bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WILLIAM ROBERTSON AND SCIENTIFIC THEISM
Authors: EHRLICH JOSHUA
Published: October 2013

Scholars have hitherto found little to no place for natural philosophy in the intellectual makeup of the Enlightened historian William Robertson, overlooking his significant contacts with that province and its central relevance to the controversy surrounding David Hume and Lord Kames in the 1750s. Here I reexamine Robertson's Situation of the World at the Time of Christ's Appearance (1755) in light of these contexts. I argue that his foundational sermon drew upon the scientific theism of such thinkers as Joseph Butler, Edmund Law, and Colin Maclaurin to counter the autonomous figurations of the universe associated with Hume and Kames, and to develop a historical account of progress based around Christian progressivism rather than the stadial theory of Adam Smith. Robertson conceived of history neither in secular terms nor in those of traditional religion, but sought instead to update the language of providentialism by naturalizing the sacred within a framework of general laws.
CHILDREN OFTHE LONELY CROWD: DAVID RIESMAN, THE YOUNG RADICALS, AND THE SPLITTING OF LIBERALISM IN THE 1960S
Authors: GEARY DANIEL
Published: October 2013

By embodying the hopes of a set of qualitative liberals who believed that postwar economic abundance opened up opportunities for self-development, David Riesman's bestsellingThe Lonely Crowdinfluenced the New Left. Yet Riesman's assessment of radical youth protest shifted over the course of the 1960s. As an antinuclear activist he worked closely with New Left leaders during the early 1960s. By the end of the decade, he became a sharp critic of radical protest. However, other leading members of Riesman's circle, such as Kenneth Keniston, author of the influentialYoung Radicals(1968), applied Riesman's ideas to create more sympathetic understandings of the New Left. Examining reactions to the New Left by Riesman and his associates allows historians to go beyond the common understanding of the key ideological divisions of the 1960s as existing between liberalism and radicalism or between liberalism and conservatism to better appreciate the significance of splits among liberals themselves.
EDITORIAL NOTE
Authors: Capper Charles
Published: October 2013

Before Tony La Vopa had joined Nick Phillipson and me in founding Modern Intellectual History in 2004, Tony had successfully traveled in the spiral spirit of Vico's philosophy of history. Born in the Bronx to a Catholic Italian-American father and Irish-American mother, educated at the Jesuit Boston College and later at Cornell University, Tony launched his scholarly career as an intellectually inflected social historian with his book Grace, Talent, and Merit: Poor Students, Clerical Careers, and Professional Ideology in Eighteenth-Century Germany (Cambridge UP, 1988). Then, while much of the historical profession was abandoning social history for the seemingly more capacious field of cultural history, he deepened further his strongly intellectual and social history approach in his Mosse Prize-winning rendering of the identity and career of a single poor but tremendously ambitious young philosopher. In Fichte: The Self and the Calling of Philosophy, 1762–1799 (Cambridge UP, 2001), he embedded his striving scholar in a thick web of political and religious discourses, which Fichte tried both to penetrate and transcend through his rigorously soaring philosophy of the Transcendental “I.” Currently, Tony is completing a manuscript titled Manly Thoughts. The Labor of the Mind and the Specter of Effeminacy in Enlightenment Cultures. Promising to offer a fascinating further extension of his socio-intellectual method, the book will serve as a timely capstone of his career as one of the Enlightenment's preeminent historians working today.
Diverse capacity for 2-methylhopanoid production correlates with a specific ecological niche
Authors: Ricci Jessica N , Coleman Maureen L , Welander Paula V , Sessions Alex L , Summons Roger E , Spear John R , Newman Dianne K
Published: October 2013

Molecular fossils of 2-methylhopanoids are prominent biomarkers in modern and ancient sediments that have been used as proxies for cyanobacteria and their main metabolism, oxygenic photosynthesis. However, substantial culture and genomic-based evidence now indicates that organisms other than cyanobacteria can make 2-methylhopanoids. Because few data directly address which organisms produce 2-methylhopanoids in the environment, we used metagenomic and clone library methods to determine the environmental diversity of hpnP, the gene encoding the C-2 hopanoid methylase. Here we show that hpnP copies from alphaproteobacteria and as yet uncultured organisms are found in diverse modern environments, including some modern habitats representative of those preserved in the rock record. In contrast, cyanobacterial hpnP genes are rarer and tend to be localized to specific habitats. To move beyond understanding the taxonomic distribution of environmental 2-methylhopanoid producers, we asked whether hpnP presence might track with particular variables. We found hpnP to be significantly correlated with organisms, metabolisms and environments known to support plant–microbe interactions (P-value<10−6); in addition, we observed diverse hpnP types in closely packed microbial communities from other environments, including stromatolites, hot springs and hypersaline microbial mats. The common features of these niches indicate that 2-methylhopanoids are enriched in sessile microbial communities inhabiting environments low in oxygen and fixed nitrogen with high osmolarity. Our results support the earlier conclusion that 2-methylhopanoids are not reliable biomarkers for cyanobacteria or any other taxonomic group, and raise the new hypothesis that, instead, they are indicators of a specific environmental niche.
Metabolic and protein interaction sub-networks controlling the proliferation rate of cancer cells and their impact on patient survival
Authors: Feizi Amir , Bordel Sergio
Published: October 2013

Cancer cells can have a broad scope of proliferation rates. Here we aim to identify the molecular mechanisms that allow some cancer cell lines to grow up to 4 times faster than other cell lines. The correlation of gene expression profiles with the growth rate in 60 different cell lines has been analyzed using several genome-scale biological networks and new algorithms. New possible regulatory feedback loops have been suggested and the known roles of several cell cycle related transcription factors have been confirmed. Over 100 growth-correlated metabolic sub-networks have been identified, suggesting a key role of simultaneous lipid synthesis and degradation in the energy supply of the cancer cells growth. Many metabolic sub-networks involved in cell line proliferation appeared also to correlate negatively with the survival expectancy of colon cancer patients.
Codon optimisation improves the expression of Trichoderma viride sp. endochitinase in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Yu Ping , Yan Yuan , Gu Qing , Wang Xiangyang
Published: October 2013

The mature cDNA of endochitinase from Trichoderma viride sp. was optimised based on the codon bias of Pichia pastoris GS115 and synthesised by successive PCR; the sequence was then transformed into P. pastoris GS115 via electroporation. The transformant with the fastest growth rate on YPD plates containing 4 mg/mL G418 was screened and identified. This transformant produced 23.09 U/mL of the recombinant endochitinase, a 35% increase compared to the original strain bearing the wild-type endochitinase cDNA. The recombinant endochitinase was sequentially purified by ammonia sulphate precipitation, DE-52 anion-exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-100 size-exclusion chromatography. Thin-layer chromatography indicated that the purified endochitinase could hydrolyse chito-oligomers or colloidal chitin to generate diacetyl-chitobiose (GlcNAc)2 as the main product. This study demonstrates (1) a means for high expression of Trichoderma viride sp. endochitinase in P. pastoris using codon optimisation and (2) the preparation of chito-oligomers using endochitinase.
SLC22A13 catalyses unidirectional efflux of aspartate and glutamate at the basolateral membrane of type A intercalated cells in the renal collecting duct
Authors: Schulz Christian , Fork Christian , Bauer Tim , Golz Stefan , Geerts Andreas , Schömig Edgar , Gründemann Dirk
Published: October 2013

In vertebrates, SLC22A13 is an evolutionarily conserved transport protein of the plasma membrane. In humans and rat, it is principally expressed in the kidney. The precise localization and physiological function are unknown. In the present study, immunohistochemistry revealed that expression of SLC22A13 is confined to the basolateral membrane of type A intercalated cells in rat kidney. Double-staining confirmed that SLC22A13 co-localizes with anion exchanger 1. LC–MS difference shading showed that heterologous expression of human and rat SLC22A13 in HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293 cells stimulates efflux of guanidinosuccinate, aspartate, glutamate and taurine. Time courses of uptake of [3H]aspartate and [3H]glutamate revealed that SLC22A13 counteracted endogenous uptake. By contrast, OAT2 (organic anion transporter 2), a bidirectional glutamate transporter, increased accumulation of [3H]glutamate. Thus SLC22A13 catalyses unidirectional efflux. Velocity of efflux of standard amino acids was measured by LC–MS/MS. Expression of SLC22A13 strongly stimulated efflux of aspartate, taurine and glutamate. When the intracellular concentrations of aspartate and taurine were increased by pre-incubation, velocities of efflux increased linearly. We propose that in type A intercalated cells, SLC22A13 compensates luminal exit of protons by mediating the basolateral expulsion of the anions aspartate and glutamate. In this context, unidirectional efflux is essential to avoid anion re-entering. Loss of SLC22A13 function could cause distal tubular acidosis.
Epigenetic regulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) by SIRT1 under conditions of cell energy stress
Authors: Clarke Nicola E. , Belyaev Nikolai D. , Lambert Daniel W. , Turner Anthony J.
Published: October 2013

ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) counterbalances the actions of ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) by metabolizing its catalytic product, the vasoactive and fibrogenic peptide AngII (angiotensin II), into Ang-(1–7) [angiotensin-(1–7)]. Enhanced ACE2 expression may be protective in diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, relatively little is known about the specific physiological factors regulating ACE2 expression. In the present paper, we show, by Western blotting and qPCR (quantitative real-time PCR), that ACE2 expression is increased under conditions of cell stress, including hypoxic conditions, IL (interleukin)-1β treatment and treatment with the AMP mimic AICAR (5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide riboside). The NAD+-dependent deacetylase SIRT1 (silent information regulator T1) was found to be up-regulated after AICAR treatment but, conversely, was down-regulated after IL-1β treatment. ChIP analysis demonstrated that SIRT1 bound to the ACE2 promoter and that binding was increased after AICAR treatment, but decreased after IL-1β treatment. Inhibition of SIRT1 activity ablated the AICAR-induced increase in ACE2. In conclusion, we have established that the expression of the ACE2 transcript is controlled by the activity of SIRT1 under conditions of energy stress.
Effects of organic acids on the formation of the barrier to radial oxygen loss in roots of Hordeum marinum
Authors: Kotula Lukasz , Colmer Timothy David , Nakazono Mikio
Published: October 2013

A barrier to radial O2 loss (ROL) is an adaptive trait of many wetland plants, yet the signal(s) for barrier induction remain uncertain. We assessed the effects of monocarboxylic acids produced in waterlogged soils (acetic, propionic, N-butyric and caproic acids) on barrier formation in adventitious roots of the waterlogging tolerant Hordeum marinum Huds. These acids were applied in nutrient solution either individually (at 0.4 mM) or as a mixture (‘cocktail’) at various total concentrations (0.1, 0.4 and 2 mM) at pH 6. The barrier to ROL was formed in basal zones of roots exposed to the cocktail at 0.4 mM, but not at 0.1 mM. Individually, only N-butyric and caproic acids invoked a ‘tight’ barrier in subapical positions of the roots. These organic acids accelerated deposition of suberin in the hypodermis/exodermis, but did not affect overall root porosity (% gas space). The organic acids also reduced root extension rate and tissue K+; effects were more pronounced at higher concentrations of the cocktail and as the molecular weight of the organic acid increased. Moreover, the cocktail at 2 mM and caproic acid at 0.4 mM alone induced development of intercellular occlusions, suggesting phytotoxin injury. In summary, even relatively low concentrations of organic acids can promote barrier formation in roots, and the potential toxicity of these compounds was demonstrated by declines in root growth and tissue K+ in the wetland species H. marinum.
IFI16 senses DNA forms of the lentiviral replication cycle and controls HIV-1 replication
Authors: Jakobsen Martin R. , Bak Rasmus O. , Andersen Annika , Berg Randi K. , Jensen Søren B. , Jin Tengchuan , Laustsen Anders , Hansen Kathrine , Østergaard Lars , Fitzgerald Katherine A. , Xiao T. Sam , Mikkelsen Jacob G. , Mogensen Trine H. , Paludan Søren R.
Published: October 2013

Significance

HIV-1 is a lentivirus and replicates through a replication cycle involving several DNA forms including ssDNA. Here we report that synthetic DNA oligos corresponding to DNA forms of the lentivirus replication cycle as well as viral DNA are detected by the immunological DNA sensor IFN-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) and stimulate innate immune responses through a pathway dependent on stimulator of IFN genes (STING). Moreover, we show that replication of HIV-1 is elevated in cells with decreased expression of IFI16 or STING. We suggest IFI16 is a sensor for lentivirus DNA in macrophages stimulating innate immune responses, which contribute to early control of the virus.
Regulation of the immune system by biodiversity from the natural environment: An ecosystem service essential to health
Authors: Rook Graham A.
Published: October 2013

Epidemiological studies suggest that living close to the natural environment is associated with long-term health benefits including reduced death rates, reduced cardiovascular disease, and reduced psychiatric problems. This is often attributed to psychological mechanisms, boosted by exercise, social interactions, and sunlight. Compared with urban environments, exposure to green spaces does indeed trigger rapid psychological, physiological, and endocrinological effects. However, there is little evidence that these rapid transient effects cause long-term health benefits or even that they are a specific property of natural environments. Meanwhile, the illnesses that are increasing in high-income countries are associated with failing immunoregulation and poorly regulated inflammatory responses, manifested as chronically raised C-reactive protein and proinflammatory cytokines. This failure of immunoregulation is partly attributable to a lack of exposure to organisms (“Old Friends”) from mankind’s evolutionary past that needed to be tolerated and therefore evolved roles in driving immunoregulatory mechanisms. Some Old Friends (such as helminths and infections picked up at birth that established carrier states) are almost eliminated from the urban environment. This increases our dependence on Old Friends derived from our mothers, other people, animals, and the environment. It is suggested that the requirement for microbial input from the environment to drive immunoregulation is a major component of the beneficial effect of green space, and a neglected ecosystem service that is essential for our well-being. This insight will allow green spaces to be designed to optimize health benefits and will provide impetus from health systems for the preservation of ecosystem biodiversity.
Regulation of mitosis by the NIMA kinase involves TINA and its newly discovered partner, An-WDR8, at spindle pole bodies
Authors: Shen Kuo-Fang , Osmani Stephen A.
Published: October 2013

The NIMA kinase is required for mitotic nuclear pore complex disassembly and potentially controls other mitotic-specific events. To investigate this possibility, we imaged NIMA–green fluorescent protein (GFP) using four-dimensional spinning disk confocal microscopy. At mitosis NIMA-GFP locates to spindle pole bodies (SPBs), which contain Cdk1/cyclin B, followed by Aurora, TINA, and the BimC kinesin. NIMA promotes NPC disassembly in a spatially regulated manner starting near SPBs. NIMA is also required for TINA, a NIMA-interacting protein, to locate to SPBs during initiation of mitosis, and TINA is then necessary for locating NIMA back to SPBs during mitotic progression. To help expand the NIMA-TINA pathway, we affinity purified TINA and found it to uniquely copurify with An-WDR8, a WD40-domain protein conserved from humans to plants. Like TINA, An-WDR8 accumulates within nuclei during G2 but disperses from nuclei before locating to mitotic SPBs. Without An-WDR8, TINA levels are greatly reduced, whereas TINA is necessary for mitotic targeting of An-WDR8. Finally, we show that TINA is required to anchor mitotic microtubules to SPBs and, in combination with An-WDR8, for successful mitosis. The findings provide new insights into SPB targeting and indicate that the mitotic microtubule-anchoring system at SPBs involves WDR8 in complex with TINA.
Delayed star formation in high-redshift stream-fed galaxies
Authors: Gabor J. M. , Bournaud Frédéric
Published: October 2013

We propose that star formation (SF) is delayed relative to the inflow rate in rapidly accreting galaxies at very high redshift (z > 2) because of the energy conveyed by the accreting gas. Accreting gas streams provide fuel for SF, but they stir the disc and increase turbulence above the usual levels compatible with gravitational instability, reducing the SF efficiency in the available gas. After the specific inflow rate has sufficiently decreased – typically at z < 3 – galaxies settle in a self-regulated regime with efficient SF. An analytic model shows that this interaction between infalling gas and young galaxies can significantly delay SF and maintain high gas fractions (>40 per cent) down to z ≈ 2, in contrast to other galaxy formation models. Idealized hydrodynamic simulations of infalling gas streams on to primordial galaxies confirm the efficient energetic coupling at z > 2 and suggest that this effect is largely under-resolved in existing cosmological simulations.
A Bacterial Type III Secretion Assay for Delivery of Fungal Effector Proteins into Wheat
Authors: Upadhyaya Narayana M. , Mago Rohit , Staskawicz Brian J. , Ayliffe Michael A. , Ellis Jeffrey G. , Dodds Peter N.
Published: October 2013

Large numbers of candidate effectors from fungal pathogens are being identified through whole-genome sequencing and in planta expression studies. Although Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression has enabled high-throughput functional analysis of effectors in dicot plants, this assay is not effective in cereal leaves. Here, we show that a nonpathogenic Pseudomonas fluorescens engineered to express the type III secretion system (T3SS) of P. syringae and the wheat pathogen Xanthomonas translucens can deliver fusion proteins containing T3SS signals from P. syringae (AvrRpm1) and X. campestris (AvrBs2) avirulence (Avr) proteins, respectively, into wheat leaf cells. A calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase reporter protein was delivered effectively into wheat and barley by both bacteria. Absence of any disease symptoms with P. fluorescens makes it more suitable than X. translucens for detecting a hypersensitive response (HR) induced by an effector protein with avirulence activity. We further modified the delivery system by removal of the myristoylation site from the AvrRpm1 fusion to prevent its localization to the plasma membrane which could inhibit recognition of an Avr protein. Delivery of the flax rust AvrM protein by the modified delivery system into transgenic tobacco leaves expressing the corresponding M resistance protein induced a strong HR, indicating that the system is capable of delivering a functional rust Avr protein. In a preliminary screen of effectors from the stem rust fungus Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, we identified one effector that induced a host genotype-specific HR in wheat. Thus, the modified AvrRpm1:effector–Pseudomonas fluorescens system is an effective tool for large-scale screening of pathogen effectors for recognition in wheat.
Plant Defense Stimulation by Natural Isolates of Bacillus Depends on Efficient Surfactin Production
Authors: Cawoy Hélène , Mariutto Martin , Henry Guillaume , Fisher Christophe , Vasilyeva Natallia , Thonart Philippe , Dommes Jacques , Ongena Marc
Published: October 2013

Some plant-associated Bacillus strains produce induced systemic resistance (ISR) in the host, which contributes to their protective effect against phytopathogens. Little is known about the variety of elicitors responsible for ISR that are produced by Bacillus strains. Working with a particular strain, we have previously identified the surfactin lipopeptide as a main compound stimulating plant immune-related responses. However, with the perspective of developing Bacillus strains as biocontrol agents, it is important to establish whether a central role of surfactin is generally true for isolates belonging to the B. subtilis/amyloliquefaciens complex. To that end, we set up a comparative study involving a range of natural strains. Their secretomes were first tested for triggering early defense events in cultured tobacco cells. Six isolates with contrasting activities were further evaluated for ISR in plants, based both on macroscopic disease reduction and on stimulation of the oxylipin pathway as defense mechanism. A strong correlation was found between defense-inducing activity and the amount of surfactin produced by the isolates. These results support the idea of a widespread role for surfactin as a nonvolatile elicitor formed by B. subtilis/amyloliquefaciens, and screening for strong surfactin producers among strains naturally secreting multiple antibiotics could be an efficient approach to select good candidates as biopesticides.
The deleterious effect of red blood cell storage on microvascular response to transfusion
Authors: Weinberg Jordan A. , MacLennan Paul A. , Vandromme-Cusick Marianne J. , Magnotti Louis J. , Kerby Jeffrey D. , Rue Loring W. , Angotti Jonathan M. , Garrett Cristen A. , Hendrick Leah E. , Croce Martin A. , Fabian Timothy C. , Barnum Scott R. , Patel Rakesh P.
Published: October 2013

BACKGROUND

The transfusion of relatively older red blood cells (RBCs) has been associated with both morbidity and mortality in trauma patients in observational studies. Although the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain unclear, alterations in the microcirculation as a result of the transfusion of relatively older blood may be a causative factor. To assess this hypothesis, we evaluated microvascular perfusion in trauma patients during RBC transfusion.

METHODS

Anemic but otherwise stable trauma intensive care unit patients with orders for transfusion were identified. Thenar muscle tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) was measured continuously by near-infrared spectroscopy during the course of transfusion of one RBC unit. Sublingual microcirculation was observed by sidestream dark-field illumination microscopy before and after transfusion of one RBC unit. Thenar muscle StO2 was recorded during the course of transfusion. Pretransfusion and posttransfusion perfused capillary vascular density (PCD) was determined by semiquantitative image analysis. Changes in StO2 and PCD relative to age of RBC unit were evaluated using mixed models that adjusted for baseline StO2 and Spearman correlation, respectively.

RESULTS

Overall, 93 patients were recruited for study participation, 69% were male, and average Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 26.4. The average pretransfusion hemoglobin was 7.5 mg/dL, and the average age of RBC unit transfused was 29.4 days. The average peritransfusion StO2 was negatively associated with increasing RBC age (slope, −0.11; p = 0.0014). Change in PCD from pretransfusion to posttransfusion period was found to correlate negatively with RBC storage age (Spearman correlation, −0.27; p = 0.037).

CONCLUSION

The transfusion of relatively older RBC units was associated with a decline in both StO2 and PCD. Collectively, these observations demonstrate that transfusions of older RBC units are associated with the inhibition of regional microvascular perfusion. In patients requiring multiple units of RBCs, alteration of the microcirculation by relatively older units could potentially contribute to adverse outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic study, level III.
Vancomycin and nephrotoxicity
Authors: Davies Stephen W. , Guidry Christopher A. , Petroze Robin T. , Hranjec Tjasa , Sawyer Robert G.
Published: October 2013

BACKGROUND

Vancomycin is considered the drug of choice for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection; however, it has also been linked with nephrotoxicity in the past, sometimes leading to its substitution with linezolid. We hypothesized that patients treated with vancomycin for gram-positive (GP) infections would have an increased incidence of rise in creatinine and need for hemodialysis (HD) compared with patients receiving linezolid.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of a prospectively maintained database of all surgical patients treated with either vancomycin or linezolid for GP infections in a single intensive care unit from 2001 to 2008 and managed under a cycling antibiotic protocol. Patients were followed up until hospital discharge. Categorical and continuous variables were evaluated. Multivariable logistic regression was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 545 patients were treated for 1,046 GP infections (571 with vancomycin, 475 with linezolid) over 7 years. Patient demographics were similar between groups; however, the vancomycin group was associated with a longer treatment course (16.2 [0.5] days vs. 14.3 [0.5] days; p = 0.022). Unadjusted outcomes were similar between groups. Multivariable analysis revealed that Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score predicted an increase in creatinine levels greater than 1.0 following antibiotic therapy (relative risk [RR], 3.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22–7.42) and subsequent need for HD (RR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.23–7.62). In addition, initial creatinine level predicted an increase in creatinine levels greater than 1.0 following antibiotic therapy (RR, 4.36; 95% CI, 1.46–12.99) and subsequent need for HD (RR, 10.83; 95% CI, 3.19–36.77). Linezolid was found to be protective regarding rise in creatinine levels greater than 1.0 following antibiotic therapy; however, this was only experienced when vancomycin trough levels greater than 20 were encountered (RR, 5.4;95% CI, 1.19–24.51).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that vancomycin is minimally nephrotoxic and has a similar nephrotoxic profile as compared with linezolid when appropriate dosing is used, even among critically ill patients with complex infections.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/care management, level II.
Brain-type natriuretic peptide and right ventricular end-diastolic volume index measurements are imprecise estimates of circulating blood volume in critically ill subjects
Authors: Takahashi Edwin A. , Moran Sharon E. , Hayashi Michael S. , Inouye David S. , Takanishi Danny M. , Yu Mihae
Published: October 2013

BACKGROUND

Surrogate indicators have often been used to estimate intravascular volume to guide fluid management. Brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been used as a noninvasive adjunct in the diagnosis of fluid overload and as a marker of response to therapy, especially in individuals with congestive heart failure. Similarly, right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (RVEDVI) measurements represent another parameter used to guide fluid resuscitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether BNP and RVEDVI are clinically valuable parameters that can distinguish among hypovolemia, euvolemia, and hypervolemia, as measured by blood volume (BV) analysis in critically ill surgical subjects.

METHODS

This observational study was part of a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Subjects with pulmonary artery catheters for the treatment of traumatic injuries, severe sepsis/septic shock, cardiovascular collapse, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and postsurgical care were studied. Circulating BV was measured by a radioisotope dilution technique using the BVA-100 Analyzer (Daxor Corporation, New York, NY) within the first 24 hours of acute resuscitation. BV results were reported as percent deviation from the patient’s ideal BV based on height and percent deviation from optimum weight. Hypovolemia was defined as less than 0%, euvolemia was defined as 0% to +16%, and hypervolemia was defined as greater than +16% deviation from ideal BV. RVEDVI was measured by continuous cardiac output pulmonary artery catheters (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA). BNP and RVEDVI measurements obtained with BV analysis were evaluated with Fisher’s exact test and regression analysis.

RESULTS

In 81 subjects, there was no difference in BV status between those with BNP of 500 pg/mL or greater and BNP of less than 500 pg/mL (p = 0.82) or in those with RVEDVI of 140 mL/m2 or greater and RVEDVI of less than 140 mL/m2 (p = 0.43). No linear relationship existed between BV and these parameters.

CONCLUSION

In critically ill surgical patients, BNP and RVEDVI were not associated with intravascular volume status, although they may be useful as indices that reflect increased cardiac preload.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Diagnostic study, level III.
Early abdominal closure improves long-term outcomes after damage-control laparotomy
Authors: Fox Nicole , Crutchfield Melanie , LaChant Mary , Ross Steven E. , Seamon Mark J.
Published: October 2013

BACKGROUND

The impact of initial clinical decisions on the long-term quality of life and functional outcome of patients who undergo damage-control laparotomy (DCL) is unknown. We hypothesized that early abdominal closure after DCL improves long-term outcomes.

METHODS

Patients (2005–2011) who underwent DCL (n = 140) at our Level I trauma center were identified. A total of 108 patients survived their hospitalization, and 15 died following discharge. Of the remaining 93 survivors, 59 were unreachable and not present in the social security death index. Our final study population of 34 survivors prospectively completed a standardized study questionnaire, the SF-36 health survey, and inpatient and outpatient records were reviewed. Survivors were compared on the basis of time with final abdominal closure (early, <7 days vs. late, >7 days; either primary closure or Vicryl mesh), and study variables were analyzed. A p < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Our study population was primarily male (82%) of varying age (36 [13]) and mechanism (blunt 56%, penetrating 44%) with severe injuries (mean [SD] Injury Severity Score [ISS], 17 [8]). Despite no differences in age, sex, mechanism, ISS, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, or admission systolic blood pressure, early-closure patients (n = 13) had shorter hospital (25 days vs. 57 days) and intensive care unit (12 days vs. 20 days) stays and, upon long-term follow-up, higher physical (54 vs. 18), emotional (86 vs. 44), and general health (66 vs. 50) SF-36 scores than late-closure patients (n = 21) (all p < 0.05). Early-closure patients had less daily pain (38% vs. 95%), had higher overall SF-36 scores (66 vs. 46), and were more likely to return to work (54% vs. 10%) than late-closure patients (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Early clinical decisions impact the lives of critically injured patients. Abdominal closure within 7 days of DCL improves long-term quality of life and functional outcome.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic study, level IV.
Incidental findings in patients with multiple injuries
Authors: Ruesseler Miriam , Schill Anna , Lehnert Thomas , Wyen Hendrik , Wutzler Sebastian , Marzi Ingo , Walcher Felix
Published: October 2013

BACKGROUND

Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is the diagnostic criterion standard for the initial evaluation of patients with suspected multiple injuries. Besides scanning for injuries directly related to the initial trauma, MSCT scans can reveal pathologies unrelated to the trauma of clinical relevance.

The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency and follow-up course of incidental findings in patients with multiple injuries.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on 2,242 patients with suspected multiple injuries at a Level I trauma center from 2006 to 2010.

The MSCT reports were retrospectively reviewed regarding abnormal findings not related to trauma. These incidental findings were classified on a four-point level scoring system with respect to clinical importance and urgency for further diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

RESULTS

During initial trauma center evaluation in the emergency department, 2,246 patients met our inclusion criteria. A total of 2,036 patients (90.7%) underwent MSCT; 1,142 (50.9%) of the patients had one or more incidental findings. A total of 2,844 incidental findings were detected. Overall, 349 tumor findings were noted (12.3% of all incidental findings); 113 findings were suspicious for malignant processes or metastasis. According to our classification, 168 (5.9%) of the incidental findings required urgent follow-up (Level 4), and 527 (18.5%) of the incidental findings required a follow-up before discharge (Level 3).

CONCLUSION

MSCT in patients with multiple injuries reveals one or more incidental findings in more than one of two patients. A scoring system classifying for relevance of incidental findings was introduced and could be applied in routine trauma care in the future.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Epidemiologic study, level III.
Pleiotropic regulatory genes
bldA
,
adpA
and
absB
are implicated in production of phosphoglycolipid antibiotic moenomycin
Authors: Makitrynskyy Roman , Ostash Bohdan , Tsypik Olga , Rebets Yuriy , Doud Emma , Meredith Timothy , Luzhetskyy Andriy , Bechthold Andreas , Walker Suzanne , Fedorenko Victor
Published: October 2013

Unlike the majority of actinomycete secondary metabolic pathways, the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase inhibitor moenomycin in
Streptomyces ghanaensis
does not involve any cluster-situated regulators (CSRs). This raises questions about the regulatory signals that initiate and sustain moenomycin production. We now show that three pleiotropic regulatory genes for
Streptomyces
morphogenesis and antibiotic production—
bldA
,
adpA
and
absB
—exert multi-layered control over moenomycin biosynthesis in native and heterologous producers. The
bldA
gene for tRNA
Leu
UAA
is required for the translation of rare UUA codons within two key moenomycin biosynthetic genes (
moe
),
moeO5
and
moeE5
. It also indirectly influences moenomycin production by controlling the translation of the UUA-containing
adpA
and, probably, other as-yet-unknown repressor gene(s). AdpA binds key
moe
promoters and activates them. Furthermore, AdpA interacts with the
bldA
promoter, thus impacting translation of
bldA
-dependent mRNAs—that of
adpA
and several
moe
genes. Both
adpA
expression and moenomycin production are increased in an
absB-
deficient background, most probably because AbsB normally limits
adpA
mRNA abundance through ribonucleolytic cleavage. Our work highlights an underappreciated strategy for secondary metabolism regulation, in which the interaction between structural genes and pleiotropic regulators is
not
mediated by CSRs. This strategy might be relevant for a growing number of CSR-free gene clusters unearthed during actinomycete genome mining.
Food consumption value
Authors: Dagevos Hans , van Ophem Johan
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– This paper seeks to argue that a new and broader definition of food value should be introduced that includes other factors than the traditional mantra of nutritional value, appearance, and the like. This paper introduces the concept of food consumption value (FCV).

Design/methodology/approach

– The development of FCV is based upon various research traditions and corresponding bodies of literature. The four constituting parts of FCV origins in different lines of scholarly theorising. These lines of thought are discussed separately. Collectively, they form the breeding ground of the concept of food consumption value.

Findings

– The consumer-centred framework of FCV consists of four elements. Product value refers to food's features and functionalities like taste or texture. Process value refers to consumers' interest in the practices and processes of food production. Ethical considerations (consumer concerns) are thus taken into account. Furthermore, FCV encompasses location value and emotional value. Location value refers to the setting in which food is purchased or consumed. Emotional value is the most elusive element of FCV, because it refers to “feel goods” such as experience, entertainment, (self) indulgence or identity values with respect to the consumption of food products or brands.

Practical implications

– The message of FCV for (marketing) practitioners in the field of food is that value creation should depart from assessing consumer value in narrow senses such as value for money. The feelings that foods can arouse are anything but valueless intangibilities, but crucial assets of value creation and competitiveness. Another practical implication of FCV is that for value creation in the food supply chain it is a sine qua non that downstream (location value) and upstream (process value) are fine-tuned consistently and constructively.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first exploratory study on the development of the new concept of FCV that examines consumer value beyond tangible product attributes and price. This broader concept of FCV aims to interpret value in terms that adjust to today's consumer-oriented food market. Though inspired by other interpretations of value in marketing and food studies, FCV differs from these.
Multi-agency partnerships in cybercrime reduction
Authors: Levi Michael , Leighton Williams Matthew
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to map out multi-agency partnerships in the UK information assurance (UKIA) network in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper surveyed members of the UKIA community and achieved a 52 percent response rate (n=104). The paper used a multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) technique to map the multi-agency cooperation space and factor analysis and ordinary least squares regression to identify predictive factors of cooperation frequency. Qualitative data were also solicited via the survey and interviews with security managers.

Findings

– Via the quantitative measures, the paper locates gaps in the multi-agency cooperation network and identifies predictors of cooperation. The data indicate an over-crowded cybersecurity space, problems in apprehending perpetrators, and poor business case justifications for SMEs as potential inhibitors to cooperation, while concern over certain cybercrimes and perceptions of organisational effectiveness were identified as motivators.

Practical implications

– The data suggest that the neo-liberal rationality that has been evoked in other areas of crime control is also evident in the control of cybercrimes. The paper concludes divisions exist between the High Policing rhetoric of the UK's Cyber Security Strategy and the (relatively) Low Policing cooperation outcomes in “on the ground” cyber-policing. If the cooperation outcomes advocated by the UK Cyber Security Strategy are to be realised, UKIA organisations must begin to acknowledge and remedy gaps and barriers in cooperation.

Originality/value

– This paper provides the first mixed-methods evidence on the multi-agency cooperation patterns amongst the UKIA community in the UK and highlights significant gaps in the network.
Institution and decomposition of natural disaster impact on growth
Authors: Yamamura Eiji
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate whether natural disasters enhance efficiency improvement, capital accumulation and technological progress. Further, this paper examines whether the influence of naturals disasters depends on the legal origin.

Design/methodology/approach

– For this purpose, by using long-term panel data, this paper decomposes productivity growth measured by the growth of output per labor unit into three components of efficiency improvement, capital accumulation and technological progress.

Findings

– After controlling for countries' specific unobservable characteristics and year-specific effects, the paper found that impacts of natural disasters vary according to specification. However, the natural disasters enhance capital accumulation and technological progress for non-French legal origin countries, while the disasters have no effect on them for French legal origin countries.

Originality/value

– The role played by natural disasters on capital accumulation and Schumpeterian creative destruction depends on historical institutional conditions. Hence, it is important to consider the interaction between exogenous shock and institutions when examining economic growth.
Dynamics of obesity in Finland
Authors: Halicioglu Ferda
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this research is to study empirically the dynamics of obesity in Finland and provide empirical evidence of temporal causality between obesity, health expenditure, unemployment, urbanization, alcohol consumption and calorie intake.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper employs bounds testing cointegration procedure and augmented causality tests.

Findings

– The econometric results reveal that the leading cause of obesity is urbanization which is followed by the increasing availability of fast and convenience foods with high energy density, and sedentary jobs, with little incentive to exercise.

Practical implications

– The conclusion drawn from this study could be useful for policy makers and practitioners in international health organizations.

Originality/value

– The paper provides first time time-series evidence on the dynamics of obesity in Finland, using the framework of cointegration and causality tests.
Predicting informed trading at merger announcements
Authors: Abraham Rebecca , Harrington Charles
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to propose a method of forecasting the level of informed trading at merger announcements by permitting liquidity traders to adjust their trading based upon signals from informed traders. Informed traders typically take advantage of their knowledge of forthcoming mergers by trading heavily at announcement. For cash mergers, they respond to a positive signal by purchasing stock, and for stock mergers, they respond to a negative signal by selling stock. In response, exchanges (market makers) set wider spreads (charge higher transaction fees) for informed buyers. Uninformed traders are subject to such excessive fees unless they can accurately predict the period during which such fees are charged.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper proposes a technique by which uninformed traders may make predictions by creating a vector autoregressive framework that links informed and liquidity trading through price changes.

Findings

– For cash mergers, transaction fees remained excessive for days −1 to +1. For stock mergers, fees remained high on days −1 to +1, started declining on days 2 and 3, and vanished on days 4 and 5.

Research limitations/implications

– Most theoretical models of informed trading have viewed informed trading and liquidity trading as tangentially linked. This study finds a direct link between these two trading activities.

Practical implications

– Uninformed traders may wish to limit their trading until after day +1 for both types of mergers.

Originality/value

– This paper defines the time period during which transactions costs for traders are at the maximum level. Short sellers have more information about the direction of stock movements and may sell during days of informed selling set forth by this study and repurchase stock afterwards.
The cyclicality of the demand for crude oil: evidence from the OECD
Authors: Tawadros George
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the cyclical relationship between the demand for crude oil and real output for the OECD.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper employs Harvey's structural time series model to analyse the contemporaneous and non-contemporaneous cyclical co-movement of the demand for crude oil with real output, using quarterly observations for the period 1984:1-2010:4.

Findings

– The empirical evidence suggests that a strong and positive cyclical relationship between the two variables exists, with the demand for crude oil being procyclically contemporaneous.

Practical implications

– The implication of this finding suggests that consuming countries cannot stockpile oil reserves to guard against the cyclical nature of demand, while producing countries face weak and bearish oil markets during economic recessions, because oil consuming countries cannot smooth out their demand for oil on an intertemporal basis.

Originality/value

– The paper provides further evidence supporting the procyclically contemporaneous relationship between the demand for crude oil and real output for the OECD.
Nuclear energy, CO2 emissions and economic growth
Authors: Alam Abdullah
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The paper aims to study the relationship between economic growth, nuclear energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for a panel of 25 countries over a period of 1993-2010. Through this study, the author has provided an insight into one of the available sources of energy, i.e. nuclear energy and its impact on economic growth and CO2 emissions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Separate panels are created for developing and developed economies. Short- and long-run causalities between the variables are established using error correction mechanism.

Findings

– For the developed countries, short-run causality running from CO2 emissions to economic growth was estimated, whereas strong form of causality indicated the dependence of CO2 emissions on economic growth and nuclear energy consumption was seen to impact CO2 emissions. For the developing countries, both the short-run and strong-form causality estimates indicate that economic growth causes CO2 emissions.

Practical implications

– On policy front, developing countries can safely adopt CO2 cut-back policies as they are not found to impact economic growth. For the developed countries, such policies may impede growth in the short run, but in the long run these policies do not affect the economic growth.

Originality/value

– Keeping in mind the significance of nuclear energy consumption in economic growth and less/no GHG emissions generated by nuclear energy, this study validates its significance. This study, to the best of the author's knowledge, considers the largest panel (i.e. 25 countries) to date and the only study that focuses on studying three different panels (complete dataset, developed countries, developing countries) in one study and applies the vector error correction mechanism to study the causal relationship between nuclear energy consumption, CO2 emissions and economic growth.