bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Capsular Polysaccharide Vi from Salmonella Typhi Is a B1b Antigen
Authors: Marshall Jennifer L. , Flores-Langarica Adriana , Kingsley Robert A. , Hitchcock Jessica R. , Ross Ewan A. , López-Macías Constantino , Lakey Jeremy , Martin Laura B. , Toellner Kai-Michael , MacLennan Calman A. , MacLennan Ian C. , Henderson Ian R. , Dougan Gordon , Cunningham Adam F.
Published: November 2012

Vaccination with purified capsular polysaccharide Vi Ag from Salmonella typhi can protect against typhoid fever, although the mechanism for its efficacy is not clearly established. In this study, we have characterized the B cell response to this vaccine in wild-type and T cell–deficient mice. We show that immunization with typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine rapidly induces proliferation in B1b peritoneal cells, but not in B1a cells or marginal zone B cells. This induction of B1b proliferation is concomitant with the detection of splenic Vi-specific Ab-secreting cells and protective Ab in Rag1-deficient B1b cell chimeras generated by adoptive transfer-induced specific Ab after Vi immunization. Furthermore, Ab derived from peritoneal B cells is sufficient to confer protection against Salmonella that express Vi Ag. Expression of Vi by Salmonella during infection did not inhibit the development of early Ab responses to non-Vi Ags. Despite this, the protection conferred by immunization of mice with porin proteins from Salmonella, which induce Ab-mediated protection, was reduced postinfection with Vi-expressing Salmonella, although protection was not totally abrogated. This work therefore suggests that, in mice, B1b cells contribute to the protection induced by Vi Ag, and targeting non-Vi Ags as subunit vaccines may offer an attractive strategy to augment current Vi-based vaccine strategies.
A Converse 4-1BB and CD40 Ligand Expression Pattern Delineates Activated Regulatory T Cells (Treg) and Conventional T Cells Enabling Direct Isolation of Alloantigen-Reactive Natural Foxp3+ Treg
Authors: Schoenbrunn Anne , Frentsch Marco , Kohler Siegfried , Keye Jacqueline , Dooms Hans , Moewes Beate , Dong Jun , Loddenkemper Christoph , Sieper Joachim , Wu Peihua , Romagnani Chiara , Matzmohr Nadine , Thiel Andreas
Published: November 2012

Natural regulatory T cells (nTreg) play a central role in the induction and maintenance of immunological tolerance. Experimental transplant models and recent clinical trials demonstrate that nTreg can control alloreactivity. To upgrade Treg-based cell therapies to a selective suppression of undesired immune reactions, only the transfer of Ag-specific nTreg represents the appropriate therapeutic option. However, Ag-specific nTreg are present at extremely low frequencies in the periphery, and so far appropriate surface markers for their precise identification are missing. In this study, we demonstrate that activated nTreg and activated conventional T cells differ in their 4-1BB and CD40 ligand (CD40L) expression signatures, allowing a clear dissection from each other. Based on the expression of 4-1BB and absence of CD40L expression, human alloantigen-reactive Foxp3+ nTreg can be directly isolated from MLR cultures with high purity. Alloantigen-reactive 4-1BB+CD40L− nTreg were characterized by a completely demethylated Treg-specific demethylated region and showed alloantigen-specific suppressive properties superior to polyclonal Treg. Importantly, isolated 4-1BB+CD40L− nTreg maintain the nTreg phenotype and alloantigen-reactivity after in vitro expansion. Our results offer the possibility to simultaneously analyze Ag-specific nTreg and conventional T cells, and to establish cellular therapies with Ag-specific nTreg aiming at a specific inhibition of unwanted immunity.
Role of Recycling, Mindbomb1 Association, and Exclusion from Lipid Rafts of Delta-like 4 for Effective Notch Signaling To Drive T Cell Development
Authors: Shah Divya K. , Mohtashami Mahmood , Zúñiga-Pflücker Juan Carlos
Published: November 2012

Intrathymic T cell development is predicated on the Notch1 ligand Delta-like (Dll) 4. However, both Dll4 and Dll1 can support T cell development in vitro. Endocytosis of Dll1 is important for Notch activation, whereas currently there is no evidence for the role of Dll4 endocytosis in T cell development. To elucidate this, we generated Dll4 constructs that modify or inhibit endocytosis. Our results show that targeting the intracellular domain affects Dll4’s ability to induce Notch target gene expression, support efficient T cell development, and inhibit B cell development. Dll4 function relies on a combination of factors, which include strong Mindbomb1 (Mib1) association, ubiquitination, and internalization and recycling back to the cell surface, to engage Notch1 effectively. Distinct membrane localization and the Delta/Serrate/Lag2 (DSL) domain were important for Dll4 function. These features are consistent with a “recycling” model, but not in opposition to a “mechano-transduction” model, whereby Dll4 is able to engage Notch and create a pulling force required to activate signaling, leading to the induction of T-lineage development. Taken together, in contrast to Dll1, Dll4 does not localize to lipid rafts and shows stronger association with Mib1 and increased Notch1 uptake, which likely account for its superior ability to induce T cell development.
Functional Annotation Analytics of Bacillus Genomes Reveals Stress Responsive Acetate Utilization and Sulfate Uptake in the Biotechnologically Relevant Bacillus megaterium
Authors: Williams Baraka S. , Isokpehi Raphael D. , Mbah Andreas N. , Hollman Antoinesha L. , Bernard Christina O. , Simmons Shaneka S. , Ayensu Wellington K. , Garner Bianca L.
Published: November 2012

Bacillus species form an heterogeneous group of Gram-positive bacteria that include members that are disease-causing, biotechnologically-relevant, and can serve as biological research tools. A common feature of Bacillus species is their ability to survive in harsh environmental conditions by formation of resistant endospores. Genes encoding the universal stress protein (USP) domain confer cellular and organismal survival during unfavorable conditions such as nutrient depletion. As of February 2012, the genome sequences and a variety of functional annotations for at least 123 Bacillus isolates including 45 Bacillus cereus isolates were available in public domain bioinformatics resources. Additionally, the genome sequencing status of 10 of the B. cereus isolates were annotated as finished with each genome encoded 3 USP genes. The conservation of gene neighborhood of the 140 aa universal stress protein in the B. cereus genomes led to the identification of a predicted plasmid-encoded transcriptional unit that includes a USP gene and a sulfate uptake gene in the soil-inhabiting Bacillus megaterium. Gene neighborhood analysis combined with visual analytics of chemical ligand binding sites data provided knowledge-building biological insights on possible cellular functions of B. megaterium universal stress proteins. These functions include sulfate and potassium uptake, acid extrusion, cellular energy-level sensing, survival in high oxygen conditions and acetate utilization. Of particular interest was a two-gene transcriptional unit that consisted of genes for a universal stress protein and a sirtuin Sir2 (deacetylase enzyme for NAD+-dependent acetate utilization). The predicted transcriptional units for stress responsive inorganic sulfate uptake and acetate utilization could explain biological mechanisms for survival of soil-inhabiting Bacillus species in sulfate and acetate limiting conditions. Considering the key role of sirtuins in mammalian physiology additional research on the USP-Sir2 transcriptional unit of B. megaterium could help explain mammalian acetate metabolism in glucose-limiting conditions such as caloric restriction. Finally, the deep-rooted position of B. megaterium in the phylogeny of Bacillus species makes the investigation of the functional coupling acetate utilization and stress response compelling.
Recapture probability underwater: predicting the detection of the threatened noble pen shell in seagrass meadows
Authors: Hendriks Iris E. , Deudero Salud , Tavecchia Giacomo
Published: November 2012

Capture‐recapture methods to estimate population size and its uncertainty rely on the important assumption that recapture probability does not change across individuals or within groups of individuals. This assumption is rarely met in natural populations and assessing the variance components associated with the recapture probability of marked individuals would help to design surveys. We illustrate a two‐session capture‐recapture survey of the threatened pen shell around the archipelago of Majorca, Spain. We were interested in investigating difference across teams of divers, sites, and individuals in the recapture probability of marked bivalves. We found that the probability of recapture was positively associated with shell width while differences across teams and sites were small. Our results indicate that inferences based on counts or on an average value of shell detection probability are underestimating total population size and in particular are skewed toward large size individuals leading to an erroneous measure of recruitment. In our case using an average value of detection probability, the number of young pen shells would be underestimated of c. 19%. Estimates of population size by capture‐recapture methods should be derived taking into account size‐dependent variability in recapture probabilities.
Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic determination of dissolved aluminium in open ocean seawater
Authors: Remenyi Tomas , Nesterenko Pavel , Bowie Andrew , Butler Edward , Haddad Paul
Published: November 2012

Popular shipboard techniques to determine dissolved aluminium in open ocean seawater have two major disadvantages: relative to HPLC techniques, they require large sample volumes; and, in practice they are are only semi‐automated. To address these two issues, the application of a reversed‐phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP‐HPLC) method for the determination of the aluminium in open ocean seawater was developed. With this method, dissolved aluminium in the sample was complexed with lumogallion at pH 5.5 by the addition of a reagent, producing the fluorescent aluminium—lumogallion complex. This complex was concentrated onto a Chromolith® RP‐18e Guard (10 × 4.6 mm) column and eluted with 95% methanol into a fluorescence detector (λex = 505 nm, λem = 574 nm). Sample pre‐treatment required 10 h (>100 samples can be prepared simultaneously) and sample analysis required 375 µL of sample per vial analysed, with 10 µL and 2.7 min per injection. Total required sample volume (including rinses) was 1.5 µL. Limit of detection was 0.13±0.05 nM, with precision of 2.7% at 1 nM on SAFe reference samples. Agreement with SAFe reference samples was within 4.6±4.6% (n = 13). The technique is robust, inherently automated and could easily be applied shipboard for open ocean analyses. It provides improvements in sample efficiency, operational robustness and automation relative to popular shipboard techniques, especially when applied to samples with dissolved aluminium concentrations that approach the limit of detection. This project was a contribution to the GEOTRACES program.
Integrating global chlorophyll data from 1890 to 2010
Authors: Boyce Daniel G. , Lewis Marlon , Worm Boris
Published: November 2012

Understanding large‐scale phytoplankton dynamics requires accurate, multi‐decadal measurements of abundance and distribution. Since 1890, marine phytoplankton abundance has been assessed using a diverse range of sensors and observational platforms, and inter‐calibrating these data have been challenging. Consequently, syntheses of historical phytoplankton data have been rarely attempted, and the need for accurate, long‐term assessments of phytoplankton abundance and distribution is commonly acknowledged. Here, we derive quantitative indices of phytoplankton abundance from measurements of upper ocean transparency and color‐calibrated with direct measurements of surface chlorophyll. The strong correlation and linear scaling of the predicted data enabled the construction of a comprehensive, globally intercalibrated chlorophyll time series from 1890 to 2010. The calibrated chlorophyll data reproduced the well‐established spatial features of phytoplankton surface biomass and were strongly correlated with chlorophyll concentration derived from two independent remote sensing platforms discontinuously available since 1978. These results suggest that with careful statistical treatment it is possible to generate a globally integrated chlorophyll time series extending 120 years into the past. This database, which is available in the web appendices of this paper, may enable new insights in the areas of climate science, biogeochemical cycling, and marine ecosystem structure and functioning over the past century.
Limnological applications of the Thermodynamic Equation of Seawater 2010 (TEOS‐10)
Authors: Pawlowicz Rich , Feistel Rainer
Published: November 2012

The new Thermodynamic Equation of Seawater 2010 (TEOS‐10) provides a highly accurate, thermodynamically consistent, and complete representation of all thermodynamic properties of seawater over a wide range in temperature and salinity. These properties include density, sound speed, heat capacity, enthalpy, chemical potential, and many others. Here we provide simple procedures by which limnological studies can take advantage of TEOS‐10. These require replacing the TEOS‐10 salinity argument, seawater Absolute Salinity SA, with a limnological salinity Sa. In typical natural waters where anion concentrations are dominated by HCO3− or Cl−, Sa can be approximated by the solution salinity Sasoln, obtained by summing the concentrations of different dissolved constituents in a complete chemical analysis after multiplying by their molar masses. Slightly better results can be obtained, especially at very low salinities where silicic acid Si(OH)4 is an important constituent, by using a density salinity Sadens carefully defined by dividing the solution salinity into an ionic and a nonionic part and changing the weighting factors for each in the summation. In cases where the dominant anion is HCO3−, which covers the majority of inland waters, measurements of electrical conductivity can be used to estimate the ionic salinity, which will be ≈60% greater than the Absolute Salinity of seawater of the same conductivity. The resulting estimates of that part of density in excess of pure water density at the same temperature will be accurate within ± 10%.
Estimating size‐dependent growth and grazing rates and their associated errors using the dilution method
Authors: Taniguchi Darcy A.A. , Franks Peter J.S. , Landry Michael R.
Published: November 2012

Size‐dependent properties are pervasive in nature but difficult to measure for natural communities. Here, we develop a technique to estimate size‐specific phytoplankton growth and grazing rates based on the two‐point dilution method, enhanced by the acquisition of the size spectra of the phytoplankton in the samples. We describe a way to estimate standard deviations associated with the rate estimates, which can be applied either to the size‐dependent or total community rates. We tested the accuracy of rates estimated using the size‐dependent dilution method by applying it to dilution experiments simulated using a complex size‐structured ecosystem model. The strong agreement between model and size‐dependent dilution method rates (two‐sample Kolmogorov‐Smirnov test, P = 1) supports the accuracy of this new technique. Because size‐dependent rates vary with the size interval over which they are calculated, we display the size‐dependent growth and grazing rates and their standard deviations as a function of the size interval. This technique easily allows the assessment of rates for any size class of interest. Finally, we apply the size‐dependent dilution method to data collected in the equatorial Pacific. There is a general agreement between size‐based and previously published taxonomic‐based rates, with differences reflecting the extent to which size classes are mixtures of taxa. The use of the size‐dependent dilution method will provide new insights into the structure and dynamics of planktonic communities. Future applications of this method to other natural communities will help in assessing the size‐dependencies of phytoplankton growth and grazing rates in their environments.
Linearisation of the effects of spectral shift and stretch in DOAS analysis
Authors: Beirle S. , Sihler H. , Wagner T.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) is a widely used method to quantify atmospheric trace gases from spectroscopic measurements. While DOAS can in principal be described by a linear equation system, usually non-linearities occur, in particular as a consequence of spectral misalignments. Here we propose to linearise the effects of a spectral shift by including a "shift spectrum", which is the first term of a Taylor expansion, as pseudo-absorber in the DOAS fit. The effects of a spectral stretch are considered as additional wavelength-dependent shifts. Solving the DOAS equation system linearly has several advantages: the solution is unique, the algorithm is robust, and it is very fast. The latter might be particularly important for measurements with high data rates, like for upcoming satellite missions.
Scaling of growth rate and mortality with size and its consequence on size spectra of natural microphytoplankton assemblages in the East China Sea
Authors: Chang F. H. , Marquis E. C. , Chang C. W. , Gong G. C. , Hsieh C. H.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Allometric scaling of body size versus growth rate and mortality has been suggested to be a universal macroecological pattern, as described by the Metabolic Theory of Ecology (MTE). However, whether such scaling generally holds in natural assemblages remains debated. Here, we test the hypothesis that the size-specific growth rate and grazing mortality scales with the body size with an exponent of −1/4 after temperature correction, as MTE predicts. To do so, we couple the dilution experiment with the FlowCAM imaging system to obtain size-specific growth rates and grazing mortality of natural microphytoplankton assemblages in the East China Sea. This novel approach allows us to achieve highly resolved size-specific measurements that could be hardly obtained in traditional size-fractionated measurements using filters. Our results do not support the MTE prediction. The size-specific growth rates scale positively with body size (with scaling exponent ~ 0.1), and the size-specific grazing mortality is independent of body size. Furthermore, results of path analysis indicate that size-specific grazing mortality is mainly determined by size-specific growth rate. We further investigate how the variation of size-specific growth rate and grazing mortality can interact to determine the microphytoplankton size structure, described by Normalized Biomass Size Spectrum (NB-SS). We test if the variation of microphytoplankton NB-SS slopes is determined by (1) differential grazing mortality of small versus large individuals, (2) differential growth rate of small versus large individuals, or (3) combinations of these scenarios. Our results indicate that the relative grazing mortality of small over large size category best explains the variation of NB-SS slopes across environments. These results suggest that higher grazing mortality of small microphytoplankton may release the large phytoplankton from grazing, which in turn leads to a flatter NB-SS slope. This study contributes to an understanding of the relative importance of bottom-up versus top-down control in shaping the microphytoplankton size structure.
Deglacial and Holocene vegetation and climatic changes at the southernmost tip of the Central Mediterranean from a direct land-sea correlation
Authors: Desprat S. , Combourieu-Nebout N. , Essallami L. , Sicre M. A. , Dormoy I. , Peyron O. , Siani G. , Bout Roumazeilles V. , Turon J. L.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Despite a large number of studies, the long-term and millennial to centennial-scale climatic variability in the Mediterranean region during the last deglaciation and the Holocene is still debated, in particular in the Southern Central Mediterranean. In this paper, we present a new marine pollen sequence (MD04-2797CQ) from the Siculo-Tunisian Strait documenting the regional vegetation and climatic changes in the Southern Central Mediterranean during the last deglaciation and the Holocene. The MD04-2797CQ marine pollen sequence shows that semi-desert plants dominated the vegetal cover in the Southern Central Mediterranean between 18 and 12.3 kyr BP indicating prevailing dry conditions during the deglaciation, even during the Greenland Interstadial (GI)-1. Such arid conditions likely restricted the expansion of the trees and shrubs despite the GI-1 climatic amelioration. Across the transition Greenland Stadial (GS)-1 – Holocene, Asteraceae-Poaceae steppe became dominant till 10.1 kyr. This record underlines with no chronological ambiguity that even though temperatures increased, deficiency in moisture availability persisted into the Early Holocene.Temperate trees and shrubs with heaths as oak forest understorey or heath maquis expanded between 10.1 and 6.6 kyr, while Mediterranean plants only developed from 6.6 kyr onwards. These changes in vegetal cover show that the regional climate in Southern Central Mediterranean was wetter during Sapropel 1 (S1) and became drier during the Mid- to Late Holocene. Wetter conditions during S1 were likely due to increased winter precipitation while summers remained dry. We suggest, in agreement with published modelling experiments, that the increased melting of the Laurentide Ice Sheet between 10 to 6.8 kyr in conjunction with weak winter insolation played a major role in the development of winter precipitation maxima in the Mediterranean region in controlling the strength and position of the North Atlantic storm track. Finally, our data provide evidences of centennial-scale vegetation and climatic changes in the Southern Central Mediterranean. During the wet Early Holocene, alkenones-derived cooling episodes are synchronous to herbaceous composition changes that indicate muted changes in precipitation. In contrast, enhanced aridity episodes, as detected by strong reduction in trees and shrubs, are recorded during the Mid- to Late Holocene. We show that the impact of the Holocene cooling events depend on the baseline climate states insolation and ice sheet volume, shaping the response of the mid-latitude atmospheric circulation.
A Late Glacial to Holocene record of environmental change from Lake Dojran (Macedonia, Greece)
Authors: Francke A. , Wagner B. , Leng M. J. , Rethemeyer J.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. A Late Glacial to Holocene sediment sequence (Co1260, 717 cm) from Lake Dojran, located at the boarder of the F.Y.R. of Macedonia and Greece, has been investigated to provide information on climate variability in the Balkan region. A robust age-model was established from 13 radiocarbon ages, and indicates that the base of the sequence was deposited at ca. 12 500 cal yr BP, when the lake-level was low. Variations in sedimentological (TOC, CaCO3, TC, N, S, grain-size, XRF, δ18Ocarb, δ13Ccarb, δ13Corg) data were linked to hydro-acoustic data and indicate that warmer and more humid climate conditions characterized the remaining period of the Younger Dryas until the beginning of the Holocene. The Holocene exhibits significant environmental variations, including the 8.2 ka and 4.2 ka cooling events, the Medieval Warm Period, and the Little Ice Age. Human induced erosion processes in the catchment of Lake Dojran intensified after 2800 cal yr BP.
Polynomial cointegration tests of anthropogenic impact on global warming
Authors: Beenstock M. , Reingewertz Y. , Paldor N.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. We use statistical methods for nonstationary time series to test the anthropogenic interpretation of global warming (AGW), according to which an increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations raised global temperature in the 20th century. Specifically, the methodology of polynomial cointegration is used to test AGW since during the observation period (1880–2007) global temperature and solar irradiance are stationary in 1st differences, whereas greenhouse gas and aerosol forcings are stationary in 2nd differences. We show that although these anthropogenic forcings share a common stochastic trend, this trend is empirically independent of the stochastic trend in temperature and solar irradiance. Therefore, greenhouse gas forcing, aerosols, solar irradiance and global temperature are not polynomially cointegrated, and the perceived relationship between these variables is a spurious regression phenomenon. On the other hand, we find that greenhouse gas forcings might have had a temporary effect on global temperature.
The chemical transport model Oslo CTM3
Authors: Søvde O. A. , Prather M. J. , Isaksen I. S. A. , Berntsen T. K. , Stordal F. , Zhu X. , Holmes C. D. , Hsu J.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. We present here the global chemical transport model Oslo CTM3, an update of the Oslo CTM2. The update comprises a faster transport scheme, an improved wet scavenging scheme for large scale rain, updated photolysis rates and a new lightning parameterization. Oslo CTM3 is better parallelized and allows for stable, large time steps for advection, enabling more complex or high spatial resolution simulations. A new treatment of the horizontal distribution of lightning is presented and found to compare well with measurements. The vertical distribution of lightning is updated and found to be a large contributor to CTM2–CTM3 differences, producing more NOx in the tropical middle troposphere, and less at the surface and at high altitudes. Compared with Oslo CTM2, Oslo CTM3 is faster, more capable and has better conceptual models for scavenging, vertical transport and fractional cloud cover. CTM3 captures stratospheric O3 better than CTM2, but shows minor improvements in terms of matching atmospheric observations in the troposphere. Use of the same meteorology to drive the two models shows that some features related to transport are better resolved by the CTM3, such as polar cap transport, while features like transport close to the vortex edge are resolved better in the Oslo CTM2 due to its required shorter transport time step. The longer transport time steps in CTM3 result in larger errors, e.g., near the jets, and when necessary the errors can be reduced by using a shorter time step. Using a time step of 30 min, the new transport scheme captures both large-scale and small-scale variability in atmospheric circulation and transport, with no loss of computational efficiency. We present a version of the new transport scheme which has been specifically tailored for polar studies, resulting in more accurate polar cap transport than the standard CTM3 transport, confirmed by comparison to satellite observations. Inclusion of tropospheric sulfur chemistry and nitrate aerosols in CTM3 is shown to be important to reproduce tropospheric O3, OH and the CH4 lifetime well.
Subclavian Central Venous Catheters and Ultrasound Guidance: Policy vs Practice
Authors: Griswold-Theodorson Sharon , Farabaugh Eric , Handly Neal , McGrath Todd , Wagner David
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Policy statements recommend the use of ultrasound guidance (USG) to improve patient safety during placement of central venous catheters (CVCs). Studies have conclusively demonstrated greater success rates and fewer complications with the use of USG in catheter placement using the internal jugular vein approach. Data supporting the use of USG for the subclavian vein (SCV) approach, however, have been less conclusive, and USG for SCV cannulation is rarely used in clinical practice. We compared USG placement versus anatomic placement during subclavian insertion of a CVC.

Methods

A prospective randomized study was performed in March 2010 using a simulation model.

Results

Ultrasound guidance did not provide a statistically significant benefit for successful cannulation of the SCV (93.3% with USG and 100% without; P=0.15 or 2) or for rate of inadvertent arterial puncture (3.3% with USG and 0% without; P=0.31).

Conclusions

The use of USG to access the SCV utilizing a task trainer did not improve time to cannulation or success rates. Further study is required to delineate why USG for SCV cannulation has not been widely adopted in clinical practice.
An Exploration of Sense of Community and Student Success Using the National Survey of Student Engagement
Authors: Brown Susannah K. , Burdsal Charles A.
Published: November 2012

This study created a sense-of-community survey from the National Survey of Student Engagement to study the relationship between sense of community and student success. Factor analysis suggested four factors: Campus Social Milieu, Divergent Thinking, Institutional Involvement, and Relationships. Reliable relationships were apparent between sense of community and student success.
Evaluation of a Newly Implemented Undergraduate Global Health Course in the Public University Setting
Authors: Moore Brianna , Sorensen William , Cooper Cheryl , Daussat Lura
Published: November 2012

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a new undergraduate global health course by assessing students' pre/post global knowledge and beliefs. Using factor analysis, student beliefs coalesced into two belief foci: safety/comfort and responsibility/connectedness. Knowledge significantly increased across the board, whereas belief change was more localized.
Growth for Algebras Satisfying Polynomial Identities
Authors: Regev Amitai
Published: November 2012

The th codimension of a PI algebra measures how many identities of degree the algebra satisfies. Growth for PI algebras is the rate of growth of as goes to infinity. Since in most cases there is no hope in finding nice closed formula for , we study its asymptotics. We review here such results about , when is an associative PI algebra. We start with the exponential bound on then give few applications. We review some remarkable properties (integer and half integer) of the asymptotics of . The representation theory of the symmetric group is an important tool in this theory.
Mitochondrial Markers for Cancer: Relevance to Diagnosis, Therapy, and Prognosis and General Understanding of Malignant Disease Mechanisms
Authors: De Paepe Boel
Published: November 2012

Cancer cells display changes that aid them to escape from cell death, sustain their proliferative powers, and shift their metabolism toward glycolytic energy production. Mitochondria are key organelles in many metabolic and biosynthetic pathways, and the adaptation of mitochondrial function has been recognized as crucial to the changes that occur in cancer cells. This paper zooms in on the pathologic evaluation of mitochondrial markers for diagnosing and staging of human cancer and determining the patients’ prognoses.
Bayesian Estimation for Burr Distribution Type III Based on Trimmed Samples
Authors: Abd-Elfattah A. M. , Alharbey A. H.
Published: November 2012

Trimmed samples are widely employed in several areas of statistical practice, especially when some sample values at either or both extremes might have been contaminated. The problem of estimating the parameters of Burr distribution type III based on a trimmed samples and prior information will be considered. In this paper, we study the estimation of unknown parameters based on doubly censored type II. The problem discussed using maximum likelihood method and Bayesian approach to estimate the shape parameters of Burr type III distribution. The numerical illustration requires solving nonlinear equations, therefore, MathCAD (2001) statistical package used to asses these effects numerically.
Laparoscopic Surgery in Elderly Patients Aged 65 Years and Older with Gynecologic Disease
Authors: Kanasaki Haruhiko , Oride Aki , Miyazaki Kohji
Published: November 2012

Objectives. The study was conducted to characterize the use of the laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients. Methods. The medical records of elderly patients aged ≥65 years who underwent laparoscopic surgery were retrospectively reviewed for diseases, surgical procedures, histological diagnosis, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and reasons for presentation. Results. Of the 405 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery between January 2005 and March 2012, 41 (10.1%) were aged ≥65 years. The most common disease treated by surgery was ovarian tumor, followed by uterine prolapse. Histological diagnosis of ovarian tumor specimens obtained from 23 patients included serous cystadenoma (44.0%), mature cystic teratoma (20.0%), mucinous cystadenoma (20.0%), and endometrioma (4%). In contrast, in the non-elderly group, the most common histological diagnosis was endometrioma (42.9%), followed in order by mature cystic teratoma (28.3%), serous cystadenoma (18.0%), and mucinous cystadenoma (4.7%). While 23.7% of the non-elderly patients required emergency laparoscopic surgery, none of the elderly patients required emergency surgery. Only 1 of 27 patients who underwent surgery for an ovarian or adnexal mass presented with abdominal pain. No one developed serious intraoperative or postoperative complications. Conclusion. Laparoscopic surgery can be safely performed in elderly patients. It should be noted, however, that few elderly patients with benign pelvic mass manifest symptoms before undergoing surgery.
Incidence of the Curvature of a Catheter on the Variations of the Inner Volume: Application to the Peripherally Central Catheters
Authors: Guiffant Gérard , Flaud Patrice , Dantan Philippe , Dupont Christian , Merckx Jacques
Published: November 2012

One particular characteristic of peripherally central catheter (PCC), peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) or totally implantable venous access device (TIVAD), is to be submitted to a rotational movement around the shoulder in the daily routine. The aim of this paper is to show that these movements induce a variation of the inner volume of the catheter which may be responsible for an internal distal pollution of the lumen. The results are presented in the framework of an open discussion on the catheter protocols of use as well as a possible improvement of the materials.
Catalyzed C–C Coupling of Aryl Iodides and Boronic Acids
Authors: Malik Payal , Chakraborty Debashis
Published: November 2012

An efficient La2O3-catalyzed new route for the carbon-carbon bond formation in particular, symmetrical and unsymmetrical biphenyls has been developed, which proceeds through carbon-carbon coupling reaction of aryl iodides with boronic acids. The reaction provided the desired products in moderate-to-good yields with a wide range of functional group tolerance.
High Neonatal Mortality Rates in Rural India: What Options to Explore?
Authors: Upadhyay Ravi Prakash , Chinnakali Palanivel , Odukoya Oluwakemi , Yadav Kapil , Sinha Smita , Rizwan S. A. , Daral Shailaja , Chellaiyan Vinoth G. , Silan Vijay
Published: November 2012

The neonatal mortality rate in India is amongst the highest in the world and skewed towards rural areas. Nonavailability of trained manpower along with poor healthcare infrastructure is one of the major hurdles in ensuring quality neonatal care. We reviewed case studies and relevant literature from low and middle income countries and documented alternative strategies that have proved to be favourable in improving neonatal health. The authors reiterate the fact that recruiting and retaining trained manpower in rural areas by all means is essential to improve the quality of neonatal care services. Besides this, other strategies such as training of local rural healthcare providers and traditional midwives, promoting home-based newborn care, and creating community awareness and mobilization also hold enough potential to influence the neonatal health positively and efforts should be made to implement them on a larger scale. More research is demanded for innovations such as “m-health” and public-private partnerships as they have been shown to offer potential in terms of improving the standards of care. The above proposed strategy is likely to reduce morbidity among neonatal survivors as well.
Serum Adiponectin Level and Different Kinds of Cancer: A Review of Recent Evidence
Authors: Izadi Vajihe , Farabad Elaheh , Azadbakht Leila
Published: November 2012

Background. Adiponectin, an adipokine secreted from adipose tissue, has antiobesity, anti-insulin resistance, and anticancer roles. The present study aimed to review the epidemiologic evidence about the association between adiponectin and cancers. Method. We searched in PubMed from 2002 to October 2011 by using the following key words: cancer, malignancy, cell proliferation, and adiponectin. Finally, 45 articles were recruited to review in the present paper. Findings. Several findings suggested inverse association between concentration of hormone and breast cancer risk. Low levels of adiponectin increase the risk of endometrial cancer in women. Adiponectin levels were significantly associated with prostate cancer in men. It seems that there is an inverse relationship between levels of adiponectin or its gene and colorectal cancer. Significant association between hormone and pancreatic cancer was found. Conclusion. Several findings suggested the negative correlation between adiponectin and risk of cancers. This relationship was more elucidated by the correlation between the hormone with obesity and insulin resistance. Suppression of growth and proliferation of cancer cells by adiponectin were explained via several mechanisms.
La emergencia de los social media en la comunicación empresarial
Authors: Bernad Estela
Published: November 2012

Introducción a la sección Tribuna: investigación y profesión.
La ciencia al alcance de la sociedad a través de los medios de comunicación
Authors: Martínez García Patricia
Published: November 2012

Artículo de la sección Tribuna: investigación y profesión
Pathology-Dependent Effects Linked to Small Heat Shock Proteins Expression: An Update
Authors: Arrigo A.-P.
Published: November 2012

Small heat shock proteins (small Hsps) are stress-induced molecular chaperones that act as holdases towards polypeptides that have lost their folding in stress conditions or consequently of mutations in their coding sequence. A cellular protection against the deleterious effects mediated by damaged proteins is thus provided to cells. These chaperones are also highly expressed in response to protein conformational and inflammatory diseases and cancer pathologies. Through specific and reversible modifications in their phospho-oligomeric organization, small Hsps can chaperone appropriate client proteins in order to provide cells with resistance to different types of injuries or pathological conditions. By helping cells to better cope with their pathological status, their expression can be either beneficial, such as in diseases characterized by pathological cell degeneration, or deleterious when they are required for tumor cell survival. Moreover, small Hsps are actively released by cells and can act as immunogenic molecules that have dual effects depending on the pathology. The cellular consequences linked to their expression levels and relationships with other Hsps as well as therapeutic strategies are discussed in view of their dynamic structural organization required to interact with specific client polypeptides.
Utilisation des services en déficience intellectuelle et satisfaction des parents à leur égard
Authors: Tremblay Karine N. , Côté Alain , Lachance Lise , Richer Louis
Published: November 2012

Cette étude dresse un portrait des services utilisés par des parents et leur enfant ayant une déficience intellectuelle, évalue la satisfaction à l’égard de ceux-ci et répertorie ceux que les parents souhaiteraient recevoir. Un questionnaire a été complété par 199 parents lors d’une rencontre à domicile. Les résultats révèlent qu’ils sont généralement satisfaits des services reçus. Cependant, ceux dont ils ne bénéficient pas sont réclamés dans des proportions variant de 32 à 58 %. Le répit-gardiennage s’avère le plus utilisé et le plus réclamé. Quant aux services non reçus, plusieurs parents jugent que l’intervention de spécialistes, particulièrement des orthophonistes, serait significative pour leur enfant. Comme les résultats convergent avec ceux d’études antérieures, il importe d’ajuster l’offre de services aux besoins réels des parents.
Questionnement sur l’inclusion et la participation sociale des enfants ayant une déficience intellectuelle ou un trouble envahissant du développement
Authors: Sallafranque St-Louis François , Normand Claude L. , Ruel Julie , Moreau André C. , Boyer Thierry
Published: November 2012

Peu d’outils offrent une mesure des barrières et accommodements à la participation sociale et à l’inclusion des enfants ayant une déficience intellectuelle (DI) ou un trouble envahissant du développement (TED). Cet article présente les données préliminaires obtenues à l’aide d’un nouvel outil auprès de 50 parents ayant participé à notre étude. Les participants ont répondu à un questionnaire téléphonique faisant état des barrières et accommodements de leur enfant ayant une DI ou un TED. Les résultats démontrent que les enfants ayant une DI ou un TED sont confrontés à un éventail de barrières structurelles et sociales, particulièrement s’ils présentent aussi des incapacités motrices. L’implication des résultats pour une meilleure intégration de ces enfants, avec le soutien de différents partenaires de la communauté, sera discutée.
Intervention précoce et instruments d'évaluation des jeunes enfants ayant un trouble du spectre autistique
Authors: Rousseau Myriam , Dionne Carmen , Paquet Annie
Published: November 2012

Cet article propose une réflexion sur les différents types d’outils d’évaluation utilisés en intervention précoce, en tentant de préciser les motifs de leur utilisation. Ainsi, les évaluations utiles à des fins de dépistage, de diagnostic et d’intervention seront situées les unes par rapport aux autres. Ce dernier type d’évaluation sera particulièrement détaillé, considérant son importance au niveau des services et pratiques d’intervention précoce. Finalement, afin d’illustrer ces distinctions, des exemples d’outils d’évaluations utilisés auprès des enfants présentant un trouble du spectre de l’autisme seront présentés. Il s’agit des instruments suivants: le CHecklist for Autism in Toddlers, l’Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic (ADOS-G) et le Profil Psychoéducatif – Troisième Édition (PEP-3).
Adherence and retention on antiretroviral therapy in a public‐private partnership program in Nigeria
Authors: Torpey K , Ogbanufe O , Babatunde F , Mosuro O , Fajola A , Khamofu H , Odafe S , Barinaadaa A
Published: November 2012

Initiation of HIV‐positive patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Nigeria was restricted to secondary and tertiary level hospitals due to weak health systems in primary health centres (PHCs). Shell Petroleum Development Company (SDPC) Nigeria and FHI 360 using a systems strengthening approach, piloted ART enrolment in a PHC in south‐eastern Nigeria. This study sought to evaluate patients’ adherence and mortality on ART, and associated risk factors. We reviewed clinic records of adult patients initiating ART between January 2007 and December 2009. Adherence was calculated as the number of days of medication dispensed as a percentage of total number of days evaluated. Outcome measures were probability of being alive and retained in care at 12 and 24 months on ART. Competing risks regression models were used to assess potential predictors associated with mortality. Total of 196 patients (64.8% males) were initiated on ART. Patients’ median age was 35 years (IQR 30–44); median CD4 at initiation was 132 cells/mm3 (IQR 82–212), Patients in WHO stage III and IV constituted 73 (37.6%) and 83 (42.8%) respectively. Majority (108 [55.1%]) of patients had adherence rates >95%. Adherence levels ranged: 70–85%, 50–65% and <50% in 29 (14.8%), 30 (15.3%) and 29 (14.8%) of patients respectively. Nucleoside backbone use were AZT/3TC (69.4%) d4T/3TC (28.6%) and TDF/FTC (2%). At 12 months of follow up, 80.6% (158) were alive and on ART, mortality accounted for 12.8% (25), 11 (5.6%) were LTFU and 2 (1.1%) transferred out. At 24 months on ART survival decreased to 64.3% (126), 20.4% (40) died, 9.2% (18) were LTFU and 12 (6.1%) transferred out. Competing risks regression models revealed that patients’ factors significantly associated with mortality include: bedridden patients (HR=3.6 [95% CI: 1.11–11.45], p=0.03, referent: working), <50% adherence levels (HR=27.7 [95% CI: 8.55–89.47], p<0.0001, referent: >95% adherence level). In conclusion, majority of attrition was due to mortality. Poor adherence was associated with 27 times higher risk of death compared with patients with >95% adherence. Mortality is likely to reduce by establishing a more robust adherence counselling process.
Impact on adherence of a telephone follow up strategy in HIV‐naïve patients who start antiretroviral therapy: cohort study
Authors: Bullo M , Toibaro J , Losso M
Published: November 2012

Antiretroviral therapy changed the prognosis of people living with HIV/AIDS. However, lack of adherence jeopardizes the success of antiretroviral therapy and enhances the development of treatment‐resistant strains, treatment failure, and therefore it stands as a public health problem. The main goal of this study was to measure the impact on treatment discontinuations and lost to follow up, of a telephone follow‐up strategy in naïve patients who start antiretroviral therapy. We conducted a single‐site, cohort study during a 12‐month period (May 2011–May 2012). A prospective cohort of naïve patients received the standard of care plus a specific telephone follow‐up strategy. Results were compared with a retrospective cohort of naïve patients followed up at the same site, who started antiretroviral therapy receiving only the standard of care during a similar period (January–December 2009). We used descriptive statistics and Fisher exact test for the comparisons of variables. We enrolled 41 patients in the prospective cohort and 50 in the retrospective one. Both cohorts had similar general characteristics. We found a lower number of patients who were lost to follow up in the prospective cohort (intervention) consistent with lower rates of treatment abandonment, suspensions and a similar tendency for events, including death, even when none of these findings was statistically significant. Baseline characteristics and main results are shown in the table below. Further randomized studies should be conducted applying a telephone follow‐up strategy to confirm these findings.

Non intervention group (n: 50)
Intervention Group (n: 41)
p

Age (mean in years)
36
35
0.58

Women n (%)
17 (34%)
23 (56%)
0.034

Heterosexual n (%)
33 (66%)
28 (68%)
0.81

Education, years (mean)
10.02
10.39
0.58

Preexistent serious disease
6 (12%)
5 (12%)
1

Previous opportunistic events (%)
16 (32%)
10 (24%)
0.28

Baseline CD4 count, median (range)
176 (7–783)
222 (20–868)
0.12

Baseline HIV RNA, log
4.89
4.22
0.001

Abandonment of treatment
9 (18%)
3 (7%)
0.021

Change of treatment
10 (20%)
14 (34%)
0.042

Lost to follow up
23 (46%)
10 (24%)
0.032

Hospitalization after HAART
4 (8%)
3 (7%)
0.3

New opportunistic event
3 (6%)
0 (0%)
N/A

Death
2 (4%)
1 (2.4%)
0.41

CD4/mm3 at 24 weeks (median)
315
384
0.151

Log HIV RNA at 24 weeks (median)
1.69
1.69