bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of Lupinus albus seeds on digestibility, performance and gastrointestinal tract indices in pigs
Authors: Kasprowicz‐Potocka M. , Zaworska A. , Kaczmarek S. , Hejdysz M. , Mikuła R. , Rutkowski A.
Published: November 2016

The effect of soya bean meal (SBM) substitution in the diet with white lupine (WL) seeds on performances and some parameters of the digestive tract of pigs were studied. The digestibility experiment was performed on 30 pigs using difference method combined with marker method, where one group was offered basal diet and in diet of experimental groups 25% of the basal diet was substituted with SBM or WL meal. The growth experiment was conducted on 48 pigs of approximately 20 kg body weight. The animals from the control group were fed with diet containing SBM, whereas in the experimental groups 50% or 100% of SBM was substituted with WL seeds. At the end of the experiment, eight pigs from each group were euthanized, and digesta and tissues were sampled. The apparent total tract digestibility of crude protein and dry matter was higher (p < 0.05), but crude fibre and ether extract were lower (p < 0.05) in the WL seeds than in SBM. Substituting 50% of SBM in the control diet with WL seeds did not affect significantly pig performance. Total substitution of SBM with WL seeds impacted negatively pigs growth and feed intake (p < 0.05), but it did not affect the length of villi and crypt depth. It also significantly increased ileum digesta viscosity and ammonia concentration in the ileum and caecum digesta. In the ileal digesta of animals offered WL seeds, an increased (p < 0.05) total bacterial and Enterobacteriaceae numbers were found, whereas reduced number of yeast and mould was found in the caecal digesta. The substitution of 50% SBM with WL seeds in the growing pig diet did not affect pigs' results, but the total substitution significantly decreased the performance of pigs and affected intestinal ecology.
Testing Bilingual Educational Methods: A Plea to End the Language‐Mixing Taboo
Authors: Antón Eneko , Thierry Guillaume , Goborov Alexander , Anasagasti Jon , Duñabeitia Jon Andoni
Published: November 2016

Language mixing in a given class is often avoided in bilingual education because of the generally held belief that one subject should be taught in only one language and one person should stick to one language in order to minimize confusion. Here, we compared the effects of mixing two languages and monolingual functioning on memory performance in immediate recall as a proxy for comprehension and attention during learning. In Experiment 1, nonbalanced bilingual youngsters were provided with definition pairs introducing familiar objects in a single‐language context (SLC) or in a mixed‐language context (MLC). After each definition block, participants were asked to identify previously introduced objects presented among a stream of Old and New items. In Experiment 2, the same speaker produced the two definitions in the mixed‐language context, thus violating the second principle introduced above. In both experiments we found no advantage for the SLC over the MLC of exposure.
Inductors and regulatory properties of the genomic island‐associated fru2 metabolic operon of Streptococcus agalactiae
Authors: Patron Kévin , Gilot Philippe , Rong Vanessa , Hiron Aurélia , Mereghetti Laurent , Camiade Emilie
Published: November 2016

The fru2 metabolic operon of Streptococcus agalactiae encodes the phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) enzyme II complex Fru2 (EIIBFru2, EIIAFru2, and EIICFru2); Fru2R, a transcriptional activator with PTS regulatory domains (PRDs); a d‐allulose‐6‐phosphate 3‐epimerase; a transaldolase; and a transketolase. We showed that the transcription of fru2 is induced during the stationary phase of growth in complex media and during incubation in human cerebrospinal or amniotic fluids. d‐allose and d‐ribose are environmental signals governing this induction. PTSFru2 is involved in the activation of the fru2 promoter, and the histidine‐67 of EIIAFru2 and the cysteine‐9 of EIIBFru2 are important for this function. The activation of fru2 is also controlled by Fru2R. The histidine‐243 in the PRD1 domain, the histidine‐323 in the PRD2 domain, the cysteine‐400 in the EIIB‐like domain, and the histidine‐549 in the EIIA‐like domain are important for the function of Fru2R. Fru2R binds to a DNA region containing palindromic sequences upstream of the identified transcriptional start site. EIIBFru2 interacts physically with the C‐terminal part of Fru2R (expressing the EIIB‐like and EIIA‐like motifs) and with EIIAFru2. We propose a model of regulation of fru2 depending on the presence of an activatory carbohydrate in the growth medium.
Evidence for the functions of surface‐active behaviors in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Authors: Kavanagh Ailbhe S. , Owen Kylie , Williamson Michael J. , Blomberg Simon P. , Noad Michael J. , Goldizen Anne W. , Kniest Eric , Cato Douglas H. , Dunlop Rebecca A.
Published: November 2016

As part of their social sound repertoire, migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) perform a large variety of surface‐active behaviors, such as breaching and repetitive slapping of the pectoral fins and tail flukes; however, little is known about what factors influence these behaviors and what their functions might be. We investigated the potential functions of surface‐active behaviors in humpback whale groups by examining the social and environmental contexts in which they occurred. Focal observations on 94 different groups of whales were collected in conjunction with continuous acoustic monitoring, and data on the social and environmental context of each group. We propose that breaching may play a role in communication between distant groups as the probability of observing this behavior decreased significantly when the nearest whale group was within 4,000 m compared to beyond 4,000 m. Involvement in group interactions, such as the splitting of a group or a group joining with other whales, was an important factor in predicting the occurrence of pectoral, fluke, and peduncle slapping, and we suggest that they play a role in close‐range or within‐group communication. This study highlights the potentially important and diverse roles of surface‐active behaviors in the communication of migrating humpback whales.
Quantitative trait locus mapping reveals complex genetic architecture of quantitative virulence in the wheat pathogenZymoseptoria tritici
Authors: Stewart Ethan l. , Croll Daniel , Lendenmann Mark H. , Sanchez‐Vallet Andrea , Hartmann Fanny E. , Palma‐Guerrero Javier , Ma Xin , McDonald Bruce A.
Published: November 2016

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of virulence in the fungal wheat pathogenZymoseptoria triticiusing quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. High‐throughput phenotyping based on automated image analysis allowed the measurement of pathogen virulence on a scale and with a precision that was not previously possible. Across two mapping populations encompassing more than 520 progeny, 540 710 pycnidia were counted and their sizes and grey values were measured. A significant correlation was found between pycnidia size and both spore size and number. Precise measurements of percentage leaf area covered by lesions provided a quantitative measure of host damage. Combining these large and accurate phenotypic datasets with a dense panel of restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) genetic markers enabled us to genetically dissect pathogen virulence into components related to host damage and those related to pathogen reproduction. We showed that different components of virulence can be under separate genetic control. Large‐ and small‐effect QTLs were identified for all traits, with some QTLs specific to mapping populations, cultivars and traits and other QTLs shared among traits within the same mapping population. We associated the presence of four accessory chromosomes with small, but significant, increases in several virulence traits, providing the first evidence for a meaningful function associated with accessory chromosomes in this organism. A large‐effect QTL involved in host specialization was identified on chromosome 7, leading to the identification of candidate genes having a large effect on virulence.
Climate drives shifts in grass reproductive phenology across the western USA
Authors: Munson Seth M. , Long A. Lexine
Published: November 2016

The capacity of grass species to alter their reproductive timing across space and through time can indicate their ability to cope with environmental variability and help predict their future performance under climate change.

We determined the long‐term (1895–2013) relationship between flowering times of grass species and climate in space and time using herbarium records across ecoregions of the western USA.

There was widespread concordance of C3 grasses accelerating flowering time and general delays for C4 grasses with increasing mean annual temperature, with the largest changes for annuals and individuals occurring in more northerly, wetter ecoregions. Flowering time was delayed for most grass species with increasing mean annual precipitation across space, while phenology–precipitation relationships through time were more mixed.

Our results suggest that the phenology of most grass species has the capacity to respond to increases in temperature and altered precipitation expected with climate change, but weak relationships for some species in time suggest that climate tracking via migration or adaptation may be required. Divergence in phenological responses among grass functional types, species, and ecoregions suggests that climate change will have unequal effects across the western USA.
A curious case of unexplained physical reaction to dental local anaesthetic
Authors: Crane H. , Carter A. , Andresen E.
Published: November 2016

This case report aims to highlight a very unusual adverse reaction to local anaesthetic, along with the implications for providers of dental treatment. Local anaesthetics (LA) are commonly used in dentistry to allow for pain‐free dental treatment. Adverse reactions to LA are reported to be very rare and are generally categorised into three groups; psychogenic, allergic and toxic. This case highlights a reaction which does not easily fit into one of these groups, where a patient appeared to become unconscious, with a hypotonic arm and became non‐communicative following every administration of LA. It took the patient up to an hour to recover from these episodes, unlike a normal episode of syncope which usually only takes a few minutes to recover from. Local anaesthetic direct challenge testing was performed, which proved there was no true allergic response to LA. This response appeared typical of conversion syndrome, a type of somatic disorder, which is a very unusual response to dental treatment. The complications to consider when managing these patients are discussed.
Mobilities and Risks in Coastal Kenya: Jumping Scales Versus Staying Local
Authors: Mahoney Dillon
Published: November 2016

Removed from the roadsides by waves of “city cleaning” in the early 2000s, Kenyan crafts traders have spent their careers struggling for market access within the port city and tourism hub of Mombasa. An Indian Ocean city in which the mobile and immobile of the global economy converge and interact, some Kenyan traders strive to “jump scales” into international networks, made more possible in the last decade with the help of digital technologies such as cell phones and e‐mail. Based on research conducted between 2001 and 2014, this article explores the stories of two Kenyan crafts traders and how they negotiate the changing relationships and risks of different types of mobility, from everyday travel around Mombasa and Kenya to the mobility made possible by new telecommunication technologies. I focus on emergent strategies for economic advancement and the need to negotiate a variety of formal and informal political, legal, and economic barriers. I demonstrate that translating the new forms of digital technologies and mobility into economic success is contingent on the types of risks accompanying these new mobilities and the capacity for individuals’ social networks to help in gaining access to jobs, land, and new social connections.
Political Documents and Bureaucratic Entrepreneurs: Lobbying the European Parliament during Turkey's EU Integration
Authors: Firat Bilge
Published: November 2016

The European Union's (EU) accession negotiations with Turkey attract a lot of attention from all over Europe to the European Parliament, which serves as a modern agora wherein interests, information, and influence frequently exchange hands. Fine negotiations over what is important to European publics and powerful interests in and outside of the EU are revealed in amendments to sequential drafts of parliamentary reports; these take place through formal and informal communicative channels via lobbying. Complementing ethnographic observations with analysis of EU documents at different stages, I argue that political documents are a means for and contribute largely to bureaucratic politics in both the EU and Turkey, and actors increasingly rely on them to sustain communication between otherwise reluctant parties while maintaining an enduring demand for their expertise.
Tell It to the Judge: Procedural Justice and a Community Court in Brooklyn
Authors: Bornstein Avram , Marcus Anthony , Curtis Ric , Rivera Sarah , Swaner Rachel
Published: November 2016

Based on direct observation inside and outside the courts and on interviews with one hundred residents and two hundred previous offenders, this article examines the performance of procedural justice in a community court in the Red Hook neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Results show that the community court is widely praised compared to the downtown Brooklyn courts and in sharp contrast to police enforcement. The content of this praise suggests that the community court cultivates legitimacy by treating people respectfully and by helping to mitigate problems with powerful institutions such as the police and the New York City Housing Authority. In light of these results, this article considers intertwined debates about procedural justice and how these ideas articulate with legal anthropologists’ understanding of hegemony.
Speaking of Justice: Encounters in a Legal Self‐Help Clinic
Authors: Bertenthal Alyse
Published: November 2016

This article explores a new form of legal aid commonly referred to as “legal self‐help.” Through ethnographic research in a legal self‐help clinic, I examine the techniques through which help to legal self‐help is produced, sustained, and sometimes even challenged as a means of better understanding and critiquing the reformist ideal of “access to justice.” In exploring this new context for the negotiation of legal disputes, I show how the shift from legal help to legal self‐help blurs the boundaries between professional and lay people, between procedure and substance, and between rules and relationships. By tracking the discursive movement across and through these categories, I explore the logic of legal self‐help as a form of access to law and the legal process.
From “Deportability” to “Denounce‐ability:” New Forms of Labor Subordination in an Era of Governing Immigration Through Crime
Authors: Horton Sarah B.
Published: November 2016

The highly publicized 2008 Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) worksite raid in Postville, Iowa, signaled a new strategy in interior immigration enforcement. Rather than merely deport the unauthorized workers it apprehended, ICE arrested them on charges of working under stolen documents (aggravated identity theft) and invented Social Security numbers (Social Security fraud) and imprisoned them prior to their deportation. Drawing on interviews with forty‐five migrant farmworkers and six labor supervisors in a migrant farmworking community in California's Central Valley, this article explores how unauthorized migrants obtain the work documents they must provide to labor supervisors in order to work. This article shows that the poverty and marginalization of migrant communities has led to the mutually beneficial exchange of work authorization documents between donors with legal status and recipients without legal status. Using ethnography to recontextualize these document loans, this article offers an alternative interpretation of the criminal charges levied in Postville. Because voluntary document exchanges may be misrepresented as involuntary theft, labor supervisors use their knowledge of identity loan to suppress identity recipients’ workers’ compensation claims. This article examines the effect of the criminalization of immigration on labor discipline, suggests that migrant “denounce‐ability” has joined migrant “deportability” as a powerful new tool of labor subordination.
Pre‐operative Assessment for Arteriovenous Fistula Placement for Dialysis
Authors: Marques Maria G. , Ponce Pedro
Published: November 2016

Native AV fistulas are considered to be the best VA for most dialysis patients. A careful preoperative process of care is essential to maximize the proportion of fistulas that achieve adequacy for dialysis. An individualized and timely evaluation of patients starts early with the identification of risk factors, followed by a physical examination which should be complemented by ultrasound vascular mapping in most cases. Vascular mapping includes any technique that leads to information on patient′s inflow and outflow anatomy (± hemodynamics) as they relate to arteriovenous access creation and may predict maturation. There is increasing evidence favoring the utilization of preoperative Doppler ultrasound which is recommended in all patients by NFK‐KDOQI Guidelines. It allows noninvasive evaluation of both structural and functional aspects of vessels that play an important role in access maturation. Its major limitation is the relative inability to assess central vein patency. Although conventional venography is still the gold standard to evaluate central veins, it provides otherwise limited information and can incur serious adverse effects related to its invasive nature and contrast use. Alternatives to these two imaging techniques are rarely used, especially because of their higher costs and low availability.
Age‐related changes in dermal fiber‐like structures in facial cheeks
Authors: Mizukoshi K. , Hirayama K.
Published: November 2016

Background/Purpose

Despite recent progress in non‐invasive measurement methods, such as in vivo laser confocal microscopy (CLSM), it is difficult to quantitatively measure age‐related changes in dermal fibrous structures in the face using these methods and qualitative characteristics. We used characteristics extracted from the analysis of CLSM images to quantitatively investigate the effects of aging on dermal fibrous structures in the face.

Methods

CLSM images of dermal fibrous structures were obtained from 90 Japanese females, ranging in age from 20 to 60 years. The feature values of CLSM images were extracted using image analysis methods, such as short‐line segment‐matching processing and spatial frequency analysis. The qualitative characteristics of the dermal fibrous structures in the CLSM images were obtained by principal component analysis (PCA) of these feature values. The fibrous structures were scored on the basis of qualitative characteristics and then age‐related changes in the scores among the subjects were quantitatively evaluated.

Results and Conclusion

The PCA results showed that there were two characteristics in the images of fibrous structures: clearness and directionality. The clearness of fibrous structures decreased and directionality isotropy increased with age.
Testing Sleep Consolidation in Skill Learning: A Field Study Using an Online Game
Authors: Stafford Tom , Haasnoot Erwin
Published: November 2016

Using an observational sample of players of a simple online game (n > 1.2 million), we are able to trace the development of skill in that game. Information on playing time, and player location, allows us to estimate time of day during which practice took place. We compare those whose breaks in practice probably contained a night's sleep and those whose breaks in practice probably did not contain a night's sleep. Our analysis confirms experimental evidence showing a benefit of spacing for skill learning, but it fails to find any additional benefit of sleeping during a break from practice. We discuss reasons why the well‐established phenomenon of sleep consolidation might not manifest in an observational study of skill development. We put the spacing effect into the context of the other known influences on skill learning: improvement with practice, and individual differences in initial performance. Analysis of performance data from games allows experimental results to be demonstrated outside of the lab and for experimental phenomenon to be put in the context of the performance of the whole task.
Eosinophilic meningomyelitis associated with T‐cell lymphoma in a cat
Authors: Bray Kathryn Y. , Muñana Karen R. , Meichner Kristina , White Laura A. , Seiler Gabriela
Published: November 2016

A 12‐year‐old cat was presented for evaluation of progressive tetraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine demonstrated T2‐hyperintensity, and contrast enhancement within the C4–C7 spinal cord, with marked meningeal contrast enhancement and segmental nerve root thickening. Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid contained 407 total nucleated cells/μL, with 99% eosinophils. The cat transiently improved with prednisolone, clindamycin, and ivermectin therapy, but subsequently worsened and was euthanized. Necropsy revealed an asymmetric infiltration predominantly of the white matter, meninges, and nerve roots of the C4–C6 spinal cord segments by an unencapsulated, poorly demarcated neoplasm composed of atypical lymphocytes admixed with eosinophils, causing perivascular hemorrhage and lytic necrosis. The neoplastic cells were immunoreactive for CD3, ultimately confirming T‐cell lymphoma.
Red blood cell storage lesion
Authors: D'Alessandro A.
Published: November 2016

The introduction of omics technologies, in particular proteomics and metabolomics in the field of transfusion medicine, has unveiled the complexity of the storage lesion. Even though it is now universally accepted that the storage lesion affects red cell survival upon transfusion and thus, theoretically, the safety and effectiveness of the transfusion therapy, no significant association between storage duration and transfusion outcomes has been observed in any of the large‐scale randomized clinical trials performed so far. This disconnection between laboratory and clinical evidence may be in part reconciled by the appreciation of the underlying biological variability among donors and recipients, utterly affecting the severity of the storage lesion and the clinical effects of the transfusion therapy. While in the last few years the transfusion community has been split between those seeing the glass half full or half empty, considerations on the influence of biological variability and prestorage variables (e.g. handling and processing) on the final quality of packed red blood cells have prompted a re‐assessment of whether we do really know what is in the glass (the final blood product). Controversy persists between the supporters of the clinical irrelevance of the storage lesion and those questioning the design and statistical power of the evidence‐based studies looking for a correlation between storage duration and untoward consequences of transfusion. In the meantime, alternative storage strategies and solutions have been designed that promise to deliver better quality blood products for both factions.
Managing the patient with haemoglobinopathy and multiple red cell antibodies
Authors: Matteocci A.
Published: November 2016

The main supportive treatment for haemoglobinopathies is repetitive red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, but this may lead to development of RBC alloimmunization which represents a critical and clinically relevant barrier. One of the greatest risk factors for alloimmunization is the antigen disparity between donor and recipient. This is prevalent with European donors and African recipients because of different blood group phenotypes. Various authors have reported that from 5·2 to 30% of thalassaemia patients and from 18% to as much as 47% of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients are affected. The presence of single or multiple allo and autoantibodies increases the complexity of the serological work‐up to find compatible products and demands highly skilled investigation by different panels, elutions, adsorptions, etc., and this delays transfusion therapy. RBC alloantibody evanescence, for example anti‐Jka, and the lack of serological identification, carries a risk of severe and life‐threatening haemolytic transfusion reactions after the re‐exposure to the immunizing antigen. Prophylactic matching should be extended to blood group systems such as Duffy, Kidd and MNS. RBC genotyping may also improve a precise matching of RH alleles and be a valuable support in the event of multiple antibodies. The greater the level of matching, the closer one comes to the ‘perfect match’ which is an innovative strategy adopted to ensure the effectiveness and safety of transfusion therapy at an affordable cost. Therefore, the molecular non‐ABO extended matching may actually help in the management and mitigation of clinical risks associated with RBC alloimmunization in patients with haemoglobinopathies.
What does your data tell you? How transfusion chain data can support managerial decision‐making
Authors: Janssen M. P.
Published: November 2016

Background/Introduction

In recent years, the expanding digitization of information has resulted in an abundance of data being collected. As a consequence, more and more data are available to support decision‐making. Despite the numerous examples where data have provided valuable insights, data can only contribute to solving those problems for which the right information is captured within the data.

Methods/Results

Conceptually, the way in which data creates value is by providing new insights through revealing or highlighting existing patterns or associations. This knowledge can be used for example to develop a reference for interpretation of new (or alternative) data, or to identify clusters with (dis)similar characteristics. The increasing availability of data opens up new opportunities to enhance decision‐making. However, there are various pitfalls when analysing data, in particular when it involves data that is collected routinely. In most cases, additional modelling is also required in order to apply the data for decision‐making support.

Three examples of utilizing routinely collected data to enhance managerial decision‐making within the blood supply are discussed: predicting donor population size and demographics, predicting future red blood cell demand and identifying test‐seeking behaviour among repeat donors. For each example, we will show how data analysis and (when applicable) subsequent modelling was transformed to relevant management information.

Conclusion

Analyses of routinely collected data may provide invaluable information to support decision‐making. The information obtained may not only support decisions made, but may in addition allow quantification of the impact of the decision and provide guidance on how potential improvements are best achieved.
Solving cases in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Authors: Castilho L.
Published: November 2016

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) can be classified in different types including warm AIHA (WAIHA), cold haemagglutinin disease (CHAD), mixed‐type AIHA, paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria and drug‐induced AIHA. Warm AIHA (WAIHA) is the most common type of AHAI characterized by warm autoantibodies primarily IgG (rarely IgM or IgA) reacting best at 37°C. Most are directed against the Rh protein, and over 90% of cases have a positive Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT). The patient's plasma contains autoantibodies that appear as a panagglutinin, and the biggest concern is that they mask the presence of alloantibodies. It is important to rule out, or identify, alloantibodies in the plasma/serum, and identification of the autoantibody specificity is rarely useful. The serologic work required to detect and identify underlying alloantibodies may include multiple autologous adsorptions and elutions, and once a patient is transfused, alloantibody identification becomes more difficult, requiring allogeneic adsorptions. Molecular testing is also being used as a valuable method to predict the extended red cell antigen profile in order to select antigen‐negative red‐blood‐cells for adsorption of autoantibodies when searching for underlying alloantibodies and to provide extended matched units to the patients. Considering that patients with AIHA become alloimmunized much more commonly than other patients, it is very important that efficient procedures for detecting underlying alloantibodies, although labour‐intensive, must be used in pretransfusion testing.
Understanding iron depletion and overload in blood donors
Authors: O'Brien S. F. , Goldman M.
Published: November 2016

Normal iron stores in healthy men are about 1000 mg, whereas in healthy females only about 300 mg. A whole‐blood donation depletes the donor of approximately 225–250 mg of iron. For females, this means that often her iron stores are completely depleted after only one donation. Dietary absorption of iron can be up to 3·5–4 mg/day when iron stores are low, less when iron stores are higher. It can take 5 months or more for haemoglobin (Hb) to return to 80% of the drop in Hb following a whole‐blood donation, and longer to recoup iron stores; hence, to donate frequently, many donors may require iron supplements. Low iron stores are usually related to diet and blood donation, but can also be a sign of underlying pathology. Hb is routinely measured to determine donor eligibility. However, because iron stores will be largely depleted before Hb concentrations drop, it is a late‐stage indicator of iron deficiency. Serum ferritin is correlated with total body iron, thus is a convenient marker of iron status. Recent studies have shown that iron depletion is common among blood donors. Some people, especially young females, have low iron stores on their first donation. However, low iron stores are correlated with higher frequency of blood donation in both females and males. In countries largely reliant on regular donors, a high proportion of donors may be iron deficient. Low iron stores are sometimes associated with fatigue, pica and restless leg syndrome. There may be other health consequences, but large prospective blood donor studies are required. To address low iron stores in blood donors, there are a range of potential strategies to choose from. These include providing donor education about iron, reducing donation frequency, providing iron supplements and/or testing donor ferritin levels and notifying them of abnormal results. The threshold Hb for male donors can be raised. Ideally, deferral for low Hb should be long enough to recoup body iron stores, and iron supplements have been shown to be beneficial. Hemochromatosis, a condition of excess iron stores, is usually a genetic disorder. If left untreated, iron overload is associated with end‐organ damage to the heart and liver. Treatment usually involves phlebotomy, thus donating blood can be beneficial. Donors who have iron overload may be unaware of their condition, and iron supplements could be detrimental. Many blood services are performing studies and revising policies to better address iron status and safety of blood donation. Due to country‐specific factors such as the nutritional/health status of the population, variable reliance on repeat donation and operational issues, no one policy will suit all centres.
Pathophysiology of extracellular haemoglobin: use of animal models to translate molecular mechanisms into clinical significance
Authors: Smeds E. , Romantsik O. , Jungner Å. , Erlandsson L. , Gram M.
Published: November 2016

The blood's major gas exchange is carried out by haemoglobin, a haeme protein that binds iron and oxygen and can have potentially dangerous side‐effects due to redox reactions. Haemoglobin is a very abundant molecule with a concentration of 150 g/l in whole blood, resulting in almost one kg haemoglobin in an adult human body. Normal turnover of red blood cells results in significant haemoglobin release, and pathological conditions that involve haemolysis can lead to massive haemoglobin levels. To control for the potential threat of extracellular haemoglobin, several protective defence systems have evolved. Many pathological conditions, diseases as well as iatrogenic conditions, such as infusion of haemoglobin‐based oxygen carriers, cerebral intraventricular haemorrhage, extracorporeal circulation and the pregnancy complication pre‐eclampsia, involve abnormal levels of haemolysis and extracellular haemoglobin. Although quite different aetiology, the haemoglobin‐induced damage often causes similar clinical sequelae and symptoms. Here, we will give an overview of the pathophysiological mechanisms of extracellular haemoglobin and its metabolites. Furthermore, we will highlight the use of animal models in advancing the understanding of these mechanisms and discuss how to utilize the knowledge in the development of new and better pharmaceutical therapies.
Involvement of DPP IV/CD26 in cutaneous wound healing process in mice
Authors: Baticic Pucar Lara , Pernjak Pugel Ester , Detel Dijana , Varljen Jadranka
Published: November 2016

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV/CD26) is a widely distributed multifunctional protein that plays a significant role in different physiological as well as pathological processes having a broad spectrum of bioactive substrates and immunomodulative properties. It has potential influence on different processes crucial for wound healing, including cell adhesion, migration, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix degradation. However, despite its known enzymatic and immunomodulative functions, limited data characterize the role of DPP IV/CD26 in cutaneous wound healing mechanisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the process of wound healing in conditions of CD26 deficiency in order to obtain better insights on the role of DPP IV/CD26 in cutaneous regeneration. Experimental wounds were made on the dorsal part of CD26 deficient (CD26−/−) and wild‐type mice (C57BL/6). The process of cutaneous wound healing was monitored on defined time schedule postwounding by macroscopic, microscopic, and biochemical analyses. Obtained results revealed a better rate of wound closure, revascularization and cell proliferation in CD26−/− mice, with enhanced local expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α and vascular endothelial growth factor. CD26 deficiency induced prompt macrophage recruitment at the site of skin damage but did not influence mobilization of T‐cells in comparison with wild‐type mice. CD26−/− mice have significantly higher values of IP‐10 in serum and control skins compared with wild‐type mice but values in wounds did not differ significantly on days 2, 4, and 7 of wound healing. DPP IV/CD26 activity was found to be decreased 4 days postwounding in serum and 2, 4, and 7 days postwounding in wounds of wild‐type animals compared with control skins. These findings contribute to better understanding of wound healing mechanisms and could give a support in finding new therapeutic approaches for wound healing and tissue regeneration.
Molecular phylogeny of flat‐footed flies (Diptera: Platypezidae): main clades supported by new morphological evidence
Authors: Tkoč Michal , Tóthová Andrea , Ståhls Gunilla , Chandler Peter J. , Vaňhara Jaromír
Published: November 2016

The molecular phylogeny of flat‐footed flies is inferred from analysis of DNA sequence data from the five mitochondrial genes 12S, 16S, COI, COII and CytB, and the nuclear gene 28S and discussed with the recent systematics based on morphological features. The Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony analyses included 42 species of 18 genera, representing all four extant subfamilies (Microsaniinae, Melanderomyiinae, Callomyiinae and Platypezinae) and all known genera except one (Metaclythia). Representatives of the brachycerous taxa Lonchopteridae, Phoridae, Sciadocerinae (Phoridae) and Opetiidae are used as outgroups, and Lonchoptera was used to root the trees. Our results show Platypezidae consisting of two well‐supported clades, the first with the subfamilies Melanderomyiinae + Callomyiinae and the second formed by subfamily Platypezinae. Genus Microsania was resolved as a separate lineage distant from Platypezidae which clustered with Opetiidae as its sister group, both together forming a sister group to Platypezidae. At the generic level, the genus Agathomyia proved not to be monophyletic in any of the analyses. The species Chydaeopeza tibialis is sister to Agathomyia sexmaculata, and consequently, the genus Chydaeopeza Shatalkin, 1992 is a new junior synonym of Agathomyia Verrall, 1901. Bifurcated setae on legs of adult Platypezidae are documented as a new synapomorphy of the family, exclusive of Microsania. Outstretched wings and only a small overlap of their surfaces at resting position are considered a new synapomorphy for the subfamily Platypezinae. Other phylogenetically important characters defining main clades are documented, and their relevance/validity in phylogenetic studies is discussed. The current systematic concept of Platypezidae is discussed, and new phylogenetic hypotheses are proposed.
Lifting—A nonreversible Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm
Authors: Vucelja Marija
Published: November 2016

Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms are invaluable tools for exploring stationary properties of physical systems, especially in situations where direct sampling is unfeasible. Common implementations of Monte Carlo algorithms employ reversible Markov chains. Reversible chains obey detailed balance and thus ensure that the system will eventually relax to equilibrium, though detailed balance is not necessary for convergence to equilibrium. We review nonreversible Markov chains, which violate detailed balance and yet still relax to a given target stationary distribution. In particular cases, nonreversible Markov chains are substantially better at sampling than the conventional reversible Markov chains with up to a square root improvement in the convergence time to the steady state. One kind of nonreversible Markov chain is constructed from the reversible ones by enlarging the state space and by modifying and adding extra transition rates to create non-reversible moves. Because of the augmentation of the state space, such chains are often referred to as lifted Markov Chains. We illustrate the use of lifted Markov chains for efficient sampling on several examples. The examples include sampling on a ring, sampling on a torus, the Ising model on a complete graph, and the one-dimensional Ising model. We also provide a pseudocode implementation, review related work, and discuss the applicability of such methods.
The physics of juggling a spinning ping-pong ball
Authors: Widenhorn Ralf
Published: November 2016

Juggling a spinning ball with a ping-pong paddle represents a challenge both in terms of hand-eye coordination and physics concepts. Here, we analyze the ping-pong ball's motion, and explore how the correct paddle angle relates to the ball's spin and speed, as it moves vertically up and down. For students, this requires engaging with concepts like momentum, angular momentum, free-body diagrams, and friction. The activities described in this article include high-speed video motion tracking of the ping-pong ball and the investigation of the frictional characteristics of the paddle. They can be done in a physics lab or at home, requiring only inexpensive or commonly used equipment, and can be undertaken by high school or college students.
Parameter study of time-delay magnification in a biologically inspired, mechanically coupled acoustic sensor array
Authors: Yang Ming , Zhu Xinlei , Zhang Yaqiong , Ta Na , Rao Zhushi
Published: November 2016

Sound source localization uses interaural time difference (ITD) or interaural intensity difference cues, and most of the methods based on ITD are limited by the aperture of array. However, a kind of parasitoid fly called Ormia ochracea with coupled ears has a remarkable ability to localize calling of crickets regardless of the fly's small body size. The structure of fly's ear is generalized, and a multi-dimensional coupled system with an acoustic sensor array is proposed. The magnification factor of the phase difference in this system, which can be used to describe the ITD changes of signals from the coupled system, is chosen as the kernel parameter to measure the effect of coupling. The coupled system is optimized by choosing appropriate physical parameters such that the degree of magnification does not vary with angle of incidence. The simulation results demonstrate that the time delay between two signals increases by the coupled system, and the magnification factor remains stable as expected. Compared with the traditional general cross-correlation method, the localization error of the coupled system is reduced.
The effect of cubic material nonlinearity on the propagation of torsional wave modes in a pipe
Authors: Wang Yanzheng , Achenbach Jan D.
Published: November 2016

The effect of cubic material nonlinearity on the propagation in a pipe of the lowest axially symmetric torsional wave mode has been investigated in this paper. Two cases, one that the material of the whole pipe is nonlinear, and the second that a small segment of the pipe is nonlinear, have been considered. For the first case, a first and a third harmonic have been obtained by the perturbation method. Analytical expressions for the two cumulative harmonics have been derived. The second case leads to a scattering problem. The segment produces nonlinear terms in the equation of motion, which can be regarded as a distribution of body forces. The problem is then reduced to a linear scattering problem. An analytical expression for the backscattered wave can be easily obtained by using the elastodynamic reciprocity theorem. Due to the low amplitude of the backscattered wave, the authors propose to add another higher frequency wave to the primary wave, to increase the total magnitude of the scattered wave. An example that the originally scattered wave is amplified 50 times by selecting proper frequencies is presented. Both cases considered here have a potential application to determine the material properties in a region of nonlinear material behavior.
Stakeholder Engagement With National Governing Bodies Through Social Media: An Insight Into USA Wrestling
Authors: Burch Lauren , Giannoulakis Chrysostomos , Brgoch Shea
Published: November 2016

This case study examines USA Wrestling’s (USAW) social media use during the 2014 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Wrestling Championships. During the three days of the event, a cross-platform content analysis of USAW’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram accounts formed the foundation of the case analysis. In addition, real-life qualitative interviews were conducted with employees involved with the national governing body’s (NGB) social media implementation plan. Students will be asked to develop social media-based messaging to reach and engage the NGB’s potential stakeholders, based on USAW’s communication strategy outcomes during the NCAA championships. The case provides students with the opportunity to: (a) analyze nonprofit sport organizations, (b) investigate how communication and marketing efforts differ in a not-for-profit environment, and (c) identify to what extent social media sites provide a cost-effective option to entities of similar status. To further support the pivotal role of social media within a sport organization’s overall marketing and communication mix, managerial implications pertaining to stakeholder identification and engagement strategies are included in the analysis.
Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Patients with Macrolide-Resistant Mycobacterium massiliense Lung Disease
Authors: Choi Hayoung , Kim Su-Young , Lee Hyun , Jhun Byung Woo , Park Hye Yun , Jeon Kyeongman , Kim Dae Hun , Huh Hee Jae , Ki Chang-Seok , Lee Nam Yong , Lee Seung-Heon , Shin Sung Jae , Daley Charles L. , Koh Won-Jung
Published: November 2016

Macrolide antibiotics are cornerstones in the treatment of
Mycobacterium massiliense
lung disease. Despite the emergence of resistance, limited data on macrolide-resistant
M
.
massiliense
lung disease are available. This study evaluated the clinical features and treatment outcomes of patients and the molecular characteristics of macrolide-resistant
M
.
massiliense
isolates. We performed a retrospective review of medical records and genetic analyses of clinical isolates from 15 patients who had macrolide-resistant
M
.
massiliense
lung disease between September 2005 and February 2015. Nine patients (60%) had the nodular bronchiectatic form of the disease, and six (40%) had the fibrocavitary form. Before the detection of macrolide resistance, three patients (20%) were treated with macrolide monotherapy, four (27%) with therapy for presumed
Mycobacterium avium
complex infections, and eight (53%) with combination antibiotic therapy for
M
.
massiliense
lung disease. The median treatment duration after the detection of resistance was 18.7 months (interquartile range, 11.2 to 39.8 months). Treatment outcomes were poor, with a favorable outcome being achieved for only one patient (7%), who underwent surgery in addition to antibiotic therapy. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year mortality rates were 7, 13, and 33%, respectively. Of the 15 clinical isolates, 14 (93%) had point mutations at position 2058 (
n
= 9) or 2059 (
n
= 5) of the 23S rRNA gene, resulting in macrolide resistance. Our study indicates that treatment outcomes are poor and mortality rates are high after the development of macrolide resistance in patients with
M
.
massiliense
lung disease. Thus, preventing the development of macrolide resistance should be a key consideration during treatment.
Cutaneous neck lesion of occult odontogenic origin: search for the tooth
Authors: Ved Ronak , Jones Jonathan , Drage Nicholas , Fardy Michael
Published: November 2016

The differential diagnosis for inflammatory neck swellings is vast. A swelling of dental origin should be considered because, while rare, they mimic more common causes of neck lumps. We report the case involving a recurrent submandibular swelling in a young female patient that was presumed to be an epidermoid cyst by her general medical practitioner. After 6 months of unsuccessful treatment in the community, an odontogenic source was identified and treated successfully following referral to a local Oral and Maxillofacial department.
Successful improvement of Buschke-Löwenstein tumour in an HIV-infected patient with antiretroviral therapy alone
Authors: Grodner Camille , Henn Aurélia , Lelièvre Jean-Daniel , Gallien Sébastien
Published: November 2016

Buschke-Löwenstein tumour (BLT), also defined as giant condyloma acuminatum, is a rare exophytic tumour affecting the anogenital and perianal regions associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, with a potential of malignant transformation and which is at a greater risk in T-cell mediated immunodeficient patients. Different therapeutic options, alone or in combination, have been reported for the treatment of BLT including local therapy but wide surgical local excision is however recommended as the most important therapeutic intervention. We report a case of a HIV-infected man who developed a voluminous pelvic BLT which disappeared progressively under antiretroviral therapy with no additional treatment, contemporary to an improvement of his immunity, highlighting the possible spontaneous reversibility of HPV-induced tumours in treated HIV infection.