bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
REVIEW ARTICLE: Immunology of Pre‐Eclampsia
Authors: Redman Christopher W. G. , Sargent Ian L.
Published: March 2010

Citation Redman CWG, Sargent IL. Immunology of Pre‐eclampsia. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010

Pre‐eclampsia develops in stages, only the last being the clinical illness. This is generated by a non‐specific, systemic (vascular), inflammatory response, secondary to placental oxidative stress and not by reactivity to fetal alloantigens. However, maternal adaptation to fetal (paternal alloantigens) is crucial in the earlier stages. A pre‐conceptual phase involves maternal tolerization to paternal antigens by seminal plasma. After conception, regulatory T cells, interacting with indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase, together with decidual NK cell recognition of fetal HLA‐C on extravillous trophoblast may facilitate placental growth by immunoregulation. Complete failure of this mechanism would cause miscarriage, while partial failure would cause poor placentation and dysfunctional uteroplacental perfusion. The first pregnancy preponderance and partner specificity of pre‐eclampsia can be explained by this model. For the first time, the pathogenesis of pre‐eclampsia can be related to defined immune mechanisms that are appropriate to the fetomaternal frontier. Now, the challenge is to prove the detail.
CO2 laser‐assisted treatment of a giant pyogenic granuloma of the gingiva
Authors: Lindenmüller I Hitz , Noll P , Mameghani T , Walter C
Published: March 2010

To cite this article:
 
Int J Dent Hygiene 8, 2010; 249–252 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601‐5037.2010.00449.x Lindenmüller IH, Noll P, Mameghani T, Walter C. CO2 laser‐assisted treatment of a giant pyogenic granuloma of the gingiva.

Abstract:  Background:  Pyogenic granuloma (PG) may develop in the oral cavity of pregnant women. The periodontal treatment outcomes during and after pregnancy are described.

Methods:  A 34‐year‐old woman in the 39th week of pregnancy presented for surgical treatment with a mass on the lingual mandibular gingiva. She had been surgically treated alio loco in the 37th week, but this failed. The patient was reassured and an individual oral hygiene programme was initiated in our department. The tumour was about 20 mm in diameter. A CO2 laser‐assisted surgical excision was performed 4 weeks after delivery. The lesion was analysed histopathologically using a von Willebrand Factor immunoreactivity staining. The highly vascularized tissue with a dense inflammatory infiltrate was in accordance with the diagnosis of a PG.

Results:  The initial wound healing was uneventful. A 12‐month follow‐up revealed no recurrence of the mass and healthy periodontal tissues.

Conclusion:  This report describes an oral complication during pregnancy for which surgical excision of a PG after delivery seemed the best treatment. It is possible that gender‐specific periodontal disease risk factors contributed to the development of the lesion. This is another reason why pregnant women should be encouraged to be assessed by oral health professionals before late pregnancy.
The erosive potential of jawbreakers, a type of hard candy
Authors: Brand HS , Gambon DL , Van Dop LF , Van Liere LE , Veerman ECI
Published: March 2010

To cite this article:
 
Int J Dent Hygiene 8, 2010; 308–312 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601‐5037.2010.00450.x Brand HS, Gambon DL, van Dop LF, van Liere LE, Veerman ECI. The erosive potential of jawbreakers, a type of hard candy.

Abstract:  Objectives:  To explore the consumption pattern of a specific type of acidic solid candy, the so‐called jawbreakers, by primary school children and determine the erosive potential of this type of candy in vivo.

Methods:  A questionnaire about jawbreaker consumption was distributed among 10–12 year‐old‐children (n = 302). Subsequently, 19 healthy volunteers tested four different jawbreakers in vivo. Whole saliva was collected 5 min before, 3 min during and 11 min after consumption. Salivary flow rate and pH were determined.

Results:  Two‐thirds of the children reported a history of jawbreaker consumption, 18% during the last week. More than half of the children estimated their average time for consumption of one jawbreaker to be more than 15 min. In vivo, the jawbreakers induced 8.6–13.9‐fold increase in salivary flow rate. Sucking on sour, jumbo and strawberry jawbreakers induced a drop in salivary pH to values below pH 5.5. During consumption of fireball jawbreakers, the intra‐oral pH hardly changed.

Conclusions:  Jawbreakers are frequently used by children, who keep this candy in their mouth for a long time. Jawbreakers differ considerable in erosive potential, with sour and jumbo jawbreakers > strawberry jawbreaker >> fireball jawbreaker. This information is of use for dental hygienists counselling juvenile patients with dental erosion.
Tetracysteine‐tagged prion protein allows discrimination between the native and converted forms
Authors: Gašperšič Jernej , Hafner‐Bratkovič Iva , Stephan Michel , Veranič Peter , Benčina Mojca , Vorberg Ina , Jerala Roman
Published: March 2010

The conformational conversion of prion protein (PrP) from a native conformation to the amyloid form is a hallmark of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Conversion is usually monitored by fluorescent dyes, which bind generic amyloids and are less suited for living cell imaging. We report a new method for the synthesis of membrane‐permeable and membrane‐impermeable biarsenical reagents, which are then used to monitor murine PrP (mPrP) misfolding. We introduced tetracysteine (TC) tags into three different positions of mPrP, which folded into a native‐like structure. Whereas mPrPs with a TC tag inserted at the N‐terminus or C‐terminus supported fibril formation, insertion into the helix 2–helix 3 loop inhibited conversion. We devised a quantitative protease‐free method to determine the fraction of converted PrP, based on the ability of the fluorescein arsenical helix binder reagent to differentiate between the monomeric and fibrilized form of TC‐tagged PrP, and showed that TC‐tagged mPrP could be detected on transfected cells, thereby expanding the potential use of this method for the detection and study of conformational diseases.

Structured digital abstract

MINT‐7709757: Prp (uniprotkb:P04925) and Prp (uniprotkb:P04925) bind (MI:0407) by electron microscopy (MI:0040)

MINT‐7709744: Prp (uniprotkb:P04925) and Prp (uniprotkb:P04925) bind (MI:0407) by circular dichroism (MI:0016)

MINT‐7709730: Prp (uniprotkb:P04925) and Prp (uniprotkb:P04925) bind (MI:0407) by fluorescence technology (MI:0051)
Human lactoferrin activates NF‐κB through the Toll‐like receptor 4 pathway while it interferes with the lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated TLR4 signaling
Authors: Ando Ken , Hasegawa Keiichi , Shindo Ken‐ichi , Furusawa Tomoyasu , Fujino Tomofumi , Kikugawa Kiyomi , Nakano Hiroyasu , Takeuchi Osamu , Akira Shizuo , Akiyama Taishin , Gohda Jin , Inoue Jun‐ichiro , Hayakawa Makio
Published: March 2010

Lactoferrin (LF) has been implicated in innate immunity. Here we reveal the signal transduction pathway responsible for human LF (hLF)‐triggered nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) activation. Endotoxin‐depleted hLF induces NF‐κB activation at physiologically relevant concentrations in the human monocytic leukemia cell line, THP‐1, and in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). In MEFs, in which both tumor necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and TRAF5 are deficient, hLF causes NF‐κB activation at a level comparable to that seen in wild‐type MEFs, whereas TRAF6‐deficient MEFs show significantly impaired NF‐κB activation in response to hLF. TRAF6 is known to be indispensable in leading to NF‐κB activation in myeloid differentiating factor 88 (MyD88)‐dependent signaling pathways, while the role of TRAF6 in the MyD88‐independent signaling pathway has not been clarified extensively. When we examined the hLF‐dependent NF‐κB activation in MyD88‐deficient MEFs, delayed, but remarkable, NF‐κB activation occurred as a result of the treatment of cells with hLF, indicating that both MyD88‐dependent and MyD88‐independent pathways are involved. Indeed, hLF fails to activate NF‐κB in MEFs lacking Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4), a unique TLR group member that triggers both MyD88‐depependent and MyD88‐independent signalings. Importantly, the carbohydrate chains from hLF are shown to be responsible for TLR4 activation. Furthermore, we show that lipopolysaccharide‐induced cytokine and chemokine production is attenuated by intact hLF but not by the carbohydrate chains from hLF. Thus, we present a novel model concerning the biological function of hLF: hLF induces moderate activation of TLR4‐mediated innate immunity through its carbohydrate chains; however, hLF suppresses endotoxemia by interfering with lipopolysaccharide‐dependent TLR4 activation, probably through its polypeptide moiety.
Aligning an Early Childhood Assessment to State Kindergarten Content Standards: Application of a Nationally Recognized Alignment Framework
Authors: Roach Andrew T. , McGrath Dawn , Wixson Corinne , Talapatra Devadrita
Published: March 2010

This article describes an alignment study conducted to evaluate the alignment between Indiana's Kindergarten content standards and items on the Indiana Standards Tool for Alternate Reporting. Alignment is the extent to which standards and assessments are in agreement, working together to guide educators' efforts to support children's learning and development. The alignment process in this study represented a modification of Webb's nationally recognized method of alignment analysis to early childhood assessments and standards. The alignment panel (N = 13) in this study consisted of early childhood educators and educational leaders from all geographic regions of the state. Panel members were asked to rate the depth of knowledge (DOK) stage of each objective in Kindergarten standards; rate the DOK stage for each item on the ISTAR rating scale; and identify the one or two objectives from the standards to which each ISTAR item corresponded. Analysis of the panel's responses suggested the ISTAR inconsistently conformed to Webb's DOK consistency and ROK correspondence criteria for alignment. A promising finding was the strong alignment of the ISTAR Level F1 and F2 scales to the Kindergarten standards. This result provided evidence of the developmental continuum of skills and knowledge that are assessed by the ISTAR items.
Adopting Cut Scores: Post‐Standard‐Setting Panel Considerations for Decision Makers
Authors: Geisinger Kurt F. , McCormick Carina M.
Published: March 2010

Standard‐setting studies utilizing procedures such as the Bookmark or Angoff methods are just one component of the complete standard‐setting process. Decision makers ultimately must determine what they believe to be the most appropriate standard or cut score to use, employing the input of the standard‐setting panelists as one piece of information among multiple sources. However, guidance for weighing the various components is limited. The current article describes considerations about data that are used to make standard‐setting decisions, as previously outlined by Geisinger (1991). The ten points provided by Geisinger have been expanded as they relate to shifts in educational policy and practice in educational measurement. They have been amended with six new components as well. The new considerations addressed are smoothing across grades, raising standards in progression (over grades or over time), opportunity to learn or instructional validity, input from other groups, equating or linking to previous standards, and organizational vision and goals.
EVALUATION OF THE PETRIFILM DRY REHYDRATABLE FILM FOR THE ENUMERATION OF YEASTS AND MOULDS IN NATURALLY CONTAMINATED FOODS
Authors: TOURNAS VALERIE H. , FELICIANO LIZANEL , KATSOUDAS EUGENIA J.
Published: March 2010

Two hundred thirty‐seven samples from six food groups (tree nuts, grains and grain products, dried fruits, fresh produce, fruit juice and dairy products) were tested for levels of fungal contamination using the Petrifilm dry rehydratable film for yeast and mould (PYM ) enumeration (3M Microbiology, St. Paul, MN) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official method. Results indicated that PYM performed very well for all tested commodities giving YM counts similar to those of the FDA method. Statistical analysis of the data (t‐test) revealed no significant differences between the two methods for all foods tested. Linear regression analysis showed that the correlation coefficients between the two methods were over 0.90 for 91% of the commodities tested. Some difficulties were encountered during counting of the colonies on PYM as yeast colonies on this medium tend to be very small with rather faded colorations.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Assessment of the efficacy of Petrifilm and determining its equivalence to traditional, validated methods will give the testing laboratories and the industry an alternate option for the enumeration of fungi in foods. The use of Petrifilm would be especially useful when analyst time is limited as it requires no media preparation and minimal time for sample inoculation.
Motility‐induced but not vasoactive intestinal peptide‐induced increase in luminal alkalinization in rat duodenum is dependent on luminal Cl−
Authors: Pihl L. , Sjöblom M. , Seidler U. , Sedin J. , Nylander O.
Published: March 2010

Aim:  To investigate whether the motility‐ and the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)‐induced increase in luminal alkalinization in the duodenum is dependent on luminal Cl−.

Methods:  Experiments were performed in anaesthetized rats in vivo. The proximal duodenum was perfused luminally with an isotonic solution, containing zero or low Cl− and the effects on luminal alkalinization, motility, fluid flux and epithelial permeability were determined. Parecoxib, a COX‐2 inhibitor, was used to induce duodenal contractions.

Results:  Control rats lacked duodenal wall contractions while parecoxib‐treated ones exhibited contractions throughout the experiment. Most animals had a net fluid absorption during the perfusion with isotonic NaCl. Luminal alkalinization was about 100% higher in parecoxib‐treated rats than in controls. Cl−‐free solutions did not affect epithelial permeability or motility but decreased luminal alkalinization by ≥50% and decreased net fluid absorption in both control and parecoxib‐treated animals. Reduction in luminal Cl− decreased alkalinization in a concentration‐dependent manner. The parecoxib‐induced increase in alkalinization was markedly reduced in the absence of luminal Cl−. VIP increased luminal alkalinization and induced fluid secretion. The lack of luminal Cl− did not affect the VIP‐induced increase in alkalinization but reduced fluid secretion.

Conclusions:  The parecoxib‐induced increase in luminal alkalinization is highly dependent on luminal Cl− and it is proposed that COX‐2 inhibition, via induction of duodenal motility, enhances HCO3− efflux through stimulation of apical Cl−/HCO3− exchange in duodenal epithelial cells. Although the VIP‐induced stimulation of fluid secretion is partly dependent on luminal Cl−, the VIP‐induced increase in luminal alkalinization is not.
Repellent efficacy of wood vinegar against Culex pipiens pallens and Aedes togoi (Diptera: Culicidae) under laboratory and semi‐field conditions
Authors: KIARIE‐MAKARA Martha W. , YOON Hae‐Soon , LEE Dong‐Kyu
Published: March 2010

The repellent efficacy of wood vinegar was assessed against mosquitoes under laboratory conditions at 1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80% concentrations. The study evaluated whether wood vinegar is able to repel Culex pipiens pallens Coquillet and Aedes togoi (Theobald) from the human body and if so at what concentrations. The tests were conducted using the arm‐in‐cage method in 80 × 40 × 40 cm screened mosquito cages. The data were analyzed and compared with those of N,N‐Diethyl‐3‐methylbenzamide (deet) at 10.3% concentration. The results showed that wood vinegar provided mosquito repellence of varying degree depending on the concentration used. The observed repellence averaged from as low as 39.6% at 5.0% concentration to as high as 100% at 80% concentration against Ae. togoi. Repellence against Cx. pipiens pallens was high being 90.3% at 20% concentration, 92.2% at 40% concentration, 93.9% at 60% concentration and 100% at 80% concentration. The duration of protection time tests showed that the 40% and 60% concentrations of the wood vinegar give protection from landing of Ae. togoi for a period of up to 7 h, though the lower concentration gave lower protection after the first five hours. The results indicated that wood vinegar has mosquito repellent characteristics that tend to vary with the concentration used and the species of mosquitoes. Wood vinegar in this case was very effective in repelling Cx. pipiens pallens, even at lower concentrations while higher concentrations were required to repel Ae. togoi.
How reliable are the results from functional magnetic resonance imaging?
Authors: Bennett Craig M. , Miller Michael B.
Published: March 2010

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of the most important methods forin vivoinvestigation of cognitive processes in the human brain. Within the last two decades, an explosion of research has emerged using fMRI, revealing the underpinnings of everything from motor and sensory processes to the foundations of social cognition. While these results have revealed the potential of neuroimaging, important questions regarding the reliability of these results remain unanswered. In this paper, we take a close look at what is currently known about the reliability of fMRI findings. First, we examine the many factors that influence the quality of acquired fMRI data. We also conduct a review of the existing literature to determine if some measure of agreement has emerged regarding the reliability of fMRI. Finally, we provide commentary on ways to improve fMRI reliability and what questions remain unanswered. Reliability is the foundation on which scientific investigation is based. How reliable are the results from fMRI?
Population‐based surveillance for 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus in Guatemala, 2009
Authors: Reyes Lissette , Arvelo Wences , Estevez Alejandra , Gray Jennifer , Moir Juan C. , Gordillo Betty , Frenkel Gal , Ardón Francisco , Moscoso Fabiola , Olsen Sonja J. , Fry Alicia M. , Lindstrom Steve , Lindblade Kim A.
Published: March 2010

Please cite this paper as: Reyes et al. (2010) Population‐based surveillance for 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus in Guatemala, 2009. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 4(3), 129–140.

Background  In April 2009, 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 (2009 H1N1) was first identified in Mexico but did not cause widespread transmission in neighboring Guatemala until several weeks later.

Methodology and principle findings  Using a population‐based surveillance system for hospitalized pneumonia and influenza‐like illness ongoing before the 2009 H1N1 pandemic began, we tracked the onset of 2009 H1N1 infection in Guatemala. We identified 239 individuals infected with influenza A (2009 H1N1) between May and December 2009, of whom 76 were hospitalized with pneumonia and 11 died (case fatality proportion: 4·6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2·3–8·1%). The median age of patients infected with 2009 H1N1 was 8·8 years, the median age of those hospitalized with pneumonia was 4·2 years, and five (45·5%) deaths occurred in children <5 years old. Crude rates of hospitalization between May and December 2009 were highest for children <5 years old. Twenty‐one (27·6%) of the patients hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 were admitted to the intensive care unit and eight (10·5%) required mechanical ventilation. Underlying chronic conditions were noted in 14 (18·4%) of patients with pneumonia hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 infection.

Conclusions and significance  Chronic illnesses may be underdiagnosed in Guatemala, making it difficult to identify this risk group for vaccination. Children 6 months to 5 years old should be among priority groups for vaccination to prevent serious consequences because of 2009 H1N1 infection.
A Comparison of Web Sites Used to Manage and Present Home Blood Pressure Readings
Authors: Patel Birju , Turban Sharon , Anderson Cheryl , Charleston Jeanne , Miller Edgar R. , Appel Lawrence J.
Published: March 2010

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010;12:389–395. ©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Home blood pressure (HBP) monitoring is now recommended as a routine component of blood pressure management in patients with known or suspected hypertension. Over the last few years, a large number of Web sites, commonly termed Personal Health Records, have been developed so that patients can manage and present HBP readings. The objective of this report is to describe and compare these Web sites. A list of 33 desirable Web site features, organized into 4 categories, was developed. Between June and August of 2009, a total of 60 Web sites was identified, of which 20 were free or free to try. Each of the 20 Web sites displayed HBP readings in tabular and graphical formats, most offered an option to print results in tabular (70%) and graphical (70%) form, and many (47%) could download HBP data from Microsoft HealthVault. In contrast, none of the Web sites directly linked with common electronic medical records. Overall, Web sites offered between 41% and 77% of the 33 features considered desirable. In conclusion, there is considerable variation in available features on Web sites used to manage HBP data. Information presented in this report should be useful to physicians and patients in selecting a Web site for managing and presenting HBP readings and ultimately improving blood pressure control.
Validity and reliability study for the NEI‐VFO‐39 scale in chronic ophthalmic diseases – Turkish version
Authors: Iyigun Emine , Bayer Atilla , Tastan Sevinc , Demiralp Meral , Acikel Cengizhan
Published: March 2010

Purpose:  To test the reliability and validity of National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI‐VFQ‐39) in patients with glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and age‐related macular degeneration.

Methods:  The study was carried out on 210 patients and 51 control subjects. The data were collected by using a data collection form and NEI‐VFQ‐39. Statistical analyses were performed with spss for Windows version 15.0.

Results:  Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.96 for the whole group. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was between 0.97 and 0.56 for the subscales. There was a strong relationship (r > 0.80) in 12.8% with dual correlation in NEI‐VFQ‐39 global scales and subscales and their correlations in all participant groups. There was a statistically significant difference for the NEI‐VFn global and subscale scores between the control and patient groups except for general health and ocular pain.

Conclusions:  We found that the NEI‐VFQ‐39 was a valid and reliable scale to determine the quality of life in Turkish patients with chronic ophthalmic disease.
Visual function, ocular motility and ocular characteristics in patients with mitochondrial complex I deficiency
Authors: Fahnehjelm Kristina Teär , Olsson Monica , Naess Karin , Wiberg Maria , Ygge Jan , Martin Lene , von Döbeln Ulrika
Published: March 2010

Purpose:  The aims of the present study were to investigate visual function, ocular motility and ocular characteristics in children and young adults with complex I deficiency.

Material and Methods:  In a prospective study with longitudinal follow‐up, the visual and ocular outcome in 13 patients with deficiency in complex I [nicotine‐amide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase] in the mitochondrial respiratory chain is presented. The patients were diagnosed during 1995–2007 and assessed during 1997–2009 at a median age of 12.8 years (range 3.1–23.4).

Results:  Twelve of 13 patients had visual impairment and/or ocular pathology. Four of 10 patients who co‐operated in visual assessment had a best corrected decimal visual acuity of ≤0.5 in one or both eyes. Cataract surgery was performed in one patient and another patient showed retinal pigmentations and ptosis. Eleven patients demonstrated ocular motility problems, mainly saccade deficiencies. Five patients had optic atrophy (OA), which was bilateral in four patients. In four siblings, the OA showed a similarity to Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. These patients also had the 11778 G→A mutation in mitochondrial DNA. Only one patient had normal visual acuity and ocular outcome including refraction and visual fields. Follow‐up time was median 3.0 years (range 0–11).

Conclusion:  Visual impairment, ocular motility problems and OA are common in children and young adults with complex I deficiency and should prompt the paediatric ophthalmologist to consider mitochondrial disorders.
Factors affecting the sensitivity and specificity of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph parameters to glaucomatous progression in disc photographs
Authors: Saarela Ville , Falck Aura , Airaksinen P. Juhani , Tuulonen Anja
Published: March 2010

Purpose:  To evaluate the factors affecting the sensitivity and specificity of the stereometric optic nerve head (ONH) parameters of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) to glaucomatous progression in stereoscopic ONH photographs.

Methods:  The factors affecting the sensitivity and specificity of the vertical cup : disc ratio, the cup : disc area ratio, the cup volume, the rim area and a linear discriminant function to progression were analysed. These parameters were the best indicators of progression in a retrospective study of 476 eyes. The reference standard for progression was the masked evaluation of stereoscopic ONH photographs.

Results:  The factors having the most significant effect on the sensitivity and specificity of the stereometric ONH parameters were the reference height difference and the mean topography standard deviation (TSD), indicating image quality. Also, the change in the TSD and age showed consistent, but variably significant, influence on all parameters tested. The sensitivity and specificity improved when there was little change in the reference height, the image quality was good and stable, and the patients were younger. The sensitivity and specificity of the vertical cup : disc ratio was improved by a large disc area and high baseline cup : disc area ratio. The rim area showed a better sensitivity and specificity for progression with a small disc area and low baseline cup : disc area ratio.

Conclusion:  The factors affecting the sensitivity and specificity of the stereometric ONH parameters to glaucomatous progression in disc photographs are essentially the same as those affecting the measurement variability of the HRT.
Low prevalence of Salmonella enterica in Australian wildlife
Authors: Parsons Sandra K. , Bull C. Michael , Gordon David M.
Published: March 2010

A total of 2489 wildlife hosts from Australia were sampled in order to determine the fraction of hosts that harboured Salmonella enterica as a dominant member of the host's enteric community. Hosts sampled included fish, frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals from the four main climatic regions of Australia: desert, grassland, temperate and tropical. Salmonella enterica was predominately isolated from reptiles, in particular, lizards. It was also isolated from mammals, though not from any fish, frog or bird host. Salmonella enterica was more likely to be isolated from lizards living in desert or grassland regions of Australia compared with lizards inhabiting tropical or temperate regions. The low prevalence of S. enterica isolated from wildlife hosts in Australia indicates that Australian wildlife are unlikely to play a large role in disseminating S. enterica to humans and livestock.
Mission Theology of the Church
Authors: Kim Kirsteen
Published: March 2010

This article on the mission theology of the church, a personal perspective by the vice‐moderator of CWME, draws on documentation produced by the commission and also responds to the Faith and Order document, The Nature and Mission of the Church. It is based on the trinitarian paradigm of mission referred to as missio Dei, which emphasizes the priority of God's sending activity in the world, by the Son and the Spirit, and the contingency of the church and its mission activities upon that. Therefore, it is concerned with the participation of the church in God's mission to and in the world, and from this perspective, has a particular interest with the actual, empirical church rather than the ideal church, recognizing that the church exists in many different forms in particular social, cultural, economic and political contexts. The article argues that the church is “missionary by its very nature”. Both theologically and empirically, it is impossible to separate the church from mission. Indeed mission is the very life of the church and the church is missionary by its very nature the Spirit of Christ breathed into the disciples at the same time as he sent them into the world. The mission theology of the church as it has developed in ecumenical discussion over the 20th and early 21st centuries is discussed in terms of the relationship of the church to the three persons of the Trinity: as foretaste of the kingdom of God; as the body of Christ; and as a movement of the Spirit. The article shows that being in mission is to cross the usual boundaries and bring new perspectives from outside to bear, and this is a never‐ending, enriching process.
Newbigin's Trinitarian Missiology: The Doctrine of the Trinity as Good News for Western Culture
Authors: Dodds Adam
Published: March 2010

This paper explores Newbigin's trinitarian missiology by first evaluating its theological basis, and then looking at the practical implications for the church's mission within Western culture today. Newbigin claimed that “the doctrine of the Trinity … is the necessary starting point of preaching”. This statement actually involves two mutually related claims that are discussed using the resources of recent trinitarian theology. First, evangelism begins with describing the triune God, and second, the triune nature of God is irreducibly bound up with the substance of the gospel. This discussion evaluates these bold claims using the resources of trinitarian theology, taking the claims in reverse order because the second impinges upon the first. The second part of this paper applies the fruits of this discussion to the church's mission within Western culture. It briefly articulates a relational ontology based on the doctrine of the Trinity, and then describes a relational anthropology based on the imago Dei. Next it explores Newbigin's theology of the inter‐relatedness of all life as the clue to understanding missional election. The practical implications this has for ecclesiology and missiology vis‐à‐vis Newbigin's understanding of the congregation as the hermeneutic of the gospel conclude this exploration. They demonstrate the abiding significance of Lesslie Newbigin for continued theological, missiological, and practical reflection.
The UK Research Assessment Exercise: Performance Measurement and Resource Allocation
Authors: Broadbent Jane
Published: March 2010

This paper is a personal reflection on the nature and implications of research assessment in the UK. It reflects on the extent to which the dual functions of performance measurement and resource allocation interact. It provides a description of the 2001 and 2008 Research Assessment Exercises (RAE) in the United Kingdom (UK). It also refers to the developments undertaken at the time of writing to develop the successor exercise – the Research Excellence Framework (REF). The paper illustrates the changes that have taken place over time in order to address perceived weaknesses in the structures of the RAE that have led to particular types of game playing. The RAE is a form of management control that has achieved its success by the alignment of individual and institutional interests. Success in the RAE produces both financial and reputational gains for Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) that they are willing to pay for. Hence, the RAE has provided financial gains for academics who can deliver success. The peer‐evaluation process in the UK research assessment is a key characteristic of the UK approach. While this is seen as expensive, it has maintained the legitimacy of the RAE. The accounting and finance academic community has engaged with the exercise and retained some control over the assessment process. A question is raised as to whether UK accounting and finance is likely to be subsumed in larger Business School submissions in the future.
Characteristics of High‐ and Low‐performing University Departments as Assessed by the New Zealand Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF) Exercise
Authors: Edgar Fiona , Geare Alan
Published: March 2010

This study is concerned with the performance of university academic departments and the different cultures and different management practices, labelled ‘human resource management’ (HRM), that correlate with this performance. Departments are considered high or low research performers according to their assessment by the external Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF) exercise, and the study aims to see if the practices and culture in high performers differs to those in the low performers. Seven academic departments classified as being high or low performers were examined. In‐depth interviews were conducted with heads and faculty from each department. Using content analysis, the features present in successful departments and absent from lesser performing departments were identified. These included a strong culture comprising collegiality and a quality focus, along with an emphasis on recruiting for high performance and fit, as well as an enabling environment promoting autonomous work habits.
Executive Remuneration in Australia
Authors: Fels Allan
Published: March 2010

A fierce debate is raging about the legitimacy of executive pay rises. Australia's chief executive salaries are not as high as in the United States and the big European economies, but between 1993 and 2007 there was a sharp rise in remuneration. Most of the rise came in the form of incentive payments. In the Australian context, the size of the executive salary is closely linked with the size of the company. The evidence is mixed about how efficient executive remuneration has been, but what is clear is that the responsibility to ensure it is appropriate resides with boards, and that there is a need for greater shareholder participation. Accordingly, it is recommended that shareholders have a greater ‘say on pay’, and that two successive ‘no’ votes on remuneration by shareholders will have formal consequences for boards. The challenge is to improve agency between shareholders and management, and between shareholders and boards. An evolutionary approach is proposed.
Lumbosacral spinal cord somatosensory evoked potentials for quantification of nociception in horses
Authors: Van LOON J. P. A. M. , Van OOSTROM H. , DOORNENBAL A. , HELLEBREKERS L. J.
Published: March 2010

Reasons for performing study:There is a need for objective evaluation and quantification of the efficacy of analgesic drugs and analgesic techniques in horses.

Objectives:To determine whether lumbosacral spinal cord somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) can be a useful and reliable tool to assess nociception in equines.

Methods:SSEPs and electromyograms (EMG) from the epaxial muscles were recorded simultaneously, following electrical stimulation applied to the distal hindlimb in lightly anaesthetised Shetland ponies (n = 7). In order to validate the model, the effect of increasing stimulus intensity was documented and the conduction velocities (CV) of the stimulated nerves were calculated. The effect of epidurally applied methadone (0.4 mg/kg bwt) in a randomised, crossover design was investigated.

Results:Two distinct complexes (N1P1 and N2P2) were identified in the SSEP waveform. Based on their latency and conduction velocity and the depressant effect of epidurally applied methadone, the SSEP N2P2 was ascribed to nociceptive Aδ‐afferent stimulation. The SSEP N1P1 originated from non‐nociceptive Aβ‐afferent stimulation and was not influenced by epidurally applied methadone.

Conclusions and potential relevance:The nociceptive Aδ component of the SSEP, the N2P2 complex, is presented as a valid and quantitative parameter of spinal nociceptive processing in the horse. Validation of the equine SSEP model enables the analgesic effects of new analgesics/analgesic techniques to be quantified and analgesia protocols for caudal epidural analgesia inequidaeimproved.
How to extrapolate a withdrawal time from an EHSLC published detection time: A Monte Carlo simulation appraisal
Authors: TOUTAIN P.‐L.
Published: March 2010

Reason for performing study: For legitimate medications, veterinarians must advise the owners or trainers of horses on appropriate withholding times after a treatment, to avoid the risk of incurring a positive drug test.

Objective: To explore the safety span to select that a veterinarian may extrapolate a tailored withdrawal time (WT) from a generic detection time (DT) as published by the European Horserace Scientific Liaison Committee (EHSLC).

Methods: Using Monte Carlo simulations, it was shown that for a low variability of pharmacokinetic parameters (CV = 20%), an uncertainty span of about 40% may be selected to transform a mean DT into a WT (i.e. WT = 1.4 DT), which covers 90% of the horse population. In contrast for a highly variable drug (CV = 40%), an uncertainty factor of about 2.1–2.2 needs to be selected, i.e. a WT that is twice the DT.

Results: The relative impact of the different factors of variability on the final WT was documented by a so‐called sensitivity analysis. It was shown that the parameters that have the greatest influence on the value of a DT are those that control the terminal half‐life of the drug disposition. In contrast, parameters controlling the level of urine (or plasma) concentrations (i.e. the actual administered dose, the urine‐to‐plasma ratio and the bioavailability) collectively have a minimal influence on the DT.

Conclusions and potential relevance: In practice, this means that the main sources of uncertainty are of biological origin and cannot be reduced by any managerial options. The influence of the number of experimental horses that are used by EHSLC to establish a DT was shown that with the standard EHLSC protocol of 6 horses, half of the trials lead to a proposed DT that is equal to or higher than the population 90th percentile. Increasing the number of investigated horses to 8 and 10 would increase this last probability to 85 and 90%, respectively.
Ganglionic transmission in a vasomotor pathway studied in vivo
Authors: Bratton Bradford , Davies Philip , Jänig Wilfrid , McAllen Robin
Published: March 2010

Intracellular recordings were made in vivo from 40 spontaneously active cells in the third lumbar sympathetic ganglion of urethane‐anaesthetized rats. In 38/40 cells ongoing action potentials showed strong cardiac rhythmicity (93.4 ± 1.9% modulation) indicating high barosensitivity and probable muscle vasoconstrictor (MVC) function. Subthreshold excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) showed the same pattern. The 38 barosensitive neurons fired action potentials at 2.9 ± 0.3 Hz. All action potentials were triggered by EPSPs, most of which were unitary events. Calculations indicated that <5% of action potentials were triggered by summation of otherwise subthreshold EPSPs. ‘Dominant’ synaptic inputs with a high safety factor were identified, confirming previous work. These were active in 24/38 cells and accounted for 32% of all action potentials; other (‘secondary’) inputs drove the remainder. Inputs (21 dominant, 19 secondary) attributed to single preganglionic neurons fired at 1.38 ± 0.16 Hz. An average of two to three preganglionic neurons were estimated to drive each ganglion cell's action potentials. When cells were held hyperpolarized to block spiking, a range of spontaneous EPSP amplitudes was revealed. Threshold equivalent was defined as the membrane potential value that was exceeded by spontaneous EPSPs at the same frequency as the cell's original firing rate. In 10/12 cells examined, a continuum of EPSP amplitudes overlapped threshold equivalent. Small changes in cell excitability could therefore raise or lower the percentage of preganglionic inputs triggering action potentials. The results indicate that vasoconstrictor ganglion cells in vivo mostly behave not as 1:1 relays, but as continuously variable gates.
Kv1.3 is the exclusive voltage‐gated K+ channel of platelets and megakaryocytes: roles in membrane potential, Ca2+ signalling and platelet count
Authors: McCloskey Conor , Jones Sarah , Amisten Stefan , Snowden Roger T. , Kaczmarek Leonard K. , Erlinge David , Goodall Alison H. , Forsythe Ian D. , Mahaut‐Smith Martyn P.
Published: March 2010

A delayed rectifier voltage‐gated K+ channel (Kv) represents the largest ionic conductance of platelets and megakaryocytes, but is undefined at the molecular level. Quantitative RT‐PCR of all known Kv α and ancillary subunits showed that only Kv1.3 (KCNA3) is substantially expressed in human platelets. Furthermore, megakaryocytes from Kv1.3−/− mice or from wild‐type mice exposed to the Kv1.3 blocker margatoxin completely lacked Kv currents and displayed substantially depolarised resting membrane potentials. In human platelets, margatoxin reduced the P2X1‐ and thromboxaneA2 receptor‐evoked [Ca2+]i increases and delayed the onset of store‐operated Ca2+ influx. Megakaryocyte development was normal in Kv1.3−/− mice, but the platelet count was increased, consistent with a role of Kv1.3 in apoptosis or decreased platelet activation. We conclude that Kv1.3 forms the Kv channel of the platelet and megakaryocyte, which sets the resting membrane potential, regulates agonist‐evoked Ca2+ increases and influences circulating platelet numbers.
Middle ear function and cochlear input impedance in chinchilla
Authors: Slama Michaël C. C. , Ravicz Michael E. , Rosowski John J.
Published: March 2010

Simultaneous measurements of middle ear-conducted sound pressure in the cochlear vestibule PV and stapes velocity VS have been performed in only a few individuals from a few mammalian species. In this paper, simultaneous measurements of PV and VS in six chinchillas are reported, enabling computation of the middle ear pressure gain GME (ratio of PV to the sound pressure in the ear canal PTM), the stapes velocity transfer function SVTF (ratio of the product of VS and area of the stapes footplate AFP to PTM), and, for the first time, the cochlear input impedance ZC (ratio of PV to the product of VS and AFP) in individuals. |GME| ranged from 25 to 35 dB over 125 Hz–8 kHz; the average group delay between 200 Hz and 10 kHz was about 52 μs. SVTF was comparable to that of previous studies. ZC was resistive from the lowest frequencies up to at least 10 kHz, with a magnitude on the order of 1011 acoustic ohms. PV, VS, and the acoustic power entering the cochlea were good predictors of the shape of the audiogram at frequencies between 125 Hz and 2 kHz.
The behavioral audiogram of whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Authors: Heffner Henry , Heffner Henry E.
Published: March 2010

The behavioral audiograms of two female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were determined using a conditioned-suppression avoidance procedure. At a level of 60dB sound pressure level, their hearing range extends from 115Hzto54kHz with a best sensitivity of −3dB at 8kHz; increasing the intensity of the sound extends their hearing range from 32Hz (at 96.5dB) to 64kHz (at 93dB). Compared with humans, white-tailed deer have better high-frequency but poorer low-frequency hearing.
Convolutional perfectly matched layer for elastic second-order wave equation
Authors: Li YiFeng , Bou Matar Olivier
Published: March 2010

In this work, a method is presented to extend the convolutional perfectly matched layer (C-PML) to simulate acoustic wave propagation in elastic media with a second-order equation formulation. This non-physical layer is used at the computational edge of a finite element method algorithm in frequency domain, and a pseudo-spectral algorithm in time domain, as an absorbing boundary condition (ABC) to truncate unbounded media. Numerical results show that the C-PML ABC attenuates the outgoing surface waves more effectively than classical PML ABC as proposed by Berenger [J. Comput. Phys. 114, 195–200 (1994)] for electromagnetic waves in the case of oblique incidence, where the PML method suffers from large spurious reflections. Moreover, a modification of the proposed C-PML formulation is also discussed in order to stabilize the absorbing layer in anisotropic solids where numerical instabilities can appear.
Modeling speech intelligibility in quiet and noise in listeners with normal and impaired hearing
Authors: Rhebergen Koenraad S. , Lyzenga Johannes , Dreschler Wouter A. , Festen Joost M.
Published: March 2010

The speech intelligibility index (SII) is an often used calculation method for estimating the proportion of audible speech in noise. For speech reception thresholds (SRTs), measured in normally hearing listeners using various types of stationary noise, this model predicts a fairly constant speech proportion of about 0.33, necessary for Dutch sentence intelligibility. However, when the SII model is applied for SRTs in quiet, the estimated speech proportions are often higher, and show a larger inter-subject variability, than found for speech in noise near normal speech levels [65 dB sound pressure level (SPL)]. The present model attempts to alleviate this problem by including cochlear compression. It is based on a loudness model for normally hearing and hearing-impaired listeners of Moore and Glasberg [(2004). Hear. Res. 188, 70–88]. It estimates internal excitation levels for speech and noise and then calculates the proportion of speech above noise and threshold using similar spectral weighting as used in the SII. The present model and the standard SII were used to predict SII values in quiet and in stationary noise for normally hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. The present model predicted SIIs for three listener types (normal hearing, noise-induced, and age-induced hearing loss) with markedly less variability than the standard SII.
A multi-mode screech frequency prediction formula for circular supersonic jets
Authors: Gao J. H. , Li X. D.
Published: March 2010

A time evolution analysis is presented for the interaction between the instability waves, shock cells, and screech tones based on the authors’ previous numerical simulation database. An attachment and reinforcement process of the upstream propagating screech waves with the downstream hydrodynamic waves is identified and recognized as part of the screech loop. The first five shock cells are recognized as the effective sound source region. Through an analysis of the phase variation in the dominant pressure fluctuations for several typical Mach number screeching jets, it is found that the total number of the instability waves and the upstream feedback sound waves in the effective source region can be identified as 5 for the A1, B, and D modes and 6 for A2 and C modes, respectively. A screech tone frequency prediction formula is thus proposed based on this relation. The predicted screech wavelengths or Strouhal numbers of cold and hot jets all agree well with the experimental data by other researchers, except for a small discrepancy for the B mode. It is also noticed that the measured two A0 modes by Ponton et al. [NASA Technical Memorandum No. 113137, Langley Research Center (1997)] can be classified to A1 and A2 modes, respectively, according to the proposed formula.