bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A major myristylated substrate of protein kinase C and protein kinase C itself are differentially regulated during murine B- and T-lymphocyte development and activation.
Authors: Hornbeck P , Nakabayashi H , Fowlkes B J , Paul W E , Kligman D
Published: October 2015

The regulation and expression of protein kinase C (PKC) and phosphomyristin C (PMC) (a principal substrate of PKC which is the major myristylated protein in lymphocyte and glioma lines that express it) in murine B and T lymphocytes were investigated. Both PMC and PKC are differentially regulated during T-cell development. The level of PMC expression is highest in CD4-8-, intermediate in CD4+8+, and lowest in J11d-, CD4, or CD8 single-positive thymocytes. PKC is equally expressed by all three thymic populations. In striking contrast to thymocytes, resting peripheral lymph node T cells and T-cell clones express little if any PMC and reduced levels of PKC. Neither PKC nor PMC is significantly induced upon the activation of lymph node T cells: treatment with anti-CD3 antibodies or anti-CD3 and interleukin-2 fails to induce PKC, whereas PMC is not induced by anti-CD3 alone and is only slightly induced by anti-CD3 and interleukin-2. In contrast to the situation with T cells, PMC and PKC are constitutively expressed at moderate levels in mature B cells. PMC is greatly increased in B-cell blasts generated by cross-linking the antigen receptor with anti-immunoglobulin. These results demonstrate that PMC and PKC are differentially regulated during the development and activation of B and T cells, suggesting that cellular events that rely upon PKC and PMC may differ during ontogeny and activation of different lymphocyte subsets.
Hematopoietic lineage-specific heterogeneity in the 5'-terminal region of the chicken proto-myb transcript.
Authors: Kim W K , Baluda M A
Published: October 2015

Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of the upstream c-myb exon UE3 with the sequences of a thymus c-myb cDNA and of a B-lymphoma c-myb cDNA suggested the existence of T- and B-cell-specific heterogeneity in the 5'-terminal region of the c-myb coding sequence. This possibility was investigated with T-cell-specific and B-cell-specific DNA probes in a Northern (RNA) blot analysis of mRNAs from different hematopoietic cell types and from chicken embryo fibroblasts. The hematopoietic tissues analyzed were bone marrow, bursa of Fabricius, and thymus from 1-day-old chicks, 13-day yolk sac, and spleen from 16-day embryos. At least three different c-myb mRNA species were found to have 5'-terminal heterogeneity that was specific for either B cells, T cells, or the other hematopoietic cells and chicken embryo fibroblasts. This lineage-specific heterogeneity in the c-myb transcript was found to be expressed in the bone marrow precursors of B and T cells before they migrated to their definitive differentiation sites. S1 nuclease protection analysis of the UE3 exon, part of which appeared to be coding sequences for thymic c-myb mRNA, revealed that this exon is utilized either in its entirety or partially in a cell-lineage-specific manner by all six tissues analyzed. Also, the 5'-terminal exon(s) present in the thymus cDNA was absent in c-myb mRNAs from the other cell types analyzed.
The chicken skeletal muscle alpha-actin promoter is tissue specific in transgenic mice.
Authors: Petropoulos C J , Rosenberg M P , Jenkins N A , Copeland N G , Hughes S H
Published: October 2015

We have generated transgenic mouse lines that carry the promoter region of the chicken skeletal muscle alpha (alpha sk) actin gene linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene. In adult mice, the pattern of transgene expression resembled that of the endogenous alpha sk actin gene. In most of the transgenic lines, high levels of CAT activity were detected in striated muscle (skeletal and cardiac) but not in the other tissues tested. In striated muscle, transcription of the transgene was initiated at the normal transcriptional start site of the chicken alpha sk actin gene. The region from nucleotides -191 to +27 of the chicken alpha sk actin gene was sufficient to direct the expression of CAT in striated muscle of transgenic mice. These observations suggest that the mechanism of tissue-specific actin gene expression is well conserved in higher vertebrate species.
Mammalian growth-associated H1 histone kinase: a homolog of cdc2+/CDC28 protein kinases controlling mitotic entry in yeast and frog cells.
Authors: Langan T A , Gautier J , Lohka M , Hollingsworth R , Moreno S , Nurse P , Maller J , Sclafani R A
Published: October 2015

Mammalian growth-associated H1 histone kinase, an enzyme whose activity is sharply elevated at mitosis, is similar to cdc2+ protein kinase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe and CDC28 protein kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae with respect to immunoreactivity, molecular size, and specificity for phosphorylation sites in H1 histone. Phosphorylation of specific growth-associated sites in H1 histone is catalyzed by yeast cdc2+/CDC28 kinase, as shown by the in vitro thermal lability of this activity in extracts prepared from temperature-sensitive mutants. In addition, highly purified Xenopus maturation-promoting factor catalyzes phosphorylation of the same sites in H1 as do the mammalian and yeast kinases. The data indicate that growth-associated H1 kinase is encoded by a mammalian homolog of cdc2+/CDC28 protein kinase, which controls entry into mitosis in yeast and frog cells. Since H1 histone is known to be an in vivo substrate of the mammalian kinase, this suggests that phosphorylation of H1 histone or an H1 histone counterpart is an important component of the mechanism for entry of cells into mitosis.
Unusual levels of heat shock element-binding activity in embryonal carcinoma cells.
Authors: Mezger V , Bensaude O , Morange M
Published: October 2015

In contrast to differentiated somatic cells, mouse embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell lines spontaneously express high levels of major members of the heat shock protein (HSP) family. In addition, some EC cell lines (noninducible) are not able to induce HSP gene transcription and HSP synthesis after a stress. However, after in vitro differentiation, constitutive HSP expression decreases and the differentiated derivatives become able to induce HSP gene transcription after a stress. These cells were tested by gel shift assays for the presence of an activity able to bind the heat shock element (HSE) before and after a stress. Control fibroblasts grown at 37 degrees C did not contain significant levels of HSE-binding activity, but heat shock dramatically increased the level of HSE-binding activity. In contrast to control fibroblasts, all EC cells contained significant levels of HSE-binding activity at 37 degrees C. In the inducible EC cell line F9, as in fibroblasts, heat shock strongly increased the level of HSE-binding activity. In the noninducible EC cells, however, HSE-binding activity markedly decreased upon heat shock. During in vitro differentiation of the noninducible cell line PCC7-S-1009, the constitutive HSE-binding activity found at 37 degrees C disappeared and heat induction of the HSE-binding activity appeared. Therefore, a good correlation exists between the high spontaneous expression of some members of the HSP family and the constitutive level of HSE-binding activity in EC cells at 37 degrees C. Heat induction of HSP gene transcription correlates with a strong increase in HSE-binding activity, whereas a deficiency in heat induction of HSP gene transcription is associated with a loss of HSE-binding activity upon heat shock.
High incidence of lung, bone, and lymphoid tumors in transgenic mice overexpressing mutant alleles of the p53 oncogene.
Authors: Lavigueur A , Maltby V , Mock D , Rossant J , Pawson T , Bernstein A
Published: October 2015

We have investigated the role of the p53 gene in oncogenesis in vivo by generating transgenic mice carrying murine p53 genomic fragments isolated from a mouse Friend erythroleukemia cell line or BALB/c mouse liver DNA. Elevated levels of p53 mRNA were detected in several tissues of two transgenic lines tested. Increased levels of p53 protein were also detected in most of the tissues analyzed by Western blotting (immunoblotting). Because both transgenes encoded p53 proteins that were antigenically distinct from wild-type p53, it was possible to demonstrate that overexpression of the p53 protein was mostly, if not entirely, due to the expression of the transgenes. Neoplasms developed in 20% of the transgenic mice, with a high incidence of lung adenocarcinomas, osteosarcomas, and lymphomas. Tissues such as ovaries that expressed the transgene at high levels were not at higher risk of malignant transformation than tissues expressing p53 protein at much lower levels. The long latent period and low penetrance suggest that overexpression of p53 alone is not sufficient to induce malignancies and that additional events are required. These observations provide direct evidence that mutant alleles of the p53 oncogene have oncogenic potential in vivo and that different cell types show intrinsic differences in susceptibility to malignant transformation by p53. Since recent data suggest that p53 may be a recessive oncogene, it is possible that the elevated tumor incidence results from functional inactivation of endogenous p53 by overexpression of the mutant transgene. The high incidence of lung and bone tumors suggests that p53 transgenic mice may provide a useful model to investigate the molecular events that underlie these malignancies in humans.
Mutations in the hormone regulatory element of mouse mammary tumor virus differentially affect the response to progestins, androgens, and glucocorticoids.
Authors: Gowland P L , Buetti E
Published: October 2015

Transcription of the mouse mammary tumor virus DNA is known to be induced by several steroid hormones. Using chimeric MMTV plasmids containing mutations within the hormone regulatory element, we have previously studied the regions required for the glucocorticoid response in mouse fibroblasts. Here we report the characterization of elements essential for the stimulation by progestins and androgens as compared with glucocorticoids. The same set of mutant plasmids was transfected into the human mammary tumor cell line T47D, and the specific transcripts were analyzed by an S1 nuclease protection assay. Androgen-mediated stimulation, although weak, showed an extended sensitivity to mutations, with a slight preference for the proximal region. The results with progestin suggest that sequences within all the described sites protected by the receptor in vitro are required and that the promoter-proximal region (-128 to -78 from the RNA start site) is more important than the distal one (-190 to -160). Moreover, a binding site for nuclear factor I was not required for the progestin response, whereas it was required for glucocorticoids. Thus, the various steroid receptors play a role in the differential regulation of mouse mammary tumor virus transcription by recognizing distinct sequence differences in the hormone regulatory element and interacting with different factors bound to the promoter.
Effect of silencer on polyomavirus DNA replication.
Authors: Ariizumi K , Takahashi H , Nakamura M , Ariga H
Published: October 2015

We have cloned the cellular sequence termed box DNA from the enhancer region of polyomavirus F9 mutant fPyF9. Box DNA functions as a negative transcriptional element (silencer) in undifferentiated F9 cells but not in differentiated L cells. Plasmid DNAs containing the origin and enhancer of polyomavirus were used to measure simultaneously transcriptional and replication activities in transfected cells. DNA replication activity was significantly reduced under conditions in which the silencer was able to reduce enhancer activity in F9 cells. On the other hand, when the silencer could not repress enhancer activity in MOP-8 cells, which are mouse NIH 3T3 cells producing polyomavirus T antigen constitutively, replication activity was still intact. The silencer itself had no effect on DNA replication or transcription in either type of cells. Furthermore, the insertion of a 6-base oligonucleotide within a consensus sequence of box DNA abolished the repressive effect of the silencer on DNA replication and enhancer activities. These results suggest that enhancer factors, interacting with silencer factors, may be closely associated with the mechanism of replication.
Negative transcriptional regulatory element that functions in embryonal carcinoma cells.
Authors: Ariizumi K , Takahashi H , Nakamura M , Ariga H
Published: October 2015

We have cloned the polyomavirus mutant fPyF9, which persists in an episomal state in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells (K. Ariizumi and H. Ariga, Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:3920-3927, 1986). fPyF9 carries three copies of exogenous sequences, the prototype of which is a 21-base-pair repeat (box DNA), in the region of the enhancer B domain of wild-type polyomavirus DNA. The consensus sequence, GCATTCCATTGTT, is 13 base pairs long. The box DNA inserted into fPyF9 appeared to come from a cellular sequence and was present in many kinds of DNAs, including F9 chromosomal DNA. The biological function of box DNA was analyzed by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression assays, using chimeric plasmids containing box DNA conjugated with simian virus 40 promoter elements. The results showed that box DNA repressed the activities both of the simian virus 40 promoter and enhancer only in transfected undifferentiated F9 cells and not in differentiated LTK- cells. Box DNA functioned independently of orientation and position with respect to the promoter in an enhancerlike manner, although the effect of box DNA was opposite that of the enhancer. The XhoI linker insertion into the consensus sequences of box DNA abolished the repression activity, and the protein(s) recognizing the consensus sequences was identified only in F9 cells, not in L cells. These analyses suggest that box DNA may be a negative regulatory element that functions in undifferentiated cells.
A large internal deletion converts yeast LEU3 to a constitutive transcriptional activator.
Authors: Friden P , Reynolds C , Schimmel P
Published: October 2015

LEU3 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes an 886-amino-acid polypeptide that activates transcription of at least five genes by binding to an upstream decanucleotide sequence. This activation is dependent on the inducer alpha-isopropylmalate, the synthesis of which is repressed by leucine. We created a 285-amino-acid LEU3 derivative by removing a large block of internal sequences, including a dense cluster of acidic residues. This deletion protein bound to the decanucleotide sequence in vitro and activated gene expression in vivo. In contrast to wild-type LEU3, the truncated LEU3 protein was an effective transcriptional activator when alpha-isopropylmalate synthesis was repressed by leucine.
Amitraz: a mimicker of organophosphate poisoning
Authors: Dhooria Sahajal , Behera Digambar , Agarwal Ritesh
Published: October 2015

Amitraz is used as an ectoparasiticide for dogs and cattle. Human poisoning due to amitraz may be misdiagnosed as organophosphate/carbamate (OPC) toxicity, since amitraz poisoning shares several clinical features (miosis, bradycardia and hypotension) encountered with OPC poisoning. A 19-year-old man with an alleged history of suicidal ingestion of a pesticide presented with drowsiness and was found to have constricted pupils, hypotension and bradycardia. He was diagnosed as a case of OPC poisoning and was treated with atropine and pralidoxime prior to presentation to our centre. Absence of a hypersecretory state, and the presence of hyperglycaemia and hypothermia along with a normal serum cholinesterase level suggested an alternate possibility. Retrieval of the poison container confirmed the diagnosis of amitraz poisoning. The patient made a rapid recovery with supportive management. Clinician awareness is key to successful management of this poisoning, which carries a good prognosis.
Prenatal constriction of the ductus arteriosus following maternal diclofenac medication in the third trimester
Authors: Aker Karoline , Brantberg Anne , Nyrnes Siri Ann
Published: October 2015

We describe a case of a 21-year-old primigravida at 36 weeks’ gestation who was admitted to a local hospital because of abdominal pain. She was prescribed a total of six doses of diclofenac 50 mg over 2 days. One day later, there was difficulty registering the fetal heartbeats on cardiotocography. Ultrasound examination revealed a fetus with ascites and pathological flow over the tricuspid valve. The patient was referred to a tertiary centre for fetal medicine. Fetal echocardiography revealed, in addition to ascites and tricuspid regurgitation, a constricted ductus arteriosus, dilated right ventricle and reduced flow in the pulmonary artery. Immediate caesarean section resulted in an excellent neonatal outcome.
Imaging of leiomyomas arising from Müllerian remnants in a case of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome
Authors: Narayanan Ramakrishna , Mariappan Supritha , Paulraj SanthanaKumar , Shankar Balasubramanyam
Published: October 2015

Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a rare congenital abnormality characterised by varying degrees of aplasia or hypoplasia of the uterus and vagina. Very rarely, leiomyomas or adenomyosis can develop in the Müllerian remnant tissue or rudimentary uterus. We present a case of a 43-year-old woman with MRKH syndrome, who presented with primary amenorrhoea and lower abdominal pain. On examination, a large pelvic mass was palpated and a provisional diagnosis of ovarian tumour was made. MRI showed multiple large leiomyomas arising from the Müllerian remnant tissue, and chronic torsion of the right ovary.
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: early clinical expression of a new STK11 gene variant
Authors: Brito Sara , Póvoas Marta , Dupont Juliette , Lopes Ana Isabel
Published: October 2015

Genetic heterogeneity has been recognised in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) (over 230 STK11 gene mutations reported). We report a rare PJS phenotype with early extensive gastrointestinal (GI) presentation and a new genetic variant. The case presented as haematochezia and mucocutaneous pigmentation (the patient was 3 years of age). Endoscopy showed several polyps throughout the stomach/colon (PJ-type hamartomas); the larger polyps were resected. Small bowel imaging detected multiple jejunum/ileum small polyps. During 8 years of follow-up of this asymptomatic patient, an increasing number of diffusely distributed polyps was observed and polypectomies were performed. Subsequently, the patient failed consultations; when the patient was 13 years of age, emergency surgery was required due to small bowel intussusception (ileal polyp). A STK11 gene study identified two missense variants in heterozygous (yet unknown significance but probably pathogenic): c.854T>A (exon 6) and c.446C>T* (exon 2) (*not previously reported). We report two STK11 gene variants (one not previously described) of yet undetermined causality in a paediatric patient presenting with extensive GI involvement at a very early age, with no family medical history. Structural and functional repercussion of the newly described variants should be further investigated.
Juvenile fibromyalgia in an adolescent patient with sickle cell disease presenting with chronic pain
Authors: Ramprakash Stalin , Fishman Daniel
Published: October 2015

Juvenile fibromyalgia in children with sickle cell disease has not been reported in the literature. We report an adolescent patient with sickle cell whose pain symptoms progressed from having recurrent acute sickle cell pain crisis episodes to a chronic pain syndrome over several years. He was eventually diagnosed with juvenile fibromyalgia based on the clinical history and myofascial tender points and his pain symptoms responded better to multidisciplinary strategies for chronic fibromyalgia pain. Chronic pain in sickle cell disease is an area of poor research, and in addition there is inconsistency in the definition of chronic pain in sickle cell disease. Central sensitisation to pain is shown to occur after recurrent painful stimuli in a genetically vulnerable individual. In a chronic pain condition such as fibromyalgia central sensitisation is thought to play a key role. Fibromyalgia should be considered as one of the main differential diagnosis in any sickle cell patient with chronic pain.
Peer review comments on drug trials submitted to medical journals differ depending on sponsorship, results and acceptance: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: van Lent Marlies , IntHout Joanna , Out Henk Jan
Published: October 2015

Objective

During peer review, submitted manuscripts are scrutinised by independent experts to assist journal editors in their decision-making and to help improve the quality of articles. In this retrospective cohort study, peer review comments for drug trials submitted to medical journals were analysed to investigate whether there is a relation between the content of these comments and sponsorship, direction of results and decision about acceptance.

Design/setting

Descriptive content analysis of reviewer comments made on manuscripts on drug trials submitted to eight medical journals (January 2010–April 2012). For each manuscript, the number of reviewers, decision about acceptance, sponsorship and direction of results were extracted. Reviewer comments were classified using a predefined checklist.

Results

Reviewer reports for 246 manuscripts were assessed. Industry-sponsored trials were more likely to receive comments about lack of novelty (8.9%) than industry-supported (2.5%) and non-industry trials (6.1%, overall p=0.038). Non-industry trials more often received comments about poor experimental design (69.7%) than industry-supported (58.8%) and industry-sponsored trials (52.9%, overall p=0.019). Non-industry trials were also more likely to receive comments regarding inappropriate statistical analyses (28.4%) than industry-supported (23.5%) and industry-sponsored trials (15.1%, overall p=0.006). Manuscripts with negative results were more likely to receive comments about inappropriate conclusions (29.3%) than those with positive results (18.9%, p=0.010). Rejected manuscripts had more often received comments on the research question not being clinically relevant (7.8%) than accepted manuscripts (1.6%, p=0.002), and also on lack of novelty (8.3% vs 2.6%, p=0.008) and poor experimental design (68.6% vs 50.5%, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Reviewers identified fewer shortcomings regarding design and statistical analyses in industry-related trials, but commented more often on a lack of novelty in industry-sponsored trials. Negative trial results did not significantly influence the nature of comments other than appropriateness of the conclusion. Manuscript acceptance was primarily related to the research question and methodological robustness of studies.
Promoting professional behaviour change in healthcare: what interventions work, and why? A theory-led overview of systematic reviews
Authors: Johnson Mark J , May Carl R
Published: October 2015

Objectives

Translating research evidence into routine clinical practice is notoriously difficult. Behavioural interventions are often used to change practice, although their success is variable and the characteristics of more successful interventions are unclear. We aimed to establish the characteristics of successful behaviour change interventions in healthcare.

Design

We carried out a systematic overview of systematic reviews on the effectiveness of behaviour change interventions with a theory-led analysis using the constructs of normalisation process theory (NPT). MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO and the Cochrane Library were searched electronically from inception to July 2015.

Setting

Primary and secondary care.

Participants

Participants were any patients and healthcare professionals in systematic reviews who met the inclusion criteria of having examined the effectiveness of professional interventions in improving professional practice and/or patient outcomes.

Interventions

Professional interventions as defined by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Review Group.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Success of each intervention in changing practice or patient outcomes, and their mechanisms of action. Reviews were coded as to the interventions included, how successful they had been and which NPT constructs its component interventions covered.

Results

Searches identified 4724 articles, 67 of which met the inclusion criteria. Interventions fell into three main categories: persuasive; educational and informational; and action and monitoring. Interventions focusing on action or education (eg, Audit and Feedback, Reminders, Educational Outreach) acted on the NPT constructs of Collective Action and Reflexive Monitoring, and reviews using them tended to report more positive outcomes.

Conclusions

This theory-led analysis suggests that interventions which contribute to normative restructuring of practice, modifying peer group norms and expectations (eg, educational outreach) and relational restructuring, reinforcing modified peer group norms by emphasising the expectations of an external reference group (eg, Reminders, Audit and Feedback), offer the best chances of success. Combining such interventions is most likely to change behaviour.
Reporting, handling and assessing the risk of bias associated with missing participant data in systematic reviews: a methodological survey
Authors: Akl Elie A , Carrasco-Labra Alonso , Brignardello-Petersen Romina , Neumann Ignacio , Johnston Bradley C , Sun Xin , Briel Matthias , Busse Jason W , Ebrahim Shanil , Granados Carlos E , Iorio Alfonso , Irfan Affan , Martínez García Laura , Mustafa Reem A , Ramírez-Morera Anggie , Selva Anna , Solà Ivan , Sanabria Andrea Juliana , Tikkinen Kari A O , Vandvik Per O , Vernooij Robin W M , Zazueta Oscar E , Zhou Qi , Guyatt Gordon H , Alonso-Coello Pablo
Published: October 2015

Objectives

To describe how systematic reviewers are reporting missing data for dichotomous outcomes, handling them in the analysis and assessing the risk of associated bias.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE and theCochrane Database of Systematic Reviewsfor systematic reviews of randomised trials published in 2010, and reporting a meta-analysis of a dichotomous outcome. We randomly selected 98 Cochrane and 104 non-Cochrane systematic reviews. Teams of 2 reviewers selected eligible studies and abstracted data independently and in duplicate using standardised, piloted forms with accompanying instructions. We conducted regression analyses to explore factors associated with using complete case analysis and with judging the risk of bias associated with missing participant data.

Results

Of Cochrane and non-Cochrane reviews, 47% and 7% (p<0.0001), respectively, reported on the number of participants with missing data, and 41% and 9% reported a plan for handling missing categorical data. The 2 most reported approaches for handling missing data were complete case analysis (8.5%, out of the 202 reviews) and assuming no participants with missing data had the event (4%). The use of complete case analysis was associated only with Cochrane reviews (relative to non-Cochrane: OR=7.25; 95% CI 1.58 to 33.3, p=0.01). 65% of reviews assessed risk of bias associated with missing data; this was associated with Cochrane reviews (relative to non-Cochrane: OR=6.63; 95% CI 2.50 to 17.57, p=0.0001), and the use of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology (OR=5.02; 95% CI 1.02 to 24.75, p=0.047).

Conclusions

Though Cochrane reviews are somewhat less problematic, most Cochrane and non-Cochrane systematic reviews fail to adequately report and handle missing data, potentially resulting in misleading judgements regarding risk of bias.
The diverse impact of advance care planning: a long-term follow-up study on patients’ and relatives’ experiences
Authors: Andreassen Pernille , Neergaard Mette Asbjørn , Brogaard Trine , Skorstengaard Marianne Hjorth , Jensen Anders Bonde
Published: October 2015

Background

Advance care planning (ACP) is a process of discussing and recording patients’ preferences for future care, aiming to guide healthcare decisions at the end of life (EOL).

Aim

To explore nuances in the long-term impact of ACP by studying patient and relative experiences.

Design

A qualitative follow-up interview study. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic synthesis.

Setting/participants

3 patients with a life-limiting disease (lung or heart disease), affiliated with a major Danish hospital, and 7 relatives were interviewed 1 year after participating in an ACP discussion.

Results

The experiences were diverse. Some patients and relatives felt ‘relieved’, ‘more secure’ and more in control due to ACP. To some, ACP had led to open communication rather than ‘beating around the bush’, and to spending more quality time together. However, others perceived ACP as irrelevant. Some stated that the patient's wishes had not been met regardless of ACP. Others felt that EOL questions cannot be realistically considered until ‘you're in the middle of it’, because many factors are involved. In one case, participating in ACP led to a patient-relative conflict, resulting in EOL issues being ‘tucked away’.

Conclusions

The study reveals great diversity in patient and relative experiences of ACP. The study challenges previous research which mainly emphasises ACP as a valuable tool to optimise EOL care. This study stresses the importance of awareness of the highly individual nature of preferences and needs of patients and relatives regarding information, involvement and communication about EOL care.
Developing a system to monitor family planning and HIV service integration: results from a pilot test of indicators
Authors: Adamchak Susan E , Okello Francis O , Kaboré Inoussa
Published: October 2015

Objectives

To determine the feasibility of collecting data to calculate six indicators of family planning (FP) and HIV integration using existing health information systems (HIS); obtain information to refine indicators; and identify changes needed in existing HIS to calculate indicators.

Design

Data abstraction from HIS in a purposive sample of 39 health facilities in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to analyse data availability and quality undertaken between November 2010 and March 2011.

Methods

Teams reviewed patient record cards, registers, monthly and quarterly reports for the most recent complete month. Teams recorded all possible sources for each data element, indicated whether data are collated monthly, and whether disaggregation by age, sex and originating service was possible.

Results

With the exception of Uganda, all countries were able to report the proportion of service delivery points offering integrated services. Ethiopia was able to calculate the indicator for fixed sites but not for home-based care services. In most cases we were able to calculate the proportion of HIV clients receiving FP services or referral, and the proportion of FP clients receiving an HIV test or referral. It is feasible to collect data for these indicators under current circumstances in some countries.

Conclusions

Several actions are proposed for national health systems, including adopting a system of unique client identifiers. Age group reporting bands should be aligned across services. More accurate counts of daily and active client loads are needed to provide programme managers with information to inform programme monitoring.
Understanding public opinion of UAVs in Canada: A 2014 analysis of survey data and its policy implications
Authors: Thompson Scott , Bracken-Roche Ciara
Published: October 2015

This study has two aims: first, assessing the knowledge of Canadians with regard to their awareness of the use of UAV technology for data collection; and second, testing the hypothesis that public opinion regarding the use of UAVs for data collection in Canada varies by application, by institution, by collection method, and by respondent demographics. The survey contains questions regarding awareness of UAV use in Canada, as well as (i) the degree of support found for use by specific groups, (ii) for law enforcement applications, (iii) for private or industry applications, (iv) for border or coastal surveillance, and (v) for visibility and data sharing practices. Polling data also enables the comparison of UAV support against traditionally piloted aircraft and automated UAVs. This study found a majority in support of the use of UAVs for safety or emergency-response purposes. However, this support falls away in cases where UAV are used to perform routinized acts of surveillance, or identification. These findings will be useful to legislators and regulators in developing policy on UAVs that takes into account public sentiment and opinion, and for private sector actors and governments in addressing public concerns about UAVs as the industry moves forward.
Superfluidity of electron–hole pairs between two critical temperatures
Authors: Grigorenko Ilya , Ya. Kezerashvili Roman
Published: October 2015

We study a system of spatially separated electrons and holes, assuming the carriers are confined to two parallel planes. The existence of the superfluid state of electron–hole pairs between two critical temperatures is predicted for such system in a case of electron–hole asymmetry caused by the difference in the carrier masses and their chemical potentials. The stability of the superfluid state is studied with respect to the changes of the asymmetry between electrons and holes. It is found that one type of the asymmetry can compensate another one, so the superfluid state is possible in a wide range of the asymmetry parameters when they satisfy a simple linear equation.
Neutrino velocity and local Lorentz invariance
Authors: Cardone Fabio , Mignani Roberto , Petrucci Andrea
Published: October 2015

We discuss the possible violation of local Lorentz invariance (LLI) arising from a faster-than-light neutrino speed. A toy calculation of the LLI violation parameter [Formula: see text], based on the (disclaimed) OPERA data, suggests that the values of [Formula: see text] are determined by the interaction involved, and not by the energy range. This hypothesis is further corroborated by the analysis of the more recent results of the BOREXINO, LVD and ICARUS experiments.
Magnetic Nernst effect
Authors: Brechet Sylvain D. , Ansermet Jean-Philippe
Published: October 2015

The thermodynamics of irreversible processes in continuous media predicts the existence of a magnetic Nernst effect that results from a magnetic analog to the Seebeck effect in a ferromagnet and magnetophoresis occurring in a paramagnetic electrode in contact with the ferromagnet. Thus, a voltage that has DC and AC components is expected across a Pt electrode as a response to the inhomogeneous magnetic induction field generated by magnetostatic waves of an adjacent YIG slab subject to a temperature gradient. The voltage frequency and dependence on the orientation of the applied magnetic induction field are quite distinct from that of spin pumping.
Intersections of quotient rings and Prüfer v-multiplication domains
Authors: El Baghdadi Said , Fontana Marco , Zafrullah Muhammad
Published: October 2015

Let [Formula: see text] be an integral domain with quotient field [Formula: see text]. Call an overring [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] a subring of [Formula: see text] containing [Formula: see text] as a subring. A family [Formula: see text] of overrings of [Formula: see text] is called a defining family of [Formula: see text], if [Formula: see text]. Call an overring [Formula: see text] a sublocalization of [Formula: see text], if [Formula: see text] has a defining family consisting of rings of fractions of [Formula: see text]. Sublocalizations and their intersections exhibit interesting examples of semistar or star operations [D. D. Anderson, Star operations induced by overrings, Comm. Algebra 16 (1988) 2535–2553]. We show as a consequence of our work that domains that are locally finite intersections of Prüfer [Formula: see text]-multiplication (respectively, Mori) sublocalizations turn out to be Prüfer [Formula: see text]-multiplication domains (PvMDs) (respectively, Mori); in particular, for the Mori domain case, we reobtain a special case of Théorème 1 of [J. Querré, Intersections d’anneaux intègers, J. Algebra 43 (1976) 55–60] and Proposition 3.2 of [N. Dessagnes, Intersections d’anneaux de Mori — exemples, Port. Math. 44 (1987) 379–392]. We also show that, more than the finite character of the defining family, it is the finite character of the star operation induced by the defining family that causes the interesting results. As a particular case of this theory, we provide a purely algebraic approach for characterizing P vMDs as a subclass of the class of essential domains (see also Theorem 2.4 of [C. A. Finocchiaro and F. Tartarone, On a topological characterization of Prüfer [Formula: see text]-multiplication domains among essential domains, preprint (2014), arXiv:1410.4037]).
On *-clean non-commutative group rings
Authors: Huang Hongdi , Li Yuanlin , Tang Gaohua
Published: October 2015

A ring with involution ∗ is called ∗-clean if each of its elements is the sum of a unit and a projection (∗-invariant idempotent). In this paper, we consider the group algebras of the dihedral groups [Formula: see text], and the generalized quaternion groups [Formula: see text] with standard involution ∗. For the non-semisimple group algebra case, we characterize the ∗-cleanness of [Formula: see text] with a prime [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a commutative local ring. For the semisimple group algebra case, we investigate when [Formula: see text] is ∗-clean, where [Formula: see text] is the field of rational numbers [Formula: see text] or a finite field [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text].
EnzDP: Improved enzyme annotation for metabolic network reconstruction based on domain composition profiles
Authors: Nguyen Nam-Ninh , Srihari Sriganesh , Leong Hon Wai , Chong Ket-Fah
Published: October 2015

Determining the entire complement of enzymes and their enzymatic functions is a fundamental step for reconstructing the metabolic network of cells. High quality enzyme annotation helps in enhancing metabolic networks reconstructed from the genome, especially by reducing gaps and increasing the enzyme coverage. Currently, structure-based and network-based approaches can only cover a limited number of enzyme families, and the accuracy of homology-based approaches can be further improved. Bottom-up homology-based approach improves the coverage by rebuilding Hidden Markov Model (HMM) profiles for all known enzymes. However, its clustering procedure relies firmly on BLAST similarity score, ignoring protein domains/patterns, and is sensitive to changes in cut-off thresholds. Here, we use functional domain architecture to score the association between domain families and enzyme families (Domain-Enzyme Association Scoring, DEAS). The DEAS score is used to calculate the similarity between proteins, which is then used in clustering procedure, instead of using sequence similarity score. We improve the enzyme annotation protocol using a stringent classification procedure, and by choosing optimal threshold settings and checking for active sites. Our analysis shows that our stringent protocol EnzDP can cover up to 90% of enzyme families available in Swiss-Prot. It achieves a high accuracy of 94.5% based on five-fold cross-validation. EnzDP outperforms existing methods across several testing scenarios. Thus, EnzDP serves as a reliable automated tool for enzyme annotation and metabolic network reconstruction. Available at: www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~nguyennn/EnzDP .
COMPARING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SELF-EFFICACY OF FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS IN MALE- AND FEMALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRIES
Authors: SWEIDA GLORIA L. , WOODS JEREMY ALAN
Published: October 2015

The aim of this paper is to examine the potential differences in the entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) of female entrepreneurs who own businesses in gender congruent and incongruent industries. Through the lens of social role theory the four antecedents of efficacy are examined. The results of ten in-depth, qualitative interviews show there are overarching similarities in all factors between the groups but nuanced differences in the areas of mastery experiences, social persuasion and vicarious learning. Differences were also found in the areas of social comparisons and perceived gender stereotypes. The paper discusses how ESE manifests for female entrepreneurs based on the gender congruency of the industry in which her business operates. Last, areas for future research are discussed.
Water Markets, Environmental Flows, and Adaptation to Climate Change
Authors: Ancev Tiho
Published: October 2015

The possibility of climate change and the effects it will have on global and regional hydrology opens up serious questions about how the affected sectors of the economy and the water-dependent environmental assets can best adapt to the new, harsher climatic conditions. One of the possible approaches toward securing environmental water flows is to hold water rights on behalf of the public, and manage those rights for environmental purposes. This type of policy has been in effect in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia, where the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) now has some 20% of all water rights in the basin. Thus far, the use of these water rights has been almost exclusively for environmental purposes, besides the calls for some of the allocations on these water rights to be sold to irrigators. This paper examines whether a change in policy that will allow a more flexible trading behavior of the CEWH so that it can be an active participant in the market for water allocations can help with adaptation to climate change from environmental management perspective, as well as from the perspective of irrigated agriculture industry. This objective is pursued by analyzing the effects of likely hydrological variations under climate change. Key parameters that are taken into account are expected water availability, and the variability in water availability. The discourse is framed within the concept of optimal allocation of water resources so as to maximize overall social benefit from water use. The results indicate that active participation of the CEWH in the water market leads to superior outcomes in terms of both greater overall social benefit, and greater quantity of water being available for environmental purposes under climate change. The key policy implication is that trading rules for CEWH should be relaxed, especially under the projected climate change scenarios.
CrowdSurf
Authors: Metwalley Hassan , Traverso Stefano , Mellia Marco , Miskovic Stanislav , Baldi Mario
Published: October 2015

Individuals lack proper means to supervise the services they contact and the information they exchange when surfing the web. This security task has become challenging due to the complexity of the modern web, of the data delivering technology, and even to the adoption of encryption, which, while improving privacy, makes in-network services ineffective. The implications are serious, from a person contacting undesired services or unwillingly exposing private information, to a company being unable to control the flow of its information to the outside world. To empower transparency and the capability of taking informed choices in the web, we propose CROWDSURF, a system for comprehensive and collaborative auditing of data exchanged with Internet services. Similarly to crowdsourced efforts, we enable users to contribute in building awareness, supported by the semi-automatic analysis of data offered by a cloud-based system. The result is the creation of "suggestions" that individuals can transform in enforceable "rules" to customize their web browsing policy. CROWDSURF provides the core infrastructure to let individuals and enterprises regain visibility and control on their web activity. Preliminary results obtained executing a prototype implementation demonstrate the feasibility and potential of CROWDSURF.
Datix
Authors: Sarlis Dimitrios , Papailiou Nikolaos , Konstantinou Ioannis , Smaragdakis Georgios , Koziris Nectarios
Published: October 2015

The ever-increasing Internet traffic poses challenges to network operators and administrators that have to analyze large network datasets in a timely manner to make decisions regarding network routing, dimensioning, accountability and security. Network datasets collected at large networks such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) can be in the order of Terabytes per hour. Unfortunately, most of the current network analysis approaches are ad-hoc and centralized, and thus not scalable.

In this paper, we present Datix, a fully decentralized, open-source analytics system for network traffic data that relies on smart partitioning storage schemes to support fast join algorithms and efficient execution of filtering queries. We outline the architecture and design of Datix and we present the evaluation of Datix using real traces from an operational IXP. Datix is a system that deals with an important problem in the intersection of data management and network monitoring while utilizing state-of-the-art distributed processing engines. In brief, Datix manages to efficiently answer queries within minutes compared to more than 24 hours processing when executing existing Python based code in single node setups. Datix also achieves nearly 70% speedup compared to baseline query implementations of popular big data analytics engines such as Hive and Shark.
Increased IGF-IEc expression and mechano-growth factor production in intestinal muscle of fibrostenotic Crohn's disease and smooth muscle hypertrophy
Authors: Li Chao , Vu Kent , Hazelgrove Krystina , Kuemmerle John F.
Published: October 2015

The igf1 gene is alternatively spliced as IGF-IEa and IGF-IEc variants in humans. In fibrostenotic Crohn's disease, the fibrogenic cytokine TGF-β1 induces IGF-IEa expression and IGF-I production in intestinal smooth muscle and results in muscle hyperplasia and collagen I production that contribute to stricture formation. Mechano-growth factor (MGF) derived from IGF-IEc induces skeletal and cardiac muscle hypertrophy following stress. We hypothesized that increased IGF-IEc expression and MGF production mediated smooth muscle hypertrophy also characteristic of fibrostenotic Crohn's disease. IGF-IEc transcripts and MGF protein were increased in muscle cells isolated from fibrostenotic intestine under regulation by endogenous TGF-β1. Erk5 and MEF2C were phosphorylated in vivo in fibrostenotic muscle; both were phosphorylated and colocalized to nucleus in response to synthetic MGF in vitro. Smooth muscle-specific protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin, γ-smooth muscle actin, and smoothelin was increased in affected intestine. Erk5 inhibition or MEF2C siRNA blocked smooth muscle-specific gene expression and hypertrophy induced by synthetic MGF. Conditioned media of cultured fibrostenotic muscle induced muscle hypertrophy that was inhibited by immunoneutralization of endogenous MGF or pro-IGF-IEc. The results indicate that TGF-β1-dependent IGF-IEc expression and MGF production in patients with fibrostenotic Crohn's disease regulates smooth muscle cell hypertrophy a critical factor that contributes to intestinal stricture formation.