bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The nature of laboratory domestication changes in freshly isolated Escherichia coli strains
Authors: Eydallin Gustavo , Ryall Ben , Maharjan Ram , Ferenci Thomas
Published: July 2013

Adaptation of environmental bacteria to laboratory conditions can lead to modification of important traits, what we term domestication. Little is known about the rapidity and reproducibility of domestication changes, the uniformity of these changes within a species or how diverse these are in a single culture. Here, we analysed phenotypic changes in nutrient‐rich liquid media or on agar of four Escherichia coli strains newly isolated through minimal steps from different sources. The laboratory‐cultured populations showed changes in metabolism, morphotype, fitness and in some phenotypes associated with the sigma factor RpoS. Domestication events and phenotypic diversity started to emerge within 2–3 days in replicate subcultures of the same ancestor. In some strains, increased amino acid usage and higher fitness under nutrient limitation resembled those in mutants with the GASP (growth advantage in stationary phase) phenotype. The domestication changes are not uniform across a species or even within a single domesticated population. However, some parallelism in adaptation within repeat cultures was observed. Differences in the laboratory environment also determine domestication effects, which differ between liquid and solid media or with extended stationary phase. Important lessons for the handling and storage of organisms can be based on these studies.
Patterns of Junior Partner Influence on the Foreign Policy of Coalition Governments
Authors: Oppermann Kai , Brummer Klaus
Published: July 2013

Research Highlights and Abstract

The main contribution of this article is that it:

Introduces a distinction between different pathways for junior partner influence on the foreign policy of coalition governments; Provides nuanced insights into the effects of coalition government on foreign policy as well as on the causal mechanisms behind these effects; Contributes to the ‘unpacking’ of coalitions and the analysis of coalition governance more generally; Features a comparative analysis of the current coalition governments in the United Kingdom and Germany.

This article contributes to research on the foreign policy influence of junior partners in coalition governments. In particular, it takes up the call to pay greater attention to different patterns and pathways of such influence. To this purpose, this article distinguishes two types of coalition set-ups for foreign policy making. In the first type, junior partners hold one or more departments in the foreign policy executive, and their foreign policy influence rests on the powers that controlling ministries in the field brings. In the second type, junior partners do not hold any department in foreign affairs, and their influence comes from their ability to constrain the discretion of the senior partner in foreign policy. The article exemplifies its theoretical contentions in comparative case studies on the current coalition governments in Germany and the UK, which represent the first and second type respectively.
Five‐year outcomes after iodine‐125 seed brachytherapy for low‐risk prostate cancer at three cancer centres in the UK
Authors: Dickinson Peter D. , Malik Jahangeer , Mandall Paula , Swindell Ric , Bottomley David , Hoskin Peter , Logue John P. , Wylie James P.
Published: July 2013

Objective

To report the outcomes of >1000 men with low‐risk prostate cancer treated with low‐dose‐rate (LDR) brachytherapy at three large UK cancer centres.

Patients and Methods

A total of 1038 patients with low‐risk prostate cancer (prostate‐specific antigen [PSA] ≤10 ng/mL, Gleason score 6, ≤T2b disease) were treated with LDR iodine 125 (I‐125) brachytherapy between 2002 and 2007.

Patients were treated at three UK centres.

PSA and clinical follow‐up was performed at each centre.

Biochemical recurrence‐free survival was reported for the cohort.

Results

The median (range) PSA follow‐up for the whole group was 5 years (4 months to 9 years).

A total of 79 patients had biochemical failure, defined by a rise in PSA level: 16 patients fulfilled the ASTRO definition of biochemical failure, 25 patients fulfilled the Phoenix definition and 38 patients fulfilled both definitions.

The 5‐year biochemical relapse‐free survival (bRFS) rate was 94.1% by the ASTRO definition and 94.2% by the Phoenix definition.

The absence of neoadjuvant hormone therapy was predictive of inferior biochemical control as defined by the Phoenix definition (P = 0.033).

Conclusions

Our prospective multicentre series showed excellent bRFS with LDR I‐125 brachytherapy for patients with low‐risk prostate cancer.

Further work is necessary to define the role of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy in combination with brachytherapy.
Pulmonary function and blood gases after gastric bypass and lifestyle intervention: a comparative study
Authors: Gabrielsen A.‐M. , Lund M. B. , Kongerud J. , Viken K. E. , Røislien J. , Hjelmesæth J. , Hofsø D.
Published: July 2013

What is already known about this subject

Impaired lung function associated with obesity improves with weight loss.

What this study adds

This is the first study to compare the effects of obesity surgery and intensive lifestyle intervention on pulmonary function and arterial blood gases.

Arterial oxygenation and pulmonary function improved to a greater extent after gastric bypass than after lifestyle intervention.

The superiority of surgical treatment might be mediated by greater weight loss after gastric bypass.

Impaired lung function associated with obesity improves with weight loss. The effects of obesity surgery and intensive lifestyle intervention on pulmonary function and arterial blood gases have not previously been subjected to comparative examination. In this 1‐year non‐randomized controlled clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00273104), 139 morbidly obese subjects (19–66 years, mean [standard deviation] body mass index [BMI] 45.1 kg m−2 [5.6], 107 women) were treated with either Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass surgery (n = 76) or intensive lifestyle intervention (n = 63). Mean weight reduction was 30 (8)% and 8 (9)%, respectively. Dynamic and static lung volumes, gas diffusing capacity and arterial blood gases were measured. Compared with lifestyle intervention, surgery resulted in a significantly greater increase in forced vital capacity (mean [95% confidence interval] between‐group difference, 7 [4–10]%), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (7 [5–9]%), total lung capacity (5 [1–8]%), vital capacity (7 [4–9]%), functional residual capacity (18 [12–24]%), expiratory reserve volume (48 [30–66]%) and partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (0.5 [0.0–1.0] kPa). These associations either disappeared or diminished after adjusting for weight loss. Reduced central adiposity (waist circumference and waist‐to‐hip ratio) and systemic inflammation (C‐reactive protein and adiponectin) had no effect on pulmonary function beyond the effect of reduced general adiposity (BMI). In morbidly obese subjects, gastric bypass surgery is more effective than lifestyle intervention at improving arterial oxygenation and pulmonary function. The effect might be mediated by greater weight loss after surgical treatment.
Self‐reported symptoms of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among obese patients seeking bariatric surgery and its relation to alcohol consumption, disordered eating and gender
Authors: Alfonsson S. , Parling T. , Ghaderi A.
Published: July 2013

What is already known about this subject

Symptoms of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are common among people with obesity.

Symptoms of ADHD are associated with other impulsive behaviours.

Impulsivity can manifest differently in women and men.

What this study adds

The prevalence of ADHD symptoms was equal in both sexes in this patient group.

ADHD symptoms were associated with hazardous alcohol consumption in men but not in women.

It may be important to investigate several comorbid conditions simultaneously instead of a single diagnosis.

Eating disorders and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), both characterized by deficits in impulse control, are common among bariatric surgery patients. Previous studies in other groups have found gender differences in how symptoms of ADHD and eating disorders manifest as women show more disordered eating and men show more risk consumption of alcohol. In the present study, the association between symptoms of adult ADHD, eating disorders and hazardous alcohol consumption was investigated, while considering gender differences. Self‐report questionnaires were obtained from 276 bariatric surgery patients 3–6 months before surgery. The prevalence rates of adult ADHD and binge eating disorder (BED) were 8.6% and 6.3%, respectively, with no evidence of gender difference in the prevalence rates. Hazardous alcohol consumption was reported by a significantly larger portion of men (16.9%) than women (8.6%). There was an association between adult ADHD and both BED and hazardous alcohol consumption. However, symptoms of adult ADHD were associated with hazardous alcohol consumption in men but not in women. Our results suggest gender differences in hazardous alcohol consumption and self‐reported symptoms of disordered eating despite similar prevalence rate of BED, but no gender difference in symptoms of adult ADHD. Finally, as the associations between these variables seem to be different in women and men, future studies need to investigate potential gender‐specific functional and temporal relations between these variables.
The Quantitative Evaluation of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program Based on Science Mapping and Scientometric Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yin , Wang Lei , Diao Tianxi
Published: July 2013

The Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program is one of the most important initiatives in translational medical funding. The quantitative evaluation of the efficiency and performance of the CTSA program has a significant referential meaning for the decision making of global translational medical funding. Using science mapping and scientometric analytic tools, this study quantitatively analyzed the scientific articles funded by the CTSA program. The results of the study showed that the quantitative productivities of the CTSA program had a stable increase since 2008. In addition, the emerging trends of the research funded by the CTSA program covered clinical and basic medical research fields. The academic benefits from the CTSA program were assisting its members to build a robust academic home for the Clinical and Translational Science and to attract other financial support. This study provided a quantitative evaluation of the CTSA program based on science mapping and scientometric analysis. Further research is required to compare and optimize other quantitative methods and to integrate various research results.
Scintigraphic comparison of intra‐arterial injection and distal intravenous regional limb perfusion for administration of mesenchymal stem cells to the equine foot
Authors: Trela J. M. , Spriet M. , Padgett K. A. , Galuppo L. D. , Vaughan B. , Vidal M. A.
Published: July 2013

Reasons for performing study

Intra‐arterial (i.a.) and intravenous (i.v.) regional limb perfusions (RLP) through the median artery and cephalic vein, respectively, have been previously investigated for administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to the equine distal limb. Limitations due to thrombosis of the arteries after i.a. RLP and poor distribution of MSCs to the foot with i.v. RLP were observed. These techniques need to be modified for clinical use.

Objectives

Evaluate the distribution, uptake and persistence of radiolabelled MSCs after i.a. injection through the median artery without a tourniquet and after i.v. RLP through the lateral palmar digital vein.

Study design

In vivo experimental study.

Methods

99mTc‐HMPAO‐labelled MSCs were injected through the median artery of one limb and the lateral palmar digital vein of the other limb of 6 horses under general anaesthesia. No tourniquet was used for the i.a. injection. A pneumatic tourniquet was placed on the metacarpus for i.v. injection. Scintigraphic images were obtained up to 24 h after injection.

Results

Intra‐arterial injection resulted in MSCs retention within the limb despite the absence of a tourniquet and no thrombosis was observed. Both i.a. injection and i.v. RLP led to distribution of MSCs to the foot. The i.a. injection resulted in a more homogeneous distribution. The MSC uptake was higher with i.v. RLP at the initial timepoints, but no significant difference was present at 24 h.

Conclusions

Both i.a. injection through the median artery without a tourniquet and i.v. RLP performed through the lateral palmar digital vein under general anaesthesia are safe and reliable methods for administration of MSCs to the equine foot. The i.a. technique is preferred owing to the better distribution, but is technically more challenging. The feasibility of performing these techniques on standing horses remains to be investigated.
Post‐kala‐azar dermal leishmaniasis in HIV‐infected patients with AIDS: a report of two cases diagnosed in the USA
Authors: Farooq Uzma , Choudhary Sonal , Chacon Anna H. , Lebrun Elizabeth , Shiman Michael I. , Hernandez Jose , Milikowski Clara , Kerdel Francisco A. , Romanelli Paolo
Published: July 2013

Background

Post‐kala‐azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is an uncommon complication of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) but is emerging as an increasingly frequent and serious complication of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It manifests as a macular, morbilliform, or nodular eruption in a patient who has recovered from VL.

Methods

We present two cases of PKDL in the setting of AIDS.

Results

These two cases are notable because they demonstrate the severe course of VL, the rare appearance of PKDL in the USA, and the recurrence of disease after >2 years of remission in the second case. Options for treatment include amphotericin B and pentavalent antimonials along with first‐line antiretroviral therapy.

Conclusions

The prevention of VL relapses, and the development of PKDL in HIV patients with Leishmania co‐infection remains challenging. The vast differential diagnosis of other HIV‐related cutaneous conditions, along with a lack of experience with this disease, often delays diagnosis. Therapeutic dilemmas concerning drug selection, dosage, scheduling regimen, and the respective durations of initial and maintenance therapy for PKDL need to be addressed. Treatment should aim to target the latent infection and prevent posttreatment VL relapses that may present in an unpredictable fashion. Leishmaniasis remains a recognized but uncommon opportunistic disease in the setting of HIV, which can be associated with atypical features including the appearance of skin lesions years after the treatment of VL.
A 10‐year analysis of cutaneous mesenchymal tumors (sarcomas and related entities) in a skin cancer center
Authors: Wollina Uwe , Koch André , Hansel Gesina , Schönlebe Jaqueline , Kittner Thomas , Pabst Friedemann , Haroske Gunter , Nowak Andreas
Published: July 2013

Background  Mesenchymal neoplasms (sarcomas) of skin are rare. Patients with sarcomas were analyzed over the last decade.

Methods  Over a 10‐year period, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed and treated in an urban academic teaching hospital in Saxony, Germany. Clinical and pathologic files were used.

Results  We identified 65 adult patients with 67 primary cutaneous sarcomas. The mean age was 73.1 (±15.5) years with a male predominance (78.5%). None of the sarcomas was detected by a skin cancer screening program. The diagnosis was atypical fibroxanthoma (n = 41 patients with 43 tumors), cutaneous angiosarcoma (eight), dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (two), nodular epithelioid cell sarcoma (one), Kaposi sarcoma (three), leiomyosarcoma (five), malignant fibrous histiocytoma (two), fibromyxoid sarcoma (one), and cutaneous angiomyxoma (two). The preferred tumor localization was the head and neck area (44 patients). Follow‐up was 0.5–5.5 years (mean 18 ± 12 months). We observed metastatic spread of atypical fibroxanthoma in 12.5%, demonstrating that this type of sarcoma can run an aggressive course. Mohs surgery is still the cornerstone of treatment, although new options in palliative or adjuvant treatment are available.

Conclusions  Mesenchymal neoplasms (sarcomas) are an important group of cutaneous malignancies. Awareness needs to be improved.
England's New Scheme for Funding Higher Education through Student Fees: ‘Fair and Progressive’?
Authors: Johnston Ron
Published: July 2013

From September 2012 most home undergraduates at English universities are being charged fees of £9,000 per annum. These are funded by a government loan, which attracts interest from the moment they start their course; after three years their accumulated debt exceeds £30,000. They can also borrow to cover their living costs, on the same terms, so that those studying in London can graduate with a debt of more than £50,000—although those from low‐income families can obtain grants and universities are encouraged to provide bursaries and other support to students from underrepresented groups. Graduates start repaying their debts once their annual income exceeds £21,000—at a rate of 9% of the difference between their income and that figure: until the debt is fully repaid it continues to attract interest, by as much as three percentage points above the current inflation rate. Using data from a calculator on a government website, this paper shows that the highest‐paid graduates pay back less than those on middle incomes: the ‘squeezed middle’ pays back more not only than those on low incomes but also the better‐paid and those whose incomes increase more rapidly. This has differential effects according to occupation—and sex; and middle‐income groups also contribute more to the costs of widening participation programmes, which all universities charging more than £6,000 per annum are required to fund.
Phylogenetic effects on functional traits and life history strategies of Australian freshwater fish
Authors: Sternberg David , Kennard Mark J.
Published: July 2013

Understanding the biogeographic and phylogenetic basis to interspecific differences in species’ functional traits is a central goal of evolutionary biology and community ecology. We quantify the extent of phylogenetic influence on functional traits and life‐history strategies of Australian freshwater fish to highlight intercontinental differences as a result of Australia's unique biogeographic and evolutionary history. We assembled data on life history, morphological and ecological traits from published sources for 194 Australian freshwater species. Interspecific variation among species could be described by a specialist–generalist gradient of variation in life‐history strategies associated with spawning frequency, fecundity and spawning migration. In general, Australian fish showed an affinity for life‐history strategies that maximise fitness in hydrologically unpredictable environments. We also observed differences in trait lability between and within life history, morphological and ecological traits where in general morphological and ecological traits were more labile. Our results showed that life‐history strategies are relatively evolutionarily labile and species have potentially evolved or colonised in freshwaters frequently and independently allowing them to maximise population performance in a range of environments. In addition, reproductive guild membership showed strong phylogenetic constraint indicating that evolutionary history is an important component influencing the range and distribution of reproductive strategies in extant species assemblages. For Australian freshwater fish, biogeographic and phylogenetic history contribute to broad taxonomic differences in species functional traits, while finer scale ecological processes contribute to interspecific differences in smaller taxonomic units. These results suggest that the lability or phylogenetic relatedness of different functional traits affects their suitability for testing hypothesis surrounding community level responses to environmental change.
Epistemic Engineering and the Lucha for Sexual Rights in Postrevolutionary Nicaragua
Authors: Howe Cymene
Published: July 2013

Desde 1992–2007, Nicaragua tuvo la problemática distinción de mantener la ley de sodomía más represiva de todas las Américas. En base al trabajo de campo realizado durante varios años con activistas por lo que ellos llaman ‘la lucha’ por los derechos sexuales, este artículo se enfoca en la ‘máquina epistemológica’ de la lucha por los derechos sexuales en Nicaragua. En el texto se analizan los dos pilares que han enmarcado dicho activismo: ‘Orgullo Lésbico‐Gay’ y ‘Una Sexualidad Libre de Prejuicios’, cada cual con su propio origen ideológico y propósitos epistemológicos. Como representantes de discursos políticos y estratégicos de cambios sociales, los activistas han llevado a cabo actuaciones políticas y han divulgado públicamente los discursos para elaborar artesanalmente la forma en que la lucha ‘sale’ hacia el exterior, se da a conocer y es entendida por el conjunto del cuerpo político nicaragüense. A través de este proceso, los activistas han desarrollado estructuras epistemológicas sobre derechos sexuales en discursos múltiples, incluyendo los de ‘liberación universal,’ ‘derechos minoritarios’ y una ética comunitaria, así como el Sandinismo.
Social Life and the Deaths of Brazilian Street Children
Authors: Drybread Kristen
Published: July 2013

O presente texto analisa as práticas funerárias de um grupo de meninos de rua, a fim de sugerir que no ato de providenciar um enterro digno a outros meninos de rua que já faleceriam, os sobreviventes, que vivem nas ruas e fora das parâmetros da infância normativa, exigir o reconhecimento de humanidade não só da pessoa falecido, mas também de todas as pessoas que participam no enterro.
Is Planning an Aid or an Obstacle? Examining the Role of Consumers' Lay Theories in Weight Loss
Authors: BERUCHASHVILI MARIAM , MOISIO RISTO
Published: July 2013

Does better planning hold the promise to achieving weight loss? Practitioners and academics often prescribe planning one's diet and exercise as a means of achieving weight loss. However, this study challenges such a prescription. The key insight derived from experience‐rich qualitative data with a sample of dieters posits that lay theories, implicit beliefs about the mutability of individuals' selves and abilities, hold the key to understanding how planning operates in the weight‐loss process, becoming either an obstacle or an aid for dieters. Findings from this study show that dieters who hold an entity lay theory are more inclined to view planning as an effortful enterprise, further aggravated by survival mentality focused on following simple rules and instructions. Dieters who hold an incremental lay theory, in contrast, view planning as a de‐stressing aid. They favor principles that are applicable to a greater variety of situations and strive to cultivate autonomous weight‐loss skills and competencies through planning. This research points to the need of rethinking how public health advocates can facilitate more effective weight‐loss effort and its sustained benefits.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of School Personnel Regarding Influenza, Vaccinations, and School Outbreaks
Authors: Ha Chrysanthy , Rios Lenoa M. , Pannaraj Pia S.
Published: July 2013

BACKGROUND

School personnel are important for communicating with parents about school vaccination programs and recognizing influenza outbreaks. This study examined knowledge, attitudes, and practices of school personnel regarding seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza, vaccinations, and school outbreak investigations.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from survey interviews of 58 elementary and middle school personnel in 2010.

RESULTS

Principals, assistant principals, and nurses have higher knowledge than front office clerks regarding seasonal (odds ratio [OR]: 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15‐5.42) and 2009 H1N1 influenza (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.19‐3.71). During 2009‐2010, 63.8 and 19.0% of school personnel received seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, respectively. Personnel were more likely to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza if they believed the vaccine was safe (OR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.21‐4.19). Of those unvaccinated against 2009 H1N1, 48.9% also cited safety concerns. While every principal, assistant principal, and nurse received both infectious diseases and outbreak trainings, only 42.5 and 27.5% of clerks received these trainings, respectively (p < .001), and 30% of clerks believed outbreak recognition was not their responsibility.

CONCLUSION

The level of knowledge regarding influenza illness, vaccination, and outbreaks among subjects was low overall. Education of school personnel may improve school vaccination programs and control of influenza outbreaks.
Neonatal exchange transfusions in the 21st century: A single hospital study
Authors: Chitty Helen Elizabeth , Ziegler Nina , Savoia Helen , Doyle Lex W , Fox Lisa M
Published: July 2013

Aim

In the 21st century, neonatal exchange transfusions (ETs) are uncommon procedures usually performed in tertiary neonatal units. As junior clinical staff now lack familiarity with the procedure, it is important to maintain awareness of its complications in order to manage clinical risks and counsel parents appropriately. The study aims to analyse the ET rate, its indications and its associated complications, in a single tertiary centre in the 21st century.

Methods

 This is a retrospective cohort study of all infants receiving ET from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2010 at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne.

Results

Sixty‐four ETs were performed in 51 infants, an average of 6.4 ETs per year. Forty‐nine (96%) infants were exchanged for hyperbilirubinaemia and two (4%) for anaemia. Thirty‐six (71%) infants had Rhesus haemolytic disease of the newborn and six (12%) had ABO incompatibility. Six infants were intubated and mechanically ventilated after ET; these infants were significantly more acidotic during the ET than those who were never on respiratory support (mean pH 7.153 and 7.309 respectively, mean difference −0.156, 95% CI −0.196 to −0.116, t = 7.85, P < 0.001). Overall mortality was 8% (n = 4).

Conclusions

Our current ET rate is very low compared with historical data. It is difficult to ascribe mortality and morbidity directly to ET as the procedure is now often performed on smaller, sicker or more premature infants whose risks of mortality and morbidity are high regardless of ET. Prospective multi‐centre studies are needed to provide adequate data to analyse complications in greater detail.
Use of QuantitativePCRDetection Methods to Study Biocontrol Agents and Phytopathogenic Fungi and Oomycetes in Environmental Samples
Authors: Sanzani Simona M. , Li Destri Nicosia Maria G. , Faedda Roberto , Cacciola Santa O. , Schena Leonardo
Published: July 2013

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is a versatile technique for the accurate, sensitive, reliable and high‐throughput detection and quantification of targetDNAin various environmental samples, and in recent years, it has greatly contributed to the advancement of knowledge in the plant pathology field. Indeed, this technique is ideal to evaluate inoculum threshold levels and to study the epidemiology, biology and ecology of phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes, thus opening up new research opportunities to investigate host–pathogen interactions and to address tasks related to quarantine, eradication and biosecurity. Moreover, it can be a useful tool in breeding programs. The present review analyses the most relevant applications of qPCRfor the detection and quantification of filamentous fungi and oomycetes within host tissues and in soil, air and water, along with brief paragraphs focusing on new application fields such as the detection and quantification of mycotoxigenic fungi and biocontrol agents. The high potentiality of qPCRfor present and future applications is highlighted together with a critical analysis of major drawbacks that need to be corrected to definitively confirm it as a preferential routine quantitative detection method.
ROCK inhibitor Y‐27632 maintains the proliferation of confluent human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Nakamura K. , Yoshimura A. , Kaneko T. , Sato K. , Hara Y.
Published: July 2013

Background and Objective

The transplantation of cell sheets of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is expected to be the next generation of periodontal regenerative therapy. An adequate method of multilayering MSCs has yet to be established. When cell sheets proliferate, they usually contract and detach from culture dishes and then the proliferation of cells in the contracted areas is arrested. ROCK‐mediated contractile force causes cell contraction. Although multilayer formation medium (MFM) stimulated the proliferation of growth‐arrested confluent MSCs, MSCs detached from the culture dish. Therefore, we investigated the effects of ROCK inhibitor Y‐27632 on the proliferation and detachment of confluent MSCs, and examined the ability of cells to differentiate within the cell sheets.

Material and Methods

Confluent MSCs were cultured in MFM containing transforming growth factor‐β1, ascorbic acid and fetal bovine serum either with or without Y‐27632. Cell proliferation was examined by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assays and total DNA measurement. Sheet contractions were examined by light microscopy and stereomicroscopy. Multilayer formations and focal adhesion assembly were observed with confocal microscopy. Characteristic of cells were examined by flow cytometric analysis. Osteoblast lineage differentiation was observed with alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red S staining. Adipocyte lineage differentiation was observed with oil red O staining.

Results

The addition of Y‐27632 to MFM prevented the cell sheets from detaching and did not inhibit MSC growth. The cell numbers cultured with MFM/Y‐27632 were significantly higher than that obtained with MFM‐only on day 4. Cell sheets detached from the culture dish on day 4, and the number of bromodeoxyuridine‐positive cells in the detached area decreased. Cells in the cell sheets had similar characteristics to primary MSCs, and differentiated into osteoblast and adipocyte lineages.

Conclusion

Y‐27632 both prevented the MSC sheets from detaching and maintained the multilayered proliferation of confluent MSCs by MFM, and then cells in the sheets had differentiation potency.
Long‐term patterns in the establishment, expansion and decline of invading macrozoobenthic species in the brackish and marine waters of Southwest Netherlands
Authors: Hummel Herman , Wijnhoven Sander
Published: July 2013

The fluctuations in densities or biomass of a number of invading and native polychaete and mollusc species in the Southwest Netherlands were compared over a period of 20 years. For recent invaders a lag phase of 7–10 years occurred after their first appearance, followed by an exponential increase in abundance or biomass for 2–3 years. High numbers and biomass then continued for about 5 years, followed by a strong decline. The total sequence from introduction to decline lasted about 15 years. The densities or biomass of invaders appearing decades or even centuries ago in the Delta area have fluctuated in a similar manner to those of native species, indicating that the densities or biomass of invading species after a 15‐year period of strong changes become governed largely by the same environmental factors as native species. The conclusion may be that after some decades, invading species can become part of a balanced co‐existence with the native species, and that this may yield a net gain in the overall diversity.
The origin of eucrites, diogenites, and olivine diogenites: Magma ocean crystallization and shallow magma chamber processes on Vesta
Authors: Mandler Ben E. , Elkins‐Tanton Linda T.
Published: July 2013

The asteroid 4 Vesta is one of the very few heavenly bodies to have been linked to samples on Earth: the howardite‐eucrite‐diogenite (HED) meteorite suite. This large and diverse suite of meteorites provides a detailed picture of Vesta's igneous and postigneous history. We have used the range of igneous rock types and compositions in the HED suite to test a series of chemical models for solidification processes following peak melting (magma ocean) conditions on Vesta. Fractional crystallization cannot have been a dominant early process in the magma ocean because it leads to excessive Fe‐enrichment in the melt. Models that are dominated by equilibrium crystallization cannot produce orthopyroxene cumulates (diogenites). Our best models invoke 60–70% equilibrium crystallization of a magma ocean followed by continuous extraction of the residual melt into shallow magma chambers. Fractional crystallization in these magma chambers combined with continuous or periodic addition of more melt from the slowly compacting crystal mush (magmatic recharge) can produce all of the igneous HED lithologies (noncumulate and cumulate eucrites, diogenites, dunites, harzburgites, and olivine diogenites). Magmatic recharge can also explain the narrow range in eucrite compositions and the variability of incompatible trace element concentrations in diogenites. We predict an internal structure for Vesta that permits excavation of the HEDs during the formation of the Rheasilvia basin, while remaining consistent with observations from the Dawn mission and most impact models.
Central venous oxygen saturation: analysis, clinical use and effects on mortality
Authors: Reid Megan
Published: July 2013

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this literature review was to provide a clear definition of central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2), highlight the differences between ScvO2 and mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), show how it can be used clinically and the effect central venous oxygen saturation has on mortality.

Background

Many articles concentrate on the individual aspects of ScvO2, such as its use in early goal‐directed therapy, but few provide a full overview of what it means, how to interpret results and how it can be used clinically.

Search strategies

Keywords were searched for including central venous oxygen saturation ScvO2 mixed venous oxygen saturations ScvO2 early goal‐directed therapy sepsis and mortality. Where possible only publications within the last 10 years were used but key publications were not excluded if they were out with this time frame.

Conclusions

Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) is a very important measurement which can be easily taken in a critical care environment by both medical and nursing staff. It provides an understanding of the patient's oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption and cardiac output. It has a key role within early goal‐directed therapy and has been shown to decrease mortality when taken and analysed appropriately.

Relevance to clinical practice

This literature review will highlight to nursing staff within the critical care environment the importance of central venous oxygen saturation measurement and interpretation. By raising awareness of the importance of this measurement it is hoped nursing staff will be proactive in both taking this test and analysing the results, therefore facilitating better care for the septic, critically ill patient and improving outcomes for these patients.
Ventilator auto‐cycling from cardiogenic oscillations: case report and review of literature
Authors: Noujeim Carlos , BouAkl Imad , El‐Khatib Mohamad , Bou‐Khalil Pierre
Published: July 2013

Background

Brain death is the total loss of all brain and brain stem functions, and its diagnosis is often confirmed by an apnoea test, which relies on disconnecting the patient from the ventilator. Auto‐triggering or auto‐cycling is defined as a ventilator being triggered in the absence of patient effort, intrinsic respiratory drive or inspiratory muscle activity. Ventilator auto‐triggering could delay the diagnosis of brain death leading to unnecessary admission for the patient and false hopes of recovery for the family.

Methods

We report a case of ventilator auto‐triggering associated with cardiogenic oscillations in a female patient.

Results

We confirmed the finding of ventilator auto‐triggering by changing the patient's position and reassessing the triggering thresholds. Brain death was then confirmed by apnoea test.

CONCLUSION

This case is presented to arouse the awareness of the medical staff and nurses to this phenomenon, which can mimic an intrinsic respiratory effort in patients allegedly diagnosed with brain death. Along with this case report, we review the English language publications for similar cases.
Liver allograft pathology in healthy pediatric liver transplant recipients
Authors: Briem‐Richter Andrea , Ganschow Rainer , Sornsakrin Marijke , Brinkert Florian , Schirmer Jan , Schaefer Hansjörg , Grabhorn Enke
Published: July 2013

Liver transplantation offers excellent results for children with end‐stage liver disease, and efforts should be directed toward maintaining long‐term graft health. We evaluate graft pathology in healthy pediatric transplant recipients with low‐maintenance immunosuppressive medications to assess whether protocol biopsies are helpful for adapting immunosuppression and protecting long‐term graft function. Liver biopsies were performed on 60 healthy pediatric liver transplant recipients, and histological findings were correlated with laboratory, serological, and radiological results. Fourteen patients (23%) were diagnosed with acute or early chronic rejection, and immunosuppressive medications were increased in these children. Liver function tests did not correlate with histological findings. The incidence of fibrosis was 36% in transplant recipients five or more years after liver transplantation. We observed an unexpectedly high prevalence of rejection and fibrosis in children with no laboratory abnormalities, which led to changes in their immunosuppressive medications. Scheduled biopsies appear to be useful in pediatric transplant recipients with low immunosuppressive medications for early detection of morphological changes in liver transplants. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether adaption of immunosuppression helps to reduce tissue damage and the incidence of allograft dysfunction in the long term.
Temporal dynamics of event‐related potentials related to goal conduciveness and power appraisals
Authors: Gentsch Kornelia , Grandjean Didier , Scherer Klaus R.
Published: July 2013

TheComponentProcessModel hypothesizes that appraisal—the mechanism that elicits and differentiates emotion—is processed sequentially. It predicts that the goal conduciveness check (motivational valence evaluation) is evaluated before the power check (evaluation of the degree of power to act on events). To test this prediction, we recorded event‐related potentials (ERPs) during a gambling task in response to feedback that simultaneously presented the goal conduciveness (outcome: win, loss, or break‐even) and the power check (options to act on the outcome) information. In line with the sequence hypothesis, mean amplitudes of subsequentERPswere differentially modulated by the appraisal information. The feedback‐related negativity was sensitive to the goal conduciveness check, and theP300 yielded main effects of both appraisal checks. Results suggest that neural evaluative processes associated with appraisal processing are sequential.
The Patient‐Centered Medical Home: A Future Standard for American Health Care?
Authors: Klein David B. , Laugesen Miriam J. , Liu Nan
Published: July 2013

The patient‐centered medical home has been promoted as a way of organizing health service delivery to reduce costs while offering superior health outcomes and coordination of care. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 promotes the patient‐centered medical home as a tool to reshape the delivery of health care in the United States. Preliminary findings from demonstration projects indicate positive overall results in terms of access, quality of care, and cost containment, and the model should continue to be reviewed for potential national adoption. However, there is significant variation in individual medical home setups, reimbursement arrangements, and evaluation methods, making the model difficult to assess, compare, and implement. When developing and evaluating this model, policy makers need to provide continuous support for practice transformation, adopt consistent outcome measures, and have realistic expectations about the timeline for such transformation.
Improving Flood Risk Communication by Focusing on Prevention‐Focused Motivation
Authors: de Boer Joop , Wouter Botzen W. J. , Terpstra Teun
Published: July 2013

This article proposes an approach to flood risk communication that gives particular emphasis to the distinction between prevention and promotion motivation. According to E. Tory Higgins, the promotion system and the prevention system are assumed to coexist in every person, but one or the other may be temporarily or chronically more accessible. These insights have far‐reaching implications for our understanding of people's reasoning about risks. Flood risk communication framed in terms of prevention involves the notions of chance and harm, woven into a story about particular events that necessitate decisions to be more careful about safety issues and protect one's family and oneself from danger. The article describes how the insights worked out in practice, using a flood risk communication experiment among a sample from the general population in a highly populated river delta of the Netherlands. It had a posttest‐only control group design (n = 2,302). The results showed that risk communication had a large effect on the participants’ responses and that this effect was higher among chronic prevention‐focused people than among others. Any information that increased the fit between a prevention‐framed message and a person's chronic prevention motivation produced stronger situationally induced, prevention‐focused responses. This may significantly improve communication about risks. In contrast, the notion of water city projects, featuring waterside living, had more appeal to promotion‐focused people.
Kidney Transplantation in the Obese Transplant Candidates: To Transplant or Not To Transplant?
Authors: Pham Phuong‐Thu T. , Danovitch Gabriel M. , Pham Phuong‐Chi T.
Published: July 2013

The prevalence of obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) at the time of transplantation among kidney transplant recipients in the United States has doubled between 1987 and 2001 and continues to increase inexorably. Single‐center and large registry studies in kidney transplant recipients demonstrated that high body mass index (BMI) at transplant is associated with increased risk of wound and surgical site infections, delayed graft function (DGF), acute rejection episodes, and graft loss, among others. Hence, in many centers, obese transplant candidates are denied a transplant based on their body mass index (BMI) alone. The impact of obesity on short‐ and long‐term graft and patient outcomes after kidney transplantation are herein revisited, followed by the authors' proposed approach to evaluate and select obese transplant candidates for a kidney transplant. Suggested interventions to optimize the health of such candidates are also discussed.
The Functions of Social Support as Protective Factors for Suicidal Ideation in a Sample of Air Force Personnel
Authors: Bryan Craig J. , Hernandez Ann Marie
Published: July 2013

This study examined various functions of social support (i.e., tangible, esteem, belonging, and appraisal) were examined as protective factors for suicidal ideation in a sample of 273 active duty Air Force Security Forces personnel. Generalized linear regression analyses were conducted to determine if various social support functions were differentially associated with the presence and severity of suicidal ideation, both as main effects and as moderators of emotional distress. None of the four social support functions differentiated suicidal from nonsuicidal Airmen, but esteem support (i.e., feeling respected, encouraged, and valued by others) was associated with significantly less severe suicidal ideation (B = −.074, SE = .025, p = .003). A significant interaction of tangible support (i.e., access to material resources) with emotional distress indicated that emotional distress was associated with more severe suicidal ideation only among Airmen reporting low levels of tangible support (B = .006, SE = .003, p = .018). When considered concurrently, both tangible and self‐esteem functions of social support are differentially associated with decreased suicidal ideation among Airmen, but belonging (i.e., having someone to do things with) and appraisal (i.e., having someone to talk to about problems) functions were not. Findings suggest that different aspects of social support affect suicidal ideation in different ways.
Miseries Suffered, Unvoiced, Unknown? Communication of Suicidal Intent by Men in “Rural” Queensland, Australia
Authors: McPhedran Samara , De Leo Diego
Published: July 2013

It has long been argued that suicide prevention efforts in rural locations face not only structural barriers, such as a lack of accessible health care and specialized mental health services, but also a range of cultural barriers. A commonly discussed cultural factor that may contribute to higher rural suicide rates is low levels of help‐seeking behavior, which in turn act as a barrier to accessing and receiving care. However, the assumption that suicide by rural men is more likely to be accompanied by low help‐seeking behavior, relative to urban men, has not been well tested. Using data from the Queensland Suicide Register, this study evaluates one form of help‐seeking behavior—communication of suicidal intent—among men who died by suicide. Contrary to the expectation that suicide in rural areas would be associated with lower levels of help‐seeking behavior than suicide in urban areas, it was found that communication of suicidal intent was broadly comparable across rural and urban settings. The implications for suicide prevention policies and service delivery strategies are discussed.
Stereotypes as Valid Categories of Knowledge and Human Perceptions of Group Differences
Authors: Lee Yueh‐Ting , McCauley Clark , Jussim Lee
Published: July 2013

Stereotypes – beliefs about group differences – are more complex than is generally assumed. First, we address the multidimensionality of stereotypes under the framework of the Cubic EPA model which suggests that stereotypes are characterized by three dimensions: evaluation, potency, and accuracy. Specific attention is given to the relationship between stereotypes and totemic beliefs as collectively shared representations. Second, we review controversial research on the accuracy of stereotypes. Cultural stereotypes, personal stereotypes, judgment of individuals and groups, judgment criteria, and meta‐analytical results are examined, revealing the robust relationship between stereotypes and reality. Finally, we point to the importance of explanations of group differences, especially the perception of essence that is encouraged by group entitativity (perceptual “oneness”). We suggest that stereotyping is particularly powerful for groups with high entitativity and a perceived essence, and that a group's totem is the manifestation of the group's essence. Though we cannot resolve all the controversies relating to stereotyping, our perspective emphasizes stereotypes as categories useful for human interaction and survival.