bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Draft Genome Sequence of Clostridium tyrobutyricum Strain DIVETGP, Isolated from Cow's Milk for Grana Padano Production
Authors: Soggiu Alessio , Piras Cristian , Gaiarsa Stefano , Bendixen Emøke , Panitz Frank , Bendixen Christian , Sassera Davide , Brasca Milena , Bonizzi Luigi , Roncada Paola
Published: March 2015

We announce the draft genome sequence of
Clostridium tyrobutyricum
strain DIVETGP. This strain was isolated from cow's milk used for Grana Padano cheese production. The genome was obtained using Illumina HiSeq technology and comprises 45 contigs for 3,018,999 bp, with a G+C content of 30.8%.
Draft Genome Sequence of Cupriavidus pauculus Strain KF709, a Biphenyl-Utilizing Bacterium Isolated from Biphenyl-Contaminated Soil
Authors: Watanabe Takahito , Yamazoe Atsushi , Hosoyama Akira , Fujihara Hidehiko , Suenaga Hikaru , Hirose Jun , Futagami Taiki , Goto Masatoshi , Kimura Nobutada , Furukawa Kensuke
Published: March 2015

We report the draft genome sequence of
Cupriavidus pauculus
strain KF709, which comprises 6,826,799 bp with 6,272 coding sequences. The strain KF709 utilizes biphenyl and degrades low-chlorinated biphenyls; however, it possesses fewer coding sequences involved in the degradation of aromatic compounds than other strains belonging to the
Betaproteobacteria
.
Whole-Genome Sequencing of a Vibrio cholerae El Tor Strain Isolated in the Imported Cholera Focus in Siberia
Authors: Balakhonov S. V. , Mironova L. V. , Basov E. A. , Gladkikh A. S. , Afanasev M. V. , Ganin V. S. , Urbanovich L. Y. , Sidorova E. A.
Published: March 2015

The draft genome sequence of
Vibrio cholerae
O1 strain I-1263, isolated from a patient in the imported focus in Siberia, was determined. The established structural features of the mobile genetic elements indicate stage-by-stage formation of a highly pathogenic
V. cholerae
clone and promote understanding of the mechanisms of evolutionary pathogen transformations.
Evaluation of a Method Using Three Genomic Guided Escherichia coli Markers for Phylogenetic Typing of E. coli Isolates of Various Genetic Backgrounds
Authors: Hamamoto Kouta , Ueda Shuhei , Yamamoto Yoshimasa , Hirai Itaru
Published: March 2015

Genotyping and characterization of bacterial isolates are essential steps in the identification and control of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Recently, one novel genotyping method using three genomic guided
Escherichia coli
markers (GIG-EM),
dinG
,
tonB
, and dipeptide permease (DPP), was reported. Because GIG-EM has not been fully evaluated using clinical isolates, we assessed this typing method with 72
E. coli
collection of reference (ECOR) environmental
E. coli
reference strains and 63
E. coli
isolates of various genetic backgrounds. In this study, we designated 768 bp of
dinG
, 745 bp of
tonB
, and 655 bp of DPP target sequences for use in the typing method. Concatenations of the processed marker sequences were used to draw GIG-EM phylogenetic trees.
E. coli
isolates with identical sequence types as identified by the conventional multilocus sequence typing (MLST) method were localized to the same branch of the GIG-EM phylogenetic tree. Sixteen clinical
E. coli
isolates were utilized as test isolates without prior characterization by conventional MLST and phylogenetic grouping before GIG-EM typing. Of these, 14 clinical isolates were assigned to a branch including only isolates of a pandemic clone,
E. coli
B2-ST131-O25b, and these results were confirmed by conventional typing methods. Our results suggested that the GIG-EM typing method and its application to phylogenetic trees might be useful tools for the molecular characterization and determination of the genetic relationships among
E. coli
isolates.
Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris Misidentified as Candida haemulonii: Characterization by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry and DNA Sequencing and Its Antifungal Susceptibility Profile Variability by Vitek 2, CLSI Broth Microdilution, and Etest Method
Authors: Kathuria Shallu , Singh Pradeep K. , Sharma Cheshta , Prakash Anupam , Masih Aradhana , Kumar Anil , Meis Jacques F. , Chowdhary Anuradha
Published: March 2015

Candida auris
is a multidrug-resistant yeast that causes a wide spectrum of infections, especially in intensive care settings. We investigated
C. auris
prevalence among 102 clinical isolates previously identified as
Candida haemulonii
or
Candida famata
by the Vitek 2 system. Internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) sequencing confirmed 88.2% of the isolates as
C. auris
, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) easily separated all related species,
viz
.,
C. auris
(
n
= 90),
C. haemulonii
(
n
= 6),
C. haemulonii
var.
vulnera
(
n
= 1), and
Candida duobushaemulonii
(
n
= 5). The
in vitro
antifungal susceptibility was determined using CLSI broth microdilution (CLSI-BMD), the Vitek 2 antifungal susceptibility test, and the Etest method.
C. auris
isolates revealed uniformly elevated fluconazole MICs (MIC
50
, 64 μg/ml), and an alarming percentage of isolates (37%) exhibited elevated caspofungin MICs by CLSI-BMD. Notably, 34% of
C. auris
isolates had coexisting elevated MICs (≥2 μg/ml) for both fluconazole and voriconazole, and 10% of the isolates had elevated coexisting MICs (≥2 μg/ml) to two additional azoles, i.e., posaconazole and isavuconazole. In contrast to reduced amphotericin B MICs by CLSI-BMD (MIC
50
, 1 μg/ml) for
C. auris
, elevated MICs were noted by Vitek 2 (MIC
50
, 8 μg/ml), which were statistically significant.
Candida auris
remains an unnoticed pathogen in routine microbiology laboratories, as 90% of the isolates characterized by commercial identification systems are misidentified as
C. haemulonii
. MALDI-TOF MS proved to be a more robust diagnostic technique for rapid identification of
C. auris
. Considering that misleading elevated MICs of amphotericin B by the Vitek AST-YS07 card may lead to the selection of inappropriate therapy, a cautionary approach is recommended for laboratories relying on commercial systems for identification and antifungal susceptibility testing of rare yeasts.
The Glycoprotein Precursor Gene of Junin Virus Determines the Virulence of the Romero Strain and the Attenuation of the Candid #1 Strain in a Representative Animal Model of Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever
Authors: Seregin Alexey V. , Yun Nadezhda E. , Miller Milagros , Aronson Judith , Smith Jennifer K. , Walker Aida G. , Smith Jeanon N. , Huang Cheng , Manning John T. , de la Torre Juan C. , Paessler Slobodan
Published: March 2015

The New World arenavirus Junin virus (JUNV) is the causative agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF), a potentially deadly disease endemic to central regions of Argentina. The live-attenuated Candid #1 (Can) strain of JUNV is currently used to vaccinate the human population at risk. However, the mechanism of attenuation of this strain is still largely unknown. Therefore, the identification and functional characterization of viral genetic determinants dictating JUNV virulence or attenuation would significantly improve the understanding of the mechanisms underlying AHF and facilitate the development of novel, more effective, and safer vaccines. Here, we utilized a reverse genetics approach to generate recombinant JUNV (rJUNV) strains encoding different gene combinations of the pathogenic Romero (Rom) and attenuated Can strains of JUNV. All strains of rJUNV exhibited
in vitro
growth kinetics similar to those of their parental counterparts. Analysis of virulence of the rJUNV in a guinea pig model of lethal infection that closely reproduces the features of AHF identified the envelope glycoproteins (GPs) as the major determinants of pathogenesis and attenuation of JUNV. Accordingly, rJUNV strains expressing the full-length GPs of Rom and Can exhibited virulent and attenuated phenotypes, respectively, in guinea pigs. Mutation F427I in the transmembrane region of JUNV envelope glycoprotein GP2 has been shown to attenuate the neurovirulence of JUNV in suckling mice. We document that in the guinea pig model of AHF, mutation F427I in GP2 is also highly attenuating but insufficient to prevent virus dissemination and development of mild clinical and pathological symptoms, indicating that complete attenuation of JUNV requires additional mutations present in Can glycoprotein precursor (GPC).

IMPORTANCE
Development of antiviral strategies against viral hemorrhagic fevers, including AHF, is one of the top priorities within the Implementation Plan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise. Live-attenuated Candid #1 strain, derived from the 44th mouse brain passage of the prototype XJ strain of JUNV, has been demonstrated to be safe, immunogenic, and highly protective and is currently licensed for human use in Argentina. However, the bases for the attenuated phenotype of Candid #1 have not been established. Therefore, the identification and functional characterization of viral genetic factors implicated in JUNV pathogenesis and attenuation would significantly improve the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying AHF and facilitate the development of novel antiviral strategies.
What Do Chaotrope-Based Avidity Assays for Antibodies to HIV-1 Envelope Glycoproteins Measure?
Authors: Alexander Marina R. , Ringe Rajesh , Sanders Rogier W. , Voss James E. , Moore John P. , Klasse Per Johan
Published: March 2015

When HIV-1 vaccine candidates that include soluble envelope glycoproteins (Env) are tested in humans and other species, the resulting antibody responses to Env are sifted for correlates of protection or risk. One frequently used assay measures the reduction in antibody binding to Env antigens by an added chaotrope (such as thiocyanate). Based on that assay, an avidity index was devised for assessing the affinity maturation of antibodies of unknown concentration in polyclonal sera. Since a high avidity index was linked to protection in animal models of HIV-1 infection, it has become a criterion for evaluating antibody responses to vaccine candidates. But what does the assay measure and what does an avidity index mean? Here, we have used a panel of monoclonal antibodies to well-defined epitopes on Env (gp120, gp41, and SOSIP.664 trimers) to explore how the chaotrope acts. We conclude that the chaotrope sensitivity of antibody binding to Env depends on several properties of the epitopes (continuity versus tertiary- and quaternary-structural dependence) and that the avidity index has no simple relationship to antibody affinity for functional Env spikes on virions. We show that the binding of broadly neutralizing antibodies against quaternary-structural epitopes is particularly sensitive to chaotrope treatment, whereas antibody binding to epitopes in variable loops and to nonneutralization epitopes in gp41 is generally resistant. As a result of such biases, the avidity index may at best be a mere surrogate for undefined antibody or other immune responses that correlate weakly with protection.

IMPORTANCEAn effective HIV-1 vaccine is an important goal. Such a vaccine will probably need to induce antibodies that neutralize typically transmitted variants of HIV-1, preventing them from infecting target cells. Vaccine candidates have so far failed to induce such antibody responses, although some do protect weakly against infection in animals and, possibly, humans. In the search for responses associated with protection, an avidity assay based on chemical disruption is often used to measure the strength of antibody binding. We have analyzed this assay mechanistically and found that the epitope specificity of an antibody has a greater influence on the outcome than does its affinity. As a result, the avidity assay is biased toward the detection of some antibody specificities while disfavoring others. We conclude that the assay may yield merely indirect correlations with weak protection, specifically when Env vaccination has failed to induce broad neutralizing responses.
Function of the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Small Capsid Protein VP26 Is Regulated by Phosphorylation at a Specific Site
Authors: Kobayashi Ryosuke , Kato Akihisa , Oda Shinya , Koyanagi Naoto , Oyama Masaaki , Kozuka-Hata Hiroko , Arii Jun , Kawaguchi Yasushi
Published: March 2015

Replacement of the herpes simplex virus 1 small capsid protein VP26 phosphorylation site Thr-111 with alanine reduced viral replication and neurovirulence to levels observed with the VP26 null mutation. This mutation reduced VP26 expression and mislocalized VP26 and its binding partner, the major capsid protein VP5, in the nucleus. VP5 mislocalization was also observed with the VP26 null mutation. Thus, we postulate that phosphorylation of VP26 at Thr-111 regulates VP26 function
in vitro
and
in vivo
.
African Swine Fever Virus Georgia Isolate Harboring Deletions of MGF360 and MGF505 Genes Is Attenuated in Swine and Confers Protection against Challenge with Virulent Parental Virus
Authors: O'Donnell Vivian , Holinka Lauren G. , Gladue Douglas P. , Sanford Brenton , Krug Peter W. , Lu Xiqiang , Arzt Jonathan , Reese Bo , Carrillo Consuelo , Risatti Guillermo R. , Borca Manuel V.
Published: March 2015

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the etiological agent of a contagious and often lethal disease of domestic pigs that has significant economic consequences for the swine industry. The control of African swine fever (ASF) has been hampered by the unavailability of vaccines. Experimental vaccines have been developed using genetically modified live attenuated ASFVs where viral genes involved in virus virulence were removed from the genome. Multigene family 360 (MGF360) and MGF505 represent a group of genes sharing partial sequence and structural identities that have been connected with ASFV host range specificity, blocking of the host innate response, and virus virulence. Here we report the construction of a recombinant virus (ASFV-G-ΔMGF) derived from the highly virulent ASFV Georgia 2007 isolate (ASFV-G) by specifically deleting six genes belonging to MGF360 or MGF505: MGF505-1R, MGF360-12L, MGF360-13L, MGF360-14L, MGF505-2R, and MGF505-3R. ASFV-G-ΔMGF replicates as efficiently in primary swine macrophage cell cultures as the parental virus.
In vivo
, ASFV-G-ΔMGF is completely attenuated in swine, since pigs inoculated intramuscularly (i.m.) with either 10
2
or 10
4
50% hemadsorbing doses (HAD
50
) remained healthy, without signs of the disease. Importantly, when these animals were subsequently exposed to highly virulent parental ASFV-G, no signs of the disease were observed, although a proportion of these animals harbored the challenge virus. This is the first report demonstrating the role of MGF genes acting as independent determinants of ASFV virulence. Additionally, ASFV-G-ΔMGF is the first experimental vaccine reported to induce protection in pigs challenged with highly virulent and epidemiologically relevant ASFV-G.

IMPORTANCE
The main problem for controlling ASF is the lack of vaccines. Studies focusing on understanding ASFV virulence led to the production of genetically modified recombinant viruses that, while attenuated, are able to confer protection in pigs challenged with homologous viruses. Here we have produced an attenuated recombinant ASFV derived from highly virulent ASFV strain Georgia (ASFV-G) lacking only six of the multigene family 360 (MGF360) and MGF505 genes (ASFV-G-ΔMGF). It is demonstrated, by first time, that deleting specific MGF genes alone can completely attenuate a highly virulent field ASFV isolate. Recombinant virus ASFV-G-ΔMGF effectively confers protection in pigs against challenge with ASFV-G when delivered once via the intramuscular (i.m.) route. The protection against ASFV-G is highly effective by 28 days postvaccination. This is the first report of an experimental vaccine that induces solid protection against virulent ASFV-G.
Prostate cancer: beware of disseminated intravascular coagulation
Authors: Desai Mihir , John Babbin , Evans Gillian , Eddy Ben
Published: March 2015

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a pathological systemic condition resulting from aberrant activation of the coagulation system. It is characterised by the release and activation of procoagulants into the blood, with an associated consumption coagulopathy. Its association with solid and haematological malignancies is well described in literature. This case describes an elderly man, known to have prostate cancer, who following transurethral resection of the prostate developed DIC with haematuria, spontaneous ecchymoses and mucosal bleeding. Subsequent investigations revealed a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >1000 µg/L, and staging CT showed multiple sclerotic metastatic lesions affecting the thoracic and lumbar vertebra, as well as infiltration into his left femur. Coagulation normalised with blood products and vitamin K within 1 week, and the patient responded to antiandrogen therapy with a reduction in pain and PSA on discharge.
Dilation balloon rupture during percutaneous dilational tracheostomy: using Blue Dolphin kit
Authors: Odeleye Adenike Grace , Tiley Adam G , Sethuraman Rajamani
Published: March 2015

A 72-year-old man presented to the high dependency unit following an elective incisional hernia repair. He was extubated in the immediate postoperative period. Following established type 2 respiratory failure (secondary to hospital-acquired pneumonia), he required tracheal intubation and was ventilated in the intensive care unit (ICU). He failed extubation and subsequently had a percutaneous single-stage dilational tracheostomy fitted as indicated. During the tracheostomy, while inflating the dilation balloon (used to dilate the trachea), the balloon burst in the trachea, at a pressure of 3 atmospheres. Following this, the entire dilating unit and tracheostomy tube were removed; no debris was left inside the trachea as confirmed by bronchoscope (used throughout the procedure). He made good recovery and was discharged to a surgical ward. This case report summarises the indications for tracheostomy, and reports the rare event of balloon rupture and how to manage it within the ICU setting.
Unusual cause of infective endocarditis in an elderly patient with a rare condition
Authors: Abukar Amin Abdurahman , Michail Michael , Smith Maurice A , Wickramasinghe Liyanagae SP
Published: March 2015

A 77-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a 1-week history of anorexia, fatigue, general malaise and a 3-day history of fever. Clinical examination revealed livedo reticularis across the anterior aspect of her knees and a pansystolic murmur. Laboratory evaluation found neutrophil leucocytosis; elevated C reactive protein and blood cultures grewStreptococcus acidominimus. Transthoracic echocardiography displayed vegetation on the mitral valve and a left atrial myxoma. She was treated with intravenous benzylpenicillin and erythromycin for the infective endocarditis (IE) and remains well 3 months post-treatment.S. acidominimusis considered a common veterinary pathogen rarely found in humans. To the best of our knowledge, only two prior reports of IE due to this organism exist in the literature. This case highlights how rare pathogens can cause unusual presentation and the importance of IE as a differential even in the absence of classical signs, if fever and new murmur are present.
Coronary thromboembolic acute myocardial infarction due to paroxysmal atrial fibrillation occurring after non-cardiac surgery
Authors: OSullivan Crochan John , Sprenger Martin , Tueller David , Eberli Franz Robert
Published: March 2015

Acute myocardial infarction is a well know precipitant of atrial fibrillation, but it is also becoming increasingly recognised that atrial fibrillation is a direct and indirect cause of acute myocardial infarction. Current guidelines do not recommend anticoagulation therapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery who have a brief episode of atrial fibrillation lasting less than 48 h. However, recommendations for the management of atrial fibrillation following non-cardiac surgery are less clear. We describe the case of a 70-year-old man undergoing non-cardiac surgery, who developed a short episode of perioperative atrial fibrillation and later presented with thromboembolic acute myocardial infarction due to a thrombotic occlusion of the right coronary artery.
Orbital metastasis as initial manifestation of a widespread papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
Authors: Pagsisihan Daveric Ablis , Aguilar Anthony Harvey Isabelo , Maningat Ma Patricia Deanna Delfin
Published: March 2015

Papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), particularly microcarcinomas, rarely metastasise to the orbit. We report a case of a 49-year-old woman with a right supraorbital mass and unremarkable physical examination of the thyroid gland region. Orbital CT scan showed an expansile lytic lesion in the orbital plate of the frontal bone with a soft tissue component. An incision biopsy revealed metastatic well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid ultrasound was normal except for a subcentimetre nodule in the right lobe. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy where histopathology showed a subcentimetre follicular variant PTC. She subsequently received radioactive iodine therapy. Post-therapy whole body scan revealed metastatic thyroid tissues in the right orbital and posterior parietal, and left shoulder and hip areas. Although infrequent, metastatic thyroid carcinoma should be considered in patients with orbital metastasis even when neck examination is normal. In rare cases, this may be the initial manifestation of a widely metastatic papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.
What has happened to suicides during the Greek economic crisis? Findings from an ecological study of suicides and their determinants (2003–2012)
Authors: Rachiotis George , Stuckler David , McKee Martin , Hadjichristodoulou Christos
Published: March 2015

Objectives

There is a controversy about the impact of economic crisis on suicide rates in Greece. We analysed recent suicide data to identify who has been most affected and the relationships to economic and labour market indicators.

Setting

Greece.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Age-specific and sex-specific suicide rates in Greece for the period 2003–2012 were calculated using data provided by the Hellenic Statistical Authority. We performed a join-point analysis to identify discontinuities in suicide trends between 2003 and 2010, prior to austerity, and in 2011–2012, during the period of austerity. Regression models were used to assess relationships between unemployment, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and suicide rates for the entire period by age and sex.

Results

The mean suicide rate overall rose by 35% between 2010 and 2012, from 3.37 to 4.56/100 000 population. The suicide mortality rate for men increased from 5.75 (2003–2010) to 7.43/100 000 (2011–2012; p<0.01). Among women, the suicide rate also rose, albeit less markedly, from 1.17 to 1.55 (p=0.03). When differentiated by age group, suicide mortality increased among both sexes in the age groups 20–59 and >60 years. We found that each additional percentage point of unemployment was associated with a 0.19/100 000 population rise in suicides (95% CI 0.11 to 0.26) among working age men.

Conclusions

We found a clear increase in suicides among persons of working age, coinciding with austerity measures. These findings corroborate concerns that increased suicide risk in Greece is a health hazard associated with austerity measures.
How to study improvement interventions: a brief overview of possible study types
Authors: Portela Margareth Crisóstomo , Pronovost Peter J , Woodcock Thomas , Carter Pam , Dixon-Woods Mary
Published: March 2015

Improvement (defined broadly as purposive efforts to secure positive change) has become an increasingly important activity and field of inquiry within healthcare. This article offers an overview of possible methods for the study of improvement interventions. The choice of available designs is wide, but debates continue about how far improvement efforts can be simultaneously practical (aimed at producing change) and scientific (aimed at producing new knowledge), and whether the distinction between the practical and the scientific is a real and useful one. Quality improvement projects tend to be applied and, in some senses, self-evaluating. They are not necessarily directed at generating new knowledge, but reports of such projects if well conducted and cautious in their inferences may be of considerable value. They can be distinguished heuristically from research studies, which are motivated by and set out explicitly to test a hypothesis, or otherwise generate new knowledge, and from formal evaluations of improvement projects. We discuss variants of trial designs, quasi-experimental designs, systematic reviews, programme evaluations, process evaluations, qualitative studies, and economic evaluations. We note that designs that are better suited to the evaluation of clearly defined and static interventions may be adopted without giving sufficient attention to the challenges associated with the dynamic nature of improvement interventions and their interactions with contextual factors. Reconciling pragmatism and research rigour is highly desirable in the study of improvement. Trade-offs need to be made wisely, taking into account the objectives involved and inferences to be made.
Recognition of the deteriorating patient
Authors: Spiers Laura , Singh Mohal Jagdeep , Pearson-Stuttard Jonathan , Greenlee Hannah , Carmichael Juliet , Busher Rebecca
Published: March 2015

Following Sir Bruce Keogh’s review of 14 NHS Trusts, Buckinghamshire NHS Trust was found to have higher mortality rates than the England average. As part of a series of implementations and investigations to address this, a quality improvement project looking at clinical responses to the deteriorating patients was designed. Buckinghamshire NHS Trust utilises the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) metric for observations and escalation, and this was the standard used for the project. Episodes were eligible for inclusion if the NEWS score was increased to 5 or above. Data was collected by junior doctors from acute wards across the trust using notes and charts available. The initial cycle identified that in 57% of cases the high NEWS was escalated for review. Only half of cases were reviewed by a doctor; only a third were reviewed within an hour. In only 20% of cases were all criteria of the NEWS guidelines met. The first intervention was through education. After this, the project was completed on a monthly basis for 6 months with additional interventions introduced, including increased medical staff availability, grand round presentations, and increased outreach provision. Over this 6 month period, there was an increase to 87% of cases being reviewed by a doctor of appropriate seniority. Whilst this is a surrogate for reducing mortality and improving the clinical care given in the hospital, these results suggest successful interventions for improving clinical response to deteriorating patients across the trust. The project has recruited a new cohort of juniors to continue the quality improvement cycle.
Carers’ responses to shifting identity in dementia inIrisandAway From Her: cultivating stability or embracing change?
Authors: Orr David M R , Teo Yugin
Published: March 2015

An emphasis on supporting and maintaining self-identity in people who have dementia for as long as possible has gone hand in hand with the revitalisation of dementia interventions, services and empowerment. However, recognition of the need for change, adaptation and personal growth is as necessary when living with dementia as at any other time in people's lives. Those who care for people with dementia must constantly navigate this tension between continuity and change within the context of memory loss, knowing when to respond by reinforcing the ‘self’ they have known over time, and when it may be better to respond by acknowledging the changes that have taken place in that ‘self’. The creative arts are avenues for the exploration of the caring relationship under these conditions, conveying the challenges and stimulating audiences to ask how they themselves might choose to respond in a similar situation. This article considers how the scenarios of two noted films,Iris(dir. Richard Eyre, 2001 UK)) andAway From Her(dir. Sarah Polley, 2006 Can), present the dilemmas of identity and caring. In both, a husband cares for a wife experiencing cognitive decline, but responds differently in each to her shifting needs and experience of identity. We argue that the two films reveal complementary and provocative perspectives on this situation. They offer no easy answers, but provide insights into the everyday decisions characteristic of caring for someone who has dementia.
Educating the educators
Authors: Davies Faye
Published: March 2015

A new course for veterinary educators offers the choice of gaining an associate qualification or building up to a masters degree. Course administrator Faye Davies explains
Statistical sample size for quality control programs of cement-based “solidification/stabilization”
Authors: Fenton Gordon A. , Liza Rukhsana , Lake Craig B. , Menzies W. Todd , Griffiths D.V.
Published: March 2015

Sampling requirements for the quality control (QC) of cement-based “solidification/stabilization” (S/S) construction cells do not currently specify the sample size considering the accuracy of the estimated effective hydraulic conductivity of the cells from the samples, nor considering the risk associated with drawing the wrong conclusions about the acceptability of the cells. In this paper, probabilistic simulations are performed to examine the influence of a soil–cement material’s mean, variance, and correlation length on sampling requirements for a QC program of cement-based S/S construction cells. The sampling requirements are determined by considering a hypothesis test, having nulled that the constructed material is unacceptable, and targeting acceptable probabilities of making an erroneous decision. Two types of errors can be made: (i) concluding that the material is acceptable when it actually is not, or (ii) failing to conclude that the material is acceptable when it actually is. The paper investigates how many samples are required to keep the probabilities of making these errors acceptably small. Plots are provided, which can be used to estimate the required number of samples. The paper concludes by discussing how the simulation-based results compare with current sampling requirements for the QC of an actual set of cement-based S/S construction cells.
Biosorption of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions by a newly isolatedBoseasp. strain Zer-1 from soil samples of a refuse processing plant
Authors: Zhang Huining , Liu Li , Chang Qing , Wang Hongyu , Yang Kai
Published: March 2015

The adsorption behavior of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution by a chromium-tolerant strain was studied through batch experiments. An isolate designated Zer-1 was identified as a species of Bosea on the basis of 16S rRNA results. It showed a maximum resistance to 550 mg·L−1Cr(VI). The effects of 3 important operating parameters, initial solution pH, initial Cr(VI) concentration, and biomass dose, were investigated by central composite design. On the basis of response surface methodology results, maximal removal efficiency of Cr(VI) was achieved under the following conditions: pH, 2.0; initial concentration of metal ions, 55 mg·L−1; and biomass dose, 2.0 g·L−1. Under the optimal conditions, the maximum removal efficiency of Cr(VI) ions was found to be nearly 98%. The experimental data exhibited a better fit with the Langmuir model than the Freundlich model. The biosorption mechanisms were investigated with pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion kinetics models. These results revealed that biosorption of Cr(VI) onto bacterial biomass could be an alternative method for the removal of metal ions from aqueous solution.
Considerations in the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and confocal laser scanning microscopy to characterize rumen methanogens and define their spatial distributions
Authors: Valle Edith R. , Henderson Gemma , Janssen Peter H. , Cox Faith , Alexander Trevor W. , McAllister Tim A.
Published: March 2015

In this study, methanogen-specific coenzyme F420autofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to identify rumen methanogens and define their spatial distribution in free-living, biofilm-, and protozoa-associated microenvironments. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with temperature-controlled hybridization was used in an attempt to describe methanogen diversity. A heat pretreatment (65 °C, 1 h) was found to be a noninvasive method to increase probe access to methanogen RNA targets. Despite efforts to optimize FISH, 16S rRNA methanogen-specific probes, including Arch915, bound to some cells that lacked F420, possibly identifying uncharacterized Methanomassiliicoccales or reflecting nonspecific binding to other members of the rumen bacterial community. A probe targeting RNA from the methanogenesis-specific methyl coenzyme M reductase (mcr) gene was shown to detect cultured Methanosarcina cells with signal intensities comparable to those of 16S rRNA probes. However, the probe failed to hybridize with the majority of F420-emitting rumen methanogens, possibly because of differences in cell wall permeability among methanogen species. Methanogens were shown to integrate into microbial biofilms and to exist as ecto- and endosymbionts with rumen protozoa. Characterizing rumen methanogens and defining their spatial distribution may provide insight into mitigation strategies for ruminal methanogenesis.
A combination of PhP typing and β-d-glucuronidase gene sequence variation analysis for differentiation of Escherichia coli from humans and animals
Authors: Masters N. , Christie M. , Katouli M. , Stratton H.
Published: March 2015

We investigated the usefulness of the β-d-glucuronidase gene variance in Escherichia coli as a microbial source tracking tool using a novel algorithm for comparison of sequences from a prescreened set of host-specific isolates using a high-resolution PhP typing method. A total of 65 common biochemical phenotypes belonging to 318 E. coli strains isolated from humans and domestic and wild animals were analysed for nucleotide variations at 10 loci along a 518 bp fragment of the 1812 bp β-d-glucuronidase gene. Neighbour-joining analysis of loci variations revealed 86 (76.8%) human isolates and 91.2% of animal isolates were correctly identified. Pairwise hierarchical clustering improved assignment; where 92 (82.1%) human and 204 (99%) animal strains were assigned to their respective cluster. Our data show that initial typing of isolates and selection of common types from different hosts prior to analysis of the β-d-glucuronidase gene sequence improves source identification. We also concluded that numerical profiling of the nucleotide variations can be used as a valuable approach to differentiate human from animal E. coli. This study signifies the usefulness of the β-d-glucuronidase gene as a marker for differentiating human faecal pollution from animal sources.
Sex-specific variation in conspecific-acquired marking prevalence among dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchusobscurus)
Authors: Orbach D.N. , Packard J.M. , Piwetz S. , Würsig B.
Published: March 2015

Despite logistical challenges that limit direct observations of behavior for some species, physical scars can provide indirect evidence of aggression. Dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus (Gray, 1828)) off Kaikoura, New Zealand, derive most of the notches and scars on their dorsal fins from conspecifics. However, aggressive encounters have rarely been observed in this sexually monomorphic species. If injurious interactions are associated with intrasexual competition among males but not females, we predicted males would have more conspecific-acquired markings than females. High-quality dorsal fin photographs of dolphins of known sex (n = 79) were collected during boat-based surveys off Kaikoura. We measured three quantitative variables (notch height ratio, notch depth ratio, and dorsal fin rake direction) and one qualitative variable that scored the overall prevalence of markings (notches and scars). All four measures yielded consistent results. Males had significantly more conspecific-acquired markings than females. We reject the hypothesis that there is no difference between the sexes in marking prevalence. We propose that brief events of direct competition are missed by observers but recorded in accumulated patterns of conspecific-acquired markings that differ between the sexes.
Recent progress in hard-thermal-loop QCD thermodynamics and collective excitations
Authors: Su Nan
Published: March 2015

I review recent developments in QCD thermodynamics and collective excitations from the hard-thermal-loop effective theory. I begin by motivating the discussion with open questions from heavy-ion collisions. I then discuss a finite-temperature and density calculation of QCD thermodynamics at NNLO from the hard-thermal-loop perturbation theory. Finally, I discuss a recent exploration of generalizing the hard-thermal-loop framework to the (chromo)magnetic scale g2T, from which a novel massless mode is uncovered.
Microstructure and degradation behavior of forged Fe–Mn–Si alloys
Authors: Xu Zhigang , Hodgson Michael A. , Cao Peng
Published: March 2015

This work presents a comparative study of a series of Fe – Mn – Si alloys proposed as degradable biomaterials for medical applications. Five Fe -28wt.% Mn -x Si (where x = 0 to 8 wt.%) alloys were fabricated by an arc-melting method. All the as-cast alloys were subsequently subjected to homogenization treatment and hot forging. The microstructure and phase constituents were investigated. It is found that the grain size of the as-forged alloys ranged approximately from 30 to 50 μm. The as-forged Fe – Mn – Si alloys containing Si from 2 to 6 wt.% was comprised of duplex martensitic ε and austenitic γ phases; however, the Si -free and 8 wt.% Si alloys only consisted of a single γ phase. After 30 days of static immersion test in a simulated body fluid (SBF) medium, it is found that pitting and general corrosion occur on the sample surfaces. Potentiodynamic analysis reveals that the degradation rate of the Fe – Mn – Si alloys increased gradually with Si content up to 6 wt.%, beyond which the degradation slows down.
Artifact Lifecycle Discovery
Authors: Popova Viara , Fahland Dirk , Dumas Marlon
Published: March 2015

Artifact-centric modeling is an approach for capturing business processes in terms of so-called business artifacts — key entities driving a company's operations and whose lifecycles and interactions define an overall business process. This approach has been shown to be especially suitable in the context of processes where one-to-many or many-to-many relations exist between the entities involved in the process. As a contribution towards building up a body of methods to support artifact-centric modeling, this article presents a method for automated discovery of artifact-centric process models starting from logs consisting of flat collections of event records. We decompose the problem in such a way that a wide range of existing (non-artifact-centric) automated process discovery methods can be reused in a flexible manner. The presented methods are implemented as a package for ProM, a generic open-source framework for process mining. The methods have been applied to reverse-engineer an artifact-centric process model starting from logs of a real-life business process.
Nutritional Determinants of the Timing of Puberty
Authors: Villamor Eduardo , Jansen Erica C.
Published: March 2015

The timing of puberty has important public health, clinical, and social implications. The plasticity of sexual development onset could be a mechanism that adapts to prevailing environmental conditions. Early-life nutrition may provide cues for the environment's suitability for reproduction. This review focuses on recent developments in our understanding of the role of diet in the timing of sexual maturation. Population-based observational studies consistently indicate that childhood obesity is related to the earlier onset of puberty in girls. Similarly, intake of animal foods has been associated with earlier sexual development, whereas vegetable protein intake is related to delayed maturation. Evidence for prenatal nutrition, infant feeding practices, and childhood intake of fat, carbohydrate, and micronutrients is inconsistent. Secondary analyses of prenatal and early-life randomized nutritional interventions with extended follow-up through peripubertal years would help clarify the role of nutrition in the timing of sexual maturation.
Mediation Analysis: A Practitioner's Guide
Authors: VanderWeele Tyler J.
Published: March 2015

This article provides an overview of recent developments in mediation analysis, that is, analyses used to assess the relative magnitude of different pathways and mechanisms by which an exposure may affect an outcome. Traditional approaches to mediation in the biomedical and social sciences are described. Attention is given to the confounding assumptions required for a causal interpretation of direct and indirect effect estimates. Methods from the causal inference literature to conduct mediation in the presence of exposure-mediator interactions, binary outcomes, binary mediators, and case-control study designs are presented. Sensitivity analysis techniques for unmeasured confounding and measurement error are introduced. Discussion is given to extensions to time-to-event outcomes and multiple mediators. Further flexible modeling strategies arising from the precise counterfactual definitions of direct and indirect effects are also described. The focus throughout is on methodology that is easily implementable in practice across a broad range of potential applications.
The Impact of Trauma Care Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Reynolds Teri A. , Stewart Barclay , Drewett Isobel , Salerno Stacy , Sawe Hendry R. , Toroyan Tamitza , Mock Charles
Published: March 2015

Injury is a leading cause of death globally, and organized trauma care systems have been shown to save lives. However, even though most injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), most trauma care research comes from high-income countries where systems have been implemented with few resource constraints. Little context-relevant guidance exists to help policy makers set priorities in LMICs, where resources are limited and where trauma care may be implemented in distinct ways. We have aimed to review the evidence on the impact of trauma care systems in LMICs through a systematic search of 11 databases. Reports were categorized by intervention and outcome type and summarized. Of 4,284 records retrieved, 71 reports from 32 countries met inclusion criteria. Training, prehospital systems, and overall system organization were the most commonly reported interventions. Quality-improvement, costing, rehabilitation, and legislation and governance were relatively neglected areas. Included reports may inform trauma care system planning in LMICs, and noted gaps may guide research and funding agendas.
Defining and Assessing Public Health Functions: A Global Analysis
Authors: Martin-Moreno Jose M. , Harris Meggan , Jakubowski Elke , Kluge Hans
Published: March 2015

Given the broad scope and intersectoral nature of public health structures and practices, there are inherent difficulties in defining which services fall under the public health remit and in assessing their capacity and performance. The aim of this study is to analyze how public health functions and practice have been defined and operationalized in different countries and regions around the world, with a specific focus on assessment tools that have been developed to evaluate the performance of essential public health functions, services, and operations. Our review has identified nearly 100 countries that have carried out assessments, using diverse analytical and methodological approaches. The assessment processes have evolved quite differently according to administrative arrangements and resource availability, but some key contextual factors emerge that seem to favor policy-oriented follow-up. These include local ownership of the assessment process, policymakers' commitment to reform, and expert technical advice for implementation.
Opportunities for Palliative Care in Public Health
Authors: De Lima Liliana , Pastrana Tania
Published: March 2015

In May 2014, the World Health Assembly, of the World Health Organization (WHO), unanimously adopted a palliative care (PC) resolution, which outlines clear recommendations to the United Nations member states, such as including PC in national health policies and in the undergraduate curricula for health care professionals, and highlights the critical need for countries to ensure that there is an adequate supply of essential PC medicines, especially those needed to alleviate pain. This resolution also carries great challenges: Every year over 20 million patients (of which 6% are children) need PC at the end of life (EOL). However, in 2011, approximately three million patients received PC, and only one in ten people in need is currently receiving it. We describe this public health situation and systems failure, the history and evolution of PC, and the components of the WHO public health model. We propose a role for public health for PC integration in community settings to advance PC and relieve suffering in the world.
Rural Health Care Access and Policy in Developing Countries
Authors: Strasser Roger , Kam Sophia M. , Regalado Sophie M.
Published: March 2015

Compared to their urban counterparts, rural and remote inhabitants experience lower life expectancy and poorer health status. Nowhere is the worldwide shortage of health professionals more pronounced than in rural areas of developing countries. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) includes a disproportionately large number of developing countries; therefore, this article explores SSA in depth as an example. Using the conceptual framework of access to primary health care, sustainable rural health service models, rural health workforce supply, and policy implications, this article presents a review of the academic and gray literature as the basis for recommendations designed to achieve greater health equity. An alternative international standard for health professional education is recommended. Decision makers should draw upon the expertise of communities to identify community-specific health priorities and should build capacity to enable the recruitment and training of local students from underserviced areas to deliver quality health care in rural community settings.
Latino Immigrants, Acculturation, and Health: Promising New Directions in Research
Authors: Abraído-Lanza Ana F. , Echeverría Sandra E. , Flórez Karen R.
Published: March 2015

This article provides an analysis of novel topics emerging in recent years in research on Latino immigrants, acculturation, and health. In the past ten years, the number of studies assessing new ways to conceptualize and understand how acculturation-related processes may influence health has grown. These new frameworks draw from integrative approaches testing new ground to acknowledge the fundamental role of context and policy. We classify the emerging body of evidence according to themes that we identify as promising directions—intrapersonal, interpersonal, social environmental, community, political, and global contexts, cross-cutting themes in life course and developmental approaches, and segmented assimilation—and discuss the challenges and opportunities each theme presents. This body of work, which considers acculturation in context, points to the emergence of a new wave of research that holds great promise in driving forward the study of Latino immigrants, acculturation, and health. We provide suggestions to further advance the ideologic and methodologic rigor of this new wave.