bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective effect of mango (Mangifera indicaL.) against UVB‐induced skin aging in hairless mice
Authors: Song Jae Hyoung , Bae Eun Young , Choi Goya , Hyun Jin Won , Lee Mi Young , Lee Hye Won , Chae Sungwook
Published: March 2013

Background

Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae) is a medicinal plant whose extracts have been described as an antioxidant with anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities.

Purpose

Skin aging is a consequence of chronic sun exposure to the sun and therefore ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Naturally occurring antioxidants are known to reduce skin aging. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective role of mango extract against UVB‐induced skin aging in hairless mice.

Methods

HR‐1 hairless male mice (6 weeks old) were divided into three groups: control (n = 5), UVB‐treated vehicle (n = 5), and UVB‐treated mango extract (n = 5) groups. UVB‐irradiated mice from the mango extract group were orally administered 0.1 ml of water containing 100 mg of mango extract/kg body weight per day. The inhibitory activity of mango extract on wrinkle formation was determined by the analysis of the skin replica, epidermal thickness based on histological examination, and damage to collagen fiber.

Results

The mean length of wrinkles in UVB‐treated vehicle group significantly improved after the oral administration of mango extract, which significantly inhibited the increase in epidermal thickness and epidermal hypertrophy (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a marked increase in collagen bundles was observed in the UVB‐treated group after the administration of mango extract by Masson's trichrome staining.

Conclusion

These results indicate that mango extract showed anti‐photoaging activity in UVB‐irradiated hairless mice.
Effectiveness of photodynamic therapy with topical 5‐aminolevulinic acid and intense pulsed light in Chinese acne vulgaris patients
Authors: Mei Xingyu , Shi Weimin , Piao Yinglan
Published: March 2013

Background

The success rates of conventional treatments to acne vulgaris are limited because of intolerance and resistance. Photodynamic therapy with topical 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and red light has been introduced. However, the side effects especially pigmentation are common.

Objective

To study the efficacy and safety of ALA‐photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 420–950 nm intense pulsed light (IPL) in Chinese patients with acne vulgaris.

Methods

Forty‐one patients with moderate to severe facial acne were randomly assigned to ALA‐IPL‐PDT group and IPL group. Ten percent topical ALA was applied to patients in the ALA‐IPL‐PDT group, while placeboes were applied to patients in the IPL group. After 1 h occlusion, all patients were illuminated with 420–950 nm IPL. The patients in both groups had four treatment sessions with 1‐week intervals. One week after each treatment and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after four sessions, acne lesion counts and adverse events were observed.

Results

Twelve weeks after treatments, mean reductions of global lesion counts of ALA‐IPL‐PDT group and IPL group were 75.2% and 51.0%, respectively. Mean reductions of inflammatory and non‐inflammatory lesion counts in ALA‐IPL‐PDT group were (83.6 ± 4.1)% and (57.5 ± 6.8)%, respectively. No severe adverse events were observed.

Conclusion

ALA‐IPL‐PDT is an effective treatment for moderate to severe acne vulgaris, and side effects are mild and reversible.
RFID‐Enabled Visibility and Retail Inventory Record Inaccuracy: Experiments in the Field
Authors: Hardgrave Bill C. , Aloysius John A. , Goyal Sandeep
Published: March 2013

Accurate inventory records are key to effective store execution, affecting forecasting, ordering, and replenishment. Prior empirical research, however, shows that retailer inventory records are inherently inaccurate. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) enables visibility into the movement of inventories in the supply chain. Using two different field experiments, the current research investigates the effectiveness of this visibility in reducing retail store inventory record inaccuracy (IRI). Study 1 used an interrupted time‐series design and involved daily physical counts of all products in one category in 13 stores (8 treatments and 5 controls) of a major global retailer over 23 weeks. Results indicate a significant decrease in IRI of approximately 26% due to RFID‐enabled visibility. Using an untreated control group design with pre‐test and post‐test, Study 2 expands the number of categories to five and the number of stores to 62 (31 treatment and 31 control stores). Results show that the effectiveness of RFID in reducing IRI varies by category (ranging from no statistically significant improvement to 81%). Results also suggest that RFID ameliorates the effects of known determinants of IRI and provide the key insight that the technology is most effective for product categories characterized by these determinants.
Goal Setting in the Australian Public Service: Effects on Psychological Empowerment and Organizational Citizenship Behavior
Authors: Taylor Jeannette
Published: March 2013

Do specific and difficult job goals have a positive, negative, or negligible effect on higher levels of performance in the form of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) among government employees? Importantly, how do they influence OCB: directly and/or indirectly through psychological empowerment? This article on a small group of Australian federal government employees draws from the goal‐setting and self‐determination theories to provide a better understanding of how goal setting affects OCB. Findings show that goal specificity largely influenced OCB indirectly through psychological empowerment. In contrast, goal difficulty raised OCB directly and through the partial mediating effect of psychological empowerment.
Beneficial Effect of Melatonin on Blastocyst In Vitro Production from Heat‐Stressed Bovine Oocytes
Authors: Cebrian‐Serrano A , Salvador I , Raga E , Dinnyes A , Silvestre MA
Published: March 2013

Contents

Melatonin may play an important role in protecting gametes and embryos from the potential harmful effects of oxidative stress. In this study, we first examined two different heat stress (HS) treatments for in vitro oocyte maturation (Experiment 1: 38.5 vs 41.0°C, during the first 20 h; Experiment 2: 38.5 vs 41.5°C, during the entire period) on bovine oocyte maturation and embryo development. Second, we tested different melatonin concentrations added to the maturation and culture medium (Experiment 3: 0, 10−12, 10−9, 10−4 m; Experiment 4: 0, 10−3 m), both with and without HS (38.5 or 41.5°C, respectively). In Experiment 1, the HS treatment resulted in a lower maturation rate and number of cells/blastocyst (C/B) and a higher blastocyst rate than that in the control group. In Experiment 2, oocytes/embryos from heat‐stressed oocytes (HSO) had a lower maturation, cleavage and blastocyst rates, as well as a lower C/B compared with the control. In Experiment 3, in HSO groups, 10−4 m melatonin resulted in an increased blastocyst rate compared with 0 m melatonin, with a similar blastocyst rate to the non‐HSO without melatonin. Melatonin did not have any effect in embryos from non‐HSO groups compared with the control. In Experiment 4, 10−3 m melatonin produced lower cleavage and blastocyst rates in HSO and lower blastocyst rate in non‐HSO when compared to melatonin‐untreated oocytes/embryos. In conclusion, 10−4 m melatonin was found to alleviate bovine oocytes from the harmful effects of HS.
Preeradication Vaccine Policy Options for Poliovirus Infection and Disease Control
Authors: Thompson Kimberly M. , Pallansch Mark A. , Duintjer Tebbens Radboud J. , Wassilak Steve G. , Kim Jong‐Hoon , Cochi Stephen L.
Published: March 2013

With the circulation of wild poliovirus (WPV) types 1 and 3 continuing more than a decade after the original goal of eradicating all three types of WPVs by 2000, policymakers consider many immunization options as they strive to stop transmission in the remaining endemic and outbreak areas and prevent reintroductions of live polioviruses into nonendemic areas. While polio vaccination choices may appear simple, our analysis of current options shows remarkable complexity. We offer important context for current and future polio vaccine decisions and policy analyses by developing decision trees that clearly identify potential options currently used by countries as they evaluate national polio vaccine choices. Based on a comprehensive review of the literature we (1) identify the current vaccination options that national health leaders consider for polio vaccination, (2) characterize current practices and factors that appear to influence national and international choices, and (3) assess the evidence of vaccine effectiveness considering sources of variability between countries and uncertainties associated with limitations of the data. With low numbers of cases occurring globally, the management of polio risks might seem like a relatively low priority, but stopping live poliovirus circulation requires making proactive and intentional choices to manage population immunity in the remaining endemic areas and to prevent reestablishment in nonendemic areas. Our analysis shows remarkable variability in the current national polio vaccine product choices and schedules, with combination vaccine options containing inactivated poliovirus vaccine and different formulations of oral poliovirus vaccine making choices increasingly difficult for national health leaders.
Media Framing and Public Attitudes Toward Biofuels
Authors: Delshad Ashlie , Raymond Leigh
Published: March 2013

This study investigates the relationship between media framing and public opinion on the issue of biofuels—transportation fuels made from plants, animal products, or organic waste. First, the paper investigates how media framing of biofuels has changed since the issue regained national prominence in the early 2000s. Through a detailed content analysis of newspaper coverage, the paper documents an increase in negative frames between 1999 and 2008, especially frames focusing on the negative economic effects of biofuels on consumers. Second, using data from a 2010 Internet survey of a random sample of the U.S. public, the paper analyzes the relative influence of these new media frames on public attitudes toward biofuels compared with other common predictors of public opinion, such as party ID, regional economic interests, and personal identity as an environmentalist. In general, the results confirm that public attitudes toward biofuels appear to be shaped by these new media frames, especially among those who indicate a high degree of attention to the media, suggesting the relative importance of framing effects on policy attitudes for environmental and energy policies in general.
The Defining Elements of Advocacy Coalitions: Continuing the Search for Explanations for Coordination and Coalition Structures
Authors: Matti Simon , Sandström Annica
Published: March 2013

As the theoretical and practical interest in policy networks increases, so does the need for further research into how, and based on what rationales, actors within a policy subsystem engage in interorganizational collective action and form political coalitions. The aim of this paper is to continue the search for explanations for coordination and coalition structures in the setting of Swedish carnivore policy. Based on the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) and a previous case study within the same policy subsystem, the study investigates a set of hypotheses regarding actors' coordinating behavior and the defining elements of coalitions. The empirical analysis indicates, in support of the ACF, that perceived belief correspondence is a better predictor of coordination than perceived influence. Moreover, the explanatory power of empirical policy core beliefs in general, and normative policy core beliefs in particular, is further reinforced, while deep core beliefs seemingly do not influence coalition structure. The relevance of more shallow beliefs for coalition formation cannot be dismissed and therefore calls for additional research.
Addressing Public Risks: Extreme Events and Critical Infrastructures
Authors: May Peter J. , Koski Chris
Published: March 2013

We consider noncoercive means for harnessing the efforts of the private sector as partners with public authorities for addressing potential harms from widely dispersed risks. Our focus is the public and private sector approach in theUnitedStates to protecting the nation's critical infrastructures. We empirically address how two key elements of this approach—mobilization of attention and planning partnerships—work to foster “communities of interest” that pursue common sets of solutions for risk reduction. Our depiction of the varied communities of interest underscores differences in starting points in creating such communities, in the ability to mobilize and focus attention within them, and in the likelihood of sustaining efforts to address threats to critical infrastructures. The fundamental issue raised by our research is striking an appropriate balance between governmental and private sector roles in addressing risks for which it is hard to create and sustain protective actions.
What Nephrologists Need to Know about Vascular Access Cannulation
Authors: Dinwiddie Lesley C. , Ball Lynda , Brouwer Deborah , Doss‐McQuitty Sheila , Holland Janet
Published: March 2013

This article describes cannulation events, especially problems, common and rare, minor and major, to aid the nephrologist (and mid‐level providers e.g. nurse practitioner and physician’s assistant) in decision‐making to prevent or treat cannulation‐related adverse outcomes. The usual management, potential outcomes, nephrologist intervention, and prevention are discussed and include: assessment of arteriovenous (AV) access and readiness for cannulation; initial cannulation of both arteriovenous fistulas and grafts; needle size and adequacy; needle direction and potential for recirculation; limited cannulation sites/buttonhole; pain and fear of pain; prevention of bleeding; management of infiltrations/extravasations; prevention and management of “one‐site‐itis”; prevention and management of infection. It concludes with the importance of the medical director as the leader of the continuous quality improvement (CQI) team in preventing/reducing cannulation‐related adverse events.
A Survey of Current Procedural Practices of Australian and New Zealand Nephrologists
Authors: Ritchie Angus G. , Saunders John , Baer Richard , May Stephen ,   on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Special Interest Group in Interventional Nephrology Research Collaboration
Published: March 2013

The aim of this study was to describe the range and extent of current procedural practices of Nephrologists and trainees in Australia and New Zealand with a specific focus on renal biopsy. A web‐based survey was constructed based on a 2009 pilot survey conducted by the authors. The survey was distributed by email. A total of 118 responses were received from 60 centers, including six pediatric centers; Nephrologists or trainees performed the following procedures: urine microscopy 36.4%; diagnostic ultrasound 10.2%; renal biopsy 93.2%; simple vascath insertion 64.4%; cuffed vascath insertion 22%; peritoneal catheter insertion 16.9%; fistula ultrasound 20.3%; and fistulography 5%. Trainees performed most renal biopsies (67.8% of respondents) and real‐time ultrasound was the commonest technique (97%). The majority of respondents believe that renal biopsy is an essential skill for trainees (78.8%); 10–25 biopsies are required for trainee proficiency (59.3%); an online training module would assist in teaching renal biopsies (67.8%). Cuffed catheter insertion and fistulography were more often performed in nonmetropolitan than in metropolitan centers. Procedures are part of Australian and New Zealand Nephrology, including specialized procedures in a minority of centers. Vascular access procedures are more common in nonmetropolitan centers. Renal biopsy is an important skill, considered essential for trainees by most.
Surgical Management of Cephalic Arch Occlusive Lesions: Are There Predictors for Outcomes?
Authors: Wang Shouwen , Almehmi Ammar , Asif Arif
Published: March 2013

Cephalic arch lesions are common cause for dysfunction of brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas. For lesions resistant or not amenable to endovascular interventions, we used a term “cephalic arch occlusive lesions” (CAO) that included cephalic arch total occlusion, frequently recurrent stenosis (requiring angioplasty in <3‐month intervals), high‐grade elastic stenosis (residual stenosis >50% after angioplasty), or other lesions not amenable to endovascular interventions. Herein, we report 40 patients who underwent surgical revisions for total occlusions (17/40), frequently recurrent stenosis (17/40), high‐grade elastic stenosis (5/40), and zigzag stenosis (1/40). The revisions included cephalic transposition and venovenostomy (CTV = 37/40), basilic transposition and venovenostomy (1/40), stenotic segment resection (1/40), and cephalic‐jugular vein bypass graft (1/40). At 12‐month post‐CTV, the primary patency of the transposed cephalic vein, the fistula assisted primary and secondary patency rates were 25%, 82% and 97%, respectively. Notably, pre‐CTV angioplasty of the proximal cephalic vein was the only significant predictor for the low primary patency rate (hazard ratio 4.5, p = 0.002). Accordingly, the primary patency rates were 12% and 58% in patients with and without pre‐CTV angioplasty, respectively. In summary, surgical interventions are effective in salvaging fistulas complicated with CAO. Importantly, pre‐CTV angioplasty of the proximal cephalic vein might adversely affect the outcome of CTV.
Job Security, Financial Security and Worker Well‐being: New Evidence on the Effects of Flexible Employment
Authors: Green Colin P. , Leeves Gareth D.
Published: March 2013

This paper uses panel data drawn from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey to provide new evidence of the links between unemployment, wages, job security, financial security and workers' well‐being for workers in flexible employment. Our findings indicate that workers in flexible employment encounter more unemployment and experience increased job insecurity; unemployment is associated with wage penalties. Lower wages, job insecurity and financial insecurity affect well‐being. However, these negative outcomes are mitigated by longer job tenure. Our results have implications for moves towards a flexicurity model of employment
Where do golf driver swings go wrong? Factors influencing driver swing consistency
Authors: Zhang X. , Shan G.
Published: March 2013

One of the challenging skills in golfing is the driver swing. There have been a large number of studies characterizing golf swings, yielding insightful instructions on how to swing well. As a result, achieving a sub‐18 handicap is no longer the top problem for golfers. Instead, players are now most troubled by a lack of consistency during swing execution. The goal of this study was to determine how to consistently execute good golf swings. Using 3D motion capture and full‐body biomechanical modeling, 22 experienced golfers were analysed. For characterizing both successful and failed swings, 19 selected parameters (13 angles, 4 time parameters, and 2 distances) were used. The results showed that 14 parameters are highly sensitive and/or prone to motor control variations. These parameters sensitized five distinct areas of swing to variation: (a) ball positioning, (b) transverse club angle, (c) transition, (d) wrist control, and (e) posture migration between takeaway and impact. Suggestions were provided for how to address these five distinct problem areas. We hope our findings on how to achieve consistency in golf swings will benefit all levels of golf pedagogy and help maintain/develop interests to involve more golf/physical activity for a healthy lifestyle.
An Examination of the Measurement Adequacy of the NES Scales for the Measurement of Racially Relevant Attitudes
Authors: Hooper Michael
Published: March 2013

Objective

The objective of the research reported in this article is to determine if the NES scale for the measurement of equalitarianism is adequate for the measurement of attitudes toward equality in the mass public.

Methods

The analysis begins with the conjecture that the items are framed in terms that are too abstract for the typical member of the mass public to comprehend. As a result, it is argued, each item will not measure the same latent variable, equalitarianism. Rather, item scores will be saturated with systematic error in the form of response set, with the items falling into separate groups depending on how they are framed, rendering scores on the items problematic for use in empirical analysis. For contrast, responses to the items constituting the NES racial resentment scale are also examined. The items comprising this scale are framed in more concrete terms. As a result, it is argued that items comprising the racial resentment scale should display much less systematic error in the form of response set when used in the mass public. Using NES data from a national sample drawn in 2008, responses to the items comprising the equalitarian and racial resentment scales were analyzed via differences of means, correlations, and LISREL (C)onfirmatory (F)actor (A)nalyses.

Results

The results for the equalitarianism scale do not support the conclusion that each item is measuring the same latent variable. Rather, the results are consistent with the argument that response set is the dominant factor in shaping responses. The results for the racial resentment scale support the conclusion that each item is measuring what it is designed to measure and response set is playing a relatively minor role in shaping responses. An additional confirmatory factor analysis of scores on the equalitarian scale was done using only highly educated respondents. This segment of the population can be expected to deal relatively easily with items framed in abstract terms. The CFA for this group of respondents yielded results that bear out this expectation and are interpreted as buttressing the principal argument of the article that the items constituting the scale are not suitable for use in the mass public because they are couched in terms too abstract for the typical member of the mass public to comprehend.

Conclusion

The article concludes with the suggestion that it would be useful to develop a new scale for the measurement of equalitarian attitudes in the mass public, along with some suggestions regarding the nature of such an instrument.
Multi‐objective optimization for diffuse pollution control at zero cost
Authors: Panagopoulos Y. , Makropoulos C. , Mimikou M.
Published: March 2013

Agricultural best management practices (BMPs) are gaining ground as a means of mitigating diffuse nutrient pollution of surface waters in agricultural catchments; however, their cost‐effectiveness depends on the location‐specific characteristics of the land on which they are applied. To identify acceptable catchment management solutions with respect to environmental and economic objectives, a decision support tool (DST) is used in this study. The DST integrates the river basin soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model that serves as the nonpoint source pollution estimator into an optimization framework consisting of a multi‐objective genetic algorithm that searches for optimal selection and location of BMPs in the landscape. A three‐objective optimization problem has been previously solved for the Arachtos catchment in western Greece including the implementation costs of several types of BMPs such as nutrient application, crop, soil and livestock management and total annual diffuse losses of total phosphorus (TP) and nitrate‐nitrogen (NO3‐N) from land to surface waters. In the present study, a solution of negligible total cost for the whole catchment was selected from optimal two‐dimensional trade‐off curves of cost‐TP and cost‐NO3‐N, aiming to complement previously analysed management options and further enhance decision‐making in this catchment. The zero cost solution led to 30 and 20% reductions in TP and NO3‐N river concentrations, respectively, corresponding to contour cultivation without tillage in corn, fertilizer management in alfalfa as well as livestock and manure management along with the establishment of filter strips at the edge of some corn and pastureland fields. The proposed methodology enabled the identification of a low cost, and possibly more favourable, compared to previous findings, combination of BMPs that ensures good quality of river water. It helps to provide the basis for sustainable land‐use planning and management in large agricultural landscapes, thus aiding decision‐making and cost‐effective implementation of Environmental Directives.
Screening of patients with tuberculosis for diabetes mellitus in India
Authors:   India Tuberculosis‐Diabetes Study Group
Published: March 2013

Objective

To assess feasibility and results of screening patients with tuberculosis (TB) for diabetes mellitus (DM) within the routine healthcare setting across the country at: eight tertiary care hospitals and more than 60 peripheral health institutions in eight tuberculosis units.

Methods

Agreement on how to screen, monitor and record was reached in October 2011 at a stakeholders' meeting, and training was carried out for staff in the facilities in December 2011 and January 2012. Implementation started from January 2012, and we report on activities up to 30 September 2012.

Results

Of 8269 TB patients diagnosed and initiated on treatment in participating facilities, 8109 (98%) were assessed for DM and 1084 (13%) were found to have DM; of these, 682 (8%) had a previously known diagnosis of DM and 402 (5%) were newly diagnosed. There was a higher prevalence of DM in patients with TB diagnosed in tertiary care hospitals (16%) than in those diagnosed in tuberculosis units (9%) (P < 0.001) and amongst those from South India (20%) than from North India (10%) (P < 0.001). The screening and referral process worked well although significantly more patients with DM diagnosed in hospitals were referred to DM care (96%) than patients diagnosed in tuberculosis units (92%) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

This pilot project shows that it is important and feasible to screen patients with TB for DM in the routine setting, resulting in earlier identification of DM in some patients and opportunities for better management of comorbidity. A policy decision has since been made by the National TB Control Programme of India to implement this intervention countrywide.
Granularity Analysis for Mathematical Proofs
Authors: Schiller Marvin R. G.
Published: March 2013

Mathematical proofs generally allow for various levels of detail and conciseness, such that they can be adapted for a particular audience or purpose. Using automated reasoning approaches for teaching proof construction in mathematics presupposes that the step size of proofs in such a system is appropriate within the teaching context. This work proposes a framework that supports the granularity analysis of mathematical proofs, to be used in the automated assessment of students' proof attempts and for the presentation of hints and solutions at a suitable pace. Models for granularity are represented by classifiers, which can be generated by hand or inferred from a corpus of sample judgments via machine‐learning techniques. This latter procedure is studied by modeling granularity judgments from four experts. The results provide support for the granularity of assertion‐level proofs but also illustrate a degree of subjectivity in assessing step size.
PELPIII: the class III pistil‐specific extensin‐like Nicotiana tabacum proteins are essential for interspecific incompatibility
Authors: Eberle Carrie A. , Anderson Neil O. , Clasen Benjamin M. , Hegeman Adrian D. , Smith Alan G.
Published: March 2013

Pre‐zygotic interspecific incompatibility (II) involves an active inhibition mechanism between the pollen of one species and the pistil of another. As a barrier to fertilization, II effectively prevents hybridization and maintains species identity. Transgenic ablation of the mature transmitting tract (TT) in Nicotiana tabacum resulted in the loss of inhibition of pollen tube growth in Nicotiana obtusifolia (synonym Nicotiana trigonophylla) and Nicotiana repanda. The role of the TT in the II interaction between N. tabacum and N. obtusifolia was characterized by evaluating N. obtusifolia pollen tube growth in normal and TT‐ablated N. tabacum styles at various post‐pollination times and developmental stages. The II activity of the TT slowed and then arrested N. obtusifolia pollen tube growth, and was developmentally synchronized. We hypothesize that proteins produced by the mature TT and secreted into the extracellular matrix inhibit interspecific pollen tubes. When extracts from the mature TT of N. tabacum were injected into the TT‐ablated style prior to pollination, the growth of incompatible pollen tubes of N. obtusifolia and N. repanda was inhibited. The class III pistil‐specific extensin‐like protein (PELPIII) was consistently associated with specific inhibition of pollen tubes, and its requirement for II was confirmed through use of plants with antisense suppression of PELPIII. Inhibition of N. obtusifolia and N. repanda pollen tube growth required accumulation of PELPIII in the TT of N. tabacum, supporting PELPIII function in pre‐zygotic II.
Hematologic and bone marrow changes in dogs experimentally infected with Rangelia vitalii
Authors: França Raqueli T. , Da Silva Aleksandro S. , Costa Marcio M. , Paim Francine C. , Soares João F. , Labruna Marcelo B. , Mazzanti Cinthia M. , Lopes Sonia T.A.
Published: March 2013

Background

Rangelia vitalii is a tick‐transmitted piroplasm that causes both hemolytic and hemorrhagic disease in dogs in Brazil.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of the bone marrow in dogs experimentally infected with R vitalii during the acute stage of the disease.

Methods

For this study, 2 groups of a total of 12 young dogs were used. Group A was composed of healthy dogs (n = 5), and group B consisted of animals infected with R vitalii (n = 7). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 10, 20, and 30 post‐inoculation and stored in EDTA tubes for a full hematology profile, including a reticulocyte count. On days 10 and 20, bone marrow samples were collected, stained, and examined.

Results

In infected dogs anemia was identified on days 10 and 20 post‐inoculation (P < .01), and on day 20 reticulocytosis was present. Infected dogs had leukopenia due to neutropenia and eosinopenia, along with lymphocytosis and monocytosis, when compared with control animals. In bone marrow, the myeloid:erythroid ratio was significantly decreased (P < .05) in infected dogs due to increased erythroid precursors.

Conclusions

Dogs experimentally infected with R vitalii develop regenerative extravascular hemolytic anemia accompanied by erythroid hyperplasia in the bone marrow. During the acute phase of the disease, leukopenia due to neutropenia and eosinopenia suggests intense tissue recruitment of these cells in response to the endothelial damage caused by this parasite.
Sprouting capacity from intact root systems of Cirsium arvense and Sonchus arvensis decrease in autumn
Authors: Andersson L , Boström U , Forkman J , Hakman I , Liew J , Magnuski E
Published: March 2013

Perennial weeds are often controlled by mechanical means, which aim at stimulating axillary and adventitious buds to sprout. This happens when the apical dominance of the main shoot is removed by defoliation or when the underground system is fragmented. By repeating the measures, the result is a depletion of storage compounds, which weakens the plants and reduces their capacity to grow and reproduce. However, timing is critical. Earlier research has indicated that emergence from fragments of Sonchus arvensis cease during a period in autumn, while the seasonal pattern of sprouting in Cirsium arvense appears to be inconsistent. We studied the emergence pattern of defoliated plants with undisturbed root systems, from late summer to early spring. Potted plants grown outdoors were exhumed at regular intervals, put under forcing conditions for 4 weeks, after which shoots above and below soil level were counted and weighed together with the remaining root systems. In both species, the number and weight of emerged shoots decreased during a period in the autumn. In C. arvense, underground shoots were constantly produced during the same period, while fewer underground shoots were present in S. arvensis. For the latter species, apical dominance does not fully explain the effect; thus, endodormancy might be involved. Root weight increased until withering and did not explain the lack of emergence. Our results suggest an impaired sprouting capacity of undisturbed root systems of C. arvense and S. arvensis during September–October, which has implications for the timing and method of control of these species.
A Conceptual Model for the Impact of Climate Change on Fox Rabies in Alaska, 1980–2010
Authors: Kim B. I. , Blanton J. D. , Gilbert A. , Castrodale L. , Hueffer K. , Slate D. , Rupprecht C. E.
Published: March 2013

The direct and interactive effects of climate change on host species and infectious disease dynamics are likely to initially manifest\ at latitudinal extremes. As such, Alaska represents a region in the United States for introspection on climate change and disease. Rabies is enzootic among arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) throughout the northern polar region. In Alaska, arctic and red foxes(Vulpes vulpes)are reservoirs for rabies, with most domestic animal and wildlife cases reported from northern and western coastal Alaska. Based on passive surveillance, a pronounced seasonal trend in rabid foxes occurs in Alaska, with a peak in winter and spring. This study describes climatic factors that may be associated with reported cyclic rabies occurrence. Based upon probabilistic modelling, a stronger seasonal effect in reported fox rabies cases appears at higher latitudes in Alaska, and rabies in arctic foxes appear disproportionately affected by climatic factors in comparison with red foxes. As temperatures continue a warming trend, a decrease in reported rabid arctic foxes may be expected. The overall epidemiology of rabies in Alaska is likely to shift to increased viral transmission among red foxes as the primary reservoir in the region. Information on fox and lemming demographics, in addition to enhanced rabies surveillance among foxes at finer geographic scales, will be critical to develop more comprehensive models for rabies virus transmission in the region.
Sensing hypoxia: physiology, genetics and epigenetics
Authors: Prabhakar Nanduri R.
Published: March 2013

Abstract  The carotid body is a sensory organ for detecting arterial blood O2 levels and reflexly mediates systemic cardiac, vascular and respiratory responses to hypoxia. This article presents a brief review of the roles of gaseous messengers in the sensory transduction at the carotid body, genetic and epigenetic influences on hypoxic sensing and the role of the carotid body chemoreflex in cardiorespiratory diseases. Type I (also called glomus) cells, the site of O2 sensing in the carotid body, express haem oxygenase‐2 and cystathionine‐γ‐lyase, the enzymes which catalyse the generation of CO and H2S, respectively. Physiological studies have shown that CO is an inhibitory gas messenger, which contributes to the low sensory activity during normoxia, whereas H2S is excitatory and mediates sensory stimulation by hypoxia. Hypoxia‐evoked H2S generation in the carotid body requires the interaction of cystathionine‐γ‐lyase with haem oxygenase‐2, which generates CO. Hypoxia‐inducible factors 1 and 2 constitute important components of the genetic make‐up in the carotid body, which influence hypoxic sensing by regulating the intracellular redox state via transcriptional regulation of pro‐ and antioxidant enzymes. Recent studies suggest that developmental programming of the carotid body response to hypoxia involves epigenetic changes, e.g. DNA methylation of genes encoding redox‐regulating enzymes. Emerging evidence implicates heightened carotid body chemoreflex in the progression of autonomic morbidities associated with cardiorespiratory diseases, such as sleep‐disordered breathing with apnoea, congestive heart failure and essential hypertension.
Hormone replacement therapy improves contractile function and myonuclear organization of single muscle fibres from postmenopausal monozygotic female twin pairs
Authors: Qaisar Rizwan , Renaud Guillaume , Hedstrom Yvette , Pöllänen Eija , Ronkainen Paula , Kaprio Jaakko , Alen Markku , Sipilä Sarianna , Artemenko Konstantin , Bergquist Jonas , Kovanen Vuokko , Larsson Lars
Published: March 2013

Key points

The ageing‐related impairment of muscle function and consequent falls and fall‐related injuries have severe negative effects on morbidity and mortality in old age, with women being more negatively affected than men.

The effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on regulation of muscle contraction and myonuclear organization were investigated in monozygous postmenopausal twin pairs where only one twin was an HRT‐user.

HRT treatment improved single fibre force‐generating capacity (specific force), without affecting fibre size and speed of contraction, due to fibre type‐specific effects on force and number of force‐generating cross‐bridges.

HRT had a significant effect on the myonuclear organization in slow‐twitch muscle fibres, improving the synthetic capacity of the myonuclei and optimizing transport of proteins.

Significant positive effects on regulation of muscle contraction and myonuclear organization were observed at the cellular level in response to HRT with consequences for quality of life in postmenopausal women.

Abstract  Ageing is associated with a decline in muscle mass and strength leading to increased physical dependency in old age. Postmenopausal women experience a greater decline than men of similar age in parallel with the decrease in female sex steroid hormone production. We recruited six monozygous female twin pairs (55–59 years old) where only one twin pair was on hormone replacement therapy (HRT use = 7.8 ± 4.3 years) to investigate the association of HRT with the cytoplasmic volume supported by individual myonuclei (myonuclear domain (MND) size,) together with specific force at the single fibre level. HRT use was associated with a significantly smaller (∼27%; P < 0.05) mean MND size in muscle fibres expressing the type I but not the IIa myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform. In comparison to non‐users, higher specific force was recorded in HRT users both in muscle fibres expressing type I (∼27%; P < 0.05) and type IIa (∼23%; P < 0.05) MyHC isoforms. These differences were fibre‐type dependent, i.e. the higher specific force in fast‐twitch muscle fibres was primarily caused by higher force per cross‐bridge while slow‐twitch fibres relied on both a higher number and force per cross‐bridge. HRT use had no effect on fibre cross‐sectional area (CSA), velocity of unloaded shortening (V0) and relative proportion of MyHC isoforms. In conclusion, HRT appears to have significant positive effects on both regulation of muscle contraction and myonuclei organization in postmenopausal women.
Complete blockade of the vasorelaxant effects of angiotensin‐(1–7) and bradykinin in murine microvessels by antagonists of the receptor Mas
Authors: Peiró Concepción , Vallejo Susana , Gembardt Florian , Palacios Erika , Novella Susana , Azcutia Verónica , Rodríguez‐Mañas Leocadio , Hermenegildo Carlos , Sánchez‐Ferrer Carlos F. , Walther Thomas
Published: March 2013

Key points

Two distinct angiotensin‐(1–7) [Ang‐(1–7)] receptor blockers, A779 and d‐Pro‐Ang‐(1–7), can completely prevent Ang‐(1–7)‐induced vasorelaxation.

Genetic deficiency of Mas completely prevents vascular responses to Ang‐(1–7).

Genetic deficiency of Mas completely prevents vascular responses to other NO‐dependent vasorelaxants (bradykinin).

Mas plays a key role in NO‐mediated vasodilatation by modulating vasorelaxant‐mediated phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in endothelial cells.

Abstract  The heptapeptide angiotensin‐(1–7) is a biologically active metabolite of angiotensin II, the predominant peptide of the renin–angiotensin system. Recently, we have shown that the receptor Mas is associated with angiotensin‐(1–7)‐induced signalling and mediates, at least in part, the vasodilatory properties of angiotensin‐(1–7). However, it remained controversial whether an additional receptor could account for angiotensin‐(1–7)‐induced vasorelaxation. Here, we used two different angiotensin‐(1–7) antagonists, A779 and d‐Pro‐angiotensin‐(1–7), to address this question and also to study their influence on the vasodilatation induced by bradykinin. Isolated mesenteric microvessels from both wild‐type and Mas‐deficient C57Bl/6 mice were precontracted with noradrenaline, and vascular reactivity to angiotensin‐(1–7) and bradykinin was subsequently studied using a small‐vessel myograph. Furthermore, mechanisms for Mas effects were investigated in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Both angiotensin‐(1–7) and bradykinin triggered a concentration‐dependent vasodilatation in wild‐type microvessels, which was absent in the presence of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. In these vessels, the pre‐incubation with the Mas antagonists A779 or d‐Pro‐angiotensin‐(1–7) totally abolished the vasodilatory capacity of both angiotensin‐(1–7) and bradykinin, which was nitric oxide mediated. Accordingly, Mas‐deficient microvessels lacked the capacity to relax in response to either angiotensin‐(1–7) or bradykinin. Pre‐incubation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with A779 prevented bradykinin‐mediated NO generation and NO synthase phosphorylation at serine 1177. The angiotensin‐(1–7) antagonists A779 and d‐Pro‐angiotensin‐(1–7) equally block Mas, which completely controls the angiotensin‐(1–7)‐induced vasodilatation in mesenteric microvessels. Importantly, Mas also appears to be a critical player in NO‐mediated vasodilatation induced by renin–angiotensin system‐independent agonists by altering phosphorylation of NO synthase.
Electrical properties of platinum interconnects deposited by electron beam induced deposition of the carbon-free precursor, Pt(PF3)4
Authors: O'Regan Colm , Lee Angelica , Holmes Justin D. , Petkov Nikolay , Trompenaars Piet , Mulders Hans
Published: March 2013

Comprehensive analysis of the electrical properties, structure and composition of Pt interconnects, developed via mask-less, electron beam induced deposition of the carbon-free Pt precursor, Pt(PF3)4, is presented. The results demonstrate significantly improved electrical performance in comparison with that generated from the standard organometallic precursor, (CH3)3Pt(CpCH3). In particular, the Pt interconnects exhibited perfect ohmic behavior and resistivity that can be diminished to 0.24 × 10−3 Ω cm, which is only one order of magnitude higher than bulk Pt, in comparison to 0.2 Ω cm for the standard carbon-containing interconnects. A maximum current density of 1.87 × 107 A cm−2 was achieved for the carbon-free Pt, compared to 9.44 × 105 A cm−2 for the standard Pt precursor. The enhanced electrical properties of the as-deposited materials can be explained by the absence of large amounts of carbon impurities, and their further improvement by postdeposition annealing in N2. In-situ TEM heating experiments confirmed that the annealing step induces sintering of the Pt nanocrystals and improved crystallinity, which contributes to the enhanced electrical performance. Alternative annealing under reducing conditions resulted in improved performance of the standard Pt interconnects, while the carbon-free deposit suffered electrical and structural breakage due to formation of larger Pt islands.
Hysteretic nonlinearity analysis in damaged composite plates using guided waves
Authors: Baccouche Yousra , Bentahar Mourad , Mechri Charfeddine , El Guerjouma Rachid , Hédi Ben Ghozlen Mohamed
Published: March 2013

Sensitivity of nonlinear acoustic methods to the presence and the evolution of micro-damage has been proven in various studies on a wide range of materials. In this contribution, a guided wave approach is proposed to characterize polymer based composite plates taken at intact as well as damaged states. The changes in the nonlinear hysteretic parameters are observed by changing the order of the excited flexural resonances. The analysis is based on the evolution of the velocity frequency dispersion of the generated guided waves, where flexural modes are considered separately and together as a function of the dynamic strain.
Akt and PP2A Reciprocally Regulate the Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Dock6 to Control Axon Growth of Sensory Neurons
Authors: Miyamoto Yuki , Torii Tomohiro , Yamamori Natsuki , Ogata Toru , Tanoue Akito , Yamauchi Junji
Published: March 2013

The phosphorylation status of Dock6 causes sensory neuron axons to switch from extension to branching.
Mighty Male Microbes
Authors: Mueller Kristen L.
Published: March 2013

In mice, the gut microbiota influences levels of sex hormones and the development of autoimmune disease.
Weight Drives Caspofungin Pharmacokinetic Variability in Overweight and Obese People: Fractal Power Signatures beyond Two-Thirds or Three-Fourths
Authors: Hall Ronald G. , Swancutt Mark A. , Meek Claudia , Leff Richard , Gumbo Tawanda
Published: March 2013

Echinocandins, such as caspofungin, are commonly used to treat candidemia and aspergilllosis. Success rates for candidemia treatment are approximately 70%. Dose optimization may further help improve these success rates, given that the microbial effect of these agents is concentration dependent. There are conflicting data as regards the effect of weight and/or obesity on caspofungin drug concentrations. We designed a prospective study to evaluate the population pharmacokinetics of caspofungin in adults with a weight difference range of 100 kg. Caspofungin pharmacokinetics were best described using a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. There were 18 subjects studied, of whom half were women. The central volume was typically 4.2 liters but increased by a factor of (weight/53.6)
3/4
. The peripheral compartment volume was typically 2.53 liters but increased by a factor of (weight/53.6)
3/2
, an unusual power law signature. Similarly, the 3/4 power law best described the relationship between weight and systemic clearance for persons weighing >66.3 kg, whereas intercompartmental clearance was best described by the 3/2 power signature. There are two implications of our findings. First, lower caspofungin area-under-the-concentration-time curves are achieved in obese persons than thinner ones. This suggests that dose optimization in heavier patients may improve clinical success rates. Second, the 3/2 exponent is unusual in fractal geometry-based scaling and warrants further study. Moreover, this suggests that use of a “floating” instead of a fixed exponent may be more useful in studies where weight is under investigation as a potential cause of pharmacokinetic variability within adult patients. (This study protocol was registered at
www.clinicaltrials.gov
under registration number NCT01062165.)