bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indirect support seeking and perceptions of spousal support: An examination of a reciprocal relationship
Authors: DON BRIAN P. , MICKELSON KRISTIN D. , BARBEE ANITA P.
Published: March 2013

Indirect support seeking has been theoretically identified as a support seeking strategy that may backfire and elicit negative responses or decreases in positive support. Moreover, past support responses that are either inadequate or negative have been theoretically linked to the use of indirect support seeking. Yet, no empirical studies have examined the potential reciprocal relation between indirect support seeking and perceived support in intimate relationships. Utilizing data from 204 new parents, we tested longitudinal cross‐lagged path models to examine the reciprocal relation between indirect support seeking and support perceptions. Results provided partial support for a reciprocal relation between indirect support seeking and perceived negative support responses. Furthermore, indirect support seeking negatively predicted relationship satisfaction across time, through perceived negative support responses.
Measuring family management of transplant tasks: The transplant responsibility questionnaire
Authors: Kullgren Kristin A. , Hmiel S. Paul , Gevers Anik
Published: March 2013

Little is known about how parents and youth perceive their roles in post‐transplant management and how this relates to post‐transplant adherence. The goals of this study are to (1) describe a new measure, the TRQ, (2) to describe parent and child performance on the TRQ, and to (3) determine the relationship between the TRQ and adherence. We hypothesized that older youth would describe higher post‐transplant self‐care behaviors, parents would underestimate youth self‐care, and greater parent involvement would be associated with better adherence. Participants included 59 parent–child dyads. Inclusion criteria included: (i) youth aged 7–18 yr and (ii) at least three months post‐kidney or post‐liver transplant. Parents and youth completed the TRQ, and adherence was measured by s.d. of sequential immunosuppressant blood levels. Youth perceived greater levels of self‐care than their parents perceived. Older youth reportedly engaged in more self‐care than younger youth. Less than 25% of the sample was non‐adherent, and non‐adherence was unrelated to performance on the TRQ. The TRQ may have utility as a clinical tool to address areas for improvement in youth self‐care. The high degree of parental involvement likely explains the high degree of adherence in this sample.
“Theism, Naturalism, and Meta‐Ethics”
Authors: Jordan Matthew C.
Published: March 2013

The relationship between God and morality has been a topic of philosophical discussion since Socrates engaged Euthyphro in the agora. In recent years, it has received a lot of attention, as theistic philosophers have attempted to show that divine command theory and other theistic meta‐ethical accounts are defensible. Whether metaphysical naturalism is compatible with moral realism is a related (and equally controversial) topic. This essay surveys the main issues in these debates.
Parent Diaries and the Child Study Movement in Late Imperial and Early Soviet Russia
Authors: BYFORD ANDY
Published: March 2013

Parent diaries of child development and early upbringing–sometimes referred to as “mothers' diaries”–are an important source in the historiography of Russian childhood. The article situates the production of Russian parent diaries, as practice and discourse, in the history of the Russian child study movement between the 1880s and the 1930s. It traces the key socio‐cultural and professional contexts in which parent diaries were initially promoted in Russia between the Great Reforms and the First World War. It discusses in greater detail two diaries published in the mid‐1910s (those of A. F. Levonevskii and E. K. Krichevskaia) as examples of very different kinds of positioning of Russian parents on the boundaries of expertise in early child development, care and education (vospitanie). It then analyzes the way in which some Russian psychologists (especially N. A. Rybnikov) enrolled parental diary‐keeping as an “objective” methodology in psychology in the late 1910s‐early 1920s. In this context, it examines, as a counter‐example, the idiosyncratic framing of the diary written by V. A. Rybnikova‐Shilova (1923), in which, unusually, maternal subjectivity was explicitly built into the scientific legitimacy of a child development diary. The conclusion sketches out the fate of parent diaries, especially as a method and genre of psychology, up until and beyond the 1936 liquidation of Soviet pedology under Stalin.
Different Glycosylation Pattern of Human IgG1 and IgG3 Antibodies Isolated from Transiently as well as Permanently Transfected Cell Lines
Authors: Vestrheim A. C. , Moen A. , Egge‐Jacobsen W. , Bratlie D. B. , Michaelsen T. E.
Published: March 2013

The effector functions of IgG depend on the presence of carbohydrates attached to asparagine 297 in the Fc‐portion. In this report, glycosylation profiles of recombinant wild‐type and mutant IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies produced from three cell lines were analysed using LC‐ESI‐Orbitrap. Clear differences were detected between IgG1 and IgG3 glycoforms, where IgG1 generally contained fucosylated glycoforms, whilst IgG3 mainly were non‐fucosylated. When using NS‐0 and J558L cells for permanent transfection, IgG1 wt glycoforms differed between the two cell lines, whilst IgG3 wt glycoforms did not. Transiently transfected HEK 293E cells were used to produce IgG1 and IgG3 wt and mutants, affecting complement activation. Cell supernatants were harvested at early and late time points and analysed separately. IgGs harvested late showed simpler and less developed glycosylation structure compared to those harvested early. The IgG harvested early was slightly more effective in complement activation than those harvested late, whilst the antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity was unaltered. Generally, the glycosylation pattern of the mutants tested, including a hinge truncate mutant of IgG3, did not differ significantly from the wild‐type IgGs. The striking difference in glycosylation pattern of IgG1 compared to IgG3 therefore appears not to be due to the long hinge region of IgG3 (62 amino acids) relative to the IgG1 hinge region (15 amino acids). Furthermore, mutation variants at or near the C1q binding site showed similar glycosylation structure and difference in their complement activation activity observed earlier is thus most likely due to differences in protein structure only.
Effect of NPK and biofertilizer on date palm trees grown in Siwa Oasis, Egypt
Authors: Ibrahim M. M. , El‐Beshbeshy R. T. , Kamh N. R. , Abou‐Amer A. I.
Published: March 2013

The effect of applying chemical fertilizers alone or in combination with biofertilizer on the growth, yield and fruit quality and leaf mineral nutrient content of Sewy date palm was investigated in three successive seasons from 2004 to 2006. This study was carried out at the Siwa Oasis in the western desert of Egypt between longitude 25°18′ and 26°06′ E and latitudes 29°05′ and 29°20′ N. Chemical fertilizer applications were 1.2 or 1.5 kg N/tree, 0.065 or 0.044 kg P/tree and 0.250 or 0.420 kg K/tree. Nitrogen and potassium were given as three split applications, whereas P was mixed with organic manure (40 kg/palm tree) and supplied as a single application. Biofertilizer treatments were applied at both rates of N, P and K. The control treatment was the existing nutrient application of just 40 kg of organic sheep manure/tree/year, given as a single application. The results indicated that the application of the larger amounts of N, P and K increased the number of leaves and bunches per palm, fruit yield and total sugar content with a high level of fruit quality and production economics. In addition, this treatment increased the mineral content of leaves and reduced the biennial bearing phenomenon of Sewy date palm.
Risk factors for hospital admission due to acute lower respiratory tract infection in Guarani indigenous children in southern Brazil: a population‐based case‐control study
Authors: Cardoso Andrey M. , Coimbra Carlos E. A. , Werneck Guilherme L.
Published: March 2013

Objective

To assess risk factors associated with hospital admission due to acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in indigenous Guarani children <5 years of age in southern Brazil.

Methods

Population‐based matched case–control study from May 2007 to June 2008 in 81 Guarani villages. Cases were defined as hospital admissions due to confirmed ALRTI. Two controls free from acute respiratory infection, matched according to age, sex and place of residence, were selected for each case at the time of the case's hospitalisation. Both cases and controls were recruited by a surveillance routine established for the study.

Results

The analysis was performed on 120 cases and 201 controls. The risk factors that remained significantly associated with hospitalisation due to ALRTI in the hierarchical multivariate conditional logistic regression were: low stable monthly per capita household income (<US$30.00 = OR: 2.77, IC95%: 1.51–5.10; no income= OR: 1.88, IC95%: 1.02–3.47); large number of persons in the household (6–9 =  OR: 2.03, IC95%: 1.06–3.88; 10–16 =  OR: 5.00, IC95%: 1.81–13.86); indoor exposure to fumes from burning firewood used for cooking (OR: 3.08, IC95%: 1.39–6.84);low maternal age (OR: 2.77, IC95%: 1.42–5.39); and low birthweight (OR: 6.12, IC95%: 1.44–26.13).

Conclusion

Acute respiratory infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among Guarani children. Our study provides the first evidence about their determinants in indigenous peoples in Brazil that can help to better understand the epidemiology of respiratory infections in indigenous children.
BSKs are partially redundant positive regulators of brassinosteroid signaling in Arabidopsis
Authors: Sreeramulu Shivakumar , Mostizky Yana , Sunitha Sukumaran , Shani Eilon , Nahum Hadas , Salomon Dor , Hayun Liat Ben , Gruetter Christian , Rauh Daniel , Ori Naomi , Sessa Guido
Published: March 2013

Arabidopsis thaliana brassinosteroid signaling kinases (BSKs) constitute a receptor‐like cytoplasmic kinase sub‐family (RLCK‐XII) with 12 members. Previous analysis demonstrated a positive role for BSK1 and BSK3 in the initial steps of brassinosteroid (BR) signal transduction. To investigate the function of BSKs in plant growth and BR signaling, we characterized T‐DNA insertion lines for eight BSK genes (BSK1–BSK8) and multiple mutant combinations. Simultaneous elimination of three BSK genes caused alterations in growth and the BR response, and the most severe phenotypes were observed in the bsk3,4,7,8 quadruple and bsk3,4,6,7,8 pentuple mutants, which displayed reduced rosette size, leaf curling and enhanced leaf inclination. In addition, upon treatment with 24‐epibrassinolide, these mutants showed reduced hypocotyl elongation, enhanced root growth and alteration in the expression of BR‐responsive genes. Some mutant combinations also showed antagonistic interactions. In support of a redundant function in BR signaling, multiple BSKs interacted in vivo with the BR receptor BRI1, and served as its phosphorylation substrates in vitro. The BIN2 and BIL2 GSK3‐like kinases, which are negative regulators of BR signaling, interacted in vivo with BSKs and phosphorylated them in vitro, probably at different sites to BRI1. This study demonstrates redundant biological functions for BSKs, and suggests the existence of a regulatory link between BSKs and GSK3‐like kinases.
Lenograstim compared to filgrastim for the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells in healthy donors
Authors: Pérez‐López Olga , Martín‐Sánchez Jesús , Parody‐Porras Rocío , Espigado‐Tocino Ildefonso , Noguerol Pilar , Carmona‐González Magdalena , Pérez‐Simón José A.
Published: March 2013

Background

Recombinant human granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) is used to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells for both autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The recombinant products clinically available are lenograstim and filgrastim, which differ from a biologic point of view as well as from their economical impact. In this regard, some studies have shown different in vitro activities although clinical studies comparing both drugs in the allogeneic transplant setting are scanty.

Study Design and Methods

In the current study we compare the efficacy of lenograstim and filgrastim in terms of number of circulating CD34+ cells/μL during the fifth day of G‐CSF administration, the number of days of apheresis required to obtain the target cell dose, the median of CD34+ cells collected on the first day of apheresis, or the median number of total CD34+ cells collected at the end of the procedure, in a series of 146 healthy donors undergoing hematopoietic stem cell mobilization for allogeneic transplantation.

Results

We observed that, using a comparable dose for the two products, no significant differences were observed between the two groups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the current retrospective study shows that lenograstim and filgrastim are similar in terms of efficacy for the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells in healthy donors.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE CANINE ABDOMEN: EFFECT OF PULSE SEQUENCE ON DIAGNOSTIC QUALITY
Authors: Manley Rebecca , Matthews Andrea R. , Morandi Federica , Henry George A. , DeAnna Katherine H. , Conklin Gordon , Reed Ann
Published: March 2013

Motion artifact is an important limiting factor for abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in veterinary patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of pulse sequence on abdominal MRI diagnostic quality in dogs. Ten normal dogs were each scanned using 16 MRI pulse sequences. Sequences included breath‐holding sequences, respiratory navigation sequences, and traditional spin‐echo sequences. Four observers independently scored diagnostic quality for each sequence based on the appearance of specific organs, overall diagnostic quality, and degree of artifactual interference. Signal‐to‐noise ratio and contrast‐to‐noise ratio were also calculated for each sequence. The sequence with the highest overall mean diagnostic quality score was the dorsal T2 turbo spin echo (TSE) with fat saturation and breath‐holding. The sequence with the lowest mean diagnostic quality score was the dorsal T2 fast spin echo. The sequence with the highest signal‐to‐noise ratio for all evaluated organs was the sagittal T1 spin echo. Signal‐to‐noise and contrast‐to‐noise ratios did not correlate with subjective assessment of overall diagnostic quality for the majority of the sequences evaluated (P < 0.05). The three sequences considered to have the highest diagnostic quality for the cranial abdomen were the dorsal T2 TSE with fat saturation and breath‐hold, transverse T1 turbo fast low‐angle shot gradient echo with breath‐hold, and dorsal T2 half‐Fourier acquisition single shot TSE with respiratory navigation. These sequences had short acquisition times, yielded studies of similar diagnostic quality, provided complementary information, and are therefore recommended for routine canine abdominal MRI protocols.
Xenotransplantation of human unrestricted somatic stem cells in a pig model of acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Gahremanpour Amir , Vela Deborah , Zheng Yi , Silva Guilherme V. , Fodor William , Cardoso Cristiano O. , Baimbridge Fred , Fernandes Marlos R. , Buja L. Maximilian , Perin Emerson C.
Published: March 2013

Background

Stem cell therapy may help restore cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but the optimal therapeutic cell type has not been identified.

Methods

We examined the effects of CD34‐/CD45‐ human unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs) in pigs (n = 30) with an AMI created by a 90‐min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Pigs were randomly assigned to receive either USSCs (302 ± 23 × 106 cells) or phosphate‐buffered saline via 15 NOGA‐guided transendocardial injections 10 days after AMI. Cyclosporine A (10 mg/kg orally, twice a day) was started in all pigs 3 days before control or cell treatment. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography before injection and at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. Serum titers for pig IgG antibodies against USSCs were also measured at these time points and before AMI.

Results

Compared with control pigs, USSC‐treated pigs showed no significant differences in any of the functional parameters examined. USSC‐treated pigs showed variable increases in anti‐USSC IgG antibody titers in the blood and chronic inflammatory infiltrates at the cell injection sites. Immunohistochemical studies of the injection sites using human anti‐mitochondrial antibodies failed to detect implanted USSCs.

Conclusions

We conclude that human USSCs did not improve cardiac function in a pig model of AMI. Cell transplantation in a xenogeneic setting may obscure the benefits of stem cell therapy.
Validity of automated x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy algorithm to determine the amount of substance and the depth distribution of atoms
Authors: Tougaard Sven
Published: March 2013

The author reports a systematic study of the range of validity of a previously developed algorithm for automated x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, which takes into account the variation in both peak intensity and the intensity in the background of inelastically scattered electrons. This test was done by first simulating spectra for the Au4d peak with gold atoms distributed in the form of a wide range of nanostructures, which includes overlayers with varying thickness, a 5 Å layer of atoms buried at varying depths and a substrate covered with an overlayer of varying thickness. Next, the algorithm was applied to analyze these spectra. The algorithm determines the number of atoms within the outermost 3 λ of the surface. This amount of substance is denoted AOS3λ (where λ  is the electron inelastic mean free path). In general the determined AOS3λ is found to be accurate to within ∼10–20% depending on the depth distribution of the atoms. The algorithm also determines a characteristic length L, which was found to give unambiguous information on the depth distribution of the atoms for practically all studied cases. A set of rules for this parameter, which relates the value of L to the depths where the atoms are distributed, was tested, and these rules were found to be generally valid with only a few exceptions. The results were found to be rather independent of the spectral energy range (from 20 to 40 eV below the peak energy) used in the analysis.
Advances in Medical Physics 2012.
Authors: Yester Michael
Published: March 2013

Advances in Medical Physics 2012. Wolbarst, Anthony B. Patrizio Capasso, Devon Godfrey, Ronald Price, Bruce Whiting, and William R. Hendee. Medical Physics Publishing, Madison, WI, 2012. 330 pp. Price: $115.00. ISBN: 9781930524569 (hardcover).
Not All About Consumption
Authors: Davidson Debra J. , Andrews Jeffrey
Published: March 2013

Resource exploitation can lead to increased ecological impacts even when overall consumption levels stay the same.
Experimental Observation of the Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect in a Magnetic Topological Insulator
Authors: Chang Cui-Zu , Zhang Jinsong , Feng Xiao , Shen Jie , Zhang Zuocheng , Guo Minghua , Li Kang , Ou Yunbo , Wei Pang , Wang Li-Li , Ji Zhong-Qing , Feng Yang , Ji Shuaihua , Chen Xi , Jia Jinfeng , Dai Xi , Fang Zhong , Zhang Shou-Cheng , He Ke , Wang Yayu , Lu Li , Ma Xu-Cun , Xue Qi-Kun
Published: March 2013

Quantized and Anomalous

The Hall effect, an electromagnetic phenomenon with a straightforward explanation, has many exotic counterparts, including a quantized version occurring independently of the presence of external magnetic fields. Inspired by a theoretical prediction of the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect in magnetically doped topological insulator thin films,

Chang
et al.

(p.
167
, published online 14 March; see the Perspective by

Oh

) prepared thin films of the compound Cr0.15(Bi0.1Sb0.9)1.85Te3, with Cr as the magnetic dopant. They observed a plateau in the Hall resistance as a function of the gating voltage without any applied magnetic fields, signifying the achievement of the QAH state.
Heterogeneous Differentiation Patterns of Individual CD8
+
T Cells
Authors: Gerlach Carmen , Rohr Jan C. , Perié Leïla , van Rooij Nienke , van Heijst Jeroen W. J. , Velds Arno , Urbanus Jos , Naik Shalin H. , Jacobs Heinz , Beltman Joost B. , de Boer Rob J. , Schumacher Ton N. M.
Published: March 2013

Dynamic Protection

During an immune response, CD8
+
T cells are recruited to provide protection. Most cells differentiate into short-lived effectors that help to clear the pathogen, whereas others form long-lived memory cells to protect against reinfection.

Gerlach
et al.

(p.
635
, published online 14 March) and

Buchholz
et al.

(p.
630
, published online 14 March) used in vivo fate mapping of mouse T cells with a defined specificity during a bacterial infection to show that the dynamics of the single-cell response are not uniform. The response of a particular T cell population is the average of a small number of clones that expand greatly (“large clones”) and many clones that only proliferate at low amounts (“small clones”). The memory pool arises largely from small clones whereas effectors are primarily made up of large clones.
Differentiation of T Cells in Nude Mice
Authors: Schedi Margrit P. , Goldstein Gideon , Boyce Edward A.
Published: March 2013

Cells bearing the T-cell differentiation alloantigens TL and Thy-1 were enumerated in preparations of spleen and lymph node cells of
nu
/
nu
mice. Healthy
nu
/
nu
mice had few or no demonstrable TL
+
or Thy-1
+
cells whereas mice with viral hepatitis, including some born of
nu
/
nu
×
nu
/
nu
matings, had many. Healthy
nu
/
nu
mice were treated daily with the thymic hormone thymopoietin or with ubiquitin, polypeptides that induce the differentiation of TL
+
Thy-1
+
cells from TL
-
Thy-1- precursors in vitro. After 14 days, 20 to 40 percent of their spleen cells were of the TL
+
Thy-1
+
phenotype typical of thymocytes and 10 to 25 percent of their lymph node cells were TL
-
Thy-1
+
, typical of later T-cell differentiation. Similar frequencies of such cells were found in untreated
nu
/
nu
mice suffering from severe viral hepatitis. These data conform to the current view that prothymocytes are preprogrammed cells whose maturation to thymocytes, normally induced in the thymus by thymopoietin, can be triggered by other agents under abnormal circumstances. Tests of T-cell function were not included in this study.
The Metropole, Superspreaders, and Other Mysteries
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: March 2013

For all that has been learned about SARS in the past 10 years, mysteries still endure. What happened at the Metropole Hotel in Hong Kong the night of 21 February 2003? How did SARS spread at the Amoy Gardens, a high-rise apartment building complex? And how do "superspreaders" emerge?
Draft Genome Sequence of the Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae Strain hvKP1, Isolated in Buffalo, New York
Authors: Russo Thomas A. , Gill Steven R.
Published: March 2013

Hypervirulent variants of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
have been primarily reported in the Asian Pacific Rim, but they are spreading across the globe. We report the sequence of
K. pneumoniae
strain hvKP1, which caused liver-splenic abscesses in an otherwise healthy 24-year-old from Buffalo, NY, which will assist in determining why these variants are more pathogenic than “classic”
K. pneumoniae
strains.
Evaluation of Real-Time PCR, Galactomannan Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and a Novel Lateral-Flow Device for Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis
Authors: White P. Lewis , Parr Christian , Thornton Christopher , Barnes Rosemary A.
Published: March 2013

Diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) remains challenging. With a relatively low incidence of disease, the use of expensive empirical antifungal therapy exposes many patients to unnecessary toxicity. Diagnosis places emphasis on specific but temporal radiological evidence. Circulating biomarker diagnosis has shown potential, but assays show variable performance, take several hours to perform, and require a degree of technical ability. A novel and simple lateral-flow device (LFD) using monoclonal antibody JF5, which targets an extracellular glycoprotein, has been developed and potentially removes any technical requirements, reducing processing time considerably. In this study, we evaluate the performance of this LFD compared to real-time PCR (targeting the 28S rRNA gene) and galactomannan (GM) detection when testing serum from a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG)-defined hematological population. In a proven/probable-IA population versus a no-IA population, the LFD performance was comparable to that of both PCR and galactomannan enzyme immunoassay. Specificity (98.0%) was similar to that of PCR (96.6%) and slightly superior to that of GM (91.5%). Sensitivity (81.8%) was inferior to that of PCR (95.5%) but better than that of GM (77.3%). In combination with PCR, it provided both 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The LFD permits rapid testing of easily obtainable specimens, to be used as an adjunct test, before confirmation by other investigations. Its simplicity provides centers without specialist diagnostics with a test with clinical performance superior to that of classical microbiological approaches and results that can be used to direct antifungal management. In summary, microbiological diagnosis of IA is difficult and options are limited, with variable performance. An LFD assay targeting a novel specific biomarker has been developed, one which is methodologically simple and provides good clinical performance, particularly if combined with PCR.
Colistin MIC Variability by Method for Contemporary Clinical Isolates of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli
Authors: Hindler Janet A. , Humphries Romney M.
Published: March 2013

In vitro
evaluation of colistin susceptibility is fraught with complications, due in part to the inherent cationic properties of colistin. In addition, no reference method has been defined against which to compare the results of colistin susceptibility testing. This study systematically evaluated the available methods for colistin MIC testing in two phases. In phase I, colistin MICs were determined in 107 fresh clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) by broth microdilution with polysorbate 80 (BMD-T), broth macrodilution (TDS), and the Etest. In phase II, 50 of these isolates, 10 of which were colistin resistant, were tested in parallel using BMD-T, TDS, agar dilution, broth microdilution without polysorbate 80 (BMD), and the TREK Gram-negative extra MIC format (GNXF) Sensititre. The Etest was also performed on these 50 isolates using Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA) from three different manufacturers. Colistin MIC results obtained from the five methods were compared to the MIC results obtained using BMD-T, the method that enables the highest nominal concentration of colistin in the test medium. Essential agreement ranged from 34% (BMD) to 83% (TDS), whereas categorical agreement was >90% for all methods except for BMD, which was 88%. Very major errors (VMEs) (i.e., false susceptibility) for the Etest were found in 47 to 53% of the resistant isolates, depending on the manufacturer of the MHA that was used. In contrast, VMEs were found for 10% (
n
= 1) of the resistant isolates by BMD and 0% of the isolates by the TDS, agar dilution, and Sensititre methods. Based on these data, we urge clinical laboratories to be aware of the variable results that can occur when using different methods for colistin MIC testing and, in particular, to use caution with the Etest.
Rabies Virus Is Recognized by the NLRP3 Inflammasome and Activates Interleukin-1β Release in Murine Dendritic Cells
Authors: Lawrence Tessa M. , Hudacek Andrew W. , de Zoete Marcel R. , Flavell Richard A. , Schnell Matthias J.
Published: March 2013

Inflammasome activation is important for the development of an effective host defense against many pathogens, including RNA viruses. However, the mechanism by which the inflammasome recognizes RNA viruses and its role in rabies virus (RABV) pathogenicity and immunogenicity remain poorly defined. To determine the function of the inflammasome in response to RABV infection, we infected murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) with RABV. Our results indicate that the infection of BMDCs with RABV induces both the production of pro-interleukin-1β (pro-IL-1β) and its processing, resulting in the secretion of active IL-1β through activation of the NLRP3-, ASC-, and caspase-1-dependent inflammasome. As previously shown for the induction of type I interferon by RABV, the induction of pro-IL-1β also depends upon IPS-1. We demonstrate that both the production of pro-IL-1β and activation of the inflammasome require viral replication. We also demonstrate that increased viral replication in BMDCs derived from IFNAR-deficient mice resulted in significantly more IL-1β release. Additionally, IL-1 receptor-deficient mice show an increase in RABV pathogenicity. Taken together, these results indicate an important role of the inflammasome in innate immune recognition of RABV.
Identification of Dominant Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity Epitopes on the Hemagglutinin Antigen of Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus
Authors: Srivastava Vikram , Yang Zheng , Hung Ivan Fan Ngai , Xu Jianqing , Zheng Bojian , Zhang Mei-Yun
Published: March 2013

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) bridges innate and adaptive immunity, and it involves both humoral and cellular immune responses. ADCC has been found to be a main route of immune protection against viral infectionsin vivo. Hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus is highly immunogenic and considered the most important target for immune protection. Several potent cross-reactive HA-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been reported, and their conserved neutralizing epitopes have been revealed, but there has been no report so far about ADCC epitopes on HA. Here we identified two dominant ADCC epitopes, designated E1 (amino acids [aa] 92 to 117) and E2 (aa 124 to 159), on HA of pandemic H1N1 influenza virus by epitope mapping of convalescent-phase plasma IgG antibodies from six H1N1-infected human subjects in China that exhibited different levels of ADCC activity. The E1 and E2 ADCC epitopes overlapped with immunodominant epitopes of HA. Depletion of purified patient plasma IgG antibodies with EBY100 yeast cells expressing E1 or E2 decreased the ADCC activity of the IgG antibodies. E1 and E2 sequences were found to be highly conserved in H1N1 strains but less so in other subtypes of influenza A viruses. Our study may aid in designing immunogens that can elicit antibodies with high ADCC activity. Vaccine immunogens designed to include the structural determinants of potent broadly neutralizing antibodies and ADCC epitopes may confer comprehensive immune protection against influenza virus infection.
Rational Design of a Flavivirus Vaccine by Abolishing Viral RNA 2′-
O
Methylation
Authors: Li Shi-Hua , Dong Hongping , Li Xiao-Feng , Xie Xuping , Zhao Hui , Deng Yong-Qiang , Wang Xiao-Yu , Ye Qing , Zhu Shun-Ya , Wang Hong-Jiang , Zhang Bo , Leng Qi-Bin , Zuest Roland , Qin E-De , Qin Cheng-Feng , Shi Pei-Yong
Published: March 2013

Viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm cannot access the host nuclear capping machinery. These viruses have evolved viral methyltransferase(s) to methylate N-7 and 2′-
O
cap of their RNA; alternatively, they “snatch” host mRNA cap to form the 5′ end of viral RNA. The function of 2′-
O
methylation of viral RNA cap is to mimic cellular mRNA and to evade host innate immune restriction. A cytoplasmic virus defective in 2′-
O
methylation is replicative, but its viral RNA lacks 2′-
O
methylation and is recognized and eliminated by the host immune response. Such a mutant virus could be rationally designed as a live attenuated vaccine. Here, we use Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), an important mosquito-borne flavivirus, to prove this novel vaccine concept. We show that JEV methyltransferase is responsible for both N-7 and 2′-
O
cap methylations as well as evasion of host innate immune response. Recombinant virus completely defective in 2′-
O
methylation was stable in cell culture after being passaged for >30 days. The mutant virus was attenuated in mice, elicited robust humoral and cellular immune responses, and retained the engineered mutation
in vivo
. A single dose of immunization induced full protection against lethal challenge with JEV strains in mice. Mechanistically, the attenuation phenotype was attributed to the enhanced sensitivity of the mutant virus to the antiviral effects of interferon and IFIT proteins. Collectively, the results demonstrate the feasibility of using 2′-
O
methylation-defective virus as a vaccine approach; this vaccine approach should be applicable to other flaviviruses and nonflaviviruses that encode their own viral 2′-
O
methyltransferases.
Multiple non-syndromic odontogenic keratocysts in three siblings
Authors: Nirwan Amit , Wanjari Sangeeta Panjab , Saikhedkar Rashmi , Karun Vinayak
Published: March 2013

Occurrence of multiple cysts (MC) involving the jaw is rare. When multiple, it is usually associated with a syndrome. Occurrence of MC without syndromic association is extremely rare. Multiple odontogenic cysts mostly could be odontogenic keratocysts or dentigerous cysts. Odontogenic keratocyst shows involvement of mandible over maxilla, with peak incidence in second and third decade and it is exceedingly rare before 10 years of age. However multiple odontogenic keratocysts found in children are often reflective of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. Here is a case report which documents multiple jaw cysts involving both the jaws, in three siblings of ages 10, 13 and 17 years with negative parental history. All three reported cases were free of any systemic involvement. As odontogenic keratocyst spreads through bone marrow, destruction is more before any clinical manifestation. Therefore, early detection and intervention are essential in preventing extensive destruction.
Brunneroma with duodenojejunal intussusception: a rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction
Authors: Pandey Anshuman , Chandra Abhijit , Wahal Anup
Published: March 2013

Duodenal adenoma presenting with duodenojejunal intussusception is very rare. Only a few have ever been reported. Upon evaluation it may be difficult to rule out malignancy. The final diagnosis may be reached only at surgery and confirmed at histopathology.
Prediction of survival benefits from progression-free survival benefits in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: evidence from a meta-analysis of 2334 patients from 5 randomised trials
Authors: Laporte Silvy , Squifflet Pierre , Baroux Noémie , Fossella Frank , Georgoulias Vassilis , Pujol Jean-Louis , Douillard Jean-Yves , Kudoh Shinzohy , Pignon Jean-Pierre , Quinaux Emmanuel , Buyse Marc
Published: March 2013

Objectives

To investigate whether progression-free survival (PFS) can be considered a surrogate endpoint for overall survival (OS) in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Design

Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials.

Setting

Five randomised controlled trials comparing docetaxel-based chemotherapy with vinorelbine-based chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of NSCLC.

Participants

2331 patients with advanced NSCLC.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Surrogacy of PFS for OS was assessed through the association between these endpoints and between the treatment effects on these endpoints. The surrogate threshold effect was the minimum treatment effect on PFS required to predict a non-zero treatment effect on OS.

Results

The median follow-up of patients still alive was 23.4 months. Median OS was 10 months and median PFS was 5.5 months. The treatment effects on PFS and OS were correlated, whether using centres (R²=0.62, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.72) or prognostic strata (R²=0.72, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.84) as units of analysis. The surrogate threshold effect was a PFS hazard ratio (HR) of 0.49 using centres or 0.53 using prognostic strata.

Conclusions

These analyses provide only modest support for considering PFS as an acceptable surrogate for OS in patients with advanced NSCLC. Only treatments that have a major impact on PFS (risk reduction of at least 50%) would be expected to also have a significant effect on OS. Whether these results also apply to targeted therapies is an open question that requires independent evaluation.
Endovascular management of six simultaneous intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas in a single patient
Authors: Gist Taylor L , Rangel-Castilla Leonardo , Krishna Chandan , Roman Gustavo C , Cech David A , Diaz Orlando
Published: March 2013

A 64-year-old man with a history of traumatic brain injury 4 years previously presented with progressive cognitive decline and gait abnormality. MRI revealed diffusion restriction in the bilateral centrum semiovale and multiple serpiginous flow voids. Cerebral angiogram revealed a total of six intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas with separate fistulas of the right and left sphenoid bones, left clival plexus, right transverse sinus, right sigmoid sinus, and superior sagittal sinus. A diffuse pseudophlebitic pattern of venous drainage indicating severe venous hypertension was also observed. The patient underwent a series of endovascular treatments over the next 10 months to achieve resolution of all arteriovenous shunting. Repeat MRI showed resolution of the diffusion restriction and marked reduction in T2 vascular flow voids. The patient's clinical status improved significantly over the course of treatment, paralleling the improvement in venous hypertension.
Veterinarians' role for pet owners facing pet loss
Authors: Fernandez‐Mehler P. , Gloor P. , Sager E. , Lewis F. I. , Glaus T. M
Published: March 2013

Owners' satisfaction with, and expectations from, their veterinarians around euthanasia, including questions on disposal of pet remains subject to animal species, clients' gender, age, family conditions, area of living and type of veterinary clinic visited were evaluated by questionnaire. Questionnaires were to be filled out by clients consecutively visiting the individual practices and hospitals for any kind of consultations. Of 2350 questionnaires distributed, 2008 were returned and available for analysis. Owner satisfaction concerning the procedure of euthanasia was high (92 per cent, 1173/1272). After the event of euthanasia, 14 per cent (170/1250) had changed their veterinarian, even though 75 per cent of these 170 had been satisfied with the procedure. Most owners (88 per cent) expected veterinarians to talk about their pet's final destination, and 38 per cent expected this to happen early in the pet's life. For 81 per cent clients, the veterinarian was the primary informant about the possibilities concerning the disposal of pet remains, and 33 per cent indicated their veterinarian as the contact person to talk about pet loss. Area of living, or veterinary specialisation, only marginally influenced the answers. Veterinarians play an important role to inform their clients concerning questions around euthanasia and the care of pet remains, and to support them during the process of mourning.
Daily physical function and frailty in persons with Parkinson's disease: a focus on females
Authors: Roland Kaitlyn P.
Published: March 2013

Persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) are often excluded from frailty studies, and thus little is known about how frailty influences decline in physiological capacity in persons with PD. Impaired physiological capacity impacts the ability to remain physically active, which reduces physical function that is necessary for independent living. The overall purpose of this dissertation was to examine physiological capacity (i.e., muscle activation patterns) and physical activity in males and females with PD during routine daily activities to determine whether they influence physical function and frailty. An extensive literature review of sex differences in PD highlighted that greater declines in gait speed, balance, and motor function occur in females compared with males. This dissertation demonstrated persons with PD, especially females with PD, were weaker and have less muscle quiescence, as measured with gaps in the electromyography, compared with controls and males with PD. These results provide insight into mechanisms (i.e., physiological capacity) that determine PD and sex-related declines in functional performance. In addition, greater muscle activity and less quiescence in females with PD may perpetuate frailty through increased muscle fatigue and slowness of movement. Females with PD are more vulnerable to prefrailty than males and factors that are associated with frailty are quality of life (QoL) and self-reported exhaustion. The neuromuscular changes associated with frailty exacerbate PD, which may create greater muscle fatigue that results in self-reported exhaustion. In conclusion, research presented within this dissertation demonstrates that addressing frailty in PD is important, especially in females who are at greater risk for functional decline. This research presents new knowledge by suggesting that frail females with PD remain physically active during daily life and that disease management may better reflect frailty than disease severity or duration. Understanding how frailty concurrently exists with PD and how these conditions progress within the aging adult may enhance identification and implementation of management strategies aimed at improving functional independence and QoL.
At very low concentrations known chaotropes act as kosmotropes for the N and B isoforms of human serum albumin
Authors: Sen Priyankar , Khan Mohd Moin , Equbal Asif , Ahmad Ejaz , Khan Rizwan Hasan
Published: March 2013

Very few studies have been done to understand the effect of millimolar concentrations of chaotropes on protein structure. In our previous study we observed that the secondary and tertiary structure of human serum albumin (HSA) increases in the presence of 5 mmol/L urea. Micelle formation in amphoteric detergents increases in the presence of equivalent concentrations of urea. Here, we observed a significant increase in the secondary and tertiary structure of HSA. Interestingly, guanidine hydrochloride, another chaotropic agent, also shows a similar effect. Our results show electrostatic interaction may play a role in neutral to basic transition in HSA. This study further supports the claim that at millimolar concentrations the chaotropes may act as kosmotropes for proteins.
Frictionless nanoscale plastic flows of soft solid He-4
Authors: Kwang-Hua Chu W.
Published: March 2013

Possible onset of the quantum plasticity in soft–solid He-4 was discovered recently in 7 nm diameter (Vycor glass) nanopores. Here, by using the transition-state model together with the specific activation energy and activation volume, we investigated the possible frictionless plastic flows of soft–solid He-4 under high pressure in confined nanodomains and we observed a series of sudden changes in the shearing stresses at corresponding very high shear strain rates of (locally amorphous) soft–solid He-4 for different activation volumes considering the role of He-3 impurities. Our calculated critical velocity for a fixed concentration of He-3 quantitatively agrees with recent reported values.
COVARIANT REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DE SITTER ISOMETRY GROUP
Authors: COTĂESCU ION I.
Published: March 2013

We show that the induced representations of the de Sitter isometry group proposed many years ago by Nachtmann are equivalent to those derived from our general theory of external symmetry. These methods complete each other leading to a coherent theory of covariant fields with spin on the de Sitter spacetime. Some technical details of these representations are presented here for the first time.
CHERN–SIMONS-MATTER THEORY
Authors: FAIZAL MIR
Published: March 2013

In this paper, we will deform an ABJ theory in [Formula: see text] harmonic superspace without breaking any supersymmetry. We will analyze the ABJ theory and show that it retains the full [Formula: see text] supersymmetry. We will then analyze the gauge fixing and ghost terms for this model in various gauges. We will also analyze the corresponding BRST and anti-BRST symmetries of this model.
A facile synthesis and application of protoporphyrin derivatives on reducing the tobacco specific N-nitroamines levels of smoke
Authors: Tao Fei Y. , Wang Chang G. , Ma Kuo Y. , Li Dong L. , Tan Lan L. , Zhang Ji , Dai Ya , Yu Xiao Q.
Published: March 2013

Two protoporphyrin derivatives were prepared by a facile method using inexpensive hemin as starting material. They were added to cigarette filters to reduce the carcinogenic tobacco specific N-nitroamines (TSNAs), especially toward NNK (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone) and NNN (N-nitrosonornicotine) for environment protection and public health. The reduction level of TSNAs was reached to 37.6% from MSS, with greater reductions when more porphyrin was included in the filter. The decrease level for NNK by protoporphyrin derivatives is more effective than NNN. The interaction between protoporphyrin derivatives and TSNAs (NNK and NNN) were investigated by fluorescence spectra and UV-visible titration. The correlation coefficients were 0.978~0.997 and the binding constants was the scope from 1.26 × 103 to 4.04 × 104. The interaction mechanisms between protoporphyrin derivatives and, NNK and NNN are possibly the co-interaction of hydrogen bond binding and strong π–π stacking.
Direct measurement of recoil effects on
40
Ar/
39
Ar standards
Authors: Hall Chris M.
Published: March 2013

Advances in the
40
Ar/
39
Ar method using new techniques have led to considerable efforts to improve the accuracy of the calibration of interlaboratory standards. However, the accuracy of the method ultimately relies on the measurement of
40
Ar*/
39
Ar
K
ratios on standards that have been calibrated with the K–Ar method. Usually a
40
Ar/
39
Ar total gas age is assumed to equate to a K–Ar age, but this assumes that there is zero loss of
39
Ar due to recoil. Traditional
40
Ar/
39
Ar total gas ages are Ar retention ages and are not strictly comparable to K–Ar ages. Efforts to estimate the importance of this effect on standards have relied on indirect evidence for
39
Ar recoil. We report direct measurements of
39
Ar recoil for primary and secondary standards using the vacuum-encapsulation technique and show that adjustments to some standard ages may be needed. Revised ages corrected for recoil are given for hornblendes MMhb-1 and Hb3gr, biotites GA1550 and FCT-3 and sanidines FCT-2 and TCR-2. The results show that, in most cases, recoil loss exceeds that which would be expected from grain size and geometry. Internal defects within mineral grains are likely the dominant control on the fraction of recoiled
39
Ar lost from these standards.

Supplementary material:

Detailed data tables are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18587
.