bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A recurrent melanocytic nevus phenomenon in the setting of Hailey–Hailey disease
Authors: Noor Omar , Elston Dirk , Flamm Alexandra , Hall Lawrence D. , Cha Jisun
Published: May 2015

Atypical acquired melanocytic nevi in patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) have been referred to as EB nevi and are considered to be a type of recurrent nevus with atypical but distinctive histopathologic findings. Herein, we describe an atypical nevus in a patient with Hailey–Hailey disease with different histopathologic findings from EB nevi because of presumably different pathogenesis. It is important to be aware that the recurrent nevi phenomenon can be seen in acantholytic conditions as well as blistering disorders, given these lesions may clinically resemble melanoma.
The introduction of buprenorphine‐naloxone film in opioid substitution therapy in Australia: Uptake and issues arising from changing buprenorphine formulations
Authors: Larance Briony , Dietze Paul , Ali Robert , Lintzeris Nicholas , White Nancy , Jenkinson Rebecca , Degenhardt Louisa
Published: May 2015

Abstract

Introduction and Aims

Buprenorphine‐naloxone (BNX) film for opioid dependence treatment was introduced in Australia in 2011. A key difference in State policy approaches saw transfer from BNX tablets to BNX film mandated in South Australia (SA) with New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria (VIC) having less stringent policies. This study examined (i) how initiations and transfers were implemented, (ii) the profile and predictors of adverse effects as self‐reported by BNX film clients, and (iii) dosing issues.

Design and Methods

Survey of 334 buprenorphine (BPN), BNX tablet and BNX film clients and semi‐structured interviews with 39 key experts (KEs) in 2012. Comparisons are made between clients interviewed in SA versus NSW and VIC combined.

Results

Among the 180 current BNX film clients, 23% started treatment on BNX film, 18% requested a transfer to BNX film and 59% (n = 106) reported their clinic/prescriber recommended transfer to BNX film. Among clients who were offered but refused a transfer to BNX film (n = 66), the most common reason was ‘I am happy with my current treatment and do not see a reason to change’ (53%). Some opioid substitution therapy clients and KE viewed transfers as ‘forced’ (i.e. no choice of buprenorphine formulation). Multivariable regression showed residing in SA (vs. NSW/VIC) and a shorter length of current treatment episode were associated with more BNX film‐attributed adverse effects but clinic/prescriber‐recommended transfer was not.

Discussion and Conclusions

The introduction of BNX film in Australia varied across States. A perception of restricted choice in medication may have undermined initial acceptance in SA. [Larance B, Dietze P, Ali R, Lintzeris N, White N, Jenkinson R, Degenhardt L. The introduction of BNX film in opioid substitution therapy in Australia: Uptake and issues arising from changing buprenorphine formulations. Drug Alcohol Rev 2015;34:603–610]
Gonadal failure is associated with visceral adiposity in myotonic dystrophies
Authors: Passeri Elena , Bugiardini Enrico , Sansone Valeria A. , Pizzocaro Alessandro , Fulceri Cinzia , Valaperta Rea , Borgato Stefano , Costa Elena , Bandera Francesco , Ambrosi Bruno , Meola Giovanni , Persani Luca , Corbetta Sabrina
Published: May 2015

Background

Hypogonadism occurs in myotonic dystrophies type 1 (MD1) and type 2 (MD2). Sertoli and Leydig cell secretions, including insulin‐like peptide‐3 (INSL3), anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B, were evaluated in male patients with MD.

Design

Academic settings. Forty‐four male patients with MD [31 MD1, 13 MD2, aged 59 (50–64) years, median (interquartile range)], age‐, sex‐ and BMI‐matched non‐MD hypogonadal patients (n = 14) and healthy controls (n = 32). Serum FSH, LH, inhibin B, AMH, testosterone (T) and INSL3 were measured; fat and muscle masses were evaluated by DEXA.

Results

Overt primary hypogonadism occurred in 29% of patients with MD1 and 46% of patients with MD2. Considering subclinical forms, the prevalence increased to 69% of MD1 and 100% of MD2. A half of patients with MD experienced symptoms. INSL3 levels were unaffected in most patients with MD. By contrast, AMH and inhibin B were reduced in most patients with MD and unrelated to age. Patients with MD showed increased body and visceral fat. Free T levels were negatively predicted by fat mass, and AMH and FSH levels were negatively correlated with waist/hip ratio and fat mass. AMH, inhibin B and FSH levels positively correlated with muscle strength and muscle mass.

Conclusions

AMH and inhibin B secretion failures are common in male patients with MD and are more severe than Leydig cell hormones impairment. AMH and inhibin B measurements might provide clinical utility in evaluating fertility in patients with MD. Serum T, AMH and inhibin B productions are negatively influenced by increased fat mass, while AMH and inhibin B might be markers of muscle impairment.
Molecular diagnostics of myeloproliferative neoplasms
Authors: Langabeer Stephen E. , Andrikovics Hajnalka , Asp Julia , Bellosillo Beatriz , Carillo Serge , Haslam Karl , Kjaer Lasse , Lippert Eric , Mansier Olivier , Oppliger Leibundgut Elisabeth , Percy Melanie J. , Porret Naomi , Palmqvist Lars , Schwarz Jiri , McMullin Mary F. , Schnittger Susanne , Pallisgaard Niels , Hermouet Sylvie ,   the MPN&MPNr‐EuroNet
Published: May 2015

Since the discovery of the JAK2 V617F mutation in the majority of the myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) of polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis ten years ago, further MPN‐specific mutational events, notably in JAK2 exon 12, MPL exon 10 and CALR exon 9 have been identified. These discoveries have been rapidly incorporated into evolving molecular diagnostic algorithms. Whilst many of these mutations appear to have prognostic implications, establishing MPN diagnosis is of immediate clinical importance with selection, implementation and the continual evaluation of the appropriate laboratory methodology to achieve this diagnosis similarly vital. The advantages and limitations of these approaches in identifying and quantitating the common MPN‐associated mutations are considered herein with particular regard to their clinical utility. The evolution of molecular diagnostic applications and platforms has occurred in parallel with the discovery of MPN‐associated mutations, and it therefore appears likely that emerging technologies such as next‐generation sequencing and digital PCR will in the future play an increasing role in the molecular diagnosis of MPN.
Low efficiency IDO2 enzymes are conserved in lower vertebrates, whereas higher efficiency IDO1 enzymes are dispensable
Authors: Yuasa Hajime J. , Mizuno Keiko , Ball Helen J.
Published: May 2015

Indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO) is a Trp‐degrading enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the kynurenine pathway. Two IDO genes, IDO1 and IDO2, are found in vertebrates and the timing of the gene duplication giving rise to the genes has been controversial. In the present study, we report that several fishes and two turtles also have both IDO1 and IDO2. This represents definitive evidence for the gene duplication occurring before the divergence of vertebrates, with IDO1 having been lost in a number of lower vertebrate lineages. IDO2 enzymes have a relatively low affinity for l‐Trp; however, Anolis carolinensis (lizard) IDO2 has an affinity for l‐Trp comparable to mammalian IDO1 enzymes. We identified a Ser residue located in the distal heme pocket of IDO1 (distal‐Ser) (corresponding to Ser167 of human IDO1) that is conserved in all IDO1 enzymes and the lizard IDO2. This residue is conserved as Thr (distal‐Thr) in other IDO2 enzymes. Biochemical analyses, using IDO variants with either Ser or Thr substitutions, suggest that the distal‐Ser change was crucial for the improvement in affinity for l‐Trp in ancient IDO1. The ancestral IDO1 likely had a ‘moderate’ enzymatic efficiency for l‐Trp, clearly higher than IDO2 but lower than mammalian IDO1. The distal‐Ser of lizard IDO2 bestows a high affinity for l‐Trp, however, this unique IDO2 has a low enzymatic efficiency because of its very low catalytic velocity. Thus, low efficiency IDO2 enzymes have been conserved throughout vertebrate evolution, whereas higher efficiency IDO1 enzymes are dispensable in many lower vertebrate lineages.
Elevated atmospheric [CO2] stimulates sugar accumulation and cellulose degradation rates of rice straw
Authors: Zhu Chunwu , Xu Xi , Wang Dan , Zhu Jianguo , Liu Gang , Seneweera Saman
Published: May 2015

Rice straw can serve as potential material for bioenergy production. However, the quantitative effects of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration [CO2] on rice straw quality and the resulting consequences for bioenergy utilization are largely unknown. In this study, two rice varieties, WYJ and LY, that have been shown previously to have a weak and strong stimulatory response to rising [CO2], respectively, were grown with and without additional CO2 at China free‐air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) platform. Qualitative and quantitative measurements in response to [CO2] included straw biomass (including leaf, sheath, and stem), the concentration of nonstructural and structural carbohydrates, the syringyl‐to‐guaiacyl (S/G) ratio of lignin, glucose and xylose release from structural carbohydrate, total sugar release by enzymatic saccharification, and sugar yield and the ratio of cellulose and hemicellulose degradation. Elevated [CO2] significantly increased straw biomass and nonstructural carbohydrate contents while enhancing the degraded ratio of structural carbohydrates as indicated by the decreased lignin content and increased S/G ratio. Overall, total sugar yield (g m−2) in rice straw significantly increased by 27.1 and 57% for WYJ and LY at elevated [CO2], respectively. These findings, while preliminary, suggest that rice straw quality and potential biofuel utilization may improve as a function of rising [CO2].
Towards a glacial‐sensitive model of island biogeography
Authors: Fernández‐Palacios José María , Rijsdijk Kenneth F. , Norder Sietze J. , Otto Rüdiger , de Nascimento Lea , Fernández‐Lugo Silvia , Tjørve Even , Whittaker Robert J.
Published: May 2015

Although the role that Pleistocene glacial cycles have played in shaping the present biota of oceanic islands world‐wide has long been recognized, their geographical, biogeographical and ecological implications have not yet been fully incorporated within existing biogeographical models. Here we summarize the different types of impacts that glacial cycles may have had on oceanic islands, including cyclic changes in climate, shifts in marine currents and wind regimes and, especially, cycles of sea level change. The latter have affected geographical parameters such as island area, isolation and elevation. They have also influenced the configurations of archipelagos via island fusion and fission, and cycles of seamount emergence and submergence. We hypothesize that these sea level cycles have had significant impacts on the biogeographical processes shaping oceanic island biotas, influencing the rates and patterns of immigration and extinction and hence species richness. Here we provide a first step toward the development of a glacial‐sensitive model of island biogeography, representing the tentative temporal evolution of those biogeographical parameters during the last glacial cycle. From this reasoning we attempt to derive predictions regarding the imprint of sea level cycles on genetic, demographic or biogeographical patterns within remote island biotas.
Resident Perceptions of New Urban Tourism: A Neglected Geography of Prejudice
Authors: Dirksmeier Peter , Helbrecht Ilse
Published: May 2015

Research on urban tourism has focused on the search for alternative, authentic, lively, and mundane urban neighbourhoods by visitors. This so‐called new urban tourism is characterised by the increasing quest by tourists for contact with mundane life in ordinary residential quarters. The intrusion of new urban tourism into day‐to‐day life also affects residents' perceptions of visitors, which are prone to become stereotypes and prejudices rather than just perceptions. The paper offers a review of the urban residents' perceptions research literature through the lens of the new urban tourism phenomenon, aligning it with wider geographies of prejudices. Consequently, the paper argues that an understanding of residents' attitudes towards the new urban tourism phenomenon offers a framework through which geographies of prejudices subtly at work in these resident/visitors encounters can be more deeply researched.
Assembling Political Parties
Authors: Page Sam , Dittmer Jason
Published: May 2015

This paper argues for political geographers to reengage with party politics. We review the treatment of political parties in political geography and beyond, finding fault with the purported divide between society and political parties. In contrast, we argue that political parties are necessarily embroiled and enmeshed in and of society, and that assemblage and affect provide potentially vibrant ways to reengage with their importance and meaning. Assemblage theory foregrounds embodied and affective aspects of voters as well as the multiple temporalities that come together to create the election as an event. In order to ground this theoretical argument, we investigate the potentials of an election campaign flyer, as well as suggesting other avenues of study.
Animating the Sacred, Sentient and Spiritual in Post‐Humanist and Material Geographies
Authors: Gergan Mabel Denzin
Published: May 2015

Materialist and post‐humanist scholarship within the discipline has opened up exciting philosophical and theoretical possibilities with which to understand both human and nonhuman worlds. Yet, recent scholarship has been critical of the modern secular tendencies within this approach especially in its lack of engagement with sacred, sentient, and spiritual accounts and experiences. This review draws on perspectives from literary fiction, the subfields of indigenous and religious geographies and disciplines like anthropology, religious studies, and post‐colonial studies to highlight these absences and spaces for meaningful engagement.
Geographical Approaches to Understanding Urban Decline: From Evolutionary Theory to Political Economy…and Back?
Authors: Weaver Russell , Holtkamp Chris
Published: May 2015

This article surveys selected theories of urban growth and decline, from an American shrinking cities perspective, on the backdrop of three key themes. First, urban change is context‐dependent. Second, urban (de)growth processes are multiscalar. And third, growth and shrinkage are not part of a dichotomy but are different realizations of similar underlying processes. Because the relationships between globalization and regional‐ and city‐level urban restructuring tendencies are relatively established in the shrinking cities literature, the present article focuses primarily onsublocaltheoretical approaches. This is intended to uncover insights about the mechanisms and bottom‐up constraints that influence the direction of urban change. The review leads to a proposed framework for understanding how urban neighborhoods (do not) respond to internal or external pressures to change. Notably, the framework is partially derived from efforts that seek to re‐ground the study of urban change in evolutionary theory, which in some ways represents a theoretical turn back toward the earliest (ecological) school of thought on urban decline. However, while earlier evolutionary approaches were acontextual and deterministic, the proposed framework emphasizes that analyzing urban change demands attention to multiple spatial scales and location‐specific features, particularly the distribution of social capital within a city.
Seeds, Agricultural Systems and Socio‐natures: Towards an Actor–Network Theory Informed Political Ecology of Agriculture
Authors: Watts Natasha , Scales Ivan R.
Published: May 2015

Agriculture has recently been the subject of considerable research and policy attention. Events such as the 2008 ‘world food price crisis’ and concerns over the future of global food security have led to calls for a ‘New Green Revolution’, with an emphasis on boosting yields through new transgenic crop varieties. However, critics have raised concerns over the growing role of global agribusiness and transnational capital in agriculture, as well as the potential social and ecological impacts of new technologies. An analysis of emerging agricultural trends thus demands a framework that is able to negotiate the complex multi‐scalar interplay between environmental, technological, scientific, political and economic factors. In this paper, we focus on the potential contribution of a synthesis between political ecology and Actor–Network Theory to our understanding of agricultural networks. We review the literature with a view to teasing out key insights and sketching out future research priorities. We focus on questions surrounding power and agency, the political ecology of scale and the role of situated knowledges and practices.
A Review of Volunteered Geographic Information for Disaster Management
Authors: Haworth Billy , Bruce Eleanor
Published: May 2015

The immediacy of locational information requirements and importance of data currency for natural disaster events highlights the value of volunteered geographic information (VGI) in all stages of disaster management, including prevention, preparation, response, and recovery. The practice of private citizens generating online geospatial data presents new opportunities for the creation and dissemination of disaster‐related geographic data from a dense network of intelligent observers. VGI technologies enable rapid sharing of diverse geographic information for disaster management at a fraction of the resource costs associated with traditional data collection and dissemination, but they also present new challenges. These include a lack of data quality assurance and issues surrounding data management, liability, security, and the digital divide. There is a growing need for researchers to explore and understand the implications of these data and data practices for disaster management. In this article, we review the current state of knowledge in this emerging field and present recommendations for future research. Significantly, we note further research is warranted in the pre‐event phases of disaster management, where VGI may present an opportunity to connect and engage individuals in disaster preparation and strengthen community resilience to potential disaster events. Our investigation of VGI for disaster management provides broader insight into key challenges and impacts of VGI on geospatial data practices and the wider field of geographical science.
End‐of‐life palliative oral care in Norwegian health institutions. An exploratory study
Authors: Kvalheim Siri F. , Strand Gunhild V. , Husebø Bettina S. , Marthinussen Mihaela C.
Published: May 2015

Objective

To explore circumstances surrounding procedures and knowledge regarding oral care for terminal patients in Norwegian healthcare institutions.

Methods

A questionnaire was distributed to randomly selected hospitals (n = 19) and nursing homes (n = 57) in central and rural parts of Norway. The questionnaire included three closed‐ended and three open‐ended questions about oral care for terminal patients. If procedures existed, the respondents were asked to enclose or describe them.

Results

The response rate was 84% for hospitals and 79% for nursing homes. Of the responding institutions, 25% had no oral care procedures, nor did 48% recognise their importance. Insufficient knowledge about oral care was reported by 39%. Twenty‐one different procedures were identified, and a great number of oral care products used. The most common was glycerol, used by 36% of the institutions. Only 2% used a concentration below 30% – the limit above which the glycerol has a desiccating rather than a moistening effect. The most common patient complaint was dry mouth (49%), followed by plaque, food particles and fungus infections, each experienced by 19%. The most common problem for the personnel was lack of knowledge (43%) and patient cooperation (38%).

Conclusions

Some terminal patients do not receive adequate palliative oral care in Norwegian healthcare institutions. Those that do are exposed to a great number of undocumented procedures and sometimes harmful products. There is a need for evidence‐based procedures for oral care for terminally ill patients in health institutions, establishing interprofessional palliative healthcare teams and in particular improved training of the nursing staff.
The relationship between symptoms and blood pressure during maintenance hemodialysis
Authors: Meredith David J. , Pugh Christopher W. , Sutherland Sheera , Tarassenko Lionel , Birks Jacqueline
Published: May 2015

Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a detrimental complication of maintenance hemodialysis, but how it is defined and reported varies widely in the literature. European Best Practice Guideline and Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines require symptoms and a mitigating intervention to fulfill the diagnosis, but morbidity and mortality outcomes are largely based on blood pressure alone. Furthermore, little is known about the incidence of asymptomatic hypotension, which may be an important cause of hypoperfusion injury and impaired outcome. Seventy‐seven patients were studied over 456 dialysis sessions. Blood pressure was measured at 15‐minute intervals throughout the session and compared with post‐dialysis symptom questionnaire results using mixed modeling to adjust for repeated measures in the same patient. The frequency of asymptomatic hypotension was estimated by logistic regression using a variety of commonly cited blood pressure metrics that describe IDH. In 113 sessions (25%) where symptoms were recorded on the questionnaire, these appear not to have been reported to dialysis staff. When symptoms were reported (293 sessions [64%]), an intervention invariably followed. Dizziness and cramp were strongly associated with changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), but not diastolic blood pressure. Nausea occurred more frequently in younger patients but was not associated with falls in blood pressure. Thresholds that maximized the probability of an intervention rather than a session remaining asymptomatic were SBP <100 mmHg or a 20% reduction in SBP from baseline. The probability of SBP falling to <100 mmHg in an asymptomatic session was 0.23. Symptoms are frequently not reported by patients who are hypotensive during hemodialysis, which leads to an underestimation of IDH if symptom‐based definitions are used. A revised definition of IDH excluding patient‐reported symptoms would be in line with literature reporting morbidity and mortality outcomes and include sessions in which potentially detrimental asymptomatic hypotension occurs.
5. TWO VERSIONS OF A CONSTRUCTIVIST VIEW OF HISTORICAL WORK
Authors: ZELEŇÁK EUGEN
Published: May 2015

Narrativist philosophy of history popularized a constructivist view arguing that historical works are not simple depictions of the past but rather are complicated constructions. According to narrativists, historians engage in a creative activity of proposing points of view, interpretations, or theses on the past that do not straightforwardly reflect past events. Although this is a broad constructivist view behind the theorizing of a number of authors, it is possible to distinguish within this line of thinking at least two general proposals about how to understand historical works. The first, defended for instance by Frank Ankersmit, maintains that historical works are representations of the past. Nevertheless, these representations are not descriptions of past events—they represent in a special way that could be characterized via a certain complexity, indirectness, holism, and a retrospective approach. The second proposal, presented in the work of Paul Roth and Jouni‐Matti Kuukkanen, discards the epistemic framework of representation and understands historical works as the outcome of specific practices. In this article, I focus on these two constructivist versions, which could be called representationalism and non‐representationalism. I analyze their crucial features, discuss their differences, and dispute the accusation that the latter view formulates an extreme theory of history. I argue that non‐representationalism does not erase the notion of the past from its account of history; it merely attributes to the past a function different from the one it has within the representationalist paradigm.
6. WHY WE NEED TO MOVE FROM TRUTH‐FUNCTIONALITY TO PERFORMATIVITY IN HISTORIOGRAPHY
Authors: KUUKKANEN JOUNI‐MATTI
Published: May 2015

The central challenge of the philosophy of history and historiography is to find a principled way to rank different interpretations of the past without assuming their truth in terms of correspondence. The narrativist insight of the narrative philosophy of historiography was to correctly question historical realism. It analyzed texts and showed that they cannot reflect the past as it is. However, the rejection of the truth‐functional evaluation threatens to lead to an “anything goes” approach in terms of cognitive evaluation of historiography. In any case, no adequate theory of evaluation has so far been developed, although clearly not all historiographical interpretations are acceptable. Postnarrativist philosophy of historiography suggests that any history book includes a content‐synthesizing unit, but that it is problematic to think that it is “narrative” that structures texts. It is better to think of historiography texts as presenting reasoning for views and theses about the past. Arguments for these theses should be considered not as being true but as more or less appropriate, fitting, or warranted. The historian aims to produce as highly rationally warranted and compelling a thesis of the past as possible; its rational appropriateness depends on three dimensions of cognitive evaluation: the epistemic, the rhetorical, and the discursive.
Deproteinized bovine bone in association with guided tissue regeneration or enamel matrix derivatives procedures in aggressive periodontitis patients: a 1‐year retrospective study
Authors: Artzi Zvi , Tal Haim , Platner Ori , Wasersprung Nadav , Weinberg Evgeny , Slutzkey Shimshon , Gozali Nir , Carmeli Guy , Herzberg Ran , Kozlovsky Avital
Published: May 2015

Objectives

To retrospectively evaluate and compare two regenerative periodontal procedures in young individuals with aggressive periodontitis (AgP).

Methods

Thirty‐two patients aged 14–25 years (mean ± SD 19.3 ± 5.7) were diagnosed as having AgP with multiple intra‐bony defects (IBDs) and treated by one of two regenerative modalities of periodontal therapy: guided tissue regeneration (GTR) using deproteinized bone xenograft (DBX) particles and a resorbable membrane (the GTR group), or an application of enamel matrix derivatives (EMD) combined with DBX (the EMD/DBX group). Periodic monitoring of treated sites included recording of probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and gingival recession. Pre‐treatment and 1‐year post‐operative findings were statistically analysed within and between groups.

Results

The PD and CAL values decreased significantly with time, but not those between study groups. The mean pre‐treatment and 1‐year post‐treatment PDs of the IBDs of the GTR group (n = 16; sites = 67) were 8.93 ± 1.14 mm and 3.58 ± 0.50 mm, respectively, and the mean CALs were 9.03 ± 1.03 mm and 4.16 ± 0.53 mm respectively. The mean PDs of the EMD/DBX group (n = 16; sites = 73) were 8.77 ± 1.04 mm and 3.61 ± 0.36 mm, respectively, and the mean CALS were 8.79 ± 1.04 mm and 3.77 ± 0.22 mm respectively (p < 0.001 for all).

Conclusion

Surgical treatment of AgP patients by either GTR or by application of EMD/DBX yielded similarly successful clinical results at 1‐year post‐treatment.
Analysis of Grinding Kinetics and Flow Behavior of Adzuki Bean (Phaseolus Angularis) Flour for Hopper Design
Authors: Park Hyeon Woo , Kim Sun Tae , Choung Myoung Gun , Han Won‐Young , Yoon Won Byong
Published: May 2015

The grinding characteristics of Adzuki beans (Phaseolus angularis, AB), also known as red beans, at constant moisture content (14.32% ± 0.23) and the flow properties of the AB flour were analyzed. A sigmoid model suitably described the grinding kinetics of the AB flour (R2 > 0.98). Flow properties of the AB flour having different particle sizes were measured, and the powder flow properties were applied for designing a hopper design. At the smallest particle size (d[3,2] = 267.09 μm), the ratio of change in the bulk density increased from 2.52 to 13.51% as the particle size decreased from d[3,2] = 1,560.43 to 267.09 μm. After image analysis, particles with more circular shapes showed a lower internal friction angle. Because of the lower flow ability, the smallest particle required larger values of the hopper angle and a larger minimum size of the hopper opening.

Practical Applications

Adzuki bean flour is widely applied in the food processing industry, and many mixing and packing processes require a suitable dimension of hopper. Because powder flow characteristics determine the efficiency of transportation through a hopper in the silo, it is very important to identify the powder flow behavior of a hopper design while avoiding arching, which is a stable obstruction that forms over the point of the narrowest cross section of the storage vessel. Therefore, the hopper angle and the opening size should be enough to avoid arching. This study estimated the energy consumption required to obtain particles of a certain size for designing the grinding process and determined a suitable dimension for hoppers that process different particle sizes.
Midwives as Primary Care Providers for Women
Authors: Phillippi Julia C. , Barger Mary K.
Published: May 2015

Midwives certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) are prepared to provide primary care to women from menarche across the lifespan and to well newborns to 28 days using consultation, collaboration, and referral to other providers as needed. The scope of midwifery in the United States did not always include primary care for women, although imprecise definitions of primary care make this difficult to study. The expansion of the scope of practice occurred in response to population needs and research on nurse‐midwifery practice patterns. The scope of practice of midwifery is tied to educational standards through the regulation and licensure at the state level. Although the current scope of practice includes primary care for women, many certified nurse‐midwives and certified midwives are unable to practice to the full extent of their education due to state‐level licensure restrictions. We discuss the addition of primary care to midwifery and the current state of AMCB‐certified midwives as primary care providers for women.
An intracellular domain with a novel sequence regulates cell surface expression and synaptic clustering of leucine‐rich repeat transmembrane proteins in hippocampal neurons
Authors: Minatohara Keiichiro , Murata Yasunobu , Fujiyoshi Yoshinori , Doi Tomoko
Published: May 2015

Leucine‐rich repeat transmembrane proteins (LRRTMs) are single‐spanning transmembrane proteins that belong to the family of synaptically localized adhesion molecules that play various roles in the formation, maturation, and function of synapses. LRRTMs are highly localized in the post‐synaptic density; however, the mechanisms and significance of LRRTM synaptic clustering remain unclear. Here, we focus on the intracellular domain of LRRTMs and investigate its role in cell surface expression and synaptic clustering. The deletion of 55–56 residues in the cytoplasmic tail caused significantly reduced synaptic clustering of LRRTM1–4 in rat hippocampal neurons, whereas it simultaneously resulted in augmented LRRTM1–2 cell surface expression. A series of deletions and further single amino acid substitutions in the intracellular domain of LRRTM2 demonstrated that a previously uncharacterized sequence at the region of ‐16 to ‐13 from the C‐terminus was responsible for efficient synaptic clustering and proper cell surface trafficking of LRRTMs. Furthermore, the clustering‐deficient LRRTM2 mutant lost the ability to promote the accumulation of post‐synaptic density protein‐95 (PSD‐95). These results suggest that trafficking to the cell surface and synaptic clustering of LRRTMs are regulated by a specific mechanism through this novel sequence in the intracellular domain that underlies post‐synaptic molecular assembly and maturation.

image

Leucine‐rich repeat transmembrane proteins (LRRTMs) are synaptic cell adhesion molecules promoting synapse formation. LRRTMs are highly localized in the postsynaptic density. We report amino acid sequence YxxC in the intracellular domain of LRRTMs is responsible for the postsynaptic localization of LRRTMs. This novel amino acid sequence of LRRTMs facilitates synapse maturation. We propose this regulated synaptic clustering of LRRTMs by the intracellular domain presents a novel molecular mechanism of synapse maturation.
Identifying nurse practitioners' required case management competencies in health promotion practice in municipal public primary health care. A two‐stage modified Delphi study
Authors: Maijala Virpi , Tossavainen Kerttu , Turunen Hannele
Published: May 2015

Aims and objectives

The aims of this study were to identify and reach consensus among municipal primary health care participants on nurse practitioners' (NPs') required case management competencies in health promotion practices in eastern Finland.

Background

The NP's role as a case manager of patients with chronic conditions has been found to have positive outcomes in health promotion, such as reduced hospital lengths of stay and readmission rates. However, the challenging work of health promotion requires NPs to have multidimensional competencies in health promotion, including communication, advocacy, assessment, planning, consultation and implementation.

Design

A two‐stage modified Delphi study.

Methods

Round 1 semi‐structured interviews were conducted among municipal primary health care participants (n = 42) in 11 health centres from April–July 2009, and the round 2 questionnaire survey was conducted in the same health centres in eastern Finland in January and March 2011. The questionnaire was answered by 64% of those surveyed (n = 56). Content analysis and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.

Results

We identified a total of 18 required case management competencies for NPs' health promotion practices in municipal primary health care. In 17 of these competencies (such as knowledge, skills and ability to work independently in health promotion), a consensus was reached (51% or over). However, the need to be interested in municipal decision‐making (44·6%) did not reach consensus.

Conclusion

Consensus was clearly achieved for 17 competencies that NPs were required to have, and these indicated the knowledge or abilities of health promotion. Nevertheless, there was no agreement on the NPs' need to be interested in municipal decision‐making.

Relevance to clinical practice

NPs need a variety of case management skills and abilities to realise health promotion in municipal primary health care and they need to be supported by primary health care leaders to develop health promotion activities.
Lower urinary tract symptoms of prostate cancer patients undergoing treatments over eight‐month follow‐up
Authors: Li Hui‐Chi , Chen Kuei‐Min , Lin Yu‐Hua , Chen Tai‐Been
Published: May 2015

Aims and objectives

To examine the changes in lower urinary tract symptoms after open radical prostatectomy, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and brachytherapy and to determine which treatment resulted in improved lower urinary tract symptoms at 8 months follow‐up.

Background

Lower urinary tract symptoms are a primary side effect after prostate cancer treatment.

Design

A time‐series survey design with descriptive and comparative elements.

Methods

A sample of 51 prostate cancer patients was recruited: open radical prostatectomy = 20, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy = 23 and brachytherapy = 8. Data were collected at six time points: before treatment/baseline, 1 week post‐treatment, 1 month post‐treatment, 2 month post‐treatment, 3 month post‐treatment and 8 months post‐treatment. The lower urinary tract symptoms were assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score, with a higher score indicating a worse condition. One‐way anova was used to predict the progress of urinary symptoms after treatments. Bootstrap re‐sampling was conducted to assess the stability of the outcomes.

Results

Although there were no significant differences in the lower urinary tract symptoms among the three groups after treatments, the laparoscopic radical prostatectomy group had the lowest International Prostate Symptom Score score at baseline. Compared with the baseline symptoms for patients undergoing each treatment, there were significant improvements after 2 months in the open radical prostatectomy and brachytherapy groups, and after 3 months in the laparoscopic radical prostatectomy group.

Conclusions

The prostate cancer patients undergoing the three treatments have similar lower urinary tract symptoms over 8‐month follow‐up although different lower urinary tract symptoms were presented before treatments.

Relevance to clinical practice

Results could be applied to educating and counselling prostate cancer patients regarding symptoms during recovery after surgery. It could also help patients better understand the outcomes related to the differing treatment methods.
Dental erosion among children aged 3‐6 years and its associated indicators
Authors: Tao Dan‐Ying , Hao Gu , Lu Hai‐Xia , Tian Yu , Feng Xi‐Ping
Published: May 2015

Objectives

To analyze the status quo of dental erosion in 3‐ to 6‐year‐old children in Shanghai.

Methods

A stratified, cluster, multistage random sampling methods was applied to 3‐ to 6‐year‐old children in Shanghai in 2012. Both questionnaire and clinical oral examination were performed in the survey. The questionnaire included general information, such as age, gender, parental education, dietary habit, oral health behavior, general medical health, and socioeconomic status. The clinical examination focused on the eroded tooth surface and dental erosion extent. SPSS v19.0 software package was utilized for statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 1,837 children aged 3‐6 years were randomly selected in Shanghai. The overall dental erosion prevalence was 15.1 percent. Among different age groups, a relatively high prevalence of 17.1 percent was found in the 4‐year‐old group, and a relatively low prevalence of 12.0 percent was observed in the 3‐year‐old group. Surprisingly, there was no significant difference among the four age groups. The occurrence of dental erosion was influenced by habits of vinegar/coffee/tea consumption, mother's educational background, birthplace, and regurgitation (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The dental erosion prevalence in 3‐ to 6‐year‐old children in Shanghai appears to be close to that of other Chinese provinces as well as that observed in most of surveys carried out in different parts of the world. Efforts should be made to raise public awareness about the disease. Moreover, further studies targeted to explore the relationship between dental erosion and risk factors are needed. It is also necessary to establish a unified diagnostic standard for future epidemiological investigations.
Molecular phylogeny of Chinese Rubia (Rubiaceae: Rubieae) inferred from nuclear and plastid DNA sequences
Authors: Yang Li‐E , Sun Hang , Ehrendorfer Friedrich , Nie Ze‐Long
Published: May 2015

Rubia L. is the type genus of the coffee family Rubiaceae and the third largest genus in the tribe Rubieae, comprising ca. 80 species restricted to the Old World. China is an important diversity center for Rubia, where approximately half of its species occur. However, its internal phylogenetic relationships are still poorly understood. The objective of the present study is to contribute to the phylogenetic relationships within Rubia, using the nuclear internal transcribed spacer and six plastid markers and focusing on species from China. Twenty‐seven species of Rubia were sampled to infer their phylogeny using Maximum parsimony, Maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses. The monophyly of Rubia is supported, provided that R. rezniczenkoana Litv. is excluded from Rubia and transferred to Galium as a new combination: G. rezniczenkoanum (Litv.) L. E Yang & Z. L. Nie. Within Rubia, two clades are clearly supported. They correspond to the traditional sect. Rubia s.l. (A) and sect. Oligoneura Pojark. (B), and are morphologically mainly separable by their pinnate (A) versus palmate (B) leaf venation. Plesiomorphic features are the pinnate leaf veining in sect. Rubia s.l. and the occurrence of some species with opposite leaves and true stipules in sect. Oligoneura. In sect. Oligoneura one can assume an evolution from species with opposite leaves and true stipules (as in the R. siamensis Craib group) to those with whorls of two leaves and two leaf‐like stipules (as in ser. Chinenses and the R. mandersii Collett & Hemsl. group) and finally with whorls of 6 or even more elements (as in ser. Cordifoliae). The correlation between clades recognized by DNA analyses and available differential morphological features is partly only loose, particularly in the group of R. cordifolia with 2×, 4×, and 6× cytotypes. This may be due to rapid evolutionary divergence and/or hybridization and allopolyploidy.
Neuroaxonal dystrophy in PLA2G6 knockout mice
Authors: Sumi‐Akamaru Hisae , Beck Goichi , Kato Shinsuke , Mochizuki Hideki
Published: May 2015

The PLA2G6 gene encodes group VIA calcium‐independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2β), which belongs to the PLA2 superfamily that hydrolyses the sn‐2 ester bond in phospholipids. In the nervous system, iPLA2β is essential for remodeling membrane phospholipids in axons and synapses. Mutated PLA2G6 causes PLA2G6‐associated neurodegeneration (PLAN) including infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD) and adult‐onset dystonia‐parkinsonism (PARK14), which have unique clinical phenotypes. In the PLA2G6 knockout (KO) mouse, which is an excellent PLAN model, specific membrane degeneration takes place in neurons and their axons, and this is followed by axonal spheroid formation. These pathological findings are similar to those in PLAN. This review details the evidence that membrane degeneration of mitochondria and axon terminals is a precursor to spheroid formation in this disease model. From a young age before the onset, many mitochondria with damaged inner membranes appear in PLA2G6 KO mouse neurons. These injured mitochondria move anterogradely within the axons, increasing in the distal axons. As membrane degeneration progresses, the collapse of the double membrane of mitochondria accompanies axonal injury near impaired mitochondria. At the axon terminals, the membranes of the presynapses expand irregularly from a young age. Over time, the presynaptic membrane ruptures, causing axon terminal degeneration. Although these processes occur in different degenerating membranes, both contain tubulovesicular structures, which are a specific ultrastructural marker of INAD. This indicates that two unique types of membrane degeneration underlie PLAN pathology. We have shown a new pathological mechanism whereby axons degenerate due to defective maintenance and rupture of both the inner mitochondrial and presynaptic membranes. This degeneration mechanism could possibly clarify the pathologies of PLAN, Parkinson disease and neurodegeneration with iron accumulation (NBIA), which are assumed to be due to the primary degeneration of axons.
The hematopoietic stem cell number in the peripheral blood of pediatric recipients correlates with the outcome after living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Gautier Sergey V. , Shevchenko Olga P. , Tsirulnikova Olga M. , Kurabekova Rivada M. , Lugovskaya Svetlana A. , Naumova Elena V. , Tsirulnikova Irina E. , Dolgov Vladimir V.
Published: May 2015

It has been proposed that circulating HSCs play a role in graft survival after liver transplantation. The aim was to analyze the relationship between the number of HSCs before and after LDLT and liver function, immune biomarkers, and clinical outcomes in pediatric patients. We studied 15 pairs of adult healthy liver donors and pediatric recipients with ESLD. The CD34/CD45+ cell number was measured in the blood via flow cytometry, and plasma levels of immune biomarkers – via ELISA. CD34/CD45+ cell number in the recipients decreased within the first week after LDLT. The cell number before LDLT was negatively correlated with the plasma levels of CRP and the development of graft dysfunction in the early post‐transplant period. After LDLT, the CD34/CD45+ cell number was positively correlated with the pretransplant plasma level of sCD40L, a T‐cell activation marker. In adult liver donors, the cell number did not change within the first week after liver resection and was lower than in pediatric recipients. The results suggest that in pediatric recipients, the HSC number may be associated with graft function and could be regarded as a potential predictor of the clinical outcome after LDLT.
Isolation and characterisation of cDNA encoding a wheat heavy metal‐associated isoprenylated protein involved in stress responses
Authors: Zhang X. , Feng H. , Feng C. , Xu H. , Huang X. , Wang Q. , Duan X. , Wang X. , Wei G. , Huang L. , Kang Z.
Published: May 2015

In cells, metallochaperones are important proteins that safely transport metal ions. Heavy metal‐associated isoprenylated plant proteins (HIPPs) are metallochaperones that contain a metal binding domain and a CaaX isoprenylation motif at the carboxy‐terminal end. To investigate the roles of wheat heavy metal‐associated isoprenylated plant protein (TaHIPP) genes in plant development and in stress responses, we isolated cDNA encoding the wheat TaHIPP1 gene, which contains a heavy metal‐associated domain, nuclear localisation signals and an isoprenylation motif (CaaX motif). Quantitative real‐time PCR analysis indicated that the TaHIPP1 gene was differentially expressed under biotic and abiotic stresses. Specifically, TaHIPP1 expression was up‐regulated by ABA exposure or wounding. Additionally, TaHIPP1 over‐expression in yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) significantly increased the cell growth rate under Cu2+ and high salinity stresses. The nuclear localisation of the protein was confirmed with confocal laser scanning microscopy of epidermal onion cells after particle bombardment with chimeric TaHIPP1‐GFP constructs. In addition, TaHIPP1 was shown to enhance the susceptibility of wheat to Pst as determined by virus‐induced gene silencing. These data indicate that TaHIPP1 is an important component in defence signalling pathways and may play a crucial role in the defence response of wheat to biotic and certain abiotic stresses.