bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards ex-centric theorizing of work and learning
Authors: Cooper Linda
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to highlight the value of research contributions that have focused on making visible the knowledge of those historically excluded from formal knowledge-making. It identifies key bodies of theory that have grounded these analyses, and questions whether we can fully do justice to this project if we continue to rely on established “canons” of social science theory.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article reviews research contributions to Researching Work and Learning conferences over the past decade, aimed at identifying those who have been invisible as makers of knowledge. It then considers a body of critique that our dominant epistemologies within the social sciences are rooted in unequal global and local power relations.

Findings

– In the literature on workplace learning, a few theoretical paradigms forged in the global north seem to predominate. The article concludes that we need to re-centre our sources of knowledge-making to what Homi Bhabha has called an “ex-centric” site, if we are to develop more inclusive theorizations of work and learning, and more socially just ways of working and learning in the future.

Originality/value

– The article invites researchers to reflect critically on their use of theory, and to be more proactive in developing theories with an angle of vision outside of the geo-political centre, so as to better understand the diversity of work and learning globally.
Learning domestic violence interagency work: enacting “practice multiple”
Authors: Stewart Sarah
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to shed light on the complex multiplicity of domestic violence interagency work. It proposes a new conceptualisation that reflects the entangled nature of professional practice and learning.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research on which this paper draws is an ethnographic study of practice in an integrated local domestic violence initiative. Data include focussed workplace observations, semi-structured interviews and key documents. The study draws on practice-based sociomaterial approaches and the conceptual framework, and methodology is informed by actor-network theory, in particular, the work of Annemarie Mol.

Findings

– Findings suggest that interagency work that starts from the victim and traces threads of connection outwards is able to “hang together” as “practice multiple” in integrated service provision. I argue that the learning that happens in these circumstances is a relational effect and depends on who and what is assembled in the actor-network.

Research limitations/implications

– The research has significant implications for framing understandings of domestic violence interagency work, as it firmly anchors “working together” to victims. Findings are expected to be of interest not only to practitioners, educators and researchers but also to policymakers.

Originality/value

– The paper addresses a current gap in the literature, applies a novel research approach and proposes a new conceptualisation of domestic violence interagency work.
Seeing coal‐seam top ahead of the drill bit through seismic‐while‐drilling
Authors: Zhou Binzhong , Mason Iain , Greenhalgh Stewart , Subramaniyan Shankar
Published: October 2014

Blast damage to the tops of coal seams due to incorrect blast standoff distances is a serious issue, costing the industry in Australia about one open‐cut mine for every ten operating mines. The current approach for mapping coal‐seam tops is through drilling and pierce‐point logging. To provide appropriate depth control with accuracy of ±0.2 m for blast hole drilling, it is typically necessary to drill deep reconnaissance boreholes on a 50 m x 50 m grid well in advance of overburden removal. Pierce‐point mapping is expensive and can be inaccurate, particularly when the seam is disturbed by rolls, faults, and other obstacles.Numerical modelling and prototype‐field testing are used in this paper to demonstrate the feasibility of two seismic‐while‐drilling‐based approaches for predicting the approach to the top of coal during blast hole drilling: (i) reverse “walk‐away” vertical seismic profiling recording, in which the drill bit vibration provides the source signal and the geophones are planted on the surface near the drill rig, and (ii) in‐seam seismic recording, in which channel waves, driven by the coupling to the coal of the seismic signal emitted by the approaching drill bit, are guided by the seam to geophones located within the seam in nearby or remote boreholes.
Spatial constrained inverse rock physics modelling
Authors: Moyano Bernardo , Jensen Erling H. , Johansen Tor Arne
Published: October 2014

Predicting reservoir parameters, such as porosity, lithology, and saturations, from geophysical parameters is a problem with non‐unique solutions. The variance in solutions can be extensive, especially for saturation and lithology. However, the reservoir parameters will typically vary smoothly within certain zones—in vertical and horizontal directions. In this work, we integrate spatial correlations in the predicted parameters to constrain the range of predicted solutions from a particular type of inverse rock physics modelling method. Our analysis is based on well‐log data from the Glitne field, where vertical correlations with depth are expected. It was found that the reservoir parameters with the shortest depth correlation (lithology and saturation) provided the strongest constraint to the set of solutions. In addition, due to the interdependence between the reservoir parameters, constraining the predictions by the spatial correlation of one parameter also reduced the number of predictions of the other two parameters. Moreover, the use of additional constraints such as measured log data at specific depth locations can further narrow the range of solutions.
PPARD rs2016520 polymorphism affects repaglinide response in Chinese Han patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Song Jin‐Fang , Wang Tao , Zhu Jing , Zhou Xue‐Yan , Lu Qian , Guo Hao , Zhang Fan , Wang Yan , Li Wei , Wang Dan‐Dan , Cui Ya‐Wen , Lv Dong‐Mei , Yin Xiao‐Xing
Published: October 2014

Repaglinide is a short‐acting insulin secretagogue, which often results in considerable interindividual variability in therapeutic efficacy when widely used in a clinical setting. Among various reasons under discussion is genetic polymorphism, especially the genes related to insulin secretion and resistance. Recent studies have described the importance of PPARD in regulating the secretion and resistance of insulin. However, little is known about the impacts of PPARD genetic polymorphism on the efficacy of repaglinide. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the associations of PPARD rs2016520 polymorphism with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) susceptibility and repaglinide therapeutic efficacy in Chinese Han T2DM patients. A total of 338 T2DM patients and 200 healthy subjects were genotyped for PPARD rs2016520 polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. A total of 84 patients with the same genotypes of CYP2C8*3 139Arg and OATP1B1 521TT were randomized to orally take repaglinide for 8 weeks. Then the pharmacodynamic parameters of repaglinide and biochemical indicators were determined before and after repaglinide treatment. No significant difference was found in either allelic frequency (P = 0.298) or genotype distribution (P = 0.151) of PPARD rs2016520 between T2DM patients and healthy subjects. However, T2DM patients carrying genotype TC showed a significantly lower increase in postprandial serum insulin (mU/L) than those with wild‐type TT (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that PPARD rs2016520 polymorphism might influence the therapeutic effect of repaglinide rather than T2DM susceptibility in Chinese Han T2DM patients.
Novel mouse model of left ventricular pressure overload and infarction causing predictable ventricular remodelling and progression to heart failure
Authors: Weinheimer Carla J , Lai Ling , Kelly Daniel P , Kovacs Attila
Published: October 2014

Mouse surgical models are important tools for evaluating mechanisms of human cardiac disease. The clinically relevant comorbidities of hypertension and ischaemia have not been explored in mice. We have developed a surgical approach that combines transverse aortic constriction and distal left anterior coronary ligation (MI) to produce a gradual and predictable progression of adverse left ventricular (LV) remodelling that leads to heart failure (HF). Mice received either sham, MI alone, transverse aortic constriction alone or HF surgery. Infarct size and LV remodelling were evaluated by serial 2‐D echocardiograms. Transverse aortic constriction gradients were measured by the Doppler velocity–time integral ratio between constricted and proximal aortic velocities. At 4 weeks, hearts were weighed and analysed for histology and brain natriuretic peptide, a molecular marker of HF. Echocardiographic analysis of segmental wall motion scores showed similarly small apical infarct sizes in the MI and HF groups at day 1 postsurgery. MI alone showed little change in infarct size over 4 weeks (0.26 ± 0.02 to 0.27 ± 0.04, P = 0.77); however, HF mice showed infarct expansion (0.25 ± 0.06 to 0.39 ± 0.09, P < 0.05). HF mice also showed LV remodelling with increases in LV volumes (1 day = 36.5 ± 5.2 mL, 28 days = 89.1 ± 16.0 mL) versus no significant changes in the other groups. Furthermore, systolic function progressively deteriorated in the HF group only (ejection fraction, 1 day = 55.6 ± 3.6%, 28 days = 17.6 ± 4.1%, P < 0.05) with an increase of brain natriuretic peptide by 3.5‐fold. This surgical model of pressure overload in the setting of a small infarction causes progressive deterioration of cardiac structural and functional properties, and provides a clinically relevant tool to study adverse LV remodelling and heart failure.
Transplantation of human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells attenuates dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis in mice
Authors: Lin Yan , Lin Lianjie , Wang Qiushi , Jin Yu , Zhang Ying , Cao Yong , Zheng Changqing
Published: October 2014

Ulcerative colitis is a major form of inflammatory bowel disease and increases the risk of the development of colorectal carcinoma. The anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) make them promising tools for treating immune‐mediated and inflammatory diseases. However, the lack of robust technique for harvesting and expanding of MSC has hampered the use of bone marrow and umbilical cord blood derived MSC in clinical applications. In the present study, we investigated the intestinal protective effects of Wharton's jelly‐derived umbilical MSC (UMSC) on dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis in mice. The severity of colitis in mice was assessed using bodyweight loss, stool consistency, rectal bleeding, colon shortening and haematological parameters. Colonic myeloperoxidase and pro‐inflammatory cytokines levels were also measured. Furthermore, the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the colon were detected. In addition, intestinal permeability and tight junction proteins expressions in the colon were examined as well. The results showed that Wharton's jelly‐derived UMSC significantly diminished the severity of colitis, reduced histolopathological score, and decreased myeloperoxidase activity and cytokines levels. Furthermore, the UMSC markedly decreased the expression of cyclooxygenase 2and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the colon. In addition, transplantation of UMSC reduced intestinal permeability and upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins. These results show that the anti‐inflammation and regulation of tight junction proteins by Wharton's jelly‐derived UMSC ameliorates colitis.
Hypertonic saline releases the attached small intestinal cystic fibrosis mucus
Authors: Ermund Anna , Meiss Lauren N , Scholte Bob J , Hansson Gunnar C
Published: October 2014

Hypertonic saline inhalation has become a cornerstone in the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF), but its effect on CF mucus is still not understood. In CF, mucus stagnates in the airways, causing mucus plugging, and forming a substrate for bacterial invasion. Using horizontal Ussing‐type chambers to allow easy access to the tissue, we have recently shown that the small intestinal mucus of CF mice is attached to the epithelium and not freely movable as opposed to normal mucus, thus pointing to a similarity between the CF mucus in the ileum and airways. In the same type of system, we investigated how hypertonic saline affects mucus thickness, attachment and penetrability to fluorescent beads the size of bacteria in ileal explants from the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator mutant (ΔF508) mouse, in order to characterize how this common therapy affects mucus properties. Hypertonic saline (1.75–5%) detached the mucus from the epithelium, but the mucus remained impenetrable to beads the size of bacteria. This approach might be used to test other mucolytic interventions in CF.
On the early origins of the Germanic preterite presents
Authors: Randall William , Jones Howard
Published: October 2014

We deal with the origins of the Germanic preterite presents within the Proto‐Indo‐European (PIE) verb system, highlighting the problems encountered when linking these verbs to existing PIE categories. We argue for the existence of a PIE ‘derived stative’ verb category formed by adding stative inflections to eventive (aorist) roots. Morphologically this category resembles the PIE perfect, but it is unreduplicated; semantically, it denotes a pure state, not a resultant state. This category may be the origin of most of the fifteen Germanic preterite presents. The derived stative category may also be seen as the missing link between the PIE root stative and the PIE perfect.
A guide to statistical analysis in microbial ecology: a community-focused, living review of multivariate data analyses
Authors: Buttigieg Pier Luigi , Ramette Alban
Published: October 2014

The application of multivariate statistical analyses has become a consistent feature in microbial ecology. However, many microbial ecologists are still in the process of developing a deep understanding of these methods and appreciating their limitations. As a consequence, staying abreast of progress and debate in this arena poses an additional challenge to many microbial ecologists. To address these issues, we present the GUide to STatistical Analysis in Microbial Ecology (GUSTA ME): a dynamic, web-based resource providing accessible descriptions of numerous multivariate techniques relevant to microbial ecologists. A combination of interactive elements allows users to discover and navigate between methods relevant to their needs and examine how they have been used by others in the field. We have designed GUSTA ME to become a community-led and -curated service, which we hope will provide a common reference and forum to discuss and disseminate analytical techniques relevant to the microbial ecology community.
Explorations in Australian Legal Geography: The Evolution of Lease Tenures as Policy Instruments
Authors: HOLMES JOHN
Published: October 2014

In their programmatic statement towards an Australian perspective on legal geography, Bartel et al. acknowledge that ‘it is perhaps in the institution of property and the regulation of land use that law has its most obvious overlap with geography … in a settler society such as Australia'. Given this statement, it is surprising that the seven co‐authors fail to acknowledge the formidable contributions already made by Australian geographers within a highly relevant, substantial research agenda, namely the evolution of lease tenures as policy instruments in shaping rural land settlement and rural society. The earliest contributions on lease tenures were made by an eminent group of historical geographers enquiring into the evolution of a distinctive, adaptable portfolio of Australian land tenures and other resource rights in response to the challenges of frontier squatter settlement and the subsequent policy agenda in pursuit of closer settlement. Their successors have focused on the contemporary relevance of lease tenures as potentially adaptable instruments towards sustainability and coexistence. Geographers have also acted as consultants, policy advisers, advocates, and expert witnesses through consultancy reports, discussion papers, newspaper articles, and news reports. There is a strong case to be made that, together with Aboriginal land rights and native title, these two research agendas have provided the most substantial and coherent scholarly contributions to Australian legal geography. This deficiency in the review of Australian research may well be an outcome from a comparable deficiency in theorising property rights within the subdiscipline internationally. If Australian legal geography is to fulfil its potential, greater recognition needs to be given to foundational Australian contributions to this subdiscipline and to property rights theory in the matter of natural resources, notably land.
The potential drivers in forming avian biodiversity hotspots in the East Himalaya Mountains of Southwest China
Authors: LEI Fumin , QU Yanhua , SONG Gang , ALSTRÖM Per , FJELDSÅ Jon
Published: October 2014

Little has been published to describe or interpret Asian biodiversity hotspots, including those in the East Himalayan Mountains of Southwest China (HMSC), thus making necessary a review of the current knowledge. The Pliocene and Pleistocene geological and glacial histories of the Asian continent differ from those of Europe and North America, suggesting different mechanisms of speciation and extinction, and, thus, different responses to climate changes during the Quaternary glaciations. This short review summarizes potential drivers in shaping and maintaining high species richness and endemism of birds in the HMSC. The geographical location at the junction of different biogeographical realms, the wide range of habitats and climates along the extensive elevational range, the complex topography and the distinct geological history of this region have probably contributed to the evolution of an exceptionally species‐rich and endemic‐rich, specialized montane avian fauna. The Mountain systems in the HMSC may have provided refugia where species survived during the glacial periods and barriers for preventing species dispersal after the glacial periods. More studies are required to further test this refugia hypothesis by comparing more cold‐tolerent and warm‐tolerent species.
Concentrations of Volatile 4‐Alkyl‐Branched Fatty Acids in Sheep and Goat Milk and Dairy Products
Authors: Kaffarnik Stefanie , Kayademir Yasemin , Heid Carolina , Vetter Walter
Published: October 2014

Goat and sheep milk and dairy products thereof are characterized by a strong and unique flavor. In this context, the volatile minor fatty acid 4‐ethyloctanoic acid plays a prominent role along with 4‐methyloctanoic acid when both are present in free form. Using a novel GC/MS method in the selected ion‐monitoring mode, previously developed for sheep subcutaneous adipose tissue, we were able to analyze the total concentrations of these flavor‐relevant minor fatty acids as methyl esters in goat and sheep milk as well as in their products. Differences between the concentrations and ratios of 4‐methyloctanoic acid and 4‐ethyloctanoic acid in goat milk (n = 4), goat cheese (n = 4), sheep milk (n = 2), and sheep cheese (n = 4) were observed. Goat milk and cheese resulted in higher concentrations for both fatty acids (190 to 480 μg/g milk fat) and smaller 4‐Me‐8:0 to 4‐Et‐8:0 ratios (1.4 to 2.7) compared to sheep milk and cheese (78 to 220 μg/g milk fat; 4‐Me‐8:0 to 4‐Et‐8:0 ratio: 15 to 42). In all samples, the concentration of 4‐Me‐8:0 exceeded the one of 4‐Et‐8:0. However, due to its lower flavor threshold value the contribution of 4‐Et‐8:0 to the flavor was generally >76%. The calculated flavor values were >1400 for goat milk and cheeses and >200 for sheep milk and cheeses. In goat milk and its products, only a proportion of <0.1% 4‐alkyl‐branched fatty acids present in free form in the goat milk and <0.5% in the sheep samples would be sufficient to generate the characteristic goaty flavor. Parameters that promote or prevent the release of 4‐Me‐8:0, and especially 4‐Et‐8:0, will be decisive for the flavor in the resulting dairy product.
Exercise training prevents the attenuation of anesthetic pre‐conditioning‐mediated cardioprotection in diet‐induced obese rats
Authors: LI L. , MENG F. , LI N. , ZHANG L. , WANG J. , WANG H. , LI D. , ZHANG X. , DONG P. , CHEN Y.
Published: October 2014

Background

Obesity abolishes anesthetic pre‐conditioning‐induced cardioprotection due to impaired reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐mediated adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, a consequence of increased basal myocardial oxidative stress. Exercise training has been shown to attenuate obesity‐related oxidative stress.

Objective

This study tests whether exercise training could normalize ROS‐mediated AMPK pathway and prevent the attenuation of anesthetic pre‐conditioning‐induced cardioprotection in obesity.

Methods

Male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into lean rats fed with control diet and obese rats fed with high‐fat diet. After 4 weeks of feeding, lean and obese rats were assigned to sedentary conditions or treadmill exercise for 8 weeks.

Results

There was no difference in infarct size between lean sedentary and obese sedentary rats after 25 min of myocardial ischemia followed by 120 min reperfusion. In lean rats, sevoflurane equally reduced infarct size in lean sedentary and lean exercise‐trained rats. Molecular studies revealed that AMPK activity, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and superoxide production measured at the end of ischemia in lean rats were increased in response to sevoflurane. In obese rats, sevoflurane increased the above molecular parameters and reduced infarct size in obese exercise‐trained rats but not in obese sedentary rats. Additional study showed that obese exercise‐trained rats had decreased basal oxidative stress than obese sedentary rats.

Conclusion

The results indicate that exercise training can prevent the attenuation of anesthetic cardioprotection in obesity. Preventing the attenuation of this strategy may be associated with reduced basal oxidative stress and normalized ROS‐mediated AMPK pathway, but the causal relationship remains to be determined.
Influence of diabetes mellitus on mortality in breast cancer patients
Authors: Zhou Yunhai , Zhang Xiang , Gu Chen , Xia Jiazeng
Published: October 2014

Background

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours among women worldwide. Besides, diabetes mellitus is also a major health problem in developed countries. This study explores the association between diabetes mellitus and breast cancer patients' survival outcomes.

Methods

A systematic literature search in Embase (http://www.embase.com) and MEDLINE (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) was conducted from January 1960 to April 2014 and systematically identified clinical studies that evaluated the association between breast cancer mortality and diabetes mellitus. Clinical studies investigating the association between diabetes mellitus and breast cancer patients' survival outcomes were included.

Results

Twenty publications were chosen for the meta‐analysis, of which 16 studies had all‐cause mortality data and 12 studies had breast cancer mortality data. Published from 2001 to 2013, all 20 studies followed a total of 2 645 249 patients including more than 207 832 diabetic patients. Pre‐existing diabetes mellitus was associated with a 37% increased risk for all‐cause mortality in women with breast cancer (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.37; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.34–1.41; P = 0.02). Diabetes mellitus was associated with a 17% increased risk for breast cancer mortality in women with breast cancer (HR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.11–1.22; P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Women with diabetes mellitus are at higher risk of breast cancer‐specific and all‐cause mortality after initial breast cancer diagnosis.
The impact of abdominal pain on global measures in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation, before and after treatment with linaclotide: a pooled analysis of two randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, phase 3 trials
Authors: Chang L. , Lembo A. J. , Lavins B. J. , Shiff S. J. , Hao X. , Chickering J. G. , Jia X. D. , Currie M. G. , Kurtz C. B. , Johnston J. M.
Published: October 2014

Background

Few clinical trials in chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) patients have evaluated abdominal symptom severity and whether CIC patients with abdominal symptoms respond similarly to patients with limited abdominal symptoms.

Aims

To examine abdominal symptom severity and relationships between symptoms and global measures at baseline; compare linaclotide's effect on symptoms in subpopulations with more or less abdominal pain; and assess relationships between symptom improvement and global measures in these two subpopulations.

Methods

In two phase 3 trials, patients meeting modified Rome II CIC criteria were assigned to linaclotide 145 μg, 290 μg, or placebo once daily. Patients rated abdominal and bowel symptoms daily during 2‐week pre‐treatment and 12‐week treatment periods. Linaclotide's effect on symptoms and global measures [constipation severity, health‐related quality of life (HRQOL), treatment satisfaction] and their inter‐relationships were assessed in post hoc analyses of abdominal pain subpopulations.

Results

Of 1271 CIC patients, 23%, 32%, and 43% reported moderate‐to‐severe abdominal pain, discomfort, and bloating, respectively, during baseline. In more‐severe abdominal pain patients, abdominal symptoms were more strongly correlated than bowel symptoms with global measures, but in less‐severe abdominal pain patients, abdominal and bowel symptoms were similarly correlated with global measures, at baseline and post‐treatment. Linaclotide significantly improved all symptoms and global measures in both subpopulations.

Conclusions

When abdominal pain is present in CIC, abdominal and not bowel symptoms may drive patient assessments of constipation severity, HRQOL, and treatment satisfaction. Linaclotide (145 μg and 290 μg) is an effective treatment for both abdominal and bowel symptoms, even in CIC patients with more severe abdominal pain at baseline. (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00765882, NCT00730015).
Birds, Beasts and Babies: Notes from An Infant Observation
Authors: McLaren Sally
Published: October 2014

This essay is based on my final report covering the second year of my Infant Observation of baby Max. I attempt to convey my experience and the impact it has had upon me and this takes me into a number of different areas: into the content and symbolism of what I observed, into the relationships between observer and child, mother and infant, analyst and analysand and into stories and mythology. As images and symbols are amplified threads link together. Synchronicity is one of the uniting factors and I relate my thoughts and observations to the work and theories of others. Beasts appear – the goldfinch, the fly, the Gruffalo, the mouse, the Wild Things … and more – and I consider how these might offer a window into Max's inner world. I focus on the interface between internal and external worlds and reflect upon the concept of an intermediate space and the question of meaning.
Preparation and characterization of anti‐tissue factor single‐chain variable fragment antibody for cancer diagnosis
Authors: Sato Ryuta , Obonai Toshifumi , Tsumura Ryo , Tsumoto Kouhei , Koga Yoshikatsu , Yasunaga Masahiro , Matsumura Yasuhiro
Published: October 2014

Tissue factor (TF), which serves as the initiator of the extrinsic blood coagulation cascade, has been found to be overexpressed in various solid tumors, especially brain tumors, pancreatic cancer, and gastric cancer. Overexpression of TF is considered to contribute to the high incidence of thrombotic complications and poor prognosis in patients with such cancers. Therefore, detection or targeting of TF may be a promising approach for the diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors that are known to overexpress the protein. Here, we used the recombinant DNA technology to develop an anti‐TF single‐chain Fv (scFv) of small size and high affinity for its target. The biochemical characteristics of the anti‐TF scFv were evaluated using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing and flow cytometry. The data obtained showed that the affinity of the anti‐TF scFv was 2.04 × 10−8 (KD), and that the protein showed significant binding to the cancer cells. Then, Alexa 647‐labeled anti‐TF scFv and anti‐TF IgG were administered to mice bearing chemically induced spontaneous tumors. The maximum tumor to background ratios of anti‐TF scFv and anti‐TF IgG were obtained 3 and 24 h after the injections, respectively. This study indicates anti‐TF scFv may be suitable as an imaging probe for the diagnosis of solid tumors.
Early dynamics of T helper cell cytokines and T regulatory cells in response to treatment of activeMycobacterium tuberculosisinfection
Authors: Feruglio S L , Tonby K , Kvale D , Dyrhol-Riise A M
Published: October 2014

Biomarkers that can identify tuberculosis (TB) disease and serve as markers for efficient therapy are requested. We have studied T cell cytokine production [interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α] and degranulation (CD107a) as well as subsets of CD4+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) after in-vitro Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigen stimulation [early secretory antigenic target (ESAT)-6, culture filtrate protein (CFP)-10, antigen 85 (Ag85)] in 32 patients with active tuberculosis (TB) disease throughout 24 weeks of effective TB treatment. A significant decline in the fraction of Mtb-specific total IFN-γ and single IFN-γ-producing T cells was already observed after 2 weeks of treatment, whereas the pool of single IL-2+ cells increased over time for both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The Treg subsets CD25highCD127low, CD25highCD147++ and CD25highCD127lowCD161+ expanded significantly after Mtb antigen stimulation in vitro at all time-points, whereas the CD25highCD127lowCD39+ Tregs remained unchanged. The fraction of CD25highCD127low Tregs increased after 8 weeks of treatment. Thus, we revealed an opposing shift of Tregs and intracellular cytokine production during treatment. This may indicate that functional signatures of the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells can serve as immunological correlates of early curative host responses. Whether such signatures can be used as biomarkers in monitoring and follow-up of TB treatment needs to be explored further.
Data‐Driven Automatic Cropping Using Semantic Composition Search
Authors: Samii A. , Měch R. , Lin Z.
Published: October 2014

We present a data‐driven method for automatically cropping photographs to be well‐composed and aesthetically pleasing. Our method matches the composition of an amateur's photograph to an expert's using point correspondences. The correspondences are based on a novel high‐level local descriptor we term the ‘Object Context’. Object Context is an extension of Shape Context: it is a descriptor encoding which objects and scene elements surround a given point. By searching a database of expertly composed images, we can find a crop window which makes an amateur's photograph closely match the composition of a database exemplar. We cull irrelevant matches in the database efficiently using a global descriptor which encodes the objects in the scene. For images with similar content in the database, we efficiently search the space of possible crops using generalized Hough voting. When comparing the result of our algorithm to expert crops, our crop windows overlap the expert crops by 83.6%. We also perform a user study which shows that our crops compare favourably to an expert humans' crops.
Stable and Fast Fluid–Solid Coupling for Incompressible SPH
Authors: Shao X. , Zhou Z. , Magnenat‐Thalmann N. , Wu W.
Published: October 2014

The solid boundary handling has been a research focus in physically based fluid animation. In this paper, we propose a novel stable and fast particle method to couple predictive–corrective incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics and geometric lattice shape matching (LSM), which animates the visually realistic interaction of fluids and deformable solids allowing larger time steps or velocity differences. By combining the boundary particles sampled from solids with a momentum‐conserving velocity‐position correction scheme, our approach can alleviate the particle deficiency issues and prevent the penetration artefacts at the fluid–solid interfaces simultaneously. We further simulate the stable deformation and melting of solid objects coupled to smoothed particle hydrodynamics fluids based on a highly extended LSM model. In order to improve the time performance of each time step, we entirely implement the unified particle framework on GPUs using compute unified device architecture. The advantages of our two‐way fluid–solid coupling method in computer animation are demonstrated via several virtual scenarios.
‘Endoflip® evaluation of pharyngo‐oesophageal segment tone and swallowing in a clinical population: a total laryngectomy case series’
Authors: Regan J. , Walshe M. , Timon C. , McMahon B.P.
Published: October 2014

Objectives

To evaluate safety of positioning and distending the functional lumen imaging probe in the pharyngo‐oesophageal segment in adults with known pharyngo‐oesophageal segment dysfunction and to obtain preliminary measurements of pharyngo‐oesophageal segment distensibility and opening during swallowing in a clinical group.

Methods

Prospective case series of ten adults post total laryngectomy (61–75 years) recruited from an outpatient ENT clinic. Functional lumen imaging probe was inserted trans‐nasally, and the balloon was positioned in the pharyngo‐oesophageal segment. Two 20‐mL ramp distensions were completed, and subjects performed two dry and two 5‐mL and 10‐mL liquid swallows at a 12‐mL balloon volume. Pharyngo‐oesophageal segment distensibility was calculated from cross‐sectional area (mm2) and intraballoon pressure (mmHg) measures. During swallowing, extent (mm) and duration (secs) of pharyngo‐oesophageal segment opening and intraballoon pressure drop (mmHg) were evaluated.

Results

Functional lumen imaging probe could be passed through the pharyngo‐oesophageal segment in seven subjects, all of whom completed the protocol. During distensions, pharyngo‐oesophageal segment cross‐sectional area increased significantly (19.47–148.3 mm2, P < 0.001), and intraballoon pressure increased significantly (15‐ to 20‐mL balloon volume, P = 0.005). Pharyngo‐oesophageal segment diameter (5.1 mm) increased during dry (7.4 mm), 5‐mL (7.3 mm) and 10‐mL (7.7 mm) liquid swallows (P = 0.018). Pharyngo‐oesophageal segment opening duration varied across dry (1 s), 5‐mL (0.8 s) and 10‐mL (1.6 s) liquid swallows. Resting intraballoon pressure (25.5 mmHg) did not alter significantly during swallowing (P = 0.656).

Conclusion

Functional lumen imaging probe provides novel quantitative information regarding pharyngo‐oesophageal segment distensibility and opening during swallowing in adults post total laryngectomy. No adverse events were observed in this first clinical study. Data were easy to acquire, and measures may direct candidacy for and establish effectiveness of interventions to alter pharyngo‐oesophageal segment tone.
Sensitization to omeprazole in the occupational setting
Authors: Ghatan Per Hamid , Marcusson‐Ståhl Maritha , Matura Mihaly , Björkheden Carol , Lundborg Per , Cederbrant Karin
Published: October 2014

Background

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor for the treatment of gastric acid‐related disorders. In recent years, reports of dermatitis upon exposure to omeprazole during manufacture have been noted.

Objective

To present diagnostic findings in workers who reported suspected hypersensitivity reactions resulting from occupational exposure to omeprazole.

Methods

Ninety‐six workers exposed to omeprazole during the manufacturing process underwent investigation by the AstraZeneca Occupational Health Centre (Södertälje, Sweden) for suspected allergy. All subjects underwent a lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) and a skin test within 6 months of the clinical reaction. Predictive tests on guinea‐pigs were conducted to establish omeprazole's sensitizing potential.

Results

Thirty‐one subjects with clinical symptoms had a positive LTT result. Twenty‐eight subjects had positive patch test results; of these, 23 also had a positive LTT result (sensitivity of the LTT: 82%). Fifty‐six subjects had negative patch test results; 46 of these had a negative LTT result (specificity: 82%). All subjects who underwent prick testing (n = 18) had negative results. Delayed contact hypersensitivity was observed in 18 of 20 test animals.

Conclusions

These findings confirm the risk of sensitization to omeprazole from occupational exposure. They are of importance for the development of new formulations of omeprazole, or its enantiomers, in light of the potential for inducing skin allergy.
Analysis of cell growth and gene expression of porcine adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells as nuclear donor cell
Authors: Oh Hyun Ju , Park Jung Eun , Park Eun Jung , Kim Min Jung , Kim Geon A , Rhee Sang Ho , Lim Sang Hyun , Kang Sung Keun , Lee Byeong Chun
Published: October 2014

In several laboratory animals and humans, adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC) are of considerable interest because they are easy to harvest and can generate a huge proliferation of cells from a small quantity of fat. In this study, we investigated: (i) the expression patterns of reprogramming‐related genes in porcine ASC; and (ii) whether ASC can be a suitable donor cell type for generating cloned pigs. For these experiments, ASC, adult skin fibroblasts (AF) and fetal fibroblasts (FF) were derived from a 4‐year‐old female miniature pig. The ASC expressed cell‐surface markers characteristic of stem cells, and underwent in vitro differentiation when exposed to specific differentiation‐inducing conditions. Expression of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT)1 in ASC was similar to that in AF, but the highest expression of the DNMT3B gene was observed in ASC. The expression of OCT4 was significantly higher in FF and ASC than in AF (P < 0.05), and SOX2 showed significantly higher expression in ASC than in the other two cell types (P < 0.05). After somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the development rate of cloned embryos derived from ASC was comparable to the development of those derived using FF. Total cell numbers of blastocysts derived using ASC and FF were significantly higher than in embryos made with AF. The results demonstrated that ASC used for SCNT have a potential comparable to those of AF and FF in terms of embryo in vitro development and blastocyst formation.
Association between impairment, function, and daily life task management in children and adolescents with autism
Authors: Kao Ying‐Chia , Kramer Jessica M , Liljenquist Kendra , Coster Wendy J
Published: October 2014

Aim

This cross‐sectional study examined whether impairments or functional skills are associated with the level of responsibility for life tasks for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

Method

Parents of 263 children and adolescents with ASDs (215 males; 48 females; mean age 12y 6mo [SD 4y 6mo], range 3–21y) completed an online survey that included the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory‐Computer Adaptive Test – Autism Spectrum Disorders (PEDI‐CAT‐ASD) Daily Activities, Social/Cognitive, and Responsibility domains, a demographic questionnaire, and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) Current. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Framework guided the selection of model variables. We used hierarchical multiple regression to examine the relationship between impairment and functional skill predictor variables and the outcome variable, Responsibility. Age was entered in step 1 to control for the impact of development. SCQ Current, IQ, and remaining PEDI‐CAT‐ASD domains were then entered in step 2.

Results

After controlling for age, the model showed that step 2 predictor variables representing both impairments and functional skill improved the model (p<0.001). All variables except the SCQ score were significant predictors of Responsibility. The variance explained by the Daily Activities (2.7%) and Social/Cognitive (4.8%) domain scores was greater than IQ (0.3%).

Interpretation

The functional skills of Daily Activities and Social/Cognitive domains were more strongly associated with the management of life tasks than impairments after controlling for age.
Thrombolytics for acute stroke in children: eligibility, practice variability, and pediatric stroke centers
Authors: Jordan Lori C
Published: October 2014

This commentary is on the original article by Marecos et al. on pages 181–186 of this issue.
Congenital anomalies and etiological diversity in autism
Authors: Zwaigenbaum Lonnie
Published: October 2014

This commentary is on the original article by Timonen‐Soivio et al. on pages 75–80 of this issue.
Traumatic dental injuries as reported during school hours in Bergen
Authors: Skeie Marit S. , Evjensvold Trine , Hoff Thu Hue , Bårdsen Asgeir
Published: October 2014

Aims

To identify existing guidelines for managing traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) in the schools of Bergen, to ascertain the frequency of occurrence of such injuries, and to estimate the need for further information among teachers and school administrators.

Material and methods

The study, undertaken among teachers and school administrators of elementary and lower secondary schools in Bergen municipality, was questionnaire‐based and included a cross section of staff. The structured short questionnaire included items registering TDIs during 2009, existence of routines or guidelines for managing TDIs, previous relevant training, and request for TDI education or information. The statistical methods included frequency tables and logistic regression analysis.

Results

The response rate was 73%. The incidence proportion of TDIs was measured to 0.74% of children at risk, varying according to children's classes (peak at third class: 1.68% of children in the population). No schools had adequate written guidelines for handling TDIs. Previous education on the subject was scarce. In 20 schools, there was no perceived need for TDI‐related education or information. The schools’ routines for TDI reporting, who was in charge of the reporting, acquired TDI education and expressed need for TDI information or education, did not influence the number of reported TDI cases.

Conclusion

This study has produced reliable information that schools in the municipality of Bergen could improve ways of reporting and managing TDIs. As teachers with skills in handling TDIs could help to improve the prognosis for injured teeth, some types of educational intervention in schools should be launched.
Use of contact chemical cues in prey discrimination by Cerceris fumipennis
Authors: Rutledge Claire E. , Silk Peter J. , Mayo Peter
Published: October 2014

Cerceris fumipennis Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) uses a wide range of adult buprestid beetles to provision nests. Wasps seldom make ‘mistakes’ and attack beetles in other families. Bioassays showed that the wasps use contact chemical cues in the beetles’ epicuticle to discriminate buprestids from other beetles. Wasps rejected buprestids that had their cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) removed by being washed in solvents. The washed, rejected buprestids became acceptable to 70% of wasps when they were coated with an extract of buprestids’ own CHC. Washed buprestids coated with extracts of non‐buprestid beetle CHC were not accepted. Analyses of buprestid CHC profiles showed that they are relatively simple, consisting of five classes. Other coleopteran families that may co‐occur in the arboreal hunting habitat of C. fumipennis have a broader range of CHC classes. Experiments adding buprestid hydrocarbons to a non‐buprestid beetle, unwashed Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), suggested that wasps may be deterred by the presence of CHC classes not found in Buprestidae. Adding a synthesized dimethyl‐branched hydrocarbon, a class of CHC found in Chrysomelidae but not Buprestidae, to the cuticle of unwashed buprestid beetles, caused wasps to reject the buprestid beetles. We propose that CHC act as a kairomone for C. fumipennis, triggering attack, whereas classes of CHC not found in Buprestidae disrupt this response, and thus help to determine the prey range of the wasp.
Implications of short‐range spatial variation of soil bulk density for adequate field‐sampling protocols: methodology and results from two contrasting soils
Authors: Lark R. M. , Rawlins B. G. , Robinson D. A. , Lebron I. , Tye A. M.
Published: October 2014

Soil bulk density (BD) is measured during soil monitoring. Because it is spatially variable, an appropriate sampling protocol is required. This paper shows how information on short‐range variability can be used to quantify uncertainty of estimates of meanBDand soil organic carbon on a volumetric basis (SOCv) at a sampling site with different sampling intensities. We report results from two contrasting study areas, with mineral soil and with peat. More sites should be investigated to develop robust protocols for national‐scale monitoring, but these results illustrate the methodology. A 20×20‐m2monitoring site was considered and sampling protocols were evaluated under geostatistical models of our two study areas. At sites with local soil variability comparable to our mineral soil, sampling at 16 points (4×4 square grid of interval 5 m) would achieve a root mean square error (RMSE) of the sample mean value of bothBDandSOCvof less than 5% of the mean (topsoil and subsoil). Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) gave predictions of mean soilBDat a sample site, comparable to our study area on mineral soil, with similar precision to a single direct measurement ofBD. On peat soils comparable to our second study area, the meanBDfor the monitoring site at depth 0–50 cm would be estimated withRMSEto be less than 5% of the mean with a sample of 16 cores, but at greater depths this criterion cannot be achieved with 25 cores or fewer.