bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eddy-driven subduction exports particulate organic carbon from the spring bloom
Authors: Omand Melissa M. , D’Asaro Eric A. , Lee Craig M. , Perry Mary Jane , Briggs Nathan , Cetinić Ivona , Mahadevan Amala
Published: March 2015

Down with atmospheric carbon dioxide

How does the ocean move carbon from surface waters to its deep interior? Current understanding is that carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by phytoplankton that are eaten, and in turn their predators die and sink into deep water and seafloor sediments. In addition to this route, Omand
et al.
show that downwelling caused by ocean eddies 1 to 10 km across can deliver much of the carbon produced in spring to the deep sea. The eddies entrain small particles and dissolved organic carbon to augment the flux of large sinking particles.

Science
, this issue p.
222
The nongravitational interactions of dark matter in colliding galaxy clusters
Authors: Harvey David , Massey Richard , Kitching Thomas , Taylor Andy , Tittley Eric
Published: March 2015

Uncloaking the influence of the invisible actor

The idea of dark matter enjoys popular support, but two major concerns persist: the so-called Standard Model excludes it, and it cannot be directly detected by any telescope. For now, astronomers can only observe dark matter's influence indirectly, such as when watching unseen creatures perturb the surface of a pond. Harvey
et al.
observed 72 galaxy collisions to compare the resulting centers of mass for the gas and stars (from direct observations) and for the dark matter (by inference). Based on these offsets, dark matter is clearly present.

Science
, this issue p.
1462
Distances with <4% precision from type Ia supernovae in young star-forming environments
Authors: Kelly Patrick L. , Filippenko Alexei V. , Burke David L. , Hicken Malcolm , Ganeshalingam Mohan , Zheng WeiKang
Published: March 2015

A place where stars are more predictable

Astrophysicists use reference objects of known brightness to determine distances. For example, type Ia supernova (SN Ia) always reach nearly the same peak brightness. This is because they explode when the progenitor white dwarf exceeds its supportable mass threshold. Kelly
et al.
find that a particular subset of SN Ia—those in environments with high ultraviolet surface brightness and star-formation density—can calibrate distances even more tightly. It seems that only one or two intrinsic parameters may drive the apparent relationship between luminosity, color, and fading with time.

Science
, this issue p.
1459
‘Fixed’ nitrogen found in martian soil
Authors: Hand Eric
Published: March 2015

Nitrates could be extracted from the atmosphere by the energy of impacts.
Measuring child abuse's legacy
Authors: Underwood Emily
Published: March 2015

First large-scale, longitudinal study tracks abuse and neglect across generations.
Cause of death
Authors: Kean Sam
Published: March 2015

No one knows why many people die in developing countries. A new technique, the minimally invasive autopsy, could change that—and transform global health.
Volume loss from Antarctic ice shelves is accelerating
Authors: Paolo Fernando S. , Fricker Helen A. , Padman Laurie
Published: March 2015

Disappearing faster around the edges

The floating ice shelves around Antarctica, which buttress ice streams from the continent and slow their discharge into the sea, are thinning at faster rates. Paoloet al.present satellite data showing that ice shelves in many regions around the edge of the continent are losing mass. This result increases concern about how fast sea level might rise as climate continues to warm. If warming continues to cause ice shelves to thin, as they have for the past couple of decades, their disappearance may allow land-based ice to collapse and melt.

Science, this issue p.327
The in vivo dynamics of antigenic variation in
Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Mugnier Monica R. , Cross George A. M. , Papavasiliou F. Nina
Published: March 2015

Trypanosomes reveal tricky tricks in vivo

The sleeping sickness parasite,
Trypanosoma brucei
, is covered with variant surface glyco proteins (VSGs) recognized by the host's immune system. The parasite uses a repertoire of 2000 VSG genes to switch between different surface variants, continually evading the host's defensive responses. Classic experiments showed that one variant succeeded another, causing waves of infection; however, infection in animals shows different behavior. Mugnier
et al.
discovered that several VSGs are expressed simultaneously and that the repertoire for variation is amplified even more by recombination between the genes to make mosaic VSGs.

Science
, this issue p.
1470
Redox cycling of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in magnetite by Fe-metabolizing bacteria
Authors: Byrne James M. , Klueglein Nicole , Pearce Carolyn , Rosso Kevin M. , Appel Erwin , Kappler Andreas
Published: March 2015

Building a biogeochemical battery

Iron acts as both a source and sink of electrons for microorganisms in the environment. Some anaerobic bacteria use oxidized Fe(III) as an electron acceptor, whereas phototrophic bacteria can use reduced Fe(II) as an electron donor. Byrne
et al.
show that the iron-bearing mineral magnetite, which contains both Fe(II) and Fe(III), can serve as both an electron acceptor and donor. Cocultures of iron-reducing and iron-oxidizing bacteria exposed to simulated day/night cycles or changes in organic matter altered the ratio of Fe(II) to Fe(III) in magnetite particles.

Science
, this issue p.
1473
An Ebola whole-virus vaccine is protective in nonhuman primates
Authors: Marzi Andrea , Halfmann Peter , Hill-Batorski Lindsay , Feldmann Friederike , Shupert W. Lesley , Neumann Gabriele , Feldmann Heinz , Kawaoka Yoshihiro
Published: March 2015

Ebola virus vaccine candidate

As there are so few possibilities for drugs and vaccines that protect against the Ebola virus (EBOV), we need more options. Marzi
et al.
present initial studies in monkeys of a promising whole Ebola virus vaccine based on a defective form of the virus in which an essential viral gene (
VP30
) is knocked out. One or two doses of this defective virus, with or without further peroxide inactivation, protected against a lethal challenge of EBOV. In limited immunological analyses, protection correlated with the production of antibodies to the EBOV envelope.

Science
, this issue p. 439
Quasiparticle mass enhancement approaching optimal doping in a high-
T
c
superconductor
Authors: Ramshaw B. J. , Sebastian S. E. , McDonald R. D. , Day James , Tan B. S. , Zhu Z. , Betts J. B. , Liang Ruixing , Bonn D. A. , Hardy W. N. , Harrison N.
Published: March 2015

Massive electrons signify correlations

Thirty years on, and the mechanism of superconductivity in copper-oxide superconductors remains a mystery. Knowledge of their normal nonsuperconducting state is also incomplete; however, we do know that the more robust the superconductivity, the higher the magnetic fields required to suppress it. Ramshaw
et al.
studied samples of three different compositions of the copper-oxide YBa
2
Cu
3
O
6+δ
in magnetic fields exceeding 90 T. They found that as the oxygen content increased toward the point of the maximum transition temperature, the conducting electrons became heavier and heavier. This mass enhancement reflected an increase in electronic correlations, which in turn may be a signature of a quantum critical point.

Science
, this issue p.
317
Dynamic DNA devices and assemblies formed by shape-complementary, non–base pairing 3D components
Authors: Gerling Thomas , Wagenbauer Klaus F. , Neuner Andrea M. , Dietz Hendrik
Published: March 2015

Reconfigurable DNA structures

DNA origami—nanostructures created by programming the assembly of single-stranded DNA through base pairing—can create intricate structures. However, such structures lack the flexible and reversible interactions more typical of biomolecular recognition. Gerling
et al.
created three-dimensional DNA nanostructures that assemble though nucleotide base-stacking interactions (see the Perspective by Shih). These structures cycled from open to closed states with changes in salt concentration or temperature.

Science, this issue p.
1446
; see also p.
1417
Mutation rate and genotype variation of Ebola virus from Mali case sequences
Authors: Hoenen T. , Safronetz D. , Groseth A. , Wollenberg K. R. , Koita O. A. , Diarra B. , Fall I. S. , Haidara F. C. , Diallo F. , Sanogo M. , Sarro Y. S. , Kone A. , Togo A. C. G. , Traore A. , Kodio M. , Dosseh A. , Rosenke K. , de Wit E. , Feldmann F. , Ebihara H. , Munster V. J. , Zoon K. C. , Feldmann H. , Sow S.
Published: March 2015

Evolution in the Ebola virus outbreak

Has rapid mutation produced alarming new virus characteristics in the 2013–2015 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa? Hoenen
et al.
sequenced isolates obtained 9 months into the epidemic from cases in Mali. The nucleotide substitution rate was consistent with rates estimated from past Central African outbreaks. In contrast, analysis of sequence data from early in the outbreak indicated rapid mutation. This more recent finding offers confidence that diagnostic methods, vaccines, and other treatment interventions will remain effective. Nevertheless, vigilance must be maintained: A few mutations can radically change the biological properties of other RNA viruses.

Science
, this issue p.
117
How to bolster the antifungal pipeline
Authors: Denning David W. , Bromley Michael J.
Published: March 2015

Few drugs are coming to market, but opportunities for drug development exist
For complex disease genetics, collaboration drives progress
Authors: Singleton Andrew B. , Traynor Bryan J.
Published: March 2015

Exome sequencing identifies a gene that causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

[Also see Research Article by

Cirulli
et al.

]
Draft Genome Sequences of Four Bacillus thermoamylovorans Strains Isolated from Milk and Acacia Gum, a Food Ingredient
Authors: Krawczyk Antonina O. , Berendsen Erwin M. , Eijlander Robyn T. , de Jong Anne , Wells-Bennik Marjon H. J. , Kuipers Oscar P.
Published: March 2015

The thermophilic bacterium
Bacillus thermoamylovorans
produces highly heat-resistant spores that can contaminate food products, leading to their spoilage. Here, we present the whole-genome sequences of four B. thermoamylovorans strains, isolated from milk and acacia gum.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Yeast
Starmerella bombicola
NBRC10243, a Producer of Sophorolipids, Glycolipid Biosurfactants
Authors: Matsuzawa Tomohiko , Koike Hideaki , Saika Azusa , Fukuoka Tokuma , Sato Shun , Habe Hiroshi , Kitamoto Dai , Morita Tomotake
Published: March 2015

The yeast
Starmerella bombicola
NBRC10243 is an excellent producer of sophorolipids (SLs) from various feedstocks. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of S. bombicola NBRC10243. Analysis of the sequence may provide insight into the properties of this yeast that make it superior for use in the production of functional glycolipids and biomolecules, leading to the further development of S. bombicola NBRC10243 for industrial applications.
Whole-Genome Sequencing of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Italian Strain 57/13, the Causative Agent of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia
Authors: Orsini M. , Krasteva I. , Marcacci M. , Ancora M. , Ciammaruconi A. , Gentile B. , Lista F. , Pini A. , Scacchia M. , Sacchini F. , Cammà C.
Published: March 2015

Mycoplasma mycoides
subsp. mycoides is generally considered one of most pathogenic Mycoplasma species, and it is the etiological agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). Here, we present the annotated genome sequence of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides Italian strain 57/13, isolated in 1992 during CBPP outbreaks in Italy.
Genome Sequence of Polycyclovorans algicola Strain TG408, an Obligate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacterium Associated with Marine Eukaryotic Phytoplankton
Authors: Gutierrez Tony , Thompson Haydn F. , Angelova Angelina , Whitman William B. , Huntemann Marcel , Copeland Alex , Chen Amy , Kyrpides Nikos , Markowitz Victor , Palaniappan Krishnaveni , Ivanova Natalia , Mikhailova Natalia , Ovchinnikova Galina , Andersen Evan , Pati Amrita , Stamatis Dimitrios , Reddy T. B. K. , Ngan Chew Yee , Chovatia Mansi , Daum Chris , Shapiro Nicole , Cantor Michael N. , Woyke Tanja
Published: March 2015

Polycyclovorans algicola strain TG408 is a recently discovered bacterium associated with marine eukaryotic phytoplankton and exhibits the ability to utilize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) almost exclusively as sole sources of carbon and energy. Here, we present the genome sequence of this strain, which is 3,653,213 bp, with 3,477 genes and an average G+C content of 63.8%.
Complete Genome Sequences of a Clinical Isolate and an Environmental Isolate of Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Authors: Lüdeke Catharina H. M. , Kong Nguyet , Weimer Bart C. , Fischer Markus , Jones Jessica L.
Published: March 2015

Vibrio parahaemolyticus
is the leading cause of seafood-borne infections in the United States. We report complete genome sequences for two
V. parahaemolyticus
strains isolated in 2007, CDC_K4557 and FDA_R31 of clinical and oyster origin, respectively. These two sequences might assist in the investigation of differential virulence of this organism.
Complete Genome Sequences of Sulfurospirillum Strains UCH001 and UCH003 Isolated from Groundwater in Japan
Authors: Miura Takamasa , Uchino Yoshihito , Tsuchikane Keiko , Ohtsubo Yoshiyuki , Ohji Shoko , Hosoyama Akira , Ito Masako , Takahata Yoh , Yamazoe Atsushi , Suzuki Ken-ichiro , Fujita Nobuyuki
Published: March 2015

Sulfurospirillum strains UCH001 and UCH003 were isolated from anaerobic
cis
-1,2-dichloroethene-dechlorinating microbial consortia derived from groundwater in Japan. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of strains UCH001 and UCH003.
Whole-Genome Sequence of Clostridium botulinum A2B3 87, a Highly Virulent Strain Involved in a Fatal Case of Foodborne Botulism in Italy
Authors: Giordani Francesco , Fillo Silvia , Anselmo Anna , Palozzi Anna Maria , Fortunato Antonella , Gentile Bernardina , Pittiglio Valentina , Spagnolo Ferdinando , Anniballi Fabrizio , Fiore Alfonsina , Auricchio Bruna , De Medici Dario , Lista Florigio
Published: March 2015

Here, we report the genome sequence of a rare bivalent strain of
Clostridium botulinum
, A2B3 87. The strain was isolated from a foodborne botulism case that occurred in Italy in 1995. The case was characterized by rapid evolution of the illness and failure of conventional treatments.
Cystic duct carcinoma mimicking a middle bile duct tumour
Authors: Francisco Elsa , Mendes Miguel , Vale Sílvio , Esteves Joana
Published: March 2015

Cystic duct carcinoma was defined by Farrar as a tumour restricted to the cystic duct, making it a rare disease. The authors describe a case of a cystic duct carcinoma that fulfils Farrar’s strict diagnostic criteria and that became clinically relevant by compressing the common hepatic duct, thus causing cholestasis. A cholecystectomy was performed with en bloc resection of the cystic and extrahepatic bile duct with a regional lymphadenectomy.
Primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy leading to hypercalcaemic crisis and uraemic encephalopathy
Authors: Nash E , Ranka P , Tarigopula G , Rashid T
Published: March 2015

Primary hyperparathyroidism is rare during pregnancy. Recognition may be challenging as symptoms overlap with those of other common disorders of pregnancy. Furthermore, physiological changes of pregnancy affecting calcium homoeostasis mean awareness of the condition and careful interpretation of results in the light of pregnancy are essential for diagnosis. Maternal complications of primary hyperparathyroidism include nephrolithiasis, pancreatitis, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension and peptic ulcers. At its most severe, hypercalcaemic crisis may occur, presenting with acute neurological disturbance. Most commonly, the underlying aetiology is a solitary parathyroid adenoma whereby parathyroidectomy is the only cure. A 30-year-old Caucasian woman booked under Consultant care presented at 32 weeks gestation with vomiting and right-sided loin pain. Following presentation, she was diagnosed with renal calculi. She was delivered by caesarean section (CS) due to deterioration in renal function. Post-CS, she had a grand mal seizure. She was found to have hypercalcaemia with underlying hyperparathyroidism.
Headache during haemodialysis in a patient with shunt: a cause for concern?
Authors: O'Sullivan Padraig , Sajjad Jahangir , Abrar Sahibzada , Marks Charles
Published: March 2015

A 20-year-old woman with a functioning ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt consistently reported unbearable vertex headaches and nausea during the last hour of her haemodialysis (HD) sessions. After one particularly severe episode, which was associated with vomiting, restlessness and blurred vision, her team suspected that she was developing dialysis disequilibrium syndrome. She improved fully on cessation of HD, requiring simple analgaesia only, and continued dialysis three times per week. Several more distressing episodes of nausea and headaches compelled us to give intravenous mannitol during HD, resulting in temporary improvement. Subsequently, shorter and more frequent dialysis sessions along with intravenous mannitol resulted in satisfactory clinical response.
Fistula formation between the external iliac artery and ileal conduit following a radical cystoprostatectomy: a rare complication with prewarning signs of haemorrhage
Authors: Sukha Anisha , Smyth Niamh
Published: March 2015

A 76-year-old man was admitted with bleeding per-urostomy following a collapse at home. Three weeks prior to the admission, he had undergone a radical cystoprostatectomy and formation of ileal-conduit for an extensive bladder carcinoma. A CT angiogram revealed a possible small source of bleeding within the ileal-conduit itself, which settled with conservative management. However, prior to discharge he developed profuse fresh bleeding from the urostomy, which could not be controlled. The patient underwent an emergency endoscopy of the conduit and laparotomy, which revealed a fistula between the right external iliac artery and the proximal end of the ileal-conduit. The right iliac artery was ligated and an emergency left-to-right femoral-femoral crossover bypass was performed. The right ureter was stented and rediverted through the ileal-conduit and the left ureter was stented at a later date. He unfortunately had a stormy postoperative recovery with further episodes of per-urostomy bleeding and no identified source.
A new technique of closing a gastroatmospheric fistula with a rectus abdominis muscle flap
Authors: Gupta Rahul , Singh Harjeet , Talukder Shibojit , Verma Ganga Ram
Published: March 2015

Proximal enteroatmospheric fistulae are difficult to manage and carry high mortality from sepsis and electrolyte imbalances. Conservative management with total parenteral nutrition, exclusion of fistula, resection and anastomosis are conventional methods of treatment with low success rate. Providing muscle cover to manage an enteroatmospheric fistula is a noble concept. A postoperative high-output gastroatmospheric fistula (GAF) was repaired by superior epigastric artery-based rectus abdominis muscle flap (RAMF). Postoperative recovery was uneventful. This technique may be useful for closure of proximal enteroatmospheric fistulae that fail to heal through medical and conventional surgical management.
Turning the tide or riding the waves? Impacts of antibiotic stewardship and infection control on MRSA strain dynamics in a Scottish region over 16 years: non-linear time series analysis
Authors: Lawes Timothy , López-Lozano José-María , Nebot César , Macartney Gillian , Subbarao-Sharma Rashmi , Dare Ceri R J , Edwards Giles F S , Gould Ian M
Published: March 2015

Objectives

To explore temporal associations between planned antibiotic stewardship and infection control interventions and the molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA).

Design

Retrospective ecological study and time-series analysis integrating typing data from the Scottish MRSA reference laboratory.

Setting

Regional hospital and primary care in a Scottish Health Board.

Participants

General adult (N=1 051 993) or intensive care (18 235) admissions and primary care registrations (460 000 inhabitants) between January 1997 and December 2012.

Interventions

Hand-hygiene campaign; MRSA admission screening; antibiotic stewardship limiting use of macrolides and ‘4Cs’ (cephalosporins, coamoxiclav, clindamycin and fluoroquinolones).

Outcome measures

Prevalence density of MRSA clonal complexes CC22, CC30 and CC5/Otherin hospital (isolates/1000 occupied bed days, OBDs) and community (isolates/10 000 inhabitant-days).

Results

67% of all clinical MRSA isolates (10 707/15 947) were typed. Regional MRSA population structure was dominated by hospital epidemic strains CC30, CC22 and CC45. Following declines in overall MRSA prevalence density, CC5 and other strains of community origin became increasingly important. Reductions in use of ‘4Cs’ and macrolides anticipated declines in sublineages with higher levels of associated resistances. In multivariate time-series models (R2=0.63–0.94) introduction of the hand-hygiene campaign, reductions in mean length of stay (when >4 days) and bed occupancy (when >74 to 78%) predicted declines in CC22 and CC30, but not CC5/other strains. Lower importation pressures, expanded MRSA admission screening, and reductions in macrolide and third generation cephalosporin use (thresholds for association: 135–141, and 48–81 defined daily doses/1000 OBDs, respectively) were followed by declines in all clonal complexes. Strain-specific associations with fluoroquinolones and clindamycin reflected resistance phenotypes of clonal complexes.

Conclusions

Infection control measures and changes in population antibiotic use were important predictors of MRSA strain dynamics in our region. Strategies to control MRSA should consider thresholds for effects and strain-specific impacts.
Palliative care in cardiopulmonary transplantation
Authors: McKenna Maria , Clark Stephen C
Published: March 2015

Cardiopulmonary transplantation is a life-prolonging therapy available to a select population of patients with cardiac or respiratory failure. Transplantation is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and unmet palliative care need. Despite recommendations that palliative care should be a core component of the heart and lung transplant process, collaboration within clinical practice is extremely rare. A key reason for this is the misperception among patients, their families and transplant clinicians, that palliative care is analogous with end of life care. Other challenges include prognostication, communication, and the balance of hope and reality. We suggest a change in clinical practice within cardiopulmonary transplantation, whereby palliative care takes place alongside active management. Greater partnership working will demonstrate clinical credibility and highlight the impact of palliative care interventions. Education is required to address current misperceptions and further research should explore the effect of initiatives to improve palliative care provision for this patient group.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of meditative interventions for informal caregivers and health professionals
Authors: Dharmawardene Marisa , Givens Jane , Wachholtz Amy , Makowski Suzana , Tjia Jennifer
Published: March 2015

Background

Burnout, stress and anxiety have been identified as areas of concern for informal caregivers and health professionals, particularly in the palliative setting. Meditative interventions are gaining acceptance as tools to improve well-being in a variety of clinical contexts, however, their effectiveness as an intervention for caregivers remains unknown.

Aim

To explore the effect of meditative interventions on physical and emotional markers of well-being as well as job satisfaction and burnout among informal caregivers and health professionals.

Design

Systematic review of randomised clinical trials and pre–post intervention studies with meditative interventions for caregivers.

Data sources

PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched up to November 2013. Of 1561 abstracts returned, 68 studies were examined in full text with 27 eligible for systematic review.

Results

Controlled trials of informal caregivers showed statistically significant improvement in depression (effect size 0.49 (95% CI 0.24 to 0.75)), anxiety (effect size 0.53 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.99)), stress (effect size 0.49 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.77)) and self-efficacy (effect size 0.86 (95% CI 0.5 to 1.23)), at an average of 8 weeks following intervention initiation. Controlled trials of health professionals showed improved emotional exhaustion (effect size 0.37 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.70)), personal accomplishment (effect size 1.18 (95% CI 0.10 to 2.25)) and life satisfaction (effect size 0.48 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.81)) at an average of 8 weeks following intervention initiation.

Conclusions

Meditation provides a small to moderate benefit for informal caregivers and health professionals for stress reduction, but more research is required to establish effects on burnout and caregiver burden.
Defining the optimal design of the inflammatory bowel disease multidisciplinary team: results from a multicentre qualitative expert-based study
Authors: Morar Pritesh , Read Jamie , Arora Sonal , Hart Ailsa , Warusavitarne Janindra , Green James , Sevdalis Nick , Edwards Cathryn , Faiz Omar
Published: March 2015

Objective

To elicit expert views to define the aims, optimal design, format and function of an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) multidisciplinary team (MDT) with the overall purpose of enhancing the quality of MDT-driven care within an IBD service provision.

Design

This study was a multicentre, prospective, qualitative study using a standard semistructured interview methodology.

Participants

A multidisciplinary sample of 28 semistructured interviews of which there are six consultant colorectal surgeons, six IBD nurse specialists, seven consultant gastroenterologists, five consultant radiologists and four consultant histopathologists.

Setting

Participants were recruited from 10 hospitals, which were a mixture of community hospitals and specialist IBD centres between June and October 2013.

Results

Experts argued that the main goal of MDT-driven IBD care is to improve patient outcomes via sharing collective expertise in a formalised manner. Themes regarding the necessary requirements for an IBD MDT to occur included good attendance, proactive contribution, a need to define core members and appropriate and functional computer facilities. Emergent themes regarding the logistics of an effective IBD MDT included an eligibility criterion for case selection and discussion and appropriate scheduling. Themes regarding the overall design of the IBD MDT included a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model versus a ‘single-centre’ model.

Conclusions

Defining key elements for an optimal design format for the IBD MDT is necessary to ensure quality of care and reduce variation in care standards. This study has produced a set of expert-based standards that can be used to structure the IBD MDT. These standards now require larger scale validation and consensus prior to becoming a practical guideline for the management of IBD care.
A longitudinal study of hepatitis C virus testing and infection status notification on behaviour change in people who inject drugs
Authors: Spelman T , Morris M D , Zang G , Rice T , Page K , Maher L , Lloyd A , Grebely J , Dore G J , Kim A Y , Shoukry N H , Hellard M , Bruneau J
Published: March 2015

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and counselling have the potential to impact individual behaviour and transmission dynamics at the population level. Evidence of the impact of an HCV-positive status notification on injection risk reduction is limited. The objective of our study was to (1) assess drug and alcohol use and injection risk behaviours following notification; (2) to compare behaviour change in people who inject drugs (PWID) who received a positive test result and those who remained negative; and (3) to assess the effect of age on risk behaviour.

Methods

Data from the International Collaboration of Incident HIV and HCV Infection in Injecting Cohorts (InC3 Study) were analysed. Participants who were initially HCV seronegative were followed prospectively with periodic HCV blood testing and post-test disclosure and interview-administered questionnaires assessing drug use and injection behaviours. Multivariable generalised estimating equations were used to assess behavioural changes over time.

Results

Notification of an HCV-positive test was independently associated with a small increase in alcohol use relative to notification of a negative test. No significant differences in postnotification injection drug use, receptive sharing of ancillary injecting equipment and syringe borrowing postnotification were observed between diagnosis groups. Younger PWID receiving a positive HCV test notification demonstrated a significant increase in subsequent alcohol use compared with younger HCV negative.

Conclusions

The proportion of PWID reporting alcohol use increased among those receiving an HCV-positive notification, increased the frequency of alcohol use postnotification, while no reduction in injection drug use behaviours was observed between notification groups. These findings underscore the need to develop novel communication strategies during post-test notification to improve their impact on subsequent alcohol use and risk behaviours.
Lifting the veil: how to use clinical neuropsychology to assess dementia
Authors: Burrell James R , Piguet Olivier
Published: March 2015

Neurologists often struggle to interpret the results of neuropsychological testing, even though cognitive assessments are an integral component of the diagnostic process in dementia syndromes. This article reviews the principles underlying clinical neuropsychology, background on common neuropsychological tests, and tips on how to interpret the results when assessing patients with dementia. General cognitive screening tools, appropriate for use by general neurologists and psychiatrists, as well as specific cognitive tests examining the main cognitive domains (attention and orientation, memory, visuospatial function, language and executive function) in patients with dementia are considered. Finally, the pattern of deficits, helpful in defining clinical dementia phenotypes and sometimes in predicting the underlying molecular pathology, are outlined. Such clinicopathological associations will become invaluable as disease-modifying treatments for dementia are developed and implemented.
Redefining cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a proposed international consensus approach and results of a preliminary questionnaire
Authors: Merola J F , Nyberg F , Furukawa F , Goodfield M J , Hasegawa M , Marinovic B , Szepietowski J , Dutz J , Werth V P
Published: March 2015

There is currently no uniform definition of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) upon which to base a study population for observational and interventional trials. A preliminary questionnaire was derived from and sent to a panel of CLE experts which demonstrated consensus agreement that (1) there is a need for new definitions for CLE (2) CLE is distinct from systemic lupus erythematosus and that a CLE grouping scheme should remain apart from current systemic lupus erythematosus schema (3) current CLE grouping schemes are inadequate around communication, prognostic information and to meet the needs of researchers, clinicians, patients and payers.
The role of cardiac biomarkers for predicting left ventricular dysfunction and cardiovascular mortality in acute exacerbations of COPD
Authors: Buchan Alice , Bennett Ruth , Coad Anna , Barnes Simon , Russell Richard , Manuel Ari R
Published: March 2015

The presence of cardiovascular comorbidities is frequently associated with poor outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). No clear role has been defined for cardiac biomarkers in acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). The aim of this systematic review was to examine the prognostic value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and troponins in patients with AECOPD. Two independent authors searched the PubMed and Cochrane Library to collect clinical trials, observational studies and meta-analyses studying the prognostic value of cardiac biomarkers in AECOPD. The reference lists of all the included studies were also reviewed. A total of 14 studies were included in the review, of which 10 measured troponins, 7 measured BNP or NT-proBNP, and 3 measured both. Of the studies that used mortality in AECOPD as an end point, some but not all found that elevated BNP and/or troponins were associated with increased mortality. Of the studies that used left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in AECOPD as an end point, all found a significant association between elevated BNP and troponins in the diagnosis of LV dysfunction. In summary, it appears that there may be a link between an elevated level of BNP or NT-proBNP and increased cardiovascular mortality in AECOPD, although the data currently available are not conclusive. The inconsistencies in biomarkers measured, time points of measurements and the variability in outcome measured preclude more robust analysis.
Parent preferences for telephone coaching to prevent and manage childhood obesity
Authors: Blaine Rachel E , Pbert Lori , Geller Alan C , Powers E Michael , Mitchell Kathleen
Published: March 2015

Objective

To assess parent preferences for utilisation of a parent-focused, telephone-based coaching service, or ‘FITLINE,’ to prevent or manage childhood obesity.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of parents of children aged 2–12 years was conducted at a paediatric practice in Greater Boston, Massachusetts, USA, between July 2012 and May 2013. Parents received questionnaires with clinic visit paperwork and opted-in to the study by returning them to clinic staff or by mail. The anonymous pen-to-paper questionnaire assessed parents’ potential FITLINE utilisation, preferences regarding educational content and logistics, and parent/child demographics. Simple logistical regression was used to assess associations between parent and child factors and FITLINE interest.

Results

Among n=114 participants, most parents reported being very likely (n=53, 48%) or somewhat likely (n=44, 40%) to use a FITLINE-promoting healthy habits for children if it was made available. Interest in a FITLINE was greatest among overweight or obese parents (OR 3.12, CI 1.17 to 8.30) and those with children aged <5 years (OR 2.42, CI 1.02 to 5.73). Parents desired to discuss their own health and fitness goals (84%) along with educational topics such as healthy food shopping on a budget (91%) and how to meet children's physical activity needs (81%). Most parents preferred to obtain a FITLINE referral from a paediatrician or nurse (73%), instead of a school nurse (42%) or child-care provider (26%).

Conclusions

Given strong interest among parents in a FITLINE and the urgency of the youth obesity epidemic, implementation of a pilot phone-based service should be strongly considered.
Improving medical students’ written communication skills: design and evaluation of an educational curriculum
Authors: Melvin L , Connolly K , Pitre L , Dore K L , Wasi P
Published: March 2015

Background and objectives

Written and verbal communication skills are important skills for all physicians. While verbal skills are taught and assessed in medical school, medical students report limited instruction in written communication skills. This study examined the impact of a curriculum delivered during a 6-week clinical rotation in Internal Medicine on the objective assessment of medical students’ written communication skills.

Methods

The curriculum consisted of two educational programmes: a medical student communication tutorial and a resident feedback workshop. The study was conducted from March 2012 to January 2013 at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The study featured three arms: (1) control, (2) medical student communication tutorial alone and (3) student tutorial and resident feedback workshop. Data were collected on 126 students during 6-week Internal Medicine clerkship rotations. Students’ written consultation notes were collected prior to the educational programmes and at 6 weeks. Blinded faculty assessors used an independently validated Assessment Checklist to evaluate consultation notes.

Results

Consultation note scores improved from week 1 to week 6 across all study arms. However, the change was statistically significant only in arm 3, featuring both the medical student tutorial and the resident feedback workshop, with mean scores improving from 4.75 (SD=1.496) to 5.56 (SD=0.984) out of 7. The mean difference between week 1 and week 6 was significantly different (0.806, p=0.002, 95% CI 0.306 to 1.058).

Conclusions

The combination of a resident feedback workshop with medical student written communication tutorial improves objective evaluations of consultation note scores over student tutorial alone.
Bovine TB infection status in cattle in Great Britain in 2013
Authors: Broughan J. M. , Harris K. A. , Brouwer A. , Downs S. H. , Goodchild A. V. , Upton P. A. , Smith N. H.
Published: March 2015

This report, provided by the APHA, summarises the infection status of bovine TB in cattle in Great Britain from January 1 to December 31, 2013 and describes some of the temporal trends observed over a longer period. It updates the previous annual summary for 2012, also published in Veterinary Record (VR, June 14, 2014, vol 174, pp 600–604).
Ten‐minute chat
Authors: McNeilly Tom
Published: March 2015

Tom McNeilly is a principal research scientist at the Moredun Research Institute and president of the Association for Veterinary Teaching and Research Work (AVTRW).
Sliding stability analysis of gravity dam founded on rock mass with impersistent joint set
Authors: Cabrera Miriam , Senent Salvador , Olalla Claudio , Jimenez Rafael
Published: March 2015

This article aims to evaluate the sliding stability of a gravity dam with a foundation failure mechanism characterized by a pre-existing subhorizontal joint set acting as a sliding plane, and with a potential failure path that extends through the rock mass. The safety factor is estimated using a combination of joints and rock mass strengths, using the criteria of Barton and Choubey and Hoek and Brown, respectively. Nonassociative flow rule in the rock mass has been incorporated using a constant dilation angle. The finite difference program FLAC 6.0 is employed to validate the model. The proposed analytical model provides results that are very similar to those computed with FLAC; however, as the new formulation can be implemented in a spreadsheet, the computational cost of the proposed model is significantly smaller, hence allowing to more easily conduct parametric analyses of the influence of the different input parameters on the dam’s safety.
Catch estimation in the federal trawl fisheries off Alaska: a simulation approach to compare the statistical properties of three trip-specific catch estimators
Authors: Cahalan Jennifer A. , Gasper Jason , Mondragon Jennifer
Published: March 2015

Quantifying catch has been recognized worldwide as a critical component in fisheries management. Assessment of discard is challenging because of the requirement for at-sea observation, which is both logistically difficult and costly to fishery agencies. Statistical estimators using robust sampling methods may yield accurate and imprecise estimates given the variability associated with many at-sea discard species and inability for agencies to obtain high sampling fractions. However, biased estimates occur if an inappropriate estimator is used. Using Alaska trawl fisheries as an example, we investigated the statistical properties and implementation issues for three commonly used estimators: the ratio estimator; a simple mean estimator; and a deterministic imputation method currently in use in federal fisheries off Alaska. We used a simulation approach to evaluate the performance of these estimators to estimate trip-specific catch. Several statistical properties were evaluated: bias of the estimators, variability of the estimators, and accuracy of the variance estimators. The simple mean estimator had the best performance for vessels landing catch at shoreside processors. The choice of estimator was less clear for vessels processing catch, owing to sensitivity associated with species composition and implementation issues for the simple mean and ratio estimators.
Osteopontin is proteolytically processed by matrix metalloproteinase 9
Authors: Lindsey Merry L. , Zouein Fouad A. , Tian Yuan , Padmanabhan Iyer Rugmani , de Castro Brás Lisandra E.
Published: March 2015

Osteopontin is robustly upregulated following myocardial infarction (MI), which suggests that it has an important role in post-MI remodeling of the left ventricle (LV). Osteopontin deletion results in increased LV dilation and worsened cardiac function. Thus, osteopontin exerts protective effects post-MI, but the mechanisms have yet to be defined. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) regulate LV remodeling post-MI, and osteopontin is a known substrate for MMP-2, -3, -7, and -9, although the cleavage sites have not been mapped. Osteopontin-derived peptides can exert distinct biological functions that may depend on their cleavage sites. We mapped the MMP-9 cleavage sites via LC-MS/MS analysis using label-free and N-terminal labeling methods, and compared them with those of MMP-2, -3, and -7. Each MMP yielded a unique cleavage profile with few overlapping cleavage sites. Using synthetic peptides, we validated 3 sites for MMP-9 cleavage at amino acid positions 151–152, 193–194, and 195–196. Four peptides were synthesized based on the upstream- and downstream-generated fragments and were tested for biological activity in isolated cardiac fibroblasts. Two peptides increased cardiac fibroblast migration rates post-wounding (p < 0.05 compared with the negative control). Our study highlights the importance of osteopontin processing, and confirms that different cleavage sites generate osteopontin peptides with distinct biological functions.
Antibacterial effect of silver nanofilm modified stainless steel surface
Authors: Fang F. , Kennedy J. , Dhillon M. , Flint S.
Published: March 2015

Bacteria can attach to stainless steel surfaces, resulting in the colonization of the surface known as biofilms. The release of bacteria from biofilms can cause contamination of food such as dairy products in manufacturing plants. This study aimed to modify stainless steel surfaces with silver nanofilms and to examine the antibacterial effectiveness of the modified surface. Ion implantation was applied to produce silver nanofilms on stainless steel surfaces. 35 keV Ag ions were implanted with various fluences of 1 × 1015 to 1 × 1017 ions•cm-2 at room temperature. Representative atomic force microscopy characterizations of the modified stainless steel are presented. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry spectra revealed the implanted atoms were located in the near-surface region. Both unmodified and modified stainless steel coupons were then exposed to two types of bacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Streptococcus thermophilus, to determine the effect of the surface modification on bacterial attachment and biofilm development. The silver modified coupon surface fluoresced red over most of the surface area implying that most bacteria on coupon surface were dead. This study indicates that the silver nanofilm fabricated by the ion implantation method is a promising way of reducing the attachment of bacteria and delay biofilm formation.
AN INTRODUCTION TO FLOW AND TRANSPORT IN FRACTAL MODELS OF POROUS MEDIA: PART II
Authors: CAI JIANCHAO , SAN JOSÉ MARTÍNEZ FERNANDO , MARTÍN MIGUEL ANGEL , HU XIANGYUN
Published: March 2015

This is the second part of the special issue on fractal geometry and its applications to the modeling of flow and transport in porous media, in which 10 original research articles and one review article are included. Combining to the first part of 11 original research articles, these two issues summarized current research on fractal models applied to porous media that will help to further advance this multidisciplinary development. This whole special issue is published also to celebrate the 70th birthday of Professor Boming Yu for his distinguished researches on fractal geometry and its application to transport physics of porous media.
RECENT ADVANCES ON FRACTAL MODELING OF PERMEABILITY FOR FIBROUS POROUS MEDIA
Authors: CAI JIANCHAO , LUO LIANG , YE RAN , ZENG XIANGFENG , HU XIANGYUN
Published: March 2015

Permeability is an important hydraulic parameter for characterizing heat and mass transfer properties of fibrous porous media. However, it is difficult to be quantitatively predicted due to the complex and irregular pore structure of fibrous porous media. Fractal geometry has been verified to be an effective method for determining the permeability of fibrous porous media. In this study, recent works on the permeability of fibrous porous media by means of fractal geometry are reviewed, the advances for each presented fractal model are analyzed and summarized, parameter equations used in available fractal permeability models are also briefly compared and reviewed. Future work for more generalized permeability model of fibrous porous media need to conducted by considering the special characters of fibrous materials, uniform pore structure parameter model and the influence factor of capillary pressure, electrokinetic phenomena, etc.
SCALING OF AVERAGE WEIGHTED RECEIVING TIME ON DOUBLE-WEIGHTED KOCH NETWORKS
Authors: DAI MEIFENG , YE DANDAN , HOU JIE , LI XINGYI
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we introduce a model of the double-weighted Koch networks based on actual road networks depending on the two weight factors w,r ∈ (0, 1]. The double weights represent the capacity-flowing weight and the cost-traveling weight, respectively. Denote by [Formula: see text] the capacity-flowing weight connecting the nodes i and j, and denote by [Formula: see text] the cost-traveling weight connecting the nodes i and j. Let [Formula: see text] be related to the weight factor w, and let [Formula: see text] be related to the weight factor r. This paper assumes that the walker, at each step, starting from its current node, moves to any of its neighbors with probability proportional to the capacity-flowing weight of edge linking them. The weighted time for two adjacency nodes is the cost-traveling weight connecting the two nodes. We define the average weighted receiving time (AWRT) on the double-weighted Koch networks. The obtained result displays that in the large network, the AWRT grows as power-law function of the network order with the exponent, represented by θ(w,r) = ½ log2(1 + 3wr). We show that the AWRT exhibits a sublinear or linear dependence on network order. Thus, the double-weighted Koch networks are more efficient than classic Koch networks in receiving information.