bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postmodernist perceptions of teacher professionalism: a critique
Authors: Parker Gemma
Published: January 2015

This is an era of significant government involvement in schools in England, despite consistent rhetoric from the Department of Education to the contrary. In such a period, signs can be detected of the juncture between a postmodern identity and post‐professional status, two models of teacher professionalism supposed in Hargreaves’ work on the fourth age of professionalism. This paper focuses on the former as the nature of the contemporary context. Defining features of postmodernity are considered through a focus on the broad issue of teacher professionalism. For this paper, this is embodied by teachers’ involvement with the development of the Primary National Curriculum for England. Evidence will be drawn from just before its 1988 introduction until 2013 in order to critique several of the key tenets of postmodernity as identified by Hargreaves. This is of particular importance in a context where a strong defence is necessary to enable the sustainment, and growth, of teachers’ professional autonomy. This paper aims to propose some strategies teachers could enact in the face of postmodern challenges.
Catheter-Based Radiofrequency Renal Denervation: Location Effects on Renal Norepinephrine
Authors: Henegar Jeffrey R. , Zhang Yongxing , Hata Cary , Narciso Irvin , Hall Michael E. , Hall John E.
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND

Clinical studies indicate that blood pressure (BP)-lowering effects of radiofrequency (RF) renal denervation (RD) are sustained for up to 2 years, although a recent clinical trial failed to find a major effect compared to sham treatment. In most previous studies, the efficacy of RD has not been assessed. The current study determined whether RD in different regions of the renal artery causes different degrees of RD as assessed with renal norepinephrine (NE) levels.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Unilateral RD was performed on 14 pigs divided into 3 groups: RD near the ostium, in the main renal artery near the bifurcation, and in extrarenal branches of the renal artery. After 2 weeks post-RD, the pigs were euthanized, renal cortex tissue was collected for NE measurement, and renal arteries were prepared for histological analysis. Renal NE decreased by 12% with RD at the ostium, 45% with RD near the bifurcation in the main renal artery, and 74% when RD was performed in extrarenal artery branches. The number of renal nerves was greatest in extrarenal branches and in the main artery compared to the ostium and the average distance from the lumen was greatest for nerves at the ostium and least at the branches.

CONCLUSIONS

RF RD lowers renal NE more significantly when performed in branches of the renal artery closer to the kidney. Increased efficacy of RF RD in extrarenal arterial branches may be due to the greater number of nerves in close proximity to the artery lumen in the branches.
PANNZER: high-throughput functional annotation of uncharacterized proteins in an error-prone environment
Authors: Koskinen Patrik , Törönen Petri , Nokso-Koivisto Jussi , Holm Liisa
Published: January 2015

Motivation: The last decade has seen a remarkable growth in protein databases. This growth comes at a price: a growing number of submitted protein sequences lack functional annotation. Approximately 32% of sequences submitted to the most comprehensive protein database UniProtKB are labelled as ‘Unknown protein’ or alike. Also the functionally annotated parts are reported to contain 30–40% of errors. Here, we introduce a high-throughput tool for more reliable functional annotation called Protein ANNotation with Z-score (PANNZER). PANNZER predicts Gene Ontology (GO) classes and free text descriptions about protein functionality. PANNZER uses weighted k-nearest neighbour methods with statistical testing to maximize the reliability of a functional annotation.

Results: Our results in free text description line prediction show that we outperformed all competing methods with a clear margin. In GO prediction we show clear improvement to our older method that performed well in CAFA 2011 challenge.

Availability and implementation: The PANNZER program was developed using the Python programming language (Version 2.6). The stand-alone installation of the PANNZER requires MySQL database for data storage and the BLAST (BLASTALL v.2.2.21) tools for the sequence similarity search. The tutorial, evaluation test sets and results are available on the PANNZER web site. PANNZER is freely available at http://ekhidna.biocenter.helsinki.fi/pannzer.

Contact: patrik.koskinen@helsinki.fi

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
scrm: efficiently simulating long sequences using the approximated coalescent with recombination
Authors: Staab Paul R. , Zhu Sha , Metzler Dirk , Lunter Gerton
Published: January 2015

Motivation: Coalescent-based simulation software for genomic sequences allows the efficient in silico generation of short- and medium-sized genetic sequences. However, the simulation of genome-size datasets as produced by next-generation sequencing is currently only possible using fairly crude approximations.

Results: We present the sequential coalescent with recombination model (SCRM), a new method that efficiently and accurately approximates the coalescent with recombination, closing the gap between current approximations and the exact model. We present an efficient implementation and show that it can simulate genomic-scale datasets with an essentially correct linkage structure.

Availability and implementation: The open source implementation scrm is freely available at https://scrm.github.io under the conditions of the GPLv3 license.

Contact:  staab@bio.lmu.de or gerton.lunter@well.ox.ac.uk.

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
ADME SARfari: comparative genomics of drug metabolizing systems
Authors: Davies Mark , Dedman Nathan , Hersey Anne , Papadatos George , Hall Matthew D. , Cucurull-Sanchez Lourdes , Jeffrey Phil , Hasan Samiul , Eddershaw Peter J. , Overington John P.
Published: January 2015

Motivation: ADME SARfari is a freely available web resource that enables comparative analyses of drug-disposition genes. It does so by integrating a number of publicly available data sources, which have subsequently been used to build data mining services, predictive tools and visualizations for drug metabolism researchers. The data include the interactions of small molecules with ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) proteins responsible for the metabolism and transport of molecules; available pharmacokinetic (PK) data; protein sequences of ADME-related molecular targets for pre-clinical model species and human; alignments of the orthologues including information on known SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) and information on the tissue distribution of these proteins. In addition, in silico models have been developed, which enable users to predict which ADME relevant protein targets a novel compound is likely to interact with.

Availability and implementation:  https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chembl/admesarfari

Contact:  jpo@ebi.ac.uk

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Phytoplankton bloom phenomena in the North Atlantic Ocean and Arabian Sea
Authors: Marra John F. , Dickey Tommy D. , Plueddemann Albert J. , Weller Robert A. , Kinkade Christopher S. , Stramska Malgorzata
Published: January 2015

We review bio-optical and physical data from three mooring experiments, the Marine Light–Mixed Layers programme in spring 1989 and 1991 in the Iceland Basin (59°N/21°W), and the Forced Upper Ocean Dynamics Experiment in the central Arabian Sea from October 1994 to 1995 (15.5°N/61.5°E). In the Iceland Basin, from mid-April to mid-June in 1989, chlorophyll-a concentrations are sensitive to small changes in stratification, with intermittent increases early in the record. The spring increase occurs after 20 May, coincident with persistent water column stratification. In 1991, the bloom occurs 2 weeks earlier than in 1989, with a background of strong short-term and diurnal variability in mixed layer depth and minimal horizontal advection. In the Arabian Sea, the mixing response to the northeast and southwest monsoons, plus the response to mesoscale eddies, produces four blooms over the annual cycle. The mixed layer depth in the Arabian Sea never exceeds the euphotic zone, allowing interactions between phytoplankton and grazer populations to become important. For all three mooring experiments, change in water column stratification is key in producing phytoplankton blooms.
Scampi (Metanephrops challengeri) emergence patterns and catchability
Authors: Tuck Ian D. , Parsons Darren M. , Hartill Bruce W. , Chiswell Stephen M.
Published: January 2015

Catchability is often a key source of uncertainty with any stock assessment, but especially for burrowing species, as their emergent behaviour is often poorly understood. Quantification of catchability will provide a major step towards improvements in the assessment for many species. Scampi (Metanephrops challengeri) are widely distributed around New Zealand, and as with Nephrops (Norway lobster), they occupy burrows in muddy substrate, and are exploited through trawl fisheries, but are only available to these fisheries when emerged on the seabed. Burrow emergence is known to vary over daily and longer cycles. Uncertainty over trawl catchability associated with emergence patterns has led to the development of photographic survey approaches for scampi, based on the counts of burrows. Both survey approaches require an understanding of burrow occupancy and emergence rates to estimate trawl/photo survey catchability, which is a key source of uncertainty. We used acoustic tagging to examine levels of and patterns in the emergence of Metanephrops, using hydrophone receivers moored close to the seabed. Strong emergence cycles were apparent in relation to tidal current (higher emergence with inshore water flow across the slope) and time of day (peaking just after dawn). These data have subsequently been used within a length-based stock assessment of New Zealand scampi, which uses emergence data in conjunction with burrow and animal counts from photographic surveys, for the first time, to inform priors for trawl (mean 0.094) and photographic (mean 0.46) survey catchability, and for burrow occupancy (mean 49.3%).
Transrectal Prostate Biopsy-Associated Prophylaxis and Infectious Complications: Report of a Query to the Emerging Infections Network of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Authors: Johnson James R. , Polgreen Philip M. , Beekmann Susan E.
Published: January 2015

Background.  Fluoroquinolone-resistant infections after transrectal prostate biopsy (TRPB) are increasing.

Methods.  Members of the Emerging Infections Network, a consortium of adult infectious diseases physicians sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, were administered an electronic 9-question survey regarding post-TRPB infections and associated prophylaxis. Results were compared with respondent characteristics.

Results.  The overall response rate was 47% (552 of 1180). Of the 552 respondents, 234 (42%) reported that this problem was not applicable to their practice. The remaining 318 (58%) reported that, despite widespread recent changes in prophylactic regimens, fluoroquinolone monotherapy still was most common, but diverse alternate or supplemental oral and parenteral antibiotics (including imipenem) also were used. Reports of culture-guided prophylaxis were rare (9%). The most common duration of prophylaxis was a single prebiopsy antibiotic dose. However, 16%–23% of respondents reported prophylaxis continuing for ≥24 hours postbiopsy. Post-TRPB infections were reported as being more frequent now than 4 years ago, with sepsis and genitourinary presentations predominating, but with osteomyelitis, endocarditis, and epidural abscess also occurring. Infection isolates reportedly were usually resistant to the prophylactic regimen.

Conclusions.  Emerging Infections Network members perceive post-TRPB infections as increasingly frequent, caused by resistant strains, and involving serious illness. Prophylactic approaches, although in flux, still usually entail ciprofloxacin monotherapy, which often is given for excessive durations. Multiple opportunities exist for infectious diseases specialists to partner with proceduralists in devising, studying, and implementing improved prophylaxis regimens for TRPB.
Structural Comparisons of Ligand-gated Ion Channels in Open, Closed, and Desensitized States Identify a Novel Propofol-binding Site on Mammalian γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptors
Authors: Franks Nicholas P.
Published: January 2015

AbstractAbstract

Molecular docking calculations of propofol binding to a γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor identified putative binding sites in a region with maximal predicted movement during channel opening. These calculations support a model of state-dependent binding of propofol resulting in enhanced γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor opening.

Background:

Most anesthetics, particularly intravenous agents such as propofol and etomidate, enhance the actions of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the GABA type A receptor. However, there is no agreement as where anesthetics bind to the receptor. A novel approach would be to identify regions on the receptor that are state-dependent, which would account for the ability of anesthetics to affect channel opening by binding differentially to the open and closed states.

Methods:

The open and closed structures of the GABA type A receptor homologues Gloeobacter ligand–gated ion channel and glutamate-gated chloride channel were compared, and regions in the channels that move on channel opening and closing were identified. Docking calculations were performed to investigate possible binding of propofol to the GABA type A β3 homomer in this region.

Results:

A comparison between the open and closed states of the Gloeobacter ligand–gated ion channel and glutamate-gated chloride channel channels identified a region at the top of transmembrane domains 2 and 3 that shows maximum movement when the channels transition between the open and closed states. Docking of propofol into the GABA type A β3 homomer identified two putative binding cavities in this same region, one with a high affinity and one with a lower affinity. Both cavities were adjacent to a histidine residue that has been photolabeled by a propofol analog, and both sites would be disrupted on channel closing.

Conclusions:

These calculations support the conclusion of a recent photolabeling study that propofol acts at a site at the interface between the extracellular and transmembrane domains, close to the top of transmembrane domain 2.
Burkholderia susongensis sp. nov., a mineral-weathering bacterium isolated from weathered rock surface
Authors: Gu Jia-Yu , Zang Sheng-Gang , Sheng Xia-Fang , He Lin-Yan , Huang Zhi , Wang Qi
Published: January 2015

A novel type of mineral-weathering bacterium was isolated from the weathered surface of rock (mica schist) collected from Susong (Anhui, China). Cells of strain L226Twere Gram-stain-negative. The strain grew optimally at 30 °C, with 1 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.0 in trypticase soy broth. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, strain L226Twas shown to belong to the genusBurkholderiaand the closest phylogenetic relatives wereBurkholderia sprentiaeWSM5005T(98.3 %),Burkholderia acidipaludisNBRC 101816T(98.2 %),Burkholderia tuberumSTM678T(97.2 %) andBurkholderia diazotrophicaJPY461T(97.1 %). The DNA G+C content was 63.5 mol% and the respiratory quinone was Q-8. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 0cyclo and C19 : 0cyclo ω8c. The polar lipid profile of strain L226Tconsisted of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, unknown lipids and unidentified aminophospholipids. Based on the low level of DNA–DNA relatedness (ranging from 25.8 % to 34.4 %) to the tested type strains of species of the genusBurkholderiaand unique phenotypic characteristics, it is suggested that strain L226Trepresents a novel species of the genusBurkholderia, for which the nameBurkholderia susongensissp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is L226T( = CCTCC AB2014142T = JCM 30231T).
Gynuella sunshinyii gen. nov., sp. nov., an antifungal rhizobacterium isolated from a halophyte, Carex scabrifolia Steud
Authors: Chung Eu Jin , Park Jeong Ae , Jeon Che Ok , Chung Young Ryun
Published: January 2015

An antifungal bacterial strain, designated YC6258T, was isolated from the rhizosphere of a halophyte (Carex scabrifoliaSteud.) growing in a tidal flat area of Namhae Island, Korea. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, moderately halophilic, rod-shaped and motile by a single polar flagellum. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YC6258Tformed a phyletic lineage distinct from members of the most closely related genera,SaccharospirillumandReinekea,with less than 91.2 % sequence similarities. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0and Summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/ C16 : 1ω6c). The quinone system of strain YC6258Tconsisted mainly of ubiquinone Q-8. The polar lipid profile exhibited phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and unknown lipids. The DNA G+C content was 48.9 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain YC6258Tshould be classified as a representative of a novel species in a novel genus for which the nameGynuella sunshinyiigen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YC6258T(KCCM 43015T = NBRC 109345T).
Limisphaera ngatamarikiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a thermophilic, pink-pigmented coccus isolated from subaqueous mud of a geothermal hotspring
Authors: Anders Heike , Power Jean F. , MacKenzie Andrew D. , Lagutin Kirill , Vyssotski Mikhail , Hanssen Eric , Moreau John W. , Stott Matthew B.
Published: January 2015

A novel bacterial strain, NGM72.4T, was isolated from a hot spring in the Ngatamariki geothermal field, New Zealand. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences grouped it into the phylum

Verrucomicrobia

and class level group 3 (also known as OPB35 soil group). NGM72.4T stained Gram-negative, and was catalase- and oxidase-positive. Cells were small cocci, 0.5–0.8 µm in diameter, which were motile by means of single flagella. Transmission electron micrograph (TEM) imaging showed an unusual pirellulosome-like intracytoplasmic membrane. The peptidoglycan content was very small with only trace levels of diaminopimelic acid detected. No peptidoglycan structure was visible in TEM imaging. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7 (92 %). The major fatty acids (>15 %) were C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Major phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine (PMME) and cardiolipin (CL), and a novel analogous series of phospholipids where diacylglycerol was replaced with diacylserinol (sPE, sPMME, sCL). The DNA G+C content was 65.6 mol%. Cells displayed an oxidative chemoheterotrophic metabolism. NGM72.4T is a strictly aerobic thermophile (growth optimum 60–65 °C), has a slightly alkaliphilic pH growth optimum (optimum pH 8.1–8.4) and has a NaCl tolerance of up to 8 g l−1. Colonies were small, circular and pigmented pale pink. The distinct phylogenetic position and phenotypic traits of strain NGM72.4T distinguish it from all other described species of the phylum

Verrucomicrobia

and, therefore, it is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus for which we propose the name Limisphaera ngatamarikiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is NGM72.4T ( = ICMP 20182T = DSM 27329T).
Single-cell-level spatial gene expression in the embryonic neural differentiation niche
Authors: Huang Yi , Yu Xiaoming , Sun Na , Qiao Nan , Cao Yaqiang , Boyd-Kirkup Jerome D. , Shen Qin , Han Jing-Dong J.
Published: January 2015

With the rapidly increasing availability of high-throughput in situ hybridization images, how to effectively analyze these images at high resolution for global patterns and testable hypotheses has become an urgent challenge. Here we developed a semi-automated image analysis pipeline to analyze in situ hybridization images of E14.5 mouse embryos at single-cell resolution for more than 1600 telencephalon-expressed genes from the Eurexpress database. Using this pipeline, we derived the spatial gene expression profiles at single-cell resolution across the cortical layers to gain insight into the key processes occurring during cerebral cortex development. These profiles displayed high spatial modularity in gene expression, precisely recapitulated known differentiation zones, and uncovered additional unknown transition zones or cellular states. In particular, they revealed a distinctive spatial transition phase dedicated to chromatin remodeling events during neural differentiation, which can be validated by genomic clustering patterns, epigenetic modifications switches, and network modules. Our analysis further revealed a role of mitotic checkpoints during spatial gene expression state transition. As a novel approach to analyzing at the single-cell level the spatial modularity, dynamic trajectory, and transient states of gene expression during embryonic neural differentiation and to inferring regulatory events, our approach will be useful and applicable in many different systems for understanding the dynamic differentiation processes in vivo and at high resolution.
Justification of generational cohort segmentation in South Africa
Authors: Duh Helen , Struwig Miemie
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to look at the successful generational cohort segmentation from global and country-specific formative experiences in the USA, to examine the justification of cohort segmentation in South Africa. It also describes the demographic and psychographic characteristics of the latest consumer cohort – Generation Y for the interest of retailers and marketing managers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study gathers secondary data by carefully scrutinizing books, journal articles, essays and dissertations. From these secondary sources, summaries of various findings and important scholarly insights into the qualifying factors for cohort formation and the important characteristics that make Generation Y an attractive consumer segment are provided.

Findings

– Findings show that, generational cohort segmentation is reserved for countries whose defining moments meet some qualifying conditions. South Africa can segment consumers in terms of generational cohorts because the historic and political defining events the country experienced fulfil the requirements for cohort formation. Particularly, apartheid is suggested to be the country-specific defining event backing the labelling of Generation X and Y South Africans. Generation X should thus be “the apartheid, socio-economic instability cohort” and Generation Y should be “the post apartheid socio-economically liberated cohort” Findings also show that Generation Y South Africans constitute a majority of the growing middle class, termed “Black Diamonds”.

Originality/value

– In addition to providing summaries of useful marketing-related reasons to target Generation Y consumers, this study assesses the qualification of South Africa’s historic and political events in forming consumer cohorts for generational marketing.
Measuring infrastructure investment option value
Authors: Power Gabriel J , Tandja M. Charli D. , Bastien Josée , Grégoire Philippe
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a risk-based framework to estimate the option value of infrastructure investment, accounting for the stochastic behavior of both financial and physical (engineering) variables.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study uses a real-options approach and computes the optimal investment dates and option values using Least Squares Monte Carlo, both the original Longstaff – Schwartz algorithm and the constrained Least Squares approach of Le tourneau – Stentoft.

Findings

– Real-option value for infrastructure investment is substantial. It is beneficial to model jointly financial and engineering risks to better understand the timing and real-option value of infrastructure investment. The analysis further shows which variables are option value drivers.

Research limitations/implications

– Future work could integrate financing constraints into the model, consider path dependency in the physical state variables or integrate sovereign risk, expropriation risk, operational risk or other project risks.

Practical implications

– Financial practitioners and investment managers interested in infrastructure risk finance or project finance will benefit from a novel framework to analyze infrastructure investments in which engineering and financial risks interact in a tractable way.

Social implications

– Public decision-makers will benefit from a better understanding of what determines the value of infrastructure investments, how real-option value affects optimal investment timing and how both are determined by financial and engineering risks.

Originality/value

– The analysis considers financial and engineering risks in a single framework to better understand option value in infrastructure investment. The framework and findings are useful both to risk finance and project finance practitioners and investors as well as engineers and public sector decision-makers.
Student satisfaction or happiness?
Authors: Dean Aftab , Gibbs Paul
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the purpose of the complex open system of higher education and to explore this transformative experience as personal flourishing, where students come to terms with a way of being, matching their potentiality with their agency and leading to profound happiness. There is influential, but not uncontested (Tsinidou et al., 2010), literature concerning higher education institutes as education service providers, functioning like any other business (DeShields, 2005). Eagle and Brennan (2007, p. 4) argue that academic staff as service providers are thus vital to process delivery. Using a service model and traditional corporate quality frameworks, there is a temptation to measure how a service ethos serves recipients and co-producers – students, donor, industry and sponsors – negating education’s transformative and uncertain nature, rather than taking the externality of process delivery as a guide.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research is based on a questionnaire designed and administered to two cohorts of students in different universities in the UK. It presents the outcomes as indicative results and draws preliminary conclusions on how the student experience might be engaged with to increase happiness as well as satisfaction.

Findings

– The results show a distinct notion of happiness which has specific attributes from those that deliver satisfaction.

Originality/value

– The literature on student experience and more importantly, its reporting conflate happiness and satisfaction. This research shows that they are different, and offers a new way of looking at the student experience data.
Differential transcriptional response to antibiotics by Pseudomonas putida DOT‐T1E
Authors: Molina‐Santiago Carlos , Daddaoua Abdelali , Gómez‐Lozano María , Udaondo Zulema , Molin Søren , Ramos Juan‐Luis
Published: January 2015

Multi‐drug resistant bacteria are a major threat to humanity, especially because the current battery of known antibiotics is not sufficient to combat infections produced by these microbes. Therefore, the study of how current antibiotics act and how bacteria defend themselves against antibiotics is of critical importance. Pseudomonas putida DOT‐T1E exhibits an impressive array of RND efflux pumps, which confer this microorganism high resistance to organic solvents and antibiotics that would kill most other microorganisms. We have chosen DOT‐T1E as a model microbe to study the microbial responses to a wide battery of antibiotics (chloramphenicol, rifampicin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, kanamycin, spectinomycin and gentamicin). Ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA)‐seq analyses revealed that each antibiotic provokes a unique transcriptional response profile in DOT‐T1E. While many of the genes identified were related to known antibiotic targets, others were unrelated or encoded hypothetical proteins. These results indicate that our knowledge of antibiotic resistance mechanisms is still partial. We also identified 138 new small RNAs (sRNAs) in DOT‐T1E, dramatically adding to the 16 that have been previously described. Importantly, our results reveal that a correlation exists between the expression of messenger RNA and sRNA, indicating that some of these sRNAs are likely involved in fine tuning the expression of antibiotic resistance genes. Taken together, these findings open new frontiers in the fight against multi‐drug resistant bacteria and point to the potential use of sRNAs as novel antimicrobial targets.
Is There a Case for Mandating Directly Elected Mayors in Australian Local Government? Lessons from the 2012 Queensland Local Government Elections
Authors: Grant Bligh , Dollery Brian , Kortt Michael A.
Published: January 2015

A ‘semi‐executive’ model for Australian mayors, inclusive of direct election, is presently being explored in the Australian local sector (see, in particular, Sansom, 2012). This paper takes advantage of the differences across Australia's federation to examine the recent experience of directly elected mayors in Queensland, especially the results of local government elections held in 2012. It is argued that several factors contributed to the high turnover rates of both mayors and councillors, including the 2012 Queensland state election and the 2008 amalgamation process. However, the requirement for directly elected mayors was an important factor contributing to what the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ, 2012, 12) described as a ‘significantly high’ proportion of ‘corporate knowledge’ being lost. Moreover, the direct election of mayors, in particular those charged with ‘semi‐executive’ authority, is fraught with problems and thus should not to be implemented in all Australian local government systems.
Gathering the views of children and young people to inform practice in a psychological service
Authors: Alexander Shona , Brown Neil , Farmer Kait , Fraser‐Smith Jenny , McClatchey Kirstie , McKeown Vibeke , Sangster Ali , Shaver Isabel , Templeton Jenny
Published: January 2015

This paper describes the process employed by a psychological service to gather the views of children and young people using guided discussion groups and questionnaires. Pupils in the guided discussion groups were asked to identify issues that affect them and how adults could help. This information was analysed using thematic analysis. Seven themes were identified as issues: managing feelings; friendships; behaviour; specific difficulties that can affect learning; not being accepted; bullying; and ‘other important issues’, including bereavement and family difficulties. In relation to each of these themed issues, several sub‐themes regarding how adults could help were collated. Questionnaire data was analysed using inferential statistics. The questionnaire rated the importance of help from adults in the areas of learning, friendships and feelings. Results suggested that these were equally important to primary‐aged pupils. Findings were used to contribute to the development plan and shape future practice.
A tool to record and support the early development of children including those with special educational needs or disabilities
Authors: Mengoni Silvana E. , Oates John
Published: January 2015

Early intervention is key for children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), and therefore early assessment is crucial. Information from parents about children's current ability and their developmental history can make valid and useful contributions to developmental assessments. Parental input is also important in early education for children with and without SEND. In England, recent changes to statutory guidance for early education highlight partnership working with parents, progress checks and continuous observation. The Early Years Developmental Journal (EYDJ), an Early Support tool primarily aimed at families, aims to support early identification and assessment for children with SEND and early education for all children. The article describes Early Support to provide a backdrop and then outlines the purpose, structure and rigorous development process of the EYDJ. Use of the EYDJ to support parents, early years education practitioners, health visitors, developmental assessments and the forthcoming English special educational needs (SEN) reforms is also described.
Mapping the educational experiences of children with pathological demand avoidance
Authors: Gore Langton Emma , Frederickson Norah
Published: January 2015

‘Pathological demand avoidance’ (PDA) describes a pattern of difficulties increasingly recognised as forming part of the autistic spectrum. Although clinical reports suggest that children with PDA are likely to experience considerable difficulties in education, their educational experiences have not yet been explored in any systematic way. In the current study, 42 parents of children with PDA completed a questionnaire about their child's educational experiences. Parents' responses indicated that this group of children displays high levels of problem behaviours in school, and receives corresponding high levels of special educational need support and professional involvement. Despite this support, the group had experienced high rates of exclusion and placement breakdown, with only 48% now in mainstream education. Parents reported relatively high satisfaction in their children's educational placements, with success defined by parents in terms of child outcomes, school characteristics and PDA‐specific factors. Findings are discussed with reference to what is known about the educational experiences of children with more typical autism spectrum conditions and in terms of the implications for the inclusion of this group of children with complex needs.
First trimester contingent testing with either nuchal translucency or cell‐free DNA. Cost efficiency and the role of ultrasound dating
Authors: Conner Peter , Gustafsson Sven , Kublickas Marius
Published: January 2015

Objective

To evaluate the performance and cost efficacy of different first‐trimester contingent screening strategies based on an initial analysis of biochemical markers.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Swedish National Quality Register for prenatal diagnosis.

Population

35 780 women with singleton pregnancies.

Methods

Serum values from first trimester biochemistry were re‐analyzed in a contingent approach. For risks between 1:40 and 1:1000, risk estimates from nuchal translucency measurements were added and outcomes were compared using either a final cut‐off risk of 1:200 to proceed with invasive testing or offering non‐invasive prenatal testing. In a subgroup of 12 836 women with regular menstrual cycles the same analyses were performed using data on the last menstrual period for determining gestational age. The costs of detecting one case of aneuploidy were compared.

Main outcome measures

Comparison of screening strategies.

Results

The detection rate was the same (87%) in the contingent group as in complete combined screening, with only 41% requiring a nuchal translucency scan. As an alternative, offering non‐invasive prenatal testing to the intermediate risk group would result in a detection rate of 98%, but the cost to detect one case of trisomy 21 would be 83% higher than the cost associated with traditional combined screening.

Conclusions

First trimester examination using a contingent approach will achieve similar results compared with full combined screening. Non‐invasive prenatal testing will not be cost‐effective when a high proportion of pregnancies need further testing.
Myeloid heme oxygenase‐1 promotes metastatic tumor colonization in mice
Authors: Lin Heng‐Huei , Chiang Ming‐Tsai , Chang Po‐Chiao , Chau Lee‐Young
Published: January 2015

Heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) is a heme degradation enzyme with antioxidant and immune‐modulatory functions. HO‐1 promotes tumorigenesis by enhancing tumor cell proliferation and invasion. Whether HO‐1 has an effect on cancer progression through stromal compartments is less clear. Here we show that the growth of tumor engrafted subcutaneously in syngeneic mice was not affected by host HO‐1 expression. However, lung metastasis arisen from subcutaneous tumor or circulating tumor cells was significantly reduced in HO‐1+/− mice comparing to wild type (WT) mice. The reduced lung metastasis was also observed in B6 mice bearing HO‐1+/− bone marrow as comparing to WT chimeras, indicating that HO‐1 expression in hematopoietic cells impacts tumor colonization at the metastatic site. Further experiments demonstrated that the numbers of myeloid cells recruited to pulmonary premetastatic niches and metastatic loci were significantly lower in HO‐1+/− mice than in WT mice. Likewise, the extents of tumor cell extravasation and colonization at the metastatic loci in the early phase of metastasis were significantly lower in HO‐1+/− mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that HO‐1 impacted chemoattractant‐induced myeloid cell migration by modulating p38 kinase signaling. Moreover, myeloid HO‐1‐induced expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin‐10 promoted tumor cell transendothelial migration and STAT3 activation in vitro. These data support a pathological role of myeloid HO‐1 in metastasis and suggest a possibility of targeting myeloid HO‐1 for cancer treatment.
Rigosertib induces cell death of a myelodysplastic syndrome‐derived cell line by DNA damage‐induced G2/M arrest
Authors: Hyoda Tomoko , Tsujioka Takayuki , Nakahara Takako , Suemori Shin‐ichiro , Okamoto Shuichiro , Kataoka Mikio , Tohyama Kaoru
Published: January 2015

A multi‐kinase inhibitor, rigosertib (ON 01910.Na) has recently been highlighted as a novel type of anti‐cancer agent for the treatment of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), but its action mechanisms remain to be clarified. We investigated the in vitro effects of rigosertib on an MDS‐derived cell line MDS‐L and a myeloid leukemia cell line HL‐60. Rigosertib suppressed the proliferation of both HL‐60 and MDS‐L cells and induced apoptosis by inhibition of the PI3 kinase/Akt pathway. As the effects on cell cycle, rigosertib treatment promoted the phosphorylation of histone H2AX and led to the DNA damage‐induced G2/M arrest. In addition, an immunofluorescence staining study demonstrated the abnormal localization of aurora A kinase, suggesting that rigosertib causes perturbation of spindle assembly and deregulated mitotic patterns towards cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We also found that rigosertib exerted growth inhibitory effects on two lymphoid cell lines, Jurkat and Ramos. We further examined the molecular pathways influenced by rigosertib from the gene expression profiling data of MDS‐L cells and found a possible involvement of rigosertib treatment in the upregulation of the genes related to microtubule kinetics and the downregulation of the mRNA degradation system. The gene set enrichment analysis showed the suppression of “nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay (NMD)” as the most significantly affected gene set. These data provide a new aspect and a potential utility of rigosertib for the treatment of refractory hematopoietic malignancies.
Sal‐like protein 2 upregulates p16 expression through a proximal promoter element
Authors: Wu Zhenghua , Cheng Kebin , Shi Lidan , Li Zheqi , Negi Hema , Gao Guangwei , Kamle Suchitra , Li Dawei
Published: January 2015

Sal‐like protein 2 (Sall2), a homeotic transcription factor, is a putative tumor suppressor. We have previously shown that Sall2 activates the transcription of tumor suppressor gene p21 and suppresses tumorigenesis through cell cycle inhibition and induction of apoptosis. To investigate additional Sall2‐regulated downstream genes, we analyzed the differences in mRNA expression profiles with and without exogenously expressed Sall2. We identified 1616 Sall2‐responsive genes through gene expression arrays. Promoter‐reporter assays of p16INK4A and several other tumor‐related genes indicated that the Sall2 regulation of these promoters was not significantly different between the two major forms of Sall2 with alternative exon 1 or exon 1A. Additional analysis showed that Sall2‐induced p16 promoter activation was Sall2 dose‐dependent. Deletion and site‐directed mutagenesis of the p16 promoter identified a consensus Sall2 binding site (GGGTGGG) proximal to the p16 transcription start site and was critical for p16 promoter activation. Finally, to confirm the significance of Sall2‐activated p16 expression in cell cycle regulation, we co‐transfected the SKOV3 cells with a Sall2 expression construct and a p16 minigene and also co‐transfected the ES‐2 cells with a Sall2 expression construct and the siRNA against p16 for flow cytometry analysis. Our results showed that Sall2 enhanced the p16 minigene blocking of cell cycle progression and p16 knockdown with siRNA abolished most of the Sall2 inhibition of cell cycle progression. These findings indicate that Sall2 targets multiple cell cycle regulators, including p16, through their promoters, adding knowledge to the understanding of Sall2 and p16 gene regulation, and how Sall2 deregulation may promote cancer formation.
Effect of maternal age at childbirth on insulin resistance: the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Yun Kyung‐Jin , Han Kyungdo , Kim Mee Kyoung , Park Young‐Moon , Baek Ki‐Hyun , Song Ki‐Ho , Kil Kicheol , Kwon Hyuk‐Sang
Published: January 2015

Objective

This study aimed to assess insulin resistance according to maternal age at childbirth.

Patients and methods

The data used in this study were obtained from the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This study included a total of 2233 nondiabetic female subjects ≥30 years of age that were subdivided into groups according to their obesity and abdominal obesity (AOB) statuses. The homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) was used to quantify the insulin resistance according to age at first childbirth and last childbirth.

Results

Age at first childbirth showed a negative relationship with HOMA‐IR in both the nonobese and non‐AOB groups, while age at last childbirth showed a positive relationship with HOMA‐IR in both the nonobese and non‐AOB groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that ages at first and last childbirth were significantly associated with the highest HOMA‐IR quartile. The odds ratio was 0·9 (95% confidence interval: 0·82–0·98) for age at first childbirth, and 1·07 (95% confidence interval: 1·01–1·14) for age at last childbirth in the nonobese and non‐AOB groups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study suggests that insulin resistance is increased in females who experienced their first childbirth at a younger age or their last childbirth at a later age, particularly in nonobese individuals. Because these data suggest that childbearing age could be an independent risk factor for diabetes, a high‐quality prospective study assessing the relationship between childbearing age and insulin resistance should be performed.
High‐frequency jet ventilation for endolaryngotracheal surgery – chart review and procedure analysis from the surgeon's and the anaesthesiologist's point of view
Authors: Helmstaedter V. , Tellkamp R. , Majdani O. , Warnecke A. , Lenarz T. , Durisin M.
Published: January 2015

Objective

High‐frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) arose as a ventilation alternative in laryngotracheal surgery as it offers the surgeon a better overview and more space for microsurgical manipulations. On the contrary, anaesthesiologic monitoring is limited and (relative) contraindications exist. The aim of this study was to evaluate the procedure. Contraindications and limitations are discussed from the surgeon's and the anaesthesiologist's point of view, and relevant aspects of oncologic surgery are identified.

Design

Retrospective chart review and analysis of clinical experiences.

Setting

University Teaching hospital.

Patients and main outcome measures

Eighty adult patients (97 cases) treated at our institution between June 2012 and September 2013 were included. HFJV was performed using thin, subglottically placed catheters. The analysis focuses on complications and practical steps.

Results

Indications were benign (63%) and malignant pathologies (37%). The CO2 laser was used in 34 cases (35%). The mean operating time averaged 53 min (3–404 min) and the mean duration of anaesthesia was 81 min (16–438 min). Two thirds of the operated patients had a body mass index higher than 25 kg/m2. Eighty‐four per cent were classified as ASA I and II according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists. All pathologies could well be exposed by the surgeon. Two reversible desaturations to 70% were documented. In another case, emergency re‐intubation was necessary as the saturation dropped below 50%. In 8 (8%) cases, elective re‐intubation to conventional tubes was performed during the course of the operation as HFJV did not establish optimal oxygenation conditions. No severe intra‐operative bleeding was observed.

Conclusions

High‐frequency jet ventilation represents a safe ventilation approach for laryngotracheal surgery in experienced hands. Due to the better overview, it offers a better orientation on anatomical structures and on the pathology. Special attention has to be laid on obesity, reflux and cardiopulmonary diseases. However, individual decisions can be made under consideration of all co‐morbidities. A close pre‐ and intra‐operative interdisciplinary work up is required.
Sensitization to palladium and nickel in Europe and the relationship with oral disease and dental alloys
Authors: Muris Joris , Goossens An , Gonçalo Margarida , Bircher Andreas J. , Giménez‐Arnau Ana , Foti Caterina , Rustemeyer Thomas , Feilzer Albert J. , Kleverlaan Cornelis J.
Published: January 2015

Background

The role of palladium and nickel sensitization in oral disease and dermatitis is not fully understood.

Objectives

To investigate whether sensitization to these metals was associated with exposure to dental alloys and oral and skin complaints/symptoms in a European multicentre study.

Methods

In six dermatology clinics, patch tests with palladium (3% Na2PdCl4; Pd = 102.0 µmol/g) and nickel (5% NiSO4.6H2O; Ni = 190.2 µmol/g) were performed in consecutive patients, and patients' characteristics were collected with a questionnaire and a clinical investigation.

Results

In total, 906 patients were included, of whom 24.3% reacted to palladium and 25.2% to nickel. The rate of monosensitization was 6–7% for both metals. Palladium sensitization (as opposed to no sensitization to both metals) was associated with exposure to dental crowns [odds ratio (OR) 2.0], skin reactivity to metals (OR 2.8), oral lichenoid lesions (OR 4.7), xerostomia (OR 7.3), and metal taste (OR 20.7), but not with eczema, stomatitis, or oral burning sensation. Additionally, xerostomia (OR 8.7) and metal taste (OR 4.6) were associated with sensitization to both metals.

Conclusions

Clinically, it is important for palladium‐sensitized patients to undergo an oral examination, with particular attention to the presence of/exposure to dental crowns. In the case of metal contact allergy, exposure to dental crowns could play a role.