bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TOF‐SIMS Analysis of Red Color Inks of Writing and Printing Tools on Questioned Documents
Authors: Lee Jihye , Nam Yun Sik , Min Jisook , Lee Kang‐Bong , Lee Yeonhee
Published: February 2016

Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS) is a well‐established surface technique that provides both elemental and molecular information from several monolayers of a sample surface while also allowing depth profiling or image mapping to be performed. Static TOF‐SIMS with improved performances has expanded the application of TOF‐SIMS to the study of a variety of organic, polymeric, biological, archaeological, and forensic materials. In forensic investigation, the use of a minimal sample for the analysis is preferable. Although the TOF‐SIMS technique is destructive, the probing beams have microsized diameters so that only small portion of the questioned sample is necessary for the analysis, leaving the rest available for other analyses. In this study, TOF‐SIMS and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) were applied to the analysis of several different pen inks, red sealing inks, and printed patterns on paper. The overlapping areas of ballpoint pen writing, red seal stamping, and laser printing in a document were investigated to identify the sequence of recording. The sequence relations for various cases were determined from the TOF‐SIMS mapping image and the depth profile. TOF‐SIMS images were also used to investigate numbers or characters altered with two different red pens. TOF‐SIMS was successfully used to determine the sequence of intersecting lines and the forged numbers on the paper.
cloncase: Estimation of sex frequency and effective population size by clonemate resampling in partially clonal organisms
Authors: Ali Sajid , Soubeyrand Samuel , Gladieux Pierre , Giraud Tatiana , Leconte Marc , Gautier Angélique , Mboup Mamadou , Chen Wanquan , de Vallavieille‐Pope Claude , Enjalbert Jérôme
Published: February 2016

Inferring reproductive and demographic parameters of populations is crucial to our understanding of species ecology and evolutionary potential but can be challenging, especially in partially clonal organisms. Here, we describe a new and accurate method, cloncase, for estimating both the rate of sexual vs. asexual reproduction and the effective population size, based on the frequency of clonemate resampling across generations. Simulations showed that our method provides reliable estimates of sex frequency and effective population size for a wide range of parameters. The cloncase method was applied to Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici, a fungal pathogen causing stripe/yellow rust, an important wheat disease. This fungus is highly clonal in Europe but has been suggested to recombine in Asia. Using two temporally spaced samples of P. striiformis f.sp. tritici in China, the estimated sex frequency was 75% (i.e. three‐quarter of individuals being sexually derived during the yearly sexual cycle), indicating strong contribution of sexual reproduction to the life cycle of the pathogen in this area. The inferred effective population size of this partially clonal organism (Nc = 998) was in good agreement with estimates obtained using methods based on temporal variations in allelic frequencies. The cloncase estimator presented herein is the first method allowing accurate inference of both sex frequency and effective population size from population data without knowledge of recombination or mutation rates. cloncase can be applied to population genetic data from any organism with cyclical parthenogenesis and should in particular be very useful for improving our understanding of pest and microbial population biology.
Dissecting phylogenetic fuzzy weighting: theory and application in metacommunity phylogenetics
Authors: Duarte Leandro D. S. , Debastiani Vanderlei J. , Freitas André V. L. , Pillar Valério D.
Published: February 2016

Metacommunity phylogenetics aims at evaluating environmental and/or historical factors driving clade distribution. Phylogenetic fuzzy weighting (PFW) describes clade distribution across metacommunities based on fuzzy sets defined by phylogenetic relatedness among species. The method enables analysing environmental and/or biogeographic determinants of clade distribution. PFW also offers an exploratory tool for visualizing clade distribution via Principal Coordinates of Phylogenetic Structure (PCPS). In this article, we describe the theoretical properties and biological backgrounds of PFW and evaluate its statistical performance (type I error and statistical power) in assessing environmental and phylogenetic determinants of species distribution in comparison with other phylobetadiversity methods (COMDIST, COMDISTNT, Rao's H and UniFrac).

The statistical performance of PFW and the other phylobetadiversity metrics was tested by (i) simulating metacommunities under different species assembly scenarios (species distribution influenced or not by environment and/or phylogeny), niche breadth tolerance and species pool sizes; (ii) submitting community matrices to PFW and deriving pairwise phylogenetic dissimilarities between communities (DP) and PCPS; (iii) submitting these metrics and the other phylobetadiversity methods to different analytical approaches (Mantel test, regression on dissimilarity matrices – ADONIS, and GLM) to evaluate the influence of environment and phylogeny on metacommunity phylogenetic structure; and (iv) estimating type I error and power estimates via alternative permutation procedures.

Results demonstrated that PFW provides robust assessment of environmental and phylogenetic drivers of species distribution across metacommunities. Although all methods had acceptable type I error for both Mantel test and ADONIS, only PFW showed acceptable power for both tests. Rao's H had acceptable power only for Mantel test, while COMDIST had acceptable power only for ADONIS. COMDISTNT and UniFrac showed poor statistical performance for both tests. Conversely, GLM had acceptable power only for the first PCPS.

Performing ADONIS on DP provides a robust overall assessment of environmental and phylogenetic drivers of species distribution. On the other hand, performing PCPS analysis after rejecting the null hypotheses via ADONIS allows identifying the phylogenetic nodes mostly associated with environmental gradients. PFW enables synthesizing and analysing phylogenetic patterns in metacommunities, allowing attaining a more complete portrait of ecological and evolutionary drivers of species distribution.
What Works and What's Safe in Pediatric Emergency Procedural Sedation: An Overview of Reviews
Authors: Hartling Lisa , Milne Andrea , Foisy Michelle , Lang Eddy S. , Sinclair Douglas , Klassen Terry P. , Evered Lisa
Published: February 2016

Background

Sedation is increasingly used to facilitate procedures on children in emergency departments (EDs). This overview of systematic reviews (SRs) examines the safety and efficacy of sedative agents commonly used for procedural sedation in children in the ED or similar settings.

Methods

We followed standard SR methods: comprehensive search; dual study selection, quality assessment, data extraction. We included SRs of children (1 month to 18 years) where the indication for sedation was procedure‐related and performed in the ED.

Results

Fourteen SRs were included (210 primary studies). The most data were available for propofol (six reviews/50,472 sedations) followed by ketamine (7/8,238), nitrous oxide (5/8,220), and midazolam (4/4,978). Inconsistent conclusions for propofol were reported across six reviews. Half concluded that propofol was sufficiently safe; three reviews noted a higher occurrence of adverse events, particularly respiratory depression (upper estimate 1.1%; 5.4% for hypotension requiring intervention). Efficacy of propofol was considered in four reviews and found adequate in three. Five reviews found ketamine to be efficacious and seven reviews showed it to be safe. All five reviews of nitrous oxide concluded it is safe (0.1% incidence of respiratory events); most found it effective in cooperative children. Four reviews of midazolam made varying recommendations. To be effective, midazolam should be combined with another agent that increases the risk of adverse events (upper estimate 9.1% for desaturation, 0.1% for hypotension requiring intervention).

Conclusions

This comprehensive examination of an extensive body of literature shows consistent safety and efficacy for nitrous oxide and ketamine, with very rare significant adverse events for propofol. There was considerable heterogeneity in outcomes and reporting across studies and previous reviews. Standardized outcome sets and reporting should be encouraged to facilitate evidence‐based recommendations for care.
Oleoylethanolamide prevents neuroimmune HMGB1/TLR4/NF‐kB danger signaling in rat frontal cortex and depressive‐like behavior induced by ethanol binge administration
Authors: Antón María , Alén Francisco , Gómez de Heras Raquel , Serrano Antonia , Pavón Francisco Javier , Leza Juan Carlos , García‐Bueno Borja , Rodríguez de Fonseca Fernando , Orio Laura
Published: February 2016

Alcohol abuse is frequently characterized by a specific pattern of intake in binge drinking episodes, inducing neuroinflammation and brain damage. Here, we characterized the temporal profile of neuroinflammation in rats exposed to intragastric binge ethanol administrations (3 times/day × 4 days) and tested the anti‐inflammatory/neuroprotective properties of the satiety factor oleoylethanolamide (OEA). Pre‐treatment with OEA (5 mg/kg, i.p.) previous each alcohol gavage blocked the expression of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) danger signal and the innate immunity Toll‐like receptors 4 (TLR4) in frontal cortex, and inhibited the nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐kB) proinflammatory cascade induced by alcohol binge administration. OEA reduced the levels of interleukin‐1beta (IL‐1β), the monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), and the enzymes cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in ethanol binged animals. Elevations in plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) and IL‐1β after ethanol were also inhibited by OEA. OEA also prevented ethanol‐induced lipid peroxidation, caspase‐8 and pro‐apoptotic caspase‐3 activation in frontal cortex. Additionally, OEA blocked the rise in blood corticosterone levels after ethanol with no alteration in blood ethanol levels and may affect ethanol‐induced gut permeability for endotoxin. Finally, OEA, administered as a pre‐treatment during the ethanol binge, exerted antidepressant‐like effects during acute withdrawal. Altogether, results highlight a beneficial profile of OEA as a potent anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective and antidepressant‐like compound to treat alcohol abuse.
Differences in polysubstance use patterns and drug‐related outcomes between people who inject drugs receiving and not receiving opioid substitution therapies
Authors: Betts Kim S. , Chan Gary , McIlwraith Fairlie , Dietze Paul , Whittaker Elizabeth , Burns Lucy , Alati Rosa
Published: February 2016

Aims

To test if polysubstance use profiles and drug‐related outcomes differ between those receiving and not receiving opioid substitution therapies (OST) among people who inject drugs (PWID).

Design

An annual cross‐sectional, sentinel sample of PWID across Australia.

Setting

Data came from 3 years (2011–13) of the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS).

Participants

A total of 2673 participants who injected drugs from the combined national IDRS samples of 2011 (n = 868), 2012 (n = 922) and 2013 (n = 883).

Measurements

Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to summarize participants' self‐reported use of 18 types of substances, with the resulting polysubstance use profiles then associated with participant experience of a number of drug‐related outcomes.

Findings

Polysubstance use profiles exhibiting a broad range of substance use were generally at increased risk of negative drug‐related outcomes, whether or not participants were receiving OST, including thrombosis among OST receivers [odds ratio (OR) = 2.13, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.09–4.17], injecting with used needles among OST receivers and non‐receivers, respectively (OR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.50–5.13; OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.34–3.45) and violent criminal offences among OST receivers and non‐receivers, respectively (OR =2.30, 95% CI = 1.16–4.58; OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.14–3.07). An important exception was non‐fatal overdose which was related specifically to a class of PWID who were not receiving OST and used morphine frequently (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.06–3.17)

Conclusion

Regardless of opioid substitution therapies usage, people who inject drugs who use a broad‐range of substances experience greater levels of injecting‐related injuries and poorer health outcomes and are more likely to engage in criminal activity than other groups of people who inject drugs.
Transcriptomic investigation of meat tenderness in two Italian cattle breeds
Authors: Bongiorni S. , Gruber C. E. M. , Bueno S. , Chillemi G. , Ferrè F. , Failla S. , Moioli B. , Valentini A.
Published: February 2016

Our objectives for this study were to understand the biological basis of meat tenderness and to provide an overview of the gene expression profiles related to meat quality as a tool for selection. Through deepmRNAsequencing, we analyzed gene expression in muscle tissues of two Italian cattle breeds: Maremmana and Chianina. We uncovered several differentially expressed genes that encode for proteins belonging to a family of tripartite motif proteins, which are involved in growth, cell differentiation and apoptosis, such asTRIM45, or play an essential role in regulating skeletal muscle differentiation and the regeneration of adult skeletal muscle, such asTRIM32. Other differentially expressed genes (SCN2B,SLC9A7andKCNK3) emphasize the involvement of potassium–sodium pumps in tender meat. By mapping splice junctions inRNA‐Seq reads, we found significant differences in gene isoform expression levels. ThePRKAG3gene, which is involved in the regulation of energy metabolism, showed four isoforms that were differentially expressed. This distinct pattern ofPRKAG3gene expression could indicate impaired glycogen storage in skeletal muscle, and consequently, this gene very likely has a role in the tenderization process. Furthermore, with this deepRNA‐sequencing, we captured a high number of expressedSNPs, for example, we found 1462 homozygousSNPs showing the alternative allele with a 100% frequency when comparing tender and tough meat.SNPs were then classified into categories by their position and also by their effect on gene coding (174 non‐synonymous polymorphisms) based on the availableUMD_3.1 annotations.
The microRNA expression profile in porcine skeletal muscle is changed by constant heat stress
Authors: Hao Y. , Liu J. R. , Zhang Y. , Yang P. G. , Feng Y. J. , Cui Y. J. , Yang C. H. , Gu X. H.
Published: February 2016

Heat stress has profound effects on animal performance and muscle function, and microRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in muscle development and stress responses. To characterize the changes in miRNAs in skeletal muscle responding to heat stress, the miRNA expression profiles of longissimus dorsi muscles of pigs raised under constant heat stress (30 °C; n = 8) or control temperature (22 °C; n = 8) for 21 days were analyzed by Illumina deep sequencing. A total of 58 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified with 30 down‐regulated and 28 up‐regulated, and 63 differentially expressed target genes were predicted by miRNA–mRNA joint analysis. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the genes regulated by differentially expressed miRNAs were enriched in glucose metabolism, cytoskeletal structure and function and stress response. Real‐time PCR showed that the mRNA levels of PDK4, HSP90 and DES were significantly increased, whereas those of SCD and LDHA significantly decreased by heat exposure. The protein levels of CALM1, DES and HIF1α were also significantly increased by constant heat. These results demonstrated that the change in miRNA expression in porcine longissimus dorsi muscle underlies the changes in muscle structure and metabolism in porcine skeletal muscle affected by constant heat stress.
The features of mucosa‐associated microbiota in primary sclerosing cholangitis
Authors: Torres J. , Bao X. , Goel A. , Colombel J.‐F. , Pekow J. , Jabri B. , Williams K.M. , Castillo A. , Odin J.A. , Meckel K. , Fasihuddin F. , Peter I. , Itzkowitz S. , Hu J.
Published: February 2016

Background

Little is known about the role of the microbiome in primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Aim

To explore the mucosa‐associated microbiota in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) patients across different locations in the gut, and to compare it with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)‐only patients and healthy controls.

Methods

Biopsies from the terminal ileum, right colon, and left colon were collected from patients and healthy controls undergoing colonoscopy. Microbiota profiling using bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing was performed on all biopsies.

Results

Forty‐four patients were recruited: 20 with PSC (19 with PSC‐IBD and one with PSC‐only), 15 with IBD‐only and nine healthy controls. The overall microbiome profile was similar throughout different locations in the gut. No differences in the global microbiome profile were found. However, we observed significant PSC‐associated enrichment in Barnesiellaceae at the family level, and in Blautia and an unidentified Barnesiellaceae at the genus level. At the operational taxa unit level, most shifts in PSC were observed in Clostridiales and Bacteroidales orders, with approximately 86% of shifts occurring within the former order.

Conclusions

The overall microbiota profile was similar across multiple locations in the gut from the same individual regardless of disease status. In this study, the mucosa associated‐microbiota of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis was characterised by enrichment of Blautia and Barnesiellaceae and by major shifts in operational taxa units within Clostridiales order.
Antidepressant‐like Effect of Insulin in Streptozotocin‐induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Rats
Authors: Sestile Caio C. , Maraschin Jhonatan C. , Rangel Marcel P. , Cuman Roberto K. N. , Audi Elisabeth A.
Published: February 2016

This study evaluated the antidepressant‐like effect of insulin compared to sertraline and a combination of insulin and sertraline in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats submitted to the forced swim test (FST). Male Wistar rats were daily treated for 21 days with insulin (1 or 2 IU/kg, i.p.), with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), sertraline (10 mg/kg, i.p.), or with a combination of insulin (1 or 2 IU/kg, i.p.) and sertraline (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and submitted to the FST. We also evaluated the water and food intake, urine volume and weight gain of the rats. Rats treated with STZ showed impaired glucose tolerance. Chronic treatment with sertraline showed an antidepressant‐like effect in non‐diabetic and diabetic rats. Furthermore, sertraline promoted lower weight gain in diabetic rats. Insulin reduced the immobility behaviour in T2DM rats with impaired glucose tolerance. In conclusion, our results showed that insulin has an antidepressant‐like effect comparable to that of sertraline. Sertraline is effective as an antidepressant and reduces weight gain, which reinforces its superiority over other SSRIs in the treatment of major depression disorder in patients with T2DM.
Inhibitory control and the speech patterns of second language users
Authors: Korko Malgorzata , Williams Simon A.
Published: February 2016

Inhibitory control (IC), an ability to suppress irrelevant and/or conflicting information, has been found to underlie performance on a variety of cognitive tasks, including bilingual language processing. This study examines the relationship between IC and the speech patterns of second language (L2) users from the perspective of individual differences. While the majority of studies have supported the role of IC in bilingual language processing using single‐word production paradigms, this work looks at inhibitory processes in the context of extended speech, with a particular emphasis on disfluencies. We hypothesized that the speech of individuals with poorer IC would be characterized by reduced fluency. A series of regression analyses, in which we controlled for age and L2 proficiency, revealed that IC (in terms of accuracy on the Stroop task) could reliably predict the occurrence of reformulations and the frequency and duration of silent pauses in L2 speech. No statistically significant relationship was found between IC and other L2 spoken output measures, such as repetitions, filled pauses, and performance errors. Conclusions focus on IC as one out of a number of cognitive functions in the service of spoken language production. A more qualitative approach towards the question of whether L2 speakers rely on IC is advocated.
The Asturian Basin within the North Iberian margin (Bay of Biscay): seismic characterisation of its geometry and its Mesozoic and Cenozoic cover
Authors: Cadenas Patricia , Fernández‐Viejo Gabriela
Published: February 2016

The distribution and structure of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic cover within the central part of the North Iberian Margin (Bay of Biscay) is analysed based on a dense set of 2D seismic reflection lines and logs. The integration of well data allows the recognition of seven seismostratigraphic units and the construction of a surface that illustrates the 3D morphology of this area at the time of the Jurassic rifting. The study zone comprises what is known as Le Danois Bank, a basement high, and the Asturian Basin, one of the sedimentary basins originated during the Iberian rifting at the end of the Paleozoic. Its development continued with the oceanisation of the Bay of Biscay as a failed arm of the Atlantic rift; later, during the Cenozoic, a drastic change in tectonic regime induced the partial closure of Biscay and building up the Cantabrian−Pyrenean chain along the northern border of Iberia. This compressional period left its imprint in the Asturian Basin sediments in the form of a mild inversion and general uplift. The geometry of the basin bottom appears as an asymmetric bowl thinning out towards the edges, with a main E‐W depocenter, separated by E‐W striking faults from a secondary one. Those bounding faults show twisted trends in the north, interpreted as a consequence of the compressional period, when a transfer zone in a N‐S direction formed between the two E‐W striking deformation fronts in Biscay. This study shows that the transfer zone extends further to the west, reaching the longitude of Le Danois Bank. The maximum thickness of the filling within the Asturian Basin is estimated in more than 10 km, deeper than assessed in previous studies. The recognition of frequent halokynetic structures at this longitude is another observation worth to remark. Based on this study, it is suggested that the basin formed on top of a distal basement block of stretched crust limiting with the hyperextended rifted domain of Biscay. This location largely conditioned its deformation during the late compression.
High prevalence of hypogonadism and associated impaired metabolic and bone mineral status in subfertile men
Authors: Bobjer Johannes , Bogefors Karolina , Isaksson Sigrid , Leijonhufvud Irene , Åkesson Kristina , Giwercman Yvonne Lundberg , Giwercman Aleksander
Published: February 2016

Objective

It is yet unknown to which degree young subfertile men present with signs of hypogonadism and whether low testosterone concentration, like in older men, is associated with risk of osteoporosis and metabolic derangements in those subjects. The objective was therefore to investigate the prevalence of hypogonadism and its association with metabolic and bone parameters in young subfertile men.

Design

Cross‐sectional case–control study.

Patients

Men from infertile couples (n = 192); 18–50 years; sperm concentration <20 × 106/ml and population‐based age‐matched controls (n = 199).

Measurements

Blood sampling, anthropometrics, blood pressure, ankle–brachial index and assessment by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry were undertaken. Odds ratios of biochemical hypogonadism (total testosterone <8·0 nmol/l and/or luteinizing hormone ≥8·6 IU/l and/or ongoing androgen replacement therapy) were calculated. Serum concentrations of sex hormones, lipids, glucose, insulin and HbA1c were assessed and bone mineral density (BMD) evaluated.

Results

Compared to controls, the risk of hypogonadism was increased among subfertile men (OR 10; 95% CI, 5·1, 22), being highest in those with nonobstructive azoospermia. Hypogonadal men had higher HbA1c concentration (mean diff. 2·8 mmol/mol; 95% CI, 0·64, 4·9; P = 0·011) and lower lumbar spine BMD (mean diff. 0·05 g/cm2; 95% CI, 0·01, 0·10; P = 0·032) compared to eugonadal subfertile men, even more pronounced in subfertile men with subnormal testosterone levels.

Conclusion

Young subfertile men have 10 times increased OR of hypogonadism, which is linked to increased HbA1c and decreased bone mineralization. Endocrine assessment and, if needed, measures to prevent metabolic sequelae and osteoporosis should be included in the routine management of men from infertile couples.
Effects of commonly used intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor drugs on mesenchymal stem cells derived from the limbus and ciliary body
Authors: Acar Ugur , Erginturk Acar Damla , Alpaslan Pinarli Ferda , Demir Muhammed N , Beyazyildiz Emrullah , Ozdemir Ozdemir , Gulmez Sevim Duygu , Tiryaki Meral , Sobaci Gungor
Published: February 2016

Background

To investigate the effects of commonly used intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (anti‐VEGF) antibodies on proliferation index and viability of mesenchymal stem cells derived from ciliary body and limbus (CB‐MSC and LMSC).

Methods

CB‐MSCs and LMSCs were isolated from newborn rats' eyes, and they were expanded in medium by the explant method. Intravitreally used anti‐VEGF drugs, aflibercept, bevacizumab and ranibizumab were tested into the 16‐well plates, respectively, at four different concentrations. After keeping them for 48 h, the proliferation indexes and viabilities of CB‐MSCs and LMSCs were compared separately by Real‐Time Cell Analyzer and Methylthiazoltetrazoli (MTT) test.

Results

Anti‐VEGFs used at 5‐times and 10‐times of the standard clinical dosage caused statistically significant negative effects on proliferation indexes of CB‐MSCs and LMSCs at the 24th hour compared to control group. Only the anti‐VEGF group that had 10‐times dosage of those used clinically had a statistically significant negative effect on the viabilties of CB‐MSCs and LMSCs.

Conclusion

Administrations of high doses or repeated standard doses of intravitreal anti‐VEGF agents may affect the proliferation indexes and viabilities of CB‐MSCs and LMSCs adversely. These novel findings deserve further in vivo investigations.
The Risk of Prion Infection through Bovine Grafting Materials
Authors: Kim Yeoungsug , Rodriguez Angel Emmanuel , Nowzari Hessam
Published: February 2016

Background

Bovine‐derived grafting materials are frequently used in a variety of bone augmentation techniques. The aim of this paper is to assess the unique safety issue of bovine‐derived grafting materials that is rarely addressed in dental literature: risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

Methods

The validity of the current BSE diagnostic methods, surveillance and epidemiological trends in affected countries, and BSE infectivity in bovine bone before and after manufacturing processing were reviewed and analyzed.

Results

Prion screening has significant limits. Humans are not safe from the infection of prion disease of other species. Prions can and do break the species barrier. There is evidence there may be tens of thousands of infectious carriers in the western countries alone. This raises concern about the potential for perpetuation of infection via medical procedures.

Conclusion

The limited ability to screen prions within the animal genome, along with a long latency period to manifestation of the disease (1 to over 50 years) in infected patients, provides a framework for discussing posible long‐term risks of the xenografts that are used so extensively in dentistry. We suggest abolishing the use of bovine bone.
Contact sensitizers in commercial hair dye products sold in Thailand
Authors: Boonchai Waranya , Bunyavaree Monthathip , Winayanuwattikun Waranaree , Kasemsarn Pranee
Published: February 2016

Background

Hair dyes are known to contain potent contact allergens for which sensitization rates have increased over the last decade.

Objective

To examine the type and frequency of potent contact sensitizers labelled on hair dyes sold in metropolitan Bangkok, Thailand.

Methods

During the 2013–2014 study period, labelled ingredient information from home use and professional hair dye products was collected.

Results

Two hundred and fifty‐two hair dye products were evaluated. One hundred and forty‐nine products from 48 brands were domestically produced in Thailand, and 103 products were from 23 multinational brands produced in countries other than Thailand. Two hundred and fourteen of 252 (84.9%) hair dye products were found to contain strong skin sensitizers, with 118 (46.8%) being found in domestically produced products, and 96 (38.1%) being found in multinational brand products. Thirty‐eight hair dye products (15.1%) were free of potent skin sensitizers. The number of domestically produced products (31, 20.8%) that were free of potent skin sensitizers was significantly higher (p = 0.002) than the number of multinational brand products (7, 6.8%).

Conclusions

p‐Phenylenediamine was the most prevalent potent sensitizer found among domestically produced hair dyes available on the market. Our findings indicate regional differences in hair dye allergen exposure.
A comparison of tumour and host prognostic factors in screen‐detected vs nonscreen‐detected colorectal cancer: a contemporaneous study
Authors: Mansouri D. , McMillan D. C. , McIlveen E. , Crighton E. M. , Morrison D. S. , Horgan P. G.
Published: February 2016

Aim

In addition to TNM stage there are adverse tumour and host factors, such as venous invasion and the presence of an elevated systemic inflammatory response (SIR), that influence the outcome in colorectal cancer. The present study aimed to examine how these factors varied in screen‐detected (SD) and nonscreen‐detected (NSD) tumours.

Method

Prospectively maintained databases of the prevalence round of a biennial population faecal occult blood test screening programme and a regional cancer audit database were analysed. Interval cancers (INT) were defined as cancers identified within 2 years of a negative screening test.

Results

Of the 395 097 people invited, 204 535 (52%) responded, 6159 (3%) tested positive and 421 (9%) had cancer detected. A further 708 NSD patients were identified [468 (65%) nonresponders, 182 (25%) INT cancers and 58 (10%) who did not attend or did not have cancer diagnosed at colonoscopy]. Comparing SD and NSD patients, SD patients were more likely to be male, and have a tumour with a lower TNM stage (both P < 0.05). On stage‐by‐stage analysis, SD patients had less evidence of an elevated SIR (P < 0.05). Both the presence of venous invasion (P = 0.761) and an elevated SIR (P = 0.059) were similar in those with INT cancers and in those that arose in nonresponders.

Conclusion

Independent of TNM stage, SD tumours have more favourable host prognostic factors than NSD tumours. There is no evidence that INT cancers are biologically more aggressive than those that develop in the rest of the population and are hence likely to be due to limitations of screening in its current format.
Effect of dexmedetomidine on hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury in the setting of adult living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Fayed Nirmeen A. , Sayed Eman I. , Saleh Sherif M. , Ehsan Nermen A. , Elfert Ashraf Y.
Published: February 2016

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that intraoperative infusion of dexmedetomidine can exert a protective effect against hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) in adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLiver transplantation).

Patients and methods

Forty recipients were allocated into: control group (group I; n = 20) that received a placebo; and dexmedetomidine group (group II; n = 20) that received a continuous intraoperative infusion of 0.8 μg/kg/h of dexmedetomidine. Data collected were AST, ALT, bilirubin, INR, and lactate, at baseline, immediately post‐operatively, and on post‐operative days 1, 3, and 5. Intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) was measured at: baseline, 2 and 6 h after reperfusion, and on post‐operative day 1. At the end of the surgery, a liver biopsy was sent for histopathological assessment.

Results

No significant difference was noticed in either group regarding MELD score, baseline AST, ALT, bilirubin, INR, or lactate. Dexmedetomidine tended to decrease blood pressure and heart rate, but the comparison was insignificant. Group II showed significantly attenuated levels of ICAM‐1 and significantly minimal histopathological changes. The laboratory changes showed significantly lower AST, ALT, bilirubin, INR, and lactate in group II.

Conclusions

Dexmedetomidine exerted protective effects against hepatic IRI during adult LDLiver transplantation, as indicated by suppression of ICAM‐1, better scores of histopathological assessment, and augmented post‐operative liver function tests.
Sex differences in metabolic rate and swimming performance in pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha): the effect of male secondary sexual traits
Authors: Makiguchi Yuya , Nii Hisaya , Nakao Katsuya , Ueda Hiroshi
Published: February 2016

Do secondary sexual traits, such as large dorsal hump and hooked snout, decrease the swimming efficiency of male pink salmon during freshwater migration? This is the first study to address the effects of secondary sexual traits in pink salmon on oxygen uptake and swimming capacity. We conducted a laboratory experiment using a swimming respirometer and a field study using electromyogram (EMG) telemetry in the Shibetsu River, Hokkaido, Japan. We compared the relationship between MO2 (mg O2·kg−1·h−1) and swimming velocity U (m·s−1) in male and female fish, and also investigated the effects of morphological traits (secondary sexual characters) on the relationship between MO2 (mg O2·kg−1·h−1) and swimming velocity U (m·s−1). Additionally, we compared energy costs and swimming behaviour during upstream migration between male and female pink salmon. The laboratory experiment revealed that MO2 exponentially increased with increasing U; this increase was described by MO2 = 167.9e1.23U for males and 144.9e1.14U for females. Linear mixed models found that hump height and the upper jaw length in males significantly and positively affected the relationship between MO2 and U; no effect was found in females. The field study found that swimming velocity for both sexes estimated from EMG calibration was lower than optimal swimming velocity (Uopt) calculated from the laboratory experiment. We suggest that pink salmon in the Shibetsu River do not swim at the optimal swimming velocity because of the short migration distance involved (20 km).
Effect of Content Knowledge on Angoff‐Style Standard Setting Judgments
Authors: Margolis Melissa J. , Mee Janet , Clauser Brian E. , Winward Marcia , Clauser Jerome C.
Published: February 2016

Evidence to support the credibility of standard setting procedures is a critical part of the validity argument for decisions made based on tests that are used for classification. One area in which there has been limited empirical study is the impact of standard setting judge selection on the resulting cut score. One important issue related to judge selection is whether the extent of judges’ content knowledge impacts their perceptions of the probability that a minimally proficient examinee will answer the item correctly. The present article reports on two studies conducted in the context of Angoff‐style standard setting for medical licensing examinations. In the first study, content experts answered and subsequently provided Angoff judgments for a set of test items. After accounting for perceived item difficulty and judge stringency, answering the item correctly accounted for a significant (and potentially important) impact on expert judgment. The second study examined whether providing the correct answer to the judges would result in a similar effect to that associated with knowing the correct answer. The results suggested that providing the correct answer did not impact judgments. These results have important implications for the validity of standard setting outcomes in general and on judge recruitment specifically.
Targeted deletion of miR‐139‐5p activates MAPK, NF‐κB and STAT3 signaling and promotes intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer
Authors: Zou Fangyuan , Mao Rurong , Yang Liyan , Lin Shengchao , Lei Kecheng , Zheng Yuanhong , Ding Yue , Zhang Peng , Cai Guoxiang , Liang Xin , Liu Jianwen
Published: February 2016

miR‐139‐5p, which has been reported to be underexpressed in several types of cancer, is associated with tumorigenesis by participating in various biological processes via the modulation of different target genes. In the present study, we analyzed mice deficient in miR‐139‐5p, aiming to investigate its role in intestinal inflammation and colitis‐associated colorectal cancer. We show that miR‐139‐5p knockout (KO) mice are highly susceptible to colitis and colon cancer, accompanied by elevated proliferation and decreased apoptosis, as well as an increased production of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and tumorigenic factors. Furthermore, enhanced colon inflammation and colorectal tumor development in miR‐139‐5p KO mice are a result of the regulatory effects of miR‐139‐5p on its target genes for Rap1b and nuclear factor‐kappa B, thus affecting the activity of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase, nuclear factor‐kappa B and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathways. These results reveal a critical part for miR‐139‐5p in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and protecting against colitis and colorectal cancer in vivo, providing new insights into the function of miR‐139‐5p with respect to linking inflammation to carcinogenesis.
Latent trajectory models for space‐time analysis: An application in deciphering spatial panel data
Authors: An Li , Tsou Ming‐Hsiang , Spitzberg Brian H. , Gupta Dipak K. , Gawron J. Mark
Published: February 2016

This article introduces latent trajectory models (LTMs), an approach often employed in social sciences to handle longitudinal data, to the arena of GIScience, particularly space‐time analysis. Using the space‐time data collected at county level for the whole United States through webpage search on the keyword “climate change,” we show that LTMs, when combined with eigenvector filtering of spatial dependence in data, are very useful in unveiling temporal trends hidden in such data: the webpage‐data derived popularity measure for climate change has been increasing from December 2011 to March 2013, but the increase rate has been slowing down. In addition, LTMs help reveal potential mechanisms behind observed space‐time trajectories through linking the webpage‐data derived popularity measure about climate change to a set of socio‐demographic covariates. Our analysis shows that controlling for population density, greater drought exposure, higher percent of people who are 16 years old or above, and higher household income are positively predictive of the trajectory slopes. Higher percentages of Republicans and number of hot days in summer are negatively related to the trajectory slopes. Implications of these results are examined, concluding with consideration of the potential utility of LTMs in space‐time analysis and more generally in GIScience.
Spatial Distribution of Human Population inFrance: Exploring the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem Using Multifractal Analysis
Authors: Sémécurbe François , Tannier Cécile , Roux Stéphane G.
Published: February 2016

Case studies in geography are strongly dependent on the size of the spatial units used for the analysis. This has been expressed as the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP): whatever the phenomenon under consideration, it is impossible to identify a single spatial partition that would be most appropriate to analyze it. In this respect, multifractal analysis may be an interesting tool for geographers. It integrates not just a series of nested spatial resolutions, as fractal analysis does, but also a series of points of view about the quantity of information contained in each spatial unit. In this article, we first expose the mathematical bases of multifractal analysis and we describe how it applies to geographical analyses. We insist on the mathematical notion of dimension, which allows us to describe how multifractal parameters can be used to quantify the MAUP. Then, we use the method to characterize the spatial distribution of population density in France. The main result is a typology map of population density that uses the MAUP as a descriptive tool. This map allows the joint identification of several phenomena: the main cities, the rural settlement patterns, and several types of periurban settlement patterns.
Successful achievement of sustained virological response to triple combination therapy containing simeprevir in two patients with chronic hepatitis C who had failed asunaprevir:Daclatasvir combination therapy
Authors: Ozeki Itaru , Nakajima Tomoaki , Yamaguchi Masakatsu , Kimura Mutsuumi , Arakawa Tomohiro , Kuwata Yasuaki , Ohmura Takumi , Sato Takahiro , Hige Shuhei , Karino Yoshiyasu , Toyota Joji
Published: February 2016

Patients 1 and 2 were treatment‐naive women who had genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C. Both had IL‐28B genotype TT, and amino acid substitutions of core 70 and 91 were both wild type. Search for the presence of resistance‐associated variants (RAV) in non‐structural (NS)3 and NS5A regions confirmed wild‐type D168 and L31, along with Y93H, in both patients. These patients participated in a Japanese phase III clinical study of asunaprevir and daclatasvir at the age of 52 and 67 years, respectively, and were treated with the combination regimen for 24 weeks. However, both experienced post‐treatment relapse, and then treated with triple combination therapy with simeprevir, pegylated interferon (IFN) and ribavirin at the age of 53 and 68 years, respectively, and achieved sustained virological response. A search for RAV prior to simeprevir treatment identified multiple resistance including D168E, Y93H and L31V in both patients. It has been demonstrated that, in many cases, a treatment failure with a combination of asunaprevir and daclatasvir results in acquisition of RAV in NS3 and NS5A regions and that drug‐resistant mutants, particularly those in the NS5A region, survive for a long time. In these cases, direct‐acting antivirals targeted towards the NS5A region may have a limited efficacy. The present case report is based on an idea that a regimen containing IFN with simeprevir could be a therapeutic option particularly for those who are likely to be highly sensitive and tolerable to IFN.
Quality and safety of irradiated food regarding biogenic amines: Ras cheese
Authors: Shalaby Ali R. , Anwar Mervat M. , Sallam Essam M. , Emam Wafaa H.
Published: February 2016

Food safety and quality became very important, especially with the challenge to ensure safe and healthy foods in regard to chemical hazards. So, this study was conducted to evaluate the quality and safety of irradiated Ras cheese during the storage period, with respect to biogenic amines (BAs). Ras cheese was manufactured, ripened and irradiated by γ‐irradiation at 0, 5, 10 and 15 kGy. The samples were stored in refrigerator at 5 ± 1 °C from where samples were withdrawn at 0, 2, 4 and 6 months for analysis. The results revealed that most sensory scores and chemical properties showed insignificant differences (P ≤ 0.05). The microbial counts were reduced with different degrees according to both storage period and irradiation dose. Also, irradiation was effective in reducing the content of BAs without harming the chemical properties of Ras cheese. The total content of BAs reflects the safety of irradiated Ras cheese and also indicates a high‐quality product in comparison with nonirradiated samples.
Forecasting influenza outbreak dynamics in Melbourne from Internet search query surveillance data
Authors: Moss Robert , Zarebski Alexander , Dawson Peter , McCaw James M.
Published: February 2016

Background

Accurate forecasting of seasonal influenza epidemics is of great concern to healthcare providers in temperate climates, as these epidemics vary substantially in their size, timing and duration from year to year, making it a challenge to deliver timely and proportionate responses. Previous studies have shown that Bayesian estimation techniques can accurately predict when an influenza epidemic will peak many weeks in advance, using existing surveillance data, but these methods must be tailored both to the target population and to the surveillance system.

Objectives

Our aim was to evaluate whether forecasts of similar accuracy could be obtained for metropolitan Melbourne (Australia).

Methods

We used the bootstrap particle filter and a mechanistic infection model to generate epidemic forecasts for metropolitan Melbourne (Australia) from weekly Internet search query surveillance data reported by Google Flu Trends for 2006–14.

Results and Conclusions

Optimal observation models were selected from hundreds of candidates using a novel approach that treats forecasts akin to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. We show that the timing of the epidemic peak can be accurately predicted 4–6 weeks in advance, but that the magnitude of the epidemic peak and the overall burden are much harder to predict. We then discuss how the infection and observation models and the filtering process may be refined to improve forecast robustness, thereby improving the utility of these methods for healthcare decision support.
Characterization, establishment and persistence under grazing of nitrous oxide‐induced octoploid Phalaris aquatica L.
Authors: Kelman W. M. , Oram R. N. , Hayes J. E.
Published: February 2016

The increased seed size of induced polyploid forms has been an important component of improved seedling vigour of small‐seeded pasture species. Nitrous oxide was used to produce an octoploid form of the F3 generation of a cross between the closely related tetraploid cultivars, Uneta and Australian phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.; 2n=28). A high degree of recovery of octoploid plants (30%) was attained by nitrous oxide treatment. Increases in seed weight, glume length, stomatal guard cell length and pollen grain diameter of 13–84% were recorded in glasshouse‐grown plants of the octoploid compared with the tetraploid parent population. In a field experiment the superior establishment of the octoploid compared with the tetraploid was interpreted as evidence of the better establishment capacity of the octoploid from deep placement of the seed. However, there was a greater loss of octoploid seedlings over summer, and a greater reduction in the basal area of the sward under continuous grazing than in the tetraploid. Although the octoploid swards produced significantly less phalaris dry weight than the tetraploid in exclosures, the total herbage dry weight of the two types was not significantly different in three of four cuts taken over 2 years. This result supports the view that the more erect, sparsely tillered growth habit of the octoploid phalaris is conducive to the productivity of other sward components.