bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hemispheric asymmetry in cerebrovascular reactivity of the human primary motor cortex: anin vivostudy at 7 T
Authors: Driver Ian D. , Andoh Jamila , Blockley Nicholas P. , Francis Susan T. , Gowland Penny A. , Paus Tomáš
Published: March 2015

Current functional MRI (fMRI) approaches assess underlying neuronal activity through monitoring the related local variations in cerebral blood oxygenation, blood volume and blood flow. This vascular response is likely to vary across brain regions and across individuals, depending on the composition of the local vascular bed and on the vascular capacity to dilate. The most widely used technique uses the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) fMRI signal, which arises from a complex combination of all of these factors. The model of handedness provides a case where one brain region (dominant motor cortex) is known to have a stronger BOLD response over another (non‐dominant motor cortex) during hand motor task performance. We predict that this is accompanied by a higher vascular reactivity in the dominant motor cortex, when compared with the non‐dominant motor cortex.

Precise measurement of end‐tidal CO2and a novel sinusoidal CO2respiratory challenge were combined with the high sensitivity and finer spatial resolution available for fMRI at 7 T to measure BOLD cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in eight healthy male participants. BOLD CVR was compared between the left (dominant) and right (non‐dominant) primary motor cortices of right‐handed adults.

Hemispheric asymmetry in vascular reactivity was predicted and observed in the primary motor cortex (left CVR = 0.60 ± 0.15%/mm Hg; right CVR = 0.47 ± 0.08%/mm Hg; left CVR > right CVR,P= 0.04), the first reported evidence of such a vascular difference.

These findings demonstrate a cerebral vascular asymmetry between the left and right primary motor cortex. The origin of this asymmetry largely arises from the contribution of large draining veins. This work has implications for future motor laterality studies that use BOLD, and it is also suggestive of a vascular plasticity in the human primary motor cortex. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radiation therapy may increase metastatic potential in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Woods Gary M. , Bondra Kathryn , Chronowski Christopher , Leasure Justin , Singh Mamata , Hensley Lauren , Cripe Timothy P. , Chakravarti Arnab , Houghton Peter J.
Published: March 2015

Background

We previously determined that radiation could be safely administered using a mouse‐flank in vivo model to both alveolar (Rh30) and embryonal (Rh18) rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts. Mice from both tumor lines in this experiment developed metastases, an event not previously described with these models. We sought to determine if radiation‐induced changes in gene expression underlie an increase in the metastatic behavior of these tumor models.

Procedure

Parental Rh18 and Rh30 xenografts, as well as tumor that recurred locally after radiotherapy (Rh18RT and Rh30RT), were grown subcutaneously in the flanks of SCID mice and then subjected to either fractionated radiotherapy or survival surgery alone. Metastasis formation was monitored and recorded. Gene expression profiling was also performed on RNA extracted from parental, recurrent, and metastatic tissue of both tumor lines.

Results

Rh30 and Rh30RT xenografts demonstrated metastases only if they were exposed to fractionated radiotherapy, whereas Rh18 and Rh18RT xenografts experienced significantly fewer metastatic events when treated with fractionated radiotherapy compared to survival surgery alone. Mean time to metastasis formation was 40 days in the recurrent tumors and 73 days in the parental xenografts. Gene expression profiling noted clustering of Rh30 recurrent and metastatic tissue that was independent of the parental Rh30 tissue. Rh18RT xenografts lost radiosensitivity compared to parental Rh18.

Conclusion

Radiation therapy can significantly decrease the formation of metastases in radio‐sensitive tumors (Rh18) and may induce a more pro‐metastatic phenotype in radio‐resistant lines (Rh30). Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1550–1554. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Porphyrin polymers and organic frameworks
Authors: Day Nicholas U , Wamser Carl C , Walter Michael G
Published: March 2015

The versatility of porphyrins as optoelectronic or catalytic units makes them attractive elements for inclusion in functional materials. Polymers that include porphyrins have been created with a wide variety of structures and used in a wide range of applications. This review covers recent developments in the synthesis, characterization and applications of polymeric materials in which porphyrins are key components of the repeat units, including the rapidly growing area of metal–organic frameworks and related covalent organic frameworks. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Evaluating fladry designs to improve utility as a nonlethal management tool to reduce livestock depredation
Authors: Young Julie K. , Miller Elizabeth , Essex Anna
Published: March 2015

Nonlethal deterrents against carnivores are important components to protecting livestock and conserving carnivore populations. However, the performance of the visual deterrent called fladry, a historical tool used to defend livestock from carnivores, is often hindered by design flaws that eventually reduce its effectiveness. Our purpose was to identify a fladry design that reduces coiling (i.e., wrapping of individual flags tight to the rope from which they hang) and maintains free movement of the deterrent in the wind. We created 6 new designs, replicated designs using 2 materials (nylon and marine vinyl), and compared them with the design most commonly used today—where flags were sewn directly onto the line along which they are strung. We conducted the study during January–February 2014 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, Predator Research Facility in Millville, Utah, USA. Fladry made of marine vinyl and attached via 2 of our 6 designs showed the least amount of coiling, were relatively easy to construct, and did not result in significant additional costs. The 2 designs were shower curtain, where the flags are attached via circular links, and knotted, where a knot is tied in the flag below its point of attachment. We suggest users of nylon fladry modify it to one of these designs and advise new users to consider a heavier (e.g., marine vinyl) material. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
Study of the differential response to zinc of prostate cell spheroids using the synchrotron radiation X‐ray microfluorescence technique
Authors: Leitão R. G. , Santos C. A. N. , Palumbo A. , Souza P. V. R. , Canellas C. G. L. , Anjos M. J. , Nasciutti L. E. , Lopes R. T.
Published: March 2015

X‐ray microfluorescence imaging technique has very often been used as a significant tool in biomedical research to obtain information regarding the distribution of elements in tissue and cell samples. This study investigated Zn distribution in benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (DU145) cell spheroids and analyzed the different response to Zinc treatment using synchrotron X‐ray microfluorescence (μSRXRF). The μSRXRF measurements were performed at the XRF beam line at the Synchrotron Light National Laboratory (Campinas, Brazil). The results showed non‐uniform distribution of Zn in all the spheroids analyzed. The differential response of DU145 and BPH cell spheroids to zinc suggests that there are different mechanisms of Zn accumulation in tumor cells. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transmission dosimetry via MAPS‐based event discrimination in a medical linear accelerator
Authors: Hugtenburg R. P. , Piastopoulou E. , Hancock L. , Page R. F. , Velthuis J. J.
Published: March 2015

Transmission dosimetry, which places a detector upstream of the patient, is a promising method of dosimetry for intensity‐modulated radiotherapy. Dose‐predicted downstream of the patient is affected by attenuation and scattering. Changes in the radiation field are difficult to separate from changes in the beam that might indicate an erroneous treatment. Monolithic active pixel sensor (MAPS) technology offers a potentially cost‐effective method for measuring the beam profile in transmission geometry. MAPS detectors can be made very thin (interacting with less than 1% of photons), while offering high spatial and temporal resolution, and therefore event shape and energy discrimination. This study examines event discrimination with MAPS detectors in the high dose‐rate environment associated with a medical linear accelerator (LINAC), as a method of distinguishing between therapeutic and contaminant components of the radiation. Monte Carlo modeling of the LINAC and MAPS detector has been used to predict the spectrum of events in the panel, including an evaluation of the occupancy associated with individual LINAC pulses, occurring at rates of up to 40 Hz. It is shown via modeling and experimental measurements that there is sufficiently low occupancy to allow event discrimination. Identifiable signatures, including the dominance of photon events at low and high energy deposition limits, and features peculiar to contaminating charged‐particles, suggest fruitful avenues. Loss of resolution, because of charge sharing in the detector observed in measurements of the LINAC beam, and increasingly higher dose‐rates used in practice imply further challenges. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Cation/Anion Co‐doping on the Photocatalytic Performance of Na3SbO(PO4)2
Authors: Velchuri Radha , Kadari Ramaswamy , Ravi Gundeboina , Munirathnam Nagegownivari R. , Vithal Muga
Published: March 2015

Silver/copper‐nitrogen co‐doped Na3SbO(PO4)2 were prepared by solid state/ion exchange methods. The materials were characterized by powder XRD, SEM‐EDS, TG analysis, as well as FT‐IR and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. All the doped materials crystallize in orthorhombic lattice with space group P212121. The infrared spectra of the samples gave characteristic bands corresponding to PO4 and SbO6 groups. The bandgap energy of all the samples was deduced from their UV/Vis DRS profiles. The bandgap energy of doped materials decreased substantially. Visible‐light‐induced photocatalytic oxidation of the methyl violet (MV) and methylene blue (MB) was examined. The influence of cation, anion, and co‐doping on the photoactivity of Na3SbO(PO4)2 was studied. The Ag+ and nitrogen co‐doped Na3SbO(PO4)2 exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity among the materials investigated.
On non-contractible periodic orbits for surface homeomorphisms
Authors: TAL FÁBIO ARMANDO
Published: March 2015

In this work we study homeomorphisms of closed orientable surfaces homotopic to the identity, focusing on the existence of non-contractible periodic orbits. We show that, if $g$ is such a homeomorphism, and if ${\hat{g}}$ is its lift to the universal covering of $S$ that commutes with the deck transformations, then one of the following three conditions must be satisfied: (1) the set of fixed points for ${\hat{g}}$ projects to a closed subset $F$ which contains an essential continuum; (2) $g$ has non-contractible periodic points of every sufficiently large period; or (3) there exists a uniform bound $M>0$ such that, if $\hat{x}$ projects to a contractible periodic point, then the ${\hat{g}}$ orbit of $\hat{x}$ has diameter less than or equal to $M$. Some consequences for homeomorphisms of surfaces whose rotation set is a singleton are derived.
Functorial properties of Putnam’s homology theory for Smale spaces
Authors: DEELEY ROBIN J. , KILLOUGH D. BRADY , WHITTAKER MICHAEL F.
Published: March 2015

We investigate functorial properties of Putnam’s homology theory for Smale spaces. Our analysis shows that the addition of a conjugacy condition is necessary to ensure functoriality. Several examples are discussed that elucidate the need for our additional hypotheses. Our second main result is a natural generalization of Putnam’s Pullback Lemma from shifts of finite type to non-wandering Smale spaces.
Lyapunov spectrum for multimodal maps
Authors: GELFERT KATRIN , PRZYTYCKI FELIKS , RAMS MICHAŁ
Published: March 2015

We study the dimension spectrum of Lyapunov exponents for multimodal maps of the interval and their generalizations. We also present related results for rational maps on the Riemann sphere.
A combinatorial approach to products of Pisot substitutions
Authors: BERTHÉ VALÉRIE , BOURDON JÉRÉMIE , JOLIVET TIMO , SIEGEL ANNE
Published: March 2015

We define a generic algorithmic framework to prove a pure discrete spectrum for the substitutive symbolic dynamical systems associated with some infinite families of Pisot substitutions. We focus on the families obtained as finite products of the three-letter substitutions associated with the multidimensional continued fraction algorithms of Brun and Jacobi–Perron. Our tools consist in a reformulation of some combinatorial criteria (coincidence conditions), in terms of properties of discrete plane generation using multidimensional (dual) substitutions. We also deduce some topological and dynamical properties of the Rauzy fractals, of the underlying symbolic dynamical systems, as well as some number-theoretical properties of the associated Pisot numbers.
A global two-dimensional version of Smale’s cancellation theorem via spectral sequences
Authors: BERTOLIM M. A. , LIMA D. V. S. , MELLO M. P. , DE REZENDE K. A. , DA SILVEIRA M. R.
Published: March 2015

In this article, Conley’s connection matrix theory and a spectral sequence analysis of a filtered Morse chain complex $(C,{\rm\Delta})$ are used to study global continuation results for flows on surfaces. The briefly described unfoldings of Lyapunov graphs have been proved to be a well-suited combinatorial tool to keep track of continuations. The novelty herein is a global dynamical cancellation theorem inferred from the differentials of the spectral sequence $(E^{r},d^{r})$. The local version of this theorem relates differentials $d^{r}$ of the $r$th page $E^{r}$ to Smale’s theorem on cancellation of critical points.
Cohomology of dominated diffeomorphism-valued cocycles over hyperbolic systems
Authors: BACKES LUCAS H. , KOCSARD ALEJANDRO
Published: March 2015

We prove a rigidity theorem for dominated Hölder cocycles with values on diffeomorphism groups of a compact manifold over hyperbolic homeomorphisms. More precisely, we show that if two such cocycles have equal periodic data, then they are cohomologous.
Communication and display: the integration of early Egyptian art and writing
Authors: Baines John
Published: March 2015

Our contemporary world is literate, alphabetical, and controlled by texts. Written texts are formally more important than images, and the separation of words and pictures is sharp. When writing is pictographic, the distinction is not always so sharp, and in early civilizations both texts and pictures were rather scarce things. Here, the places of texts and images in Egypt, and their relative standing, are explored.
Secular trends in reported portion size of food and beverages consumed by Irish adults
Authors: O'Brien Sinead A. , Livingstone M. Barbara E. , McNulty Breige A. , Lyons Jacqueline , Walton Janette , Flynn Albert , Segurado Ricardo , Dean Moira , Spence Michelle , McCaffrey Tracy A. , Pourshahidi L. Kirsty , Nugent Anne P. , Gibney Eileen R.
Published: March 2015

The present analysis aimed to investigate the changes in the reported portion sizes (PS) of foods and beverages commonly consumed by Irish adults (18–64 years) from the North South Ireland Food Consumption Survey (NSIFCS) (1997–2001) and the National Adult Nutrition Survey (NANS) (2008–10). Food PS, which are defined as the weight of food (g) consumed per eating occasion, were calculated for comparable foods and beverages in two nationally representative cross-sectional Irish food consumption surveys and were published in NSIFCS and NANS. Repeated measure mixed model analysis compared reported food PS at the total population level as well as subdivided by sex, age, BMI and social class. A total of thirteen commonly consumed foods were examined. The analysis demonstrated that PS significantly increased for five foods (‘white sliced bread’, ‘brown/wholemeal breads’, ‘all meat, cooked’, ‘poultry, roasted’ and ‘milk’), significantly decreased for three (‘potatoes’, ‘chips/wedges’ and ‘ham, sliced’) and did not significantly change for five foods (‘processed potato products’, ‘bacon/ham’, ‘cheese’, ‘yogurt’ and ‘butter/spreads’) between the NSIFCS and the NANS. The present study demonstrates that there was considerable variation in the trends in reported food PS over this period.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS' PERCEPTIONS OF MASS DRUG ADMINISTRATION FOR CONTROL OF LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS IN RURAL AND URBAN TANZANIA
Authors: KISOKA WILLIAM J. , TERSBØL BRITT PINKOWSKY , MEYROWITSCH DAN W. , SIMONSEN PAUL E. , MUSHI DECLARE L.
Published: March 2015

Lymphatic filariasis is one of several neglected tropical diseases with severely disabling and stigmatizing manifestations that are referred to as ‘neglected diseases of poverty’. It is a mosquito-borne disease found endemically and exclusively in low-income contexts where, concomitantly, general public health care is often deeply troubled and fails to meet the basic health needs of impoverished populations. This presents particular challenges for the implementation of mass drug administration (MDA), which currently is the principal means of control and eventual elimination. Several MDA programmes face the dilemma that they are unable to attain and maintain the required drug coverage across target groups. In recognition of this, a qualitative study was conducted in the Morogoro and Lindi regions of Tanzania to gain an understanding of community experiences with, and perceptions of, the MDA campaign implemented in 2011 by the National Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme. The study revealed a wide variation of perceptions and experiences regarding the aim, rationale and justification of MDA. There were positive sentiments about the usefulness of the drugs, but many study participants were sceptical about the manner in which MDA is implemented. People were particularly disappointed with the limited attempts by implementers to share information and mobilize residents. In addition, negative sentiments towards MDA for lymphatic filariasis reflected a general feeling of desertion and marginalization by the health care system and political authorities. However, the results suggest that if the communities are brought on board with genuine respect for their integrity and informed self-determination, there is scope for major improvements in community support for MDA-based control activities.
Vestibular evaluation in children with otitis media with effusion
Authors: Kolkaila E A , Emara A A , Gabr T A
Published: March 2015

Background:

Fifty per cent of children with serous otitis media may have some balance disturbances.

Objective:

To evaluate vestibular function in children with otitis media with effusion.

Methods:

The control group comprised 25 children with bilateral normal hearing and middle-ear function. The study group consisted of 30 children with bilateral otitis media with effusion; these were divided into 2 subgroups according to air–bone gap size. Measures included the Arabic Dizziness Handicap Inventory, an imbalance evaluation sheet for children, vestibular bedside tests for children, and air- and bone-conducted vestibular-evoked myogenic potential testing.

Results:

Arabic Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores and some vestibular bedside test results were significantly abnormal, with normal video-nystagmography results, in children with otitis media with effusion. Air-conducted vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials were recorded in 73 per cent of children with otitis media with effusion, with significantly delayed latencies. Bone-conducted vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials were successfully detected in 100 per cent of children with otitis media with effusion with similar results to the control group.

Conclusion:

The Arabic Dizziness Handicap Inventory and vestibular bedside tests are valuable tools for detecting vestibular impairment in children. Bone-conducted vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials are useful for vestibular system evaluation.
An investigation of the generation and properties of laboratory-produced ball lightning
Authors: Oreshko A. G.
Published: March 2015

The experiments revealed that ball lightning is a self-confining quasi-neutral in a whole plasma system that rotates around its axis. Ball lightning has a structure of a spherical electric domain, consisting of a kernel with excess negative charge and an external spherical layer with excess positive charge. The excess of charges of one sort and the lack of charges of the other sort in the kernel or in the external spherical layer significantly reduces the possibility of electron capture by means of an electric field, created by the nearest ions and leads to a drastic slowdown of recombination process. Direct proof has been obtained that inside of ball lightning – in an external spherical layer that rotates around the axis – there is a circular current of sub-relativistic particles. This current creates and maintains its own poloidal magnetic field of ball lightning, i.e. it carries out the function of magnetic dynamo. The kernel of ball lightning is situated in a region with minimum values of induction of the magnetic field. The inequality of positive and negative charges in elements of ball lightning also significantly reduces losses of the charged plasma on bremsstrahlung. Ball lightning generation occurs in a plasmic vortex. The ball lightning energy in the region of its generation significantly differs from the ball lightning energy, which is drifting in space. The axial component of kinetic energy of particles slightly exceeds 100 keV and the rotational component of the ions energy is a bit greater than 1 MeV. Ball lightning is ‘embedded’ in atmosphere autonomous accelerator of charged particles of a cyclotron type due to self-generation of strong crossed electric and magnetic fields. A discussion of the conditions of stability and long-term existence of ball lightning is given.
Predicting mental disorders from hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning: a 3-year follow-up in the TRAILS study
Authors: Nederhof E. , van Oort F. V. A. , Bouma E. M. C. , Laceulle O. M. , Oldehinkel A. J. , Ormel J.
Published: March 2015

Background

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning, with cortisol as its major output hormone, has been presumed to play a key role in the development of psychopathology. Predicting affective disorders from diurnal cortisol levels has been inconclusive, whereas the predictive value of stress-induced cortisol concentrations has not been studied before. The aim of this study was to predict mental disorders over a 3-year follow-up from awakening and stress-induced cortisol concentrations.

Method

Data were used from 561 TRAILS (TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey) participants, a prospective cohort study of Dutch adolescents. Saliva samples were collected at awakening and half an hour later and during a social stress test at age 16. Mental disorders were assessed 3 years later with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).

Results

A lower cortisol awakening response (CAR) marginally significantly predicted new disorders [odds ratio (OR) 0.77, p = 0.06]. A flat recovery slope predicted disorders with a first onset after the experimental session (OR 1.27, p = 0.04). Recovery revealed smaller, non-significant ORs when predicting new onset affective or anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, or dependence disorders in three separate models, corrected for all other new onsets.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that delayed recovery and possibly reduced CAR are indicators of a more general risk status and may be part of a common pathway to psychopathology. Delayed recovery suggests that individuals at risk for mental disorders perceived the social stress test as less controllable and less predictable.
Delayed acquisition of non-adjacent vocalic distributional regularities
Authors: GONZALEZ-GOMEZ NAYELI , NAZZI THIERRY
Published: March 2015

The ability to compute non-adjacent regularities is key in the acquisition of a new language. In the domain of phonology/phonotactics, sensitivity to non-adjacent regularities between consonants has been found to appear between 7 and 10 months. The present study focuses on the emergence of a posterior–anterior (PA) bias, a regularity involving two non-adjacent vowels. Experiments 1 and 2 show that a preference for PA over AP (anterior–posterior) words emerges between 10 and 13 months in French-learning infants. Control experiments show that this bias cannot be explained by adjacent or positional preferences. The present study demonstrates that infants become sensitive to non-adjacent vocalic distributional regularities between 10 and 13 months, showing the existence of a delay for the acquisition of non-adjacent vocalic regularities compared to equivalent non-adjacent consonantal regularities. These results are consistent with theCV hypothesis, according to which consonants and vowels play different roles at different linguistic levels.
Understanding meal patterns: definitions, methodology and impact on nutrient intake and diet quality
Authors: Leech Rebecca M. , Worsley Anthony , Timperio Anna , McNaughton Sarah A.
Published: March 2015

Traditionally, nutrition research has focused on individual nutrients, and more recently dietary patterns. However, there has been relatively little focus on dietary intake at the level of a ‘meal’. The purpose of the present paper was to review the literature on adults' meal patterns, including how meal patterns have previously been defined and their associations with nutrient intakes and diet quality. For this narrative literature review, a comprehensive search of electronic databases was undertaken to identify studies in adults aged ≥  19 years that have investigated meal patterns and their association with nutrient intakes and/or diet quality. To date, different approaches have been used to define meals with little investigation of how these definitions influence the characterisation of meal patterns. This review identified thirty-four and fourteen studies that have examined associations between adults' meals patterns, nutrient intakes and diet quality, respectively. Most studies defined meals using a participant-identified approach, but varied in the additional criteria used to determine individual meals, snacks and/or eating occasions. Studies also varied in the types of meal patterns, nutrients and diet quality indicators examined. The most consistent finding was an inverse association between skipping breakfast and diet quality. No consistent association was found for other meal patterns, and little research has examined how meal timing is associated with diet quality. In conclusion, an understanding of the influence of different meal definitions on the characterisation of meal patterns will facilitate the interpretation of the existing literature, and may provide guidance on the most appropriate definitions to use.
Learning and evolving
Authors: Laussen Peter C.
Published: March 2015

It is an honour to present the Anthony Chang lecture at this 10th International Conference of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society. I have had the privilege of knowing Dr Chang for over 20 years, and although we only worked for a short period of time together at the Children’s Hospital, Boston, in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, we have remained close colleagues and friends since that time. The contributions of Dr Chang to the development of paediatric cardiac intensive care are very clear, based on his clinical expertise, research and scholarship, and the development of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society in its early days. More than this, Dr Chang is an individual with vision; in many respects, he has been ahead of the curve, anticipating and leading the direction of paediatric cardiac intensive care.
The limits of intelligent personal assistants
Authors: DALE ROBERT
Published: March 2015

In almost every science fiction movie you’ll see people conversing with machines. Of course, the rise of intelligent personal assistants means you probably do this yourself already. This posting asks: what’s the difference? Also, recent news on Facebook acquisitions, spoken language translation, and sentiment analysis.
Analytical and Microbiological Characterization of Paper Samples Exhibiting Foxing Stains
Authors: Nunes Margarida , Relvas Cátia , Figueira Francisca , Campelo Joana , Candeias António , Caldeira Ana T. , Ferreira Teresa
Published: March 2015

This work comprises the use of a multi-analytical approach combined with microbiological studies to characterize six paper samples, containing foxing stains, from the 20th century, regarding their cellulose matrix, fillers, and sizing materials, and to evaluate possible paper degradation that might have occurred during the foxing stains. Photography under different illuminations and optical microscopy were used for morphological characterization of the paper samples and foxing stains. Scanning electron microscopy coupled energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) was of particular importance for defining the presence of fiber disorder and disruption on the surface of some of the stains, and localized accumulations of mineral-like particles on the surface of others. SEM-EDS, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR), and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) were used for the identification of mineral fillers, whereas sizing agents were analyzed using ATR-FT-IR. EDXRF results showed that no differences, within the standard deviation, were found in iron and copper contents between the foxed and unfoxed areas. Fungi belonging to the genusPenicilliumspp. were found in all the paper samples. Unfoxed areas presented lower contamination than the foxed areas.
Development and psychometric evaluation of the Primary Health Care Engagement (PHCE) Scale: a pilot survey of rural and remote nurses
Authors: Kosteniuk Julie G. , Wilson Erin C. , Penz Kelly L. , MacLeod Martha L.P. , Stewart Norma J. , Kulig Judith C. , Karunanayake Chandima P. , Kilpatrick Kelley
Published: March 2015

Aim

To report the development and psychometric evaluation of a scale to measure rural and remote (rural/remote) nurses’ perceptions of the engagement of their workplaces in key dimensions of primary health care (PHC).

Background

Amidst ongoing PHC reforms, a comprehensive instrument is needed to evaluate the degree to which rural/remote health care settings are involved in the key dimensions that characterize PHC delivery, particularly from the perspective of professionals delivering care.

Methods

This study followed a three-phase process of instrument development and psychometric evaluation. A literature review and expert consultation informed instrument development in the first phase, followed by an iterative process of content evaluation in the second phase. In the final phase, a pilot survey was undertaken and item discrimination analysis employed to evaluate the internal consistency reliability of each subscale in the preliminary 60-item Primary Health Care Engagement (PHCE) Scale. The 60-item scale was subsequently refined to a 40-item instrument.

Findings

The pilot survey sample included 89 nurses in current practice who had experience in rural/remote practice settings. Participants completed either a web-based or paper survey from September to December, 2013. Following item discrimination analysis, the 60-item instrument was refined to a 40-item PHCE Scale consisting of 10 subscales, each including three to five items. Alpha estimates of the 10 refined subscales ranged from 0.61 to 0.83, with seven of the subscales demonstrating acceptable reliability (α⩾0.70). The refined 40-item instrument exhibited good internal consistency reliability (α=0.91). The 40-item PHCE Scale may be considered for use in future studies regardless of locale, to measure the extent to which health care professionals perceive their workplaces to be engaged in key dimensions of PHC.
Evaluating impact of a multi-dimensional education programme on perceived performance of primary care professionals in diabetes care
Authors: Parekh Sanjoti , Bush Robert , Cook Susan , Grant Phillipa
Published: March 2015

Aim

The purpose of this study is to evaluate an educational programme, ‘Diabetes Connect: Connecting Professions’, which was developed to enhance communication across primary care networks, to support best practice in clinical interventions and progress multidisciplinary team work to benefit patients in diabetes care.

Methods

A total of 26 workshops were successfully delivered for 309 primary care professionals across the state of Queensland in Australia from November 2011. It consists of two separate, but complementary training elements: a series of online clinical education training modules and state-wide interprofessional learning workshops developed to enhance professional competencies. The evaluation design included completion of online surveys by the participants at two time points: first upon registering for the online modules or workshops; second, one week after attending a workshop. The survey included questions to evaluate the change in role performance measures.

Findings

Overall, significant increases in participants’ current knowledge, perceived ability to adopt this knowledge at work and willingness to change professional behaviour in the short term were observed.

Conclusion

The study suggests that for maximum benefit both, workshop and online training, should be combined and made available widely. Future programmes should use a randomised trial design to test the delivery model.
Feminist Approaches to Sexuality and Law Scholarship
Authors: Auchmuty Rosemary
Published: March 2015

Sexuality and Law scholarship is a new and developing field but, like most legal scholarship, it is dominated by masculine concerns and methodologies. This article, by Rosemary Auchmuty, explains why research that ignores feminist concerns and methodologies will be incomplete and inaccurate, and suggests questions that should be asked of resources to ensure a complete and accurate coverage of the topic.
The Archive of the Society of Legal Scholars: a Case Study; a brief note
Authors: Cownie Fiona
Published: March 2015

In this short article Professor Fiona Cownie provides a brief note to accompany Elizabeth Dawson's guide to the archival sources at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, London.
Researching Men, Masculinities and Law: on Sources, Methods and the ‘Man Question’
Authors: Collier Richard
Published: March 2015

This paper, by Richard Collier, reviews the dominant methodological and theoretical approaches that have shaped socio-legal scholarship on masculinities and law to date. It presents a flavour of contemporary work in the field and, looking specifically to the concerns of the ALS/British Library/SLSA socio-legal training day on sources and methods in Law, Gender and Sexuality, considers selected issues around methods and sources involved in analysing masculinities and law. The paper suggests work in this area has drawn on a diverse range of archives and content and that there is considerable variation in how legal scholarship has sought to approach the topic of masculinity.
Your Intranet Needs YOU: How Information Professionals Can Add Value to Intranets and Portals
Authors: Lustigman Allie
Published: March 2015

This article by Allie Lustigman argues that information professionals should have a significant involvement in their firm's intranets or portals and discusses how our skills can be used in this area. It outlines, with clear examples, the different spheres that we can become involved with in relation to intranets, which include; information organisation and search, taking ownership of intranet pages and spaces, allowing current awareness and news to flow through intranets, and training.
Is Someone Watching You? Data Privacy and Protection: Current Issues
Authors: Fishleigh Jackie
Published: March 2015

In this piece Jackie Fishleigh offers her views on the rather edgy and menacing world of data privacy and protection, focusing on developments during the last year. Her article provides a summary of the key issues that are currently being discussed and debated, including at BIALL's own annual conference which took place last year in Harrogate.
PIETISTS, JURISTS, AND THE EARLY ENLIGHTENMENT CRITIQUE OF PRIVATE CONFESSION IN LUTHERAN GERMANY
Authors: MCINTOSH TERENCE
Published: March 2015

From the 1680s to the 1720s German Lutheran pastors’ use of private confession and suspension from Communion as a means of disciplining wayward parishioners generated seminal theological and intellectual debates. They were driven by Pietists and secular natural law jurists and concerned ultimately the purported corruption in the early Christian church that led to the abusive, unwarranted, and centuries-long intrusion of clerical power into secular affairs. By investigating these debates, this essay reveals in new ways the constructive collision of two different intellectual predispositions—one clerical, the other legal—that propelled the early Enlightenment in Germany. Letters from the 1680s and other writings of Philipp Jakob Spener, the father of German Pietism, show how he and fellow clergymen wrestled with specific pastoral challenges regarding the disciplining of allegedly unrepentant and incorrigible sinners. Christian Thomasius, a central figure in the early Enlightenment, and other secular natural law jurists vigorously rebutted the Pietists’ claims by critically examining the practice of confession in the primitive church, thereby exposing the historical origins of priestcraft. In doing so, Thomasius highlighted affinities between his work and that of the radical Pietist Gottfried Arnold, who had indicted the clergies of Christian churches for their unjust and inveterate persecution of religious dissidents. But Thomasius also faulted Arnold for weaknesses in his biblical scholarship. Thomasius's criticism points to the special form of biblical scholarship that secular natural law jurists had helped to develop and that predisposed them to embrace radical interpretations of Scripture, a potent stimulant of early Enlightenment thought.
T-cell exhaustion in chronic hepatitis B infection: current knowledge and clinical significance
Authors: Ye B , Liu X , Li X , Kong H , Tian L , Chen Y
Published: March 2015

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major cause of inflammatory liver disease, of which the clinical recovery and effective anti-viral therapy is associated with the sustained viral control of effector T cells. In humans, chronic HBV infection often shows weak or absent virus-specific T-cell reactivity, which is described as the ‘exhaustion’ state characterized by poor effector cytotoxic activity, impaired cytokine production and sustained expression of multiple inhibitory receptors, such as programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), lymphocyte activation gene-3, cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 and CD244. As both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells participate in the immune responses against chronic hepatitis virus through distinct manners, compelling evidences have been proposed, which restore the anti-viral function of these exhausted T cells by blocking those inhibitory receptors with its ligand and will pave the way for the development of more effective immunotherapeutic and prophylactic strategies for the treatment of chronic infectious diseases. A large number of studies have stated the essentiality of T-cell exhaustion in virus-infected diseases, such as LCMV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus infections and cancers. Besides, the functional restoration of HCV- and HIV-specific CD8+ T cells by PD-1 blockade has already been repeatedly verified, and also for the immunological control of tumors in humans, blocking the PD-1 pathway could be a major immunotherapeutic strategy. Although the specific molecular pathways of T-cell exhaustion remain ambiguous, several transcriptional pathways have been implicated in T-cell exhaustion recently; among them Blimp-1, T-bet and NFAT2 were able to regulate exhausted T cells during chronic viral infection, suggesting a distinct lineage fate for this sub-population of T cells. This paper summarizes the current literature relevant to T-cell exhaustion in patients with HBV-related chronic hepatitis, the options for identifying new potential therapeutic targets to treat HBV infection and highlights priorities for further study.
Arundic acid attenuates retinal ganglion cell death by increasing glutamate/aspartate transporter expression in a model of normal tension glaucoma
Authors: Yanagisawa M , Aida T , Takeda T , Namekata K , Harada T , Shinagawa R , Tanaka K
Published: March 2015

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide and is characterized by gradual visual impairment owing to progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Glutamate excitotoxicity has been implicated as a mechanism of RGC death in glaucoma. Consistent with this claim, we previously reported that glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST)-deficient mice show optic nerve degeneration that is similar to that observed in glaucoma. Therefore, drugs that upregulate GLAST may be useful for neuroprotection in glaucoma. Although many compounds are known to increase the expression of another glial glutamate transporter, EAAT2/GLT1, few compounds are shown to increase GLAST expression. Arundic acid is a glial modulating agent that ameliorates delayed ischemic brain damage by attenuating increases in extracellular glutamate. We hypothesized that arundic acid neuroprotection involves upregulation of GLAST. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of arundic acid on GLAST expression and glutamate uptake. We found that arundic acid induces GLAST expression in vitro and in vivo. In addition, arundic acid treatment prevented RGC death by upregulating GLAST in heterozygous (GLAST+/−) mice. Furthermore, arundic acid stimulates the human GLAST ortholog, EAAT1, expression in human neuroglioblastoma cells. Thus, discovering compounds that can enhance EAAT1 expression and activity may be a novel strategy for therapeutic treatment of glaucoma.
Long noncoding RNA lincRNA-p21 is the major mediator of UVB-induced and p53-dependent apoptosis in keratinocytes
Authors: Hall J R , Messenger Z J , Tam H W , Phillips S L , Recio L , Smart R C
Published: March 2015

LincRNA-p21 is a long noncoding RNA and a transcriptional target of p53 and HIF-1α. LincRNA-p21 regulates gene expression in cis and trans, mRNA translation, protein stability, the Warburg effect, and p53-dependent apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in doxorubicin-treated mouse embryo fibroblasts. p53 plays a key role in the response of skin keratinocytes to UVB-induced DNA damage by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In skin cancer development, UVB-induced mutation of p53 allows keratinocytes upon successive UVB exposures to evade apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. We hypothesized that lincRNA-p21 has a key functional role in UVB-induced apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest in keratinocytes and loss of lincRNA-p21 function results in the evasion of apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest. We observed that lincRNA-p21 transcripts are highly inducible by UVB in mouse and human keratinocytes in culture and in mouse skin in vivo. LincRNA-p21 is regulated at the transcriptional level in response to UVB, and the UVB induction of lincRNA-p21 in keratinocytes and in vivo in mouse epidermis is primarily through a p53-dependent pathway. Knockdown of lincRNA-p21 blocked UVB-induced apoptosis in mouse and human keratinocytes, and lincRNA-p21 was responsible for the majority of UVB-induced and p53-mediated apoptosis in keratinocytes. Knockdown of lincRNA-p21 had no effect on cell proliferation in untreated or UVB-treated keratinocytes. An early event in skin cancer is the mutation of a single p53 allele. We observed that a mutant p53+/R172H allele expressed in mouse epidermis (K5Cre+/tg;LSLp53+/R172H) showed a significant dominant-negative inhibitory effect on UVB-induced lincRNA-p21 transcription and apoptosis in epidermis. We conclude lincRNA-p21 is highly inducible by UVB and has a key role in triggering UVB-induced apoptotic death. We propose that the mutation of a single p53 allele provides a pro-oncogenic function early in skin cancer development through a dominant inhibitory effect on UVB-induced lincRNA-p21 expression and the subsequent evasion of UVB-induced apoptosis.
Recurrent chromosomal gains and heterogeneous driver mutations characterise papillary renal cancer evolution
Authors: Kovac Michal , Navas Carolina , Horswell Stuart , Salm Max , Bardella Chiara , Rowan Andrew , Stares Mark , Castro-Giner Francesc , Fisher Rosalie , de Bruin Elza C. , Kovacova Monika , Gorman Maggie , Makino Seiko , Williams Jennet , Jaeger Emma , Jones Angela , Howarth Kimberley , Larkin James , Pickering Lisa , Gore Martin , Nicol David L. , Hazell Steven , Stamp Gordon , O’Brien Tim , Challacombe Ben , Matthews Nik , Phillimore Benjamin , Begum Sharmin , Rabinowitz Adam , Varela Ignacio , Chandra Ashish , Horsfield Catherine , Polson Alexander , Tran Maxine , Bhatt Rupesh , Terracciano Luigi , Eppenberger-Castori Serenella , Protheroe Andrew , Maher Eamonn , El Bahrawy Mona , Fleming Stewart , Ratcliffe Peter , Heinimann Karl , Swanton Charles , Tomlinson Ian
Published: March 2015

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) is an important subtype of kidney cancer with a problematic pathological classification and highly variable clinical behaviour. Here we sequence the genomes or exomes of 31 pRCCs, and in four tumours, multi-region sequencing is undertaken. We identify BAP1, SETD2, ARID2 and Nrf2 pathway genes (KEAP1, NHE2L2 and CUL3) as probable drivers, together with at least eight other possible drivers. However, only ~10% of tumours harbour detectable pathogenic changes in any one driver gene, and where present, the mutations are often predicted to be present within cancer sub-clones. We specifically detect parallel evolution of multiple SETD2 mutations within different sub-regions of the same tumour. By contrast, large copy number gains of chromosomes 7, 12, 16 and 17 are usually early, monoclonal changes in pRCC evolution. The predominance of large copy number variants as the major drivers for pRCC highlights an unusual mode of tumorigenesis that may challenge precision medicine approaches.
Spatiotemporal isolation of attosecond soft X-ray pulses in the water window
Authors: Silva Francisco , Teichmann Stephan M. , Cousin Seth L. , Hemmer Michael , Biegert Jens
Published: March 2015

Attosecond pulses at photon energies that cover the principal absorption edges of the building blocks of materials are a prerequisite for time-resolved probing of the triggering events leading to electronic dynamics such as exciton formation and annihilation. We demonstrate experimentally the isolation of individual attosecond pulses at the carbon K-shell edge (284 eV) in the soft X-ray water window with pulse duration below 400 as and with a bandwidth supporting a 30-as pulse duration. Our approach is based on spatiotemporal isolation of long-wavelength-driven harmonics and validates a straightforward and scalable approach for robust and reproducible attosecond pulse isolation.