bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Causes, Diagnosis and Therapy of Common Diseases in Neonatal Puppies in the First Days of Life: Cornerstones of Practical Approach
Authors: Münnich A , Küchenmeister U
Published: June 2014

Contents

Neonatal diseases and losses are a common and often unavoidable problem within breeding kennels. Altogether, morbidity and mortality ranges, according to the literature, from 5 to 35%. Among non‐infectious causes besides hypoxia during birth, hypothermia, hypoglycaemia and dehydration are mostly responsible for puppy diseases and losses. Approximately 90% of all deaths in hypoxaemic pups occur during the first 2 days. Of 183 pups with hypoxia, 63 died, 92.7% of them within 48 h after birth. Among infectious causes, bacterial infection is the most common cause of neonatal mortality. Escherichia coli, streptococci, staphylococci, Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella sp., Enterobacter sp. and some other micro‐organisms are regularly involved in neonatal infections. Post‐mortem findings especially document E. coli, Staphylococcus sp. and Streptococcus sp. as responsible bacteria. The dam and the environment are suspected as sources of neonatal infections as it was shown by genetic relatedness of responsible bacterial strains isolated in both puppies and their dams. From a total of 517 puppies with bacterial infections, the treatment results documented that parenteral administration of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid in 308 neonates showed the best result. Diagnosis of diseases is often made difficult by the absence of variability in clinical signs contrary to adult dogs. Findings during a physical examination in pups differ from those in adults. Furthermore, treatment recommendations have to meet the special conditions in neonates concerning drug metabolism and excretion.
Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers for Uterine Diseases in Dogs
Authors: Hagman R
Published: June 2014

Contents

Common uterine diseases in female dogs include cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH), mucometra, hydrometra and pyometra. It is important in clinical practice to recognize pyometra because it is potentially life‐threatening due to the systemic illness induced by bacterial infection of the uterus. In contrast, the uterine content is sterile in CEH and mucometra/hydrometra, and clinical signs are mostly mild or absent. Optimal treatment depends on the type of uterine disease and its severity, but diagnosis and prognosis determination may be challenging and the diseases difficult to separate clinically. Diagnostic findings or biomarkers that may aid in the differentiation of the diseases are valuable, especially when several bitches are admitted with a fluid‐filled uterus during night‐time, and it has to be decided which patient to operate on first. Additionally, some variables may indicate outcome as measured by mortality or morbidity. If the uterus is not enlarged or fluid‐filled, detection of uterine disease can be even more difficult. In this study, clinically useful variables with possible diagnostic or prognostic value for uterine diseases in dogs are discussed.
Interventional therapies for malignant pleural effusions: The present and the future
Authors: Thomas Rajesh , Francis Roslyn , Davies Helen E. , Lee Y.C. Gary
Published: June 2014

The approach to management of malignant pleural effusions (MPE) has changed over the past few decades. The key goals of MPE management are to relieve patient symptoms using the least invasive means and in the most cost‐effective manner. There is now a realization that patient‐reported outcome measures should be the primary goal of MPE treatment, and this now is the focus in most clinical trials. Efforts to minimize patient morbidity are complemented by development of less invasive treatments that have mostly replaced the more aggressive surgical approaches of the past. Therapeutic thoracentesis is simple, effective and generally safe, although its benefits may only be temporary. Pleurodesis is the conventional and for a long time the only definitive therapy available. However, the efficacy and safety of talc pleurodesis has been challenged. Indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) drainage is increasingly accepted worldwide and represents a new concept to improve symptoms without necessarily generating pleural symphysis. Recent studies support the effectiveness of IPC treatment and provide reassurance regarding its safety. An unprecedented number of clinical trials are now underway to improve various aspects of MPE care. However, choosing an optimal intervention for MPE in an individual patient remains a challenge due to our limited understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of breathlessness in MPE and a lack of predictors of survival and pleurodesis outcome. This review provides an overview of common pleural interventional procedures used for MPE management, controversies and limitations of current practice, and areas of research most needed to improve practice in future.
Contrasting two models of academic self‐efficacy – domain‐specific versus cross‐domain – in children receiving and not receiving special instruction in mathematics
Authors: Jungert Tomas , Hesser Hugo , Träff Ulf
Published: June 2014

In social cognitive theory, self‐efficacy is domain‐specific. An alternative model, the cross‐domain influence model, would predict that self‐efficacy beliefs in one domain might influence performance in other domains. Research has also found that children who receive special instruction are not good at estimating their performance. The aim was to test two models of how self‐efficacy beliefs influence achievement, and to contrast children receiving special instruction in mathematics with normally‐achieving children. The participants were 73 fifth‐grade children who receive special instruction and 70 children who do not receive any special instruction. In year four and five, the children's skills in mathematics and reading were assessed by national curriculum tests, and in their fifth year, self‐efficacy in mathematics and reading were measured. Structural equation modeling showed that in domains where children do not receive special instruction in mathematics, self‐efficacy is a mediating variable between earlier and later achievement in the same domain. Achievement in mathematics was not mediated by self‐efficacy in mathematics for children who receive special instruction. For normal achieving children, earlier achievement in the language domain had an influence on later self‐efficacy in the mathematics domain, and self‐efficacy beliefs in different domains were correlated. Self‐efficacy is mostly domain specific, but may play a different role in academic performance depending on whether children receive special instruction. The results of the present study provided some support of the Cross‐Domain Influence Model for normal achieving children.
Fossil water striders in Cretaceous French amber (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha: Mesoveliidae and Veliidae)
Authors: SOLÓRZANO KRAEMER MÓNICA M. , PERRICHOT VINCENT , SORIANO CARMEN , DAMGAARD JAKOB
Published: June 2014

Fossil gerromorphan bugs from the Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian boundary) amber of Charentes, SW France, are reviewed. A larva described by Perrichot et al. (2005) as incertae familiae within the Gerromorpha is now placed in the Mesoveliidae. Three new genera and species are also described and illustrated: Emilianovelia audax Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n., and Malenavelia videris Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n., which are placed in the Mesoveliidae: Mesoveliinae; and Arcantivelia petraudi Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n., which is the first Mesozoic member of the Veliinae. The relationships between these fossils and their palaeoecology are discussed. The new discoveries confirm the antiquity of the semi‐aquatic gerromorphans, particularly the clade (Veliidae + Gerridae). The habitat is described as aquatic and likely marine‐influenced, yet adaptation to a fully marine habitat in these gerromorphans remains difficult to establish.

This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F8C034B8-7BD0-4C03-B8FC-CD81D75C7001.
Leaf phenomics: a systematic reverse genetic screen for Arabidopsis leaf mutants
Authors: Wilson‐Sánchez David , Rubio‐Díaz Silvia , Muñoz‐Viana Rafael , Pérez‐Pérez José Manuel , Jover‐Gil Sara , Ponce María Rosa , Micol José Luis
Published: June 2014

The study and eventual manipulation of leaf development in plants requires a thorough understanding of the genetic basis of leaf organogenesis. Forward genetic screens have identified hundreds of Arabidopsis mutants with altered leaf development, but the genome has not yet been saturated. To identify genes required for leaf development we are screening the Arabidopsis Salk Unimutant collection. We have identified 608 lines that exhibit a leaf phenotype with full penetrance and almost constant expressivity and 98 additional lines with segregating mutant phenotypes. To allow indexing and integration with other mutants, the mutant phenotypes were described using a custom leaf phenotype ontology. We found that the indexed mutation is present in the annotated locus for 78% of the 553 mutants genotyped, and that in half of these the annotated T‐DNA is responsible for the phenotype. To quickly map non‐annotated T‐DNA insertions, we developed a reliable, cost‐effective and easy method based on whole‐genome sequencing. To enable comprehensive access to our data, we implemented a public web application named PhenoLeaf (http://genetics.umh.es/phenoleaf) that allows researchers to query the results of our screen, including text and visual phenotype information. We demonstrated how this new resource can facilitate gene function discovery by identifying and characterizing At1g77600, which we found to be required for proximal–distal cell cycle‐driven leaf growth, and At3g62870, which encodes a ribosomal protein needed for cell proliferation and chloroplast function. This collection provides a valuable tool for the study of leaf development, characterization of biomass feedstocks and examination of other traits in this fundamental photosynthetic organ.
Mechanisms of physiological adjustment of N2 fixation in Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea) during early stages of water deficit: single or multi‐factor controls
Authors: Nasr Esfahani Maryam , Sulieman Saad , Schulze Joachim , Yamaguchi‐Shinozaki Kazuko , Shinozaki Kazuo , Tran Lam‐Son Phan
Published: June 2014

Drought negatively impacts symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea), thereby limiting yield potential. Understanding how drought affects chickpea nodulation will enable the development of strategies to biotechnologically engineer chickpea varieties with enhanced SNF under drought conditions. By analyzing carbon and nitrogen metabolism, we studied the mechanisms of physiological adjustment of nitrogen fixation in chickpea plants nodulated with Mesorhizobium ciceri during both drought stress and subsequent recovery. The nitrogenase activity, levels of several key carbon (in nodules) and nitrogen (in both nodules and leaves) metabolites and antioxidant compounds, as well as the activity of related nodule enzymes were examined in M. ciceri‐inoculated chickpea plants under early drought stress and subsequent recovery. Results indicated that drought reduced nitrogenase activity, and that this was associated with a reduced expression of the nifK gene. Furthermore, drought stress promoted an accumulation of amino acids, mainly asparagine in nodules (but not in leaves), and caused a cell redox imbalance in nodules. An accumulation of organic acids, especially malate, in nodules, which coincided with the decline of nodulated root respiration, was also observed under drought stress. Taken together, our findings indicate that reduced nitrogenase activity occurring at early stages of drought stress involves, at least, the inhibition of respiration, nitrogen accumulation and an imbalance in cell redox status in nodules. The results of this study demonstrate the potential that the genetic engineering‐based improvement of SNF efficiency could be applied to reduce the impact of drought on the productivity of chickpea, and perhaps other legume crops.
Nucleotide polymorphism and copy number variant detection using exome capture and next‐generation sequencing in the polyploid grass Panicum virgatum
Authors: Evans Joseph , Kim Jeongwoon , Childs Kevin L. , Vaillancourt Brieanne , Crisovan Emily , Nandety Aruna , Gerhardt Daniel J. , Richmond Todd A. , Jeddeloh Jeffrey A. , Kaeppler Shawn M. , Casler Michael D. , Buell C. Robin
Published: June 2014

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a polyploid, outcrossing grass species native to North America and has recently been recognized as a potential biofuel feedstock crop. Significant phenotypic variation including ploidy is present across the two primary ecotypes of switchgrass, referred to as upland and lowland switchgrass. The tetraploid switchgrass genome is approximately 1400 Mbp, split between two subgenomes, with significant repetitive sequence content limiting the efficiency of re‐sequencing approaches for determining genome diversity. To characterize genetic diversity in upland and lowland switchgrass as a first step in linking genotype to phenotype, we designed an exome capture probe set based on transcript assemblies that represent approximately 50 Mb of annotated switchgrass exome sequences. We then evaluated and optimized the probe set using solid phase comparative genome hybridization and liquid phase exome capture followed by next‐generation sequencing. Using the optimized probe set, we assessed variation in the exomes of eight switchgrass genotypes representing tetraploid lowland and octoploid upland cultivars to benchmark our exome capture probe set design. We identified ample variation in the switchgrass genome including 1 395 501 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 8173 putative copy number variants and 3336 presence/absence variants. While the majority of the SNPs (84%) detected was bi‐allelic, a substantial number was tri‐allelic with limited occurrence of tetra‐allelic polymorphisms consistent with the heterozygous and polyploid nature of the switchgrass genome. Collectively, these data demonstrate the efficacy of exome capture for discovery of genome variation in a polyploid species with a large, repetitive and heterozygous genome.
Roles of obstetricians in quality management of cord blood collection and informing potential donors: a survey on obstetricians' understanding of cord blood in Korea
Authors: Roh Eun Youn , Shin Sue , Kim Byoung Jae , Kim Mina , Hong Jung Ja , Yoon Jong Hyun
Published: June 2014

Background

The obstetrician's role in vitalizing cord blood (CB) banking is important in both informing donors and beginning CB processing. The aim of the study was to investigate obstetricians' understanding of CB and their roles in informing donors and collection management.

Study Design and Methods

Questionnaires examining the management and awareness of CB were distributed to collection centers, and we analyzed 57 respondents who had collection experience.

Results

All respondents were experienced, and 82.5% had CB collection experience of at least 4 years. If patients asked for information, one‐third provided information about CB themselves, and two‐thirds provided CB banks' (CBBs') contact information. Less than half of the respondents knew the legal regulations and had a collection manual. Regarding the awareness of transportation and storage of CB, 58% rated their knowledge as minimal, and respondents who knew the legal regulations rated their knowledge at a higher level. One‐fifth of the participants felt that CB collection distracted the labor process, and 16% were concerned about delayed bleeding control. The probability of autologous CB transplantation was overestimated, and the matching probability in public CBBs was underestimated. Approximately 82.7% of the respondents correctly rated the therapeutic use of CB, and 54% rated their knowledge level about CB usefulness as average.

Conclusion

Obstetricians' understanding of CB was lower than expected, considering that they are associated with CB collection centers. Obstetricians who provide information and recognize regulations seem to collect CB in compliance with the regulations better. These results will be helpful in CB collection management and education planning for obstetricians.
Value of forest berries and mushrooms picking in Slovakia's forests
Authors: Kovalčík M.
Published: June 2014

Non-wood forest products have important commercial, environmental, social and recreational roles in many European forests. Collecting wild foods from the forests now largely represents a form of recreation. In some countries, any revenues from the sale of wild food are exempted from income tax. The main objective of this work is to estimate the value of the selected forest berries and mushroom picking in Slovak forests. A random sample of 5,168 Slovak inhabitants was surveyed, with 1,534 interviews in 2006, 1,732 interviews in 2007, 1,402 interviews in 2008 and with 500 interviews in 2011. Face to face interviews were used and people were asked to answer prefilled questions. Based on the results of the survey, the most collected forest berry is blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), one third of respondents stated, that they picked them either for own consumption or for sale. Harvest activity in mushrooms picking is connected mainly with Boletus sp. They were picked by two-thirds of respondents for own consumption and by 2 % for sale. Mushrooms picking implies revenues of around 110–140 mil € annually. Levels of activity differed in each year. It can be influenced also by poorer crop in some years. In general, average price was higher in years with lower harvest.
Functional efficiency of stand with soil-conservation erosion control function on the forest unit Banská Bystrica – Uľanka
Authors: Jankov J. , Gubka K.
Published: June 2014

The paper analyses functional efficiency of stand with soil-conservation erosion control function. The object of research was the subcompartment 1160 d on the forest unit Banská Bystrica – Uľanka. In the stand was established the network of six permanent sample plots, where the basic characters of structure were recorded and functional efficiency of trees was estimated. The subject of the research was also an analysis of abundance of natural regeneration. As follows from the research, the stand fulfils the requirement placed on ecosystems with the preferential soil-conservation erosion control function. From the total number of trees, 51 % was assessed as functionally highly efficient. On all permanent sample plots there is natural regeneration in progress. On the basis of functional efficiency practical measures were proposed to improve the existing state.
Metric Diophantine approximation on homogeneous varieties
Authors: Ghosh Anish , Gorodnik Alexander , Nevo Amos
Published: June 2014

We develop the metric theory of Diophantine approximation on homogeneous varieties of semisimple algebraic groups and prove results analogous to the classical Khintchine and Jarník theorems. In full generality our results establish simultaneous Diophantine approximation with respect to several completions, and Diophantine approximation over general number fields using$\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}S$-algebraic integers. In several important examples, the metric results we obtain are optimal. The proof uses quantitative equidistribution properties of suitable averaging operators, which are derived from spectral bounds in automorphic representations.
Noninvasive Urinary Incontinence Control Device
Authors: Mohammadi Mahdi , Shahinpoor Mohsen
Published: June 2014

Urinary incontinence (UI) is affecting a large number of men and women around the world and it lowers the quality of life dramatically. A large number of treatments have been introduced, but they require invasive surgeries associated with infections and loss of privacy. In this paper, a novel device is introduced which is designed for permanent or temporary treatment of incontinence in men and women, providing more convenience and control. This design provides a urethral stent having a magnetically controlled valve for patients suffering from incontinence due to diseases like bladder sphincter dyssynergia and neurogenic bladder. The new device provides an effective way for controlling the urination time and voiding the bladder, with a simple design, easy to insert, remove, and operate. In this paper, first a review on the urinary system diseases causing incontinence is presented, and then treatment options, indications for their use, and relevant clinical observation are discussed. Finally, the new device is introduced and its characteristics and applications are addressed.
Head Impact Exposure in Youth Football: Middle School Ages 12–14 Years
Authors: Daniel Ray W. , Rowson Steven , Duma Stefan M.
Published: June 2014

The head impact exposure experienced by football players at the college and high school levels has been well documented; however, there are limited data regarding youth football despite its dramatically larger population. The objective of this study was to investigate head impact exposure in middle school football. Impacts were monitored using a commercially available accelerometer array installed inside the helmets of 17 players aged 12–14 years. A total of 4678 impacts were measured, with an average (±standard deviation) of 275 ± 190 impacts per player. The average of impact distributions for each player had a median impact of 22 ± 2 g and 954 ± 122 rad/s2, and a 95th percentile impact of 54 ± 9 g and 2525 ± 450 rad/s2. Similar to the head impact exposure experienced by high school and collegiate players, these data show that middle school football players experience a greater number of head impacts during games than practices. There were no significant differences between median and 95th percentile head acceleration magnitudes experienced during games and practices; however, a larger number of impacts greater than 80 g occurred during games than during practices. Impacts to the front and back of the helmet were most common. Overall, these data are similar to high school and college data that have been collected using similar methods. These data have applications toward youth football helmet design, the development of strategies designed to limit head impact exposure, and child-specific brain injury criteria.
Robot Path Planning in Uncertain Environments: A Language-Measure-Theoretic Approach
Authors: Jha Devesh K. , Li Yue , Wettergren Thomas A. , Ray Asok
Published: June 2014

This paper addresses the problem of goal-directed robot path planning in the presence of uncertainties that are induced by bounded environmental disturbances and actuation errors. The offline infinite-horizon optimal plan is locally updated by online finite-horizon adaptive replanning upon observation of unexpected events (e.g., detection of unanticipated obstacles). The underlying theory is developed as an extension of a grid-based path planning algorithm, called ν⋆, which was formulated in the framework of probabilistic finite state automata (PFSA) and language measure from a control-theoretic perspective. The proposed concept has been validated on a simulation test bed that is constructed upon a model of typical autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in the presence of uncertainties.
A Fatigue Life Study of Ultrasonically Welded Lithium-Ion Battery Tab Joints Based on Electrical Resistance
Authors: Zhao Nanzhu , Li Wei , Cai Wayne W. , Abell Jeffrey A.
Published: June 2014

The fatigue life of ultrasonically welded lithium-ion battery tab joints is studied for electric and hybrid–electric vehicle (EV and HEV) applications. Similar to metallic materials, the electrical resistance of these ultrasonic welds strongly depends on their quality and the crack growth under fatigue loading. A fatigue life model is developed using the continuum damage mechanics (CDM) formulation, where the damage variable is defined using the electrical resistance of ultrasonic welds. Fatigue tests under various loading conditions are conducted with aluminum–copper battery tab joints made under various ultrasonic welding conditions. It is shown that the electrical resistance of ultrasonic welds increases characteristically during the fatigue life test. There is a threshold for the damage variable, after which the ultrasound welds fail rapidly. Due to welding process variation, welds made under the same process settings may have different fatigue performance. This quality difference may be classified using two parameters estimated from the fatigue life model. By monitoring the electrical resistance, it is possible to predict the remaining life of ultrasonically welded battery tab joints using only a portion of the fatigue test data. The prediction is more reliable by incorporating data beyond the half-life of the joints during the fatigue test.
A Two-Dimensional Cylindrical Transient Conduction Solution Using Green's Functions
Authors: McMasters Robert L. , Beck James V.
Published: June 2014

There are many applications for problems involving thermal conduction in two-dimensional (2D) cylindrical objects. Experiments involving thermal parameter estimation are a prime example, including cylindrical objects suddenly placed in hot or cold environments. In a parameter estimation application, the direct solution must be run iteratively in order to obtain convergence with the measured temperature history by changing the thermal parameters. For this reason, commercial conduction codes are often inconvenient to use. It is often practical to generate numerical solutions for such a test, but verification of custom-made numerical solutions is important in order to assure accuracy. The present work involves the generation of an exact solution using Green's functions where the principle of superposition is employed in combining a one-dimensional (1D) cylindrical case with a 1D Cartesian case to provide a temperature solution for a 2D cylindrical. Green's functions are employed in this solution in order to simplify the process, taking advantage of the modular nature of these superimposed components. The exact solutions involve infinite series of Bessel functions and trigonometric functions but these series sometimes converge using only a few terms. Eigenvalues must be determined using Bessel functions and trigonometric functions. The accuracy of the solutions generated using these series is extremely high, being verifiable to eight or ten significant digits. Two examples of the solutions are shown as part of this work for a family of thermal parameters. The first case involves a uniform initial condition and homogeneous convective boundary conditions on all of the surfaces of the cylinder. The second case involves a nonhomogeneous convective boundary condition on a part of one of the planar faces of the cylinder and homogeneous convective boundary conditions elsewhere with zero initial conditions.
Similitude Laws and Small-Scale Model Experiments Characterizing Dynamic Failures of Flawed Utility Poles
Authors: Wilson James F.
Published: June 2014

The principles of similitude were employed to scale the equations of motion of wood utility poles to small, practical laboratory size. The derived dimensionless system parameters were used to design experiments in which model pole bending moments at failure were measured in response to simulated steady and gusting wind loads. Measured were the effects of artificial flaws on a pole's integrity under these loads, with flaws represented as radial holes. Modeled in static and dynamic tests to failure were shallow pole holes at the base designed to deliver termite and rot control chemicals in a prototype; shallow holes to simulate loose knots and through holes needed for utility hardware attachments. The groundline moment data for both static and dynamic tests showed either shear or tensile failure. An application illustrates the use of small-scale model data to explain the wind-induced base failure of a generic prototype utility pole.
HIV-1–induced AIDS in monkeys
Authors: Hatziioannou Theodora , Del Prete Gregory Q. , Keele Brandon F. , Estes Jacob D. , McNatt Matthew W. , Bitzegeio Julia , Raymond Alice , Rodriguez Anthony , Schmidt Fabian , Mac Trubey C. , Smedley Jeremy , Piatak Michael , KewalRamani Vineet N. , Lifson Jeffrey D. , Bieniasz Paul D.
Published: June 2014

Adapting HIV-1 to infect monkeys, too

HIV-1 replicates well in humans but not in monkeys or mice. On the up side, this reduces the risk of cross-species transmissions, but it makes the study of HIV-1 and AIDS more difficult. Hatziioannou
et al.
overcame this hurdle by serially passaging HIV-1 in pigtailed macaques. Over time, the HIV-1 acquired mutations that allowed it to adapt to the monkeys. Depleting CD8
+
T cells during acute infection resulted in a subset of animals developing an AIDS-like disease by the fourth passage. HIV-1 envelope protein gene selection and the acquisition of mutations in the HIV protein Vpu, which allowed HIV-1 to overcome host restriction by the macaque protein tetherin, accompanied the viral adaptation to the monkeys.

Science
, this issue p.
1401
Controlling low rates of cell differentiation through noise and ultrahigh feedback
Authors: Ahrends Robert , Ota Asuka , Kovary Kyle M. , Kudo Takamasa , Park Byung Ouk , Teruel Mary N.
Published: June 2014

Cell fate control—a numbers game

Precursor cells in adult mammalian tissues differentiate at very low rates; for example, only 10% of fat cells are replaced per year. If all precursor cells responded to the same threshold of stimulus, these low rates would not be possible. Noise in the system (variability in the abundance of key proteins in different cells) could allow only a few cells to differentiate, but then such variability would allow dedifferentiation as well, which is not observed. Ahrends
et al.
used computational modeling and protein measurements in single cells to show that multiple feedback loops in the regulatory circuits, along with noise, can allow both stable and infrequent differentiation.

Science
, this issue p.
1384
Defining and detecting quantum speedup
Authors: Rønnow Troels F. , Wang Zhihui , Job Joshua , Boixo Sergio , Isakov Sergei V. , Wecker David , Martinis John M. , Lidar Daniel A. , Troyer Matthias
Published: June 2014

How to benchmark a quantum computer

Quantum machines offer the possibility of performing certain computations much faster than their classical counterparts. However, how to define and measure quantum speedup is a topic of debate. Rønnow
et al.
describe methods for fairly evaluating the difference in computational power between classical and quantum processors. They define various types of quantum speedup and consider quantum processors that are designed to solve a specific class of problems.

Science
, this issue p.
420
Neandertal roots: Cranial and chronological evidence from Sima de los Huesos
Authors: Arsuaga J. L. , Martínez I. , Arnold L. J. , Aranburu A. , Gracia-Téllez A. , Sharp W. D. , Quam R. M. , Falguères C. , Pantoja-Pérez A. , Bischoff J. , Poza-Rey E. , Parés J. M. , Carretero J. M. , Demuro M. , Lorenzo C. , Sala N. , Martinón-Torres M. , García N. , Alcázar de Velasco A. , Cuenca-Bescós G. , Gómez-Olivencia A. , Moreno D. , Pablos A. , Shen C.-C. , Rodríguez L. , Ortega A. I. , García R. , Bonmatí A. , Bermúdez de Castro J. M. , Carbonell E.
Published: June 2014

Neandertal ancestors from Pleistocene Spain

The Sima de los Huesos site in Atapuerca, northern Spain, is a rich source of fossil hominin specimens. The site has now yielded further skull specimens that illuminate patterns of human evolution in Europe nearly half a million years ago. Arsuaga
et al.
studied 17 crania, including 7 that are new specimens and 6 that are more complete than before (see the Perspective by Hublin). This assemblage of specimens reveals the cranial, facial, and dental features of the Atapuerca hominins, which allows more precise evolutionary positioning of these Neandertal ancestors.

Science
, this issue p.
1358
; see also p.
1338
Electronically erased
Authors: Feldman D. E.
Published: June 2014

Erasing knowledge of a quantum system changes its state.

[Also see Report by

Weisz
et al.

]
NIH Roadmap/Common Fund at 10 years
Authors: Collins Francis S. , Wilder Elizabeth L. , Zerhouni Elias
Published: June 2014

A mechanism for funding biomedical research at NIH that transcends Institute and Center boundaries is bearing fruit
Connecting the dots
Authors: Boles Michael A. , Talapin Dmitri V.
Published: June 2014

Understanding nanocrystal surfaces helps to direct their assembly into novel material architectures.

[Also see Reports by

Boneschanscher
et al.

and

Zherebetskyy
et al.

]
Teaching the immune system “self” respect and tolerance
Authors: Chatenoud Lucienne
Published: June 2014

An anti-inflammatory milieu promotes immune tolerance
NIH puts massive U.S. children's study on hold
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: June 2014

National Academies report calls for overhaul.
Quantum or not, controversial computer yields no speedup
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: June 2014

Conventional computer ties D-Wave machine.
When the bat sings
Authors: Morell Virginia
Published: June 2014

The trills and chirps of bats can be as complex and meaningful as bird song—and may be a closer analog for human speech.
Genome Sequence of Abbey Lake Virus, a Novel Orthobunyavirus Isolated from China
Authors: Liu Ran , Zhang Guilin , Yang Yinhui , Dang Rongli , Zhao Tongyan
Published: June 2014

The
Orthobunyavirus
genus of
Bunyaviridae
is a divergent group of medically important pathogens. Abbey Lake bunyavirus (Ab-BUNV) was newly isolated and identified in Xinjiang Province, northwestern China. The complete genome of Ab-BUNV was sequenced and is reported here, revealing that Ab-BUNV may represent a novel genotype in the genus
Orthobunyavirus
.
Genome Sequences of Nine Bordetella holmesii Strains Isolated in the United States
Authors: Harvill Eric T. , Goodfield Laura L. , Ivanov Yury , Smallridge William E. , Meyer Jessica A. , Cassiday Pamela K. , Tondella Maria L. , Brinkac Lauren , Sanka Ravi , Kim Maria , Losada Liliana
Published: June 2014

An increasing number of pertussis-like cases are attributed to the emergent pathogen
Bordetella holmesii
. The genomes of 9 clinical isolates show that they are clonal, lack the virulence factors encoded by
B. pertussis
, and are more similar to nonpertussis bordetellae. New markers for
B. holmesii
can be developed using these sequences.
Full-Genome Analysis of Influenza A(H7N9) Virus from Shanghai, China, 2014
Authors: Zhang Wanju , He Yanchao , Xu Lei , Dai Fahui , Mei Zhoufang , Qian Ling , Xie Desheng , Shen Ying , Gu Yong , Zhang Zhiyong , Yuan Zhenghong , Jie Zhijun , Hu Yunwen
Published: June 2014

We analyzed the complete genome sequence of the A/Shanghai/01/2014 (H7N9) strain, which will provide a better understanding of the evolution of influenza A(H7N9) virus.
Genome Sequence of
meso
-2,3-Butanediol-Producing Strain Serratia marcescens ATCC 14041
Authors: Li Lixiang , Wang Yu , Li Kun , Su Fei , Ma Cuiqing , Xu Ping
Published: June 2014

Serratia marcescens
strain ATCC 14041 was found to be an efficient
meso
-2,3-butanediol (
meso
-2,3-BD) producer from glucose and sucrose. Here we present a 5.0-Mb assembly of its genome. We have annotated 4 coding sequences (CDSs) for
meso
-2,3-BD fermentation and 2 complete operons including 6 CDSs for sucrose utilization.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus Isolated from an Apparently Healthy Village Chicken in South India
Authors: Uthrakumar Arumugam , Vijayarani Kumanan , Kumanan Kathaperumal , Bhuvaneswari Srinivasan , Kuchipudi Suresh Varma , Elankumaran Subbiah
Published: June 2014

We report the complete genome sequence of a Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolate, NDV-D1/1998, from an apparently healthy village chicken in South India. This class II, genotype II virus is 15,186 nucleotides in length with unique amino acid variations and was found to be a velogenic pathotype by standard pathogenicity tests.
Draft Genome Sequence of Enterococcus faecalis MB5259
Authors: Karlyshev Andrey V. , Robyn Joris , Rasschaert Geertrui , Heyndrickx Marc
Published: June 2014

In this study, we present a draft genome sequence of
Enterococcus faecalis
MB5259, a promising probiotic strain. The identified differences and common features between this strain and reference strains will assist in better understanding the mechanism of antibacterial action and in developing novel probiotics.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Lignin-Degrading
Burkholderia
sp. Strain LIG30, Isolated from Wet Tropical Forest Soil
Authors: Woo Hannah L. , Utturkar Sagar , Klingeman Dawn , Simmons Blake A. , DeAngelis Kristen M. , Brown Steven D. , Hazen Terry C.
Published: June 2014

Burkholderia
species are common soil
Betaproteobacteria
capable of degrading recalcitrant aromatic compounds and xenobiotics.
Burkholderia
sp. strain LIG30 was isolated from wet tropical forest soil and is capable of utilizing lignin as a sole carbon source. Here we report the draft genome sequence of
Burkholderia
sp. strain LIG30.
Transient small bowel intussusception in adults: an overlooked feature of coeliac disease
Authors: Briggs James Henry , McKean David , Palmer Jonathan S , Bungay Helen
Published: June 2014

Coeliac disease is the commonest immunological gastrointestinal disorder in the Western world. The symptoms of coeliac disease in adults are often non-specific, and a high index of suspicion may be required for timely diagnosis. We describe the case of a 46-year-old woman, with known dilated cardiomyopathy and pulmonary hypertension, who presented with non-specific abdominal symptoms, not initially attributed to gastrointestinal disease. Radiological investigations demonstrated transient small bowel intussusception without other abnormality, leading to the suggestion of coeliac disease as a cause, which was subsequently confirmed as the diagnosis.
Sore throat in a young man: guess what…
Authors: Lazarescu Roxana Elena , Prabhu Vinay , Wallace Camari , Htet Hein
Published: June 2014

Sore throat is a common complaint in the outpatient and emergency room settings. Typically, little workup is necessary and includes visual inspection with or without swabs for bacterial infection. We present a case that demonstrates an important entity to be excluded by simple history and physical examination in patients presenting with pain in the throat or neck. The most important cause of pneumomediastinum is previous instrumentation. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is uncommonly seen in young adults. Most cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum are uncomplicated, as mediastinal pressures rarely mount to dangerous levels. However, when the patient presents with distended neck veins, cyanosis or marked dyspnoea, further action is necessary. Lastly, since pneumomediastinum can be caused by oesophageal rupture and occasionally present with concurrent pneumothorax, these dangerous entities must be excluded.
EDTA-induced pseudothrombocytopenia in association with bladder cancer
Authors: Sahin Cem , Kırlı Ismail , Sozen Hamdi , Canbek Tugba Dibektas
Published: June 2014

Pseudothrombocytopenia is the detection of low platelet counts by an autoanalyser despite lack of shortage in platelets. EDTA-induced pseudothrombocytopenia, the most frequently seen form in clinical practice, occurs mainly due to reaction of antiplatelet antibodies. Pseudothrombocytopenia is not only seen in healthy individuals but it is also reported in association with autoimmune, cardiovascular and liver parenchyma diseases and malignancy. We aimed to review approaches to pseudothrombocytopenia by presenting a case in which EDTA-dependent thrombocytopenia in association with bladder tumour was detected during examination for haematuria.
Cardiovascular screening in adolescents and young adults: a prospective study comparing the Pre-participation Physical Evaluation Monograph 4th Edition and ECG
Authors: Fudge Jessie , Harmon Kimberly G , Owens David S , Prutkin Jordan M , Salerno Jack C , Asif Irfan M , Haruta Alison , Pelto Hank , Rao Ashwin L , Toresdahl Brett G , Drezner Jonathan A
Published: June 2014

Background

This study compares the accuracy of cardiovascular screening in active adolescents and young adults using a standardised history, physical examination and resting 12-lead ECG.

Methods

Participants were prospectively screened using a standardised questionnaire based on the Pre-participation Physical Evaluation Monograph 4th Edition (PPE-4), physical examination and ECG interpreted using modern standards. Participants with abnormal findings had focused echocardiography and further evaluation. Primary outcomes included disorders associated with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

Results

From September 2010 to July 2011, 1339 participants underwent screening: age 13–24 (mean 16) years, 49% male, 68% Caucasian, 17% African-American and 1071 (80%) participating in organised sports. Abnormal history responses were reported on 916 (68%) questionnaires. After physician review, 495/916 (54%) participants with positive questionnaires were thought to have non-cardiac symptoms and/or a benign family history and did not warrant additional evaluation. Physical examination was abnormal in 124 (9.3%) participants, and 72 (5.4%) had ECG abnormalities. Echocardiograms were performed in 586 (44%) participants for abnormal history (31%), physical examination (8%) or ECG (5%). Five participants (0.4%) were identified with a disorder associated with SCA, all with ECG-detected Wolff-Parkinson-White. The false-positive rates for history, physical examination and ECG were 31.3%, 9.3% and 5%, respectively.

Conclusions

A standardised history and physical examination using the PPE-4 yields a high false-positive rate in a young active population with limited sensitivity to identify those at risk for SCA. ECG screening has a low false-positive rate using modern interpretation standards and improves detection of primary electrical disease at risk of SCA.
Preventive zinc supplementation for children, and the effect of additional iron: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mayo-Wilson Evan , Imdad Aamer , Junior Jean , Dean Sohni , Bhutta Zulfiqar A
Published: June 2014

Objective

Zinc deficiency is widespread, and preventive supplementation may have benefits in young children. Effects for children over 5 years of age, and effects when coadministered with other micronutrients are uncertain. These are obstacles to scale-up. This review seeks to determine if preventive supplementation reduces mortality and morbidity for children aged 6 months to 12 years.

Design

Systematic review conducted with the Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group. Two reviewers independently assessed studies. Meta-analyses were performed for mortality, illness and side effects.

Data sources

We searched multiple databases, including CENTRAL and MEDLINE in January 2013. Authors were contacted for missing information.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Randomised trials of preventive zinc supplementation. Hospitalised children and children with chronic diseases were excluded.

Results

80 randomised trials with 205 401 participants were included. There was a small but non-significant effect on all-cause mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.95 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.05)). Supplementation may reduce incidence of all-cause diarrhoea (RR 0.87 (0.85 to 0.89)), but there was evidence of reporting bias. There was no evidence of an effect of incidence or prevalence of respiratory infections or malaria. There was moderate quality evidence of a very small effect on linear growth (standardised mean difference 0.09 (0.06 to 0.13)) and an increase in vomiting (RR 1.29 (1.14 to 1.46)). There was no evidence of an effect on iron status. Comparing zinc with and without iron cosupplementation and direct comparisons of zinc plus iron versus zinc administered alone favoured cointervention for some outcomes and zinc alone for other outcomes. Effects may be larger for children over 1 year of age, but most differences were not significant.

Conclusions

Benefits of preventive zinc supplementation may outweigh any potentially adverse effects in areas where risk of zinc deficiency is high. Further research should determine optimal intervention characteristics and delivery strategies.
Linear Software Models: Standard Modularity Highlights Residual Coupling
Authors: Exman Iaakov
Published: June 2014

Modularity — the decoupling of software units — is essential for composition of real software systems from ready-made components. But for a long time one lacked a formal theory of modularity. Recently we have been developing Linear Software Models as rigorous theoretical modularity standards based upon plain Linear Algebra. By these models, decoupling means just linear independence, within a modularity matrix. This paper applies Linear Software Models to software systems, obtaining three consequences: (1) besides decoupling, various informal notions of software engineering, such as software modules, cohesion, and single responsibility, have for the first time a well-defined formal counterpart; (2) canonical building blocks like Software Design Patterns strictly obey the Linear Software Models; (3) larger software systems obey bordered Linear Models, allowing precise location and visualization of residual coupling. The latter consequences are demonstrated by case studies of software systems from the literature. The applicability of the Linear Software Models is quantitatively shown to scale well with system size, for the given case studies.
Addressing the Construction of Z and Object-Z with Use Case Maps (UCMs)
Authors: Dongmo Cyrille , van der Poll John Andrew
Published: June 2014

A Use Case Map (UCM) is a scenario-based visual notation facilitating the requirements definition of complex systems. A UCM may be generated either from a set of informal requirements, or from a set of use cases normally expressed in natural language. Natural languages are, however, inherently ambiguous and as a semi-formal notation, UCMs have the potential to bring more clarity into the functional description of a system. It may furthermore eliminate possible errors in the user requirements. The semi-formal notation of UCMs aims to show how things work generally, but is not suitable to reason formally about system behavior. It is plausible, therefore, that the use of a UCM as an intermediate step may facilitate the construction of a formal specification. To this end this paper proposes a mechanism whereby a UCM may be translated into Object-Z.