bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DEPDC5 mutations are not a frequent cause of familial temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Striano Pasquale , Serioli Elena , Santulli Lia , Manna Ida , Labate Angelo , Dazzo Emanuela , Pasini Elena , Gambardella Antonio , Michelucci Roberto , Striano Salvatore , Nobile Carlo
Published: July 2015

Mutations in the DEPDC5 (DEP domain–containing protein 5) gene are a major cause of familial focal epilepsy with variable foci (FFEVF) and are predicted to account for 12–37% of families with inherited focal epilepsies. To assess the clinical impact of DEPDC5 mutations in familial temporal lobe epilepsy, we screened a collection of Italian families with either autosomal dominant lateral temporal epilepsy (ADLTE) or familial mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (FMTLE). The probands of 28 families classified as ADLTE and 17 families as FMTLE were screened for DEPDC5 mutations by whole exome or targeted massive parallel sequencing. Putative mutations were validated by Sanger sequencing. We identified a DEPDC5 nonsense mutation (c.918C>G; p.Tyr306*) in a family with two affected members, clinically classified as FMTLE. The proband had temporal lobe seizures with prominent psychic symptoms (déjà vu, derealization, and forced thoughts); her mother had temporal lobe seizures, mainly featuring visceral epigastric auras and anxiety. In total, we found a single DEPDC5 mutation in one of (2.2%) 45 families with genetic temporal lobe epilepsy, a proportion much lower than that reported in other inherited focal epilepsies.
Factors influencing sexually transmitted infections among adolescents in South Korea
Authors: Gwon S.H. , Lee C.Y.
Published: July 2015

Background

No data exist regarding the sexually transmitted infection (STI) rate in adolescents aged 12–15 in South Korea. Only a Korean few studies have attempted to investigate the factors influencing sexually transmitted infections among adolescents.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to investigate the self‐reported sexually transmitted infection contraction rate and analyse individual and family factors that influence this rate among middle school students aged 12–15 in South Korea.

Methods

Using statistics from the 8th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web‐based Survey, secondary data analysis was conducted. The study sample consisted of 714 individuals who had reported initiating sexual intercourse.

Results

The rate of self‐reported sexually transmitted contraction was 13.5%. The following factors predicted STI contraction: second year of middle school, excellent academic achievement, habitual or purposeful drug use, first intercourse before middle school, intercourse after drinking alcohol, weekly allowance, and living without family predicted sexually transmitted infection contraction.

Limitations

The parental data were collected by the self‐reported surveys in a cross‐sectional manner and questions of STI contraction and intercourse after drinking may have confused the subjects.

Conclusion

We need to utilize these predictors in providing adolescents with sexual health interventions and establishing adolescent sexual health policies.

Implications for Nursing and Health Policies

Increased sex education and employment of a school nurse in each middle school are needed. High‐risk students need to be monitored given the predictors of sexually transmitted infection contraction, and the school health personnel need to inform female students and their parents the importance of seeing a gynaecologist for regular check‐ups.
Nurses' perceptions of workplace culture in primary health care in Finland
Authors: Hahtela N. , Paavilainen E. , McCormack B. , Helminen M. , Slater P. , Suominen T.
Published: July 2015

Aim

This study aimed to describe nurses' perceptions of workplace culture, especially in regard to stress levels, job satisfaction and the practice environment in primary health care.

Background

Health care is facing many challenges related to its attractiveness as a place of employment and the maintenance of a sufficient workforce supply. Previous studies report increasing rates of nurse job dissatisfaction and intentions to leave their current positions both in Finland and also globally. Improving workplace culture is thus vital in meeting the challenges related to recruitment and retention.

Methods

A cross‐sectional descriptive design was used to describe nurses' perceptions of workplace culture. Data were collected by questionnaire from 22 units in nine primary healthcare organizations in Finland, and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

Most of the respondents indicated that they were not certain whether their workplace culture was either positive or negative. Profession, age and work shift characteristics had an effect on the respondents' perceptions of workplace culture. Younger licensed practical and registered nurses assessed their workplace culture more positively, whereas older registered nurses and those working rotating rosters viewed workplace culture more negatively.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that both unit and demographic characteristics affect workplace culture. This survey highlights that a positive workplace culture is one of the key factors in retaining and recruiting nurses, and provides an essential evidence that may be considered by other healthcare organizations.

Implications for nursing and health policy

Nurse managers and healthcare leaders need to address workload management and take into account the related variables that affect a unit's workplace culture.
Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale for older people: psychometric testing and short form development with a three country sample
Authors: Mabire Cédric , Coffey Alice , Weiss Marianne
Published: July 2015

Aim

To develop and psychometrically test Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale for older people and to reduce the scale to a more practical short form.

Background

The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale is the only available and validated scale measuring patients' perceived readiness just prior to discharge.

Design

Secondary analysis of hospital studies data from three countries.

Method

Data were collected between 2008–2012. The study sample comprised 998 medical‐surgical older patients. Factor analysis was undertaken to identify the factor structure of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale. Group comparisons for construct validity and predictive validity for readmission were also conducted.

Results

The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale original four factor solution does not appear to be consistent with the observed data of older people in the three countries. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that a 17‐item scale with three factors produced the best model fit. Nine items, three from each factor, loaded consistently on their respective factors in each country sample. Confirmatory factor analysis of this short form model indicated that the model adequately fit the data. Patients who lived alone, were older, or who indicated ‘not ready’ for discharge had lower Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale for Older People scores, which were also associated with readmission risk.

Conclusion

The revised three factor structure of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale for Older People in long and short forms more adequately assesses core components of discharge readiness in the older adult population than the original adult form.
Product Unbundling in the Travel Industry: The Economics of Airline Bag Fees
Authors: Brueckner Jan K. , Lee Darin N. , Picard Pierre M. , Singer Ethan
Published: July 2015

This paper provides theory and evidence on airline bag fees, offering insights into a real‐world case of product unbundling. The theory predicts that an airline's fares should fall when it introduces a bag fee, but that the full‐trip price (the bag fee plus the new fare) could either rise or fall. The empirical evidence presented in the paper provides strong confirmation of the first prediction. The data also suggest that the average fare falls by less than the bag fee itself so that the full price of a trip rises for passengers who choose to check bags.
Orexigenic Gene Expression in Late Gestation Ovine Foetal Hypothalamus is Sensitive to Maternal Undernutrition and Realimentation
Authors: Adam C. L. , Williams P. A. , Milne J. S. , Aitken R. P. , Wallace J. M.
Published: July 2015

Adverse nutritional effects on developing foetal hypothalamic appetitive pathways may contribute to programmed hyperphagia and obesity in intra‐uterine growth‐restricted, low birth weight offspring. In the present study, for the first time, hypothalamic gene expression for primary orexigenic and anorexigenic genes was examined in late gestation ovine foetuses (130 days; term = 145 days) whose mothers were undernourished (UN) or well‐nourished (C) throughout pregnancy, or transferred from UN to C on day 90 (UN‐C). Pregnancies resulted from singleton embryo transfer into adolescent growing ewes. Body weight, carcass fat content and perirenal adipose tissue (PAT) mass were all lower for UN (n = 9) than C (n = 7) and intermediate for UN‐C foetuses (n = 6), with no effect of sex. PAT leptin gene expression (by the reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction) was lower in UN than C and UN‐C groups, and lower in males than females. Gene expression (by in situ hybridisation with radiolabelled riboprobes) in the arcuate nucleus was greater in UN than C foetuses for neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti‐related peptide (AGRP) and leptin receptor (OBRb) but not different for pro‐opiomelanocortin and cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐regulated transcript. Gene expression in UN‐C foetuses was intermediate for NPY and AGRP and not different from C foetuses for OBRb. Gene expression for NPY, AGRP and OBRb correlated negatively with foetal carcass fat content and with PAT leptin gene expression across all groups. Males had greater mRNA expression for AGRP than females, with NPY and OBRb showing similar trends. Therefore, maternal undernutrition throughout pregnancy increased orexigenic gene expression in the late gestation foetal hypothalamus, and expression levels were largely normalised by improved maternal nutrition in the last third of pregnancy. These findings may have implications for avoiding or correcting prenatal programming of postnatal hyperphagia and obesity.
Effect of Cements at Different Temperatures on the Clinical Performance and Marginal Adaptation of Inlay‐Onlay Restorations In Vivo
Authors: Aygün Emiroğlu Şeyda , Evren Buket , Kulak Özkan Yasemin
Published: July 2015

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical performance of inlays and onlays luted with two different resin cements, mixed at different temperatures and to evaluate the marginal adaptation of the restorations.

Materials and Methods

One hundred IPS e.max restorations (82 onlays, 18 inlays; 84 molars, 16 premolars) were placed in 50 patients (28 females, 22 males, mean age, 33 years). The restorations were assigned to six groups according to the luting agent temperature (25°C, 37°C, and 54°C) and cement type (Variolink N high viscosity or G‐Cem Automix). All restorations were evaluated after 1 week and 1 year by two examiners using modified USPHS criteria. Replicas of 30 selected onlay restorations (5 per group) were assessed for marginal quality under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at 200×. Marginal adaptation was quantitatively evaluated in terms of percentage of gap formation, and marginal gap width was measured.

Results

After 1 year, the total survival rates of the Variolink N high viscosity group and G‐Cem Automix group were 100% and 93.8%, respectively. Three debondings occurred with the G‐Cem Automix group, one from each temperature group. For 1‐year clinical service time, no significant difference was noticed in the marginal adaptation of Variolink N high viscosity groups and the 37°C G‐Cem Automix group, while 25°C and 54°C G‐Cem Automix groups’ marginal adaptation scores decreased (p < 0.05). Regarding the SEM evaluations, Variolink N high viscosity cement groups showed better marginal adaptation than G‐Cem Automix cement groups (p < 0.05). Cementation with the cements preheated to 37°C increased continuous margins in both enamel–cement and cement–ceramic interfaces, but these results were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Cements at different temperatures did not have significant effects on marginal gap widths of the restorations.

Conclusions

The restorations cemented with Variolink N high viscosity cement mixed at the three tested temperatures exhibited better treatment options than the self‐adhesive groups. Preheating the self‐adhesive cement (G‐Cem Automix) to 37°C can be an effective method to have better marginal adaptation than the other self‐adhesive groups (25°C, 54°C) tested in this study.
Analysis of Bone Height Changes after Maxillary Sinus Augmentation with Simultaneous and Delayed Placement of Dental Implants: A Clinical and Radiographic Study
Authors: Yin Lihua , Yu Zhanhai , Chen Zhuofan , Huang Baoxin , Zhang Kailiang , Zhou Ailing , Li Xiangxin
Published: July 2015

Purpose

To retrospectively assess the changes of the vertical height of the maxillary sinus floor after augmentation with simultaneous and delayed placement of implants.

Materials and Methods

In total, 38 patients with 76 implants were involved; vertical bone height of the sinus floor was radiographically measured at different stages including preoperation, immediately postsurgery, 6 and 12 months postsurgery, and 6 and 24 months postfunctional loading.

Results

Sinus augmentation significantly increased vertical bone height of the sinus floor for both the simultaneous and delayed groups. The survival rate was 100% in the simultaneous group and 95.46% in the delayed group. For simultaneous placement, the vertical bone height of the sinus floor at 6 and 12 months postsurgery was significantly less than that immediately postsurgery. For both groups, augmented bone height of the sinus floor showed significant decrease from 6 months to 24 months postfunctional loading. The mean value of final bone augmentation was 5.85 mm for simultaneous placement and 5.80 mm for delayed placements.

Conclusion

Sinus augmentation with simultaneous and delayed placement of implants led to similar survival rates and bone augmentation. Resorption of augmentative bone was evident at 24 months postfunctional loading in both cases.
Fabricating an Accurate Implant Master Cast: A Technique Report
Authors: Balshi Thomas J. , Wolfinger Glenn J. , Alfano Stephen G. , Cacovean Jeannine N. , Balshi Stephen F.
Published: July 2015

The technique for fabricating an accurate implant master cast following the 12‐week healing period after Teeth in a Day® dental implant surgery is detailed. The clinical, functional, and esthetic details captured during the final master impression are vital to creating an accurate master cast. This technique uses the properties of the all‐acrylic resin interim prosthesis to capture these details. This impression captures the relationship between the remodeled soft tissue and the interim prosthesis. This provides the laboratory technician with an accurate orientation of the implant replicas in the master cast with which a passive fitting restoration can be fabricated.
Shared and nonshared genomic divergence in parallel ecotypes of Littorina saxatilis at a local scale
Authors: Ravinet Mark , Westram Anja , Johannesson Kerstin , Butlin Roger , André Carl , Panova Marina
Published: July 2015

Parallel speciation occurs when selection drives repeated, independent adaptive divergence that reduces gene flow between ecotypes. Classical examples show parallel speciation originating from shared genomic variation, but this does not seem to be the case in the rough periwinkle (Littorina saxatilis) that has evolved considerable phenotypic diversity across Europe, including several distinct ecotypes. Small ‘wave’ ecotype snails inhabit exposed rocks and experience strong wave action, while thick‐shelled, ‘crab’ ecotype snails are larger and experience crab predation on less exposed shores. Crab and wave ecotypes appear to have arisen in parallel, and recent evidence suggests only marginal sharing of molecular variation linked to evolution of similar ecotypes in different parts of Europe. However, the extent of genomic sharing is expected to increase with gene flow and more recent common ancestry. To test this, we used de novo RAD‐sequencing to quantify the extent of shared genomic divergence associated with phenotypic similarities amongst ecotype pairs on three close islands (<10 km distance) connected by weak gene flow (Nm ~ 0.03) and with recent common ancestry (<10 000 years). After accounting for technical issues, including a large proportion of null alleles due to a large effective population size, we found ~8–28% of positive outliers were shared between two islands and ~2–9% were shared amongst all three islands. This low level of sharing suggests that parallel phenotypic divergence in this system is not matched by shared genomic divergence despite a high probability of gene flow and standing genetic variation.
Azole‐resistant Aspergillus fumigatus isolates carrying TR34/L98H mutations in Taiwan
Authors: Wu Chi‐Jung , Wang Hsuan‐Chen , Lee Jen‐Chieh , Lo Hsiu‐Jung , Dai Ching‐Tzu , Chou Pei‐Hsin , Ko Wen‐Chien , Chen Yee‐Chun
Published: July 2015

Cumulative evidence described the emergence and geographical expansion of azole‐resistant A. fumigatus associated with azole treatment failure. To investigate the status of azole resistance in A. fumigatus in Taiwan, we studied 38 A. fumigatus clinical isolates cultivated from 31 patients at two teaching hospitals from 2011 to 2014. Three isolates obtained from respiratory samples of two azole‐naïve patients with pulmonary aspergillosis were found to display multi‐azole resistance and cross resistance to agricultural azole fungicides, and all carried TR34/L98H mutations in cyp51A gene. The prevalence rates of azole resistance were 7.9% and 6.5% based on isolates and patients respectively. A phylogenetic analysis suggested genetic diversity of the TR34/L98H isolates in Taiwan, including a unique genotype distinct from strains outside Taiwan. The result underlines the emergence of such isolates in Taiwan as well, emphasising the importance of further surveillance for azole‐resistant A. fumigatus and implementation of strategies that prevent fungicide‐driven resistance selection.
High diversity of non‐sporulating moulds in respiratory specimens of immunocompromised patients: should all the species be reported when diagnosing invasive aspergillosis?
Authors: Garcia‐Hermoso Dea , Alanio Alexandre , Cabaret Odile , Olivi Martine , Foulet Françoise , Cordonnier Catherine , Costa Jean‐Marc , Bretagne Stéphane
Published: July 2015

Non‐sporulating moulds (NSMs) isolated from respiratory specimens are usually discarded without further testing although they may have pathogenic effects in immunocompromised patients. The objective of this study was to determine the identity and frequency of NSMs in patients with haematological malignancies. We analysed the mycological results of 251 consecutive respiratory samples from 104 haematology patients. Yeast and sporulating moulds were identified at the genus/species level according to their phenotypic features. NSMs were identified by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. We detected 179 positive samples, of which 10.1% (18/179) were mixtures of moulds and 26.3% (47/179) were mixtures of moulds and yeast. We identified 142 moulds belonging to 11 different genera/species or groups, with Aspergillus fumigatus (n = 50), Penicillium spp. (n = 31) and NSM (n = 24) being the most frequently isolated species. Twenty‐two NSMs were successfully sequenced: 18 were basidiomycetes and six were ascomycetes, corresponding to 16 different genera/species. NSMs were isolated with A. fumigatus in the same sample or in a subsequent sample in five patients with probable invasive aspergillosis. The conclusion is that the respiratory specimens of immunocompromised patients frequently contain very diverse mould species that may increase the virulence of pathogenic species. Reporting all mould species isolated when diagnosing invasive fungal infection could test this hypothesis.
Mitotic lifecycle of chromosomal 3xHMG‐box proteins and the role of their N‐terminal domain in the association with rDNA loci and proteolysis
Authors: Antosch Martin , Schubert Veit , Holzinger Philipp , Houben Andreas , Grasser Klaus D.
Published: July 2015

The high mobility group (HMG)‐box is a DNA‐binding domain characteristic of various eukaryotic DNA‐binding proteins. 3xHMG‐box proteins (containing three copies of the HMG‐box domain and a unique basic N‐terminal domain) are specific for plants and the Arabidopsis genome encodes two versions termed 3xHMG‐box1 and 3xHMG‐box2, whose expression is cell cycle‐dependent, peaking during mitosis.

Here, we analysed in detail the spatiotemporal expression, subcellular localisation and chromosome association of the Arabidopsis thaliana 3xHMG‐box proteins.

Live cell imaging and structured illumination microscopy revealed that the expression of the 3xHMG‐box proteins is induced in late G2 phase of the cell cycle and upon nuclear envelope breakdown in prophase they rapidly associate with the chromosomes. 3xHMG‐box1 associates preferentially with 45S rDNA loci and the basic N‐terminal domain is involved in the targeting of rDNA loci. Shortly after mitosis the 3xHMG‐box proteins are degraded and an N‐terminal destruction‐box mediates the proteolysis. Ectopic expression/localisation of 3xHMG‐box1 in interphase nuclei results in reduced plant growth and various developmental defects including early bolting and abnormal flower morphology.

The remarkable conservation of 3xHMG‐box proteins within the plant kingdom, their characteristic expression during mitosis, and their striking association with chromosomes, suggest that they play a role in the organisation of plant mitotic chromosomes.
Role of mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis in insulin insensitivity of mammalian cells
Authors: Wang Chih‐Hao , Tsai Ting‐Fen , Wei Yau‐Huei
Published: July 2015

Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) play an important role in the maintenance of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, and their defects may be etiological factors contributing to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Recent studies indicate that alterations of Ca2+ levels and Ca2+‐dependent signaling pathways can impede the insulin signaling cascade, resulting in insulin resistance of β cells and insulin‐responsive cells. Mitochondria‐associated ER membranes (MAMs) are essential for efficient communication between the ER and mitochondria. Thus, abnormalities in the structure and function of MAMs in affected tissue cells in T2D are an important area of study. Recently, we demonstrated that a deficiency of Cisd2, an iron–sulfur protein localized on MAMs, could lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and disturbance of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Moreover, we first elucidated that defects in the function of MAMs in Ca2+ uptake resulted in insulin insensitivity of adipocytes, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes in Cisd2 knockout mice. On the basis of these observations, we suggest improving the bioenergetic function of mitochondria and the function of MAMs in maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis as a novel strategy for the development of new therapeutics aimed at preventing and treating insulin resistance and T2D.
A systematic review of the effectiveness of whole‐of‐community interventions by socioeconomic position
Authors: Boelsen‐Robinson T. , Peeters A. , Beauchamp A. , Chung A. , Gearon E. , Backholer K.
Published: July 2015

Whole‐of‐community (WOC) interventions have led to modest reductions in population weight gain. Whether they exhibit differential effectiveness by socioeconomic position (SEP) remains unknown. We aimed to summarize evidence of differential effectiveness ofWOCinterventions bySEP. Electronic databases and grey literature were searched to identify studies that evaluated the effectiveness of aWOCintervention on behavioural change measures, energy balance behaviours and/or anthropometric outcomes according to any measure ofSEP. Interventions were assessed for the following characteristics: structural changes to the environment, number of settings the intervention acted in, presence of community engagement and whether equity was considered in its design. Ten studies were included. Nine reported a greater or equal effect among lowSEPgroups compared with highSEPgroups. These studies commonly featured interventions that incorporated structural changes to the environment, acted across more than three settings and/or employed community engagement. Conclusions did not change when excluding low‐quality studies (n = 4).WOCinterventions represent an effective and equitable approach for the reduction of population weight. Structural components, a larger number of settings and community engagement were common in equitableWOCinterventions and should be considered in the design of futureWOCinterventions.
Pooled Post Hoc Analysis of Population Pharmacokinetics of Oxycodone and Acetaminophen Following Multiple Oral Doses of Biphasic Immediate‐Release/Extended‐Release Oxycodone/Acetaminophen Tablets
Authors: Morton Terri , Franke Ryan , Devarakonda Krishna
Published: July 2015

Objective

To examine whether biphasic immediate‐release (IR)/extended‐release (ER) oxycodone (OC)/acetaminophen (APAP) 7.5/325‐mg tablets have clinically relevant variability in population pharmacokinetics (PK).

Design

Post hoc analysis of 2 phase 1 randomized, open‐label, multiple‐dose crossover studies.

Setting

Single contract research organization clinic.

Subjects

Men and women aged 18 to 55 years with a body mass index of 19 to 30 kg/m2 and body weight ≥ 59 kg.

Methods

Fasted participants (N = 96) received 2 tablets of IR/ER OC/APAP 7.5/325 mg (total dose, 15/650 mg) every 12 hours for 4.5 days. Population PK analysis was performed using nonlinear mixed effects modeling and evaluated 6 population variables.

Results

The average PK estimates for OC were 75 L/hour for clearance (CL/F), 756 L for volume of distribution (V/F), and 0.581 per hour for absorption rate constant (Ka). Body weight was a statistically significant source of variability in V/F for OC at steady state. Average estimates for APAP were 25 L/hour for CL/F and 119 L for V/F. Sex was identified as a statistically significant source of variability in CL/F with predicted values for APAP of 25 L/hour in men and 21 L/hour in women. Body weight affected variability in V/F, with a predicted value of 193 L in men and 174 L in women for a 72‐kg participant at steady state.

Conclusions

Dose adjustments of < 50% are not clinically relevant for IR/ER OC/APAP 7.5/325‐mg tablets considering the approved dose of 1 to 2 tablets every 8 to 12 hours; thus, adjustment may be necessary for large deviations from normal body weight but not for sex.
Nickel Allergy and Our Children's Health: A Review of Indexed Cases and a View of Future Prevention
Authors: Jacob Sharon E. , Goldenberg Alina , Pelletier Janice L. , Fonacier Luz S. , Usatine Richard , Silverberg Nanette
Published: July 2015

Nickel is the leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from early childhood through adolescence. Studies have shown that skin piercings and other nickel‐laden exposures can trigger the onset of nickel ACD in those who are susceptible. Nickel ACD causes a vast amount of cutaneous disease in children. Cases of nickel ACD in children have been reported in peer‐reviewed literature from 28 states. Common items that contain inciting nickel include jewelry, coins, zippers, belts, tools, toys, chair studs, cases for cell phones and tablets, and dental appliances. The diagnosis of nickel ACD has been routinely confirmed by patch testing in children older than 6 months suspected of ACD from nickel. Unlike in Europe, there are no mandatory restrictions legislated for nickel exposure in the United States. Denmark has demonstrated that regulation of the nickel content in metals can lower the risk of ACD and the associated health care–related costs that arise from excess nickel exposure. To further awareness, this article reviews the prominent role of nickel in pediatric skin disease in the United States. It discusses the need for a campaign by caretakers to reduce nickel‐related morbidity. Lastly, it promotes the model of European legislation as a successful intervention in the prevention of nickel ACD.
Aplasia Cutis Congenita Associated with Fetus Papyraceus
Authors: Pieretti María Lía , Alcalá Rebeca , Boggio Paula , Noguera‐Morel Lucero , Porriño María Librada , Luna Paula C. , Hernández‐Martín Angela , Schroh Roberto , Larralde Margarita , Torrelo Antonio
Published: July 2015

Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC), or congenital absence of skin, is a heterogeneous condition that may be due to varied mechanisms. ACC has rarely been reported in association with fetus papyraceus, representing a peculiar phenotype of ACC. We present six new cases of neonates born with symmetric ACC associated with intrauterine fetal demise of co‐twins during the late first or early second trimester.
Mucosal tolerance of the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum in the gut of naturally infected wild dogs
Authors: Constantinoiu C. C. , Goullet M. S. , Constantinoiu E. C. , Scott J. L.
Published: July 2015

Ancylostoma caninum is a very pathogenic hookworm that locates in the small intestine of the dog and other canid species. The mucosal response of wild dogs naturally infected with A. caninum was investigated in this study. In spite of diffuse infiltrations of the mucosa with CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD11c+, CD21+ or MHC class II antigen cells, no focal infiltrations with any of these cell phenotypes were observed around the buccal capsule or the body of the feeding worms. Very few or no apoptotic cells could be detected around the worms fixed into the mucosa but they were detected on the tip of villi and in the superficial layer of cellular debris and proteinaceous exudate that covers the mucosa. Muc5AC, a mucine associated with expulsion of gut worms (Trichuris muris) was expressed extremely weakly or was not expressed at all in the intestine of the wild dogs infected with A. caninum. Our data show that individual specimens of A. caninum can reside for some time in the mucosa of the gut of dogs undetected and most likely unaffected by the effectors of the local immune response.
The potential of smallEucalyptusplantations in farmscapes to foster native woody plant diversity: local and landscape constraints
Authors: Telila Habte , Hylander Kristoffer , Nemomissa Sileshi
Published: July 2015

The major focus of ecological restorations has been on understanding local factors. However, landscape factors such as dispersal limitation of individuals or propagules across the surrounding matrix can also constrain the restoration progress. We investigated to what extent native woody species colonize and thrive in plantations, focusing on both the role of local factors such as grazing and canopy cover as well as on landscape factors. We recorded all native tree and shrub species in 60 smallEucalyptusplantations embedded in an open agricultural landscape at 0.1–12 km from a remnant continuous forest in central Ethiopia. We found a total of 1,571 individuals of native woody plants belonging to 55 species. Number of such species in a plantation increased significantly with the height of the grass sword indicating their sensitivity to grazing. Moreover, the number of woody species in the patches decreased significantly with distance to the forest. Our results illustrate the need for regulating the grazing pressure for a successful regeneration of native species inEucalyptusplantations. In addition, sowing or planting native trees will be necessary in most plantations, as only few remnant natural forests that could act as seed sources occur across the Ethiopian highlands. Another main obstacle might be the prohibition of selling timber of native trees, which indirectly discourage farmers from letting native trees regenerate. Thus, the increasing cover ofEucalyptusseen across the country will not automatically foster a recovery of native woody plant biodiversity, even if managed to optimize local environmental conditions.
Candida species epidemiology 2000–2013: a laboratory‐based report
Authors: Ng Kee Peng , Kuan Chee Sian , Kaur Harvinder , Na Shiang Ling , Atiya Nadia , Velayuthan Rukumani Devi
Published: July 2015

Objective

To describe a prospective laboratory‐based surveillance of Candida species that were collected from different anatomical sites of patients admitted to the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, from the year 2000 to 2013.

Methods

Conventional (culture, microscopic examination and carbohydrate assimilation test) and molecular (PCR amplification and DNA sequencing) techniques were used to identify Candida species.

Results

A total of 16 Candida species isolated from 34 392 clinical samples were from the oral cavity (oral swabs and throat swabs), blood, respiratory tract (sputum, tracheal secretions, nasopharyngeal aspirates, bronchoalveolar lavage), high vaginal swab, pus and urine. C. albicans (66.70%, 22 941/34 392), C. glabrata (11.71%, 4029/34 392), C. parapsilopsis (10.74%, 3692/34 392), C. tropicalis (9.19%, 3162/34 392) and C. krusei (1.15%, 396/34 392) were the five predominant Candida species. C. albicans was the predominant species isolated from the oral cavity, respiratory tract and high vaginal swab; while the Candida species isolated from blood, urine and pus were predominant non‐albicans Candida. Uncommon Candida species, such as C. lusitaniae, C. haemulonii, C. humicola, Pichia ohmeri and C. ciferrii, were also isolated in this study.

Conclusion

Our study expands the current knowledge of the epidemiology of non‐invasive and invasive candidiasis in Malaysia. The variability of the Candida species distribution from different anatomical sites highlights the significance of local epidemiology in disease management and selection of antifungal agents.
Influence of a platinum functional layer on a Ni-Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 anode for thin-film solid oxide fuel cells
Authors: Kang Sungmin , Chang Ikwhang , Kim Young-Beom , Cha Suk Won
Published: July 2015

A Pt functional layer was deposited between a Ni-Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (50 wt. % Ni) anode and an 8 mol. % yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolyte in order to enhance the performance of a thin film solid oxide fuel cell. By inserting this ultrathin functional layer, the ohmic impedance of the single cell was significantly reduced, and the maximum power density was increased by a factor of ∼1.55. However, excessive deposition of the Pt functional layer caused ionic conduction pathway blocking between the yttria-stabilized zirconia and Ni-Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95 (Ni-GDC), deactivating the Ni-GDC as a mixed ionic and electronic conducting anode. As a result, both the ohmic impedance and anodic faradaic impedance were increased after introduction of excessive Pt functional layer, and the maximum power density was also reduced.
A rare case of vulval pilonidal sinus: incidental diagnosis
Authors: Kushwaha P , Merritt A , Aslam M B
Published: July 2015

A 63-year-old woman presented with a 4-week history of vulval bleeding. On examination, an 8 mm fleshy irregular vascular lesion was present on the vulva in the periclitoreal area. This vulval lesion was treated by surgical excision. Histological analysis showed irregular pieces of skin partly covered by hyperplastic squamous epithelium. There were areas of fistulous-like endophytic proliferations lined by hyperplastic squamous epithelial cells. The intervening stroma showed granulation tissue with severe active chronic inflammation. At least five hair follicle shafts surrounded by foreign body type giant cells were also identified within the inflamed area. There was no evidence of dysplasia or malignancy. This chronically inflamed fistulous tract together with hair shafts within the wall of the tract were diagnostic of a pilonidal sinus of the vulva. This case report summarises the importance of diagnosing pilonidal sinus at an unusual location.
Frontal sinus mucocoele: a rare cause of ptosis
Authors: Kennedy Alasdair , Chowdhury Haziq , Athwal Sarju , Baddeley Paul
Published: July 2015

A 73-year-old man, with no medical history of note, presented with a 4-week history of an isolated left-sided ptosis and associated periorbital and retro-orbital discomfort. His pupils were spared, his eye movements were not restricted and he was not proptosed. A prompt CT orbits and head scan revealed a large left frontal sinus mucocoele that had eroded into the left orbit. The patient had successful endoscopic sinus surgery under the ear, nose and throat team and 1 month later was seen in ophthalmology clinic. His ptosis and discomfort had fully resolved and he had no neurological sequelae from the surgery.
Network science, web science, and internet science
Authors: Tiropanis Thanassis , Hall Wendy , Crowcroft Jon , Contractor Noshir , Tassiulas Leandros
Published: July 2015

Exploring three interdisciplinary areas and the extent to which they overlap. Are they all part of the same larger domain?
From the EDVAC to WEBVACs
Authors: Wang Daniel C.
Published: July 2015

Cloud computing for computer scientists.
Challenges deploying complex technologies in a traditional organization
Authors: Tsaih Rua-Huan , Yen David C. , Chang Yu-Chien
Published: July 2015

The National Palace Museum in Taiwan had to partner with experienced cloud providers to deliver television-quality exhibits.
Disease dietomics
Authors: Bhattacharyya Malay
Published: July 2015

How computational biology might help in discovering the missing links between diet and disease.
Profile: Sriram KosuriNever mind the cloud, back up your selfies to DNA
Authors: Scoică Adrian
Published: July 2015

Never mind the cloud, back up your selfies to DNA
Integrity Attacks on Real-Time Pricing in Electric Power Grids
Authors: Tan Rui , Krishna Varun Badrinath , Yau David K. Y. , Kalbarczyk Zbigniew
Published: July 2015

Modern information and communication technologies used by electric power grids are subject to cyber-security threats. This article studies the impact of integrity attacks on real-time pricing (RTP), an emerging feature of advanced power grids that can improve system efficiency. Recent studies have shown that RTP creates a closed loop formed by the mutually dependent real-time price signals and price-taking demand. Such a closed loop can be exploited by an adversary whose objective is to destabilize the pricing system. Specifically, small malicious modifications to the price signals can be iteratively amplified by the closed loop, causing highly volatile prices, fluctuating power demand, and increased system operating cost. This article adopts a control-theoretic approach to deriving the fundamental conditions of RTP stability under basic demand, supply, and RTP models that characterize the essential behaviors of consumers, suppliers, and system operators, as well as two broad classes of integrity attacks, namely, the
scaling
and
delay
attacks. We show that, under an approximated linear time-invariant formulation, the RTP system is at risk of being destabilized only if the adversary can compromise the price signals advertised to consumers, by either reducing their values in the scaling attack or providing old prices to over half of all consumers in the delay attack. The results provide useful guidelines for system operators to analyze the impact of various attack parameters on system stability so that they may take adequate measures to secure RTP systems.
Fixed Points Results forα-Admissible Mapping of Integral Type on Generalized Metric Spaces
Authors: Karapınar Erdal
Published: July 2015

We introduce generalized(α,ψ)-contractive mappings of integral type in the context of generalized metric spaces. The results of this paper generalize and improve several results on the topic in literature.
The Best Approximation Theorems and Fixed Point Theorems for Discontinuous Increasing Mappings in Banach Spaces
Authors: Kong Dezhou , Liu Lishan , Wu Yonghong
Published: July 2015

We prove that Fan’s theorem is true for discontinuous increasing mappingsfin a real partially ordered reflexive, strictly convex, and smooth Banach spaceX. The main tools of analysis are the variational characterizations of the generalized projection operator and order-theoretic fixed point theory. Moreover, we get some properties of the generalized projection operator in Banach spaces. As applications of our best approximation theorems, the fixed point theorems for non-self-maps are established and proved under some conditions. Our results are generalizations and improvements of the recent results obtained by many authors.
Design of Wireless Nanosensor Networks for Intrabody Application
Authors: Lee Suk Jin , Jung Changyong (Andrew) , Choi Kyusun , Kim Sungun
Published: July 2015

Emerging nanotechnology presents great potential to change human society. Nanoscale devices are able to be included with Internet. This new communication paradigm, referred to as Internet of Nanothings (IoNT), demands very short-range connections among nanoscale devices. IoNT raises many challenges to realize it. Current network protocols and techniques may not be directly applied to communicate with nanosensors. Due to the very limited capability of nanodevices, the devices must have simple communication and simple medium sharing mechanism in order to collect the data effectively from nanosensors. Moreover, nanosensors may be deployed at organs of the human body, and they may produce large data. In this process, the data transmission from nanosensors to gateway should be controlled from the energy efficiency point of view. In this paper, we propose a wireless nanosensor network (WNSN) at the nanoscale that would be useful for intrabody disease detection. The proposed conceptual network model is based on On-Off Keying (OOK) protocol and TDMA framework. The model assumes hexagonal cell-based nanosensors deployed in cylindrical shape 3D hexagonal pole. We also present in this paper the analysis of the data transmission efficiency, for the various combinations of transmission methods, exploiting hybrid, direct, and multi-hop methods.
Scheduling Jobs with Maintenance Subject to Load-Dependent Duration on a Single Machine
Authors: Qi Yawei , Wan Long , Yan Zhigang
Published: July 2015

This paper investigates a scheduling problem on a single machine with maintenance, in which the starting time of the maintenance is given in advance but its duration depends on the load of the machine before the maintenance. The goal is to minimize the makespan. We formulate it as an integer programming model and show that it is NP-hard in the ordinary sense. Then, we propose an FPTAS and point out that a special case is polynomial solvable. Finally, we design fast heuristic algorithms to solve the scheduling problem. Numerical experiments are implemented to evaluate the performance of the proposed heuristic algorithms. The results show the proposed heuristic algorithms are effective.
Matrix Metalloproteinase‐9 Production following Cardiopulmonary Bypass Was Not Associated with Pulmonary Dysfunction after Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Lin Tso-Chou , Lin Feng-Yen , Lin Yi-Wen , Hsu Che-Hao , Huang Go-Shine , Wu Zhi-Fu , Tsai Yi-Ting , Lin Chih-Yuan , Li Chi-Yuan , Tsai Chien-Sung
Published: July 2015

Background. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes release of matrix metalloproteinase‐ (MMP‐) 9, contributing to pulmonary infiltration and dysfunction. The aims were to investigate MMP‐9 production and associated perioperative variables and oxygenation following CPB. Methods. Thirty patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were included. Arterial blood was sampled at 6 sequential points (before anesthesia induction, before CPB and at 2, 4, 6, and 24 h after beginning CPB) for plasma MMP‐9 concentrations by ELISA. The perioperative laboratory data and variables, including bypass time, PaO2/FiO2, and extubation time, were also recorded. Results. The plasma MMP‐9 concentrations significantly elevated at 2–6 h after beginning CPB (P < 0.001) and returned to the preanesthesia level at 24 h (P = 0.23), with predominant neutrophil counts after surgery (P < 0.001). The plasma MMP‐9 levels at 4 and 6 h were not correlated with prolonged CPB time and displayed no association with postoperative PaO2/FiO2, regardless of reduced ratio from preoperative 342.9 ± 81.2 to postoperative 207.3 ± 121.3 mmHg (P <  0.001). Conclusion. Elective cardiac surgery with CPB induced short‐term elevation of plasma MMP‐9 concentrations within 24 hours, however, without significant correlation with CPB time and postoperative pulmonary dysfunction, despite predominantly increased neutrophils and reduced oxygenation.
Elastography Evaluation of Benign Thyroid Nodules in Patients Affected by Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Authors: Cappelli Carlo , Pirola Ilenia , Gandossi Elena , Formenti Annamaria , Agosti Barbara , Castellano Maurizio
Published: July 2015

The aim of the present prospective study was to evaluate the predictive value of elastography in benign thyroid nodules of patients affected by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). From January 2011 to January 2012, 242 nodules in patients affected by HT were submitted to fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). All of the patients underwent sonography and elastography performed before FNAC. 230 (95%) nodules were benign, 8 papillary cancers, and 4 follicular lesions. Score 1 was found in 79.1% of benign lesions (sensitivity 79.1%; specificity 66.7%; PPV 97.8%; NPV 14.3%; accuracy 78.5%;p<0.05). In order to evaluate the outcome of thyroid ultrasound echogenicity in relation to elastography features of nodule(s), all the patients with benign nodules were stratified according to their hypoechoic pattern of thyroid (mild-moderate and severe). Following stratification score 1 was found in 84.2% of benign nodules (sensitivity 75.0%; specificity 88.9%; PPV 27.3%; NPV 98.4%; accuracy 88.2%;p<0.0001) of patients with a mild-moderate ultrasound thyroid hypoechogenicity, whereas it was found in 60% of benign nodules(p=0.715)of patients with a marked thyroid hypoechogenicity. Elastography appears to have limited value in detecting thyroid cancer in patients affected by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with severe hypoechoic thyroid tissue.
Lot-Order Assignment Applying Priority Rules for the Single-Machine Total Tardiness Scheduling with Nonnegative Time-Dependent Processing Times
Authors: Kim Jae-Gon , Lim Seung-Kil , Bang June-Young
Published: July 2015

Lot-order assignment is to assign items in lots being processed to orders to fulfill the orders. It is usually performed periodically for meeting the due dates of orders especially in a manufacturing industry with a long production cycle time such as the semiconductor manufacturing industry. In this paper, we consider the lot-order assignment problem (LOAP) with the objective of minimizing the total tardiness of the orders with distinct due dates. We show that we can solve the LOAP optimally by finding an optimal sequence for the single-machine total tardiness scheduling problem with nonnegative time-dependent processing times (SMTTSP-NNTDPT). Also, we address how the priority rules for the SMTTSP can be modified to those for the SMTTSP-NNTDPT to solve the LOAP. In computational experiments, we discuss the performances of the suggested priority rules and show the result of the proposed approach outperforms that of the commercial optimization software package.