz, respectively). The maximal and the averaged gripping forces developed during the gripping task were significantly reduced after the tennis match with high- (−15 ± 14%, and −22 ± 14%, respectively), but not with low-stiffness string. The decrease of ball speed during the simulated matches tended to be greater with high- than with low-stiffness string (P = .06). Hence, playing tennis with high-stiffness string promotes forearm muscle fatigue development, which could partly contribute to the groundstroke ball speed decrement during the game.
Additive Effect of Repeated Bouts of Individualized Frequency Whole Body Vibration on Postural Stability in Young Adults
Authors: Dickin D. Clark , Heath Jacqueline E.
Published: March 2014

Whole body vibration (WBV) has been shown to improve force and power output as well as flexibility and speed, with improvements suggested to result from reduced electromechanical delays, improved rate of force development, and sensitivity of muscle spindles. Fixed frequency studies on postural control have been somewhat equivocal; however, individualized frequency protocols have shown promising results in other motor tasks. To assess this, 18 healthy young adults experienced three 4-minute WBV sessions with postural control assessed before vibration, after multiple exposures, and during recovery, with altered levels of sensory information available to the participants. Sway velocity, sway path length, and sway area were assessed in each environment. Study findings revealed that stability was impacted following WBV, with more challenging environments eliciting improvements persisting for 20 minutes. When the environment was less challenging, postural stability was impaired; however, the effects dissipated quickly (10-20 min). It was determined that exposure to individualized frequency WBV served to impair postural control when the challenge was low, but resulted in heightened stability when the overall challenge was high and vestibular information was needed for stability.
Joint-Specific Power-Pedaling Rate Relationships During Maximal Cycling
Authors: McDaniel John , Behjani N. Scott , Elmer Steven J. , Brown Nicholas A.T. , Martin James C.
Published: March 2014

Previous authors have reported power-pedaling rate relationships for maximal cycling. However, the joint-specific power-pedaling rate relationships that contribute to pedal power have not been reported. We determined absolute and relative contributions of joint-specific powers to pedal power across a range of pedaling rates during maximal cycling. Ten cyclists performed maximal 3 s cycling trials at 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 rpm. Joint-specific powers were averaged over complete pedal cycles, and extension and flexion actions. Effects of pedaling rate on relative joint-specific power, velocity, and excursion were assessed with regression analyses and repeated-measures ANOVA. Relative ankle plantar flexion power (25 to 8%; P = .01; R2 = .90) decreased with increasing pedaling rate, whereas relative hip extension power (41 to 59%; P < .01; R2 = .92) and knee flexion power (34 to 49%; P < .01; R2 = .94) increased with increasing pedaling rate. Knee extension powers did not differ across pedaling rates. Ankle joint angular excursion decreased with increasing pedaling rate (48 to 20 deg) whereas hip joint excursion increased (42 to 48 deg). These results demonstrate that the often-reported quadratic power-pedaling rate relationship arises from combined effects of dissimilar joint-specific power-pedaling rate relationships. These dissimilar relationships are likely influenced by musculoskeletal constraints (ie, muscle architecture, morphology) and/or motor control strategies.
Criterion and Construct Validity of Prosthesis-Integrated Measurement of Joint Moment Data in Persons With Transtibial Amputation
Authors: Fiedler Goeran , Slavens Brooke , Smith Roger O. , Briggs Douglas , Hafner Brian J.
Published: March 2014

Prosthesis-integrated sensors are appealing for use in clinical settings where gait analysis equipment is unavailable, but accurate knowledge of patients’ performance is desired. Data obtained from load cells (inferring joint moments) may aid clinicians in the prescription, alignment, and gait rehabilitation of persons with limb loss. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of prosthesis-integrated load cells for routine use in clinical practice. Level ground walking of persons with transtibial amputation was concurrently measured with a commercially available prosthesis-integrated load cell, a 10-camera motion analysis system, and piezoelectric force plates. Ankle and knee flexion/extension moments were derived and measurement methods were compared via correlation analysis. Pearson correlation coefficients ranged from 0.661 for ankle pronation/supination moments to 0.915 for ankle flexion/extension moments (P < .001). Root mean squared errors between measurement methods were in the magnitude of 10% of the measured range and were explainable. Differences in results depicted differences between systems in definition and computation of measurement variables. They may not limit clinical use of the load cell, but should be considered when data are compared directly to conventional gait analysis data. Construct validity of the load cell (ie, ability to measure joint moments in-situ) is supported by the study results.
Longitudinal Change in CSF Biomarkers in Autosomal-Dominant Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Fagan Anne M. , Xiong Chengjie , Jasielec Mateusz S. , Bateman Randall J. , Goate Alison M. , Benzinger Tammie L. S. , Ghetti Bernardino , Martins Ralph N. , Masters Colin L. , Mayeux Richard , Ringman John M. , Rossor Martin N. , Salloway Stephen , Schofield Peter R. , Sperling Reisa A. , Marcus Daniel , Cairns Nigel J. , Buckles Virginia D. , Ladenson Jack H. , Morris John C. , Holtzman David M. ,   The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network
Published: March 2014

Longitudinal cerebrospinal fluid biomarker analyses reveal decreases in neuronal injury markers in later stages of autosomal-dominant Alzheimer’s disease.
Angiophagy: Clearing or Clogging Microvessels?
Authors: Iadecola Costantino
Published: March 2014

The body clears small clots from blood vessels through a process called angiophagy, opening up new approaches to combat cerebral and cardiac microvascular occlusive diseases (Grutzendler
et al
., this issue).
Temporal Kinetics and Quantitative Analysis of Cryptococcus neoformans Nonlytic Exocytosis
Authors: Stukes Sabriya A. , Cohen Hillel W. , Casadevall Arturo
Published: March 2014

Cryptococcus neoformans
is a facultative intracellular pathogen and the causative agent of cryptococcosis, a disease that is often fatal to those with compromised immune systems.
C. neoformans
has the capacity to escape phagocytic cells through a process known as nonlytic exocytosis whereby the cryptococcal cell is released from the macrophage into the extracellular environment, leaving both the host and pathogen alive. Little is known about the mechanism behind nonlytic exocytosis, but there is evidence that both the fungal and host cells contribute to the process. In this study, we used time-lapse movies of
C. neoformans
-infected macrophages to delineate the kinetics and quantitative aspects of nonlytic exocytosis. We analyzed approximately 800 macrophages containing intracellular
C. neoformans
and identified 163 nonlytic exocytosis events that were further characterized into three subcategories: type I (complete emptying of macrophage), type II (partial emptying of macrophage), and type III (cell-to-cell transfer). The majority of type I and II events occurred after several hours of intracellular residence, whereas type III events occurred significantly (
P
< 0.001) earlier in the course of macrophage infection. Our results show that nonlytic exocytosis is a morphologically and temporally diverse process that occurs relatively rapidly in the course of macrophage infection.
BPSS1504
, a Cluster 1 Type VI Secretion Gene, Is Involved in Intracellular Survival and Virulence of Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Hopf Verena , Göhler André , Eske-Pogodda Kristin , Bast Antje , Steinmetz Ivo , Breitbach Katrin
Published: March 2014

Burkholderia pseudomallei
is a Gram-negative rod and the causative agent of melioidosis, an emerging infectious disease of tropical and subtropical areas worldwide.
B. pseudomallei
harbors a remarkable number of virulence factors, including six type VI secretion systems (T6SS). Using our previously described plaque assay screening system, we identified a
B. pseudomallei
transposon mutant defective in the
BPSS1504
gene that showed reduced plaque formation. The
BPSS1504
locus is encoded within T6SS cluster 1 (T6SS1), which is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of
B. pseudomallei
in mammalian hosts. For further analysis, a
B. pseudomallei
BPSS1504
deletion (
Bp
Δ
BPSS1504
) mutant and complemented mutant strain were constructed.
B. pseudomallei
lacking the
BPSS1504
gene was highly attenuated in BALB/c mice, whereas the
in vivo
virulence of the complemented mutant strain was fully restored to the wild-type level. The
Bp
Δ
BPSS1504
mutant showed impaired intracellular replication and formation of multinucleated giant cells in macrophages compared with wild-type bacteria, whereas the induction of actin tail formation within host cells was not affected. These observations resembled the phenotype of a mutant lacking
hcp1
, which is an integral component of the T6SS1 apparatus and is associated with full functionality of the T6SS1. Transcriptional expression of the T6SS components
vgrG
,
tssA
, and
hcp1
, as well as the T6SS regulators
virAG
,
bprC
, and
bsaN
, was not dependent on
BPSS1504
expression. However, secretion of Hcp1 was not detectable in the absence of
BPSS1504
. Thus, BPSS1504 seems to serve as a T6SS component that affects Hcp1 secretion and is therefore involved in the integrity of the T6SS1 apparatus.
Seminal Plasma Initiates a Neisseria gonorrhoeae Transmission State
Authors: Anderson Mark T. , Dewenter Lena , Maier Berenike , Seifert H. Steven
Published: March 2014

Niche-restricted pathogens are evolutionarily linked with the specific biological fluids that are encountered during infection.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
causes the genital infection gonorrhea and is exposed to seminal fluid during sexual transmission. Treatment of
N. gonorrhoeae
with seminal plasma or purified semen proteins lactoferrin, serum albumin, and prostate-specific antigen each facilitated type IV pilus-mediated twitching motility of the bacterium. Motility in the presence of seminal plasma was characterized by high velocity and low directional persistence. In addition, infection of epithelial cells with
N. gonorrhoeae
in the presence of seminal plasma resulted in enhanced microcolony formation. Close association of multiple pili in the form of bundles was also disrupted after seminal plasma treatment leading to an increase in the number of single pilus filaments on the bacterial surface. Thus, exposure of
N. gonorrhoeae
to seminal plasma is proposed to alter bacterial motility and aggregation characteristics to influence the processes of transmission and colonization.

IMPORTANCE
There are greater than 100 million estimated new cases of gonorrhea annually worldwide. Research characterizing the mechanisms of pathogenesis and transmission of
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
is important for developing new prevention strategies, since antibiotic resistance of the organism is becoming increasingly prevalent. Our work identifies seminal plasma as a mediator of
N. gonorrhoeae
twitching motility and microcolony formation through functional modification of the type IV pilus. These findings provide insight into motility dynamics and epithelial cell colonization under conditions that are relevant to sexual transmission. Type IV pili are common virulence factors with diverse functions among bacterial pathogens, and this work identifies interactions between type IV pili and the host environment. Finally, this work illustrates the importance of the host environment and niche-specific fluids on microbial pathogenesis.
The Role of CRISPR-Cas Systems in Virulence of Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Louwen Rogier , Staals Raymond H. J. , Endtz Hubert P. , van Baarlen Peter , van der Oost John
Published: March 2014

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) genes are present in many bacterial and archaeal genomes. Since the discovery of the typical CRISPR loci in the 1980s, well before their physiological role was revealed, their variable sequences have been used as a complementary typing tool in diagnostic, epidemiologic, and evolutionary analyses of prokaryotic strains. The discovery that CRISPR spacers are often identical to sequence fragments of mobile genetic elements was a major breakthrough that eventually led to the elucidation of CRISPR-Cas as an adaptive immunity system. Key elements of this unique prokaryotic defense system are small CRISPR RNAs that guide nucleases to complementary target nucleic acids of invading viruses and plasmids, generally followed by the degradation of the invader. In addition, several recent studies have pointed at direct links of CRISPR-Cas to regulation of a range of stress-related phenomena. An interesting example concerns a pathogenic bacterium that possesses a CRISPR-associated ribonucleoprotein complex that may play a dual role in defense and/or virulence. In this review, we describe recently reported cases of potential involvement of CRISPR-Cas systems in bacterial stress responses in general and bacterial virulence in particular.
Acute disseminated intravascular coagulation following ICD lead extraction
Authors: Shariff Nasir , Singh Madhurmeet , Shalaby Alaa
Published: March 2014

We present an unusual case of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) complicating percutaneous laser-assisted lead extraction. DIC has not been previously reported in association with lead extraction. It is possible to have occurred following the denudement of venous endothelium and exposure of underlying fibrous tissue. Practitioners need to be aware of this rare but potentially fatal complication of transvenous lead extraction.
Isolated splenic tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient
Authors: Mandal Sanjay Kumar , Ganguly Jacky , Sil Koelina , Chatterjee Sumanta
Published: March 2014

A 20-year-old woman presented with fever and was eventually diagnosed with splenic tuberculosis as the sole site of the disease. Laboratory data gave no specific information for diagnosis except for a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate and mild anaemia. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed splenomegaly with multiple hypoechoic lesions within it. A diagnosis of isolated splenic tuberculosis was confirmed after CT-guided aspiration from splenic lesions showed the presence of acid-fast bacilli.
Positron emission tomography aids diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis
Authors: Mahida Rahul Y , Bowman Simon , Naidu Babu , Thickett David R
Published: March 2014

A 39-year-old man presented to the hospital in April 2011 with a 2-month history of tonsillitis, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, shortness of breath on exertion and a dry cough. He was a non-smoker, previously fit and well with no regular medication. Examination of the respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems was normal; he appeared generally well. C reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were raised. A CT of the thorax showed mediastinal thickening and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Whole body18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography showed diffuse tracheobronchial activity. Tracheal and lymph node biopsies showed non-specific features. Lung function tests showed an obstructive picture. A diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis was made. Immunosuppressive treatment was started, initially with oral methotrexate and prednisolone, later progressing to intravenous methylprednisolone and intravenous cyclophosphamide. Repeat bronchoscopy showed improvement in inflammation; however, the patient's symptoms were not improved. The patient's symptoms and lung function currently remain stable on maintenance oral prednisolone.
Voriconazole-induced periostitis in a patient with overlap syndromes
Authors: Hirota Keisho , Yasoda Akihiro , Fujii Toshihito , Inagaki Nobuya
Published: March 2014

A 52-year-old woman with overlap syndrome and interstitial pneumonia underwent immunosuppressive therapy and she was suspected to suffer from pulmonary aspergillosis. Oral voriconazole was initiated, and a rapid elevation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) occurred after 4 weeks. After 2 months, the patient presented diffuse pain in bilateral skeletal regions, and bone scintigraphy revealed bilateral multiple areas of increased radiotracer uptake. We suspected the skeletal involvement as voriconazole-induced periostitis. Actually, the plasma fluoride level was increased. Voriconazole was replaced with itraconazole, and after 3 weeks, the patient stopped complaining of bone pain concomitant with the decrease in ALP. Voriconazole-induced periostitis is a rare condition but had previously been reported in solid organ or patients with bone marrow transplant who received a long-term voriconazole therapy. Our present case is distinctive of previous ones, because it occurred in a patient with connective tissue disease which had its rapid progression.
Continuity of care for orthopaedic patients in a district general hospital
Authors: Kulloo Praneta
Published: March 2014

Continuity of care has been defined as a patient repeatedly consulting the same doctor and forming a therapeutic relationship. There is evidence that not only do patients value continuity of the care they receive but also that provider continuity is related to lower overall total healthcare costs and better healthcare outcomes. A retrospective audit was undertaken in James Paget Hospital, a district general hospital in East Anglia, England, to assess continuity of care from the preoperative clinic to surgery and subsequent postoperative follow-up in the orthopaedic department. Overall continuity of care by individual surgeon was 23% and by orthopaedic team (consultant and middle grade staff) 43% in the first audit cycle of 106 patients in 2008. In the second cycle in 2010, this improved to 24% and 56%, respectively, in a sample of 156 patients. Moreover, the continuity of care for trauma patients improved from 10% to 75%. Interventions which resulted in the improvement were change of on-call rota and the implementation of measures so that, following surgery, patients were allocated to the operating surgeon’s clinic postoperatively. This completed audit cycle highlights the importance of continuity of care of patients and how efficient management led to a more patient centred delivery of healthcare.
Disaster management in low- and middle-income countries: scoping review of the evidence base
Authors: Lee Andrew Chee Keng , Booth Andrew , Challen Kirsty , Gardois Paolo , Goodacre Steve
Published: March 2014

Introduction

Globally, there has been an increase in the prevalence and scale of disasters with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) tending to be more affected. Consequently, disaster risk reduction has been advocated as a global priority. However, the evidence base for disaster management in these settings is unclear.

Methods

This study is a scoping review of the evidence base for disaster management in LMIC. Potentially relevant articles between 1990 and 2011 were searched for, assessed for relevance and subsequently categorised using a thematic coding framework based on the US Integrated Emergency Management System model.

Results

Out of 1545 articles identified, only 178 were from LMIC settings. Most were of less robust design such as event reports and commentaries, and 66% pertained to natural disasters. There was a paucity of articles on disaster mitigation or recovery, and more were written on disaster response and preparedness issues.

Discussion

Considerably more articles were published from high-income country settings that may reflect a publication bias. Current grey literature on disaster management tends not to be peer reviewed, is not well organised and not easy to access. The paucity of peer-reviewed publications compromises evidence review initiatives that seek to provide an evidence-base for disaster management in LMIC. As such, there is an urgent need for greater research and publication of findings on disaster management issues from these settings.
Variation in 13 leaf morphological and physiological traits within a silver birch (Betula pendula) stand and their relation to growth
Authors: Possen Boy J.H.M. , Anttonen Mikko J. , Oksanen Elina , Rousi Matti , Heinonen Jaakko , Kostiainen Katri , Kontunen-Soppela Sari , Heiskanen Juha , Vapaavuori Elina M.
Published: March 2014

Differences between genotypes are important for the ability of local populations to cope with environmental stress, especially in sessile, long-lived organisms such as trees. Despite the importance, differences between genotypes within local populations in traits relevant for growth are still unexplored. In this study, we examined differences between genotypes, studying 13 physiological and morphological traits and their relation to growth, using 15 silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) genotypes representing a natural population. Our data show the complex regulation of growth under field conditions. There were differences between genotypes in all measured traits, but the genotypes occupied a continuous, narrow range of values for individual traits. Although leaf morphological traits had most explanatory power for the variation in estimated biomass, the differences between genotypes in individual traits seemed random. Exceptions were specific leaf area (SLA) and the fresh mass to dry mass ratio of the leaves (FMDM), which correlated well with estimated biomass. Additionally, genotypes with high biomass tended to have more stable SLA and FMDM values across years. Thus, within a local silver birch population, different morphological and physiological configurations can lead to a similar outcome in terms of biomass, but SLA and FMDM are important for good growth under field conditions.
FUZZY ONTOLOGY ALIGNMENT USING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Authors: TODOROV KONSTANTIN , HUDELOT CELINE , POPESCU ADRIAN , GEIBEL PETER
Published: March 2014

We propose an ontology alignment framework with two core features: the use of background knowledge and the ability to handle vagueness in the matching process and the resulting concept alignments. The procedure is based on the use of a generic reference vocabulary, which is used for fuzzifying the ontologies to be matched. The choice of this vocabulary is problem-dependent in general, although Wikipedia represents a general-purpose source of knowledge that can be used in many cases, and even allows cross language matchings. In the first step of our approach, each domain concept is represented as a fuzzy set of reference concepts. In the next step, the fuzzified domain concepts are matched to one another, resulting in fuzzy descriptions of the matches of the original concepts. Based on these concept matches, we propose an algorithm that produces a merged fuzzy ontology that captures what is common to the source ontologies. The paper describes experiments in the domain of multimedia by using ontologies containing tagged images, as well as an evaluation of the approach in an information retrieval setting. The undertaken fuzzy approach has been compared to a classical crisp alignment by the help of a ground truth that was created based on human judgment.
PEOPLE WATCH
Authors: Wery Jean-Pierre
Published: March 2014

Collaborating for Oncology.
PEOPLE WATCH
Authors: Carroll Steve , Song Colin
Published: March 2014

Burn Management.
Quadratic systems with invariant straight lines of total multiplicity two having Darboux invariants
Authors: Llibre Jaume , Oliveira Regilene D. S.
Published: March 2014

In this paper, we present the global phase portraits in the Poincaré disc of the planar quadratic polynomial systems which admit invariant straight lines with total multiplicity two and Darboux invariants.
Nondegeneracy of positive solutions of semilinear elliptic problems in the hyperbolic space
Authors: Ganguly Debdip , Sandeep Kunnath
Published: March 2014

In this article, we will study the nondegeneracy properties of positive finite energy solutions of the equation -Δ𝔹u - λu = |u|p-1u in the hyperbolic space. We will show that the degeneracy occurs only in an N-dimensional subspace. We will prove that the positive solutions are nondegenerate in the case of geodesic balls.
Photodynamic therapy of cancer — Challenges of multidrug resistance
Authors: Huang Zheng , Hsu Yih-Chih , Li Li-Bo , Wang Luo-Wei , Song Xiao-Dong , Yow Christine M. N. , Lei Xia , Musani Ali I. , Luo Rong-Cheng , Day Brian J.
Published: March 2014

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer is a two-step drug-device combination modality, which involves the topical or systemic administration of a photosensitizer followed by light illumination of cancer site. In the presence of oxygen molecules, the light illumination of photosensitizer (PS) can lead to the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequently destroy cancer. Similar to many other anticancer therapies, PDT is also subject to intrinsic cancer resistance mediated by multidrug resistance (MDR) mechanisms. This paper will review the recent progress in understanding the interaction between MDR transporters and PS uptake. The strategies that can be used in a clinical setting to overcome or bypass MDR will also be discussed.