bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Markers GRP78 and CHOP Induced by Oxidative Stress in Blue Light-Mediated Damage of A2E-Containing Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells
Authors: Feng Jingyang , Chen Xunjie , Sun Xiangjun , Wang Fenghua , Sun Xiaodong
Published: November 2014

Aims: Age-related lipofuscin N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E) accumulated in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells confers susceptibility to blue light-mediated damage, which represents one pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. This study investigated the expression of 2 best-characterized endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), as well as their regulation by oxidative stress after blue light-mediated damage of A2E-containing RPE cells. Methods: ARPE-19 cells were incubated with A2E (10, 25, 50 μM) for 2 h and exposed to blue light for 20 min. A2E distributions in RPE cells were assessed via laser scanning confocal microscope and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Cell viability was measured by a Cell Titer 96 Aqueous One Solution cell proliferation assay. The quantity of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by dihydroethidium fluorescence using flow cytometry. Expressions of GRP78 and CHOP were measured at both mRNA and protein levels. To examine the role of oxidative stress in regulating GRP78 and CHOP expression, RPE cells were pretreated with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for 2 h. RNA interference of GRP78 performed by short hairpin RNA was used to evaluate the effect of GRP78 in blue light-mediated damage of RPE cells. Results: After blue light exposure, A2E-treated RPE cells showed a gradual decrease in cell viability and a particular increase in ROS levels. Meanwhile, the expressions of GRP78 and CHOP in A2E-treated RPE cells were significantly increased at different time points after illumination. Pretreatment with NAC attenuated the expression of 2 ER stress markers, especially CHOP in A2E and blue light-treated RPE cells. Silencing of GRP78 by RNA interference upregulated CHOP and caspase-12 expression as well as aggravated the blue light-mediated damage of A2E-laden RPE cells. Conclusion: RPE cells exhibited ROS accumulation and subsequent elevation of GRP78 and CHOP expression after A2E and blue light-induced damage. The ROS scavenger NAC diminished ER stress protein expression, suggesting a connection between ER and oxidative stress in blue light-mediated damage of A2E-containing RPE cells. Besides, GRP78 may play a protective role in it.
Bilberry-Derived Anthocyanins Prevent IFN-γ-Induced Pro-Inflammatory Signalling and Cytokine Secretion in Human THP-1 Monocytic Cells
Authors: Roth Sofia , Spalinger Marianne R. , Müller Isabelle , Lang Silvia , Rogler Gerhard , Scharl Michael
Published: November 2014

Background/Aims: Anthocyanins are plant-derived dietary components that are highly abundant, for example, in bilberries. We have previously demonstrated that anthocyanins exert anti-inflammatory properties in mouse colitis models and ameliorate disease activity in ulcerative colitis patients. Here, we studied the molecular mechanisms through which anthocyanin-containing bilberry extract (BE) exerts anti-inflammatory effects in human monocytic THP-1 cells. Methods: THP-1 cells were pre-incubated with BE 20 min prior to TNF-a or IFN-γ (100 ng/ml each) stimulation. Signalling protein activation was studied by Western blotting, mRNA expression by quantitative PCR and cytokine secretion by ELISA. Results: IFN-γ-induced phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3 was significantly reduced by BE co-treatment. Consequently, levels of mRNA expression and/or cytokine secretion of MCP-1, IL-6, TNF-a, ICAM-1, and T-bet were lower with BE co-treatment. In contrast, BE enhanced TNF-a-mediated p65-NF-γB phosphorylation but reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. BE co-treatment further increased TNF-a-induced mRNA expression and secretion of NF-γB target genes, such as IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1, while mRNA levels of ICAM-1 were reduced. Conclusions: BE co-treatment reduced IFN-γ-induced signal protein activation, pro-inflammatory gene expression, and cytokine secretion, whereas it enhanced TNF-a-induced responses. These findings suggest a distinct role for anthocyanins in modulating inflammatory responses that need to be further studied to fully understand anthocyanin-mediated effects.
Deficiency of the Stroke Relevant
HDAC9
Gene Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Accord With Allele-Specific Effects at 7p21.1
Authors: Azghandi Sepiede , Prell Caroline , van der Laan Sander W. , Schneider Manuela , Malik Rainer , Berer Kerstin , Gerdes Norbert , Pasterkamp Gerard , Weber Christian , Haffner Christof , Dichgans Martin
Published: November 2014

Background and Purpose—

Recent genome-wide association studies identified the histone deacetylase 9 (
HDAC9
) gene region as a major risk locus for large-vessel stroke and coronary artery disease. However, the mechanisms linking variants at this locus to vascular risk are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the candidacy and directionality of HDAC9 in atherosclerosis and analyzed associations between risk alleles at 7p21.1 and plaque characteristics.

Methods—

Allele-dependent expression of HDAC9 was analyzed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors. Effects of HDAC9 deficiency on atherosclerotic plaques were investigated in 18- and 28-week-old ApoE
−/−
mice by histology and immunohistochemistry. We further performed detailed plaque phenotyping and genotyping of rs2107595, the lead single-nucleotide polymorphism for large-vessel stroke, in carotid endarterectomy samples of 1858 subjects from the Athero-Express study.

Results—

Gene expression studies in peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed increased mRNA levels of
HDAC9
but not of neighboring genes (
TWIST1/FERD3L
) in risk allele carriers of rs2107595. Compared with HDAC9
+/+
ApoE
−/−
mice, HDAC9
−/−
ApoE
−/−
mice exhibited markedly reduced lesion sizes throughout atherosclerotic aortas and significantly less advanced lesions. The proportion of Mac3-positive macrophages was higher in plaques from HDAC9
−/−
ApoE
−/−
mice, but this was largely because of a lower proportion of advanced lesions. Analysis of human atherosclerotic plaques revealed no association between rs2107595 and specific plaque characteristics.

Conclusions—

Our results suggest that
HDAC9
represents the disease-relevant gene at the stroke and coronary artery disease risk locus on 7p21.1, and that risk alleles in this region mediate their effects through increased HDAC9 expression. Targeted inhibition of HDAC9 might be a viable strategy to prevent atherosclerosis.
Structural Similarity Exerts Opposing Effects on Perceptual Differentiation and Categorization: An fMRI Study
Authors: Gerlach Christian , Zhu Xun , Joseph Jane E.
Published: November 2014

We manipulated the degree of structural similarity between objects that had to be matched either according to whether they represented the same object (perceptual matching) or belonged to the same category (conceptual matching). Behaviorally, performance improved as a linear function of increased structural similarity during conceptual matching but deteriorated as a linear function of increased structural similarity during perceptual matching. These effects were mirrored in fMRI recordings where activation in several ventral posterior areas exhibited a similar interaction between match type and structural similarity. Our findings provide direct support for the notion that structural similarity exerts opposing effects on classification depending on whether objects are to be perceptually differentiated or categorized—a notion that has been based on rather circumstantial evidence. In particular, the finding that structural similarity plays a major role in categorization of instances according to taxonomy challenges the view that the organization of superordinate categories is not driven by shared structural features.
Acoustic Detail Guides Attention Allocation in a Selective Listening Task
Authors: Wöstmann Malte , Schröger Erich , Obleser Jonas
Published: November 2014

The flexible allocation of attention enables us to perceive and behave successfully despite irrelevant distractors. How do acoustic challenges influence this allocation of attention, and to what extent is this ability preserved in normally aging listeners? Younger and healthy older participants performed a masked auditory number comparison while EEG was recorded. To vary selective attention demands, we manipulated perceptual separability of spoken digits from a masking talker by varying acoustic detail (temporal fine structure). Listening conditions were adjusted individually to equalize stimulus audibility as well as the overall level of performance across participants. Accuracy increased, and response times decreased with more acoustic detail. The decrease in response times with more acoustic detail was stronger in the group of older participants. The onset of the distracting speech masker triggered a prominent contingent negative variation (CNV) in the EEG. Notably, CNV magnitude decreased parametrically with increasing acoustic detail in both age groups. Within identical levels of acoustic detail, larger CNV magnitude was associated with improved accuracy. Across age groups, neuropsychological markers further linked early CNV magnitude directly to individual attentional capacity. Results demonstrate for the first time that, in a demanding listening task, instantaneous acoustic conditions guide the allocation of attention. Second, such basic neural mechanisms of preparatory attention allocation seem preserved in healthy aging, despite impending sensory decline.
Greeneria saprophytica sp. nov. on dead leaves of Syzygium cumini from Chiang Rai, Thailand
Authors: TANGTHIRASUNUN NARUMON , SILAR PHILIPPE , BHAT DARBHE JAYARAMA , MAHARACHCHIKUMBURA SAJEEWA S.N. , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: November 2014

Greeneria saprophytica sp. nov. is described from fallen Syzygium cumini leaves collected in northern Thailand. The genus Greeneria is monotypic and represented by the type species G. uvicola. The novelty and placement of G. saprophytica is confirmed based on phylogenetic analyses of the 28S nuclear large subunit DNA (nuLSU). The new species differs from G. uvicola in the dimensions of acervular conidiomata, conidiogenous cells and conidia. The phialide collarette with a serrate margin, a rare feature in conidial fungi, is characteristic of the genus.
Validation of Lathyrus egirdiricus and three new combinations in Leobordea and Senegalia (Leguminosae)
Authors: Silva Lucas Almeida , Freitas Joelcio , Dutra Valquíria Ferreira , Alves-Araújo Anderson
Published: November 2014

The family Leguminosae Jussieu comprises about 730 genera and 19.400 species divided in three subfamilies: Mimosoideae, Papilionideae and Caesalpinioideae (Lewis et al. 2005), bearing a huge diversity of habits from small annual herbs to large trees. They can be found in all terrestrial habitats, from rainforests to deserts (Polhill et al., 1981; Lewis et al. 2005).
Lectotype designation for Murex nebula Montagu 1803 (Mangeliidae) and its implications for Bela Leach in Gray 1847
Authors: Daniele SCARPONI , Landau Bernard , Janssen Ronald , MoRgenroth Holly , Bella Giano Della
Published: November 2014

Bela Leach in Gray is a misapplied and broadly defined genus within the family Mangeliidae Fischer, 1883. Examination of material from the Montagu collection at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) in Exeter (UK) led to the discovery of six specimens of Murex nebula Montagu 1803 (the type species of Bela). This material is considered to belong to the original lot used by Montagu to define his species. We selected the best-preserved specimen as a lectotype. The lectotype and paralectotypes deposited at the RAMM are fully described and illustrated. Furthermore, diagnostic characters for recognizing B. nebula specimens are presented: protoconch shows weak ornamentation; teleoconch is fusiform with slightly convex whorls characterized by broad, suture-to-suture ribs and dense but weak spiral elements; outer lip is thin; anal sinus is shallow, placed on the shoulder ramp. These key features are of basic importance for: i) restricting the usage of the genus Bela and promoting its stability and consistent usage in literature and ii) separating two allied (and sometimes interchanged) genera: Bela and Mangelia Risso 1826.
A new genus and species of freshwater crab from Madagascar (Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamoidea, Potamonautidae)
Authors: MEYER KIRSTIN S. , CUMBERLIDGE NEIL , KOPPIN JENNIFER C.
Published: November 2014

A new genus and species of freshwater crab is described from Madagascar. The new species is morphologically closest to the three species of the genus Foza Reed & Cumberlidge, 2006, but can easily be distinguished by having a completely smooth carapace with an unarmed anterolateral margin and a mandible with a distinctly shortened anterior lobe. This unusual suite of characters is sufficient to warrant the recognition of a new monotypic genus to accommodate this species.
Description of the final instar larva of Limnetron antarcticum Förster and notes on its female (Anisoptera: Aeshnidae)
Authors: DEL PALACIO ALEJANDRO , MUZÓN JAVIER
Published: November 2014

The final instar larva of Limnetron antarcticum Förster is described and illustrated for the first time based on one specimen collected in Misiones Province, Argentina. It is compared with L. debile (Karsch). Color pattern and ovipositor morphology of the female imago are described.
Interdecadal Changes in Summertime Tropical Cyclone Precipitation over Southeast China during 1960–2009
Authors: Li Richard C. Y. , Zhou Wen
Published: November 2014

This study examines the changes in tropical cyclone (TC) precipitation and the associated contributing factors over southeast China during 1960–2009. Climatologically, TC rainfall accounts for approximately 20%–40% of the total rainfall over southeast China during boreal summer, and the contribution can even reach 50% for some of the coastal provinces, such as Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Hainan. The dominant mode of TC rainfall reveals a dipole pattern over southern southeast China (SSC) and eastern southeast China (ESC), and the associated principal component time series exhibits remarkable interdecadal variations, with two potential change points being identified in the late 1970s and early 1990s. These interdecadal shifts in TC rainfall are also found to be synchronous with two regime shifts in total rainfall, and they can account for more than 40% of the total rainfall anomalies over the coastal regions of southeast China.

To discover the dominant factors responsible for the interdecadal variations, the overall TC rainfall anomalies are broken down into three different components (rainfall frequency, rainfall intensity, and nonlinear terms) based on a new empirical statistical approach. It is found that the interdecadal variation in TC precipitation over SSC is controlled predominantly by changes in TC rainfall intensity as well as TC rainfall frequency, while that over ESC depends mainly on the intensity and the nonlinear terms. Further examination of the TC passage frequency (TPF) suggests that the significant reduction in TPF and TC rainfall frequency over SSC during 1979–92 is associated mainly with suppressed TC genesis (negative genesis effect), while the increase in TPF and TC rainfall frequency during 1993–2009 can be attributed primarily to the enhanced passage probability (positive track effect) over SSC. Meanwhile, variations in TC rainfall intensity seem to be unrelated to the TC’s own intensity change.
Characteristics of the Near-Surface Currents in the Indian Ocean as Deduced from Satellite-Tracked Surface Drifters. Part II: Lagrangian Statistics
Authors: Peng Shiqiu , Qian Yu-Kun , Lumpkin Rick , Li Ping , Wang Dongxiao , Du Yan
Published: November 2014

Lagrangian statistics of the surface circulation in the Indian Ocean (IO) are investigated using drifter observations during 1985–2013. The methodology isolates the influence of low-frequency variations and horizontal shear of mean flow. The estimated Lagrangian statistics are spatially inhomogeneous and anisotropic over the IO basin, with values of ~6–85 × 107 cm2 s−1 for diffusivity, ~2–7 days for integral time scale, and ~33–223 km for length scale. Large diffusivities (>20 × 107 cm2 s−1) occur in the central-eastern equatorial IO and the eastern African coast. Small diffusivities (~6–8 × 107 cm2 s−1) appear in the subtropical gyre of the southern IO and the southeastern Arabian Sea. The equatorial IO has the largest zonal diffusivity (~85 × 107 cm2 s−1), corresponding to the largest time scale (~7 days) and length scale (~223 km), while the eastern coast of Somalia has the largest meridional diffusivity (~31 × 107 cm2 s−1). The minor component of the Lagrangian length scale is approximately equal to the first baroclinic Rossby radius (R1) at midlatitudes (R1 ~ 30–50 km), while the major component equals R1 in the equatorial region (R1 > 80 km). The periods of the energetic eddy-containing bands in the IO in Lagrangian spectra range from several days to a couple of months, where anticyclones dominate. A significant result is that the drifter-derived diffusivities asymptote to constant values in relatively short time lags (~10 days) for some subregions of the IO if they are correctly calculated. This is an important contribution to the ongoing debate regarding drifter-based diffusivity estimates with relatively short Lagrangian velocity time series versus tracer-based estimates.
Institutional Review Boards at Very High Research Activity Universities
Authors: Cannon Clare , Buttell Frederick
Published: November 2014

Objectives:

This study investigated to what degree social work was represented in the position of chair of social–behavioral institutional review boards (IRBs) at very high research activity (VHRA) universities in the United States.

Method:

We collected data on IRB rosters for all 108 schools designated by the Carnegie Foundation as VHRAs in the United States and analyzed the percentage of chairs for social–behavioral IRBs that came from social work.

Results:

Data (104 of the 108 VHRA universities) indicate only 3.8% of chairs come from social work.

Conclusions:

Universities would benefit from more social workers serving as chairs of social–behavioral IRBs because social work has a professional obligation to ethical and just research and is the most holistic of the social sciences. The background and training of professional social workers have obvious benefits in accessing and understanding the unique risks posed by the diverse proposals IRBs receive.
The Multimedia Journalist in Large-Market Television Newsrooms
Authors: Perez Simon , Cremedas Mike
Published: November 2014

This article examines the effect of the proliferation of the multimedia journalist (hereafter, MMJ) newsgathering model on reporters in large-market, local television newsrooms. This model requires one person to fill the roles of reporter, videographer, and video editor. The authors used a web-based survey of MMJs in the top 50 U.S. markets to gauge their reactions to—and the professional consequences of—working alone as opposed to working with a videographer. The results suggest many large-market reporters see the MMJ model as an inevitable outgrowth of advances in technology and increased news competition. However, they also lament that the trend leads them to believe they’re producing lower quality journalism. Most of the respondents say they are less satisfied with their jobs and some have considered quitting the business.
Using the Amplitude of Pulse-Synchronous Intramuscular Pressure Oscillations When Diagnosing Chronic Anterior Compartment Syndrome
Authors: Nilsson Andreas , Zhang Qiuxia , Styf Jorma
Published: November 2014

Background:

To diagnose chronic anterior compartment syndrome (CACS) among patients with exercise-induced leg pain, intramuscular pressure (IMP) is regarded as the gold standard. Two recent studies have suggested that the evidence for commonly used IMP criteria are weak, and the validity has therefore come under question.

Purpose:

To evaluate whether the amplitude of pulse-synchronous IMP oscillations at rest after an exercise test is a reliable parameter that may aid in diagnosing CACS.

Study Design:

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

A total of 89 consecutive patients with suspected CACS (mean age, 31 years) and 19 healthy subjects (mean age, 28 years) participated in this study. All participants performed an exercise test until they were unable to continue because of leg pain and/or muscle fatigue. The IMP was recorded continuously in the anterior compartment of the leg with a noninfusion pressure recording system, starting 15 to 30 seconds after discontinuation of exercise. To test the amplitude of pulse-synchronous IMP oscillations as an indicator of CACS, a peak-to-peak amplitude of >2 mm Hg was chosen as the cutoff value. The clinical diagnosis of CACS was considered reference standard.

Results:

The mean ± SD IMP 1 minute after exercise was 54 ± 16 mm Hg in 53 patients with CACS, 17 ± 6 mm Hg in 36 non-CACS patients, and 18 ± 5 mm Hg in control subjects. The mean amplitude of the oscillations was 7.1 ± 3 mm Hg in patients with CACS, 1.3 ± 0.9 mm Hg in non-CACS patients, and 1.5 ± 0.6 mm Hg in control subjects 1 minute after exercise. The sensitivity of the amplitude to validate CACS was 96%, while the specificity was 94%. The positive predictive value was 96%, and the negative predictive value was 94%.

Conclusion:

The amplitude of the pulse-synchronous IMP oscillations at rest after an exercise test that elicits a patient’s leg pain and muscle fatigue has high sensitivity to identify an abnormally elevated IMP.

Clinical Relevance:

Oscillations are easily recorded during clinical routine IMP measurements. They ascertain the diagnosis of CACS, corroborate the level of IMP, and ensure catheter patency.
Current Research and New Evidence for the Neolithization Process in Western Turkey
Authors: Özdoğan Eylem
Published: November 2014

Increasing research in western Anatolia since the 1990s onwards shows that the Neolithic way of life in this region emerged in the first half of the seventh millennium BC and evolved rapidly in the same millennium. Current data indicate western Anatolia, which is located alongside the primary zone of Neolithization in the Near East, has a complex constitution rather than being a bridge or barrier between east and west. In this article, data from past and current excavations in western Anatolia are discussed over time and space. In this context, eastern Thrace, where there are strong connections with west Anatolia, is also included.
Effects of storage time and temperature on the antimony and some trace element release from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into the bottled drinking water
Authors: Molaee Aghaee Ebrahim , Alimohammadi Mahmood , Nabizadeh Ramin , Jahed khaniki Gholamreza , Naseri Simin , Mahvi Amir Hossein , Yaghmaeian Kamyar , Aslani Hassan , Nazmara Shahrokh , Mahmoudi Babak , Ghani Maryam
Published: November 2014

Background and objectives

Heavy metals are considered as one of the major contaminants that can enter into the bottled waters. Antimony (Sb) is a contaminant, which may leach from the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into the water. The aim of this study was to investigate the content of antimony and other trace elements in bottled waters which was kept in varied storage conditions and temperatures.

Materials and methods

Five time-temperature treatments were carried out on five different brands of commercially available bottled waters. Heavy metal measurement was performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) method. Analysis of the collected data was processed by SPSS software.

Results

Antimony concentration was the main concern in our study. The concentrations increased in each of the sample during storage period at all temperatures. The results for different conditions were as follow: at 40°C, in outdoor and at room temperature the Sb concentrations were below the MCLs, i e. 6 ppb. However, at 65°C and 80°C for longer storage times Sb concentration exceeded the MCLs, and variations between the samples were significant (p ≤ 0.05). Storage time and temperature effects on the content of some other trace elements such as Al, Fe were also significant (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion

By increasing the duration of storage time and temperatures, antimony leaching from the PET bottles into the bottled water increased. The concentration of Al demonstrated an increase in higher temperatures and storage duration, whereas the content of Fe demonstrated no significant differences.
Short-term exposure with vibration and its effect on attention
Authors: Zamanian Zahra , Nikravesh Asghar , Monazzam Mohammad Reza , Hassanzadeh Jafar , Fararouei Mohammad
Published: November 2014

Background

About 20 to 50 percent of accidents are due to some forms of carelessness and mindedness. Studies suggested that vibration is one of the most important physical factors in human performance when traveling on any sort of vehicles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vehicles vibration on cognitive performance (attention and concentration).

Methods

The sample consists of 25 male students who undergone 4 experimental phases: acceleration low vibration (0.53 m/s2), medium vibration (0.81 m/s2), high vibration (1.12 m/s2) and non- exposure to vibration (control phase) according to ISO 2631-1 standard and with fixed frequency between 3 to 7 Hz. Students paired T test was applied to analysis the data, using SPSS software ver. 19.

Results

The mean number of correct answers obtained from selective attention test under vibration levels of 0.53 m/s2 and 0.81 m/s2 were significantly lower than the condition without vibration. The mean reaction time of divided attention test in three vibration levels was significantly lower than the condition without vibration. Exposing to vibration reduces number of correct answers, selective attention and reaction time.

Conclusion

In this study, it was found that vibration may disrupt the ability of the participants for sustainability attention. It also changes the precision and speed of humans’ information processing systems.
Catheter-associated bloodstream infection prevention: what is missing?
Authors: Moureau Nancy L
Published: November 2014

The most frequent invasive procedure performed by nurses in acute care is venous access with 80% of patients in the USA, 60% of patients in the UK, and 33–67% of patients in Australia requiring intravenous access ( Lavery, 2005 ; Hadaway, 2012 ; Wallis, 2014 ). Not only are vascular access devices the primary avenue for treatment administration, but many patients receive multiple intravenous medications and have more than one vascular access device (VAD). High usage of VADs, both central and peripheral, is not without risk of infection or other complications. Concerns regarding catheter-associated bloodstream infections are common with a general focus on central venous access devices (CVAD). Prevention for central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) is concentrated on compliance with the five components of the central line bundle with variable success ( Pronovost, 2006 ; Blot, 2014 ; Hsu, 2014 ). Preventive efforts and the application of new safety devices have resulted in actual cost reductions in addition to creating greater patient safety, reduced morbidity and mortality as well as an improved turnover of acute care bed space. Despite these worldwide efforts and general percentage reductions in infection over the past five years, more than 800 medium and large hospitals in the USA continue to have high CLABSI rates as do countless other hospitals throughout the world ( Wise, 2013 ; Herzer, 2014 ).
The approach to watery eyes in cats
Authors: Mitchell Natasha
Published: November 2014

Wet or serous ocular discharge is a common presentation in cats and can arise for a number of reasons. This article will inform the reader on the list of differential diagnoses and will advise on how to carry out a thorough ocular examination to determine the cause of the discharge.
Screening Newborn Blood Spots for 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Using Multiplex Droplet Digital PCR
Authors: Pretto Dalyir , Maar Dianna , Yrigollen Carolyn M , Regan Jack , Tassone Flora
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is often delayed or missed due to the wide spectrum of clinical involvement ranging from mild to severe, often life-threatening conditions. A delayed diagnosis can lead to life-long health issues that could be ameliorated with early intervention and treatment. Owing to the high impact of 22q11DS on public health, propositions have been made to include 22q11DS in newborn screening panels; however, the method of choice for detecting 22q11DS, fluorescent in situ hybridization, requires specialized equipment and is cumbersome for most laboratories to implement as part of their routine screening. We sought to develop a new genetic screen for 22q11DS that is rapid, cost-effective, and easily used by laboratories currently performing newborn screening.

METHODS

We evaluated the accuracy of multiplex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in the detection of copy number of 22q11DS by screening samples from 26 patients with 22q11DS blindly intermixed with 1096 blood spot cards from the general population (total n = 1122).

RESULTS

Multiplex ddPCR correctly identified all 22q11DS samples and distinguished between 1.5- and 3-Mb deletions, suggesting the approach is sensitive and specific for the detection of 22q11DS.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate the utility of multiplex ddPCR for large-scale population-based studies that screen for 22q11DS. The use of samples from blood spot cards suggests that this approach has promise for newborn screening of 22q11DS, and potentially for other microdeletion syndromes, for which early detection can positively impact clinical outcome for those affected.
Distributed and Conditional Documents: Conceptualizing Bibliographical Alterities
Authors: Drucker Johanna
Published: November 2014

To conceptualize a future history of the book we have to recognize that our understanding of the bibliographical object of the past is challenged by the ontologically unbound, distributed, digital, and networked conditions of the present. As we draw on rich intellectual traditions, we must keep in view the need to let go of the object-centered approach that is at the heart of book history. My argument begins, therefore, with a few assertions. First, that we have much to learn from the scholarship on Old and New World contact that touches on bibliography, document studies, and book history for formulating a non-object centered conception of what a book is. Second, that the insights from these studies can be usefully combined with a theory of the “conditional” document to develop the model of the kinds of distributed artifacts we encounter on a daily basis in the networked conditions of current practices. Finally, I would suggest that this model provides a different conception of artifacts (books, documents, works of textual or graphic art), one in which reception is production and therefore all materiality is subject to performative engagement within varied, and specific, conditions of encounter.
Para Além da Parergónia: A Leitura da Remoção
Authors: Schwäbl Tiago
Published: November 2014

Recensão de Craig DWORKIN, No Medium. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 2013, 219 pp. ISBN 978-0-262-01870-8.
Playful Words within Playful Worlds
Authors: Marques Diogo
Published: November 2014

Review of Astrid Ensslin, Literary Gaming. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 2014, 206 pp. ISBN 978-0-262-02715-1. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_2-1_13
On Being Contemporary
Authors: Cardoso Catarina Figueiredo
Published: November 2014

Review of Anne Moeglin-Delcroix's new edition of Esthétique du Livre d'Artiste 1960-1980: Une Introduction à l'Art Contemporain. 2nd edition, Marseilles/Paris: Le mot et le reste/ Bibliothèque Nationale de France [1st ed., Esthétique du Livre d'Artiste: 1960-1980, Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale de France/Jean Michel Place, 1997], 2012, 444 pp. ISBN 9782360540136. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_2-1_15
Semiotic Resources in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: The Narrative Power of the Visual in Multimodal Fiction
Authors: Mussetta Mariana
Published: November 2014

Multimodal fiction, as recently studied by Hallet (2009), Gibbons (2012), and Maziarczyk (2011; 2012), among others, is the phenomenon shared by those novels which combine various semiotic modes in the development of the narrative. The purpose of the present work is to account for the most salient semiotic resources used in the multimodal novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (2004). In view of the work which still needs to be done in the field, and the increasing profusion and diversity of multimodal literary forms in recent years, this study aims at throwing new light upon the diverse and significant ways in which the strategic inclusion of various semiotic resources operates in fiction. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_2-1_5
Inflammatory caspases: key regulators of inflammation and cell death
Authors: Fernández Daniel Jiménez , Lamkanfi Mohamed
Published: November 2014

The innate immune system represents the first line of defence against infectious agents, and co-ordinates cellular and molecular mechanisms that result in effective inflammatory and anti-microbial responses against pathogens. Infection and cellular stress trigger assembly of canonical and noncanonical inflammasome complexes that activate the inflammatory caspases-1 and -11, respectively. These inflammatory caspases play key roles in innate immune responses by inducing pyroptosis to halt intracellular replication of pathogens, and by engaging the extracellular release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and danger signals. In addition, the inflammatory caspases-4, -5 and -11 were recently shown to directly bind microbial components. Although the immune roles of caspase-12 are debated, it was proposed to dampen inflammatory responses by interfering with caspase-1 activation and other innate immune pathways. Here, we recapitulate the reported roles of inflammatory caspases with an emphasis on recent insights into their biological functions.
Evaluation of analgesic activity of levofloxacin in human experimental pain model
Authors: Shetty Rohita , Chaudhari Sameer , Jadhav Pradeep , Ray Ipseeta , Deshmukh Yeshwant
Published: November 2014

Background: Levofloxacin, an optically active isomer of ofloxacin, exerts broad spectrum antibacterial activity. Apart from its antibacterial action, experimental studies have documented antinociceptive properties in animal pain models suggesting an analgesic effect. This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the analgesic activity of levofloxacin in healthy human volunteers.

Methods: This was an open label, prospective, non-randomized, interventional study conducted on 12 apparently healthy volunteers at a tertiary care teaching hospital in India. Permission from the Institutional Ethics Committee was obtained. After obtaining informed consent, volunteers fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Analgesic activity was assessed by Cola cap and sphygmomanometer, a human experimental pain model. Observation of pain threshold and tolerance was recorded at baseline and at an interval of 2 h and 4 h after administration of levofloxacin (500 mg oral) in all 12 subjects. The results were analysed using repeated measures one way analysis of variance.

Results: The mean age of the volunteers was 27.5±3.26 years. A statistically significant increase in the pain threshold and tolerance was found at 2 h and 4 h when compared to baseline.

Conclusions: Levofloxacin exhibited significant analgesic activity in a human pain model and can be used in infections associated with pain or for pre-operative prophylaxis. Further investigations are required to understand the precise mechanism and pathway of antinociception exhibited by levofloxacin.
The Role of Student Affairs in Promoting Social Justice in South Africa
Authors: Schreiber Birgit
Published: November 2014

Student affairs, as an integral part of universities, has taken on a key position in contributing to social justice as one of the central imperatives of higher education in South Africa. This article sketches the development of this role and outlines some important tasks for contemporary student affairs. Three conceptual models within the social justice framework are utilized: participatory parity, universal design for learning, and student engagement. These models are uniquely useful to strengthen student affairs’s contribution to the development of social justice in South Africa. It is suggested that student affairs leaders articulate a more explicit position on social justice in order to contribute more cogently to students’ awareness of positionality, privilege, and exclusion.
Gawain’s Girdle and Joseph’s Garment: Tokens of ‘Vntrawþe’
Authors: Gill Jana Lyn
Published: November 2014

Considering the correlation between the attempted seduction of Gawain by Lady Bertilak and the attempted seduction of Joseph of Egypt by Potiphar’s wife, there is a surprising void in scholarly analysis linking the Arthurian and biblical men who are each celebrated for virtue. With the exception of a footnote in 1961, this significant connection has been completely overlooked. This article identifies the similarities between the temptation stories of Gawain and Joseph, explores evidence of medieval knowledge about Joseph’s temptation, and suggests what conclusions might be drawn from this connection. The Gawain-poet was familiar with Joseph’s temptation story and, while omitting any direct references to Joseph of Egypt, the Gawain-poet associates Gawain’s temptation with Joseph’s. It is the exchange of the girdle that alerts readers to the fascinating connection to Joseph’s garment which changes hands when Joseph is tempted by Potiphar’s wife. The girdle is the key by which the Gawain-poet invites readers to recognize the similarities between the two virtuous men, as well as the differences, thus opening the way to an intriguing comparison and conclusion that the celebrated Arthurian knight falls short of the virtue exemplified by the righteous biblical Joseph.
New Fragments of Le bel inconnu
Authors: Busby Keith
Published: November 2014

This article presents an edition of recently discovered fragments of a second manuscript, dating from the second half of the thirteenth century, of Renaut de Bâgé’s Le bel inconnu.
Comparison of cortisol samples in the first two weeks of life in preterm infants
Authors: Moore Tiffany A. , Schmid Kendra K. , French Jeffrey A.
Published: November 2014

Growing literature on negative childhood stress emphasizes the need to understand cortisol values from varying biomarker samples.

This work aimed to examine cortisol samples for usability, associations, and individual stability in neonates.

The sample consisted of preterm infants (n=31).

Analyses on cortisol collected from cord blood and from saliva and urine samples on days 1, 7, and 14 included Spearman correlations and paired t-tests.

Usability rates were 80.6% (cord blood), 85.9% (saliva), and 93.5% (urine). Salivary and urinary cortisol levels had significant correlation on day 1 only (p=0.004). Significant differences in individual stability of cortisol concentrations existed except in urine on days 1 and 7 and in saliva on days 7 and 14.

Usability was highest for urine samples. We found little correlation between cortisol sample levels at each time; individual stability of cortisol concentrations was minimal. Interpretation of cortisol findings in all studies should be performed cautiously.
The effect of pressure variations on the formation of gas inclusions in the rotational molding process
Authors: Löhner Martin , Drummer Dietmar
Published: November 2014

The major disadvantage of rotational molding is the cycle time, which is very long compared to other plastic processing methods. A major percentage of the cycle time besides heating and cooling results from the time necessary to remove gas inclusions from the polymer melt, which are trapped while sintering the polymer powder. In this work the formation of gas inclusions is investigated by conducting a cycle time variation on a uniaxial rotational molding machine. The influence of low pressure during melting on the formation of inclusions is investigated by examining sintering experiments with a pressure variation during the melting of the polymer. Sintering experiments are conducted with different melt residence times to investigate the mechanisms of gas inclusion removal. By comparing the time to reach a pore-free polymeric melt, the cycle time reduction potential under low-pressure application while melting the polymeric powder is estimated.
Redox chemistry of Tc(VII)/Tc(IV) in dilute to concentrated NaCl and MgCl2 solutions
Authors: Yalçıntaş Ezgi , Gaona Xavier , Scheinost Andreas C. , Kobayashi Taishi , Altmaier Marcus , Geckeis Horst
Published: November 2014

The redox behaviour of Tc(VII)/Tc(IV) was investigated within the pH
c
range 2–14.6 in (0.5 M
and 5.0 M) NaCl and (0.25 M, 2.0 M and 4.5 M) MgCl2 solutions in the
presence of different reducing agents (Na2S2O4, Sn(II), Fe(II)/Fe(III), Fe powder) and macroscopic
amounts of Fe minerals (magnetite, mackinawite, siderite: S/L = 20–30 g L
–1). In the first group of samples, the
decrease of the initial Tc concentration (1 · 10
–5 M, as Tc(VII)) indicated the reduction to Tc(IV) according to
the chemical reaction TcO4

–
 + 4H++ 3e
–
 ↔ TcO2 · 1.6H2O(s) + 0.4H2O. Redox speciation of Tc in the aqueous phase was further confirmed by solvent extraction. A good agreement is obtained
between the experimentally determined Tc redox distribution and thermodynamic calculations based on NEA–TDB (Nuclear Energy Agency,
Thermochemical Database) and ionic strength corrections by SIT or Pitzer approaches. These observations indicate that experimental
pH
c
and E
h values in buffered systems can be considered as reliable parameters to predict the redox behaviour of
Tc in dilute to highly concentrated NaCl and MgCl2 solutions. E
h of the system and aqueous concentration of
Tc(IV) in equilibrium with TcO2 · 1.6H2O(s) are strongly affected by elevated ionic strength, especially in the case of
4.5 M MgCl2 solutions. In such concentrated brines and under alkaline conditions (pH
c
 = pH
max
 ∼ 9), kinetics play a relevant role and thermodynamic equilibrium for the system Tc(IV)(aq) ↔ Tc(IV)(s) was not attained from oversaturation conditions within the timeframe of this study (395 days). Tc(VII) is reduced to
Tc(IV) by magnetite, mackinawite and siderite suspensions at pH
c
 = 8 – 9 in concentrated NaCl and MgCl2
solutions. Sorption is very high in all cases (R
d ≥ 103 L kg
–1), although R
d values are
significantly lower in 4.5 M MgCl2 solutions. XANES (X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy) evaluation of these
samples confirms that Tc(VII) is reduced to Tc(IV) by Fe(II) minerals also in concentrated NaCl and MgCl2 brines.
ATP13A2/PARK9 Regulates Secretion of Exosomes and α-Synuclein
Authors: Tsunemi Taiji , Hamada Kana , Krainc Dimitri
Published: November 2014

Kufor–Rakeb syndrome (KRS) is caused by loss-of-function mutations inATP13A2(PARK9) and characterized by juvenile-onset parkinsonism, pyramidal signs, and cognitive decline. Previous studies suggested that PARK9 deficiency causes lysosomal dysfunction and α-synuclein (α-syn) accumulation, whereas PARK9 overexpression suppresses toxicity of α-syn. However, the precise mechanism of PARK9 effect on lysosomes and α-syn has been unknown. Here, we found that overexpressed PARK9 localized to multivesicular bodies (MVBs) in the human H4 cell line. The results from patient fibroblasts showed that loss of PARK9 function leads to decreased number of the intraluminal vesicles in MVBs and diminished release of exosomes into culture media. By contrast, overexpression of PARK9 results in increased release of exosomes in H4 cells and mouse primary cortical neurons. Moreover, loss of PARK9 function resulted in decreased secretion of α-syn into extracellular space, whereas overexpressed PARK9 promotes secretion of α-syn, at least in part via exosomes. Finally, we found that PARK9 regulates exosome biogenesis through functional interaction with the endosomal sorting complex required for transport machinery. Together, these data suggest the involvement of PARK9 in the biogenesis of exosomes and α-syn secretion and raise a possibility that disruption of these pathways in patients with KRS contributes to the disease pathogenesis.
Auditory Cortical Processing in Real-World Listening: The Auditory System Going Real
Authors: Nelken Israel , Bizley Jennifer , Shamma Shihab A. , Wang Xiaoqin
Published: November 2014

The auditory sense of humans transforms intrinsically senseless pressure waveforms into spectacularly rich perceptual phenomena: the music of Bach or the Beatles, the poetry of Li Bai or Omar Khayyam, or more prosaically the sense of the world filled with objects emitting sounds that is so important for those of us lucky enough to have hearing. Whereas the early representations of sounds in the auditory system are based on their physical structure, higher auditory centers are thought to represent sounds in terms of their perceptual attributes. In this symposium, we will illustrate the current research into this process, using four case studies. We will illustrate how the spectral and temporal properties of sounds are used to bind together, segregate, categorize, and interpret sound patterns on their way to acquire meaning, with important lessons to other sensory systems as well.
Neurogenin3 Restricts Serotonergic Neuron Differentiation to the Hindbrain
Authors: Carcagno Abel L. , Di Bella Daniela J. , Goulding Martyn , Guillemot Francois , Lanuza Guillermo M.
Published: November 2014

The development of the nervous system is critically dependent on the production of functionally diverse neuronal cell types at their correct locations. In the embryonic neural tube, dorsoventral signaling has emerged as a fundamental mechanism for generating neuronal diversity. In contrast, far less is known about how different neuronal cell types are organized along the rostrocaudal axis. In the developing mouse and chick neural tube, hindbrain serotonergic neurons and spinal glutamatergic V3 interneurons are produced from ventral p3 progenitors, which possess a common transcriptional identity but are confined to distinct anterior–posterior territories. In this study, we show that the expression of the transcription factor Neurogenin3 (Neurog3) in the spinal cord controls the correct specification of p3-derived neurons. Gain- and loss-of-function manipulations in the chick and mouse embryo show that Neurog3 switches ventral progenitors from a serotonergic to V3 differentiation program by repressing Ascl1 in spinal p3 progenitors through a mechanism dependent on Hes proteins. In this way, Neurog3 establishes the posterior boundary of the serotonergic system by actively suppressing serotonergic specification in the spinal cord. These results explain how equivalent p3 progenitors within the hindbrain and the spinal cord produce functionally distinct neuron cell types.