bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indications of a sub-linear and non-universal Kennicutt–Schmidt relationship
Authors: Shetty Rahul , Kelly Brandon C. , Rahman Nurur , Bigiel Frank , Bolatto Alberto D. , Clark Paul C. , Klessen Ralf S. , Konstandin Lukas K.
Published: November 2013

We estimate the parameters of the Kennicutt–Schmidt (KS) relationship, linking the star formation rate (ΣSFR) to the molecular gas surface density (Σmol), in the Survey Toward Infrared-Bright Nearby Galaxies sample of nearby disc galaxies using a hierarchical Bayesian method. This method rigorously treats measurement uncertainties, and provides accurate parameter estimates for both individual galaxies and the entire population. Assuming standard conversion factors to estimate ΣSFR and Σmol from the observations, we find that the KS parameters vary between galaxies, indicating that no universal relationship holds for all galaxies. The KS slope of the whole population is 0.76, with the 2σ range extending from 0.58 to 0.94. These results imply that the molecular gas depletion time is not constant, but varies from galaxy-to-galaxy, and increases with the molecular gas surface density. Therefore, other galactic properties besides just Σmol affect ΣSFR, such as the gas fraction or stellar mass. The non-universality of the KS relationship indicates that a comprehensive theory of star formation must take into account additional physical processes that may vary from galaxy to galaxy.
Pseudomonas kunmingensis sp. nov., an exopolysaccharide-producing bacterium isolated from a phosphate mine
Authors: Xie Fuhong , Ma Huan , Quan Shujing , Liu Dehai , Chen Guocan , Chao Yapeng , Qian Shijun
Published: November 2013

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, exopolysaccharide-producing, strictly aerobic bacterium with a single polar flagellum, designated strain HL22-2T, was isolated from a phosphate mine situated in a suburb of Kunmming in Yunnan province in south-western China. The taxonomic status of this strain was evaluated by using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain HL22-2T was related to members of the genus

Pseudomonas

. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain HL22-2T and

Pseudomonas xanthomarina

KMM 1447T,

Pseudomonas alcaliphila

AL15-21T and

Pseudomonas stutzeri

ATCC 17588T were 98.9, 98.10 % and 98.06 %, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The DNA G+C content was 60.3 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA relatedness values, strain HL22-2T represents a novel species of the genus

Pseudomonas

, for which the name Pseudomonas kunmingensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HL22-2T ( = CGMCC 1.12273T = DSM 25974T).
IL-10 encoded by viruses: a remarkable example of independent acquisition of a cellular gene by viruses and its subsequent evolution in the viral genome
Authors: Ouyang Ping , Rakus Krzysztof , van Beurden Steven J. , Westphal Adrie H. , Davison Andrew J. , Gatherer Derek , Vanderplasschen Alain F.
Published: November 2013

Many viruses have evolved strategies to deregulate the host immune system. These strategies include mechanisms to subvert or recruit the host cytokine network. IL-10 is a pleiotropic cytokine that has both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive properties. However, its key features relate mainly to its capacity to exert potent immunosuppressive effects. Several viruses have been shown to upregulate the expression of cellular IL-10 (cIL-10) with, in some cases, enhancement of infection by suppression of immune functions. Other viruses encode functional orthologues of cIL-10, called viral IL-10s (vIL-10s). The present review is devoted to these virokines. To date, vIL-10 orthologues have been reported for 12 members of the familyHerpesviridae, two members of the familyAlloherpesviridaeand seven members of the familyPoxviridae. Study of vIL-10s demonstrated several interesting aspects on the origin and the evolution of these viral genes, e.g. the existence of multiple (potentially up to nine) independent gene acquisition events at different times during evolution, viral gene acquisition resulting from recombination with cellular genomic DNA or cDNA derived from cellular mRNA and the evolution of cellular sequence in the viral genome to restrict the biological activities of the viral orthologues to those beneficial for the virus life cycle. Here, various aspects of the vIL-10s described to date are reviewed, including their genetic organization, protein structure, origin, evolution, biological properties and potential in applied research.
Waterbirds increase more rapidly in Ramsar‐designated wetlands than in unprotected wetlands
Authors: Kleijn David , Cherkaoui Imad , Goedhart Paul W. , van der Hout Jasper , Lammertsma Dennis
Published: November 2013

There is a general lack of information on how international conservation treaties affect biodiversity. The Ramsar convention on the protection of internationally important wetlands is such an international conservation policy. It initiated the world‐wide establishment of over 2000 protected areas currently covering more than 200 million ha. The convention came into force in 1975, but to date, it remains unknown whether it actually produces biodiversity benefits.

We analysed 21 years of survey data from a wide range of waterbird species in over 200 Moroccan wetlands and examined whether Ramsar designation as well as a national protected areas programme Sites d'IntérêtBiologique et Ecologique (SIBE) positively affected bird abundance. Furthermore, habitat characteristics of wetlands in protected areas and control sites were compared and bird abundance was related to habitat characteristics.

After designation, waterbird species richness and abundance increased more rapidly in Ramsar wetlands than in non‐designated wetlands. In SIBE sites, increases in bird abundance were intermediate.

Waterbird abundance was significantly related to habitat characteristics, most importantly cover of water or bare ground. Compared to control sites, Ramsar sites had significantly higher cover of habitat types favoured by most waterbird species. It remained unclear, however, whether these differences were caused by conservation management or were already present prior to conservation designation.

Surprisingly, waterbird population trends in Moroccan wetlands were markedly positive. Trends were found to be related to precipitation levels in the Sahel which may have caused changes in migratory strategies.

Synthesis and applications. This study demonstrates a powerful approach to systematically evaluating biodiversity responses to major international conservation policies. The results highlight that data on management and habitat quality are critical for reaching general conclusions about the effectiveness of conservation instruments. Site managers or conservation authorities should be encouraged to collect standardized data on conservation actions to help interpret the mechanisms behind population responses and thus extrapolate findings beyond the study system. These findings represent a first small step towards unravelling the contribution of international conservation tools towards global policy objectives of halting the biodiversity decline.
The King of Norway: negative individuation, the hero myth and psychopathic narcissism in extreme violence and the life of Anders Behring Breivik
Authors: Virtanen Harri
Published: November 2013

The paper discusses negative individuation and the hero myth as developmental concepts. It is suggested that in negative individuation healthy psychological development is hindered and goes astray. Aggression then becomes the central psychic system. Repressed anger is the core element in psychopathic narcissism (Diamond) and malignant narcissism (Kernberg). Both Diamond and Kernberg extend narcissistic personality structure to antisocial, psychopathic personality in an effort to better understand extreme violence. According to Freud, love (libido) and hate (the death drive) are the major motivational systems in the human psyche. In contrast to Freud, Jung sees libido as a life force in general, not simply as a sexual drive. Jung writes about evil and the shadow but does not present a comprehensive theory of the negative development of an individual's life. The concept of negative individuation connects the shadow and the death drive with psychopathology, psychiatry and psychotherapy. In this paper, I explore these concepts in the light of contemporary affect theory according to Kernberg. I also ask how ideology is tied to extreme violence and how it is possible that narcissistic personality structures can lead to such radically different outcomes as were manifested in the lives of Anders Behring Breivik and Steve Jobs.
‘Bundling up the Sun‐Beams': Burning Mirrors in Eighteenth‐Century Knowledge and Culture
Authors: LYNALL GREGORY
Published: November 2013

In the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries an array of optical inventions appeared that could be employed to generate intense heat from the sun's rays. This article explores the dissemination and appropriation of these burning devices, particularly in literary and visual cultures. In so doing, it argues that the symbolic power of scientific objects can contribute to both the social circulation of natural knowledge and the act of knowledge‐making itself.
The Colonial Picturesque and the Medical Utility of Landscape Aesthetics
Authors: SENIOR EMILY
Published: November 2013

The new sciences of medical geography and topography developed at the end of the eighteenth century and coincided with the literary and artistic fashion for the picturesque representation of landscape. This article explores the relationship between medical geography and the literary picturesque in the colonial Caribbean. It argues that literature and medicine borrowed formal and thematic qualities from one another, and reveals the influence of aesthetic ideals on the production of medical knowledge.
Selling Beautiful Knowledge: Amateurship, Botany and the Market‐Place in Late Eighteenth‐Century France
Authors: EASTERBY‐SMITH SARAH
Published: November 2013

This article examines how botany was made attractive to broader audiences in France in the 1770s and 1780s. Two transitions significantly defined the nature of public participation: developing ideas about botanical amateurship, and expanding consumer culture. Although these have rarely been considered in relation to each other, both determined how the French public engaged with natural knowledge. Drawing evidence from commercial advertisements and books on botany and horticulture, this article considers the cultural resources used to engage readers, which implicitly defined who might botanise. This cultural construction of botany both reflected and actively determined its social place in eighteenth‐century France.
Making and Unmaking Local Knowledge in Greater New England
Authors: ZILBERSTEIN ANYA
Published: November 2013

Scholars have drawn attention to the crucial role of local knowledge in natural history. This essay argues that naturalists describing early New England focused on its ordinary and domesticated rather than its exotic and wild qualities because they believed that natural history and ‘improvement’ were complementary pursuits. Their emphasis on the economic development of nature was part of a transatlantic culture of improvement, in which Americans sought to be undifferentiated participants. Although they claimed that their expertise was grounded in local experiences, ultimately they aimed to reduce local peculiarities and, as a result, the provinciality of their knowledge claims.
Cystogram use and outcomes in colorectal surgery involving bladder repair: a clinical audit
Authors: Kwok Chun Shing , Pal Atanu , Sargen Kevin
Published: November 2013

Background

The role of routine cystograms after bladder repair during colorectal surgery is unclear so we aimed to evaluate this in our department.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective audit of colorectal surgical patients who had an operation and subsequent cystogram between 2006 and 2011 at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Data on patient characteristics, operative procedures and findings, and cystogram results were collected from electronic discharge summaries, operative notes and radiological records.

Results

A total of 59 operations were included and 92% had documented bladder involvement. The most common indications for surgery were diverticular disease (49%) and neoplastic disease (39%). Operations evaluated included high anterior resection, anterior resection, Hartmann's procedures and sigmoid colectomy. Although all patients had at least one post‐operative cystogram, only 46% of cases had instructions documented in the operative note for a cystogram to be arranged. Out of the 59 operations, 4 (7%) had cystograms that showed a leak. Repeat cystography in these cases showed no leak or smaller leak and no additional procedures were required. Two of the leaks occurred in cases that had extensive bladder involvement or bladder wall sepsis, and two occurred in cases where the operative findings revealed less major bladder pathology.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that majority of cystograms are negative. More studies are needed to evaluate if selective use of cystogram should be performed to reduce unnecessary the risks associated with radiation exposure and contrast exposure.
Conventional adverse features do not predict response to adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II colon cancer
Authors: Peng Sze‐Lin , Thomas Michelle , Ruszkiewicz Andrew , Hunter Andrew , Lawrence Matthew , Moore James
Published: November 2013

Background

The role of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II colon cancer is unclear. Current guidelines recommend adjuvant chemotherapy for high‐risk patients, although the benefit demonstrated to date is small. Our study examined if adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with improved cancer‐specific survival in high‐risk patients with stage II colon cancer.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed on patients with stage II (T3‐4N0M0) colon cancer in a multi‐institutional database from 1999 to 2007. Additionally, histology slides were reviewed and cancer‐specific survival data were obtained from the state cancer registry. Adverse features examined were perforation, obstruction, T4 disease, poor differentiation, nodal yield less than 12, lymphovascular invasion and perineural invasion. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression.

Results

There were 458 patients in the study, with a median follow‐up of 5.2 years. Four patients (0.8%) were lost to follow‐up. There were 290 (63%) high‐risk patients, defined as having at least one adverse feature. Patients who had adjuvant chemotherapy were significantly younger (median 61 years versus 72 years, P < 0.001) but had comparable ASA score (median 2 versus 2, P = 0.3). There was no significant survival benefit observed associated with any one factor or when grouped. In high‐risk patients the 5‐year cancer specific survival with adjuvant chemotherapy was 84.8% (95% CI 78.7–91.9) compared to surgery alone 92.7% (95% CI 88.5–96.1), P = 0.85).

Conclusion

Adjuvant chemotherapy did not significantly improve cancer‐specific survival in patients with stage II colon cancer with adverse features. Other markers for selecting appropriate patients for adjuvant treatment are required.
The political economy of tariff protection in China: evidence from the WTO accession
Authors: Hong Chang
Published: November 2013

We analyze China's tariff rates at WTO accession using a political economy approach. A model drawing on Branstetter and Feenstra is used to derive an optimal tariff rate for each industry. The model predicts that a government would set a high tariff rate if an industry is of large state‐owned enterprise (SOE) share, multinational share, or small foreign import share. From the model we reveal the Chinese government's preference towards different interest groups under the binding tariff constraint from the WTO commitments. The estimated structural parameters imply that the political weights on both the SOE profits and consumer income diminish with the economic opening. More important, the government still favours SOEs over consumer income. Our findings are consistent with the special features of China's economy.
Redistribution, state trading enterprises and ‘politically optimal’ tariffs
Authors: McCorriston Steve , MacLaren Donald
Published: November 2013

State trading enterprises (STEs) are widely used and can be viewed as instruments of trade policy. We analyse two aspects: the first is their potential trade distorting effect; the second is how they modify the case for the ‘politically optimal’ tariff. We show that the STE can reduce the need for a tariff designed for domestic redistribution. This result introduces some ambiguity about how STEs are interpreted: from a multilateralist perspective, they should be dealt with in the same way as other non‐tariff barriers; from a nationalistic perspective, they can reduce the need for ‘politically optimal.’
An analysis of Turkey's accession to the European Union
Authors: Özgüzer Gül Ertan , Pensieroso Luca
Published: November 2013

We build a two‐country dynamic general equilibrium model to study whether European citizens would benefit from the eventual accession of Turkey to the European Union (EU). The results of the simulations show that Turkey's accession is welfare enhancing for Europeans, provided that Turkish total factor productivity (TFP) increases sufficiently after enlargement. In the benchmark model with no capital mobility, the Europeans are better off if the Turkish TFP increase bridges more than 21% of the initial TFP gap between Turkey and the EU. This figure increases to 33% when capital mobility is introduced.
Migrant smuggling when exploitation is private information
Authors: Tamura Yuji
Published: November 2013

This study contributes to the small theoretical literature on human smuggling by assuming for the first time asymmetric information in analysis. The assumption raises the possibility of an adverse selection equilibrium where only exploitative smugglers are employed at a low fee even though migrants are willing to pay non‐exploitative smugglers a high fee. More important, I find that improved inland apprehension of migrants may increase the incidence of migrant exploitation while failing to decrease smuggling attempts. Furthermore, improved border apprehension of migrants and smugglers may not affect the market at all.
Evolution of a genetic diagnosis
Authors: Laksman Z. , Dulay D. , Gollob M.H. , Skanes A.C. , Krahn A.D.
Published: November 2013

Understanding the relationship between genotype and phenotype has become an integral part of the diagnosis and management of patients with inherited arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies. Given the existence of background noise, the majority of genetic testing results should be incorporated into clinical decision making as probabilistic, rather than deterministic, in the diagnosis and management of inherited arrhythmias. This case report captures multiple snapshots of clinical care in the evolution of a diagnosis of a single patient, highlighting the need for repeated phenotypic and genotypic assessment for both the patient and their family.
Visibility Silhouettes for Semi‐Analytic Spherical Integration
Authors: Nowrouzezahrai Derek , Baran Ilya , Mitchell Kenny , Jarosz Wojciech
Published: November 2013

At each shade point, the spherical visibility function encodes occlusion from surrounding geometry, in all directions. Computing this function is difficult and point‐sampling approaches, such as ray‐tracing or hardware shadow mapping, are traditionally used to efficiently approximate it. We propose a semi‐analytic solution to the problem where the spherical silhouette of the visibility is computed using a search over a 4D dual mesh of the scene. Once computed, we are able to semi‐analytically integrate visibility‐masked spherical functions along the visibility silhouette, instead of over the entire hemisphere. In this way, we avoid the artefacts that arise from using point‐sampling strategies to integrate visibility, a function with unbounded frequency content. We demonstrate our approach on several applications, including direct illumination from realistic lighting and computation of pre‐computed radiance transfer data. Additionally, we present a new frequency‐space method for exactly computing all‐frequency shadows on diffuse surfaces. Our results match ground truth computed using importance‐sampled stratified Monte Carlo ray‐tracing, with comparable performance on scenes with low‐to‐moderate geometric complexity.
Coupling physical exercise with dietary glucose supplement for treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: a theoretical model and future directions
Authors: Li Yuet‐Keung , Hui Christy Lai‐Ming , Lee Edwin Ho‐Ming , Chang Wing‐Chung , Chan Sherry Kit‐Wa , Leung Chung‐Ming , Chen Eric Yu‐Hai
Published: November 2013

Aims

Metabolic dysregulation may disrupt the complex neuroprotective mechanisms essential for brain health. Recent studies have pointed out the possible aetiological role of metabolic dysregulation in the onset of schizophrenia and the associated cognitive impairment. In this paper, we aimed to generate a theoretical model of how a combination of physical exercise and dietary glucose supplement may help to alleviate cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.

Methods

Literature on metabolic dysregulation, especially insulin resistance, in relation to the onset of schizophrenia and the associated cognitive impairment is reviewed. The cognitive enhancement effects of physical exercise and dietary glucose supplement are then summarised. Finally, we propose a theoretical model based on the concerted effects of physical exercise and glucose supplement.

Results

In general, the joint action of physical exercise and dietary glucose supplement could up‐regulate glucose and insulin transport into the brain, as well as augmenting the release of insulin growth factor‐1 and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor. Physical exercise and glucose supplement could enhance energy supply and neuroplasticity in brain, subsequently leading to potential cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia. However, glucose supplement is not suitable for patients with abnormal metabolic profile.

Conclusions

The combination of physical exercise and glucose supplement has potential therapeutic values in treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Further research is necessary to investigate the optimal patterns of exercise and doses of glucose for treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.
Dreaming and its Discontents: U.S. Cultural Models in the Theater of Dreams
Authors: Mageo Jeannette
Published: November 2013

Drawing together research in cognitive anthropology and psychology, this article argues that REM dreamers enlist metaphors associated with a cultural model in waking life to stage scenes that represent their recent and past problems with the model—be these ones of mastery or with the adequacy of the model for addressing life circumstances. These scenes provide a space where dreamers discover how and why a model is working badly and where they practice and experiment in order to move on to a new stage—both by better mastering models and by better adapting them. Dreamers’ difficulty with one model often involves problems with others. Dreams disclose these linkages. I develop this argument through ethnographic, life history, and dream data collected from U.S. undergraduates at a northwestern university. The models described herein, then, are regional but are also common in U.S. mainstream, middle‐class culture more broadly, particularly among young people.
Determinants of hemodialysis‐induced segmental wall motion abnormalities
Authors: Dubin Ruth F. , Beatty Alexis L. , Teerlink John R. , Schiller Nelson B. , Bolger Ann F. , Alokozai Dean , Peralta Carmen A. , Johansen Kirsten L.
Published: November 2013

Patients who demonstrate worsening of cardiac wall motion (WM) during hemodialysis have higher 1‐year mortality. We sought to identify risk factors for dialysis‐induced WM abnormalities. Additionally, we examined the effects of hemodialysis on other parameters of cardiac function. Forty patients underwent echocardiography directly before dialysis and during the last hour of dialysis (79 dialysis sessions). Candidate predictors for intradialytic worsening of WM included age, a history of heart failure (HF) or coronary artery disease, changes in blood pressure or heart rate, high sensitivity cardiac troponin T and N‐terminal brain natriuretic peptide. Among 40 patients, WM worsened segmentally in eight patients (20%), worsened globally in one patient (3%), and improved segmentally in four patients (10%). Diastolic function worsened in 44% of patients, and left ventricular ejection fraction was largely unchanged during dialysis. The case of globally worsened WM occurred in the setting of intradialytic hypertension in a patient without HF. Surprisingly, history of coronary artery disease, hemodynamics, and serologic factors were not associated with worsened segmental WM during dialysis. After adjustment for history of coronary artery disease and other cardiac risk factors, patients with a history of HF had a threefold higher risk of worsening segmental WM during dialysis (RR 3.1, 95% CI [1.1, 9], p = 0.04). In conclusion, patients with a history of clinical HF were at higher risk of intradialytic worsening of segmental WM. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism of this association and whether cardioprotective medications could ameliorate this adverse cardiac effect of hemodialysis.
Successful treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic hepatitis C using combined peginterferon‐α‐2b and ribavirin therapy
Authors: Maruyama Shigeo , Koda Masahiko , Oi Shinnji , Murawaki Yoshikazu
Published: November 2013

We report a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who was successfully treated with a combination of peginterferon and ribavirin therapy. A 65‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of chronic hepatitis C and close examination of pancytopenia. MDS of “refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia” was diagnosed on the basis of bone marrow findings. Although the patient was not a good candidate for interferon (IFN) therapy because of his pancytopenia, we decided to proceed with IFN therapy for the following reasons: his elevated transaminases could not be controlled; he had a high possibility of recovery from chronic hepatitis C in consideration of his HCV genotype 2a and relatively low RNA titer; and his pancytopenia was expected to worsen in the future. After combination peginterferon/ribavirin therapy, the patient achieved sustained viral response, and the bone marrow findings showed neutrophils with normal granulation and megakaryocytes with normal morphological features. Additionally, the normal 46, XY karyotype converted from 45, X0 which was found before IFN therapy. This suggested that the patient's MDS was completely resolved.
Effect of the infectious dose and the presence of hepatitis C virus core gene on mouse intrahepatic CD8 T cells
Authors: Horiuchi Yutaka , Takagi Akira , Kobayashi Nobuharu , Moriya Osamu , Nagai Toshinori , Moriya Kyoji , Tsutsumi Takeya , Koike Kazuhiro , Akatsuka Toshitaka
Published: November 2013

Aim

Chronic hepatitis C viral (HCV) infections often result in ineffective CD8 T‐cell responses due to functional exhaustion of HCV‐specific T cells. However, how persisting HCV impacts CD8 T‐cell effector functions remains largely unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the infectious dose and the presence of HCV core gene.

Methods

We compared responses of intrahepatic CD8 T cells during infection of wild‐type or HCV core transgenic (Tg) mice with various infectious doses of HCV‐NS3‐expressing recombinant adenovirus (Ad‐HCV‐NS3).

Results

Using major histocompatibility complex class I tetramer and intracellular interferon (IFN)‐γ staining method to track HCV‐NS3‐specific CD8 T cells, we found that a significant expansion of HCV‐NS3‐specific CD8 T cells was restricted to a very narrow dosage range. IFN‐γ production by intrahepatic CD8 T cells in HCV core Tg mice was suppressed as compared with wild‐type mice. Higher levels of expression of regulatory molecules, Tim‐3 and PD‐1, by intrahepatic CD8 T cells and PD‐L1 by intrahepatic antigen‐presenting cells were observed in HCV core Tg mice following Ad‐HCV‐NS3 infection, and the expression increased dependent on infectious dose. Furthermore, we found a significant inverse correlation between the percentages of IFN‐γ‐producing cells and expression of regulatory molecules in antigen‐specific intrahepatic CD8 T cells.

Conclusion

High infectious dose and the presence of HCV core gene were strongly involved in ineffective CD8 T‐cell responses. We consider that HCV core Tg mouse infected with high infectious dose of Ad‐HCV‐NS3 is useful as a chronic infection model in the development of immunotherapy for chronic hepatitis C.
Quality indicators for initial licensure and discipline in nursing laws in South Korea and North Carolina
Authors: Kim K.K. , Kjervik D.K. , Foster B.
Published: November 2013

Background

The Korean regulatory framework of nursing licensure reflects that of the USA, but its content differs in some of the powers related to quality assurance.

Aim

This article compares regulatory quality indicators and describes core standards in nursing regulations that are related to both initial licensure and discipline for three groups: the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the North Carolina and the South of Korea.

Methods

A descriptive, comparative law design is used to examine the differences and similarities in the quality indicators and core standards found in three documents: the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Model Act, the North Carolina Nursing Practice Act and the Korean Medical Service Act for registered nurses.

Results

The findings indicate that ten quality indicators and two standards appear in study objects. Although most of the quality indicators are common to all documents, some differences are found in terms of the scope of criminal background checks and the range of grounds for disciplinary action.

Limitations

These findings cannot be generalized in the USA because although the North Carolina nursing act was selected as an example of US nursing laws, nursing laws differ somewhat across states.

Conclusions

This comparative study shows a clear opportunity to develop indicators that acknowledge the important areas of competence and good moral character and how they can improve patient safety in Korea.

Implications for nursing and health policy

This study provides recommendations for Korean nursing legislative redesign and pointers for other jurisdictions to consider.
SEM–EDX analysis of brushing abrasion of chitosan and propolis based toothpastes on sound and artificial carious primary enamel surfaces
Authors: Ozalp Serife , Tulunoglu Ozlem
Published: November 2013

Purpose

The objective of this study was to assess the brushing abrasion effects of toothpastes containing chitosan and propolis on sound and demineralized primary tooth enamel.

Methods

Pairs of enamel specimens were prepared from human extracted primary teeth, embedded in epoxy resin and polished. An artificial subsurface lesion was created in one specimen from each pair. All samples were divided into four groups (Chitodent, Aagaard propolis, Elmex, and Control) and brushed with slurry of toothpastes and artificial saliva in a brushing machine. The brushing abrasion depths were evaluated using computer‐guided optical profilometry.

Results

No significant differences existed in terms of brushing depths between artificial carious enamel and brushed sound enamel specimens (P > 0.05). The abrasion values of the sound enamel samples brushed with Aagaard propolis and control samples were significantly lower than the Elmex group (P < 0.05). The lowest brushing abrasion values of demineralized enamel specimens were observed in the Chitodent group (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

The tested toothpastes exhibited similar effects in terms of brushing abrasion on both sound and artificially demineralized enamel. Based on mean values without statistical significance, the lowest brushing abrasion values in the demineralized brushed enamel samples were detected in the Chitodent group.
Colicine Typing of Shigella sonnei
Authors: Naito Tatsuro , Kono Michitaka , Fujise Naota , Yakushiji Yoshiko , Aoki Yoshio
Published: November 2013

The colicine typing method of Shigella sonnei is described with experimental evidence supporting it as well as the manner of selection of eight indicator strains. The disparity of principle between this method and that of Abbott and Shannon's method is (1) selection of the indicators only from wild strains existing in this country, (2) employment of heart infusion broth for colicine production, (3) performance of the typing within 48 hours, and (4) determination of types and subtypes of test‐strains by combining their colicinogenic activity against the indicators and their sensitivity to colicines produced by the indicators. A modification of the method is advocated which requires three days to extract colicine by cultivation and one day for sensitivity tests and which uses peptone as the sole nutriment in media. The efficiency of the technique of Abbott and Shannon, McGeachie and McCormick, and the authors' two methods was compared using the selected indicators. Only the technique of McGeachie and McCormick showed some discrepancies.
Studies on Habu Snake Venom
Authors: Kurashige Satonori , Hara Yoshihiko , Kawakami Masaya , Mitsuhashi Susumu
Published: November 2013

It has been found that there are two factors responsible for myolysis in Habu snake venom; heat‐labile and heat‐stable myolytic factors. As reported previously, the former is a proteinase contained in Habu venom. In this article purification and chemical properties of the heat‐stable myolytic factor are presented. Using the method of fractionation with ammonium sulfate and with column chromatography, a heat‐stable myolytic factor was obtained ultracentrifugally in a homogeneous state. This factor caused severe myolysis with the aid of both Mg++ ion and phospholipase A. It has been found that heat‐stable myolytic factor has no activities such as those of proteinase, esterase or ribonuclease. The relationship between the heat‐stable myolytic factor and phospholipase A in myolytic activity is discussed.
Studies on Two Colonial Types of Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae with Special Reference to the Bottle Culture Method
Authors: Fujikura Takao
Published: November 2013

A bottle culture method is described which favours the colony formation of Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae. The Kitakata strain formed two morphological types of colonies when grown in rubber‐stoppered 200 ml‐square bottle cultures. One was compact and small (C type), while the other diffuse and large (D type). The C and D type sub‐strains showed the following differences: The C type leptospirae were longer in body length, but less virulent for suckling mice, young hamsters, guinea pigs, or young rabbits. The C type leptospirae lost 90% of the colony forming units (CFU) after being heated at 45 C for 20 minutes. On the other hand, the D type leptospirae were shorter in body length, virulent in those animals examined and resistant to heating. No serological differences were observed between these two types of sub‐strains by agglutination test and in agglutinin absorption test.
On the Inhibitory Effect Induced by Tobacco Mosaic Virus in Phaseolus vulgaris Plants
Authors: Yoshizaki Toshimichi
Published: November 2013

An increase in the inhibitory effect against infection by TMV was found in the juices extracted from the primary leaves of French beans previously inoculated with active TMV or ultraviolet‐inactivated TMV as compared with that of the control leaves. No difference in the induced inhibitory effect was observed between active and ultraviolet‐inactivated preparations of the necrotic and ordinary strain of TMV, however, the interfering activity of active TMV was greater than that of ultraviolet‐inactivated TMV when boh strains were inoculated simultaneously on the leaves of French beans. These phenomena were not produced by TMV inactivated by heating at 100 C for 10 min. Further, it was ascertained that there was an increase in the inhibitory effect found in the juices from the uninoculated apical or basal parts and petioles of inoculated leaves when the other parts of the leaves were inoculated previously with TMV. Similarly, the induced inhibitory effect was found in the plumules produced at the base of the TMV‐inoculated leaves.
Differentiation of Bacteroides from Sphaerophorus and Fusobacterium
Authors: Suzuki Shoichiro , Ushijima Tsutomu , Ichinose Hiroshi
Published: November 2013

This paper is concerned with new findings in the comparative study of the genera, Bacteroides, Sphaerophorus and Fusobacterium. Victoria blue 4R and barbiturates were found to be effective in differentiating the genera by their discriminative inhibition of the growth. A new character, glutamic acid decarboxylation, was found in Bacteroides but neither in Sphaerophorus nor in Fusobacterium. The procedure for this test was presented. In the classification of newly isolated fecal strains this test and other differential features were compared. An improved method for the threonine deamination test was reported. The use of these characters and tests would be a step in the improvement of the present incomplete classification of gram‐negative anaerobic non‐sporulating rods.
Mycobacterium chitae: a New Species
Authors: Tsukamura Michio
Published: November 2013

A new species of Mycobacterium was described. Four strains of rapidly growing and non‐pathogenic mycobacteria were isolated from soil by chicken passage, and were found to form one cluster by numerical classification based on similarity value. They were named Mycobacterium chitae (sp. nov.) and are deposited in the American Type Culture Collection (holotype; ATCC 19627).
Biochemical and Immunochemical Studies of Fungi
Authors: Sakaguchi Osamu , Suzuki Sigeo , Suzuki Masuko , Sunayama Hiroyoshi
Published: November 2013

Crude mannans extracted from Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae by autoclaving yeast cells in citrate buffer (pH 7.0) according to Peat's method, were fractionated repeatedly by column chromatography on DEAE‐Sephadex, acetate form, yielding neutral and acidic mannans. The former fraction showed a single peak by boundary electrophoresis and ultracentrifugal analysis, while the latter contained small amounts of phosphorus and protein. Using purified mannans as controls, various serological experiments were carried out with mannan antigens extracted from C. albicans with 45% phenol water and with 3% NaOH. No remarkable differences were observed in the antigenic activity of 4 mannan antigens from C. albicans, and the purified mannan exhibited very high antigenic activity. It was found that the mannan of S. cerevisiae was antigenically less specific than that of C. albicans mannan. The difference in serological specificity between mannans of both species may reflect not only differences in mannopyranose linkages but differences in the structure of the macromolecules.
Drug Resistance of Staphylococci
Authors: Sawai Tetsuo , Hashimoto Hajime , Mitsuhashi Susumu , Yamagishi Saburo
Published: November 2013

On the basis of resistance patterns to penicillins, strains of Staphylococcus aureus highly resistant to penicillin‐G which were isolated from clinical sources, could be classified into 2 groups, A‐1 and A‐2. Group A‐2 is a minor group which accounts for about 10% of these strains and exhibits lower degree of resistance to penicillin‐G and phenethicillin than that exhibited by group A‐1 strains. However, there was no marked difference between both groups in inducible production of penicillinase. The genetic determinants for penicillinase synthesis in strains of both groups were transduced into a recipient and the characteristics of the determinants were compared with each other under identical conditions. The results suggested that the genetic determinants for penicillinase synthesis in groups A‐1 and A‐2 strains differed from each other in both the structural gene for penicillinase production and the regulatory gene for the formation of the repressor.
Mode of Synergism between Colistin and Sulfisomezole in Inhibiting the Growth of Proteus Organism
Authors: Onozawa Yozo , Kumagai Katsuo , Ishida Nakao
Published: November 2013

When either colistin at 1,000 μg/ml or sulfisomezole at 125 μg/ml was used separately, growth of a strain of Proteus mirabilis was not inhibited. However, when 1 μg/ml of colistin and 25 μg/ml of sulfisomezole were used together in agar media, growth was inhibited. The synergistic action of colistin and sulfisomezole was also demonstrated in broth culture, when a smaller inoculum such as 106 cells/ml was used. The lethal and lytic effect of this synergism parallels the characteristic effect of colistin towards colistin‐sensitive gram‐negative organisms. When the mode of this synergistic action was analyzed by adding each compound in sequence to a growing culture of Proteus, it was found that growth of organism for about 4 generations in the presence of sulfisomezole was a prerequisite for revealing the lethal and lytic effects of colistin. In cultures where these two compounds were present at the beginning of incubation, the synergistic effect was abolished by the addition of p‐aminobenzoic acid (PABA) at an early stage of incubation, but not at a late stage. Methionine, serine, and betaine, when used together, had the same effect as PABA. An insufficiency of the three compounds induced by sulfisomezole, was considered to afford the receptor site of colistin to Proteus.
Numerical Taxonomy of Mycobacterium fortuitum
Authors: Tsukamura Michio , Tsukamura Sumio , Mizuno Shoji
Published: November 2013

Forty‐nine strains of Mycobacterium fortuitum, three strains named M. runyonii and three rapid‐growers from sputa of patients with pulmonary disease were subjected to numerical classification based upon 101 characters. Fifty strains formed a large cluster and were considered to belong to M. fortuitum. Within this cluster, two subclusters could be differentiated. One subcluster consisted of three strains identified as M. runyonii, three rapid‐growers and eight strains identified as M. fortuitum. This subcluster, which was partially connected with the other subcluster, was named M. fortuitum subsp. runyonii. The other subcluster was considered to be typical M. fortuitum; M. fortuitum subsp. fortuitum. The subspecies runyonii could be differentiated from the typical M. fortuitum by the following characteristics: The strains often (i) were unable to reduce nitrate; (ii) lacked allantoinase; (iii) did not utilize ethanol, propanol, propylene glycol and 1,3‐butylene glycol as sole carbon sources; (iv) did not utilize acetamide as the sole, simultaneous nitrogen and carbon sources. A variety of M. fortuitum capable of growing at 45 C could also be differentiated from the usual strains that did not grow at 45 C by other characters. This variety utilized neither mannitol nor sorbitol as sole carbon sources, formed no acid from trehalose and mannitol, and usually did not utilize propylene glycol as a sole carbon source. Biochemical characters of the typical M. fortuitum (M. fortuitum subsp. fortuitum) are described in detail.
Enumeration of Mycobacterium lepraemurium by the Microspot Method
Authors: Matsuo Yoshiyasu
Published: November 2013

Known numbers of Mycobacterium lepraemurium were inoculated into the foot‐pads of 10 mice. Thirty minutes after inoculation, the bacteria were harvested from each mouse and counted by the microspot method. The per cent of the original inoculum recovered ranged from 82.5 to 105.4 among the 10 mice. The difference between the number of bacilli inoculated into a mouse and the number recovered was analyzed statistically. Of the 10 samples, this difference was not significant in 7, and significant in the remaining 3. The facility with which M. lepraemurium can be counted by the microspot method should eliminate much of the laboriousness from experimental leprosy research.
Primary Rabbit Embryo Cell Culture for Isolation of Rubella Virus
Authors: Kawana Rinji , Kaneko Masaru
Published: November 2013

Primary cultures of rabbit embryo (RE) cells were compared with that of African green monkey kidney (GMK) cells for sensitivity in the isolation of rubella virus from clinical materials. Virus was recovered in either or both RE or GMK cells from one or more sites in 82% of 38 children clinically diagnosed as having rubella. Virus was isolated from 50% of 32 throat swabs in RE cells, and from 53% of 38 throat swabs in GMK cells. Of 32 throat swabs inoculated into both cell systems, 24 yielded virus; 10 of these were positive in both cell systems, 8 were positive only in GMK cells, and 6 were positive only in RE cells. None of 19 blood specimens yielded virus in GMK cells, whereas of 18 of these same 19 specimens tested in RE cells, 10 (56%) yielded positive results. These results indicate that RE cells are more sensitive than GMK cells. Recognition of rubella virus in RE cells is achieved by direct observation of cytopathic effect, instead of the cumbersome interference technique as employed in GMK cells or certain other cell systems. RE cells are practically free of latent viruses, readily available, and easy to cultivate. All this indicates that the RE cells provides not only a highly sensitive but also a practical host system for the isolation of rubella virus from clinical materials.
Plaque Formation and Initial Virus‐Cell Interaction of Measles Virus
Authors: Arita Mineo , Matumoto Minora
Published: November 2013

The Sugiyama strain of measles virus adapted to FL cells produces plaques heterogeneous in size and morphology on FL and other stable human cell line monolayers making it difficult to assay by the plaque technique. A virus clone producing homogeneous clear plaques was established by repeated cloning of the strain. A practical reliable plaque assay method was established for this cloned line. FL cells were found to be well suited for this purpose, but Vero cells, a stable line of African green monkey kidney cells, were shown to be more sensitive than FL cells. HeLa cells could be used for the assay, but were less sensitive than the Vero or FL cell line. The initial step of measles virus adsorption onto host cells was shown to be reversible, dependent on electrolytes and almost temperature‐independent, strongly suggesting adsorption is electrostatic in nature. At 36 C the initial stage of adsorption quickly passed into the next irreversible stage involving a temperature‐dependent reaction; virus adsorbed at 36 C soon became resistant to the action of measles antibody, whereas little virus adsorbed at 4 C or 12 C became antibody‐resistant. The time required for the adsorbed virus to move into the irreversible, antibody‐resistant stage seems very short.