bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diffusible Signal Factor–Repressed Extracellular Traits Enable Attachment of Xylella fastidiosa to Insect Vectors and Transmission
Authors: Baccari Clelia , Killiny Nabil , Ionescu Michael , Almeida Rodrigo P. P. , Lindow Steven E.
Published: December 2013

The hypothesis that a wild-type strain of Xylella fastidiosa would restore the ability of rpfF mutants blocked in diffusible signal factor production to be transmitted to new grape plants by the sharpshooter vector Graphocephala atropunctata was tested. While the rpfF mutant was very poorly transmitted by vectors irrespective of whether they had also fed on plants infected with the wild-type strain, wild-type strains were not efficiently transmitted if vectors had fed on plants infected with the rpfF mutant. About 100-fewer cells of a wild-type strain attached to wings of a vector when suspended in xylem sap from plants infected with an rpfF mutant than in sap from uninfected grapes. The frequency of transmission of cells suspended in sap from plants that were infected by the rpfF mutant was also reduced over threefold. Wild-type cells suspended in a culture supernatant of an rpfF mutant also exhibited 10-fold less adherence to wings than when suspended in uninoculated culture media. A factor released into the xylem by rpfF mutants, and to a lesser extent by the wild-type strain, thus inhibits their attachment to, and thus transmission by, sharpshooter vectors and may also enable them to move more readily through host plants.
What we talk about when we talk about access deficits
Authors: Mirman Daniel , Britt Allison E.
Published: December 2013

Semantic impairments have been divided into storage deficits, in which the semantic representations themselves are damaged, and access deficits, in which the representations are intact but access to them is impaired. The behavioural phenomena that have been associated with access deficits include sensitivity to cueing, sensitivity to presentation rate, performance inconsistency, negative serial position effects, sensitivity to number and strength of competitors, semantic blocking effects, disordered selection between strong and weak competitors, correlation between semantic deficits and executive function deficits and reduced word frequency effects. Four general accounts have been proposed for different subsets of these phenomena: abnormal refractoriness, too much activation, impaired competitive selection and deficits of semantic control. A combination of abnormal refractoriness and impaired competitive selection can account for most of the behavioural phenomena, but there remain several open questions. In particular, it remains unclear whether access deficits represent a single syndrome, a syndrome with multiple subtypes or a variable collection of phenomena, whether the underlying deficit is domain-general or domain-specific, whether it is owing to disorders of inhibition, activation or selection, and the nature of the connection (if any) between access phenomena in aphasia and in neurologically intact controls. Computational models offer a promising approach to answering these questions.
The interface between spoken and written language: developmental disorders
Authors: Hulme Charles , Snowling Margaret J.
Published: December 2013

We review current knowledge about reading development and the origins of difficulties in learning to read. We distinguish between the processes involved in learning to decode print, and the processes involved in reading for meaning (reading comprehension). At a cognitive level, difficulties in learning to read appear to be predominantly caused by deficits in underlying oral language skills. The development of decoding skills appears to depend critically upon phonological language skills, and variations in phoneme awareness, letter–sound knowledge and rapid automatized naming each appear to be causally related to problems in learning to read. Reading comprehension difficulties in contrast appear to be critically dependent on a range of oral language comprehension skills (including vocabulary knowledge and grammatical, morphological and pragmatic skills).
Analysis of the contribution of bacteriophage ST64B to in vitro virulence traits of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
Authors: Herrero-Fresno Ana , Leekitcharoenphon Pimlapas , Hendriksen Rene S. , Olsen John E. , Aarestrup Frank M.
Published: December 2013

Comparison of the publicly available genomes of the virulentSalmonellaentericaserovar Typhimurium (S.Typhimurium) strains SL1344, 14028s and D23580 to that of the virulence-attenuated isolate LT2 revealed the absence of a full sequence of bacteriophage ST64B in the latter. Four selected ST64B regions of unknown function (sb7–sb11,sb46,sb49–sb50andsb54) were mapped by PCR in two strain collections: (i) 310 isolates ofS.Typhimurium from human blood or stool samples, and from food, animal and environmental reservoirs; and (ii) 90 isolates belonging to other serovars. The regionsb49–sb50was found to be unique toS.Typhimurium and was strongly associated with strains isolated from blood samples (100  and 28.4 % of the blood and non-blood isolates, respectively). The region was cloned into LT2 and knocked out in SL1344, and these strains were compared to wild-type isogenic strains inin vitroassays used to predict virulence association. No difference in invasion of the Int407 human cell line was observed between the wild-type and mutated strains, but the isolate carrying the whole ST64B prophage was found to have a slightly better survival in blood. The study showed a high prevalence and a strong association between the prophage ST64B and isolates ofS.Typhimurium collected from blood, and may indicate that such strains constitute a selected subpopulation within this serovar. Further studies are indicated to determine whether the slight increase in blood survival observed in the strain carrying ST64B genes is of paramount importance for systemic infections.
Unusual characteristics of dicistrovirus-derived small RNAs in the small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus
Authors: Li Junmin , Andika Ida Bagus , Zhou Yanru , Shen Jiangfeng , Sun Zongtao , Wang Xu , Sun Liying , Chen Jianping
Published: December 2013

In this study, sequences of small RNA (sRNA) libraries derived from the insect vector Laodelphax striatellus were assembled into contigs and used as queries for database searches. A large number of contigs were highly homologous to the genome sequence of an insect dicistrovirus, himetobi P virus (HiPV). Interestingly, HiPV-derived sRNAs had a wide size distribution, and were relatively abundant throughout the 18–30 nt size range with only a slight peak at 22 nt. HiPV sRNAs had a strong bias towards the sense strand, whilst the antisense sRNAs were predominantly 21 and 22 nt. HiPV sRNAs do not have the typical features of PIWI-interacting RNAs, but their 3′ ends were preferentially cleaved at UA-rich sequences. Our data suggest that HiPV sRNAs may be derived both from activities of the RNA interference pathway and from cleavage of the viral genome by other host RNases.
2,4-Dichloro-N-[ethyl(2-hydroxyethyl)carbamothioyl]benzamide
Authors: Yamin Bohari M , Sapari Suhaila , Hasbullah Siti Aishah
Published: December 2013

In the title compound, C12H14Cl2N2O2S, the molecule adopts a cis conformation with respect to the dichlorobenzoyl group against the thiono group about the C—N bond. However, the dichlorobenzene group and the thiourea moiety are twisted by 75.41 (8)°. An intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond occurs between the amido H atom and hydroxyl O atom. In the crystal, O—H...S and O—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules, forming chains along the b-axis direction.
2-Isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl quinoline-2-carboxylate
Authors: Fazal E. , Jasinski Jerry P. , Anderson Brian J. , Sudha B. S. , Nagarajan S.
Published: December 2013

In the title compound, C20H25NO2, the cyclohexyl ring adopts a slightly disordered chair conformation. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the quinoline ring and the carboxylate group is 22.2 (6)°. In the crystal, weak C—H...N interactions make chains along [010].
Design of an ultrahigh-energy-resolution and wide-energy-range soft X-ray beamline
Authors: Xue L. , Reininger R. , Wu Y.-Q. , Zou Y. , Xu Z.-M. , Shi Y.-B. , Dong J. , Ding H. , Sun J.-L. , Guo F.-Z. , Wang Y. , Tai R.-Z.
Published: December 2013

A new ultrahigh-energy-resolution and wide-energy-range soft X-ray beamline has been designed and is under construction at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The beamline has two branches: one dedicated to angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and the other to photoelectron emission microscopy (PEEM). The two branches share the same plane-grating monochromator, which is equipped with four variable-line-spacing gratings and covers the 20–2000 eV energy range. Two elliptically polarized undulators are employed to provide photons with variable polarization, linear in every inclination and circular. The expected energy resolution is approximately 10 meV at 1000 eV with a flux of more than 3 × 1010 photons s−1at the ARPES sample positions. The refocusing of both branches is based on Kirkpatrick–Baez pairs. The expected spot sizes when using a 10 µm exit slit are 15 µm × 5 µm (horizontal × vertical FWHM) at the ARPES station and 10 µm × 5 µm (horizontal × vertical FWHM) at the PEEM station. The use of plane optical elements upstream of the exit slit, a variable-line-spacing grating and a pre-mirror in the monochromator that allows the influence of the thermal deformation to be eliminated are essential for achieving the ultrahigh-energy resolution.
Three reflections on public anthropology (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Besteman Catherine
Published: December 2013

Clarifying the difference between engaged and public anthropology rests on the collaborative, confrontational, and transformative orientation of the former and the messaging concerns of the latter. Both are strengthened by a solid foundation in key theoretical concepts that distinguish the discipline's fundamental ways of knowing from other forms of social inquiry and engagement, like journalism and activism. These concepts include empiricism, translation, incommensurability, obligation, critique, subjectivity, circulation, emergence, rupture, and imagination. I also suggest an exploration of ‘ethnography‐scapes’ that trace the impact of ethnographies on readers, subjects, and most especially the connections among them.
Public anthropology and the financial crisis (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Haugerud Angelique
Published: December 2013

When anthropologists write about finance and the economy, their publications seldom reach audiences as wide as those of economists or journalists. Is there a space for anthropologists in public debates about our era's acute economic dilemmas? The short answer should be yes, partly because anthropologists are trained to probe social silences and make the invisible visible, and because we reject the pitfalls of Econ 101, oversimplifications that pervade public discourse. Academic anthropologists can draw lessons from what we might term ‘public economics’, as well as from the writings of Gillian Tett, an award‐winning financial columnist trained in anthropology. Perhaps we can also learn a little from tricksters – or from satirical activists who deploy irony, caricature, and paradox as sharp instruments in this age of austerity and billionaires. As we analyze finance and the economy in the aftermath of a financial meltdown whose causes and policy implications are intensely debated, our challenge still is to satisfy journalists' appetite for sound‐bite narratives without sacrificing nuance, historical contingency, and complexity.
The Anansi position (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Eriksen Thomas Hylland
Published: December 2013

At least since the left‐wing critique of positivism and the radical student movement some decades ago, it has been a fairly widespread view that anthropology and the other social sciences should be engaged. Habermas even wrote, in 1968, that the social sciences have an intrinsic ‘emancipatory knowledge interest’. This article is sympathetic to this view, but argues that an engaged anthropology is at its most efficacious when it refuses to take part in a polarized discourse with fixed positions. Instead, anthropological interventions in the broader public sphere should take on the role of Anansi, the trickster of West African folklore, whose unpredictable and surprising moves enable him to confound and defeat far more powerful adversaries. Using examples largely from the Norwegian public sphere, where anthropologists are visible and active, it is shown how anthropology can simultaneously be both destabilizing, subversive, critical and liberating, precisely when the anthropologist takes on the liminal trickster role; neither fully inside nor fully outside.
Class and ideological orientations revisited: an exploration of class‐based mechanisms
Authors: Bengtsson Mattias , Berglund Tomas , Oskarson Maria
Published: December 2013

Studies of the relationship between class position and political outlooks still only have a limited understanding of the class‐related mechanisms that matter for ideological orientations. This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms that link class position and left/right and authoritarian/libertarian orientations. Besides main factors such as income, career prospects, job security, education, class origin and class identification, the significance of work‐related factors such as work autonomy, working in a team, a physically demanding job and a mentally demanding job is studied. The findings are based on a survey specifically designed for this purpose and collected in Sweden in 2008/2009. A great deal of the association between class position and left/right orientations is explained by socio‐economic conditions; different classes sympathize with policies that will benefit them economically. Another important factor is class identification. Work‐related factors also have relevance, but the effect of class position on left/right orientations works mainly through the remuneration system. Class position is also related to authoritarian/libertarian orientations. However, this relationship is less explained by socio‐economic position per se, but is rather an effect of the educational system and its allocation of the workforce into different class positions. It also turns out that work‐related factors do not explain the class effects; however, a physically demanding job shows a unique effect. Overall, our findings suggest that besides factors such as class position, income, education and class identification, we need to consider work‐related aspects to derive a more complete understanding of the distribution of ideological orientations in Western societies.
Class habitus and perception of the future: recession, employment insecurity and temporality
Authors: Atkinson Will
Published: December 2013

This paper examines the consequences of the recent economic downturn and UK government spending cuts, as exacerbations of prevailing trends in neoliberal employment policy, on temporal perception, specifically as it relates to the adaptation of subjective anticipations of and projections into the future to objective prospects of unemployment by class. Grounded in a phenomenologically‐minded Bourdieusian conceptualization of class and time and contextualized by statistics on chances of job loss, it draws on qualitative research with 57 individuals from across the class structure to chart differing dispositions toward the future. In particular, it distinguishes three orientations – the future as controllable, the future as uncontrollable and the future as reasonably controllable – which appear to correspond with resources possessed.
Entry, exit, and the determinants of market structure
Authors: Dunne Timothy , Klimek Shawn D. , Roberts Mark J. , Xu Daniel Yi
Published: December 2013

This article estimates a dynamic, structural model of entry and exit for two US service industries: dentists and chiropractors. Entry costs faced by potential entrants, fixed costs faced by incumbent producers, and the toughness of short‐run price competition are important determinants of long‐run firm values, firm turnover, and market structure. In the dentist industry entry costs were subsidized in geographic markets designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) and the estimated mean entry cost is 11 percent lower in these markets. Using simulations, we find that entry cost subsidies are less expensive per additional firm than fixed cost subsidies.
The impact of health information technology on hospital productivity
Authors: Lee Jinhyung , McCullough Jeffrey S. , Town Robert J.
Published: December 2013

Health information technology (IT) has been championed as a tool that can transform health care delivery. We estimate the parameters of a value‐added hospital production function correcting for endogenous input choices to assess the private returns hospitals earn from health IT. Despite high marginal products, the total benefits from expanded IT adoption are modest. Over the span of our data, health IT inputs increased by more than 210% and contributed about 6% to the increase in value‐added. Not‐for‐profits invested more heavily and differently in IT. Finally, we find no compelling evidence of labor complementarities or network externalities from competitors' IT investment.
What do paediatric trainees require from their clinical supervisors?
Authors: Kutzsche Stefan , Kutzsche Hildegunn , Dornan Tim
Published: December 2013

Aim

Clinical supervisors are appointed to ensure that medical trainees receive a satisfactory education, improve their academic orientation and develop professional attitudes. The aim of this study was to find out, from the paediatric trainee's perspective, how their clinical supervisor could best do that.

Methods

We conducted in‐depth interviews with seven paediatric trainees in a university hospital. A template analysis of the transcribed data explored what trainees expect from their clinical supervisors and what they would change if they could.

Results

Trainees wanted the supervision process to begin with negotiating how their supervisory relationship would be structured and how the time could be used to best effect. They wanted their supervisors to provide them with stimulating, multifaceted guidance and encouragement and support a reflective approach that linked theory with practice.

Conclusion

Trainees wanted their supervisors to support them as they took a reflective approach to their practical work and to help them to bridge theoretical and applied learning.
Sustainability report and bank valuation: evidence from European stock markets
Authors: Carnevale Concetta , Mazzuca Maria
Published: December 2013

Applying value relevance analysis to a sample of European banks, we test the following: (i) the direct effects of the sustainability report on stock price; (ii) whether the report modifies the value relevance of financial accounting variables (indirect effects); and (iii) whether the value relevance of sustainability reports varies across countries. Results show that investors appreciate the additional and complementary disclosure provided by the sustainability report and that this disclosure produces a positive effect on stock prices. Estimates of the indirect effects demonstrate that it has a negative influence on book value per share, whereas the effect on earnings per share is not significant. Cross‐country analysis shows that the value relevance of the sustainability report varies across European countries, consistent with the hypothesis that the value relevance of the sustainability report is likely to be influenced by different institutional contexts.
Estimating acute air pollution health effects from cohort study data
Authors: Szpiro Adam A. , Sheppard Lianne , Adar Sara D. , Kaufman Joel D.
Published: December 2013

Traditional studies of short‐term air pollution health effects use time series data, while cohort studies generally focus on long‐term effects. There is increasing interest in exploiting individual level cohort data to assess short‐term health effects in order to understand the mechanisms and time scales of action. We extend semiparametric regression methods used to adjust for unmeasured confounding in time series studies to the cohort setting. Time series methods are not directly applicable since cohort data are typically collected over a prespecified time period and include exposure measurements on days without health observations. Therefore, long‐time asymptotics are not appropriate, and it is possible to improve efficiency by exploiting the additional exposure data. We show that flexibility of the semiparametric adjustment model should match the complexity of the trend in the health outcome, in contrast to the time series setting where it suffices to match temporal structure in the exposure. We also demonstrate that pre‐adjusting exposures concurrent with the health endpoints using trends in the complete exposure time series results in unbiased health effect estimation and can improve efficiency without additional confounding adjustment. A recently published article found evidence of an association between short‐term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and retinal arteriolar diameter as measured by retinal photography in the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). We reanalyze the data from this article in order to compare the methods described here, and we evaluate our methods in a simulation study based on the MESA data.
Increased diverticular complications with nonsteriodal anti‐inflammatory drugs and other medications: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Kvasnovsky C. L. , Papagrigoriadis S. , Bjarnason I.
Published: December 2013

Aim

Complications of colonic diverticula, perforation and bleeding are a source of morbidity and mortality. A variety of drugs have been implicated in these complications. We present a systemic review and meta‐analysis of the literature to assess the importance of this relationship.

Method

A systematic review of articles in PubMed, Cochrane Reviews, Embase and Google Scholar was undertaken in February 2013. An initial literature search yielded 2916 results that were assessed for study design and topicality. Twenty‐three articles were included in the review. A qualitative data synthesis was conducted using forest plots of studies comparing single medication with complications.

Results

Individual studies demonstrated the odds of perforation and abscess formation with nonsteridal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (1.46–10.30), aspirin (0.66–2.40), steroids (2.17–31.90) and opioids (1.80–4.51) and the odds of bleeding with NSAIDs (2.01–12.60), paracetamol (0–3.75), aspirin (1.14–3.70) and steroids (0.57–5.40). Pooled data showed significantly increased odds of perforation and abscess formation with NSAIDs (OR = 2.49), steroids (OR = 9.08) and opioids (OR = 2.52). They also showed increased odds of diverticular bleeding from NSAIDs (OR = 2.69), aspirin (OR = 3.24) and calcium‐channel blockers (OR = 2.50). Most studies did not describe the duration or dosage of medication used and did not systematically describe the severity of diverticular complications.

Conclusion

Various common medications are implicated in complications of diverticular disease.
The significance of eosinophils in hypertrophic lichen planus
Authors: Alomari Ahmed , McNiff Jennifer M.
Published: December 2013

Background

Hypertrophic lichen planus (LP) is a variant of LP favoring the lower extremities and showing prominent epidermal hyperplasia and hyperorthokeratosis. Contrary to dogma that eosinophils are rare in LP and variants, we noticed that some cases of hypertrophic LP have eosinophils in the absence of drug history.

Methods

Retrospective review of all cases of hypertrophic LP over 22 consecutive years was conducted. The number of eosinophils in 10 representative ×20‐fields was counted in the area of densest dermal infiltrate. Cases of classic LP were used for comparison. Clinical parameters on all cases were recorded.

Results

The two groups were clinically similar. The average number of eosinophils per 10 ×20‐fields in 63 cases of hypertrophic LP was 10.5 with a range between 0 and 200. Thirteen of 63 cases (20.6%) had more than 10 eosinophils per 10 ×20‐fields. The average number of eosinophils in 17 cases of classic LP was 1.6 (p = 0.016) with a range between 0 and 9 and no cases with more than 10 eosinophils (p = 0.06).

Conclusion

Hypertrophic LP is a distinct variant of LP that may show variable numbers of eosinophils and should be included in the differential diagnosis of lichenoid dermatitis with eosinophils.
Behavioural, emotional, and cognitive responses in European disasters: results of survivor interviews
Authors: Grimm Anna , Hulse Lynn , Preiss Marek , Schmidt Silke
Published: December 2013

In the European multi‐centre study BeSeCu (Behaviour, Security, Culture), interviews were conducted in seven countries to explore survivors’ emotional, behavioural, and cognitive responses during disasters. Interviews, either in groups or one‐to‐one, were convened according to type of event: collapse of a building; earthquake; fire; flood; and terror attack. The content analysis of interviews resulted in a theoretical framework, describing the course of the events, behavioural responses, and the emotional and cognitive processing of survivors. While the environmental cues and the ability to recognise what was happening varied in different disasters, survivors’ responses tended to be more universal across events, and most often were adaptive and non‐selfish. Several peri‐traumatic factors related to current levels of post‐traumatic stress were identified, while memory quantity did not differ as a function of event type or post‐traumatic stress. Time since the event had a minor effect on recall. Based on the findings, several suggestions for emergency training are made.
Complex formation between malate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis is regulated by tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites
Authors: Bartholomae Maike , Meyer Frederik M. , Commichau Fabian M. , Burkovski Andreas , Hillen Wolfgang , Seidel Gerald
Published: December 2013

In Bacillus subtilis, recent in vivo studies revealed that particular enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle form complexes that allow an efficient transfer of metabolites. Remarkably, a complex of the malate dehydrogenase (Mdh) (EC 1.1.1.37) with isocitrate dehydrogenase (Icd) (EC 1.1.1.42) was identified, although both enzymes do not catalyze subsequent reactions. In the present study, the interactions between these enzymes were characterized in vitro by surface plasmon resonance in the absence and presence of their substrates and cofactors. These analyses revealed a weak but specific interaction between Mdh and Icd, which was specifically stimulated by a mixture of substrates and cofactors of Icd: isocitrate, NADP+ and Mg2+. Wild‐type Icd converted these substrates too fast, preventing any valid quantitative analysis of the interaction with Mdh. Therefore, binding of the IcdS104P mutant to Mdh was quantified because the mutation reduced the enzymatic activity by 174‐fold but did not affect the stimulatory effect of substrates and cofactors on Icd–Mdh complex formation. The analysis of the unstimulated Mdh–IcdS104P interaction revealed kinetic constants of ka = 2.0 ± 0.2 × 102 m−1·s−1 and kd = 1.0 ± 0.1 × 10−3·s−1 and a KD value of 5.0 ± 0.1 μm. Addition of isocitrate, NADP+ and Mg2+ stimulated the affinity of IcdS104P to Mdh by 33‐fold (KD = 0.15 ± 0.01 μm, ka = 1.7 ± 0.7 × 103 m−1·s−1, kd = 2.6 ± 0.6 × 10−4·s−1). Analyses of the enzymatic activities of wild‐type Icd and Mdh showed that Icd activity doubles in the presence of Mdh, whereas Mdh activity was slightly reduced by Icd. In summary, these data indicate substrate control of complex formation in the tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolon assembly and maintenance of the α‐ketoglutarate supply for amino acid anabolism in vivo.

Structured digital abstract

Idh physically interacts with Mdh by cross-linking study (View interaction)

Mdh binds to Idh by surface plasmon resonance (1, 2)
‘Victims’ Versus ‘Offenders’ inBritish Political Discourse: The Construction of a False Dichotomy
Authors: Drake Deborah H. , Henley Andrew J.
Published: December 2013

This article evaluates the contemporary discursive status of victims and people convicted of criminal offences. The rhetoric used byBritish politicians to convey the meaning of ‘rights’ is explored within media output, parliamentary speech‐making and other forms of political discourse. Our analysis details how victims’ rights are sometimes advocated for at the expense of ‘offenders’ ’ rights in public discourse. Examination of parliamentary debates illustrates that differentiating between ‘victims’ and ‘offenders’ elides consideration of more meaningful support for victims, worsens opportunities for the reintegration of ex‐prisoners and constructs a false dichotomy between citizens who do not fall into mutually‐exclusive categories.
Actinic cheilitis: clinicopathologic profile and association with degree of dysplasia
Authors: de Santana Sarmento Dmitry José , da Costa Miguel Márcia Cristina , Queiroz Lélia Maria Guedes , Godoy Gustavo Pina , da Silveira Éricka Janine Dantas
Published: December 2013

Background

Actinic cheilitis (AC) is a potentially malignant disorder of the lip caused by exposure to solar radiation.

Objectives

This study was conducted to evaluate the clinicopathologic profile of cases of AC and to verify associations with the degree of dysplasia.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed data for 40 patients with AC. Demographic, clinical, and histopathologic data were evaluated. Sections measuring 5 μm in thickness were cut, deparaffinized, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histologic examination. The degree of epithelial dysplasia was graded using the criteria defined by the World Health Organization. Two calibrated oral pathologists analyzed the slides.

Results

Analysis of the AC patients sampled showed that 75.0% were male (P = 0.002), 80.0% were aged ≥40 years (P < 0.001), 74.3% were Caucasian (P = 0.004), and 68.6% had occupational exposure to sunlight (P = 0.028). The most common clinical manifestation was white lesions (55.0%), and 40.0% of patients had no dysplasia. No significant associations emerged between the histologic grading of AC and gender (P = 1.000), age (P = 1.000), ethnicity (P = 0.416), occupational exposure to sunlight (P = 1.000), and clinical presentation (P = 0.467).

Conclusions

The degree of dysplasia in AC was not statistically associated with gender, age, ethnicity, occupational exposure to sunlight, or clinical appearance. This study provides some support for the hypothesis that clinicopathologic features are not related to the degree of dysplasia in AC.
Enrichment of ω‐3 fatty acids in flax seed oil by alkaline lipase of Aspergillus fumigatus MTCC 9657
Authors: Rajan Akhila , Sobankumar Dasiah R. , Nair Ananthakrishnan J.
Published: December 2013

Flax seed oil obtained from the seeds of flax plant (Linum usitatissimum, L.) is an unexploited source which contains ω‐3 and ω‐6 fatty acids. Flax seed oil is hydrolysed with a novel alkaline lipase from Aspergillus fumigatus MTCC 9657 for the removal of unwanted fatty acids and enrichment of ω‐3 fatty acids. An appropriate balance of ω‐3 and ω‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and enzymatic enrichment of polyunsaturated fatty acids in diet promote nutrition and health. Fatty acid composition shows that flax seed oil contains about 26.80%, 13.5% and 25.45% of ω‐3 and ω‐6 fatty acids in triglyceride (TG), diglyceride (DG) and monoglyceride (MG), respectively. After 8 h of hydrolysis, ω‐3 content was increased to 39% in TG, showing that unwanted saturated fatty acids are removed. ω‐6 content of triglycerides in flax seed oil also showed 54.76% increase after 8 h of hydrolysis. An enzymatic method of hydrolysis by fungal lipase was developed by this study and achieved to concentrate the essential fatty acids linoleic acid (LA) and α‐linoleic acids (ALA).
Utilisation of beds on the general medical unit by ‘non‐acute medical’ patients: a retrospective study of incidence and cost in two Tasmanian regional medical hospital units
Authors: Buist M. D. , Jaffray L. , Bell E. , Hanna L. , Weinstein P. , Kumar S. , Grimmer K.
Published: December 2013

Background

Demand for healthcare services threatens to overwhelm the Australian healthcare system. Public hospitals have the largest component of expenditure growth and as such represent the largest opportunity for efficiency gains. Utilisation of inpatient hospital beds and in particular those on general medical units has not been studied in Australia.

Aim

To undertake a retrospective patient medical record review of 200 sequential admissions to the medical wards in two regional Tasmanian hospitals to determine the incidence of non‐acute medical patient admission to the medical unit, and the subsequent days in hospital that were not required for medical reasons. The cost of these days was estimated.

Results

Sixteen patient admissions (8%) could not be justified on medical grounds. Forty‐eight (24%) patient admissions had at least one day hospital day that could not be justified on medical grounds. Of the 1438 total bed days, 475 (33%) were for non‐medical reasons. The estimated cost of those non‐medical bed days for this cohort was $764 800.

Conclusions

The incidence of non‐acute medical admissions and non‐acute medical bed days to the medical unit and associated cost was significant. Further research is needed to design alternative care provision for such patients particularly in regional Australia. The potential savings to the Australian healthcare system could be significant.
Strengthening Mechanisms in MLCCs: Residual Stress Versus Crack Tip Shielding
Authors: Lanning Wade R. , Muhlstein Christopher L.
Published: December 2013

Failure by fracture is a serious problem with multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), and the interior electrodes are known to strengthen MLCCs. Historically, it has been assumed that the dominant strengthening mechanism is crack tip shielding via direct crack tip‐electrode interactions. However, we have found that residual stresses arising from differential thermal contraction after device sintering are actually responsible for the observed increase in strength. In addition, the fracture initiation sites in MLCCs are located outside of the electrode array, so the established idea that the electrical and mechanical failure controlling flaw populations are one and the same cannot be true. Weibull distributions were compared from the bending fracture of two populations of MLCCs with barium titanate (X7R) dielectric, nickel electrodes, and the same exterior geometries (but different electrode array configurations). MLCCs had characteristic strengths of 236 MPa versus a strength of 190 MPa for 19‐ and 3‐electrode MLCCs, respectively. Fractography, a critical flaw size computation, an analytical residual stress approximation, and in situ electrical measurements taken during bending were also used to examine the fracture process and demonstrate that residual stress and not crack tip shielding is an important strengthening mechanism in MLCCs.
Rearrangement of Multiferroic BiFeO3 Nanodots Smaller than 15 nm Using Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Meang Wan J. , Son Jong Y.
Published: December 2013

In this study, we demonstrate an atomic force microscopy process for manipulating multiferroic BiFeO3 nanodots smaller than 15 nm to desired positions on a Nb‐doped SrTiO3 substrate. For formation of the BiFeO3 nanodot array, nanocrystal movement was achieved using a +1.2 V biased conducting atomic force microscopy (CAFM) followed by nanocrystal attachment to the tip. Using this method, high‐density BiFeO3 nanodot arrays with a density greater than 0.5 Tb/in.2 can be achieved. Perfectly flipped ferroelectric polarization with an external electric field was observed for each BiFeO3 nanodot, whose ferroelectric properties were confirmed using piezoelectric force microscopy.
Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature on Sol–Gel Synthesis of Lead‐free Piezoelectric (K,Na)NbO3 Films on Nb:SrTiO3 Substrates
Authors: Yu Qi , Li Jing‐Feng , Chen Yanna , Cheng Li‐Qian , Sun Wei , Zhou Zhen , Wang Zhanjie
Published: December 2013

Lead‐free (K,Na)NbO3 (KNN) piezoelectric films were fabricated on Nb:SrTiO3 substrates by sol–gel process, and the influence of thermal processing details on the microstructure and ferroelectric property was investigated. Experimental results confirmed the different appearance of polycrystalline growth and epitaxial growth modes during the crystallization of KNN thin films. These two growth modes occurred under different thermal conditions within the narrow pyrolysis temperature scope ranging from 400°C to 500°C, respectively. By considering these findings, an optimizing combination between pyrolysis and annealing procedure was thought to be crucially important to obtain high‐performance KNN films with excellent crystallization state.
Effectiveness of a Mindfulness‐Based Childbirth Education Pilot Study on Maternal Self‐Efficacy and Fear of Childbirth
Authors: Byrne Jean , Hauck Yvonne , Fisher Colleen , Bayes Sara , Schutze Robert
Published: December 2013

Introduction

This pilot study tested the feasibility and effectiveness of using Mindfulness‐Based Childbirth Education (MBCE), a novel integration of mindfulness meditation and skills‐based childbirth education, for mental health promotion with pregnant women. The MBCE protocol aimed to reduce fear of birth, anxiety, and stress and improve maternal self‐efficacy. This pilot study also aimed to determine the acceptability and feasibility of the MBCE protocol.

Methods

A single‐arm pilot study of the MBCE intervention using a repeated‐measures design was used to analyze data before and after the MBCE intervention to determine change trends with key outcome variables: mindfulness; depression, anxiety, and stress; childbirth self‐efficacy; and fear of childbirth. Pregnant women (18‐28 weeks’ gestation) and their support companions attended weekly MBCE group sessions over 8 weeks in an Australian community setting.

Results

Of the 18 women who began and completed the intervention, missing data allowed for complete data from 12 participants to be analyzed. Statistically significant improvements and large effect sizes were observed for childbirth self‐efficacy and fear of childbirth. Improvements in depression, mindfulness, and birth outcome expectations were underpowered. At postnatal follow‐up significant improvements were found in anxiety, whereas improvements in mindfulness, stress, and fear of birth were significant at a less conservative alpha level.

Discussion

This pilot study demonstrated that a blended mindfulness and skills‐based childbirth education intervention was acceptable to women and was associated with improvements in women's sense of control and confidence in giving birth. Previous findings that low self‐efficacy and high childbirth fear are linked to greater labor pain, stress reactivity, and trauma suggest the observed improvements in these variables have important implications for improving maternal mental health and associated child health outcomes. Ways in which these outcomes can be achieved through improved childbirth education are discussed.
Prognostic factors and status of hormone receptors and angiogenic factors in uterine carcinosarcoma
Authors: Etoh Tomomaro , Nakai Hidekatsu
Published: December 2013

Aim

To determine novel prognostic factors and treatment modalities for uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS).

Methods

We performed immunohistochemical staining of estrogen receptor (ER)‐α, ER‐β, progesterone receptor, gonadotropin‐releasing hormone receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet‐derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD‐ECGF) and platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)‐β in a clinicopathological study of 15 UCS patients.

Results

No significant differences were found between the sarcomatous and carcinomatous components with respect to expression of ER‐α, ER‐β and progesterone receptor. However, VEGF was significantly more frequently expressed in the carcinomatous component, while PD‐ECGF and PDGFR‐β were significantly more frequently expressed in the sarcomatous component. Only one patient showed gonadotropin‐releasing hormone receptor expression in the sarcomatous component. Moreover, ER‐β expression in resected specimens, increased serum levels of carbohydrate antigen (CA)‐125 and C‐reactive protein (CRP), and thrombocytosis were determined as significant UCS prognostic factors.

Conclusion

Combination of anti‐VEGF therapy and anti‐PD‐ECGF or anti‐PDGFR‐β therapy would be expected in advanced or recurrent UCS. Furthermore, careful monitoring for early detection of recurrence should be performed when UCS patients showed preoperative increase in serum CA‐125 levels, CRP and platelet counts, and ER‐β expression in biopsied or surgically resected specimens.
Long‐term oncological and reproductive outcomes of fertility‐sparing cytoreductive surgery in females aged 25 years and younger with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors
Authors: Ertas Ibrahim Egemen , Taskin Salih , Goklu Rifat , Bilgin Muzaffer , Goc Goksu , Yildirim Yusuf , Ortac Firat
Published: December 2013

Aim

To evaluate the long‐term oncological and reproductive outcomes of patients aged 25 years and younger who were treated by fertility‐sparing cytoreductive surgery (FSCS) plus adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) or observation alone for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCT).

Methods

Records of 42 eligible female patients treated for MOGCT between 1 May 1995 and 31 December 2010 at two centers were analyzed retrospectively. A telephone questionnaire was performed to gather reproductive and menstrual history.

Results

One patient was treated without FSCS and two patients were lost to follow‐up. The mean age of the remaining 39 patients was 18.4 ± 3.2 years. Eighteen of the tumors were histologically pure dysgerminomas (PD) and 21 were non‐dysgerminomatous tumors (non‐DT). Thirteen patients (33%) presented with stage II–III disease. Optimal cytoreduction was achieved in 34 of the 39 patients (87%). Systematic pelvic and para‐aortic lymphadenectomy was performed in 31 of the 39 patients (79.5%). The frequency of lymph node metastasis was 29% (9/31). Twenty‐seven patients (69.2%) received ACT. Disease recurred in six (15.3%) patients, all in the non‐DT group. Four of six underwent secondary optimal FSCS followed by chemotherapy. Retroperitoneal nodal recurrence was detected in two of these four patients (50%). Four deaths occurred, three due to chemoresistant aggressive disease and one due to secondary acute myelocytic leukemia. The overall survival rates for patients with PD and non‐DT were 100% and 81.4%, respectively. Twenty‐three of 27 patients who received ACT continued their regular menses. Sixteen spontaneous pregnancies and one pregnancy by intrauterine insemination were achieved by 21 patients who attempted conception.

Conclusion

Either primary or secondary FSCS followed by ACT seems to be a feasible and safe approach to preserving future fertility and hormonal function in young patients with MOGCT.
Value of maternal procalcitonin levels for predicting subclinical intra‐amniotic infection in preterm premature rupture of membranes
Authors: Oludag Tülay , Gode Funda , Caglayan Erkan , Saatli Bahadir , Okyay Recep Emre , Altunyurt Sabahattin
Published: December 2013

Aim

To determine whether procalcitonin (ProCT) levels can be used to predict subclinical intra‐amniotic infection by comparing maternal plasma levels in preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) at term with the levels in healthy pregnant women.

Methods

The mean plasma ProCT levels of 32 patients with PPROM, 35 patients with PROM at term, 24 healthy women at preterm gestation and 30 healthy women at term were compared. In the PPROM group, the presence or absence of histological chorioamnionitis and neonatal infection were used as a reference to analyze ProCT levels.

Results

The mean ProCT level of patients in the PPROM group was significantly higher than those in the PROM group and healthy controls. Patients in the PPROM group diagnosed with histological chorioamnionitis had significantly higher ProCT levels than those of the remaining patients. At a cut‐off of 0.054 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity of ProCT to predict histological chorioamnionitis were 92.3% and 68.4%, respectively.

Conclusion

ProCT levels were significantly higher in patients with PPROM, and facilitate identification of those who require expectant management.
Predictive value of diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging during chemoradiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer
Authors: Makino Hiroshi , Kato Hiroki , Furui Tatsuro , Morishige Ken‐ichirou , Kanematsu Masayuki
Published: December 2013

Aim

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of diffusion‐weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to predict the tumor response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) of uterine cervical cancer.

Methods

Twenty‐five consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed uterine cervical cancer underwent 1.5‐T MR imaging including DW imaging before and during CRT. MR images were reviewed for the size and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Pathological evaluation of the therapeutic effect was performed 3 months after finishing CRT, and we divided the subjects into two groups: complete remission (CR) (n = 16) and residual tumor (n = 9).

Results

ADC was lower before CRT than during CRT (0.89 ± 0.12 and 1.25 ± 0.22 × 10−3 mm2/s, respectively) (P < 0.01). ADC change between before and during CRT (ΔADC) showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.435, P < 0.05) with the tumor regression rates. ΔADC was higher in the CR group than in the residual tumor group (0.43 ± 0.23 and 0.25 ± 0.15 × 10−3 mm2/s, respectively) (P < 0.05). The CR rates were higher in the high ΔADC group (ΔADC ≥ 0.50) than in the low ΔADC group (ΔADC < 0.49) (100% and 53%, respectively) but marginally significant (P = 0.057). The local control rates were not statistically different between high and low ΔADC groups (83.3% and 73.7%, respectively) (P = 0.602).

Conclusion

DW imaging including ADC measurement may be useful for prediction and early assessment of pathological response to CRT for uterine cervical cancer, but its impact on local disease‐free survival was limited.
Usefulness of Proton and Phosphorus MR Spectroscopic Imaging for Early Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Weiduschat Nora , Mao Xiangling , Beal M. Flint , Nirenberg Melissa J. , Shungu Dikoma C. , Henchcliffe Claire
Published: December 2013

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Cerebral mitochondrial dysfunction has been observed in Parkinson's disease (PD). If mitochondrial dysfunction is an early event contributing to PD development, then noninvasive techniques that detect disturbed energy metabolism in vivo might be useful tools for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that proton (1H) and phosphorus (31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) measures of brain metabolites are able to differentiate between individuals with early PD and healthy volunteers (HVs).

METHODS

During this cross‐sectional study including 20 subjects with early PD and 15 age‐matched HV, ventricular lactate (anaerobic glycolysis); and regional levels of N‐acetylaspartate (neuronal integrity); choline (membrane turnover); creatine (energy metabolism); ATP and other phosphate‐containing compounds (oxidative phosphorylation) were determined using brain 1H and 31P MRS.

RESULTS

No metabolic abnormalities were detectable in early‐stage PD patients. Metabolite concentrations were not related to age, disease duration, or Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor scores.

DISCUSSION

In early PD, neither 1H nor 31P MRS were able to detect metabolic abnormalities, a finding that is in contrast to published data in more advanced PD cohorts. MRS under dynamic conditions might uncover latent energy deficits in early PD, thus warranting future study.