bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of surface roughness and dimorphism on the adhesion of Candida albicans to the surface of resins: scanning electron microscope analyses of mode and number of adhesions
Authors: Mayahara Mitsuori , Kataoka Ryuta , Arimoto Takafumi , Tamaki Yukimichi , Yamaguchi Nobuaki , Watanabe Yuki , Yamasaki Yoshizumi , Miyazaki Takashi
Published: June 2013

Aim

Candida albicans is a common oral fungus but can cause serious conditions such as Candida stomatitis. We investigated C. albicans adhesion to the surface of denture‐base resins at two growth phases.

Methods

Fungal suspensions of logarithmic (9 h) and stationary phase (24 h) C. albicans (JCM2085) were used. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that yeast and mycelial forms were predominant in 9‐h and 24‐h cultures, respectively. Resin strips were polished to three surface roughness levels (Ra 3.2 μm, Ra 0.48 μm and Ra 0.06 μm) and were then immersed in C. albicans suspensions for both phases. The SEM images were taken at five sites on each strip.

Results

Adhesion of mycelial‐form C. albicans on rough surfaces (Ra = 3.2) was 2.2 times higher than on smooth surfaces (Ra = 0.06; 7030 vs 3580 adhesions/mm2, P < 0.01). The hyphae of these mycelial forms fully penetrated the surface cracks. Fewer adhesions occurred for yeast‐form C. albicans, regardless of surface type (440–620 adhesions/mm2, P = n.s.).

Conclusion

Adhesion of yeast‐form C. albicans was indifferent to surface roughness. In contrast, mycelial adhesion increased with surface roughness of the resin because mycelia infiltrated the minute protuberances on rough surfaces.
Linkages of Farmers' Operations with Rhizoctonia Root Rot Spread in Bean Crops on a Regional Basis
Authors: Naseri Bita
Published: June 2013

The associations of Rhizoctonia root rot (RRR) with a number of agronomic and yield variables were characterized at different growth stages in 122 commercial bean fields in Zanjan, Iran. A lower RRR incidence was detected in red beans compared with white beans. RRR incidence was greater in drought‐exposed fields compared with drought‐free fields. RRR incidence was higher following frequent irrigations at 2‐ to 3‐day intervals than at 4‐ to 9‐day intervals. The highest RRR incidence was associated with the densest category of plant populations and with the deepest plantings at 10–22 cm. Beans grown following alfalfa, bean and maize had a lower disease than rotations with potato. RRR incidence was greater in fields that received 50–500 kg/ha of urea compared with nonfertilized fields. RRR‐affected fields were recognized with a closer irrigation, earlier and deeper planting, denser weed population and lower yields than RRR‐free fields. According to loadings for second principal component, planting density and depth, urea usage and weed density corresponded with RRR incidence. Findings extend our understanding of RRR epidemics in diverse bean cropping systems.
Ensuring regulatory compliance in banking and finance through effective controls: The principle of duality in the segregation of duties
Authors: Engdahl Oskar
Published: June 2013

Today the segregation of duties is commonly used to ensure regulatory compliance in various industries. This article considers the organizational requirements for the effective implementation of this principle, through an examination of a duality‐based segregation‐of‐duties type control system and its fundamental characteristics. Cases from theSwedish banking and finance sector are discussed to show how breakdowns in duality‐based systems have compromised compliance and even encouraged crime, and how crimes could be carried out in practice. Particular attention is paid to the critical role that gullibility, loyalty, and dependency relations among employees played in these cases, in leading control persons to neglect their responsibility to review and approve their colleagues’ work, while bringing no consequences for their ability to carry on performing their work tasks. The argument is made that an effective duality‐based segregation‐of‐duties type control system presupposes social relations characterized by relative autonomy and third‐party dependence, along with work task interdependence.
Description of two new HLA alleles, A*01:128 and C*05:88, identified in Spanish individuals
Authors: Sánchez‐Gordo F. , Balas A. , Gomez‐Zumaquero J. L. , Prat I. , Vicario J. L.
Published: June 2013

Two novels alleles, HLA‐A*01:128 and HLA‐C*05:88 are characterized.
EFFECT OF ANISOTROPY AND SPATIAL COMPOUND IMAGING ON RENAL CORTICAL ECHOGENICITY IN DOGS
Authors: Ruth Jeffrey D. , Heng Hock Gan , Miller Margaret A. , Constable Peter D.
Published: June 2013

The echogenicity of the renal cortex is an important parameter to consider in dogs that are suspected to have renal dysfunction. Focal increases in echogenicity have been attributed to neoplasia, infection, calcification, fibrosis, gas, and infarction. Anisotropic backscatter has been described as a source of focally increased renal cortical echogenicity in several species. The source of anisotropy appears to be the medullary rays, which are oriented perpendicular to the renal capsule. Spatial compound imaging (SCI) is an ultrasound setting that uses beam steering to acquire and average several overlapping scans of an object from different view angles, creating a compound image that is updated in real time. The impact of insonation angle andSCIon renal cortical echogenicity was evaluated ex vivo in eight kidneys from four dogs. Significant angle‐dependent differences in cortical echogenicity were detected with both microconvex and linear transducers (P< 0.0001). Furthermore, the angle‐dependent echogenicity differences persisted whenSCImode was used. Our finding that echogenicity was increased using a perpendicular insonation angle (90°) relative to the tubules, compared to a parallel insonation angle (0°) should assist in the interpretation of ultrasonographic images of the dog kidney.
Hypofractionated proton therapy for prostate cancer: Dose delivery uncertainty due to interfractional motion
Authors: Wang Yi , Efstathiou Jason A. , Lu Hsiao‐Ming , Sharp Gregory C. , Trofimov Alexei
Published: June 2013

Purpose:

The α‐to‐β (α/β) ratio for prostate tumor is likely lower than that for the surrounding normal organs, such as rectum and bladder (∼3 Gy). As a result, hypofractionation is expected to improve the therapeutic ratio in prostate radiation therapy. However, with the use of fewer, larger fractions, the accuracy of treatment dose delivery becomes more influenced by the physical uncertainties resulting from motion and radiobiological uncertainties in the α/β ratio of the prostate tumor. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of interfractional motion on treatment dose delivery within the likely range of the tumor α/β ratio.

Methods:

Serial CT images acquired at simulation and daily treatment for three prostate patients were studied retrospectively. A conventional 3D‐conformal proton plan was created for each patient, delivering 25 fractions of 2 Gy to ITV1 (internal target volume, expanded from the prostate and clinically involved seminal vesicles) followed by 14 fractions to ITV2 (expanded from the prostate). The plans were renormalized for a series of hypofractionated protocols of between five and 28 fractions. The fractional doses were computed on daily CT and were mapped onto simulation CT using deformable registration. In each course, the doses from the fractions with the lowest D97% of the ITV2 were summed to approximate the lower limit (worst case) of target coverage. The uncertainty in dose and coverage was estimated as the deviation of the worst case from the nominal plan.

Results:

For treatments in 28 to five fractions, the uncertainty arising from interfractional motion ranged from ∼1% to 4% for V100% and ∼2% to 6% for D100% of the ITV2. The uncertainties in V95% and D95% were both minimal (<1%) for all protocols. For tumors with a low α/β of 1.0 Gy, the treatment in five fractions could deliver an additional 21.0 and 17.4 GyEQD2 to 95% and 100% of the ITV2, respectively, compared to that in 28 fractions. This advantage disappeared for tumors with α/β > 2.5 Gy, assuming the worst case for interfractional motion.

Conclusions:

In hypofractionated proton therapy for prostate cancer, the dosimetric uncertainties due to interfractional motion were minimal for the ITV2 coverage at 95% isodose level and the dose received by 95% of the ITV2. Although hypofractionation could yield an increase in equivalent dose to the target for tumors with low α/β, the gain was cancelled out by the uncertainty due to interfractional motion for tumors with α/β > 2.5 Gy.
Crystal Structure of NLRC4 Reveals Its Autoinhibition Mechanism
Authors: Hu Zehan , Yan Chuangye , Liu Peiyuan , Huang Zhiwei , Ma Rui , Zhang Chenlu , Wang Ruiyong , Zhang Yueteng , Martinon Fabio , Miao Di , Deng Haiteng , Wang Jiawei , Chang Junbiao , Chai Jijie
Published: June 2013

Keeping the Inflammasome in Check

Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)–like receptors (NLRs) play an important role in the detection of pathogens by cells of the innate immune system. For several NLR family members, activation results in relief from autoinhibition, oligomerization, and the recruitment of signaling components that together make up the inflammasome, a large multiprotein complex. The inflammasome protects the host by inducing cell death and cytokine secretion. The specific molecular mechanisms that regulate NLR activation and inhibition, however, are not well understood.

Hu
et al.

(p.
172
, published online 13 June) report the crystal structure of autoinhibited NLR family member NLRC4, which reveals the domains that are critical for interaction with adenosine diphosphate to keep NLRC4 in its inactive state and the domains that mediate oligomerization of the protein upon activation.
MiR-200b and miR-429 Function in Mouse Ovulation and Are Essential for Female Fertility
Authors: Hasuwa Hidetoshi , Ueda Jun , Ikawa Masahito , Okabe Masaru
Published: June 2013

Female Infertility

Anovulation, the failure of a woman's ovary to release an oocyte, is a major cause of female infertility. The mechanisms of ovulation have been studied extensively, with the hypothalamicpituitary axis serving as a key player in its regulation.

Hasuwa
et al.

(p.
71
, published online 13 June) describe a mechanism by which anovulation can be caused by the disruption of two microRNAs that are expressed in the pituitary gland.
Draft Genome Sequence of Streptococcus agalactiae PR06
Authors: MZ Irma Syakina , Teh L. K. , Salleh M. Z.
Published: June 2013

Streptococcus agalactiae
(group B streptococcus [GBS]) is a Gram-positive bacterium that was first recognized as a causative agent of bovine mastitis.
S. agalactiae
has subsequently emerged as a significant cause of human diseases. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
S. agalactiae
PR06, which was isolated from a septicemic patient in a local hospital in Malaysia.
Ruptured jejunal artery aneurysm
Authors: Costa Sílvia , Costa Alexandre , Pereira Tiago , Maciel Jorge
Published: June 2013

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs), unlike aortic aneurysms, are very rare, but are also a potentially lethal vascular disease. Jejunal artery aneurysms only account for less than 3% of VAAs, but have a 30% risk of rupture, with 20% death rate, presenting with only few and vague symptoms. We report the case of a 76-year-old man presenting at the emergency department (ED) with a crampy epigastric pain and vomiting. An ultrasound performed diagnosed free abdominal fluid and immediate CT scan diagnosed jejunal artery aneurysm spontaneously rupturing, followed by hypovolaemic shock. Emergent surgery was undertaken, and aneurysmectomy, followed by partial enterectomy with primary anastomosis were performed, because of segmentary jejunal ischaemia. The patient's recovery was unremarkable. High level of suspicion, rapid diagnosis capability and prompt surgical or endovascular intervention, as well as an effective teamwork in the ED are critical to avoid the devastating consequences of ruptured VAAs.
Bilateral consecutive optic neuropathy in a patient with thrombophilia
Authors: Örnek Nurgül , Onaran Zafer , Örnek Kemal , Büyüktortop Nesrin
Published: June 2013

A 39-year-old man was admitted with a sudden visual loss in the left eye. Visual acuities were 10/10 on the right and 1/10 on the left. Fundus examination did not show any abnormalities. Visual acuity improved to 10/10 and visual field defect regressed in the following 2 weeks. Three years later, the patient returned with acute visual loss in the right eye. Visual acuities were 2/10 on the right and 10/10 on the left. Right optic disc had blurred margins with mild oedema. The tests revealed methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase A1298C mutation with positive lupus anticoagulant and hyperhomocysteinaemia. Enoxaparin was initialised with vitamin B12supplementation. Complete visual recovery occurred in the following 3 weeks in both eyes. Thrombophilic screening seems to be important in the treatment and prevention of an attack in the second eye of patients with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy.
Oral metastases from carcinoma of cervix
Authors: Ram Hari , Kumar Manoj , Bhatt M L B , Shadab Mohammad
Published: June 2013

Metastatic tumours of the oral cavity are uncommon, they may occur in soft tissue as well as in bone in the oropharyngeal region. Owing to its rarity, metastatic tumours of the oral regions are a challenge to diagnose. We report a case of metastasis of the oral cavity, arising from uterine cervix mimicking as mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The metastatic lesions were noticed in the soft tissue of the lower buccal and gingival side of a oral cavity, in a 40-year-old woman with history of an adenosquamous carcinoma of uterine cervix treated by panhysterectomy.
Foot pronation is not associated with increased injury risk in novice runners wearing a neutral shoe: a 1-year prospective cohort study
Authors: Nielsen Rasmus Oestergaard , Buist Ida , Parner Erik Thorlund , Nohr Ellen Aagaard , Sørensen Henrik , Lind Martin , Rasmussen Sten
Published: June 2013

Objective

To investigate if running distance to first running-related injury varies between foot postures in novice runners wearing neutral shoes.

Design

A 1-year epidemiological observational prospective cohort study.

Setting

Denmark.

Participants

A total of 927 novice runners equivalent to 1854 feet were included. At baseline, foot posture on each foot was evaluated using the foot-posture index and categorised into highly supinated (n=53), supinated (n=369), neutral (n=1292), pronated (n=122) or highly pronated (n=18). Participants then had to start running in a neutral running shoe and to use global positioning system watch to quantify the running distance in every training session.

Main outcome measure

A running-related injury was defined as any musculoskeletal complaint of the lower extremity or back caused by running, which restricted the amount of running for at least 1 week.

Results

During 1 year of follow-up, the 1854 feet included in the analyses ran a total of 326 803 km until injury or censoring. A total of 252 participants sustained a running-related injury. Of these, 63 were bilateral injuries. Compared with a neutral foot posture, no significant body mass index-adjusted cumulative risk differences (RD) were found after 250 km of running for highly supinated feet (RD=11.0% (−10% to 32.1%), p=0.30), supinated feet (RD=−1.4% (−8.4% to 5.5%), p=0.69), pronated feet (RD=−8.1% (−17.6% to 1.3%), p=0.09) and highly pronated feet (RD=9.8% (−19.3% to 38.8%), p=0.51). In addition, the incidence-rate difference/1000 km of running, revealed that pronators had a significantly lower number of injuries/1000 km of running of −0.37 (−0.03 to −0.70), p=0.03 than neutrals.

Conclusions

The results of the present study contradict the widespread belief that moderate foot pronation is associated with an increased risk of injury among novice runners taking up running in a neutral running shoe. More work is needed to ascertain if highly pronated feet face a higher risk of injury than neutral feet.
Higher postural heart rate increments on head-up tilt correlate with younger age but not orthostatic symptoms
Authors: Ives Colleen T. , Kimpinski Kurt
Published: June 2013

Reports have shown that younger individuals present with higher postural heart rate increments on head-up tilt (HUT). However, a correlation between the degree of heart rate increment and symptoms of orthostatic intolerance has not been determined. The objective of this study was to determine whether higher postural heart rate increments during HUT correlate with symptoms of orthostatic intolerance in healthy subjects. Postural heart rate increment on HUT did not differ between men and women ( P = 0.48) but did show a significant decrease by age group ( P < 0.0001). There was a significant negative correlation between heart rate increment on HUT and age [ r = −0.63 (−0.73, −0.51), r2 = 0.400; P < 0.0001]. There was a significant difference with respect to symptoms of orthostatic intolerance by sex ( P = 0.03) but not age ( P = 0.58). There was no significant correlation between either symptoms of orthostatic intolerance and age [ r = −0.13 (−0.31, 0.06), r2 = 0.017; P = 0.17] or heart rate increment on HUT and symptoms of orthostatic intolerance [ r = 0.15 (−0.04, 0.33), r2 = 0.022; P = 0.13]. The results demonstrate that higher postural heart rate increments in younger individuals do not result in an increase in orthostatic intolerance. This highlights the potential need for a reevaluation of the diagnostic criteria for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in younger individuals.
Targeted inhibition of TGF-β results in an initial improvement but long-term deficit in force production after contraction-induced skeletal muscle injury
Authors: Gumucio Jonathan P. , Flood Michael D. , Phan Anthony C. , Brooks Susan V. , Mendias Christopher L.
Published: June 2013

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a proinflammatory cytokine that regulates the response of many tissues following injury. Previous studies in our lab have shown that treating muscles with TGF-β results in a dramatic accumulation of type I collagen, substantial fiber atrophy, and a marked decrease in force production. Because TGF-β promotes atrophy and fibrosis, our objective was to investigate whether the inhibition of TGF-β after injury would enhance the recovery of muscle following injury. We hypothesized that inhibiting TGF-β after contraction-induced injury would improve the functional recovery of muscles by preventing muscle fiber atrophy and weakness, and by limiting the accumulation of fibrotic scar tissue. To test this hypothesis, we induced an injury using a series of in situ lengthening contractions to extensor digitorum longus muscles of mice treated with either a bioneutralizing antibody against TGF-β or a sham antibody. Compared with controls, muscles from mice receiving TGF-β inhibitor showed a greater recovery in force 3 days and 7 days after injury but had a decrease in force compared with controls at the 21-day time point. The early enhancement in force in the TGF-β inhibitor group was associated with an initial improvement in tissue morphology, but, at 21 days, while the control group was fully recovered, the TGF-β inhibitor group displayed an irregular extracellular matrix and an increase in atrogin-1 gene expression. These results indicate that the inhibition of TGF-β promotes the early recovery of muscle function but is detrimental overall to full muscle recovery following moderate to severe muscle injuries.
Prenatal nicotine exposure enhances the trigeminocardiac reflex via serotonin receptor facilitation in brainstem pathways
Authors: Gorini C. , Jameson H. , Woerman A. L. , Perry D. C. , Mendelowitz D.
Published: June 2013

In this study we used a rat model for prenatal nicotine exposure to test whether clinically relevant concentrations of brain nicotine and cotinine are passed from dams exposed to nicotine to her pups, whether this changes the trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR), and whether serotonergic function in the TCR brainstem circuitry is altered. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley dams were exposed to 6 mg·kg−1·day−1of nicotine via osmotic minipumps for the duration of pregnancy. Following birth dams and pups were killed, blood was collected, and brain nicotine and cotinine levels were measured. A separate group of prenatal nicotine-exposed pups was used for electrophysiological recordings. A horizontal brainstem slice was obtained by carefully preserving the trigeminal nerve with fluorescent identification of cardiac vagal neurons (CVNs) in the nucleus ambiguus. Stimulation of the trigeminal nerve evoked excitatory postsynaptic current in CVNs. Our data demonstrate that prenatal nicotine exposure significantly exaggerates both the TCR-evoked changes in heart rate in conscious unrestrained pups, and the excitatory neurotransmission to CVNs upon trigeminal afferent nerve stimulation within this brainstem reflex circuit. Application of the 5-HT1Areceptor antagonist WAY 100635 (100 μM) and 5-HT2A/Creceptor antagonist ketanserin (10 μM)significantly decreased neurotransmission, indicating an increased facilitation of 5-HT function in prenatal nicotine-exposed animals. Prenatal nicotine exposure enhances activation of 5-HT receptors and exaggerates the trigeminocardiac reflex.
miRNA Landscape in Stage I Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Defines the Histotype Specificities
Authors: Calura Enrica , Fruscio Robert , Paracchini Lara , Bignotti Eliana , Ravaggi Antonella , Martini Paolo , Sales Gabriele , Beltrame Luca , Clivio Luca , Ceppi Lorenzo , Di Marino Mariacristina , Fuso Nerini Ilaria , Zanotti Laura , Cavalieri Duccio , Cattoretti Giorgio , Perego Patrizia , Milani Rodolfo , Katsaros Dionyssios , Tognon Germana , Sartori Enrico , Pecorelli Sergio , Mangioni Costantino , D'Incalci Maurizio , Romualdi Chiara , Marchini Sergio
Published: June 2013

Purpose: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most lethal gynecologic diseases, with survival rate virtually unchanged for the past 30 years. EOC comprises different histotypes with molecular and clinical heterogeneity, but up till now the present gold standard platinum-based treatment has been conducted without any patient stratification. The aim of the present study is to generate microRNA (miRNA) profiles characteristic of each stage I EOC histotype, to identify subtype-specific biomarkers to improve our understanding underlying the tumor mechanisms.

Experimental Design: A collection of 257 snap-frozen stage I EOC tumor biopsies was gathered together from three tumor tissue collections and stratified into independent training (n = 183) and validation sets (n = 74). Microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to generate and validate the histotype-specific markers. A novel dedicated resampling inferential strategy was developed and applied to identify the highest reproducible results. mRNA and miRNA profiles were integrated to identify novel regulatory circuits.

Results: Robust miRNA markers for clear cell and mucinous histotypes were found. Specifically, the clear cell histotype is characterized by a five-fold (log scale) higher expression of miR-30a and miR-30a*, whereas mucinous histotype has five-fold (log scale) higher levels of miR-192/194. Furthermore, a mucinous-specific regulatory loop involving miR-192/194 cluster and a differential regulation of E2F3 in clear cell histotype were identified.

Conclusions: Our findings showed that stage I EOC histotypes have their own characteristic miRNA expression and specific regulatory circuits. Clin Cancer Res; 19(15); 4114–23. ©2013 AACR.
Disease Burden of Stroke in Kolkata, India: Derivation of Disability-Adjusted Life Years by a Direct Method
Authors: Banerjee Tapas Kumar , Dutta Saunak , Ray Biman Kanti , Ghosal Malay , Hazra Avijit , Chaudhuri Arijit , Das Shyamal Kumar
Published: June 2013

Background/Aims: The disability-adjusted life year (DALY) is a new time-based measure of disease burden incorporating both disability and mortality. Our study aims to determine the DALYs lost due to stroke using a direct methodology and the implications. Methods: A population-based, house-to-house, 2-stage, prospective study on stroke was conducted over 7 years in Kolkata, India, on 100,802 randomly selected subjects to capture the incident cases of first-ever stroke and those with fatal stroke. The data were utilized to estimate years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs) and DALYs lost. Results: Over 7 years, there were 763 incident cases of first-ever stroke; of these, 320 had a fatal stroke within 30 days and 443 were stroke survivors. The overall DALYs lost due to stroke were computed as 795.57 per 100,000 person-years (730.43 in men and 552.86 in women). The overall YLL and YLD values were 593.14 and 202.43 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. The YLLs comprised 74.5% of the total DALYs. Conclusions: This is the first study in India where DALYs lost due to stroke were derived by a direct method. High YLL values demand urgent measures for controlling premature stroke death.
Concomitant Bullous Pemphigoid and Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Authors: Schulze Franziska , van Beek Nina , Terheyden Patrick , Zillikens Detlef , Schmidt Enno
Published: June 2013

Dermatitis herpetiformis and bullous pemphigoid are bullous autoimmune diseases of the skin microscopically characterized by subepidermal blisters. We present a 77-year-old patient with an 18-month history of disseminated pruritic papular lesions. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy revealed linear deposition of IgG at the basement membrane zone as well as granular deposits of IgA in the papillary dermis. Circulating IgG antibodies against BP180, BP230 and gliadin as well as IgA reactivity against endomysium, tissue transglutaminase, and gliadin were detected compatible with both bullous pemphigoid and dermatitis herpetiformis. Here, we review the English literature on all previously reported patients with co-occurrence of both entities. Interestingly, in previous cases, tissue-bound and serum autoantibodies against the respective target antigens had not yet been completely characterized.
HIV-1 Nef Interacts with HCV Core, Recruits TRAF2, TRAF5 and TRAF6, and Stimulates HIV-1 Replication in Macrophages
Authors: Khan Kashif A. , Abbas Wasim , Varin Audrey , Kumar Amit , Di Martino Vincent , Dichamp Isabelle , Herbein Georges
Published: June 2013

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) signaling plays a central role in many biological activities, such as the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses and control of apoptosis, which are key events in the pathogenesis of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Here we show that TRAF2, TRAF5 and TRAF6 interact with the HIV-1 Nef protein, an immunomodulatory viral protein expressed and released by cells infected by the virus. We also found that TRAF2 and TRAF5 interact with the HCV Core protein. Interestingly, we observed that HIV-1 Nef interacts with HCV Core. The activation of TRAF (2, 5, 6) - mediated by HIV-1 Nef and HCV Core - enhanced the activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and increased HIV-1 replication in monocyte- derived macrophages (MDMs). The knockdown of TRAF2, TRAF5 and TRAF6 resulted in decreased NF-κB activation and reduced HIV-1 replication in MDMs. Our results reveal a mechanism by which the activation of the TRAF pathway by HIV-1 Nef and HCV Core favors the replication of HIV-1 in macrophages and could be a critical factor for optimal replication of HIV-1 in macrophages of HIV-HCV-coinfected patients.
Building a European Consensus on Minimum Quality Standards for Drug Treatment, Rehabilitation and Harm Reduction
Authors: Schaub Michael P. , Uchtenhagen Ambros ,   the EQUS Expert Group
Published: June 2013

Background/Aims: The Study on the Development of an EU Framework for Minimum Quality Standards and Benchmarks in Drug Demand Reduction (EQUS) has set up an inventory of quality standards and initiated a consensus-building process, aiming at establishing a set of European minimum quality standards (MQS) for treatment/rehabilitation and harm reduction in the field of drug abuse and dependence. Methods: Existing documents were collected by country-specific experts and integrated into a predefined framework of quality standards. Agreement, implementation status and expected implementation problems of the proposed standards were assessed by a survey of European stakeholders and the final lists of European MQS were established at a European conference. Results: Overall, 349 documents were identified as relevant. Major gaps were identified for ethical and legal standards, and for documents that provide grades of evidence for specific standards. A high level of acceptance was found for the treatment/rehabilitation MQS, while a somewhat lower level was found for the harm reduction MQS. The final lists of MQS were based on at least 80% of acceptance by European experts and stakeholders. Conclusion: A high consensus of European MQS for treatment/rehabilitation and harm reduction has been achieved. Further implementation and developmental steps are discussed.
Lichenoid Drug Eruptionfollowing Intravenous Applicationof Orally Formulated Diamorphine, a Semisynthetic Heroin
Authors: Kolm I. , Eggmann N. , Kamarashev J. , Kerl K. , French L.E. , Hofbauer G.F.L.
Published: June 2013

Background: Lichen planus is a common skin disorder of unknown etiology. Most cases are idiopathic, but substances such as gold, antimalarials, penicillamine, thiazide diuretics, β-blockers, arsenic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been implicated as trigger factors. Case Presentation: We report the case of a lichenoid eruption in a male drug addict who administered oral heroin (diamorphine) intravenously. Diamorphine was stopped immediately. Following topical steroids, phototherapy and oral acitretin, the lesions gradually disappeared. A lymphocyte transformation test was negative for pure morphine and codeine. Discussion: A coincidental association between the intravenous application of orally formulated semisynthetic heroin and the lichenoid eruption cannot be completely ruled out. However, the diagnosis of a lichenoid drug eruption is favoured over idiopathic lichen planus because of the clear chronological correlation between drug use and appearance as well as drug withdrawal and disappearance of the skin lesions, and because of a flare-up following repeated intravenous application of diamorphine.
Microglia and Interleukin-1β in Ischemic Retinopathy Elicit Microvascular Degeneration Through Neuronal Semaphorin-3A
Authors: Rivera José Carlos , Sitaras Nicholas , Noueihed Baraa , Hamel David , Madaan Ankush , Zhou Tianwei , Honoré Jean-Claude , Quiniou Christiane , Joyal Jean-Sébastien , Hardy Pierre , Sennlaub Florian , Lubell William , Chemtob Sylvain
Published: June 2013

Objective—

Proinflammatory cytokines contribute to the development of retinal vasculopathies. However, the role of these factors and the mechanisms by which they elicit their effects in retina are not known. We investigated whether activated microglia during early stages of ischemic retinopathy produces excessive interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which elicits retinal microvascular degeneration not directly but rather by triggering the release of the proapoptotic/repulsive factor semaphorin-3A (Sema3A) from neurons.

Approach and Results—

Sprague Dawley rats subjected to retinopathy induced by hyperoxia (80% O
2
; O
2
-induced retinopathy) exhibited retinal vaso-obliteration associated with microglial activation, NLRP3 upregulation, and IL-1β and Sema3A release; IL-1β was mostly generated by microglia. Intraperitoneal administration of IL-1 receptor antagonists (Kineret, or rytvela [101.10]) decreased these effects and enhanced retinal revascularization; knockdown of Sema3A resulted in microvessel preservation and, conversely, administration of IL-1β caused vaso-obliteration. In vitro, IL-1β derived from activated primary microglial cells, cultured under hyperoxia, stimulated the release of Sema3A in retinal ganglion cells-5, which in turn induced apoptosis of microvascular endothelium; antagonism of IL-1 receptor decreased microglial activation and on retinal ganglion cells-5 abolished the release of Sema3A inhibiting ensuing endothelial cell apoptosis. IL-1β was not directly cytotoxic to endothelial cells.

Conclusions—

Our findings suggest that in the early stages of O
2
-induced retinopathy, retinal microglia are activated to produce IL-1β, which sustains the activation of microglia and induces microvascular injury through the release of Sema3A from adjacent neurons. Interference with IL-1 receptor or Sema3A actions preserves the microvascular bed in ischemic retinopathies and, consequently, decreases ensued pathological preretinal neovascularization.
Visual–Motor Interactions during Action Observation Are Shaped by Cognitive Context
Authors: Bortoletto Marta , Baker Katharine S. , Mattingley Jason B. , Cunnington Ross
Published: June 2013

Interactions between the visual system and the motor system during action observation are important for functions such as imitation and action understanding. Here, we asked whether such processes might be influenced by the cognitive context in which actions are performed. We recorded ERPs in a delayed go/no-go task known to induce bidirectional interference between the motor system and the visual system (visuomotor interference). Static images of hand gestures were presented as go stimuli after participants had planned either a matching (congruent) or nonmatching (incongruent) action. Participants performed the identical task in two different cognitive contexts: In one, they focused on the visual image of the hand gesture shown as the go stimulus (image context), whereas in the other, they focused on the hand gesture they performed (action context). We analyzed the N170 elicited by the go stimulus to test the influence of action plans on action observation (motor-to-visual priming). We also analyzed movement-related activity following the go stimulus to examine the influence of action observation on action planning (visual-to-motor priming). Strikingly, the context manipulation reversed the direction of the priming effects: We found stronger motor-to-visual priming in the action context compared with the image context and stronger visual-to-motor priming in the image context compared with the action context. Taken together, our findings indicate that neural interactions between motor and visual processes for executed and observed actions can change depending on task demands and are sensitive to top–down control according to the context.
Vascular Risk Moderates Associations between Hippocampal Subfield Volumes and Memory
Authors: Bender Andrew R. , Daugherty Ana M. , Raz Naftali
Published: June 2013

Advanced age and vascular risk negatively affect episodic memory. The hippocampus (HC) is a complex structure, and little is known about the roles of different HC regions in age-related memory declines. Using data from an ongoing longitudinal study, we investigated whether memory functions are related to volumes of specific HC subregions (CA1-2, CA3-4/dentate gyrus, and subiculum). Furthermore, we inquired if arterial hypertension, a common age-related vascular risk factor, modifies age-related differences in HC regional volumes, concurrent memory performance, and improvement in memory over multiple administrations. Healthy adults (n = 49, 52–82 years old) completed associative recognition and free recall tasks. In grouped path models, covariance structures differed between hypertensive and normotensive participants. Whereas larger CA3-4/dentate gyrus volumes predicted greater improvement in associative memory over repeated tests regardless of vascular risk, CA1-2 volumes were associated with improvement in noun recall only in hypertensive participants. Only among hypertensive participants, CA1-2 volumes negatively related to age and CA3-4/dentate gyrus and CA1-2 volumes were associated with performance at the last measurement occasion. These findings suggest that relatively small regions of the HC may play a role in age-related memory declines and that vascular risk factors associated with advanced age may modify that relationship.
Information literacy in the programmatic university accreditation standards of select professions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia
Authors: Bradley Cara
Published: June 2013

University accreditation schemes, in some form or other, are ubiquitous among English-language speaking countries around the world. Some countries employ national or regional accreditation processes, and a few authors have explored the role of information literacy (IL) in these institution-wide accreditation practices. Little, however, has been written about IL in the context of accreditation standards developed by various professions to regulate the quality of university programmes educating future professionals in the field. This paper investigates the potential of these professional accreditation standards to advance the IL cause and give it a higher profile on campus. It undertakes a qualitative content analysis of the professional accreditation standards for three professions-- nursing, social work, and engineering –in Canada, the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia to determine: If (and in what context) the term IL is used in the accreditation criteria; Other terms/language used in the accreditation criteria to describe IL and associated skills and competencies; Correlations between outcomes outlined in the accreditation documents and IL competencies outlined by the library profession. The study identifies trends, both within specific professions, and within the documents produced by each of the four countries under consideration. It reports significant variation in the language used in the professions to describe the concept of IL, highlighting the alternative language used in the various professions to describe this ability. The study also maps outcomes outlined in the accreditation documents to the Association of College and Research Libraries’ (ACRL’s) Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education ((ACRL 2000) in order to identify areas of overlapping concern. In doing so, this study helps familiarise librarians with the accreditation standards in several subjects, and provides a model for librarians to use in analysing accreditation standards in other subject areas in order to advance IL on their campuses. This article is based on a paper presented at LILAC 2013
Developing an evidence-based practice healthcare lens for the SCONUL Seven Pillars of Information Literacy model
Authors: Dalton Michelle
Published: June 2013

The SCONUL Seven Pillars of Information Literacy model was revised in 2011 to reflect the interpretation of information literacy in today’s environment. Subsequently, a number of lenses have been developed to adapt the core model to different contexts and user groups. This study develops a lens that aims to reflect the unique information landscape and needs of evidence based practice (EBP) in healthcare. Healthcare professionals across medicine, nursing and allied health disciplines were interviewed to explore their understanding and awareness of the clinical information seeking process and behaviours. This information was then used to construct an EBP lens using familiar healthcare terminology and concepts. Health Science librarians can use this lens as a framework to inform the design and structure of information literacy programmes for clinical staff. Further insight may also be gained by measuring the impact and effectiveness of the lens on information literacy levels and practice at a local level.
A new species of Minuartia (Caryophyllaceae) restricted to the high Andes of South America
Authors: NICOLA MARCELA V. , POZNER RAÚL
Published: June 2013

A new apetalous species of Minuartia from the high Andes of northwestern Argentina, M. altoandina, is here described and illustrated. At first sight, M. altoandina is morphologically very similar to the European M. sedoides because of the absence of petals and ciliate leaf margin with narrow hyaline teeth; however, from a biogeographical point of view, it will probably be related to the North American M. rossii complex through the morphology of M. austromontana.
A new species of Villaria (Octotropideae, Rubiaceae) from Luzon, Philippines including its conservation status
Authors: ARRIOLA AXEL H. , ALEJANDRO GRECEBIO JONATHAN D.
Published: June 2013

Villaria uniflora, a new species from the Philippines is here described and illustrated. It can be easily distinguished from other members of the genus by its uniflorous inflorescences, narrowly acute bract apex, infundibuliform calyx tube, triangular-ovate calyx lobes, and lanceolate stigmatic lobes.
Institutional complexity and logic engagement: An investigation of Ontario fine wine
Authors: Voronov Maxim , De Clercq Dirk , Hinings CR (Bob)
Published: June 2013

We contribute to research on institutional complexity by acknowledging that institutional logics are not reified cognitive structures, but rather are open to interpretation. In doing so, we highlight the need to understand how actors engage with institutional logics and the creativity that such engagement implies. Using an inductive case study of the Ontario wine industry, we rely on the notion of scripts to explicate how actors engage with the aesthetic and the market logics that are entrenched in their field. Our findings reveal two scripts that are used to adhere to the aesthetic logic (farmer and artist) and one that is used to adhere to the market logic (business professional). We find that not only can actors enact two different scripts to adhere to an institutional logic, but also that flexible script enactment takes place within interactions with specific audiences. Thus, we found no unique match between particular logics and specific audiences, but rather that the aesthetic and the market logics, and their underlying scripts, are relevant in the interactions with each of the audience groups, albeit to varying degrees. These findings have important implications for research on institutional complexity.
Territorial disputes and the politics of individual well-being
Authors: Miller Steven V
Published: June 2013

Multiple studies argue that the division of territory between states is a root cause of war in the international system. This is often understood as a function of the unique importance of territory at the level of the individual citizen, because the territory itself directly affects an individual’s well-being on multiple dimensions. As such, disputes over territory should also have consequences for an individual’s overall subjective appraisal of their well-being. This article argues that disputes over the allocation of territory between states do affect an individual’s subjective well-being, but not uniformly. Citizens in states routinely targeted by a territorial threat from a revisionist neighbor are generally unhappy. However, citizens in states that initiate territorial disputes are happier as a result of the aggressive foreign policy of the state leader to secure the coveted territorial good. This is first demonstrated using mixed effects modeling on data drawn from the World Values Survey and Correlates of War Militarized Interstate Dispute dataset. In addition, this article provides an illustration of variations in territorial threat and subjective well-being using the case of Nigeria, finding that Nigerians were happier when their state was initiating territorial threat against its neighbors and less happy during a period when Nigeria itself was the target of territorial threat. The analyses provided advance the territorial conflict research program by measuring the individual-level effects of territorial disputes. In addition, the findings add to a growing scholarship on the political determinants of an individual quality of life, sometimes considered the ‘ultimate dependent variable’ in social science.
Methodological study on the removal of solid oil and fat stains from cotton fabrics using abrasion
Authors: Mercadé-Prieto Ruben , Bakalis Serafim
Published: June 2013

Solid fats are one of the most difficult stains to remove at low temperatures. Mechanical action is beneficial for stain removal, but the potential and limitations of such an essential part of washing are not known. Fabric abrasion has been studied for the first time in a systematic and controlled manner using a tribometer. The efficiency of cotton–cotton abrasion, to simulate the rubbing of clothes, was studied in the absence of detergents using models of liquid and solid oils (hexadecane, octadecane, and undecanoic acid) and real fats (lard and buttermilk fat). In model oils, abrasion is not very effective at any temperature, whereas in typical fats abrasion significantly improves cleaning in a wide range of temperatures. The different behavior is caused by the temperature-dependent solid fat content of lard and butter. Fluorescence microscopy is introduced as a novel methodology for the quantification of the fat content in soiled fabrics.
In vitro assessment of antimicrobial polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposite fibers
Authors: Erem Aysin Dural , Ozcan Gulay , Skrifvars Mikael
Published: June 2013

A series of polypropylene (PP) nanocomposite fibres containing respectively 0, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt% ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by melt spinning. The antimicrobial activity of these fibers against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) as a Gram-positive bacterium and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 4352) as a Gram-negative bacterium was evaluated. It was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy that the dispersion of the NPs within the PP matrix was homogeneous. Although such homogeneity the fibers are unable to exhibit antimicrobial activity. The absorption properties of the fibers was then investigated and found to be inadequate, so cold plasma and chemical finishing were applied to improve their absorptivity. After this treatment the PP/ZnO nanocomposite fibers exhibited increasing antimicrobial effectiveness with filler content. In addition, mechanical and thermal characterization tests showed that increasing concentration of ZnO–NPs improved the mechanical properties of the fiber due to the interface between the matrix and the nanoparticles sharing the stress. The crystallinity of the fibers was found to decrease by about 7% as the level of ZnO increased to 5%. This was attributed to the more rapid cooling experienced in the presence of ZnO particles of high thermal conductivity.