bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knockout of AtDjB1, a J‐domain protein from Arabidopsis thaliana, alters plant responses to osmotic stress and abscisic acid
Authors: Wang Xingxing , Jia Ning , Zhao Chunlan , Fang Yulu , Lv Tingting , Zhou Wei , Sun Yongzhen , Li Bing
Published: February 2014

AtDjB1 is a member of the Arabidopsis thaliana J‐protein family. AtDjB1 is targeted to the mitochondria and plays a crucial role in A. thaliana heat and oxidative stress resistance. Herein, the role of AtDjB1 in adapting to saline and drought stress was studied in A. thaliana. AtDjB1 expression was induced through salinity, dehydration and abscisic acid (ABA) in young seedlings. Reverse genetic analyses indicate that AtDjB1 is a negative regulator in plant osmotic stress tolerance. Further, AtDjB1 knockout mutant plants (atj1‐1) exhibited greater ABA sensitivity compared with the wild‐type (WT) plants and the mutant lines with a rescued AtDjB1 gene. AtDjB1 gene knockout also altered the expression of several ABA‐responsive genes, which suggests that AtDjB1 is involved in osmotic stress tolerance through its effects on ABA signaling pathways. Moreover, atj1‐1 plants exhibited higher glucose levels and greater glucose sensitivity in the post‐germination development stage. Applying glucose promoted an ABA response in seedlings, and the promotion was more evident in atj1‐1 than WT seedlings. Taken together, higher glucose levels in atj1‐1 plants are likely responsible for the greater ABA sensitivity and increased osmotic stress tolerance.
Bedside pleural procedures by pulmonologists and non‐pulmonologists: a 3‐year safety audit
Authors: See Kay Choong , Ong Venetia , Teoh Chia Meng , Ooi Oon Cheong , Widjaja Louis Sutrisno , Mujumdar Sandhya , Phua Jason , Khoo Kay Leong , Lee Pyng , Lim Tow Keang
Published: February 2014

Background and objective

Pleural procedures such as tube thoracostomy and chest aspirations are commonly performed and carry potential risks of visceral organ injury, pneumothorax and bleeding. In this context limited information exists on the complication rates when non‐pulmonologists perform ultrasound‐guided bedside pleural procedures. Bedside pleural procedures in our university hospital were audited to compare complication rates between pulmonologists and non‐pulmonologists.

Methods

A combined safety approach using standardized training, pleural safety checklists and ultrasound‐guidance was initially implemented in a ∼1000‐bed academic medical centre. A prospective audit, over approximately 3.5 years, of all bedside pleural procedures excluding procedures done in operating theatres and radiological suites was then performed.

Results

Overall, 529 procedures (295 by pulmonologists; 234 by non‐pulmonologists) for 443 patients were assessed. There were 16 (3.0%) procedure‐related complications, all in separate patients. These included five iatrogenic pneumothoraces, four dry taps, four malpositioned chest tubes, two significant chest wall bleeds and one iatrogenic hemothorax. There were no differences in complication rates between pulmonologists and non‐pulmonologists. Presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) independently increased the risk of complications by nearly sevenfold.

Conclusions

Results from this study support pleural procedural practice by both pulmonologists and non‐pulmonologists in an academic medical centre setting. This is possible with a standard training program, pleural safety checklists and relatively high utilization rates of ultrasound guidance for pleural effusions. Nonetheless, additional vigilance is needed when patients with COPD undergo pleural procedures.
Is System Dynamics Modelling of Relevance to Neoclassical Economists?
Authors: Crookes Douglas J. , De Wit Martin P.
Published: February 2014

System dynamics modelling is a technique that is widely used in business, environmental and ecological applications. In the field of economics, however, it is less frequently used, and those that do use it are usually not professionally trained economists. One of the reasons for this is the perceived ideological differences between system dynamics modelling and neoclassical economics. System dynamics is classified in the literature as a heterodox approach. This article utilises a reputable framework from social theory to compare system dynamics modelling and neoclassical economics on ontological and epistemological grounds. This is the first known study to find congruency between these two approaches on this basis. System dynamics modelling has the potential to increase the range of modelling tools at the disposal of neoclassical economics, so long dominated by econometric and general equilibrium modelling approaches.
Reflectance confocal microscopy vs. standardized skin surface biopsy for measuring the density of Demodex mites
Authors: Turgut Erdemir A. , Gurel M. S. , Koku Aksu A. E. , Bilgin Karahalli F. , Incel P. , Kutlu Haytoğlu N. S. , Falay T.
Published: February 2014

Background

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) has been recently shown to be effective for measuring the Demodex mite density.

Objectives

To compare and demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of standardized skin surface biopsy (SSSB) and RCM for measuring the density of Demodex mites.

Materials and methods

Forty‐eight patients (30 female, 18 male) and 47 healthy controls (30 female, 17 male) were enrolled in the study. The patients diagnoses were pityriasis folliculorum (n = 40), papulopustulary rosecea (n = 7) and erythema‐telengiectatic rosacea (n = 1). The area with the most intense erythema on the right cheek was selected for imaging with RCM (VivaScope 3000) and SSSB.

Results

Forty‐two patients demonstrated high Demodex density [(Dd) > 5 mites/cm2] with SSSB (85.7%). RCM identified demodicosis in 48 patients (100%). The mean Dd measured with RCM (409.8 ± 209.2) was significantly higher than SSSB (15.33 ± 18.1) (P < 0.001). In the patients, RCM demonstrated the mean number of mites 40.90 ± 20.9 and 4.11 ± 6.4 in the controls per 10 mm2 area. The corresponding mean number of 2.63 ± 0.77 mites was detected in the infested follicles per area of view compared to a mean of 0.77 ± 0.98 mites in the infested follicles in the controls (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Reflectance confocal microscopy is a fast, direct and noninvasive method for Demodex‐associated diseases and it is superior to SSSB for Demodex mite detection.
Feasibility of actigraphy wristband monitoring of atopic dermatitis in children
Authors: Gustafson C. J. , O'Neill J. , Hix E. , McLaren D. T. , Buxton O. M. , Feldman S. R.
Published: February 2014

Background/purpose

Actigraphy monitors are used to monitor sleep and scratching. Previous studies have implemented these monitors to evaluate behavior in adult patients with atopic dermatitis. However, such monitoring devices have been implemented in a paucity of studies involving pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of actigraphy monitoring in children with mild‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis.

Methods

A total of six pediatric subjects were recruited. The severity of atopic dermatitis at the wrist area was assessed prior to placement of the wristband monitor. After wearing the wristbands for 7 days, subjects returned to clinic to undergo reassessment of the wrist area to determine if atopic dermatitis was exacerbated by the wrist‐worn device. Data on sleep quality and how often patients wore the wristband monitors were also collected. No subjective data from the subjects or parents/caregivers were collected on tolerability of the monitors.

Results

None of the subjects exhibited exacerbation of atopic dermatitis at the wrist area after wearing the actigraphy monitors for 7 days. No adverse events were reported. Pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis exhibited less total sleep time compared with children evaluated in previous actigraphy studies.

Conclusion

Actigraphy wristband monitoring can be used to continuously assess disease severity in children with atopic dermatitis.
Using Online Surveys to Promote and Assess Learning
Authors: Taylor Laura , Doehler Kirsten
Published: February 2014

This article explores the use of online survey software to collect data from students during class to efficiently use class time. Several example activities for an introductory statistics classroom are considered. We also discuss utilization of online survey software for other purposes such as collecting assessment information and student preferences related to statistics projects.
Tricomponent Complex Loaded with a Mosquito-Stage Antigen of the Malaria Parasite Induces Potent Transmission-Blocking Immunity
Authors: Arakawa Takeshi , Tsuboi Takafumi , Sattabongkot Jetsumon , Sakao Kozue , Torii Motomi , Miyata Takeshi
Published: February 2014

The development of malaria vaccines is challenging, partly because the immunogenicity of recombinant malaria parasite antigens is low. We previously demonstrated that parasite antigens integrated into a tricomponent immunopotentiating complex increase antiparasitic immunity. In this study, the B domains of a group GStreptococcus(SpG) strain andPeptostreptococcus magnus(PpL) were used to evaluate whether vaccine efficacy is influenced by the type of immunoglobulin-binding domain (IBD) in the tricomponent complex. IBDs were fused to a pentameric cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) to increase the binding avidity of the complexes for their targets. The COMP-IBD fusion proteins generated (COMP-SpG and COMP-PpL and the previously constructed COMP-Z) bound a large fraction of splenic B lymphocytes but not T lymphocytes. These carrier molecules were then loaded with an ookinete surface protein ofPlasmodium vivax, Pvs25, by chemical conjugation. The administration of the tricomponent complexes to mice induced more Pvs25-specific serum IgG than did the unloaded antigen. The PpL complex, which exhibited a broad Ig-binding spectrum, conferred higher vaccine efficacy than did the Z or SpG complexes when evaluated with a membrane feed assay. This study demonstrates that this tricomponent immunopotentiating system, incorporating IBDs as the B-lymphocyte-targeting ligands, is a promising technology for the delivery of malaria vaccines, particularly when combined with an aluminum salt adjuvant.
Vaccination with Leptospiral Outer Membrane Lipoprotein LipL32 Reduces Kidney Invasion of Leptospira interrogans Serovar Canicola in Hamsters
Authors: Humphryes P. C. , Weeks M. E. , AbuOun M. , Thomson G. , Núñez A. , Coldham N. G.
Published: February 2014

The
Leptospira interrogans
vaccines currently available are serovar specific and require regular booster immunizations to maintain protection of the host. In addition, a hamster challenge batch potency test is necessary to evaluate these vaccines prior to market release, requiring the use of a large number of animals, which is ethically and financially undesirable. Our previous work showed that the N terminus of the outer membrane protein LipL32 was altered in
Leptospira interrogans
serovar Canicola vaccines that fail the hamster challenge test, suggesting that it may be involved in the protective immune response. The aim of this study was to determine if vaccination with LipL32 protein alone could provide a protective response against challenge with
L. interrogans
serovar Canicola to hamsters. Recombinant LipL32, purified from an
Escherichia coli
expression system, was assessed for protective immunity in five groups of hamsters (
n
= 5) following a challenge with the virulent
L. interrogans
serovar Canicola strain Kito as a challenge strain. However, no significant survival against the
L. interrogans
serovar Canicola challenge was observed compared to that of unvaccinated negative controls. Subsequent histological analysis revealed reduced amounts of
L. interrogans
in the kidneys from the hamsters vaccinated with recombinant LipL32 protein prior to challenge; however, no significant survival against the
L. interrogans
serovar Canicola challenge was observed compared to that of unvaccinated negative controls. This finding corresponded to a noticeably reduced severity of renal lesions. This study provides evidence that LipL32 is involved in the protective response against
L. interrogans
serovar Canicola in hamsters and is the first reported link to LipL32-induced protection against kidney invasion.
Toll-Like Receptor 7 Agonist Imiquimod in Combination with Influenza Vaccine Expedites and Augments Humoral Immune Responses against Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Virus Infection in BALB/c Mice
Authors: Zhang Anna J. X. , Li Can , To Kelvin K. W. , Zhu Hou-Shun , Lee Andrew C. Y. , Li Chuan-Gen , Chan Jasper F. W. , Hung Ivan F. N. , Yuen Kwok-Yung
Published: February 2014

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) of the innate immune system are known targets for enhancing vaccine efficacy. We investigated whether imiquimod, a synthetic TLR7 agonist, can expedite the immune response against influenza virus infection when combined with influenza vaccine. BALB/c mice were immunized intraperitoneally with monovalent A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine combined with imiquimod (VCI) prior to intranasal inoculation with a lethal dose of mouse-adapted A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. For mice immunized 3 days before infection, the survival rates were significantly higher in the VCI group (60%, mean survival time[MST], 11 days) than in the vaccine-alone (30%; MST, 8.8 days), imiquimod-alone (5%; MST, 8.4 days), and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (0%; MST, 6.2 days) groups (
P
< 0.01). In the VCI group, 45 and 35% of the mice survived even when they were infected 2 days or 1 day after immunization. Virus-specific serum IgM, IgG, and neutralizing antibodies appeared earlier with higher geometric mean titers in the VCI group than in the control groups. The pulmonary viral load was significantly lower at all time points postinfection in the VCI, vaccine-alone, and imiquimod-alone groups than in the PBS control group (
P
< 0.05). The protection induced by VCI was specific for A(H1N1)pdm09 virus but not for A(H5N1) virus. Since imiquimod combined with RNase-treated vaccine is as protective as imiquimod combined with untreated vaccine, mechanisms other than TLR7 may operate in expediting and augmenting immune protection. Moreover, increased gamma interferon mRNA expression and IgG isotype switching, which are markers of the Th1 response induced by imiquimod, were not apparent in our mouse model. The mechanisms of imiquimod-induced immune protection deserve further study.
Campylobacter Prosthetic Joint Infection
Authors: Vasoo Shawn , Schwab Jeramy J. , Cunningham Scott A. , Robinson Trisha J. , Cass Joseph R. , Berbari Elie F. , Walker Randall C. , Osmon Douglas R. , Patel Robin
Published: February 2014

A 75-year-old man was diagnosed with probableCampylobacter jejuniprosthetic knee infection after a diarrheal illness. Joint aspirate and operative cultures were negative, but PCR of prosthesis sonicate fluid was positive, as was stool culture. Nineteen additional cases ofCampylobacterprosthetic joint infection reported in the literature are reviewed.
Cycling Memory CD4+T Cells in HIV Disease Have a Diverse T Cell Receptor Repertoire and a Phenotype Consistent with Bystander Activation
Authors: Jiang Wei , Younes Souheil-Antoine , Funderburg Nicholas T. , Mudd Joseph C. , Espinosa Enrique , Davenport Miles P. , Babineau Denise C. , Sieg Scott F. , Lederman Michael M.
Published: February 2014

The mechanisms of increased memory CD4+T cell cycling in HIV disease are incompletely understood but have been linked to antigen stimulation, homeostatic signals, or exposure to microbial products and the inflammatory cytokines that they induce. We examined the phenotype and Vβ family distribution in cycling memory CD4+T cells among 52 healthy and 59 HIV-positive (HIV+) donors. Cycling memory CD4+T cells were proportionally more frequent in subjects with HIV infection than in controls, more often expressed CD38 and PD-1, and less frequently expressed OX40 and intracellular CD40L. OX40 expression on memory CD4+T cells was inducedin vitroby anti-CD3, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-7, or IL-15 but not by Toll-like receptor ligands. In HIV+donors, memory CD4+T cell cycling was directly related to plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, to plasma HIV RNA levels, and to memory CD8+T cell cycling and was inversely related to peripheral blood CD4+T cell counts but not to the levels of IL-2, IL-7, or IL-15, while in HIV-negative donors, memory CD4+T cell cycling was related to IL-7 levels and negatively related to the plasma levels of LPS. In both controls and HIV+donors, cycling memory CD4+T cells had a broad distribution of Vβ families comparable to that of noncycling cells. Increased memory CD4+T cell cycling in HIV disease is reflective of generalized immune activation and not driven primarily by cognate peptide stimulation or exposure to common gamma-chain cytokines. This cycling may be a consequence of exposure to microbial products, to plasma viremia, or, otherwise, to proinflammatory cytokines.

IMPORTANCEThis work provides evidence that the increased memory CD4+T cell cycling in HIV infection is not a result of cognate peptide recognition but, rather, is more likely related to the inflammatory environment of HIV infection.
Human Papillomavirus Community in Healthy Persons, Defined by Metagenomics Analysis of Human Microbiome Project Shotgun Sequencing Data Sets
Authors: Ma Yingfei , Madupu Ramana , Karaoz Ulas , Nossa Carlos W. , Yang Liying , Yooseph Shibu , Yachimski Patrick S. , Brodie Eoin L. , Nelson Karen E. , Pei Zhiheng
Published: February 2014

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes a number of neoplastic diseases in humans. Here, we show a complex normal HPV community in a cohort of 103 healthy human subjects, by metagenomics analysis of the shotgun sequencing data generated from the NIH Human Microbiome Project. The overall HPV prevalence was 68.9% and was highest in the skin (61.3%), followed by the vagina (41.5%), mouth (30%), and gut (17.3%). Of the 109 HPV types as well as additional unclassified types detected, most were undetectable by the widely used commercial kits targeting the vaginal/cervical HPV types. These HPVs likely represent true HPV infections rather than transitory exposure because of strong organ tropism and persistence of the same HPV types in repeat samples. Coexistence of multiple HPV types was found in 48.1% of the HPV-positive samples. Networking between HPV types, cooccurrence or exclusion, was detected in vaginal and skin samples. Large contigs assembled from short HPV reads were obtained from several samples, confirming their genuine HPV origin. This first large-scale survey of HPV using a shotgun sequencing approach yielded a comprehensive map of HPV infections among different body sites of healthy human subjects.

IMPORTANCE
This nonbiased survey indicates that the HPV community in healthy humans is much more complex than previously defined by widely used kits that are target selective for only a few high- and low-risk HPV types for cervical cancer. The importance of nononcogenic viruses in a mixed HPV infection could be for stimulating or inhibiting a coexisting oncogenic virus via viral interference or immune cross-reaction. Knowledge gained from this study will be helpful to guide the designing of epidemiological and clinical studies in the future to determine the impact of nononcogenic HPV types on the outcome of HPV infections.
Identification of Amino Acid Changes That May Have Been Critical for the Genesis of A(H7N9) Influenza Viruses
Authors: Neumann Gabriele , Macken Catherine A. , Kawaoka Yoshihiro
Published: February 2014

Novel influenza A viruses of the H7N9 subtype [A(H7N9)] emerged in the spring of 2013 in China and had infected 163 people as of 10 January 2014; 50 of them died of the severe respiratory infection caused by these viruses. Phylogenetic studies have indicated that the novel A(H7N9) viruses emerged from reassortment of H7, N9, and H9N2 viruses. Inspections of protein sequences from A(H7N9) viruses and their immediate predecessors revealed several amino acid changes in A(H7N9) viruses that may have facilitated transmission and replication in the novel host. Since mutations that occurred more ancestrally may also have contributed to the genesis of A(H7N9) viruses, we inferred historical evolutionary events leading to the novel viruses. We identified a number of amino acid changes on the evolutionary path to A(H7N9) viruses, including substitutions that may be associated with host range, replicative ability, and/or host responses to infection. The biological significance of these amino acid changes can be tested in future studies.

IMPORTANCE
The novel influenza A viruses of the H7N9 subtype [A(H7N9)], which first emerged in the spring of 2013, cause severe respiratory infections in humans. Here, we performed a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the progenitors of A(H7N9) viruses to identify amino acid changes that may have been critical for the emergence of A(H7N9) viruses and their ability to infect humans. We provide a list of potentially important amino acid changes that can be tested for their significance for the influenza virus host range, replicative ability, and/or host responses to infection.
CBFβ Enhances
De Novo
Protein Biosynthesis of Its Binding Partners HIV-1 Vif and RUNX1 and Potentiates the Vif-Induced Degradation of APOBEC3G
Authors: Miyagi Eri , Kao Sandra , Yedavalli Venkat , Strebel Klaus
Published: February 2014

Vif is a lentiviral accessory protein that regulates viral infectivity in part by inducing proteasomal degradation of APOBEC3G (A3G). Recently, CBFβ was found to facilitate Vif-dependent degradation of A3G. However, the exact role of CBFβ remains unclear. Several studies noted reduced Vif expression in CBFβ knockdown cells while others saw no significant impact of CBFβ on Vif stability. Here, we confirmed that CBFβ increases Vif steady-state levels. CBFβ affected expression of neither viral Gag nor Vpu protein, indicating that CBFβ regulates Vif expression posttranscriptionally. Kinetic studies revealed effects of CBFβ on both metabolic stability and the rate of Vif biosynthesis. These effects were dependent on the ability of CBFβ to interact with Vif. Importantly, at comparable Vif levels, CBFβ further enhanced A3G degradation, suggesting that CBFβ facilitates A3G degradation by increasing the levels of Vif and by independently augmenting the ability of Vif to target A3G for degradation. CBFβ also increased expression of RUNX1 by enhancing RUNX1 biosynthesis. Unlike Vif, however, CBFβ had no detectable effect on RUNX1 metabolic stability. We propose that CBFβ acts as a chaperone to stabilize Vif during and after synthesis and to facilitate interaction of Vif with cellular cofactors required for the efficient degradation of A3G.

IMPORTANCE
In this study, we show that CBFβ has a profound effect on the expression of the HIV-1 infectivity factor Vif and the cellular transcription factor RUNX1, two proteins that physically interact with CBFβ. Kinetic studies revealed that CBFβ increases the rate of Vif and RUNX1 biosynthesis at the level of translation. Mutants of Vif unable to physically interact with CBFβ were nonresponsive to CBFβ. Our data suggest that CBFβ exerts a chaperone-like activity (i) to minimize the production of defective ribosomal products (DRiPs) by binding to nascent protein to prevent premature termination and (ii) to stabilize mature protein conformation to ensure proper function of Vif and RUNX1. Thus, we identified a novel mechanism of protein regulation that affects both viral and cellular factors and thus has broad implications beyond the immediate HIV field.
Severe systemic Bacillus anthracis infection in an intravenous drug user
Authors: Veitch Jessica , Kansara Anoushka , Bailey Daniel , Kustos Ildiko
Published: February 2014

There has recently been an outbreak of injectional anthrax infection secondary to contaminated heroin use in the UK and Europe. We present a case of a 37-year-old man presenting with pain and swelling in the groin following injection of heroin into the area. He was initially treated for severe cellulitis, however, he failed to respond to appropriate antimicrobial therapy. He went onto develop a widespread rash; it was then that a diagnosis of injectional anthrax infection was considered. Appropriate investigations were initiated including serum sample and tissue biopsy, and the diagnosis was confirmed. Management included extensive surgical debridement and a prolonged course of combination antibiotic therapy. The authors summarise the important steps in diagnosis and the management options in patients presenting with this life-threatening infection.
Gastric volvulus following diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: a rare complication
Authors: Karthikeyan Vilvapathy Senguttuvan , Sistla Sarath Chandra , Ram Duvuru , Rajkumar Nagarajan
Published: February 2014

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a commonly used, safe diagnostic modality for evaluation of epigastric pain and rarely its major complications include perforation, haemorrhage, dysrhythmias and death. Gastric volvulus has been reported to complicate percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy but its occurrence after diagnostic EGD has not yet been reported in literature. The successful management relies on prompt diagnosis and gastric untwisting, decompression and gastropexy or gastrectomy in full thickness necrosis of the stomach wall. A 38-year-old woman presented with epigastric pain and EGD showed pangastritis. Immediately after EGD she developed increased severity of pain, vomiting and abdominal distension. Emergency laparotomy carried out for peritoneal signs revealed eventration of left hemidiaphragm with the stomach twisted anticlockwise in the longitudinal axis. After gastric decompression and untwisting of volvulus, anterior gastropexy and gastrostomy was carried out. Hence, we report this rare complication of diagnostic endoscopy and review the existing literature on the management.
Pseudomembranous collagenous colitis: an unusual cause of chronic diarrhoea
Authors: Khan-Kheil Ayisha Mehtab , Disney Benjamin , Ruban Ernie , Wood Gordon
Published: February 2014

An 81-year-old woman presented with a history of severe chronic diarrhoea resulting in an admission with syncope and electrolyte abnormalities. Imaging studies of the bowel were normal. However, biopsies taken during colonoscopy enabled a diagnosis to be made and effective treatment to be initiated. This case report details the presentation, diagnosis and management of a rare injury pattern affecting the bowel: pseudomembranous collagenous colitis.
A critical evaluation of the volume, relevance and quality of evidence submitted by the tobacco industry to oppose standardised packaging of tobacco products
Authors: Hatchard Jenny L , Fooks Gary J , Evans-Reeves Karen A , Ulucanlar Selda , Gilmore Anna B
Published: February 2014

Objectives

To examine the volume, relevance and quality of transnational tobacco corporations’ (TTCs) evidence that standardised packaging of tobacco products ‘won't work’, following the UK government's decision to ‘wait and see’ until further evidence is available.

Design

Content analysis.

Setting

We analysed the evidence cited in submissions by the UK's four largest TTCs to the UK Department of Health consultation on standardised packaging in 2012.

Outcome measures

The volume, relevance (subject matter) and quality (as measured by independence from industry and peer-review) of evidence cited by TTCs was compared with evidence from a systematic review of standardised packaging . Fisher's exact test was used to assess differences in the quality of TTC and systematic review evidence. 100% of the data were second-coded to validate the findings: 94.7% intercoder reliability; all differences were resolved.

Results

77/143 pieces of TTC-cited evidence were used to promote their claim that standardised packaging ‘won't work’. Of these, just 17/77 addressed standardised packaging: 14 were industry connected and none were published in peer-reviewed journals. Comparison of TTC and systematic review evidence on standardised packaging showed that the industry evidence was of significantly lower quality in terms of tobacco industry connections and peer-review (p<0.0001). The most relevant TTC evidence (on standardised packaging or packaging generally, n=26) was of significantly lower quality (p<0.0001) than the least relevant (on other topics, n=51). Across the dataset, TTC-connected evidence was significantly less likely to be published in a peer-reviewed journal (p=0.0045).

Conclusions

With few exceptions, evidence cited by TTCs to promote their claim that standardised packaging ‘won't work’ lackseitherpolicy relevanceorkey indicators of quality. Policymakers could use these three criteria—subject matter, independence and peer-review status—to critically assess evidence submitted to them by corporate interests via Better Regulation processes.
Should we involve terminally ill patients in teaching medical students? A systematic review of patient's views
Authors: Harris Dylan Gareth , Coles Bernadette , Willoughby Hannah May
Published: February 2014

Objective

To review available published research that has explored how terminally ill patients feel about being involved in undergraduate medical teaching.

Methods

A systematic review using narrative synthesis. Qualitative or quantitative publications were included if they directly explored the views of adult patients, with a terminal diagnosis, about their involvement in undergraduate clinical teaching.

Results

Seven publications met the inclusion criteria: one case report, one qualitative study and five questionnaire-based studies. A total of 269 patients were included across all studies. Patients were predominantly studied in a hospice or hospice day care setting. Both patients who had, and who had not, previously been involved in student teaching were captured by the included publications. In general, the views of patients were highly positive: overall 85%–100% were in favour of involvement in teaching. There were also some negative aspects, such as: concerns about being physically examined by a student; finding involvement in teaching tiring; feeling unable to decline consent to participate.

Conclusions

An assumption that clinical undergraduate medical teaching involving terminally ill patients may be too burdensome is not reflected overall in studies that have sought the views of the patients themselves. Understanding the patient's perspective provides a number of practical points in relation to how clinical teaching should be adapted in this patient group; for example, using smaller student group sizes; direct supervision if physical examination performed; short encounters with multiple patients rather than a longer encounter with one patient; adequate informed consent beforehand and without the students automatically being present.
Retrograde trans-anterior communicating artery rescue of unopened Pipeline Embolization Device with balloon dilation: complication management
Authors: Navarro Ramon , Yoon Jang , Dixon Tanya , Miller David A , Hanel Ricardo A , Tawk Rabih G
Published: February 2014

As the use of the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) for the treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms rises, knowledge about complications continues to accumulate amidt a paucity of reports on techniques and rescue strategies. We describe the case of a 70-year-old woman who presented with worsening reto-orbital left-sided pain and a large cavernous aneurysm. The patient underwent endovascular treatment with PED, and there was difficulty delivering the device due to significant vascular tortuosity. This resulted in poor PED deployment as the proximal end failed to open. Increasingly aggressive strategies were attempted to open the device, which resulted in an iatrogenic carotid cavernous fistula. We were finally able to rescue the device and open its proximal end with balloon inflation after using a contralateral trans-anterior communicating artery approach and crossing the PED in a retrograde fashion. Excessive vascular tortuosity poses a genuine risk of PED malfunction and poor deployment. Although we were able to rescue the device and our patient had no permanent morbidity, difficult vascular anatomy rendered the procedure extremely complicated with dreaded complications.
VetBact – culturing bacteriological knowledge for veterinarians
Authors: Johansson Karl‐Erik
Published: February 2014

In 2004, Karl‐Erik Johansson, then professor of veterinary bacteriology at the veterinary school at Uppsala in Sweden, was asked by his students for a list of the most important bacteria and the diseases that they cause. So began the development of VetBact, an online database giving details of the bacterial species with most relevance to veterinary medicine. The non‐commercial database, www.vetbact.org, has since grown and can now be accessed by veterinarians and others worldwide
Nucleotide diversity based on phaseolin and iron reductase genes in common bean accessions of different geographical origins
Authors: Diniz Augusto L. , Zucchi Maria I. , Santini Luciane , Benchimol-Reis Luciana L. , Fungaro Maria Helena P. , Vieira Maria Lucia Carneiro
Published: February 2014

Discriminating genotypes within plant collections is imperative, and DNA sequence approaches for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have proved essential in any modern analysis of germplasm. By sequencing the α-Phs and PvFRO1 genes that, respectively, encode phaseolin and an iron reductase, we prospected for SNPs in exonic and intronic regions of both genes in a sample of 31 accessions of Phaseolus vulgaris from Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools, and one accession of Phaseolus lunatus, chosen as an outgroup. Sequence alignment showed 95 SNPs in α-Phs and 83 in PvFRO1, but diversity along the nucleotide sequences was not evenly distributed in both genes. Accessions from the same gene pool showed greater similarity than those from different gene pools, and the cluster patterns obtained in this study were consistent with the hierarchical organization into two P. vulgaris gene pools. The polymorphisms detected in the α-Phs gene allowed better discrimination among the accessions within each cluster than the PvFRO1 polymorphisms. Furthermore, some variations within exons changes amino acids in both predicted protein sequences. In an unprecedented result, the phaseolin-predicted amino acid variation allowed most of the accessions to be typified.
Traffic accidents on a single-lane road with multi-slowdown sections
Authors: Li Xingli , Kuang Hua , Fan Yanhong , Zhang Guoxin
Published: February 2014

In this paper, an extended cellular automaton model is proposed to simulate the complex characteristics of traffic flow and the probability of the occurrence of traffic accidents by considering the modified conditions for determining whether traffic accidents happen and the effect of multi-slowdown sections on a highway. The simulation results show that the multi-slowdown sections can lead to multiphase coexistences (i.e. free flow phase, congestion phase and saturation phase) in traffic system. The fundamental diagram shows that the number of slowdown section does not influence the mean velocity and the mean flow under the periodic boundary condition, but the existence of slowdown sections can effectively reduce the occurrence of traffic accident. In particular, it is found that the probability of car accidents to occur is the largest at the joint of the normal-speed section and slowdown section, and the underlying mechanism is analyzed. In addition, to design the appropriate limited speed and reduce the differences between the normal speed and limited speed will alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents obviously.
Random walk and first passage time on a weighted hierarchical network
Authors: Zhu Feng , Dai Meifeng , Dong Yujuan , Liu Jie
Published: February 2014

This paper reports a weighted hierarchical network generated on the basis of self-similarity, in which each edge is assigned a different weight in the same scale. We studied two substantial properties of random walk: the first-passage time (FPT) between a hub node and a peripheral node and the FPT from a peripheral node to a local hub node over the network. Meanwhile, an analytical expression of the average sending time (AST) is deduced, which reflects the average value of FPT from a hub node to any other node. Our result shows that the AST from a hub node to any other node is related to the scale factor and the number of modules. We found that the AST grows sublinearly, linearly and superlinearly respectively with the network order, depending on the range of the scale factor. Our work may shed some light on revealing the diffusion process in hierarchical networks.
QUANTUM DYNAMICS OF TWO-LEVEL ATOMS INTERACTING WITH AN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD
Authors: BOGOLUBOV N. N. , Yu. RASULOVA M. , TISHABOEV I. A.
Published: February 2014

We consider the dynamics of a system consisting of N two-level atoms interacting with a multi-mode cavity field. For the given system, the generalized kinetic equation (GKE) is obtained and conditions are given under which its solution is reduced to solution of a linear equation, and of the one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation, respectively.
A CLOCK GATED SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION REGISTER FOR A/D CONVERSIONS
Authors: SHAKER MOHAMED O. , BAYOUMI MAGDY A.
Published: February 2014

A novel low power clock gated successive approximation register (SAR) is proposed. The new register is based on gating the clock signal when there is no data switching activity. It operates with fewer transistors and no redundant transitions which makes it suitable for low power applications. The proposed register consisting of 8 bits has been designed up to the layout level with 1 V power supply in 90 nm CMOS technology and has been simulated using SPECTRE. Simulation results have shown that the proposed register saves up to 75% of power consumption.
A DIFFERENTIAL GAME OF POLLUTION CONTROL WITH OVERLAPPING GENERATIONS
Authors: WRZACZEK STEFAN , SHEVKOPLYAS EKATERINA , KOSTYUNIN SERGEY
Published: February 2014

We formulate an overlapping generations model on optimal emissions with continuous age structure. We compare the noncooperative solution to the cooperative one and obtain fundamental differences in the optimal strategies. Also including an altruistic motive does not avoid the problem of the myopic noncooperative solution. Finally we define a time-consistent tax scheme to obtain the cooperative solution in the noncooperative case.
Commutative rings with infinitely many maximal subrings
Authors: Azarang Alborz , Oman Greg
Published: February 2014

It is shown that RgMax (R) is infinite for certain commutative rings, where RgMax (R) denotes the set of all maximal subrings of a ring R. It is observed that whenever R is a ring and D is a UFD subring of R, then | RgMax (R)| ≥ | Irr (D) ∩ U(R)|, where Irr (D) is the set of all non-associate irreducible elements of D and U(R) is the set of all units of R. It is shown that every ring R is either Hilbert or | RgMax (R)| ≥ ℵ0. It is proved that if R is a zero-dimensional (or semilocal) ring with | RgMax (R)| < ℵ0, then R has nonzero characteristic, say n, and R is integral over ℤn. In particular, it is shown that if R is an uncountable artinian ring, then | RgMax (R)| ≥ |R|. It is observed that if R is a noetherian ring with |R| > 2ℵ0, then | RgMax (R)| ≥ 2ℵ0. We determine exactly when a direct product of rings has only finitely many maximal subrings. In particular, it is proved that if a semisimple ring R has only finitely many maximal subrings, then every descending chain ⋯ ⊂ R2 ⊂ R1 ⊂ R0 = R where each Ri is a maximal subring of Ri-1, i ≥ 1, is finite and the last terms of all these chains (possibly with different lengths) are isomorphic to a fixed ring, say S, which is unique (up to isomorphism) with respect to the property that R is finitely generated as an S-module.
Coefficients of Structural Association
Authors: Lipovetsky Stan , Mandel Igor
Published: February 2014

We consider estimation of one variable’s dependence against another one in a new measure called a coefficient of structural association (CSA). It is based on the distribution of one variable along the segments of another one, and yields a gauge similar to the correlation ratio in the nonlinear regression modeling. This index can be constructed as a quotient of the observed and maximum possible variances. The CSA relations to other measures of dependence are described too, particularly, for binary variables CSA reduces to the Loevinger’s coefficient of association. Numerical simulations show that CSA presents a powerful tool for data analysis where traditional measures fail. This method can enrich both theoretical and practical estimations for identifying hidden patterns in the data and help managers and researchers in taking appropriate decisions.
FABRICATION OF SQUARAINE DYE SENSITIZED SPHERICAL ZINC OXIDE NANOCOMPOSITES AND THEIR VISIBLE-LIGHT INDUCED PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY
Authors: FANG YONGLING , LI ZHONGYU , XU SONG , HAN DANAN , LU DAYONG
Published: February 2014

A 1,3-bis[(3,3-dimethylindolin-2-ylidene)methyl]squaraine (ISQ) dye sensitized ZnO nanocomposites via two different preparation methods including hydrothermal and ultrasonic sensitization processes are discussed in this paper. The as-prepared composites were characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Based on the XRD patterns and TEM images, the ISQ/ ZnO nanocomposites still kept the characteristic peaks and the basic morphology of ZnO and ISQ dye. The photocatalytic activity of ISQ/ ZnO nanocomposites was investigated by degrading methylene blue (MB) under visible-light illumination. Compared with the MB self-degradation rate, the photocatalytic activity of the ISQ/ ZnO composites was enhanced remarkably. The ISQ/ ZnO nanocomposites fabricated by ultrasonic sensitization method exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation rate, approximately 20% higher than that of the hydrothermal sensitization one.
SURFACE PLASMON COUPLING EFFECTS ON THE FUNDAMENTAL MODES IN THE NANOWIRE
Authors: MAO HUIBING , WANG JIQING
Published: February 2014

The degeneracy of the two fundamental modes HE11 of the nanowire (NW) is removed due to the coupling of surface plasmon (SP). For the coupled mode 1 of HE11 the electric field is concentrated between the metal sphere and the NW because of the coupling of the metal sphere. The coupling intensity depends on the relative position of the metal sphere. There is no field concentration phenomenon for the coupled mode 2 of HE11, and the coupling only affects the distribution of the local field in the NW. For the coupled mode 2 of HE11, both the mode volume and the Purcell factor do not have obvious change. However, for the coupled mode 1 of HE11 both the mode volume and the Purcell factor have a fundamental change. The mode volume increases with the increase of the metal sphere distance from the point of maximum field intensity of the Fabry–Perot standing wave. The Purcell factor decreases with the increase of the metal sphere distance from the point of maximum field intensity of the Fabry–Perot standing wave.
ONE-DIMENSIONAL ZnO/CNFs HIERARCHICAL HETEROSTRUCTURES WITH ENHANCED PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY
Authors: FU SHAWEI , ZHANG JINGYING , SHEN LU , TAO HUICHUN
Published: February 2014

In this paper, a facile two-step synthesis route combining an electrospinning technique and vapor transport deposition method has been accepted as a straightforward protocol for the exploitation of ZnO /carbon nanofibers (CNFs) hierarchical heterostructures which are composed of ZnO nanorods on the surface of CNFs. Photocatalytic tests display that the ZnO /CNFs heterostructures possess degrading Rhodamine B (RB) at a much higher rate than pure ZnO . The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the effective separation of photogenerated carriers driven by the photoinduced potential difference, which is generated at the ZnO /CNFs heterojunction interface. Moreover, the heterostructures could be reclaimed easily by sedimentation without a decrease of the photocatalytic activity. Such simple and versatile strategy can provide a general way to fabricate other heterostructures, such as TiO 2/CNFs.
Virtual-OCT: A simulated optical coherence tomography instrument
Authors: Liu Ning , Dai Cuixia , Tang Yuanhe , Xi Peng
Published: February 2014

We report the virtual instrumentation of both time-domain (TD) and spectral-domain (SD) optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. With a virtual partial coherence source from either a simulated or measured spectrum, the OCT signals of both A-scan and B-scan were demonstrated. The spectrometric detector's pixel number, dynamic range, noise, as well as spectral resolution can be simulated in the virtual spectral domain (SD-OCT). The virtual-OCT system provides an environment for parameter evaluation and algorithm optimization for experimental OCT instrumentation, and promotes the understanding of OCT imaging and signal post-processing processes.
Indium–silver alloy nanocrystals glass with fluorescence: A model in borosilicate glasses
Authors: Yin Dewu , Pei Lang , Liu Zhen , Yang Xinyu , Zhang Xiyan , Xiang Weidong
Published: February 2014

We demonstrated a model to realize the growth of indium–silver alloy nanocrystals in borosilicate glass by sol–gel method plus a controlled atmosphere. The presence of spherical indium–silver alloy nanoparticles with 5 nm average grain size and good dispersed form in borosilicate glass was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy imaging. Reduction of indium–silver ions to indium–silver alloy neutral nanocrystals was revealed through X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). Remarkably, indium–silver alloy nanocrystals borosilicate glass exhibited fluorescence at around 423 nm which nominated it as the candidate glass for laser sources, nonlinear media and photonic applications.
Truthful multi-attribute auction with discriminatory pricing in cognitive radio networks
Authors: Li Wei , Wang Shengling , Cheng Xiuzhen , Bie Rongfang
Published: February 2014

In this paper, we design a market-based channel allocation scheme for cognitive radio networks by exploiting multi-attribute channel-aware auctions to consider channel diversity in frequency, time, and space domains. Different from existing research, our objective is to maximize the winning SUs' service satisfaction degree while enhancing the utilities of winning PUs and SUs, which can effectively encourage them to join the auction and improve the sustainability of the spectrum market. Based on an elaborately devised preference function, we allocate channels to SUs satisfying their demands while considering spatial and temporal channel reuse to enhance channel utilization. Moreover, we propose a discriminatory pricing method to enhance the utilities of winning PUs and SUs. A comprehensive analysis indicates that our multi-attribute auction is individually-rational, ex-post budget balanced, value-truthful, and attribute-truthful. Our simulation results indicate that the proposed multi-attribute auction can significantly increase the winners' utilities and ensure SUs' service satisfaction.