bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nosocomial Outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease: Molecular Epidemiology and Disease Control Measures
Authors: Johnston Jeffrey M. , Latham Robert H. , Meier Frederick A. , Green Jon A. , Boshard Rebecca , Mooney Barbara R. , Edelstein Paul H.
Published: August 2016

Molecular laboratory techniques were used to study the epidemiology of an outbreak of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease. All patient isolates wereLegionella pneumophilaserogroup 1 and showed identical plasmid profiles and reactions with serogroup-specific monoclonal antibodies.L pneumophilawas also cultured from four of five cooling tower water samples; however, the isolate from only one tower was serogroup 1 of the same sub-type as patient isolates. Since the cases were temporally clustered and epidemiologically associated with exposure to cooling tower aerosols, the single cooling tower implicated by molecular analysis was the most likely source of the outbreak. Chlorination of cooling tower ponds has eradicated the epidemic strain. Since potable water also harbored the infecting organism and was the probable source for cooling tower contamination, decontamination of the hospital water system was also undertaken. Superchlorination of hot water holding tanks to 17 ppm on a weekly basis has effectively eradicatedL pneumophilafrom the potable water system and appears to be a reasonable, simple, and relatively inexpensive alternative to previously described methods of control.
Operative Related Infection Rates for Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Procedures in a Children's Hospital
Authors: Younger Janara J. , Simmons James C.H. , Barrett Fred F.
Published: August 2016

We determined the operative related cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infection rates for our institution over a 3-year period (1982 to 1984) using strictly defined numerator and denominator data. The minimum post-operative follow-up period was 12 months. The average surgical infection risk for a CSF shunt procedure at our institution during the study period was 13.3%. Annual infection rates were relatively constant (13.8%, 13.2% and 12.9%), however both quarterly (5.7% to 23.3%) and surgeon-specific (5.7% to 22.8%) rates varied widely. Infection rates calculated by using “traditional” numerator and denominator data were considerably lower (6.5% to 9.2%).

Operative related CSF shunt infection rates should be determined by utilizing strictly defined numerator and denominator values in order to allow valid comparisons of published rates.
Tuberculosis Screening in the Long-term Care Setting
Authors: Price Loraine E. , Rutala William A.
Published: August 2016

Tuberculosis (TB) skin-testing practices in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in North Carolina (NC) were assessed from a 56% (148/263) response to a comprehensive TB screening questionnaire. TB skin tests were administered to employees on initial employment by 98% and annually by 97% of the LTCFs, generally (74%) by the Mantoux method. Employee skin tests were read at the appropriate time interval of 48 to 72 hours by 91%, but less than half used diameter of induration when interpreting reactive tests. The booster test was performed on new employees at eight (6%) of the LTCFs. TB skin tests were routinely performed on newly admitted residents by 56% or conditionally required by 18%, generally (73%) by the Mantoux method. Resident skin tests were read at the appropriate time interval of 48 to 72 hours by 92%, but again only half correctly interpreted reactive tests as significant. Residents received routine annual skin tests at 71% of the LTCFs, generally (80%) by the Mantoux method. Eight (6%) facilities routinely performed the booster test on newly admitted residents. TB infection prevalence in new employees during 1983 was 8.1% (47/578) in seven LTCFs and in newly admitted residents was 6.4% (7/110) in three LTCFs supplying this data. The five-year mean TB skin test conversion rate among employees was 1.1% (101/9545) in 12 LTCFs and among residents was 0.9% (46/5216) in nine LTCFs supplying this data. Lack of compliance to established TB skin-testing guidelines in NC LTCF was prevalent. In recognition of described endemic and epidemic spread of TB in LTCFs, residents and employees of LTCFs should be screened for TB utilizing established skin-testing practices.
The Effect of Frequency of Chart Review on the Sensitivity of Nosocomial Infection Surveillance in General Surgery
Authors: Delgado-Rodríguez Miguel , Gómez-Ortega Antonio , Sierra Antonio , Dierssen Trinidad , Llorca Javier , Sillero-Arenas María
Published: August 2016

Objective:

To assess the sensitivity of different frequencies of nosocomial infection surveillance (NIS) in general surgery.

Design:

Data obtained with a prospective daily NIS are compared with those of hypothetical cross-sectional studies carried out with different frequencies (from one weekly visit up to one visit every other day).

Setting:

General surgery services at three hospitals.

Main Outcome Measure:

Sensitivity in the detection of nosocomial infection (overall and stratified by site), compared to a gold standard of prospective surveillance of every patient's complete medical record daily from the first day after surgery until discharge and once more after discharge.

Patients:

5,859 patients.

Results:

837 nosocomial infections were detected by the gold standard (58.8% were surgical-site infections [SSI]). The sensitivity of weekly NIS for all infections was 74.5% (95% confidence interval [CI95], 71.4%-77.5%) and varied from 65.1% (CI95, 56.2%-73.3%) for urinary tract infection to 83.3% (CI95, 62.6%-95.3%) for respiratory tract infection; it was 76.4% (CI95, 72.4%-80.1%) for SSI. As expected, sensitivity increased with the frequency of NIS. Performing NIS every 4 days improved sensitivity significantly, to 82.3% (CI95, 79.5%-84.8%) for all infections and 83.3% (CI95, 79.7%-86.5%) for SSI. One visit every other day increased the sensitivity for all infections by another 4.9%, mainly due to increased detection of urinary tract and other less severe infections.

Conclusions:

The sensitivity of two visits a week exceeded that of one weekly visit by approximately 8%, and one visit every other day added another 5% increase. Results varied according to duration of infection and postdischarge hospital stay.
Nosocomial Infection Surveillance in the United States: Historical Perspective
Authors: Hughes James M.
Published: August 2016

During the past 30 years, many important strides have been made in the prevention of nosocomial infections in the United States. Infection control programs have been established in hospitals throughout the country. Techniques for surveillance of nosocomial infections have been developed and utilized extensively. Results of the Study on the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control (SENIC Project) and the experience with surveillance of surgical wound infections have documented the fact that surveillance is an integral component of an effective nosocomial infection control program. In recent years, a number of approaches to nosocomial infection surveillance have been proposed as alternatives to comprehensive or hospital-wide surveillance. In 1986, four surveillance components were introduced in the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system to provide participating institutions the option to tailor their surveillance program to their local needs and priorities while continuing to provide information to the national database on nosocomial infections. Infection control practitioners currently face a challenge to develop more meaningful nosocomial infection rates to permit identification of new infection control priorities for their institution and to assess progress toward specific prevention objectives.
Microbial Examination of Kidney Lithotripter Tub Water and Epidural Anesthesia Catheters
Authors: Cooper Glenn L. , Roberts James T. , O'Brien Amapola , Kelleher Marie , Dretler Stephen P. , Battit George E. , Hopkins Cyrus C.
Published: August 2016

Kidney lithotripsy patients frequently receive epidural anesthesia via indwelling epidural catheters. In our hospital, patients are immersed in a tub of warm, continuously-flowing tap water. The epidural catheter-entry site is covered by a transparent occlusive dressing. To determine the risk of microbial colonization of the epidural catheter during lithotripsy, we performed quantitative cultures of tub water and semiquantitative cultures of catheters in 63 lithotripsy procedures. Most of the tub water organisms were typical tap water and skin flora isolates. Total colony counts were generally low with no significant progression during the course of serial procedures. Forty-two epidural catheters were cultured; 34 (81%) were sterile, 8 (19%) were colonized with small numbers of flavobacteria or coagulase-negative staphylococci. Only four catheters had organisms present on catheter segments covered by the transparent occlusive dressing (in each case there was a single colony forming unit per semiquantitative plate) and these organisms were probable contaminants. We conclude that with our current lithotripsy procedures, the risk for the development of epidural catheter-associated infection seems to be low.
Sentinel System for Nosocomial Infections in the Netherlands A Pilot Study
Authors: Severijnen A.J. , Verbrugh H.A. , Groot A.J. Mintjes-de , Vandenbroucke-Grauls C.M.J.E. , van Pelt W.
Published: August 2016

Objective:

To determine the feasibility of stan¬dardized surveillance of nosocomial infections (NI) in The Netherlands, using local data on patients with NI collected by infection control practitioners (ICPs) and denominator data on all patients under surveillance obtained from the Dutch National Medical Registry (LMR).

Design:

A prospective, multicenter study.

Setting:

Eight hospitals in the Utrecht region, and the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment.

Patients:

ICPs traced NI in gynecological and orthopedic patients for 9 to 16 months. Denominator data on all patients under surveillance were obtained from the LMR

Results:

Data from 8,922 patients were collected; the ICPs registered 470 patients with 526 N1. Overall, the NI incidence was 5.9 per 100 patients, or 6.3 per 1,000 patient days. Urinary tract infections (UTI) were most frequent (3.3%), followed by surgical-wound infections (SWI; 2.0%) and bloodborne infections (0.12%). The incidence of both SWI and UTI differed markedly between hospitals, only partially on account of differences in patient mix (age, type of operations), antibiotic prophylaxis, and intensity of tracing methods for NI. Delay in the availability of denominator data hampered the timely feedback of incidence figures.

Conclusions:

Surveillance of NI in a network of sentinel hospitals offered valuable information on the occurrence of NI and on factors influencing the incidence of NI. It revealed situations in which both NI surveillance and infection control methods in individual hospitals should be improved. Obtaining denominator data on all patients from electronically registered patient discharge data greatly reduces the workload of ICPs and enables surveillance on all types of NI (all body sites and all pathogens). For timely feedback, numerator and denominator data within hospitals must be linked.
A Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals: 2014 Updates
Authors: Yokoe Deborah S. , Anderson Deverick J. , Berenholtz Sean M. , Calfee David P. , Dubberke Erik R. , Eilingson Katherine D. , Gerding Dale N. , Haas Janet P. , Kaye Keith S. , Klompas Michael , Lo Evelyn , Marschall Jonas , Mermel Leonard A. , Nicolle Lindsay E. , Salgado Cassandra D. , Bryant Kristina , Classen David , Crist Katrina , Deloney Valerie M. , Fishman Neil O. , Foster Nancy , Goldmann Donald A. , Humphreys Eve , Jernigan John A. , Padberg Jennifer , Perl Trish M. , Podgorny Kelly , Septimus Edward J. , VanAmringe Margaret , Weaver Tom , Weinstein Robert A. , Wise Robert , Maragakis Lisa L.
Published: August 2016

Since the publication of “A Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals” in 2008, prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) has become a national priority. Despite improvements, preventable HAIs continue to occur. The 2014 updates to the Compendium were created to provide acute care hospitals with up-to-date, practical, expert guidance to assist in prioritizing and implementing their HAI prevention efforts. They are the product of a highly collaborative effort led by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), the Society for Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), the Society for Hospital Medicine (SHM), and the Surgical Infection Society (SIS).
Strategies to Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections in Acute Care Hospitals: 2014 Update
Authors: Lo Evelyn , Nicolle Lindsay E. , Coffin Susan E. , Gould Carolyn , Maragakis Lisa L. , Meddings Jennifer , Pegues David A. , Pettis Ann Marie , Saint Sanjay , Yokoe Deborah S.
Published: August 2016

Previously published guidelines are available that provide comprehensive recommendations for detecting and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The intent of this document is to highlight practical recommendations in a concise format designed to assist acute care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing their catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention efforts. This document updates “Strategies to Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections in Acute Care Hospitals,” published in 2008. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise. The list of endorsing and supporting organizations is presented in the introduction to the 2014 updates.
Strategies to PreventClostridium difficileInfections in Acute Care Hospitals: 2014 Update
Authors: Dubberke Erik R. , Carling Philip , Carrico Ruth , Donskey Curtis J. , Loo Vivian G. , McDonald L. Clifford , Maragakis Lisa L. , Sandora Thomas J. , Weber David J. , Yokoe Deborah S. , Gerding Dale N.
Published: August 2016

Previously published guidelines are available that provide comprehensive recommendations for detecting and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The intent of this document is to highlight practical recommendations in a concise format designed to assist acute care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing theirClostridium difficileinfection (CDI) prevention efforts. This document updates “Strategies to PreventClostridium difficileInfections in Acute Care Hospitals,” published in 2008. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise. The list of endorsing and supporting organizations is presented in the introduction to the 2014 updates.
Strategies to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Acute Care Hospitals: 2014 Update
Authors: Klompas Michael , Branson Richard , Eichenwald Eric C. , Greene Linda R. , Howell Michael D. , Lee Grace , Magill Shelley S. , L. Maragakis Lisa , P. Priebe Gregory , Speck Kathleen , S. Yokoe Deborah , M. Berenholtz Sean
Published: August 2016

Previously published guidelines are available that provide comprehensive recommendations for detecting and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The intent of this document is to highlight practical recommendations in a concise format to assist acute care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and other ventilator-associated events (VAEs) and to improve outcomes for mechanically ventilated adults, children, and neonates. This document updates “Strategies to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Acute Care Hospitals,” published in 2008. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise. The list of endorsing and supporting organizations is presented in the introduction to the 2014 updates.
Urinary Catheter Indications in the United States: Results from a National Survey of Acute Care Hospitals
Authors: Greene M. Todd , Kiyoshi-Teo Hiroko , Reichert Heidi , Krein Sarah , Saint Sanjay
Published: August 2016

In a survey of acute care hospitals across the United States, we found that many hospitals use indwelling urinary catheters for reasons that are not medically necessary (eg, urinary incontinence without outlet obstruction and patient/family requests). Our findings highlight an opportunity to reduce unnecessary catheter use through promoting awareness of appropriate use.
Bacterial communities in Antarctic lichens
Authors: Park Chae Haeng , Kim Kyung Mo , Kim Ok-Sun , Jeong Gajin , Hong Soon Gyu
Published: August 2016

To date, many studies surveying the bacterial communities in lichen thalli from diverse geographical areas have shown that Alphaproteobacteria is the predominant bacterial class in most lichens. In this study, bacterial communities in several Antarctic lichens with different growth form and substrates were analysed. The bacterial community composition in fruticose and foliose lichens, Cladonia, Umbilicaria and Usnea, and crustose lichens, Buelia granulosa, Amandinea coniops and Ochrolechia parella, from King George Island was analysed by pyrosequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. Results showed that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes were predominant phyla. The predominant bacterial class in most of the samples was Alphaproteobacteria. Acetobacteriaceae of the order Rhodospiralles in Alphaproteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial family in Antarctic lichens. The LAR1 lineage of the order Rhizobiales, a putative N-fixer which has been frequently observed in lichens from temperate areas, was detected only from a few samples at low frequency. It is expected that other bacterial taxa are working as N-fixers in Antarctic lichens. From the PCoA analysis of the Fast UniFrac distance matrix, it was proposed that the microbial community structures in Antarctic lichens were affected by host species, growth form and substrates.
The Identity of the Chinese in Australian History
Authors: Chan Henry
Published: August 2016

Theorising about identity has become fashionable. During 1999 alone several conferences and seminars were dedicated to identities in Australia: “Alter/Asians: Exploring Asian/Australian Identities, Cultures and Politics in an Age of Crisis” held in Sydney in February, the one-day conference “Cultural Passports” on the concept and representations of “home” held at the University of Sydney in June, and “Asian-Australian Identities: The Asian Diaspora in Australia” at the Australian National University in September. To me as a Chinese who had his childhood and education in New Zealand this concern with identity is not exceptional: I remain a keen reader of New Zealand fiction and poetry in which Pakeha New Zealanders have agonised and problematised their search for identity as an island people living among an aggressive indigenous population and in an insecure dependent economy. New Zealand identity has always been problematised as has Chinese identity: what does it mean to be Chinese? Now Asian identity has become the current issue: “We're not Asians” was the title of the paper by Lily Kong on identity among Singaporean students in Australia. White Australians appear much more content and complacent with their identity and do not indulge as much in navel gazing. And yet it may be that it is the “Australian identity” that needs to be challenged and contested so that it becomes less an exclusively WASP-ish male mateship and more inclusive of women, Aborigines and Asians.
Broome Creole
Authors: Yu Sarah
Published: August 2016

Romantic Broome — the pearling centre of the North West … the locale of exciting novels! White-sailed luggers skimming across azure seas in the early dawn. Colowful Asiatics jostling in Sheba Lane — the famous street 0’ Pearls. And languorous tropical nights beneath the glittering southern Cross.
A 10-Point Plan and a Treaty
Authors: Meadows Michael
Published: August 2016

The last decade of the twentieth century has seen some highly significant symbolic advances for Indigenous people in Australia and Canada representing golden opportunities for their respective governments to advance the reconciliation process. But the political will to capitalise on them has varied enormously. This paper focuses on two case studies drawn from Australia and Canada which look at Indigenous people's continuing struggle for land rights.
Cultural Differences at Work
Authors: Ayoko Oluremi B. , Härtel Charmine E.J.
Published: August 2016

A Brisbane worker recently commented in an interview, ‘I think there's a lot of difficulty just in cultural diversity.’ The worker, a member of a racial minority group, said:

If I was to categorise the problems, my frustration here would be more personal, the lack of understanding of issues and people – it is really just diverse people skills. Not understanding that people come from different backgrounds and people just talking out of their narrow experiences, they just don't realise that they are insulting you… (interview with Ayoko, November 1999).

What do managers do about these cross-racial tensions at work? Analysis of our interview data revealed that most (80%) leaders do nothing about the conflict. Where something is done, workers often report that it worsens rather than lightens the tension in the work atmosphere.
Smart State
Authors: Sullivan Mort Gillian , Roan Amanda
Published: August 2016

This paper aims at providing some understanding of emerging elements of the knowledge economy and the policy frameworks that might be developed to foster regional entities that will prosper by meeting the challenges of engagement in the global knowledge economy. Through a review of extant and emerging literatures a novel conceptual framework is developed to assist in policy evaluation and development. This framework is then applied to Queensland's Smart State suite of policies. The paper concludes that Queensland has in place many elements of the policy framework required to foster a knowledge economy. It is argued however that several tensions within the policy framework are evident, and as this is an emergent area of policy development, further in-depth evaluation of both the policy settings and the effectiveness of policy is warranted.
Introducing the Bunya Pine
Authors: Huth John
Published: August 2016

But what am I to say of the Bunya-Bunya brush? About this majestic tree whose trunk looks like a pillar supporting the vault of Heaven?
Literary Imaginings of the Bunya
Authors: McKay Belinda , Buckridge Patrick
Published: August 2016

By the time that Europeans became acquainted with the bunya, the gum tree was already well established as the iconic Australian tree. The genus Eucalyptus, with all its locally specific variants, was both distinctive to the continent and widely dispersed throughout it. In contrast, the bunya tree (classified as Araucaria bidwillii in 1843) grew in a small area of what is now South-East Queensland and was seen by few Europeans before the 1840s, when Moreton Bay was opened to free settlement. The physical distinctiveness of the bunya tree, and stories of the large gatherings which accompanied the triennial harvesting of its nut, aroused the curiosity of early European explorers and settlers, and in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the bunya tree achieved a special status in local civic culture. Although heavy logging had largely destroyed the great bunya forests, the tree was planted extensively in school grounds, around war memorials and in long avenues in parks.
Who Owns Brisbane's Radical Past?
Authors: Connors Libby , Hutton Drew
Published: August 2016

When a history of the Australian environment movement was published several years ago, the joke that went around the environment movement was that the first (and sometimes the only thing) purveyors of the book would read was the index to check whether their names were there. If some of the reports we have heard from around the bookshops of Brisbane are true, Radical Brisbane has received a similar response. We feel for Ray Evans and Carole Ferrier, the editors of Radical Brisbane, because everyone who has been around the activist scene in Brisbane over the last 40 years will want to see themselves, or at least their organisations, represented. Inevitably, given the limitations of such publications, many have been disappointed. The point of this review essay is not to critique the inclusions and omissions in order to assuage individual egos, but to further an understanding of the basis of radical politics and to interpret why Brisbane has been the seat of dissent as much as of development in this state.
Homophobia as Party Politics
Authors: Robinson Shirleene
Published: August 2016

In 1987, years of frustration with Queensland's sexually repressive culture compelled a homosexual man named Cliff Williams to write to the national gay magazine OutRage. Williams outlined a number of the difficulties he faced being gay in Queensland and ended his letter with the exclamation, 'To hell with homophobic Queensland!' This exclamation captures many ofthe tensions in Queensland in the 1970s and 1980s. While these decades were a time of immense political change for gay and lesbian Australians, Queensland's political culture was particularly resistant to the gay and lesbian rights movement.
'Skilful Handling and Scientific Treatment'
Authors: Singley Blake
Published: August 2016

During the Global Financial Crisis of 2009, many commentators drew parallels with the Great Depression of the 1930s. While the suffering of those Australians affected by the recent economic turmoil cannot be dismissed, the impact of the Global Financial Crisis on the nation as a whole was modest compared with that of the Great Depression. The levels of unemployment that were reached during the Depression, and the ensuing poverty and social turmoil, would be unlikely to occur today on the same scale due to welfare provisions set in place by government and charitable institutions.
'And They Sleep Together Like Husband and Wife'
Authors: McKay Belinda
Published: August 2016

The emergence of modern queer identities is usually located in cities — initially the European and American metropolises, followed by provincial or colonial cities like Sydney. While the argument that a critical mass of people triggers the formation of new identities is compelling, a centralised, urban model of the generation of modern queer identities ignores an alternative theoretical model emphasising flow and connection between the ‘centre’ and the ‘margins’ that has emerged in writing about colonial and post-colonial cultures, but which has a wider applicability in understanding cultural change. In this paper, I argue that marginalised same-sex behaviours and relationships on the periphery of the empire or the nation are implicated in larger patterns of interconnectedness and reciprocity in the historical formation of modern sexual identities. Specifically, I use a family study to explore manifestations of same-sex attraction in early twentieth century Cooktown and the influence of these sexual role models on three subsequent generations.
“I Readed the Book Last Week.” The Role of Dominant Language, Receptive Vocabulary and Language Structure on Morphosyntactic Awareness in Monolingual and Heritage Language Children
Authors: DAVIDSON DENISE , VANEGAS SANDRA B. , HILVERT ELIZABETH , MISIUNAITE IEVA
Published: August 2016

In this research, 5- and 6-year-old monolingual (English) and heritage language (English–Spanish, English–Urdu) children completed a grammaticality judgment test to assess their awareness of grammatically correct and incorrect morphosyntactic structures in English. Results demonstrated that language group differences were minimized when heritage language children exhibited average receptive vocabulary proficiency for the sample, and when more difficult morphosyntactic structures were assessed. In this middle range, only two group differences were found. Our findings highlight the need to consider factors such as receptive vocabulary when assessing morphosyntactic awareness and language group differences.
Microchemical Study of Pigments and Binders in Polychrome Relics from Maiji Mountain Grottoes in Northwestern China
Authors: Liu Luyao , Shen Wei , Zhang Bingjian , Ma Qian
Published: August 2016

In this study, an integrated analytical method was developed to investigate the composition of both the inorganic pigments and organic binders of polychrome relics in Maiji Mountain Grottoes in northwestern China. Cross-sections of each sample were prepared at the beginning of the study, and all experiments were carried out on these cross-sections. Polychromic structures were revealed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy-backscattered electron imaging. Inorganic materials were determined by using SEM coupled with an energy dispersive spectrometer and μ-Raman spectrometer, whereas organic materials were identified by staining techniques and highly sensitive and specific immunofluorescence microscopy. Data showed that the red colors are attributed to one or two pigments of red ochre, cinnabar, and minium; the blue pigment is natural lazurite; the green pigment is ascribed to atacamite; the white color is attributed to potassium feldspar; and the black surface is formed by the discoloration of minium to plattnerite under the influence of environmental factors. Regarding organic binders used in painting and preparation layers, mammalian animal glue and chicken egg white were both found alone or in mixture. Finally, the conclusion is made that the Secco technique is employed in polychrome relics from Maiji Mountain Grottoes.
Cingulin and actin mediate midbody-dependent apical lumen formation during polarization of epithelial cells
Authors: Mangan Anthony J. , Sietsema Daniel V. , Li Dongying , Moore Jeffrey K. , Citi Sandra , Prekeris Rytis
Published: August 2016

Coordinated polarization of epithelial cells is a key step during morphogenesis that leads to the formation of an apical lumen. Rab11 and its interacting protein FIP5 are necessary for the targeting of apical endosomes to the midbody and apical membrane initiation site (AMIS) during lumenogenesis. However, the machinery that mediates AMIS establishment and FIP5-endosome targeting remains unknown. Here we identify a FIP5-interacting protein, Cingulin, which localizes to the AMIS and functions as a tether mediating FIP5-endosome targeting. We analysed the machinery mediating AMIS recruitment to the midbody and determined that both branched actin and microtubules are required for establishing the site of the nascent lumen. We demonstrate that the Rac1-WAVE/Scar complex mediates Cingulin recruitment to the AMIS by inducing branched actin formation, and that Cingulin directly binds to microtubule C-terminal tails through electrostatic interactions. We propose a new mechanism for apical endosome targeting and AMIS formation around the midbody during epithelial lumenogenesis.
PKM2 dephosphorylation by Cdc25A promotes the Warburg effect and tumorigenesis
Authors: Liang Ji , Cao Ruixiu , Zhang Yajuan , Xia Yan , Zheng Yanhua , Li Xinjian , Wang Liwei , Yang Weiwei , Lu Zhimin
Published: August 2016

Many types of human tumour cells overexpress the dual-specificity phosphatase Cdc25A. Cdc25A dephosphorylates cyclin-dependent kinase and regulates the cell cycle, but other substrates of Cdc25A and their relevant cellular functions have yet to be identified. We demonstrate here that EGFR activation results in c-Src-mediated Cdc25A phosphorylation at Y59, which interacts with nuclear pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2). Cdc25A dephosphorylates PKM2 at S37, and promotes PKM2-dependent β-catenin transactivation and c-Myc-upregulated expression of the glycolytic genes GLUT1, PKM2 and LDHA, and of CDC25A; thus, Cdc25A upregulates itself in a positive feedback loop. Cdc25A-mediated PKM2 dephosphorylation promotes the Warburg effect, cell proliferation and brain tumorigenesis. In addition, we identify positive correlations among Cdc25A Y59 phosphorylation, Cdc25A and PKM2 in human glioblastoma specimens. Furthermore, levels of Cdc25A Y59 phosphorylation correlate with grades of glioma malignancy and prognosis. These findings reveal an instrumental function of Cdc25A in controlling cell metabolism, which is essential for EGFR-promoted tumorigenesis.
Evidence that birds sleep in mid-flight
Authors: Rattenborg Niels C , Voirin Bryson , Cruz Sebastian M. , Tisdale Ryan , Dell’Omo Giacomo , Lipp Hans-Peter , Wikelski Martin , Vyssotski Alexei L.
Published: August 2016

Many birds fly non-stop for days or longer, but do they sleep in flight and if so, how? It is commonly assumed that flying birds maintain environmental awareness and aerodynamic control by sleeping with only one eye closed and one cerebral hemisphere at a time. However, sleep has never been demonstrated in flying birds. Here, using electroencephalogram recordings of great frigatebirds (Fregata minor) flying over the ocean for up to 10 days, we show that they can sleep with either one hemisphere at a time or both hemispheres simultaneously. Also unexpectedly, frigatebirds sleep for only 0.69 h d−1 (7.4% of the time spent sleeping on land), indicating that ecological demands for attention usually exceed the attention afforded by sleeping unihemispherically. In addition to establishing that birds can sleep in flight, our results challenge the view that they sustain prolonged flights by obtaining normal amounts of sleep on the wing.
Genome-wide characteristics of de novo mutations in autism
Authors: Yuen Ryan KC , Merico Daniele , Cao Hongzhi , Pellecchia Giovanna , Alipanahi Babak , Thiruvahindrapuram Bhooma , Tong Xin , Sun Yuhui , Cao Dandan , Zhang Tao , Wu Xueli , Jin Xin , Zhou Ze , Liu Xiaomin , Nalpathamkalam Thomas , Walker Susan , Howe Jennifer L , Wang Zhuozhi , MacDonald Jeffrey R , Chan Ada JS , D’Abate Lia , Deneault Eric , Siu Michelle T , Tammimies Kristiina , Uddin Mohammed , Zarrei Mehdi , Wang Mingbang , Li Yingrui , Wang Jun , Wang Jian , Yang Huanming , Bookman Matt , Bingham Jonathan , Gross Samuel S , Loy Dion , Pletcher Mathew , Marshall Christian R , Anagnostou Evdokia , Zwaigenbaum Lonnie , Weksberg Rosanna , Fernandez Bridget A , Roberts Wendy , Szatmari Peter , Glazer David , Frey Brendan J , Ring Robert H , Xu Xun , Scherer Stephen W
Published: August 2016

De novo mutations (DNMs) are important in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but so far analyses have mainly been on the ~1.5% of the genome encoding genes. Here, we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 200 ASD parent–child trios and characterised germline and somatic DNMs. We confirmed that the majority of germline DNMs (75.6%) originated from the father, and these increased significantly with paternal age only (P=4.2×10−10). However, when clustered DNMs (those within 20 kb) were found in ASD, not only did they mostly originate from the mother (P=7.7×10−13), but they could also be found adjacent to de novo copy number variations where the mutation rate was significantly elevated (P=2.4×10−24). By comparing with DNMs detected in controls, we found a significant enrichment of predicted damaging DNMs in ASD cases (P=8.0×10−9; odds ratio=1.84), of which 15.6% (P=4.3×10−3) and 22.5% (P=7.0×10−5) were non-coding or genic non-coding, respectively. The non-coding elements most enriched for DNM were untranslated regions of genes, regulatory sequences involved in exon-skipping and DNase I hypersensitive regions. Using microarrays and a novel outlier detection test, we also found aberrant methylation profiles in 2/185 (1.1%) of ASD cases. These same individuals carried independently identified DNMs in the ASD-risk and epigenetic genes DNMT3A and ADNP. Our data begins to characterize different genome-wide DNMs, and highlight the contribution of non-coding variants, to the aetiology of ASD.
A simultaneous diagnosis and genotyping method for global surveillance of cetacean morbillivirus
Authors: Yang Wei-Cheng , Wu Bi-Jhen , Sierra Eva , Fernandez Antonio , Groch Kátia R. , Catão-Dias José Luiz , West Kristi , Chan Kun-Wei
Published: August 2016

Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is considered one of the most important viral pathogens in cetaceans. CeMV outbreaks of lethal disease have repeatedly been observed in Europe, the Americas and Australia, while large herds of gregarious species were found to be the likely reservoirs and sources of CeMV infection to susceptible species in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Furthermore, three new strains were detected recently in Hawaii, Brazil and Australia. To clarify the real global distribution of CeMV and possible carriers, we showed a novel technique successfully diagnosing and distinguishing different virus strains (DMV, PWMV and novel CeMVs) using FFPE samples from 1996 to 2011. This efficient method that combines qRT-PCR and high resolution melting (HRM) could be applied to the future retrospective global studies for better understanding of different prevalence and outbreak conditions among ocean basins and the mechanism of variable host response to pathogens.
Structural basis for misregulation of kinesin KIF21A autoinhibition by CFEOM1 disease mutations
Authors: Bianchi Sarah , van Riel Wilhelmina E. , Kraatz Sebastian H. W. , Olieric Natacha , Frey Daniel , Katrukha Eugene A. , Jaussi Rolf , Missimer John , Grigoriev Ilya , Olieric Vincent , Benoit Roger M. , Steinmetz Michel O. , Akhmanova Anna , Kammerer Richard A.
Published: August 2016

Tight regulation of kinesin activity is crucial and malfunction is linked to neurological diseases. Point mutations in the KIF21A gene cause congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles type 1 (CFEOM1) by disrupting the autoinhibitory interaction between the motor domain and a regulatory region in the stalk. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the misregulation of KIF21A activity in CFEOM1 is not understood. Here, we show that the KIF21A regulatory domain containing all disease-associated substitutions in the stalk forms an intramolecular antiparallel coiled coil that inhibits the kinesin. CFEOM1 mutations lead to KIF21A hyperactivation by affecting either the structural integrity of the antiparallel coiled coil or the autoinhibitory binding interface, thereby reducing its affinity for the motor domain. Interaction of the KIF21A regulatory domain with the KIF21B motor domain and sequence similarities to KIF7 and KIF27 strongly suggest a conservation of this regulatory mechanism in other kinesin-4 family members.
Stochastic Induction of Long-Term Potentiation and Long-Term Depression
Authors: Antunes G. , Roque A. C. , Simoes-de-Souza F. M.
Published: August 2016

Long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP) of granule-Purkinje cell synapses are persistent synaptic alterations induced by high and low rises of the intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]), respectively. The occurrence of LTD involves the activation of a positive feedback loop formed by protein kinase C, phospholipase A2 and the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase pathway and its expression comprises the reduction of the population of synaptic AMPA receptors. Recently, a stochastic computational model of these signalling processes demonstrated that, in single synapses, LTD is probabilistic and bistable. Here, we expanded this model to simulate LTP, which requires protein phosphatases and the increase in the population of synaptic AMPA receptors. Our results indicated that, in single synapses, while LTD is bistable, LTP is gradual. Ca2+ induced both processes stochastically. The magnitudes of the Ca2+ signals and the states of the signalling network regulated the likelihood of LTP and LTD and defined dynamic macroscopic Ca2+ thresholds for the synaptic modifications in populations of synapses according to an inverse Bienenstock, Cooper and Munro (BCM) rule or a sigmoidal function. In conclusion, our model presents a unifying mechanism that explains the macroscopic properties of LTP and LTD from their dynamics in single synapses.
TGF-β1 promotes acinar to ductal metaplasia of human pancreatic acinar cells
Authors: Liu Jun , Akanuma Naoki , Liu Chengyang , Naji Ali , Halff Glenn A. , Washburn William K. , Sun Luzhe , Wang Pei
Published: August 2016

Animal studies suggest that pancreatitis-induced acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) is a key event for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) initiation. However, there has not been an adequate system to explore the mechanisms of human ADM induction. We have developed a flow cytometry-based, high resolution lineage tracing method and 3D culture system to analyse ADM in human cells. In this system, well-known mouse ADM inducers did not promote ADM in human cells. In contrast, TGF-β1 efficiently converted human acinar cells to duct-like cells (AD) in a SMAD-dependent manner, highlighting fundamental differences between the species. Functionally, AD cells gained transient proliferative capacity. Furthermore, oncogenic KRAS did not induce acinar cell proliferation, but did sustain the proliferation of AD cells, suggesting that oncogenic KRAS requires ADM-associated-changes to promote PDAC initiation. This ADM model provides a novel platform to explore the mechanisms involved in the development of human pancreatic diseases.
Pathogenic Differences between Nipah Virus Bangladesh and Malaysia Strains in Primates: Implications for Antibody Therapy
Authors: Mire Chad E. , Satterfield Benjamin A. , Geisbert Joan B. , Agans Krystle N. , Borisevich Viktoriya , Yan Lianying , Chan Yee-Peng , Cross Robert W. , Fenton Karla A. , Broder Christopher C. , Geisbert Thomas W.
Published: August 2016

Nipah virus (NiV) is a paramyxovirus that causes severe disease in humans and animals. There are two distinct strains of NiV, Malaysia (NiVM) and Bangladesh (NiVB). Differences in transmission patterns and mortality rates suggest that NiVB may be more pathogenic than NiVM. To investigate pathogenic differences between strains, 4 African green monkeys (AGM) were exposed to NiVM and 4 AGMs were exposed to NiVB. While NiVB was uniformly lethal, only 50% of NiVM-infected animals succumbed to infection. Histopathology of lungs and spleens from NiVB-infected AGMs was significantly more severe than NiVM-infected animals. Importantly, a second study utilizing 11 AGMs showed that the therapeutic window for human monoclonal antibody m102.4, previously shown to rescue AGMs from NiVM infection, was much shorter in NiVB-infected AGMs. Together, these data show that NiVB is more pathogenic in AGMs under identical experimental conditions and suggests that postexposure treatments may need to be NiV strain specific for optimal efficacy.
Tin nanoparticles as an effective conductive additive in silicon anodes
Authors: Zhong L. , Beaudette C. , Guo J. , Bozhilov K. , Mangolini L.
Published: August 2016

We have found that the addition of tin nanoparticles to a silicon-based anode provides dramatic improvements in performance in terms of both charge capacity and cycling stability. Using a simple procedure and off-the-shelf additives and precursors, we developed a structure in which the tin nanoparticles are segregated at the interface between the silicon-containing active layer and the solid electrolyte interface. Even a minor addition of tin, as small as ∼2% by weight, results in a significant decrease in the anode resistance, as confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This leads to a decrease in charge transfer resistance, which prevents the formation of electrically inactive “dead spots” in the anode structure and enables the effective participation of silicon in the lithiation reaction.
Optimal Device Independent Quantum Key Distribution
Authors: Kamaruddin S. , Shaari J. S.
Published: August 2016

We consider an optimal quantum key distribution setup based on minimal number of measurement bases with binary yields used by parties against an eavesdropper limited only by the no-signaling principle. We note that in general, the maximal key rate can be achieved by determining the optimal tradeoff between measurements that attain the maximal Bell violation and those that maximise the bit correlation between the parties. We show that higher correlation between shared raw keys at the expense of maximal Bell violation provide for better key rates for low channel disturbance.
hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes from Brugada Syndrome patients without identified mutations do not exhibit clear cellular electrophysiological abnormalities
Authors: Veerman Christiaan C. , Mengarelli Isabella , Guan Kaomei , Stauske Michael , Barc Julien , Tan Hanno L. , Wilde Arthur A. M. , Verkerk Arie O. , Bezzina Connie R.
Published: August 2016

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a rare cardiac rhythm disorder associated with sudden cardiac death. Mutations in the sodium channel gene SCN5A are found in ~20% of cases while mutations in other genes collectively account for <5%. In the remaining patients the genetic defect and the underlying pathogenic mechanism remain obscure. To provide insight into the mechanism of BrS in individuals without identified mutations, we here studied electrophysiological properties of cardiomyocytes (CMs) generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from 3 BrS patients who tested negative for mutations in the known BrS-associated genes. Patch clamp studies revealed no differences in sodium current (INa) in hiPSC-CMs from the 3 BrS patients compared to 2 unrelated controls. Moreover, action potential upstroke velocity (Vmax), reflecting INa, was not different between hiPSC-CMs from the BrS patients and the controls. hiPSC-CMs harboring the BrS-associated SCN5A-1795insD mutation exhibited a reduction in both INa and Vmax, demonstrating our ability to detect reduced sodium channel function. hiPSC-CMs from one of the BrS lines demonstrated a mildly reduced action potential duration, however, the transient outward potassium current (Ito) and the L-type calcium current (ICa,L), both implicated in BrS, were not different compared to the controls. Our findings indicate that ion channel dysfunction, in particular in the cardiac sodium channel, may not be a prerequisite for BrS.