bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synonymous site variation due to recombination explains higher genetic variability in begomovirus populations infecting non-cultivated hosts
Authors: Lima Alison T. M. , Sobrinho Roberto R. , González-Aguilera Jorge , Rocha Carolina S. , Silva Sarah J. C. , Xavier César A. D. , Silva Fábio N. , Duffy Siobain , Zerbini F. Murilo
Published: November 2012

Begomoviruses are ssDNA plant viruses that cause serious epidemics in economically important crops worldwide. Non-cultivated plants also harbour many begomoviruses, and it is believed that these hosts may act as reservoirs and as mixing vessels where recombination may occur. Begomoviruses are notoriously recombination-prone, and also display nucleotide substitution rates equivalent to those of RNA viruses. In Brazil, several indigenous begomoviruses have been described infecting tomatoes following the introduction of a novel biotype of the whitefly vector in the mid-1990s. More recently, a number of viruses from non-cultivated hosts have also been described. Previous work has suggested that viruses infecting non-cultivated hosts have a higher degree of genetic variability compared with crop-infecting viruses. We intensively sampled cultivated and non-cultivated plants in similarly sized geographical areas known to harbour either the weed-infectingMacroptilium yellow spot virus(MaYSV) or the crop-infectingTomato severe rugose virus(ToSRV), and compared the molecular evolution and population genetics of these two distantly related begomoviruses. The results reinforce the assertion that infection of non-cultivated plant species leads to higher levels of standing genetic variability, and indicate that recombination, not adaptive selection, explains the higher begomovirus variability in non-cultivated hosts.
Identification of human papillomavirus type 156, the prototype of a new human gammapapillomavirus species, by a generic and highly sensitive PCR strategy for long DNA fragments
Authors: Chouhy Diego , Bolatti Elisa M. , Piccirilli Gustavo , Sánchez Adriana , Fernandez Bussy Ramón , Giri Adriana A.
Published: November 2012

This study developed a hanging-droplet long PCR, a generic and highly sensitive strategy to facilitate the identification of new human papillomavirus (HPV) genomes. This novel procedure used for the first time the hanging-droplet PCR technique for the amplification of long DNA fragments with generic primers targeting the L1 and E1 regions. It was first applied to the amplification of types belonging to the highly divergent genus Gammapapillovirus (γ-PV). The hanging-droplet long PCR was 100-fold more sensitive than a simple long PCR procedure, detecting as few as ten copies of HPV-4. Nineteen skin samples, potentially containing putative HPV types from the γ-PV genus, were also screened. The method identified four γ-PV genomic halves from new and previously described putative types, and made the full characterization of HPV-156 possible. This novel virus meets the criteria for a new species within the γ-PV genus, with nucleotide identities in the L1 ORF ranging from 58.3 to 67.3 % compared with representative types of the current γ-PV species. HPV-156 showed the highest identity to HPV-60 (67.3 %) from species γ-4, and was consistently closely related to it in both late- and early-gene-derived phylogenies. In conclusion, this report provides a versatile and highly sensitive approach that allowed identification of the prototype of a new species within the γ-PV genus. Its application with primers targeting the different genera in which both human and non-human PVs are distributed may facilitate characterization of the missing members of the family Papillomaviridae.
Dugbe virus ovarian tumour domain interferes with ubiquitin/ISG15-regulated innate immune cell signalling
Authors: Bakshi S. , Holzer B. , Bridgen A. , McMullan G. , Quinn D. G. , Baron M. D.
Published: November 2012

The ovarian tumour (OTU) domain of the nairovirus L protein has been shown to remove ubiquitin and interferon-stimulated gene 15 protein (ISG15) from host cell proteins, which is expected to have multiple effects on cell signalling pathways. We have confirmed that the OTU domain from the L protein of the apathogenic nairovirus Dugbe virus has deubiquitinating and deISGylating activity and shown that, when expressed in cells, it is highly effective at blocking the TNF-α/NF-κB and interferon/JAK/STAT signalling pathways even at low doses. Point mutations of the catalytic site of the OTU [C40A, H151A and a double mutant] both abolished the ability of the OTU domain to deubiquitinate and deISGylate proteins and greatly reduced its effect on cell signalling pathways, confirming that it is this enzymic activity that is responsible for blocking the two signalling pathways. Expression of the inactive mutants at high levels could still block signalling, suggesting that the viral OTU can still bind to its substrate even when mutated at its catalytic site. The nairovirus L protein is a very large protein that is normally confined to the cytoplasm, where the virus replicates. When the OTU domain was prevented from entering the nucleus by expressing it as part of the N-terminal 205 kDa of the viral L protein, it continued to block type I interferon signalling, but no longer blocked the TNF-α-induced activation of NF-κB.
Expression Dynamics of the Medicago truncatula Transcriptome during the Symbiotic Interaction with Sinorhizobium meliloti: Which Role for Nitric Oxide?
Authors: Boscari Alexandre , del Giudice Jennifer , Ferrarini Alberto , Venturini Luca , Zaffini Anne-Lise , Delledonne Massimo , Puppo Alain
Published: November 2012

Medicago truncatula is one of the most studied model plants. Nevertheless, the genome of this legume remains incompletely determined. We used RNA-Seq to characterize the transcriptome during the early organogenesis of the nodule and during its functioning. We detected 37,333 expressed transcription units; to our knowledge, 1,670 had never been described before and were functionally annotated. We identified 7,595 new transcribed regions, mostly corresponding to 5′ and 3′ untranslated region extensions and new exons associated with 5,264 previously annotated genes. We also inferred 23,165 putative transcript isoforms from 6,587 genes and measured the abundance of transcripts for each isoform, which suggests an important role for alternative splicing in the generation of proteome diversity in M. truncatula. Finally, we carried out a differential expression analysis, which provided a comprehensive view of transcriptional reprogramming during nodulation. In particular, depletion of nitric oxide in roots inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti greatly increased our understanding of the role of this reactive species in the optimal establishment of the symbiotic interaction, revealing differential patterns of expression for 2,030 genes and pointing to the inhibition of the expression of defense genes.
A new platinum–bromine cyclohexanediamine complex from the family of cancer cytostatics
Authors: Pažout Richard , Maixner Jaroslav , Holakovská Jitka , Dušek Michal , Kačer Petr
Published: November 2012

Another new substance from the family of Pt-based coordination complexes with potential use in cancer chemotherapy has been synthesized, crystallized and structurally characterized. In this compound {systematic namecis-dibromido[(1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine-κ2N,N′]platinum(II)},cis-[PtBr2(C6H14N2)], there are two molecules with very similar conformations in the asymmetric unit. The component species interact by way of N—H...Br and C—H...Br hydrogen bonds to give two-dimensional networks which lie parallel to the (100) plane.
1-Benzoyl-3-[(2-benzylsulfanyl)phenyl]thiourea
Authors: Bhattacharjee Tirtha , Gogoi Prasanta , Puranik Vedavati G. , Gawade Rupesh L. , Barman Pranjit
Published: November 2012

In the title compound, C21H18N2OS2, a strong intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond [N...O = 2.642 (3) Å] between the amide N atom and the benzoyl O atom forms an almost planar six-membered ring in the central part of the molecule. In the crystal, molecules are packed through weak N—H...S interactions. Intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions are the stabilizing forces for the crystal structure.
Metal complexes with chloride and triazole-based ligands: investigation of a well-resolved up–up–down–down (uudd) cyclic water tetramer andX—H...Cl (X= O and C) hydrogen-bonding interactions
Authors: Guo Jian-Hua
Published: November 2012

The crystal structure of the title complex,trans-dichloridotetrakis[1-phenyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl-κN4)propan-1-one]copper(II) hexahydrate, [CuCl2(C11H11N3O)4]·6H2O, is isomorphous with that of the corresponding nickel and cobalt compounds. The complex has crystallographic inversion symmetry with the CuIIatom on an inversion centre. Each CuIIatom is six-coordinated by one N atom from each of the four 1-phenyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-1-one ligands in the equatorial plane and by two chloride ligands in axial positions. The structure includes a centrosymmetric irregular up–up–down–down (uudd) water tetramer cluster and O—H...Cl hydrogen bonds. Intermolecular C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds exist between adjacent molecules, resulting in a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
Multicomponent pharmaceutical cocrystals: furosemide and pentoxifylline
Authors: Stepanovs Dmitrijs , Mishnev Anatoly
Published: November 2012

The combination of the active pharmaceutical ingredients furosemide [4-chloro-2-(furan-2-ylmethylamino)-5-sulfamoylbenzoic acid] and pentoxifylline [3,7-dimethyl-1-(5-oxohexyl)-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione] produces a 1:1 cocrystal, C12H11ClN2O5S·C13H18N4O3, (I), a 1:1 cocrystal hydrate, C12H11ClN2O5S·C13H18N4O3·H2O, (II), and a 1:1 cocrystal acetone solvate, C12H11ClN2O5S·C13H18N4O3·C2H6O, (III). These structures exhibit the presence of a rarely encountered synthon with the graph setR22(7). All potential hydrogen-bond donors of furosemide participate in hydrogen-bond formation in (I)–(III). However, only two hydrogen-bond acceptors of furosemide are active in (I) and (II), and only one is active in (III). Four hydrogen-bond acceptors of pentoxifylline are active in (II), three in (I) and two in (III). These observations are in good agreement with the calculated packing indexes of 69.5, 69.6 and 68.8% for (II), (I) and (III), respectively.
Alcohol intoxication in the context of major public holidays, sporting and social events: a time–series analysis in Melbourne, Australia, 2000–2009
Authors: Lloyd Belinda , Matthews Sharon , Livingston Michael , Jayasekara Harindra , Smith Karen
Published: November 2012

Aims

To assess the relationship between ambulance attendances, emergency department (ED) presentations and hospital admissions for acute alcohol intoxication and the timing of public holidays, sporting and social events.

Design

Time–series analysis was used to explore trends in intoxication in the context of major events.

Setting

Population of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 2000 and 2009.

Participants

All patients attended by ambulance, presenting to hospital EDs, or admitted to hospital who were classified as acutely alcohol intoxicated.

Measurement

Analysis of daily numbers of presentations for acute alcohol intoxication associated with major events were undertaken, including lead and lag effects. Analyses controlled for day of week and month of year to address temporal and seasonal variations.

Findings

Alcohol intoxication presentations were significantly elevated the day before all public holidays, with intoxication cases on the day of public holidays only higher on New Year's Day (ambulance 6.57, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 3.4–9.74; ED 3.34, 95% CI: 1.28–5.4) and ANZAC Day (ambulance 3.71, 95% CI: 0.68–6.75). The Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final (ED 2.37, 95% CI: 0.55–4.19), Commonwealth Games (ED 2.45, 95% CI: 0.6–4.3) and Melbourne Cup Day (ambulance 6.14, 95% CI: 2.42–9.85) represented the sporting events with significant elevations in acute intoxication requiring medical attention. The last working day before Christmas was the only social event where a significant increase in acute intoxication occurred (ambulance 8.98, 95% CI: 6.8–11.15).

Conclusions

Acute alcohol intoxication cases requiring ambulance, emergency department and hospital in‐patient treatment increase substantially on the day preceding public holidays and other major social events.
Characterization of a novel EAST‐negative enteropathogenic E. coli strain implicated in a food‐borne outbreak of diarrhoea in adults
Authors: Wedley, Amy L. , Elajnef Hasan M. , Fletcher Jonathan N.
Published: November 2012

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is usually associated with outbreaks and sporadic cases of severe infantile diarrhoea in the developing world, and less commonly with sporadic cases in developed countries. Very little evidence indicates that EPEC is a food‐borne pathogen for adults. In a previous study, two groups of adult travellers became ill, and eae+ E. coli of serogroup O111 was isolated from affected individuals and epidemiologically linked to food consumption. Here the strain responsible was further investigated and characterized as an unusual atypical EPEC. PCR analysis of the designated type isolate showed the presence of the rorf1 and espB genes of the LEE pathogenicity island, which was inserted at the chromosomal selC locus. The isolate was negative for the enteroaggregative E. coli EAST‐1 toxin present in other strains of EPEC associated with food‐borne outbreaks. The strain adhered sparsely to HEp‐2 cell monolayers in a diffuse manner, but fluorescent actin staining demonstrated that it was capable of inducing polymerization of actin at the sites of bacterial attachment. Strain P2583 is the first EAST‐negative EPEC to be confirmed as a cause of outbreaks of infection in adults following the consumption of contaminated food or water.
Beliefs about medicine and illness are associated with fear of cancer recurrence in women taking adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer
Authors: Corter Arden L. , Findlay Michael , Broom Reuben , Porter David , Petrie Keith J.
Published: November 2012

Objectives

Adjuvant endocrine therapy for early‐stage breast cancer has greatly reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with breast cancer recurrence. Despite this, a significant proportion of women report fears of cancer recurrence. This study examined the associations between fear of cancer recurrence (FoR) and illness perceptions, medication beliefs, and treatment side effects in women taking adjuvant endocrine therapy following breast cancer.

Methods

A total of 153 post‐menopausal women with early‐stage breast cancer completed a postal survey. Analyses were conducted to examine the association between FoR and illness perceptions, medication beliefs, treatment side effects, demographic factors, and emotional distress and to identify which of these factors would be most strongly associated with FoR in a regression model.

Results

All illness perceptions (apart from personal control) were associated with FoR, as were patient beliefs about endocrine therapy. Although treatment side effects, being unemployed, and higher levels of anxiety and depression were associated with FoR, only illness perceptions (identity, treatment control, timeline, and emotional representation) and medication necessity beliefs were significantly correlated with FoR in the final model.

Conclusions

It appears that, in addition to directly targeting FoR, it may be worthwhile to address the illness and medication beliefs supporting the fear. Additionally, helping women to differentiate everyday symptoms from those indicative of breast cancer may help to reduce fear of recurrence.

Statement of Contribution

What is already known on this subject? A significant proportion of women report fear of cancer recurrence following breast cancer. The literature shows that illness perceptions, side effects of treatment, and beliefs about medicines are related to fear of recurrence among cancer patients. However, because these variables have often been looked at in isolation, it is not clear whether some perceptions or cues are more likely to relate to fear of recurrence than others.

What does this study add? This study shows illness perceptions and medication beliefs are strongly related to fears of cancer recurrence. The results point to ways in which the self‐regulatory model of illness may be used to reduce patients' fear of recurrence. The study results show that women with higher fear of recurrence may be balancing a tension between believing that they need to take the medication to protect their future health alongside concerns that the treatment may not be working.
Learning to Read: What We Know and What We Need to Understand Better
Authors: Hulme Charles , Snowling Margaret J.
Published: November 2012

The authors review current knowledge about the cognitive processes underlying the early stages of word reading development. Recent findings in a variety of alphabetic languages converge on the conclusion that there are 3 “cognitive foundations” for learning to read: letter–sound knowledge, phonemic awareness, and rapid automatized naming skills. Deficits in each of these skills appear causally related to problems in learning to read, and deficits in letter–sound knowledge and phonemic awareness appear to be remediable by suitable teaching. The authors argue that this evidence has important practical implications for early education and for the diagnosis and treatment of children with reading difficulties.
The Social Side of Imitation
Authors: Over Harriet , Carpenter Malinda
Published: November 2012

Children's imitation is a profoundly social process. Although previous developmental accounts of imitation have focused on imitation as a way to learn from others, the current article stresses that imitation goes far beyond this: It is often intimately tied to children's need to belong to the group and their drive to affiliate with those around them. Accordingly, imitation is chiefly determined by the social motivations and pressures children experience within both interpersonal and intergroup settings. This perspective resolves an apparent paradox in the empirical literature, explaining why children sometimes copy selectively and sometimes copy faithfully (so‐called overimitation). It also situates the developmental and comparative study of imitation and cultural transmission within a broader social‐psychological framework, uniting it conceptually with research on mimicry, conformity, normativity, and group membership.
How Two Intuitive Theories Shape the Development of Social Categorization
Authors: Rhodes Marjorie
Published: November 2012

Social categorization provides a valuable mechanism for explaining and predicting human behavior, yet also contributes to the development of social stereotyping and prejudice. Thus, understanding how social categorization develops is critical for both cognitive and social development. This article presents a theoretical perspective on the development of social categorization—that children map intuitive theories about the structure of the social world onto categories they encounter in their environment. In particular, 2 intuitive theories—that social categories are natural kinds and that social categories mark people who are obligated to one another—are described as shaping the acquisition of social categories. The article discusses implications for how children explain, predict, and interact with their environment.
The role of biologic meshes in abdominal wall reconstruction
Authors: Godden A. R. , Daniels I. R. , Giordano P.
Published: November 2012

There are unacceptably high rates of recurrence following surgery for incision hernia repair using suture repair techniques in isolation. As the reconstruction of abdominal walls has expanded with complex surgery, the materials used as adjuncts to support the repair have changed. In the article we review the current use of biologic meshes in abdominal wall reconstruction and the techniques used.
Biological materials in colorectal surgery: current applications and potential for the future
Authors: Hübner M. , Streit D. , Hahnloser D.
Published: November 2012

Biological materials are increasingly used in abdominal surgery for ventral, pelvic and perineal reconstructions, especially in contaminated fields. Future applications are multi‐fold and include prevention and one‐step closure of infected areas. This includes prevention of abdominal, parastomal and pelvic hernia, but could also include prevention of separation of multiple anastomoses, suture‐ or staple‐lines. Further indications could be a containment of infected and/or inflammatory areas and protection of vital implants such as vascular grafts. Reinforcement patches of high‐risk anastomoses or unresectable perforation sites are possibilities at least. Current applications are based mostly on case series and better data is urgently needed. Clinical benefits need to be assessed in prospective studies to provide reliable proof of efficacy with a sufficient follow‐up. Only superior results compared with standard treatment will justify the higher costs of these materials. To date, the use of biological materials is not standard and applications should be limited to case‐by‐case decision.
A Single‐Stage Approach to Learning Phonological Categories: Insights From Inuktitut
Authors: Dillon Brian , Dunbar Ewan , Idsardi William
Published: November 2012

To acquire one’s native phonological system, language‐specific phonological categories and relationships must be extracted from the input. The acquisition of the categories and relationships has each in its own right been the focus of intense research. However, it is remarkable that research on the acquisition of categories and the relations between them has proceeded, for the most part, independently of one another. We argue that this has led to the implicit view that phonological acquisition is a “two‐stage” process: Phonetic categories are first acquired and then subsequently mapped onto abstract phoneme categories. We present simulations that suggest two problems with this view: First, the learner might mistake the phoneme‐level categories for phonetic‐level categories and thus be unable to learn the relationships between phonetic‐level categories; on the other hand, the learner might construct inaccurate phonetic‐level representations that prevent it from finding regular relations among them. We suggest an alternative conception of the phonological acquisition problem that sidesteps this apparent inevitability and acquires phonemic categories in a single stage. Using acoustic data from Inuktitut, we show that this model reliably converges on a set of phoneme‐level categories and phonetic‐level relations among subcategories, without making use of a lexicon.
The association between body mass index and health‐related quality of life: influence of ethnicity on this relationship
Authors: McDonough C. , Dunkley A. J. , Aujla N. , Morris D. , Davies M. J. , Khunti K.
Published: November 2012

Aims

The association between obesity and a poorer health‐related quality of life (HRQL) has previously been explored. The influence of ethnicity on this relationship has less frequently been considered. We aimed to explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and HRQL in a mixed population of White European (WE) and South Asian (SA) ethnicity.

Methods

Cross‐sectional data were analysed (n = 4989, 16% SA) from a population‐based diabetes screening study. BMI categories were based on ethnic‐specific cut‐points. HRQL was categorized low (<0.848) or high (≥0.848) according to the median EQ5D score. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between BMI and HRQL. Interaction analysis was conducted to determine the effect of ethnicity.

Results

Overweight (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10–1.41, p < 0.001) and obese people (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.56–2.10, p < 0.001) had increased odds of having a low HRQL compared to normal weight people. After adjusting for potential confounders, age, gender, ethnicity, deprivation score, fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and smoking, this association was strengthened further. However, for obese people, SA ethnicity significantly reduced the risk of having a low HRQL when compared to WEs (adjusted OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.34–0.97).

Conclusions

Our findings provide further evidence of an association between increasing BMI and low HRQL but suggest that SA ethnicity modifies this relationship. These results could have important health implications and are a basis for further research.
The Additive Diagnostic Role of Coronary Flow Reserve in Noninvasive Evaluation of Coronary Stenosis on Left Descending Artery Previously Detected by Multislice Computed Tomography
Authors: Mladenovic Zorica , Djordjevic‐Dikic Ana , Tavciovski Dragan , Angelkov Andjelka Ristic , Jovic Zoran , Djuric Predrag
Published: November 2012

Purpose: Multislice computed coronary angiography (MSCT) provides valuable morphological information about coronary artery disease, but precise quantification of coronary stenosis remains difficult. Transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography (TDE) gives a new insight into the functional significance of coronary luminal narrowing. We have tried to assess the additive value of coronary flow reserve (CFR) determined by TDE over MSCT in prediction of a significant stenosis on the left anterior descending artery (LAD) using the invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as a reference method. Methods: This prospective study included 63 patients in stable cardiac status with previously detected atherosclerotic lesions on LAD by MSCT. CFR assessment by TDE with adenosine infusion was obtained to all patients (feasibility was 96.92%). CFR was determined as ratio between the peak diastolic flow velocity during adenosine infusion and at basal condition, a cutoff value indicating significant stenosis was <2. ICA was preformed to all patients 24–48 hours after CFR. Results: MSCT had sensitivity of 86.36%, specificity 53.66%, positive predictive value 50.00%, negative predictive value 88.00%, and diagnostic accuracy of 65.07% in detection of significant LAD stenosis. CFR had sensitivity 81.81%, specificity 97.06%, positive predictive value 94.74%, negative predictive value 89.19%, and diagnostic accuracy of 91.07%. When the results of both methods were agreed diagnostic accuracy was improved to 92.72%. Conclusion: Additional assessment of CFR by TDE increase diagnostic accuracy of MSCT angiography in detection of significant coronary artery lesions.
The lunule of caligid copepods: an evolutionarily novel structure
Authors: Kaji Tomonari , Venmathi Maran B. A. , Kondoh Yuusuke , Ohtsuka Susumu , Boxshall Geoff A. , Tsukagoshi Akira
Published: November 2012

Nearly half of the genera of the family Caligidae possess an evolutionarily novel structure called the “lunule” on the ventral surface of the frontal plate. Lunules are paired cup‐like suckers that assist in securing attachment of the copepod parasite to its host. Although present in genera such as Caligus and Pseudocaligus, lunules are absent in other caligid genera such as Lepeophtheirus as well as in more primitive caligiforms such as members of the families Trebiidae and Dissonidae. We compared the morphology and development of the anterior margin of the frontal plates between two caligids, Pseudocaligus fugu and Lepeophtheirus sekii, and a more basal caligiform, Dissonus heronensis (a dissonid), using scanning electron, transmission electron, and laser confocal microscopes. Our observations suggest that the lunules originated as a modification of the marginal membranes of the ancestral frontal plates. We also demonstrated the presence of an anlagen cell population for the lunule and marginal membrane in the developing frontal plate. These primordial cells can be detected as early as the first stage of the chalimus phase. Based on these observations, an evolutionary scenario for the lunule is proposed based on cytological evidence. This case study enhances our understanding of “evolutionary novelty,” which is a main focus of contemporary evolutionary developmental biology.
Analyse the role of the non‐singular stress in brittle fracture by BEM coupled with eigen‐analysis
Authors: CHENG C. , NIU Z. , RECHO N. , ZHOU H.
Published: November 2012

A coupled model resulting from the boundary element method and eigen‐analysis is proposed in this paper to analyse the stress field at crack tip. This new combine method can yield several terms of the non‐singular stress in the Williams asymptotic expansion. Then the maximum circumferential stress (MCS) criterion taken the non‐singular stress into account is introduced to predict the brittle fracture of cracked structures. Two earlier experiments are re‐examined by the present numerical method and the role of the non‐singular stress in the brittle fracture is investigated. Results show that if more terms of non‐singular stress are taken into account, the predicted crack propagation direction and the critical loading by MCS criterion are much closer to the existing experimental results, especially for dominating mode II loading conditions. Moreover, numerical results manifest that Williams series expansion can describe the stress field further from the crack tip if more non‐singular stress terms are adopted.
Fatigue strength prediction of ultra high strength steel butt‐welded joints
Authors: NYKÄNEN T. , BJÖRK T. , LAITINEN R.
Published: November 2012

First, fatigue tests were performed on butt‐welded joints made of novel direct quenched ultra high strength steel with high quality welds. Two different welding processes were used: MAG and Pulsed MAG. The weld profiles, misalignments and residual stresses were measured, and the material properties of the heat‐affected zone were determined. Fatigue tests were carried out with constant amplitude tensile loading both for joints in as‐welded condition and for joints after ultrasonic peening treatment. Finally, in fatigue strength predictions, the crack initiation phase was estimated using the procedures described by Lawrence et al. [Lawrence F V, Ho N J and Mazumdar P K (1981) Predicting the fatigue resistance of welds. Annu. Rev. Mater. Sci, 11, 401–425]. The propagation phase was simply estimated using S–N curves for normal quality butt welds, which may contain pre‐existing cracks or crack‐like defects eliminating the crack initiation stage.
Do isolation and local habitat jointly limit the structure of stream invertebrate assemblages?
Authors: CAMPBELL REBECCA E. , McINTOSH ANGUS R.
Published: November 2012

1. Both local and regional processes simultaneously control species assemblages depending on spatial habitat configuration. In dendritic networks like streams, the unique spatial arrangement of habitats produces various combinations of local habitat size and isolation. Stream invertebrate assemblages could therefore be controlled by different combinations of local and regional processes, depending on their location in the network.

2. Using quantile regression, we investigated how local habitat size, local environmental conditions and spatial isolation influenced variation in assemblage composition. Adult Trichoptera and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages were represented by non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination scores, as were local environmental conditions, in four headwater stream networks in New Zealand.

3. With increasing local habitat size, there was a decrease in variation in assemblage composition (NMDS scores) of both adult Trichoptera and benthic macroinvertebrates. This relationship between habitat size and assemblage variation was related to local habitat conditions at the upper limit of assemblage variability and spatial isolation at the lower limit of assemblage variability, for both adult Trichoptera and benthic assemblages, indicating joint local and regional controls on stream invertebrate assemblages.

4. The relationships between local assemblages and their neighbours, based on community similarity scores, differed between benthic macroinvertebrates and adult Trichoptera. For benthic assemblages, the larger the stream, the more similar assemblages were to neighbouring assemblages, whereas there was no consistent relationship between assemblage similarity and stream size for adult Trichoptera. This difference in structuring could be attributed to contrasting spatial influences linked to the different dispersal modes of adults and larvae. However, because adult and benthic assemblages are not independent, the influence of life stage on spatial distribution is difficult to determine (i.e. it is essentially a ‘chicken and egg’ argument).

5. Overall, our approach using quantile regression to evaluate limit responses, rather than regressions on means, has highlighted the joint importance of local habitat and spatial processes in structuring stream invertebrate assemblages. Furthermore, we have provided evidence for the importance of the spatial network arrangement and interactions between life stages and dispersal processes, in structuring stream assemblages.
MicroRNA9 regulates neural stem cell differentiation by controlling Hes1 expression dynamics in the developing brain
Authors: Tan Siok‐Lay , Ohtsuka Toshiyuki , González Aitor , Kageyama Ryoichiro
Published: November 2012

Earlier studies show that Hes1 expression is oscillatory in neural stem cells but sustained and high in the roof plate and the floor plate, and that such different dynamics of Hes1 expression (oscillatory versus sustained) regulate different proliferation and differentiation characteristics of these cells (active in neural stem cells but rather dormant in roof/floor plate cells). The mechanism of how different dynamics of Hes1 expression is controlled remains to be determined. Here, we found that the seed sequence of microRNA‐9 (miR‐9) is complementary to the 3′‐UTR sequence of Hes1 mRNA. MiR‐9 is highly expressed in the ventricular zone of the developing brain, which contains neural stem cells, but it is not expressed in the roof plate or the floor plate. Over‐expression of miR‐9 negatively regulates the Hes1 protein expression by interacting with the 3′‐UTR of Hes1 mRNA, thereby inducing cell cycle exit and neuronal differentiation. Conversely, knockdown of miR‐9 inhibits neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, knockdown of miR‐9 inhibits the oscillatory expression of Hes1 mRNA in neural stem cells. These results indicate that miR‐9 regulates the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells by controlling the dynamics of Hes1 expression in the developing brain.
Relationship between DNA replication and the nuclear matrix
Authors: Wilson Rosemary H. C. , Coverley Dawn
Published: November 2012

There is an extensive list of primary published work related to the nuclear matrix (NM). Here we review the aspects that are required to understand its relationship with DNA replication, while highlighting some of the difficulties in studying such a structure, and possible differences that arise from the choice of model system. We consider NM attachment regions of DNA and discuss their characteristics and potential function before reviewing data that deal specifically with functional interaction with DNA replication factors. Data have long existed indicating that newly synthesized DNA is associated with a nuclease‐resistant NM, allowing the conclusion that the elongation step of DNA synthesis is immobilized within the nucleus. We review in more detail the emerging data that suggest that prereplication complex proteins and origins of replication are transiently recruited to the NM during late G1 and early S‐phase. Collectively, these data suggest that the initiation step of the DNA replication process is also immobilized by attachment to the NM. We outline models that discuss the possible spatial relationships and highlight the emerging evidence that suggests there may be important differences between cell types.
‘You just change the channel if you don't like what you're going to hear’: gamblers’ attitudes towards, and interactions with, social marketing campaigns
Authors: Thomas Samantha L. , Lewis Sophie , Westberg Kate
Published: November 2012

Objectives

To investigate how gamblers interact with, and respond to, downstream social marketing campaigns that focus on the risks and harms of problem gambling and/or encourage help seeking.

Methods

Qualitative study of 100 gamblers with a range of gambling behaviours (from non‐problem to problem gambling). We used a Social Constructivist approach. Our constant comparative method of data interpretation focused on how participants' experiences and interactions with gambling influenced their opinions towards, and interactions with social marketing campaigns.

Results

Three key themes emerged from the narratives. (i) Participants felt that campaigns were heavily skewed towards encouraging individuals to take personal responsibility for their gambling behaviours or were targeted towards those with severe gambling problems. (ii) Participants described the difficulty for campaigns to achieve ‘cut through’ because of the overwhelming volume of positive messages about the benefits of gambling that were given by the gambling industry. (iii) Some participants described that dominant discourses about personal responsibility prevented them from seeking help and reinforced perceptions of stigma.

Conclusions and implications

Social marketing campaigns have an important role to play in the prevention of gambling risk behaviours and the promotion of help seeking. Social marketers should explore how to more effectively target campaigns to different audience segments, understand the role of environmental factors in undermining the uptake of social marketing strategies and anticipate the potential unforeseen consequences of social marketing strategies.
Utilisation of sFLC assays – how well do we comply with guidelines?
Authors: Phillips D. P. , Talaulikar D. , Hawkins C. A. , Hickman P. E.
Published: November 2012

Introduction

There is a paucity of data on the utilisation of the serum‐free light chain (sFLC) and compliance with published guidelines.

Methods

Serum‐free light chain assays requested at our institute for the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of plasma cell dyscrasias from July 2008 to March 2010 were compared with the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) consensus guidelines.

Results

In total, 1150 assays were performed (4.3 assays per patient, range 1–20). Eight hundred and forty‐four (73%) of these were performed for multiple myeloma (MM), 188 (16%) for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, 72 (6%) for AL amyloidosis and 46 (4%) for smouldering myeloma. Of these, 49.6%, 22.9%, 1.4% and 69.6% of the monitoring assays were outside of IMWG recommendations, respectively. Of the 419 assays performed outside of guidelines for MM patients, 404 (96.4%) were due to monitoring of patients with a measurable M protein, while 24 (5.7%) were due to too frequent requesting (≤14 days) with 15 assays (3.6%) being noncompliant on both grounds.

Conclusion

Utilisation of the sFLC assay shows reasonable adherence to guidelines within our centre. We propose to further optimise usage of the test with the help of administrative processes and education of clinicians.
Immunogenicity and safety of a 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) monovalent vaccine in Chinese infants aged 6–35 months: a randomized, double‐blind, controlled phase I clinical trial
Authors: Li Yan‐Ping , Li Wei , Liang Xiao‐Feng , Liu Yan , Huang Xiao‐Chun , Li Chang‐Gui , Li Rong‐Cheng , Wang Jun‐Zhi , Wang Hua‐Qing , Yin Wei‐Dong
Published: November 2012

Please cite this paper as: Li et al. (2012) Immunogenicity and safety of a 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) monovalent vaccine in Chinese infants aged 6–35 months: a randomized, double‐blind, controlled phase I clinical trial. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI: 10.1111/irv.12028.

Objectives  The goal of this double‐blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was to assess the safety and immunogenicity of two different doses of a monovalent split‐virion 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1 vaccine without adjuvant in Chinese infants aged 6‐35 months.

Design and setting  Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either a 2009 pandemic (H1N1) vaccine containing 7.5 or 15 μg haemagglutinin (HA) or a seasonal influenza vaccine. 2 doses of the H1N1 vaccines or the seasonal influenza vaccine were given 21 days apart in younger infants aged 6‐23 months or older infants aged 24‐35 months.

Sample  Serum samples were collected immediately before the first injection and before and 21 days after the second injection.

Main outcome measures  Primary outcomes were haemagglutinin inhibition (HI) antibody responses 21 days following each vaccination. Safety was monitoring throughout the study.

Results  The first vaccination of 7.5 μg and 15 μg H1N1 vaccine induced seroprotective antibody titers (HI titers ≥ 1: 40) in 42.9‐57.4% of younger infants and 49.1‐61.0% older infants. Immune responses after completion of the two dose schedule were comparable in both age groups with seroprotective rates of 91‐98% in each vaccine and age group and GMTs of 173‐263. The H1N1 vaccine elicited similar rates of local and systemic adverse reactions as the seasonal influenza vaccine.

Conclusions  The 2009 pandemic influenza A /H1N1 vaccine were highly immunogenic in infants aged 6‐35 months, and displayed a safety and reactogenicity profile similar to the seasonal influenza vaccine.

Trial registration  ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT01047202
Factors influencing the assessment of lung function in mice with influenza‐induced lung disease
Authors: Larcombe Alexander N. , Zosky Graeme R. , Thamrin Cindy , Bozanich Elizabeth M. , Hantos Zoltán , Sly Peter D.
Published: November 2012

Please cite this paper as: Larcombe et al. (2012) Factors influencing the assessment of lung function in mice with influenza‐induced lung disease. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI: 10.1111/irv.12034.

Background  The constant‐phase model (CPM) is commonly fit to respiratory system input impedance (Zrs) to estimate lung mechanics. Driving signal frequencies and the method of model fitting may influence the results, especially in cases of severe lung disease or under severe bronchoconstriction.

Objective  To illustrate the effects of different CPM fits to Zrs data using a mouse model of influenza‐induced lung disease.

Methods  BALB/c mice infected with influenza (or control) were challenged with methacholine. The CPM was fitted to Zrs, measured between 0·25 and 19·625 Hz, using both unweighted and weighted fits. The effect of different lowest frequencies was assessed.

Results and Conclusions  For influenza‐infected mice, the unweighted fit was poor, and airway resistance (Raw) was often biologically impossible. The weighted fit provided more realistic estimates of Raw. Different model fits and minimal frequencies had little effect on tissue mechanics.
The genetic match between vaccine strains and circulating seasonal influenza A viruses in Vietnam, 2001–2009
Authors: Vuong Cuong D. , Hoang Phuong M. V. , Nguyen Hang L. K. , Nguyen Hien T. , Nguyen Thach C. , Le Thanh T. , Dennis David T. , Kapella Bryan K. , Kile James C. , Le Mai Q.
Published: November 2012

Please cite this paper as: Vuong et al. (2013). The genetic match between vaccine strains and circulating seasonal influenza A viruses in Vietnam, 2001–2009. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 7(6), 1151–1157.

Background  Vietnam is currently developing domestic capability to manufacture influenza vaccines but information on the genetic and antigenic characteristics of locally circulating seasonal influenza viruses is limited. To assess the relevance of WHO recommended vaccine strains to the situation in Vietnam, we analyzed the genetic relatedness of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of seasonal influenza A viruses circulating in Vietnam from 2001 to 2009 to WHO recommended vaccine strains over the same period.

Methods and Principal findings  We sequenced the HA gene of 32 H1N1 and 44 H3N2 seasonal influenza A isolates from laboratory‐based sentinel surveillance sites in Hanoi from 2001 to 2005 and from a national influenza surveillance system from 2005 to 2009. H1 and H3 HA phylogenetic trees rooted to vaccine strains A/Beijing/295/1995 (H1N1) and A/Moscow/10/1999 (H3N2), respectively, were constructed with contemporary HA sequences of isolates from neighboring countries. We found some genetic differences between seasonal influenza H3N2 viruses and three WHO influenza vaccine strains recommended for use in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres for the 2001–2004 and 2007–2008 seasons and close genetic identity of circulating H3N2 strains with the recommended WHO Southern Hemisphere vaccine strains for 2004 and 2009 seasons. The genetic similarity of circulating H1N1 strains with the WHO recommended vaccine strains are described for the study period 2001–2009.

Conclusions  The HA gene of seasonal influenza virus strains in Vietnam (especially influenza A/H3N2) showed varying degrees of genetic identity compared with those of the Northern or Southern Hemisphere vaccine strains recommended by WHO. The close relatedness of the HA of Vietnamese strains and contemporary strains from nearby countries indicate a good genetic match of circulating strains during study period. Greater representation of virus isolates from South East Asia in the vaccine strain selection process is desirable of influenza vaccine development in Vietnam.
The use of epidemiology in alcohol research
Authors: Rossow Ingeborg , Norström Thor
Published: November 2012

Aims

This paper presents examples to illustrate the utility and limitations in the use of epidemiology in alcohol research and discusses some promising new directions.

Methods

Review of literature, concentrating on epidemiological alcohol research with relevance to public health.

Findings and conclusion

Epidemiology offers tools for assessment of causes and effects of alcohol consumption as well as the effects of efforts to prevent alcohol consumption and its consequences. Epidemiological studies have made significant contributions to alcohol research with respect to public health and public policy. Fixed‐effects modelling, difference‐in‐differences estimation and integrated qualitative and epidemiological methods are promising but underused methods in epidemiological studies. Many epidemiological studies have limited transferability of knowledge to other cultures and jurisdictions.