bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polymorphism in the ADRB2 Gene Explains a Small Portion of Intersubject Variability in Pain Relative to Cervical Dilation in the First Stage of Labor
Authors: Terkawi Abdullah S. , Jackson William M. , Hansoti Shehnaz , Tabassum Rabeena , Flood Pamela
Published: April 2014

Background:

Variability in labor pain has been associated with demographic, clinical, and psychological factors. Polymorphisms of the β2-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB2) influence sensitivity to experimental pain in humans and are a risk factor for chronic pain. The authors hypothesized that polymorphisms in ADRB2 may influence labor pain.

Methods:

After Institutional Review Board approval and written informed consent, the authors prospectively obtained hourly pain reports from 233 nulliparous parturients during the first stage of labor, of which 199 were included in the current analysis. DNA from blood samples was genotyped at polymorphisms in the genes for the β2-adrenergic receptor, the μ opioid receptor subtype 1, catechol-O-methyltransferase, fatty acid amide hydrolase, and the oxytocin receptor. Labor pain as a function of cervical dilation was modeled with previously described methods. Patient covariates, ADRB2 genotype, and obstetrical and anesthesia treatment were evaluated as covariates in the model.

Results:

Labor pain more rapidly became severe in parturients heterozygous or homozygous for the G allele at rs1042714 in the ADRB2 gene. Labor pain increased more rapidly after artificial rupture of membranes, augmentation with oxytocin, and in younger women. Inclusion of covariates explained approximately 10% of the variability between subjects. ADRB2 genotype explained less than 1% of the intersubject variability.

Conclusion:

ADRB2 genotype correlates with labor pain but explained less than 1% of the intersubject variance in the model.
Advances in the Hopkinson bar testing of irradiated/non-irradiated nuclear materials and large specimens
Authors: Albertini Carlo , Cadoni Ezio , Solomos George
Published: April 2014

A brief review of the technological advances of the Hopkinson bar technique in tension for the study of irradiated/non-irradiated nuclear materials and the development of this technology for large specimens is presented. Comparisons are made of the dynamic behaviour of non-irradiated and irradiated materials previously subjected to creep, low cycle fatigue and irradiation (2, 10 and 30 displacements per atom). In particular, complete results of the effect of irradiation on the dynamic mechanical properties of AISI304L steel, tested at 20, 400 and 550°C are presented. These high strain rate tests have been performed with a modified Hopkinson bar (MHB), installed inside a hot cell. Examples of testing large nuclear steel specimens with a very large Hopkinson bar are also shown. The results overall demonstrate the capability of the MHB to efficiently reproduce the material stress conditions in case of accidental internal and external dynamic loadings in nuclear reactors, thus contributing to the important process of their structural assessment.
Hopkinson bar techniques for the intermediate strain rate testing of bovine cortical bone
Authors: Cloete T. J. , Paul G. , Ismail E. B.
Published: April 2014

Detailed knowledge of the dynamic viscoelastic properties of bone is required to understand the mechanisms of macroscopic bone fracture in humans, and other terrestrial mammals, during impact loading events (e.g. falls, vehicle accidents, etc.). While the dynamic response of bone has been studied for several decades, high-quality data remain limited, and it is only within the last decade that techniques for conducting dynamic compression tests on bone at near-constant strain rates have been developed. Furthermore, there appears to be a lack of published bone data in the intermediate strain rate (ISR) range (i.e. 1–100 s
−1
), which represents a regime in which many dynamic bone fractures occur. In this paper, preliminary results for the dynamic compression of bovine cortical bone in the ISR regime are presented. The results are obtained using two Hopkinson-bar-related techniques, namely the conventional split Hopkinson bar arrangement incorporating a novel cone-in-tube striker design, and the recently developed wedge bar apparatus. The experimental results show a rapid transition in the strain rate sensitive behaviour of bovine cortical bone in the ISR range. Finally, a new viscoelastic model is proposed that captures the observed transition behaviour.
On thermal softening and adiabatic shear failure of dynamically compressed metallic specimens in the Kolsky bar system
Authors: Rosenberg Z. , Ashuach Y.
Published: April 2014

The issues of thermal softening and adiabatic shear failure, in dynamically compressed metals, are revisited through experiments in the Kolsky bar system. Various materials were compressed by single- and multi-step loadings and the results were analysed through a new approach to the issue of instability strain, which is based on the temperatures existing in the specimens just prior to the onset of instability. These temperatures are compared with the threshold temperatures, which mark the steep decrease in the strength–temperature curves. This approach accounts for most of the materials we tested. However, the brittle behaviour of the titanium and magnesium alloys, which fail at a very low strain, should be treated by a different approach.
Application of the radial distribution function for quantitative analysis of neuropil microstructure in stratum radiatum of CA1 region in hippocampus.
Authors: Mishchenko Yuriy
Published: April 2014

Various structures in the brain contain many important clues to the brain?s development and function. Among these, the microscopic organization of neural tissue is of particular interest since such organization has direct potential to affect the formation of local synaptic connectivity between axons and dendrites, serving as an important factor affecting the brain?s development. While the organization of the brain at large and intermediate scales had been well studied, the organization of neural tissue at micrometer scales remains largely unknown. In particular, at present it is not known what specific structures exist in neuropil at micrometer scales, what effect such structures have on formation of synaptic connectivity, and what processes shape the micrometer-scale organization of neuropil. In this work, we present an analysis of recent electron microscopy reconstructions of blocks of neuropil tissue from rat s. radiatum of hippocampal CA1 to provide insights into these questions. We propose a new statistical method for systematically analyzing the small-scale organization of neuropil based on an adaptation of the approach of radial distribution functions from statistical physics. Our results show that the micrometer-scale organization of hippocampal CA1 neuropil can be viewed as a disordered arrangement of axonal and dendritic processes without significant small-scale positional coordinations. We observe several deviations from this picture in the distributions of glia and dendritic spines. Finally, we study the relationship between local synaptic connectivity and the small-scale organization of neuropil.
Evolutionary multiplayer games
Authors: Gokhale Chaitanya S. , Traulsen Arne
Published: April 2014

Evolutionary game theory has become one of the most diverse and far reaching theories in biology. Applications of this theory range from cell dynamics to social evolution. However, many applications make it clear that inherent non-linearities of natural systems need to be taken into account. One way of introducing such non-linearities into evolutionary games is by the inclusion of multiple players. An example is of social dilemmas, where group benefits could e.g. increase less than linear with the number of cooperators. Such multiplayer games can be introduced in all the fields where evolutionary game theory is already well established. However, the inclusion of non-linearities can help to advance the analysis of systems which are known to be complex, e.g. in the case of non-Mendelian inheritance. We review the diachronic theory and applications of multiplayer evolutionary games and present the current state of the field. Our aim is a summary of the theoretical results from well-mixed populations in infinite as well as finite populations. We also discuss examples from three fields where the theory has been successfully applied, ecology, social sciences and population genetics. In closing, we probe certain future directions which can be explored using the complexity of multiplayer games while preserving the promise of simplicity of evolutionary games.
KmerStream: Streaming algorithms for k-mer abundance estimation
Authors: Melsted Páll , Halldórsson Bjarni V.
Published: April 2014

Motivation: Several applications in bioinformatics, such as genome assemblers and error corrections methods, rely on counting and keeping track of k-mers (substrings of length k). Histograms of k-mer frequencies can give valuable insight into the underlying distribution and indicate the error rate and genome size sampled in the sequencing experiment.

Results: We present KmerStream, a streaming algorithm for computing statistics for high throughput sequencing data based on the frequency of k-mers. The algorithm runs in time linear in the size of the input and the space requirement are logarithmic in the size of the input. This very low space requirement allows us to deal with much larger datasets than previously presented algorithms. We derive a simple model that allows us to estimate the error rate of the sequencing experiment, as well as the genome size, using only the aggregate statistics reported by KmerStream and validate the accuracy on sequences from a PhiX control.

As an application we show how KmerStream can be used to compute the error rate of a DNA sequencing experiment. We run KmerStream on a set of 2656 whole genome sequenced individuals and compare the error rate to quality values reported by the sequencing equipment. We discover that while the quality values alone are largely reliable as a predictor of error rate, there is considerable variability in the error rates between sequencing runs, even when accounting for reported quality values.

Availability: The tool KmerStream is written in C++ and is released under a GPL license. It is freely available at https://github.com/pmelsted/KmerStream

Contact:pmelsted@hi.is
LaSSO, a strategy for genome-wide mapping of intronic lariats and branch points using RNA-seq
Authors: Bitton Danny A. , Rallis Charalampos , Jeffares Daniel C. , Smith Graeme C. , Chen Yuan Y.C. , Codlin Sandra , Marguerat Samuel , Bähler Jürg
Published: April 2014

Both canonical and alternative splicing of RNAs are governed by intronic sequence elements and produce transient lariat structures fastened by branch points within introns. To map precisely the location of branch points on a genomic scale, we developed LaSSO (Lariat Sequence Site Origin), a data-driven algorithm which utilizes RNA-seq data. Using fission yeast cells lacking the debranching enzyme Dbr1, LaSSO not only accurately identified canonical splicing events, but also pinpointed novel, but rare, exon-skipping events, which may reflect aberrantly spliced transcripts. Compromised intron turnover perturbed gene regulation at multiple levels, including splicing and protein translation. Notably, Dbr1 function was also critical for the expression of mitochondrial genes and for the processing of self-spliced mitochondrial introns. LaSSO showed better sensitivity and accuracy than algorithms used for computational branch-point prediction or for empirical branch-point determination. Even when applied to a human data set acquired in the presence of debranching activity, LaSSO identified both canonical and exon-skipping branch points. LaSSO thus provides an effective approach for defining high-resolution maps of branch-site sequences and intronic elements on a genomic scale. LaSSO should be useful to validate introns and uncover branch-point sequences in any eukaryote, and it could be integrated into RNA-seq pipelines.
Phenotypic and Transcriptional Analysis of Divergently Selected Maize Populations Reveals the Role of Developmental Timing in Seed Size Determination
Authors: Sekhon Rajandeep S. , Hirsch Candice N. , Childs Kevin L. , Breitzman Matthew W. , Kell Paul , Duvick Susan , Spalding Edgar P. , Buell C. Robin , de Leon Natalia , Kaeppler Shawn M.
Published: April 2014

Seed size is a component of grain yield and an important trait in crop domestication. To understand the mechanisms governing seed size in maize (Zea mays), we examined transcriptional and developmental changes during seed development in populations divergently selected for large and small seed size from Krug, a yellow dent maize cultivar. After 30 cycles of selection, seeds of the large seed population (KLS30) have a 4.7-fold greater weight and a 2.6-fold larger size compared with the small seed population (KSS30). Patterns of seed weight accumulation from the time of pollination through 30 d of grain filling showed an earlier onset, slower rate, and earlier termination of grain filling in KSS30 relative to KLS30. This was further supported by transcriptome patterns in seeds from the populations and derived inbreds. Although the onset of key genes was earlier in small seeds, similar maximum transcription levels were observed in large seeds at later stages, suggesting that functionally weaker alleles, rather than transcript abundance, may be the basis of the slow rate of seed filling in KSS30. Gene coexpression networks identified several known genes controlling cellularization and proliferation as well as novel genes that will be useful candidates for biotechnological approaches aimed at altering seed size in maize and other cereals.
A one-dimensional lead(II) coordination polymer with terminal and bridging 5-carboxy-2-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylate ligands
Authors: Guo Lei , Li Jia-Qun , Xie Yu-Ting , Lu Chu-Qin , Wu Jian-Zhong
Published: April 2014

In the coordination polymer catena-poly[[[diaqua[5-carboxy-2-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylato-κ2
N
3,O
4]lead(II)]-μ-5-carboxy-2-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylato-κ3
N
3,O
4:N
2] dihydrate], {[Pb(C10H6N3O4)(H2O)2]·2H2O}
n
, the two 5-carboxy-2-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylate ligands have different coordination modes, one being terminal and the other bridging. The bridging ligand links PbII cations into one-dimensional coordination polymer chains. The structure is also stabilized by intra- and interchain π–π stacking interactions between the pyridine rings, resulting in the formation of a two-dimensional network. Extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions lead to the formation of a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
The structure of {[Co(pht)(bpy)(H2O)]·3H2O}
n
(pht is phthalate and bpy is 4,4′-bipyridine) and the role of solvent water clusters in structure stability
Authors: Harvey Miguel Angel , Suarez Sebastián , Doctorovich Fabio , Cukiernik Fabio D. , Baggio Ricardo
Published: April 2014

The CoII cation in poly[[aqua(μ-benzene-1,2-dicarboxylato-κ3
O
1,O
2:O
1)(μ-4,4′-bipyridine-κ2
N:N′)cobalt(II)] trihydrate], {[Co(C8H4O4)(C10H8N2)(H2O)]·3H2O}
n
, is octahedrally coordinated by two N atoms of two 4,4′-bipyridine ligands, three O atoms from phthalate anions and a fourth O atom from a coordinated water molecule. The packing consists of planes of coordination polymers linked by hydrogen bonds mediated by three solvent water molecules; the linkage is achieved by the water molecules forming intricate oligomeric clusters which also involve the O atoms of the phthalate ligands.
Influence of land use and climate on recent forest expansion: a case study in the Eurosiberian–Mediterranean limit of north‐west Spain
Authors: Álvarez‐Martínez Jose Manuel , Suárez‐Seoane Susana , Stoorvogel Jetse J. , de Luis Calabuig Estanislao
Published: April 2014

In Mediterranean mountainous areas, forests have expanded in recent decades because traditional management practices have been abandoned or reduced. However, understanding the ecological mechanisms behind landscape change is a complex undertaking because the influence of land use may be reinforced or constrained by abiotic factors such as climate. In this work, we evaluated their combined effects on recent forest expansion across climatic, topographic and management gradients.

We used orthorectified aerial photographs from the second half of the twentieth century (1956, 1974, 1983, 1990 and 2004) to monitor changes in forest distribution in a set of 20 head‐water basins in the Cantabrian Mountains of north‐west Spain, at the Eurosiberian–Mediterranean limit. In particular, we evaluated the role of land‐use history (comparing natural vs. anthropic basins) and microclimate (comparing shaded vs. sunny aspects) of forest gain/loss rates and spatial distribution shifts. Finally, we applied Species Distribution Modelling techniques (MaxEnt and BIOMOD) in the stated scenarios of land‐use history and microclimate, to assess habitat suitability for forest expansion on the basis of topography, soil properties and mesoclimatic variables.

Forest cover increased from 10.72% in 1956 to 27.67% in 2004 in the area. The rate of expansion was significantly higher in natural basins and, particularly, on shaded slopes. In all cases, the mean elevation of new forest patches increased during the study period, which was particularly evident on natural sunny slopes. The performance of the models and the magnitude of the effects varied across land‐use histories and microclimatic conditions. Soil properties and temperature and precipitation in late spring and early summer were the main drivers of forest expansion in modelling exercises, although expansion rates and upward altitudinal shifts were primarily controlled by land‐use history and the biogeographic origin of the forests.

Synthesis. The combination of monitoring and modelling techniques used in this work contributed to the understanding of forest expansion in cultural systems, indicating that ecological succession is not a homogeneous process, but varies spatially due to human and abiotic constraints since historical times.
Rhizobial galactoglucan determines the predatory pattern of Myxococcus xanthus and protects Sinorhizobium meliloti from predation
Authors: Pérez Juana , Jiménez‐Zurdo José I. , Martínez‐Abarca Francisco , Millán Vicenta , Shimkets Lawrence J. , Muñoz‐Dorado José
Published: April 2014

Myxococcus xanthus is a social bacterium that preys on prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. Co‐culture of M. xanthus with reference laboratory strains and field isolates of the legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti revealed two different predatory patterns that resemble frontal and wolf‐pack attacks. Use of mutants impaired in the two types of M. xanthus surface motility (A or adventurous and S or social motility) and a csgA mutant, which is unable to form macroscopic travelling waves known as ripples, has demonstrated that both motility systems but not rippling are required for efficient predation. To avoid frontal attack and reduce killing rates, rhizobial cells require a functional expR gene. ExpR regulates expression of genes involved in a variety of functions. The use of S. meliloti mutants impaired in several of these functions revealed that the exopolysaccharide galactoglucan (EPS II) is the major determinant of the M. xanthus predatory pattern. The data also suggest that this biopolymer confers an ecological advantage to rhizobial survival in soil, which may have broad environmental implications.
Investing in irrigation development in North West Queensland, Australia
Authors: Wittwer Glyn , Banerjee Onil
Published: April 2014

This study uses a dynamic multi‐regional Computable General Equilibrium model of the Australian economy to examine the impacts of developing irrigated agriculture in remote North West Queensland. A potential investment and operational scenario is implemented using three alternative forecast baselines. In the first run using a business‐as‐usual baseline, there is a welfare loss from irrigation development, even with an optimistic shift in farm productivity and factor endowments in North West Queensland. In the second run, baseline demand for Australia's exports is assumed to grow at a faster rate and there is a small welfare gain. Simulating climate change impacts on crop yields, the forecast baseline of the third run includes a gradual reduction in farmland productivity in southern Australia. The simulations show the impacts of both supply and demand shifts on the welfare outcome, but on balance, clear welfare gains do not arise from the potential irrigation development.
Cyclic Pentanone Peroxide: Sensitiveness and Suitability as a Model for Triacetone Triperoxide
Authors: Bali Mark S. , Armitt David , Wallace Lynne , Day Anthony I.
Published: April 2014

Research to counter the threat of organic peroxides such as triacetone triperoxide (TATP) is at times hampered by their inherent extreme sensitiveness and volatility. This work describes an approach to lowering some risks associated with the handling of TATP in the laboratory through the use of an analog species, tripentanone triperoxide (TPTP). Sensitiveness has been tested via standard methods. GCMS analysis has shown that TPTP degrades via similar mechanisms to TATP under a range of conditions. Slight differences in product composition were traced to side reactions which may also affect impurities present in homemade TATP synthesis. A pilot field trial was conducted to evaluate TPTP as a substitute for TATP in explosive detection dog (EDD) scent training. The degradation studies have yielded insights into the complexities of the acidic degradation of cyclic peroxides with potential forensic application, and TPTP's inadequacy as a TATP pseudoscent is a valuable example of the limitations of such training aids.
A Comparison of Hypothermic Deaths in South Australia and Sweden
Authors: Bright Fiona M. , Winskog Calle , Walker Melissa , Byard Roger W.
Published: April 2014

Case files from Forensic Science South Australia and the Swedish National Forensic Database were reviewed over a 6‐year period from 2006 to 2011 for cases where hypothermia either caused, or significantly contributed to, death. Data were analyzed for age, sex, time of year/season, place of discovery, circumstances of death, and underlying medical conditions. Despite the considerable demographic, geographic, and climatological differences, hypothermic deaths occurred at very similar rates in South Australia (3.9/100,000) and Sweden (3.3/100,000). Deaths from hypothermia in South Australia occurred predominantly indoors at home addresses, involving elderly females with multiple underlying illnesses and limited outside contacts. In contrast, Swedish hypothermic deaths generally occurred outdoors and involved middle‐aged elderly males. These data show that hypothermia may be a risk in warmer climates particularly for elderly, socially isolated individuals.
Application of Volume‐of‐Fluid Method to Analyze the Viscosity Effect on the Spine Formation of Bloodstains
Authors: Park Chan‐Seong , Ihm Chun‐Hwa , Cho Nam‐Soo , Chung Nak‐Eun
Published: April 2014

In bloodstain pattern analysis, the blood droplet volume and surface impact velocity play an important role, and many related experimental studies have been carried out. If an appropriate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model that could solve bloodstain patterns, especially spine formation bloodstain patterns, can be obtained, the blood droplet volume and impact speeds at various crime scenes can be predicted more accurately. For this purpose, Flow‐3D software using the volume‐of‐fluid method was applied to analyze the behavior of human blood droplets during an impact event, especially focusing on the viscous effect on splashing, which forms the spine which can be used to predict the impact velocity. To obtain a non‐Newtonian viscosity model of blood for a computational fluid dynamic analysis, the venous blood samples of 163 people were tested using a hemorheology instrument. Among the venous blood samples of 163 people, 37 samples for which all blood test results were in a normal range were selected for the non‐Newtonian viscosity modeling. From the CFD analysis, it could be concluded that a non‐Newtonian viscosity model is more appropriate than a constant viscosity model for predicting splashing that forms the spine. The gradient of the non‐Newtonian model at a high shear rate has more of an effect on spine formation than that at a low shear rate. The lowest viscosity with a high velocity at the outer front of the radiating flow plays an important role in forming the splashing pattern.
Sharp Force Injury Fatalities: A Retrospective Study (1982–2012) in Brescia (Italy)
Authors: Vassalini Marzia , Verzeletti Andrea , De Ferrari Francesco
Published: April 2014

A retrospective study was carried out on postmortem examination data of 131 sharp force‐related casualties recorded by the Brescia Institute of Forensic Medicine between 1982 and 2012. The objective was to identify relevant parameters that may be used to distinguish the manner of deaths between homicide, suicide, and accident. The following variables were considered: manner of death; demographic data; scene; type of sharp object; location and numbers of wounds; the presence of hesitation marks/defense wounds; toxicological findings; psychiatric history. There were 92 homicides, 28 suicides, and 11 accidents. Most victims were male, with an average age of 43. Injuries in isolation were present in 9.8% of homicides, in 35.7% of suicides, and in 54.5% of accidents. Most injuries involved the left anterior chest in homicides and the forearms in suicides. This study underlines the importance of a meticulous postmortem examination of injuries on the body and their relationship with other results from the death scene investigation.
Acute coronary syndrome diagnosis at hospital discharge: How often do we get it right in the emergency department?
Authors: Handrinos Alex , Braitberg George , Mosley Ian Trevor
Published: April 2014

Objective

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) encompasses unstable angina (UA), non‐ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and ST segment myocardial infarction (STEMI). In 2007–2008 in Australia, there were 95 000 hospitalisations for ACS. There is limited data about the level of agreement between the ED and hospital discharge diagnosis. The objective of the present study is to describe the proportion of ED patients with a concordant ACS hospital discharge diagnosis and determine factors associated with this.

Methods

The present study was a retrospective case series of consecutive presentations of patients with ACS to the EDs of Southern Health, Victoria, Australia, during a 6 month period between August 2011 and January 2012.

Results

One thousand and twenty‐eight patients diagnosed with ACS in the ED were identified. Hospital discharge diagnosis was recorded for 704 cases. The mean age was 63 years (SD 14.5) and 69% were male. One hundred and nineteen patients (16.9%) were diagnosed with a STEMI, 322 (45.7%) with a NSTEMI and 263 (37.4%) with UA. There were 68.3% who had a concordant discharge diagnosis of ACS. An ED diagnosis of STEMI (87.4), English as the primary language (OR 1.81 [1.13–2.89]) and chest pain as the presenting complaint (OR 2.70 [1.72–4.23]) were associated with a concordant diagnosis of ACS.

Conclusion

Almost one‐third of patients who are admitted to the hospital with ACS have a different hospital discharge diagnosis. English as a primary language and presenting with chest pain are associated with a more concordant diagnosis. More research needs to be performed to better understand these findings.
Occupational fall injuries presenting to the emergency department
Authors: Son Hyung Min , Kim Sun Hyu , Shin Sang Do , Ryoo Hyun Wook , Ryu Hyun Ho , Lee Ji Ho
Published: April 2014

Objectives

This study was performed to evaluate occupational and fall injuries presenting to the ED, the risk factors associated with falls among all occupational injuries, and factors affecting prognosis.

Methods

Data from ED‐based Occupational Injury Surveillance System were analysed to investigate the occupational injuries. The 2147 occupational injury subjects were divided into two groups: fall (n = 213, 9.9%) and non‐fall (n = 1934, 90.1%). Data including baseline and clinical characteristics were compared between the groups.

Results

The mean age was older in the fall group (46 vs 42 years old). The rate of construction site‐related injury was 32% in the fall group and only 8% in the non‐fall group. Injury occurrence during regular working hours (09.00 hours to 18.00 hours) was 70% in the fall group and 57% in the non‐fall group. Injury severity using the Excess Mortality Ratio‐adjusted Injury Severity Score (EMR‐ISS) was more severe in the fall group than in the non‐fall group, and days away from work were longer in the fall group than the non‐fall group. Older age, compared with an age <29 years old and presence in a construction area during regular working hours were factors associated with fall injuries. Factors affecting prolonged absence for work were older age, higher EMR‐ISS, fall injury and poor workplace environmental conditions.

Conclusion

Risk factors associated with fall‐related occupational injuries include older age and being at a construction area during regular working hours. Falls among occupational injuries are more severe than other injuries and result in longer work loss.
Review article: Ventricular assist devices in the emergency department
Authors: Partyka Christopher , Taylor Ben
Published: April 2014

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) have become an indispensable tool in the management of end‐stage cardiac failure, both as a means of bridging to cardiac transplantation and as destination therapy for long‐term quality of life improvement. Although the technology continues to advance and these devices continue to be refined, they are still associated with significant complications. This article reviews the basics of VAD function and physiology, as well as the myriad to complications that follow their implantation. This review aims to provide a systematic approach to the troubleshooting, diagnosis and management of both VAD‐associated complications and the resuscitation of the decompensated VAD patient presenting to the ED.
Review article: Elevated troponin: Diagnostic gold or fool's gold?
Authors: Rahman Atifur , Broadley Simon A
Published: April 2014

Troponin is a highly sensitive biomarker of myocardial injury and has been used extensively in everyday clinical practice in the community as well as in hospitals for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and for risk stratification of patients with acute coronary symptoms. Dynamic elevations in biomarkers (troponin) are considered fundamental to the diagnosis of AMI. Unfortunately, many clinical conditions can cause troponin elevation in the absence of myocardial ischaemia, and elevated levels sometimes pose a diagnostic dilemma. In some cases, inappropriate diagnosis of ‘AMI’ based primarily on a raised troponin can have a deleterious impact on an individual, including on driving, insurance and other medicolegal matters. An incorrect diagnosis of myocardial infarction can also lead to the oversight of serious life‐threatening alternative causes of troponin elevation (e.g. pulmonary embolism). This article discusses the role of troponin in our everyday clinical practice in the ED.
Limited utility of exercise stress testing in the evaluation of suspected acute coronary syndrome in patients aged less than 40 years with intermediate risk features
Authors: Scott Adam C , Bilesky Jennifer , Lamanna Arvin , Cullen Louise , FT Brown Anthony , Denaro Charles , Parsonage William
Published: April 2014

Objective

National guidelines for management of intermediate risk patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome, in whom AMI has been excluded, advocate provocative testing to final risk stratify these patients into low risk (negative testing) or high risk (positive testing suggestive of unstable angina). Adults less than 40 years have a low pretest probability of acute coronary syndrome. The utility of exercise stress testing in young adults with chest pain suspected of acute coronary syndrome who have National Heart Foundation intermediate risk features was evaluated.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of exercise stress testing performed on patients less than 40 years was evaluated. Patients were enrolled on a chest pain pathway and had negative serial ECGs and cardiac biomarkers before exercise stress testing to rule‐out acute coronary syndrome. Chart review was completed on patients with positive stress tests.

Results

The 3987 patients with suspected intermediate risk acute coronary syndrome underwent exercise stress testing. One thousand and twenty‐seven (25.8%) were aged less than 40 years (age 33.3 ± 4.8 years). Four of these 1027 patients had a positive exercise stress test (0.4% incidence of positive exercise stress testing). Of those, three patients had subsequent non‐invasive functional testing that yielded a negative result. One patient declined further investigations. Assuming this was a true positive exercise stress test, the incidence of true positive exercise stress testing would have been 0.097% (95% confidence interval: 0.079–0.115%) (one of 1027 patients).

Conclusions

Routine exercise stress testing has limited value in the risk stratification of adults less than 40 years with suspected intermediate risk of acute coronary syndrome.
IL10 low‐frequency variants in Behçet's disease patients
Authors: Matos Mafalda , Xavier Joana M. , Abrantes Patrícia , Sousa Inês , Rei Nádia , Davatchi Fereydoun , Shahram Farhad , Jesus Gorete , Barcelos Filipe , Vedes Joana , Salgado Manuel , Abdollahi Bahar Sadeghi , Nadji Abdolhadi , Moraes‐Fontes Maria Francisca , Shafiee Niloofar Mojarad , Ghaderibarmi Fahmida , Vaz Patto José , Crespo Jorge , Oliveira Sofia A.
Published: April 2014

Aim

To explain the missing heritability after the genome‐wide association studies era, sequencing studies allow the identification of low‐frequency variants with a stronger effect on disease risk. Common variants in the interleukin 10 gene (IL10) have been consistently associated with Behçet's disease (BD) and the goal of this study is to investigate the role of low‐frequency IL10 variants in BD susceptibility.

Methods

To identify IL10 low‐frequency variants, a discovery group of 50 Portuguese BD patients were Sanger‐sequenced in a 7.7 kb genomic region encompassing the complete IL10 gene, 0.9 kb upstream and 2 kb downstream, and two conserved regions in the putative promoter. To assess if the novel variants are BD‐ and/or Portuguese‐specific, they were assayed in an additional group of BD patients (26 Portuguese and 964 Iranian) and controls (104 Portuguese and 823 Iranian).

Results

Rare IL10 coding variants were not detected in BD patients, but we identified 28 known single nucleotide polymorphisms with minor allele frequencies ranging from 0.010 to 0.390, and five novel non‐coding variants in five heterozygous cases. ss836185595, located in the IL10 3′ untranslated region, was also detected in one Iranian control individual and therefore is not specific to BD. The remaining novel IL10 variants (ss836185596 and ss836185602 in intron 3, ss836185598 and ss836185604 in the putative promoter region) were not found in the replication dataset.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of screening the whole gene and regulatory regions when searching for novel variants associated with complex diseases, and the need to develop bioinformatics tools to predict the functional impact of non‐coding variants and statistical tests which incorporate these predictions.
Selecting food web models using normalized maximum likelihood
Authors: Staniczenko Phillip P. A. , Smith Matthew J. , Allesina Stefano
Published: April 2014

Ecological models link theory and data. They distil processes into a mathematical form that explains the salient features of observed data. Food webs describe the pattern of interactions between species in an ecosystem, and many models have been proposed to explain their structure. When selecting the most appropriate model for data, it is important to penalize against overly complicated models.

Here, we introduce to ecology the use of normalized maximum likelihood (NML) for model selection and demonstrate its application to models for food web structure. Unlike AIC, which penalizes models using the number of parameters, NML normalizes the likelihood of data given a model by the sum of likelihoods for all possible food webs with the same number of species. NML favours models that fit observed data well and all other data sets poorly, in contrast with overly flexible models that fit many (unobserved) data sets by the same amount and thus provide little information on the system under investigation. As such, NML represents a natural measure for comparing very different models and enables ecologists to determine not only whether a particular model is superior to others, but also whether, objectively, the model is a poor description of data.

We used NML to compare models from four popular model families (cascade, niche, modular and group) and found that the best models performed much better than random graphs incorporating no ecological principles. However, models specified by empirical characteristics such as species body mass, taxonomic classification or habitat were frequently far‐from‐optimal and, in some cases, performed worse than random graphs. This suggests that ecological interactions cannot be explained by a single species trait or coarse‐grained environmental factor. The ranking of empirically determined models using NML was generally consistent with model selection according to AIC, BIC and Bayes factors. We also show how NML can improve the development of new model families by measuring the effectiveness of incremental changes to existing families or combining families.

NML offers ecologists a rigorous and elegant framework for revealing the defining features of data through the systematic formulation, testing and modification of models.
Functional and phylogenetic similarity among communities
Authors: Pavoine Sandrine , Ricotta Carlo
Published: April 2014

Ecological studies often rely on coefficients of intercommunity (dis)similarity to decipher effects of ecological, evolutionary and human‐driven mechanisms on the composition of communities. Yet, two main criticisms have been levelled at (dis)similarity coefficients. First, few developments include information on species' abundances, and either phylogeny or functional traits. Secondly, some (dis)similarity coefficients fail to always provide maximum dissimilarity between two completely distinct communities, that is, communities without common species and with zero similarities among their species.

Here, we introduce a new family of similarity coefficients responding to these criticisms. Within this family, we concentrate on four coefficients and compare them to Rao's dissimilarity on macroinvertebrate communities, and simulated data.

Our new coefficients correctly treat maximally dissimilar communities: similarities are always zero between two completely distinct communities. The originality of these new coefficients is even more profound as the existence of maximally dissimilar communities was not a requirement for the new coefficients to behave differently than Rao's dissimilarity coefficient.

Our new family of similarity coefficients relies on the abundances or occurrences of species within communities and on phylogenetic, taxonomic or functional similarities among species. We demonstrate that this new family embeds many of the recent developments in both functional and phylogenetic diversity. It provides a unique framework for comparing traditional compositional turnover with functional or phylogenetic similarities among communities.
Are mitochondrial lineages, mitochondrial lysis and respiration rate associated with phosphine susceptibility in the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais?
Authors: Corrêa A.S. , Tomé H.V.V. , Braga L.S. , Martins G.F. , de Oliveira L.O. , Guedes R.N.C.
Published: April 2014

Phosphine is the most widely used fumigant with ever‐growing problems of phosphine resistance among insect pests of stored products. One such insect is the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais, a key pest of stored cereals. Despite its importance as a fumigant, the mechanisms of phosphine toxicity and resistance remain unclear, although the mitochondrion is broadly recognised as its site of action. Here we explored the phosphine susceptibility of maize weevil populations and its association with insect respiration rate, and we tested the association of phosphine susceptibility with the mitochondrial lineages from the field populations studied. We also assessed the action of phosphine in the degradation of mitochondria from muscle cells. Survival under phosphine treatment varied among weevil populations and was negatively correlated with the respiration rate and body mass of the insect. Phosphine produced little lysis of mitochondria and the more phosphine‐resistant population exhibited a slightly higher mitochondria fluorescence intensity under confocal imaging. Therefore, reduced respiration rate is correlated with reduced phosphine activity, but its association with high mitochondria fluorescence intensity in muscle cells seems marginal. There was no association between mitochondrial lineages and phosphine susceptibility, which evolved independently, and the mitochondrial gene fragments of cytochrome oxidase I and II were not useful molecular markers of phosphine susceptibility.
The Origin of 18th–19th Century Tin‐Glazed Pottery from Lorraine, France
Authors: Maggetti M. , Rosen J. , Serneels V.
Published: April 2014

Forty‐eight tin‐glazed ceramic fragments (faiences) from Lorraine, found in excavations or pertaining to objects in collections, were subjected to X‐ray fluorescence analysis to determine the bulk, major, minor and trace element compositions. Sixteen superficially clay layers from the surroundings of Lunéville and Saint‐Clément were also analysed. The faiences are, with four exceptions, MgO rich. The combination of stylistic and chemical arguments allowed the recognition of 28 objects that were attributable to the important faience manufactory of Jacques II Chambrette in Lunéville. This reference group was used to test the provenance of high‐Mg faiences from private collections. The latter are not from the manufactory of Le Bois d'Épense/Les Islettes as commonly assumed, but most probably belong to Lunéville and Saint‐Clément. According to archival sources, the potters mixed three clays for the pastes. Some prospected clays are MgO rich due to the presence of dolomite and other Mg‐bearing minerals, but not as high as the faiences, a fact that can be explained by the sampling of de‐carbonatized layers.
Allopurinol for mania: a randomized trial of allopurinol versus placebo as add‐on treatment to mood stabilizers and/or antipsychotic agents in manic patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Weiser Mark , Burshtein Shimon , Gershon Ari A , Marian Gabriela , Vlad Nicolae , Grecu Iosif G , Tocari Elena , Tiugan Alexandru , Hotineanu Mihail , Davis John M
Published: April 2014

Objective

An emerging body of evidence supports a role for dysfunctional purinergic neurotransmission in mood disorders. Adenosine agonists have been shown to have properties similar to those of dopamine antagonists; there is a well‐characterized interaction between adenosine and dopamine receptors in the ventral striatum, and increasing adenosinergic transmission has been demonstrated to reduce the affinity of dopamine agonists for dopamine receptors. Allopurinol increases adenosine levels in the brain, and hence is hypothesized to reduce the symptoms of mania. Two randomized, placebo‐controlled trials administering add‐on allopurinol to manic patients showed significantly greater improvements in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) scores for drug compared to placebo, while a more recent, relatively small, add‐on study showed negative results. Based on these data, our objective was to examine the efficacy of allopurinol as add‐on treatment to mood stabilizers and/or antipsychotic agents in manic patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods

We performed a large, well‐powered, multicenter, six‐week, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of allopurinol added to mood stabilizers and/or antipsychotic agents in 180 patients with bipolar disorder in an acute manic episode.

Results

Both groups showed improvement on the YMRS (effect size of 1.5 for placebo and 1.6 for allopurinol), with no difference observed between groups on YMRS scores (t = 0.28, p = 0.78). There was no difference in the proportion of patients who responded to treatment (defined as showing at least 50% improvement in YMRS score) between the two groups (p = 0.92), or in dropout rates (p = 0.84).

Limitations

None of our patients received lithium. However, the side effects of lithium and its narrow therapeutic index made the use of lithium less common and, therefore, our study results reflect common current clinical practice. In the present study, we used a variety of antipsychotic and/or mood stabilizing treatments, to which we added allopurinol; one might hypothesize that add‐on allopurinol has a different effect in combination with different antipsychotic agents or mood stabilizers.

Conclusions

The findings of this large, well‐powered study do not support add‐on allopurinol as a treatment for acute mania. This study did not test the efficacy of allopurinol as monotherapy.
Palaeoecological, archaeological and historical data and the making ofDevon landscapes.I.TheBlackdownHills
Authors: Brown Antony G. , Hawkins Charlotte , Ryder Lucy , Hawken Sean , Griffith Frances , Hatton Jackie
Published: April 2014

This paper presents the first systematic study of the vegetation history of a range of low hills inSW England,UK,lying between more researched fenlands and uplands. After the palaeoecological sites were located bespoke archaeological, historical and documentary studies of the surrounding landscape were undertaken specifically to inform palynological interpretation at each site. The region has a distinctive archaeology with lateMesolithic tool scatters, some evidence of earlyNeolithic agriculture, manyBronzeAge funerary monuments andRomano‐British iron‐working. Historical studies have suggested that the present landscape pattern is largely earlyMedieval. However, the pollen evidence suggests a significantly differentHolocene vegetation history in comparison with other areas in lowlandEngland, with evidence of incomplete forest clearance in later‐Prehistory (Bronze−IronAge). Woodland persistence on steep, but poorly drained, slopes, was probably due to the unsuitability of these areas for mixed farming. Instead they may have been under woodland management (e.g. coppicing) associated with the iron‐working industry. Data from two of the sites also suggest that laterIronAge andRomano‐British impact may have been geographically restricted. The documentedMedieval land management that maintained the patchwork of small fields, woods and heathlands had its origins in laterPrehistory, but there is also evidence of landscape change in the 6th–9th centuriesAD. We conclude that theBlackdownHills area was one of many ‘distinctive subregions’, which due to a combination of edaphic, topographic and cultural factors could qualify as an eco‐cultural region or ‘pays’. It is argued that the use of such eco‐culturally distinctive regions or pays can provide a spatial and archaeological framework for palaeoecology, which has implications for landscape research, designation and heritage management.