bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metaproteomic analysis of a winter to spring succession in coastal northwest Atlantic Ocean microbial plankton
Authors: Georges Anna A , El-Swais Heba , Craig Susanne E , Li William K W , Walsh David A
Published: January 2014

In this study, we used comparative metaproteomics to investigate the metabolic activity of microbial plankton inhabiting a seasonally hypoxic basin in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean (Bedford Basin). From winter to spring, we observed a seasonal increase in high-affinity membrane transport proteins involved in scavenging of organic substrates; Rhodobacterales transporters were strongly associated with the spring phytoplankton bloom, whereas SAR11 transporters were abundant in the underlying waters. A diverse array of transporters for organic compounds were similar to the SAR324 clade, revealing an active heterotrophic lifestyle in coastal waters. Proteins involved in methanol oxidation (from the OM43 clade) and carbon monoxide (from a wide variety of bacteria) were identified throughout Bedford Basin. Metabolic niche partitioning between the SUP05 and ARCTIC96BD-19 clades, which together comprise the Gamma-proteobacterial sulfur oxidizers group was apparent. ARCTIC96BD-19 proteins involved in the transport of organic compounds indicated that in productive coastal waters this lineage tends toward a heterotrophic metabolism. In contrast, the identification of sulfur oxidation proteins from SUP05 indicated the use of reduced sulfur as an energy source in hypoxic bottom water. We identified an abundance of Marine Group I Thaumarchaeota proteins in the hypoxic deep layer, including proteins for nitrification and carbon fixation. No transporters for organic compounds were detected among the thaumarchaeal proteins, suggesting a reliance on autotrophic carbon assimilation. In summary, our analyses revealed the spatiotemporal structure of numerous metabolic activities in the coastal ocean that are central to carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycling in the sea.
Determination of trace cadmium in steel by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry after removal of iron matrix with an adsorption column
Authors: Wang Hui , Liu Feng , Wu Cheng , Wang Guoxin , Xu Yuyu , Zhang Weiwei , Zhou Jinfan
Published: January 2014

An inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry method is established for the determination of trace cadmium in steel.
CREB phosphorylation at Ser133 regulates transcription via distinct mechanisms downstream of cAMP and MAPK signalling
Authors: Naqvi Shaista , Martin Kirsty J. , Arthur J. Simon C.
Published: January 2014

CREB (cAMP-response-element-binding protein) is an important transcription factor for the activation of a number of immediate early genes. CREB is phosphorylated on Ser133 by PKA (protein kinase A), promoting the recruitment of the co-activator proteins CBP (CREB-binding protein) and p300; this has been proposed to increase the transcription of CREB-dependent genes. CREB is also phosphorylated on Ser133 by MSK1/2 (mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1/2) in cells in response to the activation of MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signalling; however, the relevance of this to gene transcription has been controversial. To resolve this problem, we created a mouse with a Ser133 to alanine residue mutation in the endogenous Creb gene. Unlike the total CREB knockout, which is perinatally lethal, these mice were viable, but born at less than the expected Mendelian frequency on a C57Bl/6 background. Using embryonic fibroblasts from the S133A-knockin mice we show in the present study that Ser133 phosphorylation downstream of PKA is required for CBP/p300 recruitment. The requirement of Ser133 phosphorylation for the PKA-mediated induction of CREB-dependent genes was, however, promoter-specific. Furthermore, we show that in cells the phosphorylation of CREB on Ser133 by MSKs does not promote strong recruitment of CBP or p300. Despite this, MSK-mediated CREB phosphorylation is critical for the induction of CREB-dependent genes downstream of MAPK signalling.
Quasi one dimensional transport in individual electrospun composite nanofibers
Authors: Avnon A. , Wang B. , Zhou S. , Datsyuk V. , Trotsenko S. , Grabbert N. , Ngo H.-D.
Published: January 2014

We present results of transport measurements of individual suspended electrospun nanofibers Poly(methyl methacrylate)-multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The nanofiber is comprised of highly aligned consecutive multiwalled carbon nanotubes. We have confirmed that at the range temperature from room temperature down to ∼60 K, the conductance behaves as power-law of temperature with an exponent of α ∼ 2.9−10.2. The current also behaves as power law of voltage with an exponent of β ∼ 2.3−8.6. The power-law behavior is a footprint for one dimensional transport. The possible models of this confined system are discussed. Using the model of Luttinger liquid states in series, we calculated the exponent for tunneling into the bulk of a single multiwalled carbon nanotube αbulk ∼ 0.06 which agrees with theoretical predictions.
The not-so-hidden power of mobility and education: Indian diaspora, knowledge industries and the development imperatives
Authors: Tukdeo Shivali
Published: January 2014

Focusing on the changes in India’s higher education sector, this paper looks at the relationship between the growing international mobility, institutions of higher education, skilled workforce production and policy reforms in recent times. Revisiting some of the conceptual issues arising from the literature on transnationalism and Diasporas; and providing a historical context to the shifts in India’s education policy, I set up a broader perspective that sees India’s investment in its Diasporas as part of the emergence of several new connections. To start, two major changes of recent times need to be understood and analyzed: (a) Initiatives for the vast Indian Diasporas to connect, participate and invest in India and (b) A reorientation of Indian higher education with an emphasis on knowledge-based industries and transnational businesses. These two changes, as the paper argues, complement each other and are closely connected to the global policy regime.
Functional genomic screen identifies novel mediators of collagen uptake
Authors: Lee Ting-Hein , McKleroy William , Khalifeh-Soltani Amin , Sakuma Stephen , Lazarev Stanislav , Riento Kirsi , Nishimura Stephen L. , Nichols Ben J. , Atabai Kamran
Published: January 2014

Tissue fibrosis occurs when matrix production outpaces matrix degradation. Degradation of collagen, the main component of fibrotic tissue, is mediated through an extracellular proteolytic pathway and intracellular pathway of cellular uptake and lysosomal digestion. Recent studies demonstrate that disruption of the intracellular pathways can exacerbate fibrosis. These pathways are poorly characterized. Here we identify novel mediators of the intracellular pathway of collagen turnover through a genome-wide RNA interference screen in Drosophila S2 cells. Screening of 7505 Drosophila genes conserved among metazoans identified 22 genes that were required for efficient internalization of type I collagen. These included proteins involved in vesicle transport, the actin cytoskeleton, and signal transduction. We show further that the flotillin genes have a conserved and central role in collagen uptake in Drosophila and human cells. Short hairpin RNA–mediated silencing of flotillins in human monocyte and fibroblasts impaired collagen uptake by promoting lysosomal degradation of the endocytic collagen receptors uPARAP/Endo180 and mannose receptor. These data provide an initial characterization of intracellular pathways of collagen turnover and identify the flotillin genes as critical regulators of this process. A better understanding of these pathways may lead to novel therapies that reduce fibrosis by increasing collagen turnover.
Truncated monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 can alleviate cardiac injury in mice with viral myocarditis via infiltration of mononuclear cells
Authors: Shen Yan , Zhang Feng‐Qi , Wei Xiao
Published: January 2014

BALB/c mice inoculated intraperitoneally with coxsackievirus group B type 3 (CVB3) were allocated to five groups; namely, a viral myocarditis group infected with CVB3 alone (control group), an antibody intervention group that received intracardiac anti‐MCP‐1, an antibody intervention control group that received goat IgG, a tMCP‐1 intervention group that received plasmid pVMt expressing tMCP‐1, and a tMCP‐1 intervention control group that received plasmid pVAX1. There was also a normal control group. The ratio of murine heart weight to body weight, pathological score of myocardial tissue, serum creatine kinase‐MB titers and CVB3 loading of myocardial tissue were assessed. The cardiac lesions in mice that received 20, 40 or 60 µg pVMt (P < 0.05) were less severe than those in control mice with untreated viral myocarditis. In addition, fewer mononuclear cells had infiltrated the myocardium of mice who received 40 or 60 µg pVMt intramyocardially (P < 0.01), whereas there was no difference in mononuclear cell infiltration between mice with viral myocarditis and those that received 20 µg pVMt (P > 0.05). There was also no difference between mice that received anti‐MCP‐1 antibody and those that received 40 µg pVMt in ratio of HW/BW, serum CK‐MB titers and pathological score (P > 0.05). This study showed that tMCP‐1 can alleviate cardiac lesions and cardiac injury in mice with viral myocarditis via infiltration of mononuclear cells. Thus, tMCP‐1 may be an alternative to anti‐MCP‐1 antibody treatment of viral myocarditis. Further research is required.
The Policy Design Effect: Proximity as a Micro‐level Explanation of the Effect of Policy Designs on Social Benefit Attitudes
Authors: Hedegaard Troels Fage
Published: January 2014

Public and individual support for a policy is affected by how it is designed – that is, how eligibility is determined. This results in universal policies being more popular than contributions‐based policies, which in turn enjoy more public support than the selective kind. The literature on welfare attitudes have argued that this ‘policy design effect’ can be explained by a combination of self‐interest patterns, public perceptions of the recipient group and whether eligibility under the policy is perceived as fair or arbitrary. The explanations, however, lack micro‐level theory and testing as to why the design of a policy affects individual and public support. This article seeks to explain this policy design effect by theoretically outlining and testing how being proximate to recipients of a social benefit affects attitudes towards the benefit. A survey of attitudes towards spending on five social benefits in Denmark shows a large impact on attitudes from being proximate to recipients under selective policies, little or no impact from universal policies and a pattern that falls in‐between for the contributions‐based policy. This article thus provides micro‐level evidence for the different impacts on attitudes depending on the design of a policy, and a possible explanation for why the design impacts attitudes differently.
A phenomenographic investigation on the use of iPads among undergraduate art and design students
Authors: Souleles Nicos , Savva Stefania , Watters Hilary , Annesley Angela , Bull Ben
Published: January 2014

The increasingly widespread use of iPads in higher education (HE) brings to the forefront questions about the contribution of these computer tablets towards teaching and learning. However, there is a noticeable gap of research on the instructional potential of iPads in HE. This paper describes the first stage of a research project on the use of iPads in undergraduate art and design disciplines, and is a collaboration between the research lab “Networked Learning Technologies in Art and Design” at Cyprus University of Technology, and the “Centre for Pedagogic Research” at Falmouth University in England. The participants from both institutions provided a student‐centred perspective, and the qualitative analysis (phenomenography) revealed varied perceptions. Based on the findings of this project, the implication is that there are a number of challenges and obstacles in embedding the use of iPads in art and design education. Further research in the second stage of this collaborative research will investigate the views and motivations of art and design faculty.

A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBXnuVJ8eBY
Flood‐plain responses to contemporary climate change in small High‐Arctic basins (Svalbard, Norway)
Authors: Owczarek Piotr , Nawrot Adam , Migała Krzysztof , Malik Ireneusz , Korabiewski Bartosz
Published: January 2014

Changes in the supply of water and sediment to high‐latitude rivers related to contemporary climate change and glacier fluctuations largely determine the activity of fluvial processes. This study reconstructs fluvial dynamics since the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) in two small, partially glaciated basins in the southern part of Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago. We use a combination of aerial photograph interpretation, field mapping and dendrochronological analysis. Sequences of abandoned channels and glacifluvial terraces are distinctly visible in middle and lower parts of the Brattegg and Arie basins in this area. The advance of glaciers during the LIA in the upper part of the basins led to the development of a braiding pattern and to channel aggradation corresponding to the highest glacifluvial levels. The decreasing activity of these braidplains occurred at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, immediately prior to a significant incision period. A second generation of braided channels developed during the first half of the 20th century. Ice‐marginal lake development, less input of fine‐grained sediment to the river channel, and fast incision began from the second half of the 20th century onward. During the last two decades, the main fluvial response to the climatic warming has been contraction of flow within a narrower channel and the abandonment of braidplains. The increased lateral erosion and rate of downcutting and the formation of the most downstream reaches of the modern valley bottom occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. This process was intensified under flood conditions generated by extreme rainfall events. These micro‐scale (small partially glaciated basins) observations concerning the changes of the activity of fluvial processes since the end of LIA may be helpful for the reconstruction of past fluvial changes over longer time scales.
Study and School in the Lives of Children in Migrant Families: A View from Rural Jiangxi, China
Authors: Murphy Rachel
Published: January 2014

Millions of children in China have been ‘left behind’ in the countryside while their parents work in distant places to support the social reproduction of their families. This article examines the role of study and schooling in this process. The analysis shows that family strategies to pursue socio‐economic mobility are intricately connected to state frameworks for providing support, and schools are central to this. This is because both family and state interests in the attributes and prospects of the next generation converge in schools. At the same time, on a day‐to‐day basis, the labour of children in schools and the labour of parents in the cities are intertwined. Specifically, by communicating with each other about study, and by focusing on the child's educational future as the key purpose of their daily work, both children and parents carry out their obligations towards each other, while finding ways to cope with the emotional difficulties that protracted physical separation entails.
Carbon Sequestration in Community Forests: Trade‐offs, Multiple Outcomes and Institutional Diversity in the Bolivian Amazon
Authors: Bottazzi Patrick , Crespo David , Soria Harry , Dao Hy , Serrudo Marcelo , Benavides Jean Paul , Schwarzer Stefan , Rist Stephan
Published: January 2014

Carbon sequestration in community forests presents a major challenge for the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme. This article uses a comparative analysis of the agricultural and forestry practices of indigenous peoples and settlers in the Bolivian Amazon to show how community‐level institutions regulate the trade‐offs between community livelihoods, forest species diversity, and carbon sequestration. The authors argue that REDD+ implementation in such areas runs the risk of: 1) reinforcing economic inequalities based on previous and potential land use impacts on ecosystems (baseline), depending on the socio‐cultural groups targeted; 2) increasing pressure on land used for food production, possibly reducing food security and redirecting labour towards scarce off‐farm income opportunities; 3) increasing dependence on external funding and carbon market fluctuations instead of local production strategies; and 4) further incentivising the privatization and commodification of land to avoid transaction costs associated with collective property rights. The article also advises against taking a strictly economic, market‐based approach to carbon sequestration, arguing that such an approach could endanger fragile socio‐ecological systems. REDD+ schemes should directly support existing efforts towards forest sustainability rather than simply compensating local land users for avoiding deforestation and forest degradation.
Chemomobilization with high‐dose etoposide and G‐CSF results in effective and safe stem cell collection in heavily pretreated lymphoma patients: report from a single institution study and review
Authors: Ozkan Hasan Atilla , Bal Cengiz , Gulbas Zafer
Published: January 2014

The optimal mobilization strategy prior to autologous stem cell transplantation (auto‐SCT) for patients with lymphoma is yet to be determined. We reviewed our institutional experience using chemomobilization with high‐dose (HD) etoposide (1.6 g/m2) and G‐CSF (300 μg/day) in 79 patients with lymphoma. The majority (76%) had received at least two prior regimens of chemotherapy, and 12 (15.2%) patients had previously failed to mobilize following HD cyclophosphamide or DHAP or ICE with G‐CSF. HD etoposide and G‐CSF chemomobilization resulted in successful collection (>2 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg) in 82.3% of patients within a median 2 (1–6) apheresis days. Patients had stem cells collected between days +8 and +15, with a median +12 day. Median total CD34+ cells/kg collected was 5.95 × 106 (0.1–36.8). Seventy‐one percent of patients yielded >2 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg in ≤2 d of apheresis and were defined as good mobilizers. While median CD34+ cells/kg collected for good mobilizers was 7.6 × 106, it was 2.6 × 106 for poor mobilizers (P < 0.001). This regimen was safe with a low rate of febrile neutropenia (7.6%) and acceptable rates of RBC (40.5%) and platelet transfusions (22.8%). Hematopoietic recovery after auto‐SCT was achieved on expected time. Therapy‐related myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia occurred in only one patient (1.3%) with in a median follow‐up of 16 months after chemomobilization. We conclude that HD etoposide and G‐CSF chemomobilization appear to result in effective, tolerable, and safe stem cell collection in the majority of heavily pretreated lymphoma patients.
Identification of three new nucleotide substitutions in the β‐globin gene: laboratoristic approach and impact on genetic counselling for beta‐thalassaemia
Authors: Vinciguerra Margherita , Passarello Cristina , Leto Filippo , Cassarà Filippo , Cannata Monica , Maggio Aurelio , Giambona Antonino
Published: January 2014

Purpose

Over the past two decades, a wide range of available methods for DNA analysis have allowed us to identify defects in globin genes associated with haemoglobin disorders and to correlate specific mutations with phenotypic expression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nature of three new nucleotide changes, mutation or single nucleotide polymorphism, found in the beta‐globin gene, to conduct an appropriate genetic counselling.

Patients and methods

We report the molecular study performed in three probands and their families, sampling during the screening programme conducted at the Laboratory for Molecular Prenatal Diagnosis of Hemoglobinopathies at Villa Sofia‐Cervello Hospital in Palermo, Italy.

Results

This work allowed us to report three new nucleotide substitutions of the β‐globin gene: a substitution of the nucleotide 16 in the CAP site area (HBB: c.‐35 A>G), a substitution of the nucleotide 478 in the second intron (HBB: c.316‐373) in association with β‐haemoglobin variant Hb G Copenhagen (HBB:c.142G>A) and a substitution of the nucleotide 1656 within the 3′ UTR (HBB: c.*+182 G>A) in association with the 1393‐bp deletion (NG_000007.3:g.70060_71452del1393).

Conclusion

The present work emphasizes the importance of reporting the observed nucleotide changes to the Haemoglobin Variant Database, especially in the case of new or rare undefined mutations, to facilitate the determination of their phenotypic expression and the possible interactions with known molecular defects and to formulate an appropriate genetic counselling for couples at risk.
A millennial‐scale chronicle of evolutionary responses to cultural eutrophication in Daphnia
Authors: Frisch Dagmar , Morton Philip K. , Chowdhury Priyanka Roy , Culver Billy W. , Colbourne John K. , Weider Lawrence J. , Jeyasingh Punidan D.
Published: January 2014

For an accurate assessment of the anthropogenic impacts on evolutionary change in natural populations, we need long‐term environmental, genetic and phenotypic data that predate human disturbances. Analysis of c. 1600 years of history chronicled in the sediments of South Center Lake, Minnesota, USA, revealed major environmental changes beginning c. 120 years ago coinciding with the initiation of industrialised agriculture in the catchment area. Population genetic structure, analysed using DNA from dormant eggs of the keystone aquatic herbivore, Daphnia pulicaria, suggested no change for c. 1500 years prior to striking shifts associated with anthropogenic environmental alterations. Furthermore, phenotypic assays on the oldest resurrected metazoan genotypes (potentially as old as c. 700 years) indicate significant shifts in phosphorus utilisation rates compared to younger genotypes. Younger genotypes show steeper reaction norms with high growth under high phosphorus (P), and low growth under low P, while ‘ancient’ genotypes show flat reaction norms, yet higher growth efficiency under low P. Using this resurrection ecology approach, environmental, genetic and phenotypic data spanning pre‐ and post‐industrialised agricultural eras clearly reveal the evolutionary consequences of anthropogenic environmental change.
Flexural fatigue behaviour of carbon nanofiber/epoxy nanocomposites
Authors: Shokrieh M. M. , Esmkhani M. , Haghighatkhah A. R.
Published: January 2014

In this research, the effect of adding carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on fatigue life of epoxy resin under flexural bending fatigue loading conditions was investigated. The fatigue tests of specimens were performed under displacement‐controlled bending loading at different displacement amplitudes at room temperature. Due to the addition of CNFs, a remarkable improvement in fatigue life of epoxy resin was observed. For instance, 24‐fold improvement in fatigue life for 0.25 wt% CNF/epoxy nanocomposites at a strength ratio of 0.43 observed in comparison with the neat epoxy resin.
Three‐dimensional stress fields due to notches in plates under linear elastic and elastic–plastic conditions
Authors: Lazzarin P. , Zappalorto M. , Berto F.
Published: January 2014

The paper deals with a 3D multi‐parametric stress field representation ahead of notches in plates of finite thickness under different loading conditions. Under certain hypotheses, the 3D governing equations of elasticity can be reduced to a system where a bi‐harmonic equation and a harmonic equation have to be simultaneously satisfied. The former provides the solution of the corresponding plane notch problem, and the latter provides the solution of the corresponding out‐of‐plane shear notch problem. The solution is valid close the notch edge, through the plate thickness, with exclusion of a very limited zone close to the free surface of the plates. Also, under elastic–plastic conditions there are circumstances where it is possible to separate the in‐plane problem from the out‐of‐plane problem. A new analytical frame is proposed, and the results are compared with those obtained from 3D finite element models of a plate with a square notch. In the presence of remote applied tensile stress, the slope of the induced, out‐of‐plane, shear stress component matches that of the mode III plastic problem.
Management of Postpartum Pain
Authors: Eshkevari Ladan , Trout Kimberly K. , Damore Jennifer
Published: January 2014

Following the physiologic challenge of birth, many women will experience pain during the postpartum period. The goal is to achieve the right complement and dosing schedule of medications and nonpharmacologic comfort measures to successfully relieve pain, while at the same time allowing the woman to remain fully awake and aware to care for her newborn. Many of the common modalities used for nonpharmacologic pain relief in particular are based on anecdotal evidence, cultural ritual, or outdated studies. In this article, the most common sources of postpartum pain are reviewed as well as evidence‐based pain management strategies, including both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods.
Detection of Putative Recombination Events in the 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene of Some Members of Candidatus phytoplasma
Authors: ElSayed Abdelaleim I. , Boulila Moncef
Published: January 2014

Recombination plays a major evolutionary role by creating genetic diversity and provides the potential to find rapid adaptation to new environmental conditions. We sought the occurrence of possible recombination events in the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of 60 accessions belonging to the group 16SrI of Candidatus phytoplasma (aster yellows phytoplasma). Three bioinformatic programs were used (TOPALI v2.5, RECCO and RDP package). All the three programs indicated the presence of putative recombination signals in aligned sequences. Recombination events located in the 16S ribosomal RNA gene revealed the presence of four recombining accessions gathering sugarcane grassy shoot phytoplasmas (JF928001, DQ459439, EF614269 and JN223446).
The Response of Lettuce Cultivars against Two Lettuce mosaic virus isolates, One Able to Systemically Infect the Resistant Cultivar Salinas 88
Authors: Zanganeh Maryam , Dizadji Akbar , Mossahebi Gholam Hossein
Published: January 2014

The response of seven lettuce cultivars to two geographically different Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) isolates (LMV‐A, LMV‐T) was statistically evaluated based on infection rate, virus accumulation and symptom severity in different time trials. LMV‐A is characterized by the ability to systemically infect cv. Salinas 88 (mo12‐carrying resistant cultivar), and inducing mild mosaic symptoms. Among lettuce cultivars, Varamin (a native cultivar) similar to cv. Salinas showed the most susceptibility to both LMV isolates, whereas another native cultivar, Varesh, was tolerant to the virus with minimal viral accumulation and symptom scores, significantly different from other cultivars at P < 0.05. LMV‐A systemically infects all susceptible lettuce cultivars more rapidly and at a higher rate than LMV‐T. This isolate accumulated in lettuce cultivars at a significantly higher level, determined by semiquantitative ELISA and induced more severe symptoms than LMV‐T isolate at 21 dpi. This is the first evidence for a LMV isolate with ability to systemically infect mo12‐carrying resistant cultivar of lettuce from Iran. In this study, accumulation level of LMV showed statistically meaningful positive correlation with symptom severity on lettuce plants. Based on the results, three evaluated parameters differed considerably by lettuce cultivar and virus isolate.
Should Dialysate Calcium be Individualized?
Authors: Messa Piergiorgio , Sherman Richard A.
Published: January 2014

The growing interest in a personalized choice of dialysate calcium concentration faces some important unsolved questions. First, the desired aims to be achieved should be clarified, as different d‐Ca concentrations might differentially impact dialysis calcium balance and serum calcium concentration. A second point to be addressed is how to achieve the desired goals; the kinetics of calcium during dialysis treatment are complex. This is not an easy task and probably only an automatic device able to read serum calcium concentration in real‐time and adjust d‐Ca to it might supply an effective method for individualizing d‐Ca. Finally, it is not even clear whether individualizing d‐Ca is worth doing; cost‐effectiveness studies might give some further insights into this intricate issue.
Suicide Risk Assessment and Risk Formulation Part I: A Focus on Suicide Ideation in Assessing Suicide Risk
Authors: Silverman Morton M. , Berman Alan L.
Published: January 2014

The main procedure used by clinicians to determine whether an individual may be at risk of suicidal behaviors is the suicide risk assessment (SRA). The purpose of the SRA is to identify risk and protective factors that then provide the data for the formulation of suicide risk. The suicide risk formulation (SRF) assigns a level of suicide risk that ideally leads to triage and treatment deemed appropriate for that level of risk. Some of the problems with the SRA are explored here, with an emphasis on addressing the over reliance on communicated suicide ideation, and recommendations are made for improvements. Part II of this article (Berman & Silverman, 2013, also appears in this issue of STLB) examines the process of an SRF and, similarly, makes recommendations to improve clinical practice toward the desired end of saving lives.
Is group A thawed plasma suitable as the first option for emergency release transfusion? (CME)
Authors: Chhibber Vishesh , Greene Mindy , Vauthrin Michelle , Bailey Jeff , Weinstein Robert
Published: January 2014

Background

Group AB plasma, which lacks anti‐A and anti‐B isohemagglutinins, is issued for emergency transfusion when a patient's ABO group is unknown, but the relative scarcity of group AB blood donors limits its availability. We sought to establish a thawed plasma inventory to improve the rapid availability of plasma in the emergency release setting but were concerned about potential wastage of group AB plasma.

Study Design and Methods

Recognizing that plasma‐incompatible apheresis platelets are routinely transfused and only rarely result in hemolytic reactions if the donor is blood group O, and considering that group A plasma would be compatible with approximately 85% of our patient population, we instituted an emergency release policy whereby thawed group A plasma is issued to all patients of unknown blood group or if compatible plasma is not available. ABO‐compatible plasma is then issued, if needed, once the patient's blood group is determined. We prospectively assessed the outcomes of all patients who received incompatible plasma under our policy.

Results

During the first 5 years under this policy, 385 emergency release requests for plasma were received by our blood bank. Among them, 23 group B or AB patients met criteria for receiving a median of 2 units of incompatible group A plasma. No hemolytic transfusion reactions or other adverse events related to transfusion were seen in any of these 23 patients.

Conclusion

We propose that group A plasma may be an acceptable alternative to AB plasma as the first option in the emergency release setting.
A Reappraisal of Success Factors for Olympic Cross-Country Skiing
Authors: Sandbakk Øyvind , Holmberg Hans-Christer
Published: January 2014

Cross-country (XC) skiing has been an Olympic event since the first Winter Games in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Due to more effective training and tremendous improvements in equipment and track preparation, the speed of Olympic XC-ski races has increased more than that of any other Olympic endurance sport. Moreover, pursuit, mass-start, and sprint races have been introduced. Indeed, 10 of the 12 current Olympic competitions in XC skiing involve mass starts, in which tactics play a major role and the outcome is often decided in the final sprint. Accordingly, reappraisal of the success factors for performance in this context is required. The very high aerobic capacity (VO2max) of many of today’s world-class skiers is similar that of their predecessors. At the same time, the new events provide more opportunities to profit from anaerobic capacity, upper-body power, high-speed techniques, and “tactical flexibility.” The wide range of speeds and slopes involved in XC skiing requires skiers to continuously alternate between and adapt different subtechniques during a race. This technical complexity places a premium on efficiency. The relative amounts of endurance training performed at different levels of intensity have remained essentially constant during the past 4 decades. However, in preparation for the Sochi Olympics in 2014, XC skiers are performing more endurance training on roller skis on competition-specific terrain, placing greater focus on upper-body power and more systematically performing strength training and skiing at high speeds than previously.
A Pardon for the Dingo
Authors: Roberts Richard G.
Published: January 2014

The extinction of the thylacine and devil on mainland Australia is best explained not by the arrival of the dingo but by human population growth and climate change.

[Also see Review by

Ripple
et al.

]
Nelson R. Mandela (1918–2013)
Authors: Abdool Karim Salim S.
Published: January 2014

A great world leader and humanitarian fought for racial equality, human rights, science education, and the rights of AIDS patients.
Simultaneous occurrence of internal capsule infarct and cerebellar haemorrhage in a patient with hemiplegia
Authors: Pande Nikhil , Vivek Ganapathiraman , Hande Manjunath , Acharya Vasudeva
Published: January 2014

A 68-year-old woman with hypertension with no history of cerebrovascular events presented with a left-sided hemiplegia which had developed acutely 2 days ago. She was not on maintenance therapy with antiplatelets or anticoagulants. A CT scan showed acute ischaemic infarction of the right internal capsule and cerebellar haemorrhage. Cardiac evaluation was normal. Doppler ultrasonography of the extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries showed diffuse arteriosclerotic changes, but did not reveal any haemodynamic occlusion. The simultaneous development of dual strokes was considered to be an extension of the same arteriosclerotic process to the intracranial carotid and basilar arteries.
Acute prevertebral abscess secondary to infected pancreatic pseudocyst
Authors: Bhandarkar Ajay M , Pillai Suresh , Venkitachalam Shruti , Anand Aishwarya
Published: January 2014

We report a case of a middle aged, man with diabetes who presented with dysphagia and odynophagia. On evaluation, he was diagnosed to have an acute prevertebral abscess with an unusual aetiology, an infected pseudocyst of pancreas. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed an enhancing collection in the prevertebral space extending to the retrogastric space and communicating with the body of the pancreas via the oesophageal hiatus. Transoral incision and drainage of the prevertebral abscess were performed. Nasogastric tube was placed in the prevertebral space for continuous drainage and daily irrigation. Supportive intravenous broad spectrum antibiotic therapy along with the surgical intervention led to the resolution of the prevertebral abscess and the infected pancreatic pseudocyst.
The acceptance of hearing disability among adults experiencing hearing difficulties: a cross-sectional study
Authors: C Manchaiah Vinaya K , Molander Peter , Rönnberg Jerker , Andersson Gerhard , Lunner Thomas
Published: January 2014

Objective

This study developed the Hearing Disability Acceptance Questionnaire (HDAQ) and tested its construct and concurrent validities.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Participants

A total of 90 participants who were experiencing hearing difficulties were recruited in the UK.

Outcome measures

The HDAQ was developed based on the Tinnitus Acceptance Questionnaire (TAQ). Participants completed self-report measures regarding hearing disability acceptance, hearing disability, symptoms of anxiety and depression and a measure of stages of change.

Results

The HDAQ has a two-factor structure that explains 75.69% of its variance. The factors identified wereactivity engagementandavoidance and suppression. The scale showed a sufficient internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.86). The HDAQ also had acceptable concurrent validity with regard to self-reported hearing disability, self-reported anxiety and depression and readiness to change measures.

Conclusions

Acceptance is likely an important aspect of coping with chronic health conditions. To our knowledge, no previously published and validated scale measures the acceptance of hearing disability; therefore, the HDAQ might be useful in future research. However, the role of acceptance in adjusting to hearing disability must be further investigated.
Bring on the weekend - Improving the quality of junior doctor weekend handover
Authors: Jardine Alan George Mackenzie , Page Tristan , Bethune Rob , Mourant Philippa , Deol Priya , Bowden Caitlin , Dahill Mark , Mische Claudia , Cornish Naomi , Sanders Victoria , Lee Joanne , Bethune Rob
Published: January 2014

While it is widely recognised that communication and handover are a fundamental component in providing safe clinical care for hospital patients (1,2.3). The Royal College of Physicians found that the majority of hospital doctors are dissatisfied with the standard of their handovers (4). These findings were mirrored by the junior staff at the Royal United Hospital, who felt that the weekend handover was inadequate, and detrimental to patient safety.

A group of eight junior doctors at the Royal United Hospital, Bath utilised The Model For Improvement to systematically analyse and improve various aspects of the weekend handover system. Handover sheets from a subset of wards were assessed to observe direct effects of staged interventions over a nine month period, allowing small-scale testing prior to widespread implementation of a standardised intranet-based weekend handover. The effects of interventions were evaluated using a predesigned scoring system and data was collected continuously throughout the project.

Over a nine month period the quality of handovers improved significantly from 76% to 93% (p <0.01): a success which was supported by a 100% improvement in formal feedback collected from hospital doctors and highlighted by the desire of senior staff and directors to implement the system throughout the trust. Using The Model For Improvement a group of junior doctors were able to introduce and develop a standardised weekend handover system that met their requirements. A structured, efficient and auditable system has been successfully produced which improves the quality and safety of patient care.
Tonsillectomy discharge information - An improvement in both patient safety and satisfaction
Authors: Carter Alison , Warner Elinor , Roberton Andrew , Liu Xiaxin , Abdul-Hamid Ayeshah , Natt Ravinder , Hopkins Claire
Published: January 2014

Approximately 20,000 adult and 25,000 paediatric tonsillectomies are performed each year in England. 0.9% of these patients return to theatre for post-tonsillectomy bleeding. The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) have produced guidelines regarding emergency surgery, with standards for tonsillectomy discharge information. We audited our compliance with these guidelines and patient satisfaction regarding the information currently provided.

Theatre records identified all tonsillectomies carried out between December 2012 and February 2013. 71 patients and their electronic discharge information were reviewed for post-operative bleeding information. Each patient was contacted, with a second call made to those who did not answer. 35 patients took part in our telephone questionnaire. Only 35% of patients had post-operative bleeding information on their discharge summary. 51% received no written information either in clinic or on the day of surgery, 66% recalled a verbal explanation. Only 54% knew to go to A&E if they experienced bleeding. 40% were not satisfied with their discharge information, stating that they wanted to know about bleeding, recovery expectations, and information regarding oral intake.

A focus group was formed to discuss potential solutions to the audit outcomes and a tonsillectomy leaflet was produced inline with the trust patient information template. It contained specific instructions regarding bleeding and the nearest A&E contact details. It was reviewed by three tonsillectomy patients and their feedback regarding further information on post-operative diet, throat appearance and pain expectations was incorporated. A second cycle of the audit took place between August and September 2013. Results showed improvement, with 83% receiving an information leaflet and 100% a verbal explanation. 100% of patients were satisfied with their discharge information and 100% knew what to do if they bled. As a result we now meet the standards set out by the RCSEng and have increased our patient safety and satisfaction rates.
Surface relief grating formation in amorphous As40S15Se45 and As2S3 films under 0.532 μm wavelength illumination
Authors: Reinfelde Mara , Teteris Janis , Potanina Elina
Published: January 2014

In this research we have studied the influence of λ = 0.532 μm laser light illumination on the formation and properties of surface relief gratings in amorphous As2S3 and As40Se15Se45 films, as well as a bulk As2S3 sample. The surface relief grating formation was studied for a wide range of grating periods (∼1 – ∼80 μm) for the variable thicknesses of the samples. The examination of the relief depth, Δh, and its dependence on the grating period at constant exposures shows that the impact of sample thickness could manifest itself as a shift in the optimal grating period at holographic surface relief formation (As2S3) and affect the process itself.
HEISENBERG UNCERTAINTY RELATION REVISITED — UNIVERSALITY OF ROBERTSON'S RELATION
Authors: FUJIKAWA KAZUO
Published: January 2014

It is shown that all the known uncertainty relations are the secondary consequences of Robertson's relation. The basic idea is to use the Heisenberg picture so that the time development of quantum mechanical operators incorporate the effects of the measurement interaction. A suitable use of triangle inequalities then gives rise to various forms of uncertainty relations. The assumptions of unbiased measurement and unbiased disturbance are important to simplify the resulting uncertainty relations and to give the familiar uncertainty relations, such as a naive Heisenberg error-disturbance relation. These simplified uncertainty relations are however, valid only conditionally. Quite independently of uncertainty relations, it is shown that the notion of precise measurement is incompatible with the assumptions of unbiased measurement and unbiased disturbance. We can thus naturally understand the failure of the naive Heisenberg's error-disturbance relation, as was demonstrated by the recent spin measurement by Erhart et al.
GALILEAN COVARIANT DIRAC EQUATION WITH A WOODS–SAXON POTENTIAL
Authors: OTHMAN A. A. , DE MONTIGNY M. , KHANNA F. C.
Published: January 2014

We derive and solve the Galilean covariant Dirac equation, also called "Lévy-Leblond equation", for spin-½ particles in a Woods–Saxon potential. We obtain this wave equation with a Galilean covariant approach, which is based on a (4+1)-dimensional manifold with light-cone coordinates followed by a reduction to the (3+1)-dimensional Galilean space-time. We apply the Pekeris approximation and exploit the Nikiforov–Uvarov method to find the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions.
A note on Huppert's ρ – σ conjecture: An improvement on a result by Casolo and Dolfi
Authors: Liu Yang , Lu Ziqun
Published: January 2014

We obtain an improvement on the Casolo and Dolfi's result about ρ – σ conjecture for irreducible character degrees.
A NOVEL QUANTUM STEGANOGRAPHY PROTOCOL BASED ON PROBABILITY MEASUREMENTS
Authors: WEI ZHAN-HONG , CHEN XIU-BO , NIU XIN-XIN , YANG YI-XIAN
Published: January 2014

Quantum steganography is the art of hiding the fact that communications, which transmit the secret message in an insecure quantum channel, are occurring. This paper presents a novel quantum steganography protocol based on probability measurements for transmitting n qubits secret message in an insecure quantum channel. In the protocol, senders embed the secret message into the cover data by POVM measurements. Then, receivers can correctly extract the secret message and recover the cover data with a certain probability by selecting two sets of appropriate protective measurement operators to act projective measurements, respectively. More importantly, the existence of the secret message has no influence on the cover data. In addition, the security of our protocol does not rely on other protocols. The paper analyzes the secrecy and the security in detail.
DOMAIN IMAGING DURING SOLITON PROPAGATION IN A 3D MAGNETIC RATCHET
Authors: LEE J.-H. , MANSELL R. , PETIT D. , FERNÁNDEZ-PACHECO A. , LAVRIJSEN R. , COWBURN R. P.
Published: January 2014

The propagation of a kink soliton through a perpendicularly magnetized antiferromagnetically coupled multilayer stack has been imaged by scanning laser Kerr microscopy. The soliton behavior allows layer-by-layer reversal leading to clear evidence of changes of switching behavior of different layers in the stack. We find that the density of domain nucleation sites is dependent on the configuration of the neighboring layers as well as height up the stack. By growing a series of single layer and coupled trilayer samples, we are able to explain the trends in nucleation seen in the soliton stack in terms of pinhole and orange peel coupling, in agreement with STEM (Scanning transmission electron microscope) imaging.
Direct evidence of intracrine angiotensin II signaling in neurons
Authors: Deliu Elena , Brailoiu G. Cristina , Eguchi Satoru , Hoffman Nicholas E. , Rabinowitz Joseph E. , Tilley Douglas G. , Madesh Muniswamy , Koch Walter J. , Brailoiu Eugen
Published: January 2014

The existence of a local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in neurons was first postulated 40 years ago. Further studies indicated intraneuronal generation of ANG II. However, the function and signaling mechanisms of intraneuronal ANG II remained elusive. Since ANG II type 1 receptor (AT1R) is the major type of receptor mediating the effects of ANG II, we used intracellular microinjection and concurrent Ca2+ and voltage imaging to examine the functionality of intracellular AT1R in neurons. We show that intracellular administration of ANG II produces a dose-dependent elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in hypothalamic neurons that is sensitive to AT1R antagonism. Endolysosomal, but not Golgi apparatus, disruption prevents the effect of microinjected ANG II on [Ca2+]i. Additionally, the ANG II-induced Ca2+ response is dependent on microautophagy and sensitive to inhibition of PLC or antagonism of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors. Furthermore, intracellular application of ANG II produces AT1R-mediated depolarization of hypothalamic neurons, which is dependent on [Ca2+]i increase and on cation influx via transient receptor potential canonical channels. In summary, we provide evidence that intracellular ANG II activates endolysosomal AT1Rs in hypothalamic neurons. Our results point to the functionality of a novel intraneuronal angiotensinergic pathway, extending the current understanding of intracrine ANG II signaling.