bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zoonotic tissue parasites of Australian wildlife
Authors: Spratt David M
Published: February 2016

Increasing use of bushlands for recreational, commercial and scientific activities fosters movement across the urban-bushland interface. This may facilitate the transmission of parasitic diseases from wildlife to humans (zoonoses). The fashionable trend to consumption of game meats such as feral pig and crocodile, and raw fish such as sushi, sashimi and pickled herring has exacerbated the zoonotic potential of parasites of wildlife.
Plasmodium knowlesi: an update
Authors: Singh Balbir
Published: February 2016

There were only four species of Plasmodium that were thought to cause malaria in humans until a large number of human infections by Plasmodium knowlesi, a malaria parasite typically found in long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques, were reported in 2004 in Malaysian Borneo. Since then, cases of knowlesi malaria have been reported throughout South-east Asia and also in travellers returning from the region. This article describes the molecular, entomological and epidemiological data which indicate that P. knowlesi is an ancient parasite that is primarily zoonotic, and there are three highly divergent sub-populations. It also describes the detection methods for P. knowlesi, which is morphologicaly similar to P. malariae, and the clinical features and treatment of this malaria parasite that is potentially fatal.
Population dynamics and secondary production of gastropods on a sheltered beach in south-eastern Brazil: a comparison between an herbivore and a scavenger
Authors: Cardoso Ricardo S. , Cabrini Tatiana M. B.
Published: February 2016

A greater amount of organic matter and the higher productivity in sheltered environments, such as muddy beaches, can be attributed to the presence of bacteria and plants, which provide more food in these environments than in exposed sandy beaches. However, the influence of this productivity on the population biology of different trophic levels has not been adequately assessed in sheltered environments. We examined the variation of population dynamics and secondary production of two intertidal gastropods, the herbivorous Cerithium atratum and the scavenger Nassarius vibex, in a sandflat environment. Monthly samplings were conducted at Flexeiras beach according to a systematic design. The highest population abundances were observed in spring for both species. The herbivorous species had higher abundance, individual sizes, growth performance, mean biomass, secondary production somatic, slower growth acceleration (K) and longer life spans than the scavenger species. Similar mortality was observed between both gastropods and could be explained by biological (i.e. predation) and physical (e.g. organic material and sediment type) factors. The life-history traits of the gastropod species responded to trophic levels. Herbivores had higher abundance, growth and production efficiency than did scavengers. However, environmental factors, such as temperature and food quality and availability, also affected these species.
Altered mixed-severity fire regime has homogenised montane forests of Jasper National Park
Authors: Chavardès Raphaël D. , Daniels Lori D.
Published: February 2016

Fire suppression has altered the historical mixed-severity fire regime and homogenised forest structures in Jasper National Park, Canada. We used dendrochronology to reconstruct fire history and assess forest dynamics at 29 sites in the montane forests. Based on fire scars and even-aged post-fire cohorts, we determined 18 sites had mixed-severity fire histories through time, and 11 sites had evidence of high-severity fires only – yielding a mixed-severity fire regime for the study area. Lodgepole pine, hybrid spruce and Douglas-fir established simultaneously after low- and high-severity fires. Regardless of fire history, forest canopies were mixed in composition and subcanopies were strongly dominated by shade-tolerant hybrid spruce. Despite their size, subcanopy trees were similar in age to the canopy trees. Current stand composition and age structures largely reflect the effects of high-severity fires that burned ~110 years ago at 18 of 29 sites. In the absence of fires after 1905, forests have matured simultaneously, homogenising the landscape and resulting in forest structures that are more conducive to high-severity fire than are fires of a range of severities. Proactive fire management is justified to restore fire as a vital ecological process and promote forest resilience by countering the effects of a century of fire suppression.
Helicity is the only integral invariant of volume-preserving transformations
Authors: Enciso Alberto , Peralta-Salas Daniel , de Lizaur Francisco Torres
Published: February 2016

Significance

Helicity is a remarkable conserved quantity that is fundamental to all the natural phenomena described by a vector field whose evolution is given by volume-preserving transformations. This is the case of the vorticity of an inviscid fluid flow or of the magnetic field of a conducting plasma. The topological nature of the helicity was unveiled by Moffatt, but its relevance goes well beyond that of being a new conservation law. Indeed, the helicity defines an integral invariant under any kind of volume-preserving diffeomorphisms. A well-known open problem is whether any integral invariants exist other than the helicity. We answer this question by showing that, under some mild technical assumptions, the helicity is the only integral invariant.
Genomic characterization of sarcomatoid transformation in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Bi Mark , Zhao Siming , Said Jonathan W. , Merino Maria J. , Adeniran Adebowale J. , Xie Zuoquan , Nawaf Cayce B. , Choi Jaehyuk , Belldegrun Arie S. , Pantuck Allan J. , Kluger Harriet M. , Bilgüvar Kaya , Lifton Richard P. , Shuch Brian
Published: February 2016

Significance

Parts of clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) sometimes have histologic features characteristic of a sarcoma. So-called sarcomatoid tumors are more aggressive, difficult to treat, and associated with a poor prognosis. Their pathogenesis has been uncertain. Through separate exome sequencing of carcinomatous and sarcomatoid components, we show that these components share many somatic mutations, including many in genes characteristic of ccRCC. Sarcomatoid elements had significantly more new somatic mutations, particularly in cancer driver genes, than carcinomatous components. In particular, tumor protein p53, AT-rich interaction domain 1A, and BRCA1 associated protein 1 had sarcomatoid-specific homozygous mutation in 10 tumors and were all mutually exclusive, implicating these genes in sarcomatoid degeneration.
Metacognitive awareness in foreign language learning through Facebook
Authors: Peeters Ward
Published: February 2016

While over the past decade social network sites have enabled both learners and teachers to set up various forms of online collaborative learning environments, there is an ongoing discussion on how collaboration through these social media platforms can be situated with regard to the development of metacognitive awareness (Li, Pow & Cheung, 2015). This paper presents a study on the development of learners’ metacognitive awareness of first-year English majors collaborating in a closed Facebook group. The theoretical framework for the development of metacognition, proposed by Gunawardena et al. (2009), was used to analyse the students’ metacognitive strategies when working together online. The study shows that students utilise the social network site to complete given learning tasks, and extend their use of the forum by setting new learning goals and socialising with their peers. The students show that, through peer collaboration, they are able to evaluate and plan their learning process online.
The history of the quasi-auxiliaryuse(d)to
Authors: Neels Jakob
Published: February 2016

This article is a corpus-based study on the grammaticalization of the quasi-auxiliary use(d) to. It describes and seeks to explain the historical process whereby use(d) to, starting from the Middle English source construction use ‘be in the habit of’ + to + verb, grammaticalized into a habitual aspect marker with idiosyncratic morphosyntactic properties. A detailed corpus study is presented, based on four historical English corpora, which together cover a time period from 1410 to 2009. The results of the corpus analysis are interpreted within the theoretical framework of usage-based grammar, with the aim of uncovering the mechanisms that propelled the gradual grammaticalization of use(d) to on the semantic, morphological, syntactic and phonological dimensions. Among the underlying mechanisms and processes identified are semantic generalization via host-class expansion and habituation, pragmatic enrichment, analogy, chunking, loss of analyzability and internal structure, as well as phonological reduction through neuromotor automation. Supported by the quantitative empirical evidence from the corpus analysis and drawing on findings from usage-based research on language change, the present study depicts the grammaticalization of use(d) to as a self-feeding process driven by frequency effects, i.e. by the effects that the increasingly high discourse frequency of the use(d) to construction had on its cognitive representation.
Compositional quantification of PtCo acid-leached fuel cell catalysts using EDX partial cross sections
Authors: MacArthur K. E. , Slater T. J. A. , Haigh S. J. , Ozkaya D. , Nellist P. D. , Lozano-Perez S.
Published: February 2016

The new generation of analytical electron microscopes with aberration correction and new EDX detectors provide improved possibilities for microanalysis. Here, we apply a new approach to quantitative EDX based on using partial cross sections. Our quantification method is applied to alloy PtCo nanoparticles, which have been acid leached to provide Pt enrichment or rather Co depletion at the particle surface. Such surface Co depletion is absent at the vertices of the more facetted nanoparticles. The leaching process demonstrates very little change in Co composition when investigating the whole particle but produces a localised surface depletion, which can only be determined by the high-resolution EDX elemental maps.
Electrical characteristics and rectification performance of wet chemically synthesized vertically aligned n-ZnO nanowire/p-Si heterojunction
Authors: Gayen R N , Bhattacharyya S R
Published: February 2016

Vertically well-aligned n-ZnO nanowire (NW) thin films were deposited onto p-Si substrates by a two-step wet chemical technique to form a p–n heterojunction diode. The morphological and structural characteristics of the ZnO NW performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed well-aligned h-ZnO NW with a wurtzite structure. A direct optical band gap of 3.30 eV was calculated from the transmittance trace obtained using a UV–VIS–NIR spectrophotometer. The electrical characteristics of the heterojunction diode were studied by capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurement at room temperature, and current–voltage–temperature (I–V–T) measurements performed in the 300–400 K range. The C–V measurements yield a carrier concentration of 1.3  ×  1016 c.c.−1 for the ZnO NW thin film. The ideality factor (n) was found to decrease, while the barrier height (φ
b0) increased with the increase in temperature, when calculated using a thermionic emission model from the non-linear I–V–T plots. The series resistance (R
s) calculated by the Cheung–Cheung method decreased with the increase in temperature. The mean barrier height (0.718 eV) and modified Richardson constant (28.4 A cm−2 K−2) calculated using a Gaussian distribution of barrier heights (considering barrier height inhomogeneity) were closer to the theoretical value than those calculated from the linear approximation of the ln(I
s/T
2) versus 1000/T plot. The variation of the density of interface states with interface state energy was also studied. The n-ZnO NW/p-Si heterojunction diode performed very good half wave rectification in the frequency range 50 Hz–10 kHz, when a sinusoidal ac voltage of amplitude 4.5 V was applied across it.
Confined diffusion of transmembrane proteins and lipids induced by the same actin meshwork lining the plasma membrane
Authors: Fujiwara Takahiro K. , Iwasawa Kokoro , Kalay Ziya , Tsunoyama Taka A. , Watanabe Yusuke , Umemura Yasuhiro M. , Murakoshi Hideji , Suzuki Kenichi G. N. , Nemoto Yuri L. , Morone Nobuhiro , Kusumi Akihiro
Published: February 2016

The mechanisms by which the diffusion rate in the plasma membrane (PM) is regulated remain unresolved, despite their importance in spatially regulating the reaction rates in the PM. Proposed models include entrapment in nanoscale noncontiguous domains found in PtK2 cells, slow diffusion due to crowding, and actin-induced compartmentalization. Here, by applying single-particle tracking at high time resolutions, mainly to the PtK2-cell PM, we found confined diffusion plus hop movements (termed “hop diffusion”) for both a nonraft phospholipid and a transmembrane protein, transferrin receptor, and equal compartment sizes for these two molecules in all five of the cell lines used here (actual sizes were cell dependent), even after treatment with actin-modulating drugs. The cross-section size and the cytoplasmic domain size both affected the hop frequency. Electron tomography identified the actin-based membrane skeleton (MSK) located within 8.8 nm from the PM cytoplasmic surface of PtK2 cells and demonstrated that the MSK mesh size was the same as the compartment size for PM molecular diffusion. The extracellular matrix and extracellular domains of membrane proteins were not involved in hop diffusion. These results support a model of anchored TM-protein pickets lining actin-based MSK as a major mechanism for regulating diffusion.
LKB1 kinase-dependent and -independent defects disrupt polarity and adhesion signaling to drive collagen remodeling during invasion
Authors: Konen Jessica , Wilkinson Scott , Lee Byoungkoo , Fu Haian , Zhou Wei , Jiang Yi , Marcus Adam I.
Published: February 2016

LKB1 is a serine/threonine kinase and a commonly mutated gene in lung adenocarcinoma. The majority of LKB1 mutations are truncations that disrupt its kinase activity and remove its C-terminal domain (CTD). Because LKB1 inactivation drives cancer metastasis in mice and leads to aberrant cell invasion in vitro, we sought to determine how compromised LKB1 function affects lung cancer cell polarity and invasion. Using three-dimensional models, we show that LKB1 kinase activity is essential for focal adhesion kinase–mediated cell adhesion and subsequent collagen remodeling but not cell polarity. Instead, cell polarity is overseen by the kinase-independent function of its CTD and more specifically its farnesylation. This occurs through a mesenchymal-amoeboid morphological switch that signals through the Rho-GTPase RhoA. These data suggest that a combination of kinase-dependent and -independent defects by LKB1 inactivation creates a uniquely invasive cell with aberrant polarity and adhesion signaling that drives invasion into the microenvironment.
Phosphoinositide kinase signaling controls ER-PM cross-talk
Authors: Omnus Deike J. , Manford Andrew G. , Bader Jakob M. , Emr Scott D. , Stefan Christopher J.
Published: February 2016

Membrane lipid dynamics must be precisely regulated for normal cellular function, and disruptions in lipid homeostasis are linked to the progression of several diseases. However, little is known about the sensory mechanisms for detecting membrane composition and how lipid metabolism is regulated in response to membrane stress. We find that phosphoinositide (PI) kinase signaling controls a conserved PDK-TORC2-Akt signaling cascade as part of a homeostasis network that allows the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to modulate essential responses, including Ca2+-regulated lipid biogenesis, upon plasma membrane (PM) stress. Furthermore, loss of ER-PM junctions impairs this protective response, leading to PM integrity defects upon heat stress. Thus PI kinase–mediated ER-PM cross-talk comprises a regulatory system that ensures cellular integrity under membrane stress conditions.
Civilization and Its Consequences
Authors: Bowden Brett
Published: February 2016

This article outlines the origins and meanings of the concept of civilization in Western political thought. In doing so it necessarily explores the nature of the relationship between civilization and closely related ideas such as progress and modernity. In exploring these concepts, some of their less savory aspects are revealed, including things done in the name of civilization, such as conquest and colonization under the guise of the “burden of civilization.” The article outlines other important aspects, including the relationships between civilization and war and between civilization and the environment. It concludes with a discussion about rethinking and restructuring some of our perspectives on civilization.
Assessment in General Music Education from Early Childhood through High School
Authors: Kastner Julie Derges , Shouldice Heather Nelson
Published: February 2016

This literature review synthesizes and analyzes research on assessment in general music from early childhood through secondary schools. Literature has been analyzed for content being assessed, forms of assessment used, frequency of assessments, teachers’ perceptions and beliefs about assessment, and teachers’ professional development experiences and needs. Findings reveal that the content, forms, and practices of assessment vary according to the amount of autonomy teachers have in assessing their curricula, teachers’ beliefs about assessment, and national and state policies. This is particularly evident when comparing elementary general music teachers in the United States, who have little accountability for conducting assessments, and secondary general music teachers in countries like the United Kingdom and Australia, where they have required composition assessments. This analysis also reveals a need for greater professional development for general music teachers to develop strategies for implementing authentic, valid assessments and using assessment data to support and inform their teaching.
Masculinities, Crime, and Criminal Justice
Authors: Messerschmidt James W. , Tomsen Stephen
Published: February 2016

This essay examines the link between crime and masculinity. It begins with an overview of traditional criminology that either ignored or had a skewed understanding of the nature of the crime–masculinity connection, focusing instead on biology, which often considered crime as a reflection of defective male and female bodies/identities. It then discusses the emergence of new studies on the association between crime and masculinity, informed by social theories of gender, power, and identity. In particular, it reviews Raewyn Connell’s concept of hegemonic masculinity as an explanatory model of different forms of masculinity. It also analyzes the life histories approach to masculinities and criminal justice.
Water Security, Crime and Conflict
Authors: Brisman Avi , McClanahan William , South Nigel
Published: February 2016

This article explores the converging issues of water, crime and security. It begins with an overview of definitions central to the topic and a description of the development of “environmental security” as encompassing energy security, food security, and water security. It then describes “water security”—and its antipode, “water scarcity”—in both historical and contemporary contexts (with a specific focus on the United States) are described. Next, this article considers four linkages between water, scarcity, security, and crime: (a) pollution and violations of laws pertaining to water quality, (b) violations of laws as a result of water scarcity, (c) migration and crime, and (d) water security and terrorism. This article offers a critical reading of “security” and situates securitizing discourses and movements relating to the environment in a political context. It concludes with some thoughts on the potential of future interdisciplinary research and the role of the nation-state in ensuring equitable access to useable water.
Egyptian Law, Saite to Roman Periods
Authors: Lippert Sandra
Published: February 2016

This article treats the development of the Egyptian legal system from the Saite to the Roman period (664 BCE to about 150 CE). It addresses the much-disputed question of whether one can speak about a codification under Darius I and presents the known sources for the Egyptian legal corpus, fragments of which are preserved in demotic and Greek manuscripts, and for its accompanying didactic manual. The formation and activities of judges and notary scribes are described, characteristics of demotic legal documents, the different types that were in use, and their development over time are explained, and the best attested areas of Egyptian law—property transfer by sale, matrimonial property settlements and maintenance obligations, tenancy, credits and indebtedness, and heritage—are outlined through evidence from primary sources.
Small RNAs Add Zing to the Zig-Zag-Zig Model of Plant Defenses
Authors: Fei Qili , Zhang Yu , Xia Rui , Meyers Blake C.
Published: February 2016

Plant small RNAs play important roles in transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation, with ongoing work demonstrating their functions in diverse pathways. Their roles in defense responses are a topic of active investigation, particularly the rich set of micro (mi)RNAs that target disease resistance genes such as nucleotide binding/leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR) genes. The miRNA–NB-LRR interactions result in the production of phased, secondary small interfering (phasi)RNAs, and phasiRNAs function in both cis and trans to propagate negative regulatory effects across additional members of the target gene family. Yet, while phasiRNAs have the capacity to trigger targeted decay of specific targets, both in cis and trans, their functional relevance in NB-LRR regulation remains largely a matter of speculation.
Reproducing Botryosphaeria Dieback Foliar Symptoms in a Simple Model System
Authors: Reis Pedro , Magnin-Robert Maryline , Nascimento Teresa , Spagnolo Alessandro , Abou-Mansour Eliane , Fioretti Cristina , Clément Christophe , Rego Cecilia , Fontaine Florence
Published: February 2016

Botryosphaeria dieback is a grapevine trunk disease with a worldwide distribution associated with Diplodia seriata and Neofusicoccum parvum, among several other Botryosphaeriaceae species. The aforementioned xylem-inhabiting fungi cause wood lesions and leaf and berry symptoms, and eventually lead to the death of the plant. The aim of this work was to develop a simple model system to reproduce the foliar symptoms caused by D. seriata and N. parvum to better characterize fungal pathogenicity and determine the mechanisms involved in symptom development. Green stems of grafted ‘Aragonez’ grapevine cuttings were inoculated with three isolates of N. parvum and two isolates of D. seriata with different degrees of virulence and the experiment was repeated four times from 2011 to 2014. Three months after inoculation, the lesions associated with N. parvum were larger than those associated with D. seriata. Similarly, 8 months after inoculation, the percentage of plants showing foliar symptoms was greater in the N. parvum treatments than in the D. seriata treatments. During the emergence of foliar symptoms, plant stress-related responses were modulated in green stems and leaves, especially a downregulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein (fascAGP) and an upregulation of stilbene synthase (STS) genes with an accumulation of phenolics. In conclusion, the simple model system developed allowed a good characterization of isolate pathogenicity and correlation with foliar symptoms of Botryosphaeria dieback, namely spots on leaf margin and blade.
Sources of Stem Rust Resistance in Wheat-Alien Introgression Lines
Authors: Rahmatov Mahbubjon , Rouse Matthew N. , Steffenson Brian J. , Andersson Staffan C. , Wanyera Ruth , Pretorius Zacharias A. , Houben Andreas , Kumarse Nazari , Bhavani Sridhar , Johansson Eva
Published: February 2016

Stem rust is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat. Widely virulent races of the pathogen in the Ug99 lineage (e.g., TTKSK) are threatening wheat production worldwide; therefore, there is an urgent need to enhance the diversity of resistance genes in the crop. The objectives of this study were to identify new sources of resistance in wheat-alien introgression derivatives from Secale cereale, Leymus mollis, L. racemosus, and Thinopyrum junceiforme, postulate genes conferring the resistance, and verify the postulated genes by use of molecular markers. From seedling tests conducted in the greenhouse, the presence of seven known stem rust resistance genes (Sr7b, Sr8a, Sr9d, Sr10, Sr31, Sr36, and SrSatu) was postulated in the wheat-alien introgression lines. More lines possessed a high level of resistance in the field compared with the number of lines that were resistant at the seedling stage. Three 2R (2D) wheat-rye substitution lines (SLU210, SLU238, and SLU239) seemed likely to possess new genes for resistance to stem rust based on their resistance pattern to 13 different stem rust races but the genes responsible could not be identified. Wheat-rye, wheat-L. racemosus, and wheat-L. mollis substitutions or translocations with single and multiple interchanges of chromosomes, in particular of the B and D chromosomes of wheat, were verified by a combination of genomic in situ hybridization and molecular markers. Thus, the present study identified novel resistance genes originating from different alien introgressions into the wheat genome of the evaluated lines. Such genes may prove useful in enhancing the diversity of stem rust resistance in wheat against widely virulent pathogen races such as those in the Ug99 lineage.
Advances in the Interpretation of Tomographic Images as an Early Detection Method of Oil Palm Affected by Basal Stem Rot in Colombia
Authors: Arango M. , Martínez G. , Torres G.
Published: February 2016

Basal stem rot, one of the most important diseases of oil palm in Southeast Asia, has also been identified in Colombia. The increase in disease incidence in the last decade has attracted the attention of producers and researchers. In the search for a procedure that allows for the early identification of diseased palm, Cenipalma evaluated the use of electrical impedance tomography to identify the different stages of development of basal stem rot. The tomograms were compared with transversal sections of healthy and diseased oil palm trees. Following Cenipalma’s preliminary studies on early diagnosis of basal stem rot with tomography, the present study improved upon the technique by analyzing the tomograms of 209 diseased palm trees (confirmed by symptomatology), 346 asymptomatic palm trees, and 132 healthy palm trees. The minimum and maximum electric impedance values as well as the ratio between these values was recorded. The range of 1 to 95 Ω was used to represent the internal damage. The ratios averaged 5.1 for diseased, 1.9 for asymptomatic, and 1.5 for healthy palm trees. With the range and the ratio criteria established, it was possible to identify the disease in 100% of asymptomatic sampled palm trees. This study demonstrated that electrical impedance tomography is a powerful tool for early detection of basal stem rot, which can be used to establish an early disease management program.
Single-leg postural stability deficits following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in pediatric and adolescent athletes
Authors: Sugimoto Dai , Howell David R. , Micheli Lyle J. , Meehan William P.
Published: February 2016

The objective of this study was to compare the postural stability of pediatric and adolescent athletes without anterior cruciate ligament injury with those who underwent anterior cruciate reconstruction (ACLR). Postural stability ratings derived from a video-force plate system during the three stances of the modified Balance Error Scoring System were collected from pediatric and adolescent athletes who underwent ACLR (N=24; mean 1.2 years after surgery) and from uninjured controls (N=479). The postural control rating was calculated as the mean of the displacement and variance of the torso and center of pressure data, normalized on a scale from 0 to 100. A higher rating indicates greater postural stability. Participants who underwent ACLR showed lower postural stability ratings during single-leg stance compared with uninjured controls (40.0 vs. 48.7; P=0.037). ACLR is associated with deficits in postural stability.
Screening colonoscopy volume and detection of colorectal neoplasms: a state-wide study from Bavaria, Germany
Authors: Zwink Nadine , Stock Christian , Birkner Berndt , Hoffmeister Michael , Brenner Hermann
Published: February 2016

Screening colonoscopy enables early detection of colorectal cancer and its precancerous lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the association of screening colonoscopy volume with colorectal neoplasm detection rate in routine practice. A registry-based study of individuals aged at least 55 years who underwent screening colonoscopy in Bavaria, Germany, between 2007 and 2009 was performed. Colorectal neoplasm detection rates (95% confidence intervals) were determined per physician. Physicians were grouped according to the number of screening colonoscopies performed per year (<50, 50–99, 100–199, ≥200). A total of 203 363 individuals (median age 64 years, 55.2% women) underwent screening colonoscopy between 2007 and 2009. Colonoscopies were performed by 509 physicians. The detection rate of any neoplasm increased with screening colonoscopy volume from 21.9% among physicians conducting fewer than 50 screening colonoscopies per year to 27.5% among physicians conducting 200 or more screening colonoscopies per year (P-value for trend <0.0001). Increases in detection rates with colonoscopy volume were also observed for advanced neoplasms and for colorectal cancer (P-value for trend 0.16 and <0.0001, respectively). Differences were largest between physicians conducting fewer than 50 screening colonoscopies per year and other physicians. These results support a potential role of a minimum colonoscopy volume for high-quality colonoscopy screening. Differences in neoplasm detection rates were high between physicians conducting fewer than 50 screening colonoscopies per year and physicians with higher screening colonoscopy volume.
Hidradenoma Papilliferum: A Clinicopathologic Study of 264 Tumors From 261 Patients, With Emphasis on Mammary-Type Alterations
Authors: Konstantinova Anastasia M. , Michal Michal , Kacerovska Denisa , Spagnolo Dominic V. , Stewart Colin J. , Kutzner Heinz , Zelger Bernhard , Plaza Jose A. , Denisjuk Natalja , Hejda Vaclav , Shelekhova Ksenya , Bisceglia Michele , Danis Dusan , Zamecnik Michal , Kerl Katrin , Guenova Emmanuella , Kazakov Dmitry V.
Published: February 2016

Hidradenoma papilliferum (HP), also known as papillary hidradenoma, is the most common benign lesion of the female anogenital area derived from anogenital mammary-like glands (AGMLG). HP can be viewed conceptually as the cutaneous counterpart of mammary intraductal papilloma. The authors have studied 264 cases of HP, detailing various changes in the tumor and adjacent AGMLG, with emphasis on mammary-type alterations. In many HP, the authors noticed changes typical for benign breast lesions, such as sclerosing adenosis-like changes, usual, and atypical ductal hyperplasia. Almost in a third of cases, remnants of AGMLG adjacent to the lesion were evident, manifesting columnar changes reminiscent of those seen in breast lesions. This study shows that the histopathological changes in HP run a broad spectrum comparable with that in the mammary counterpart and benign breast disease.
Hybrid Epithelioid Schwannoma/Perineurioma
Authors: Kacerovska Denisa , Michal Michal , Kazakov Dmitry V.
Published: February 2016

We report a case of a 58-year-old who woman presented with a solitary slowly growing subcutaneous nodule covered by normally appearing skin on her left groin. Microscopically, the lesion was well circumscribed but unencapsulated, and showed biphasic cellular differentiation. One cell population was presented by small rounded (epithelioid) cells arranged singly, in small aggregates or short cords, whereas the second one was composed of cells with slender nuclei and delicate elongated bipolar cytoplasmic processes. On immunohistochemistry, the epithelioid component showed positive reaction for S-100 protein and negative for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), thus compatible with schwannian differentiation and resembling epithelioid schwannoma. The other component showed a reverse immunophenotype being S-100 protein negative and EMA positive, thus corresponding to perineuriomatous differentiation. The clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of the lesion were compatible with hybrid epithelioid schwannoma/perineurioma, a rare morphological variant of peripheral nerve sheath tumors.
IgG4-Related Disease of the Punctum and Canaliculus
Authors: Silverman Nora , Lanjewar Sonali , Gupta Raavi , Shinder Roman
Published: February 2016

A 60-year-old man with no past medical history presented with a 14-month history of a painless medial left lower eyelid mass causing mechanical ectropion and discharge from the inferior punctum. Excisional biopsy was performed via a transconjunctival canaliculotomy and histopathology revealed a dense plasma cell infiltrate with IgG4+ plasma cells >100/high power field and an IgG4/IgG ratio of 65%. Serum IgG4 was found to be elevated at 224 mg/dl (reference range: 4–86 mg/dl). Systemic work up with PET CT was negative. The patient’s signs and symptoms all resolved without medical treatment and he remains disease free 24 months following surgery. A single case of IgG4 disease of the nasolacrimal duct has been reported, but to the authors’ knowledge, disease involving the proximal nasolacrimal outflow system has yet to be described. The authors herein report a case of IgG4-related disease involving the punctum and canaliculus.
Orbital Volume Augmentation for Enophthalmos Following Ventriculoperitoneal Shunting: A Case Study in “Silent Brain Syndrome”
Authors: Pargament Jonathan M. , Peralta Robert J. , Nerad Jeffrey A. , McCann John D.
Published: February 2016

A 21-year-old female with a history of infantile hydrocephalus and ventriculoperitoneal shunting presented with bilateral persistent tearing. Examination revealed marked bilateral enophthalmos, poor lower eyelid apposition to the ocular surface, and patent nasolacrimal systems. Radiographic imaging demonstrated expanded orbital volumes with high arching orbital roofs, sequestered air under the eyelids, short, straight optic nerves, and expanded paranasal sinuses. Surgical intervention included insertion of mesh and block implants within the subperiosteal space of the orbital roof, resulting in correction of enophthalmos, improved lower eyelid apposition and resolution of tearing. However, new onset myopic astigmatism and bilateral ptosis were noted postoperatively and treated successfully with corrective spectacles and ptosis repair. Current literature has demonstrated the benefit of orbital roof implants through a upper eyelid crease incision. The authors present a case that supports the utility of this approach and addresses its potential complications, including postoperative-induced astigmatism/myopia and ptosis.
Pulmonary functions in children with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Gut Guy , Ben-Tov Amir , Lahad Avishai , Soferman Ruth , Cohen Shlomi , Tauman Riva , Sivan Yakov
Published: February 2016

Objective

To investigate fractional exhaled nitric-oxide (FeNO) levels in children with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) and their correlation to disease activity.

Materials and methods

Children with CD and UC (aged 8–18 years) and age-matched healthy controls without respiratory symptoms were recruited. Disease activity was assessed using validated scores. All children performed spirometry and FeNO tests and the association between intestinal disease parameters and pulmonary functions was studied.

Results

Thirty-five children with CD, nine with UC, and 24 healthy controls were enrolled. The mean FeNO level was higher in children with CD compared with the controls. Increased FeNO levels (>23 parts per billion) were more common among CD and UC compared with healthy children (46, 33, and 0%, respectively, P<0.05). Nevertheless, FeNO levels did not correlate with disease activity. There were no significant differences between CD, UC patients, and healthy controls in any of the spirometric variables.

Conclusion

FeNO level, a marker of airway inflammation, is elevated in children with inflammatory bowel diseases irrespective of their intestinal disease activity. Increased FeNO levels are not associated with respiratory symptoms, suggesting a latent pulmonary involvement in the systemic disease.
A Retrospective Review of the Presentation and Treatment of Stingray Stings Reported to a Poison Control System
Authors: Clark Alexander T. , Clark Richard F. , Cantrell F. Lee
Published: February 2016

We studied stingray stings reported to our poison system to identify associated complications and treatments. We undertook a 14-year retrospective observational analysis of stingray stings reported to our poison system. Extracted data included caller age and gender, outcome, management site, symptoms, treatments, and geographical location of the sting. We examined suspected infection rate, hot water treatment efficacy, and possible presence of foreign bodies in the wound. Suspected infection rate was defined as “possible infection” or “likely infection.” Hot water treatment efficacy was defined as cases that encoded hot water as a treatment and noted pain relief within 1 hour of treatment in the free-text record, before documentation of other analgesic administration. A total of 576 envenomations were reported. The majority were men (76%), with an average age of 24 years (range, 6–78 years). Symptoms were reported in 485 cases. A total of 9% recorded a foreign body or debris at the wound site. Symptoms included pain (79%), puncture wound (65%), and edema (25%). Infections were reported in 9% of cases. Hot/warm water immersion appeared effective for pain relief in 69% of cases where outcome was documented. The most common geographical location of stingray envenomations was Southern California. Stingray stings are common in California. Hot/warm water seemed to be effective in pain management in our series, whereas foreign bodies or retained spines and infections were other identified complications.
Prognostic Importance of Controlling Nutritional Status in Patients Undergoing Curative Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Hirahara Noriyuki , Matsubara Takeshi , Hayashi Hikota , Takai Kiyoe , Nakada Soichi , Tajima Yoshitsugu
Published: February 2016

It is now clear that cancer survival is determined not only by tumor pathology but also by host-related factors, in particular, nutritional status and systemic inflammation. It is desirable that the essential properties of any scale designed or intended to be used for the prediction of survival are simple, convenient, and objective. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the database of patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer in our department to evaluate controlling nutritional status (CONUT) and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as predictors of cancer-specific survival (CSS) after esophagectomy. We retrospectively reviewed the database of 148 consecutive patients who underwent potentially curative surgery for histologically verified esophageal squamous cell carcinoma at our institute between January 2002 and December 2014. CONUT and NLR were calculated. On multivariate analysis, pTNM stage (P < 0.0001) and CONUT (P = 0.0291) were independently associated with worse prognosis. Multivariate analysis evaluated the prognostic factors in 2 different patient groups: patients younger than 70 years (nonelderly) and those aged 70 years or more (elderly). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that pTNM stage (P = 0.0083) and CONUT (P = 0.0138) were the independent risk factors for a worse prognosis among the nonelderly group, whereas univariate analysis demonstrated that pTNM stage (P = 0.0002) was the only independent risk factor for a worse prognosis among the elderly group. CONUT was a significant predictor of CSS in patients with esophageal cancer in this study. However, pTNM stage remained a significantly more powerful predictor of CSS. Therefore, the results of this study suggested that CONUT and pTNM stage are the significant and complementary factors predicting survival in patients with esophageal cancer. But, this study failed to confirm the NLR as a significant predictor of CSS after resection for esophageal cancer.
Cancer Nursing Research Output in Africa 2005 to 2014
Authors: Maree Johanna Elizabeth , Herbert Vivien , Huiskamp Agnes Alice
Published: February 2016

Background:

This study is the first review of African cancer nursing research as only 1 review focusing on South Africa was conducted in the past decade.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to identify, summarize, and synthesize the findings from previous independent studies conducted by nurses in Africa.

Methods:

The terms cancer nursing and oncology nursing and Africa were used to search PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, SA e-publications, and Scopus. Studies reporting research conducted in an African setting, coauthored by a nurse affiliated with an African institution and published between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2014, in English were included. A data extraction sheet captured the data.

Results:

A potential 536 articles for possible inclusion were identified. Fifty met the inclusion requirements. Cancer in women (78%; n = 39) and prevention and early detection (62%; n = 31) were most commonly investigated. The work was primarily quantitative and collected data on some knowledge aspect from women in the community. Most of the studies (96%; n = 48) did not meet the criteria of high-quality work.

Conclusions:

Africa’s nurses have improved their research output in the field of cancer nursing considerably. Research focusing on the most prevalent cancers, the treatment, the patient living with cancer, the family, extended family, and community is lacking, as is work focusing on pain and other symptoms.

Implications for Nursing Practice:

Nurses in practice should assist nurse researchers to address the identified knowledge gaps to develop cancer nursing science and practice tailored to meet the unique needs of Africa.
Teaching Handoff Communication to Nursing Students
Authors: Lee Jamie , Mast Merle , Humbert Janelle , Bagnardi Margaret , Richards Sharlene
Published: February 2016

When new-graduate nurses enter practice, they are expected to provide clear, effective handoff reports during care transitions. However, few nursing programs offer systematic instruction or opportunities to practice this important form of communication. This article describes a teaching intervention designed to prepare students with handoff skills they will need in practice. Data gathered to evaluate its effectiveness indicated that skill repetition improved student performance and perceived self-efficacy of handoff reporting. Lessons learned and recommendations for incorporating this instruction into nursing curricula are discussed.
Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) Expression in the Neovasculature of Gynecologic Malignancies: Implications for PSMA-targeted Therapy
Authors: Wernicke Alla G. , Kim Sae , Liu He , Bander Neil H. , Pirog Edyta C.
Published: February 2016

The goal of the study was to examine expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in neovasculature of gynecologic cancers, as PSMA-targeted therapy has showed a promise in treatment of advanced carcinomas. The study included cervical carcinoma (n=28), vulvar carcinoma (n=20), endometrial carcinoma (n=23), primary ovarian carcinoma (n=21), metastatic ovarian carcinoma (n=25), and normal cervix (n=12) as negative control. All cases were immunostained using anti-CD31 antibody to delineate capillary endothelial cells. In parallel, all cases were immunostained using anti-PSMA antibody. The PSMA staining was assessed in tumor capillaries and in normal tissues and scored as a percentage of CD31 staining. PSMA expression was found in the tumor neovasculature, and no significant expression was identified in vasculature of normal tissues. The extent of PSMA staining in tumor capillaries varied from high expression in ovarian and endometrial cancers, to medium expression in cervical squamous cell carcinomas, and low expression in cervical adenocarcinomas and vulvar cancers. All (100%) cases of primary ovarian carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma metastases, and primary endometrial carcinoma showed PSMA expression in tumor vasculature, which was diffuse in majority of cases. The expression of PSMA in ovarian cancer metastases was similar among different metastatic foci of the same tumor. Fifteen percent of cervical squamous cell carcinoma, 50% of cervical adenocarcinoma, and 75% of vulvar carcinomas showed no capillary expression of PSMA. In conclusion, PSMA is highly and specifically expressed in the neovasculature of ovarian, endometrial, and cervical squamous carcinoma, rendering it a potential therapeutic vascular target.
Downexpression of Matriptase-2 Correlates With Tumor Progression and Clinical Prognosis in Oral Squamous-Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Cheng Ming-Fang , Lin Li-Han , Huang Mao-Suan , Lee Herng-Sheng , Ji Dar-Der , Lin Chun-Shu , Hsia Kan-Tai
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of matriptase-2 expression with the clinicopathologic characteristics, the histologic grade, and patient survival in oral squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC). Immunohistochemical analysis of matriptase-2 expression was performed in 102 surgical specimens from patients with OSCC. The immunohistochemical results were further verified by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The immunostaining intensity was scored on a scale ranging from 0 (absence of staining) to 3 (intense staining). The distribution score was determined by the percentage of stained cells on a scale ranging from 0 (<5%), 1 (5% to 25%), 2 (25% to 50%), 3 (50% to 75%), to 4 (75% to 100%). The immunoscore of matriptase-2 expression was the product of the above 2 scores and ranged from 0 to 12 for analysis. Faint matriptase-2 immunostaining was observed in the non-neoplastic oral mucosal epithelia. The matriptase-2 immunoscore was significantly higher in well-differentiated OSCCs than in poorly differentiated tumors (P=0.001). Moreover, a reduced matriptase-2 immunoscore was inversely correlated with the tumor size (P=0.017), a positive nodal stage (P=0.008), distant metastasis (P=0.032), and a late clinical stage (P=0.001). A lower immunoscore of matriptase-2 expression revealed a significant association with poor survival (P=0.003). Our results demonstrate that the inverse expression of matriptase-2 correlates with tumor progression and an advanced TNM stage, and has a poor prognosis in patients with OSCC. These findings suggest that the expression of matriptase-2 may be both a prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for this cancer.