bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Macular arteritis associated with concurrent HIV and hepatitis B infections: a case report and evidence for a disease spectrum association with cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa
Authors: Kolivras Athanassios , Thompson Curtis , Metz Tanguy , André Josette
Published: March 2015

We report the first case of macular arteritis in a 33‐year‐old Black, African female with concurrent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. Of particular interest in macular arteritis is the striking discordance between the clinical presentation and the histopathological findings, a fact that both dermatologists and dermatopathologists should be aware. Histopathologically, the case showed typical findings of macular arteritis with a perivascular, predominantly lymphocytic, infiltrate and intraluminal thrombosis. Both HIV and HBV have been reported as viral inducers of cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). Their association with macular arteritis in this case supports existing evidence that macular arteritis and cutaneous PAN represent a single‐disease spectrum of vasculitides, with macular arteritis representing the chronic, lymphocytic and indolent stage, and cutaneous PAN the neutrophilic, acute stage with a risk for systemic progression. Lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis (LTA), a third, uncommon disease would be in between macular arteritis and cutaneous PAN on a spectrum. Features of this case and other published cases provide strong evidence that there is a single, mild‐to‐severe disease spectrum of macular arteritis‐LTA‐cutaneous PAN.
Carotid Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease–Related Pulmonary Hypertension Assessed with Radio Frequency Data Technique
Authors: Hou Ying , Yuan Li‐Jun , Xing Chang‐Yang , Shang Fu‐Jun , Duan Yun‐You
Published: March 2015

Background

It has been well known that pulmonary hypertension (PH) caused by congenital heart disease (CHD) leads to reduced flexibility of the small pulmonary arteries, due to hemodynamic changes in the pulmonary circulation and alterations of the vasoactive profile. However, whether CHD‐related PH affects the elasticity of the systemic arteries, such as the common carotid artery (CCA), has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to explore the CCA stiffness in patients with CHD‐related PH using the radio frequency data technique.

Methods

Forty patients with CHD were included. They were divided into PH and non‐PH (NPH) groups by the right heart catheter‐determined or regurgitation velocity‐determined mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP). MyLabTwice (Esaote, Genoa, Italy) ultrasound machine equipped with automatic quality intima–media thickness (QIMT) and quality arterial stiffness (QAS) capabilities was used to measure the left common carotid arterial (CCA) intima–media thickness and arterial stiffness parameters.

Results

The results have shown that the left CCA internal diameter, pulse wave velocity, arterial wall tension, and local diastolic pressure were increased in the CHD‐related PH group compared with the CHD‐related NPH group (all P < 0.05). The left CCA internal diameter negatively and significantly correlated with the mean PAP.

Conclusions

Common carotid artery diameter and stiffness increase in patients with CHD‐related pulmonary hypertension. QIMT and QAS ultrasound techniques may provide a comprehensive assessment of the CCA remodeling.
Attention and prediction in human audition: a lesson from cognitive psychophysiology
Authors: Schröger Erich , Marzecová Anna , SanMiguel Iria
Published: March 2015

Attention is a hypothetical mechanism in the service of perception that facilitates the processing of relevant information and inhibits the processing of irrelevant information. Prediction is a hypothetical mechanism in the service of perception that considers prior information when interpreting the sensorial input. Although both (attention and prediction) aid perception, they are rarely considered together. Auditory attention typically yields enhanced brain activity, whereas auditory prediction often results in attenuated brain responses. However, when strongly predicted sounds are omitted, brain responses to silence resemble those elicited by sounds. Studies jointly investigating attention and prediction revealed that these different mechanisms may interact, e.g. attention may magnify the processing differences between predicted and unpredicted sounds. Following the predictive coding theory, we suggest that prediction relates to predictions sent down from predictive models housed in higher levels of the processing hierarchy to lower levels and attention refers to gain modulation of the prediction error signal sent up to the higher level. As predictions encode contents and confidence in the sensory data, and as gain can be modulated by the intention of the listener and by the predictability of the input, various possibilities for interactions between attention and prediction can be unfolded. From this perspective, the traditional distinction between bottom‐up/exogenous and top‐down/endogenous driven attention can be revisited and the classic concepts of attentional gain and attentional trace can be integrated.
Increased audiovisual integration in cochlear‐implanted deaf patients: independent components analysis of longitudinal positron emission tomography data
Authors: Strelnikov K. , Rouger J. , Lagleyre S. , Fraysse B. , Démonet J.‐F. , Déguine O. , Barone P.
Published: March 2015

It has been demonstrated in earlier studies that patients with a cochlear implant have increased abilities for audio‐visual integration because the crude information transmitted by the cochlear implant requires the persistent use of the complementary speech information from the visual channel. The brain network for these abilities needs to be clarified. We used an independent components analysis (ICA) of the activation (H215O) positron emission tomography data to explore occipito‐temporal brain activity in post‐lingually deaf patients with unilaterally implanted cochlear implants at several months post‐implantation (T1), shortly after implantation (T0) and in normal hearing controls. In between‐group analysis, patients at T1 had greater blood flow in the left middle temporal cortex as compared with T0 and normal hearing controls. In within‐group analysis, patients at T0 had a task‐related ICA component in the visual cortex, and patients at T1 had one task‐related ICA component in the left middle temporal cortex and the other in the visual cortex. The time courses of temporal and visual activities during the positron emission tomography examination at T1 were highly correlated, meaning that synchronized integrative activity occurred. The greater involvement of the visual cortex and its close coupling with the temporal cortex at T1 confirm the importance of audio‐visual integration in more experienced cochlear implant subjects at the cortical level.
Neuronal activity in primate auditory cortex during the performance of audiovisual tasks
Authors: Brosch Michael , Selezneva Elena , Scheich Henning
Published: March 2015

This study aimed at a deeper understanding of which cognitive and motivational aspects of tasks affect auditory cortical activity. To this end we trained two macaque monkeys to perform two different tasks on the same audiovisual stimulus and to do this with two different sizes of water rewards. The monkeys had to touch a bar after a tone had been turned on together with an LED, and to hold the bar until either the tone (auditory task) or the LED (visual task) was turned off. In 399 multiunits recorded from core fields of auditory cortex we confirmed that during task engagement neurons responded to auditory and non‐auditory stimuli that were task‐relevant, such as light and water. We also confirmed that firing rates slowly increased or decreased for several seconds during various phases of the tasks. Responses to non‐auditory stimuli and slow firing changes were observed during both the auditory and the visual task, with some differences between them. There was also a weak task‐dependent modulation of the responses to auditory stimuli. In contrast to these cognitive aspects, motivational aspects of the tasks were not reflected in the firing, except during delivery of the water reward. In conclusion, the present study supports our previous proposal that there are two response types in the auditory cortex that represent the timing and the type of auditory and non‐auditory elements of a auditory tasks as well the association between elements.
Design of Emergence Test Arenas Can Affect the Results of Boldness Assays
Authors: Näslund Joacim , Bererhi Badreddine , Johnsson Jörgen I.
Published: March 2015

In this study, we investigate whether and how arena design of emergence tests (a commonly used boldness assay where the latency to emerge from a start box is measured) can affect the behaviour of the subject animals. We used two populations of wild brown trout fry, captured on their hatching grounds, and measured emergence latency in arenas with two different sizes of start‐box gates and two different environments into which the fish emerges from the start box (barren and complex), in a factorial design. We found that arena design affected the behaviour of the fish, but only in one of the populations. In the affected population, a large start‐box gate in combination with a barren environment reduced emergence latency. Furthermore, the time from leaving the box until entering another compartment on the opposite side of the arena was shorter in a barren environment as compared to a more complex environment. We also found that smaller brown trout fry generally showed lower tendency for emerging from the start box at all. The results of this study suggest that direct comparisons among results from experiments using different arena designs may be problematic and highlight the importance of reporting details of arena design in publications.
Patterns of domestication in the Ethiopian oil‐seed crop noug (Guizotia abyssinica)
Authors: Dempewolf Hannes , Tesfaye Misteru , Teshome Abel , Bjorkman Anne D. , Andrew Rose L. , Scascitelli Moira , Black Scott , Bekele Endashaw , Engels Johannes M. M. , Cronk Quentin C. B. , Rieseberg Loren H.
Published: March 2015

Noug (Guizotia abyssinica) is a semidomesticated oil‐seed crop, which is primarily cultivated in Ethiopia. Unlike its closest crop relative, sunflower, noug has small seeds, small flowering heads, many branches, many flowering heads, and indeterminate flowering, and it shatters in the field. Here, we conducted common garden studies and microsatellite analyses of genetic variation to test whether high levels of crop–wild gene flow and/or unfavorable phenotypic correlations have hindered noug domestication. With the exception of one population, analyses of microsatellite variation failed to detect substantial recent admixture between noug and its wild progenitor. Likewise, only very weak correlations were found between seed mass and the number or size of flowering heads. Thus, noug's ‘atypical’ domestication syndrome does not seem to be a consequence of recent introgression or unfavorable phenotypic correlations. Nonetheless, our data do reveal evidence of local adaptation of noug cultivars to different precipitation regimes, as well as high levels of phenotypic plasticity, which may permit reasonable yields under diverse environmental conditions. Why noug has not been fully domesticated remains a mystery, but perhaps early farmers selected for resilience to episodic drought or untended environments rather than larger seeds. Domestication may also have been slowed by noug's outcrossing mating system.
Should Independent Directors Have Term Limits? The Role of Experience in Corporate Governance
Authors: Dou Ying , Sahgal Sidharth , Zhang Emma Jincheng
Published: March 2015

We examine the role of independent directors with extended tenure in board‐level governance, monitoring decisions, and advising outcomes. These directors exhibit a higher level of commitment as they attend more board meetings and take more committee memberships. Firms with a higher proportion of these directors have lower chief executive officer (CEO) pay, higher CEO turnover‐performance sensitivity, and a smaller likelihood of intentionally misreporting earnings. These firms also restrict the expansion of resources under the CEO's control as they are less likely to make acquisitions, while the acquisitions they do make are of higher quality. Efforts to impose term limits on directors may, therefore, be misguided.
Pediococcus acidilactici as a potential probiotic to be used in food industry
Authors: Barbosa Joana , Borges Sandra , Teixeira Paula
Published: March 2015

The objective of this study was to compare the results obtained between a commercial probiotic bacterium and a strain of Pediococcus acidilactici isolated from a food matrix. Besides the characterisation of the isolates, the main focus of this work was to evaluate their ability to survive through simulated gastrointestinal tract passage as well as the effect of the spray drying process to be used as concentrated cultures in the food industry. Both lactic acid bacteria produced any of the virulence determinants investigated; they exhibited no significant antibiotic resistances and <1 log unit reduction in viable counts was obtained after exposure to simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions. Concentrated cultures of P. acidilactici HA‐6111‐2 in 10% (w/v) of reconstituted skim milk were obtained by spray drying and, after 60 days of storage at 4 °C, <1 log unit reduction in viable count was recorded. In conclusion, from these preliminary characterisation tests and its extended viability in the dried form, this P. acidilactici strain should be considered as a potentially useful probiotic.
Evaluation of colouring ability of main European elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) varieties as potential resources of natural food colourants
Authors: Szalóki‐Dorkó Lilla , Stéger‐Máté Mónika , Abrankó László
Published: March 2015

Profiling and quantitative analysis of anthocyanins in five elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) varieties, namely ‘Haschberg’, ‘Samocco’, ‘Samyl’, ‘Samident’ and ‘Sampo’, were performed in six different maturity stages from two consecutive years (2012 and 2013) and from two growing areas in Hungary. Cyanidin‐3‐O‐sambubioside‐5‐O‐glucoside, cyanidin‐3‐O‐sambubioside and cyanidin‐3‐O‐glucoside were found and identified by HPLC‐Q/TOF‐MS as major anthocyanins and were quantified by HPLC‐UV/Vis. In optimum maturity stage, ‘Samocco’ showed the highest anthocyanin content with an average of 1237 mg per 100 g dry weight in both growing areas and vintages. The dominant anthocyanin component of Samocco variety was cyanidin‐3‐O‐sambubioside, which is according to literature more stable against technology processing than cyanidin‐3‐O‐glucoside found in the other four investigated elderberry varieties in the highest concentration. ‘Samocco’, if grown under the climatic conditions of the Carpathian basin, might be a promising alternative variety for growing as raw material for natural food colourant processing industry.
Effects of physicochemical factors and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on antioxidant activity of R‐phycoerythrin from red algae Bangia fusco‐purpurea
Authors: Wu Qiang , Fu Xiao‐Ping , Sun Le‐Chang , Zhang Qian , Liu Guang‐Ming , Cao Min‐Jie , Cai Qiu‐Feng
Published: March 2015

R‐phycoerythrin (R‐PE) was purified from the red algae Bangia fusco‐purpurea after 35–50% ammonium sulphate fractionation followed by ion‐exchange column chromatography on DEAE‐Sepharose, resulting in a purity (A565/A280) ratio of 5.1. The circular dichroism spectroscopy results suggested that the structure of R‐PE is predominately helical. The antioxidant activity of R‐PE was studied and revealed changes in conformation and antioxidant activity at different temperatures and pH values. After in vitro‐simulated gastrointestinal (GI) digestion of R‐PE, the scavenging activity of ABTS radical (EC50, 769.9 μg mL−1), DPPH radical (EC50, 421.9 μg mL−1), hydroxyl radical (EC50, 32.4 μg mL−1) and reducing power (A700 = 0.5, 625.8 μg mL−1) were measured. Gel filtration chromatography analysis showed that the molecular weight distribution of the final GI digest that still contained high antioxidant activity was <3 kDa. Our present results indicate that digestion‐resistant antioxidant peptides of R‐PE may be obtained by in vitro GI proteinases degradation.
Application of amaranth protein isolate and hydrolysate on a reduced salt fish restructured product: antioxidant properties, textural and microbiological effects
Authors: García Fillería Susan F. , Tironi Valeria A.
Published: March 2015

This work evaluates amaranth protein ingredients [isolate (I) and alcalase‐hydrolysate (H)] acting as antioxidants and binders in restructured fish products. Gel products were obtained after thermal treatment (40 °C, 30 min; 90 °C, 30 min) of different formulations from fish muscle pastes, where salt (2%) was partially or totally replaced by I or H. Antioxidant activity was assessed by conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARs) measurements during the chilled storage. Textural properties, water‐holding capacity, colour and microbiological quality were evaluated. Reduced‐salt content products containing 2% w/w of I or H partially inhibited lipid oxidation especially at the level of the decomposition of hydroperoxides into secondary products, due to about 50% and 60% of inhibition of TBARs, respectively, was registered. Also, these products showed acceptable microbiological quality and technological characteristics with only minimal changes in properties as gel hardness and colour parameters compared with control products (2% w/w salt).
ICSH recommendations for the standardization of nomenclature and grading of peripheral blood cell morphological features
Authors: Palmer L. , Briggs C. , McFadden S. , Zini G. , Burthem J. , Rozenberg G. , Proytcheva M. , Machin S. J.
Published: March 2015

These guidelines provide information on how to reliably and consistently report abnormal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets using manual microscopy. Grading of abnormal cells, nomenclature and a brief description of the cells are provided. It is important that all countries in the world use consistent reporting of blood cells. An international group of morphology experts have decided on these guidelines using consensus opinion. For some red blood cell abnormalities, it was decided that parameters produced by the automated haematology analyser might be more accurate and less subjective than grading using microscopy or automated image analysis and laboratories might like to investigate this further. A link is provided to show examples of many of the cells discussed in this guideline.
Birth order and sibship composition as predictors of overweight or obesity among low‐income 4‐ to 8‐year‐old children
Authors: Mosli R. H. , Miller A. L. , Peterson K. E. , Kaciroti N. , Rosenblum K. , Baylin A. , Lumeng J. C.
Published: March 2015

Objective

This study aimed to examine the association of birth order and number and sex of siblings with overweight or obesity among 4‐ to 8‐year‐olds.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional study involving 273 low‐income mother–child dyads. Questionnaires and anthropometry were completed. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association of birth order, having younger siblings, having older siblings, having at least one brother and having at least one sister with odds of overweight or obesity. Analyses were repeated to additionally include non‐biological siblings. Models were adjusted for potential confounders and intermediate variables.

Results

Prevalence of child overweight or obesity was 42.5%. Adjusting for covariates, only children and youngest siblings had higher odds of overweight or obesity compared with oldest siblings (odds ratio [OR]: 4.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67, 10.46 and OR: 3.21, 95% CI: 1.41, 7.33, respectively). Having one or more younger siblings and having at least one brother were associated with lower odds (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.69 and OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.81, respectively). Including non‐biological siblings did not meaningfully change the associations.

Conclusion

Birth order and sibship composition are associated with overweight or obesity among 4‐ to 8‐year‐olds. Future studies identifying the underlying behavioural mechanism can help inform family‐based intervention programmes.
A Combination of Neostigmine and Anisodamine Protects against Ischemic Stroke by Activating α7nAChR
Authors: Qian Jiao , Zhang Jing-Ming , Lin Li-Li , Dong Wen-Zhe , Cheng Yan-Qiong , Su Ding-Feng , Liu Ai-Jun
Published: March 2015

Background

Increasing endogenous acetylcholine by neostigmine decreased the ischemic cerebral injury. The off-target action on muscarinic receptor produced a variety of adverse effects and limited the clinical application on stroke.

Aim

We combined neostigmine with anisodamine and investigated the neuroprotection and mechanism.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion. Neuroprotective action of neostigmine in combination with anisodamine at varying ratios was examined to determine the optimal combination as well as ideal therapeutic window. Potential involvement of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was examined by measuring the infarct size, the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and the biomarkers of apoptosis in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice. A set of in vitro experiments was conducted in RAW264.7 cells to probe into potential molecular mechanisms. Results The neostigmine/anisodamine combination conferred neuroprotection. The protection was most potent at a ratio of 1 : 500. At such a ratio, the combination increased the binding of acetylcholine to α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and reduced proinflammatory cytokines. The neuroprotection was evident only in wild-type and not in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice. The combination significantly decreased the expression of Bad and Bax, and increased Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor wild-type mice but not in knockout mice. The combination did not affect caspase-8, cleaved caspase-8, or caspase-12.

Conclusions

Current study identified the optimal combination of neostigmine and anisodamine against ischemic stroke, and indicated that the acetylcholine-α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is involved in the protective effects.
‘With Him in Heavenly Realms’: Lombard and Calvin on Merit and the Exaltation of Christ
Authors: Baylor T. Robert
Published: March 2015

Peter Lombard argued that Christ merited his own exaltation. Since all humans attain their end by merit, and since Christ was true man, it follows that Christ merited exaltation for himself. Calvin repeatedly rejects this idea, arguing that Lombard obscures the fully benevolent character of Christ's mission because he abstracts Christ's humanity from his divinity. Calvin's polemic against Lombard leverages his anti‐Pelagian critique against medieval theologies of merit that reduce Christ's capacity as a representative and restrict the church's full participation in Christ's atonement. Instead, Calvin attempts to establish the substitutionary character of Christ's work by rooting Christ's merits in more strictly christological grounds.
Association of onabotulinum toxin A treatment with salivary pH and dental caries of neurologically impaired children with sialorrhea
Authors: Ferraz dos Santos Beatriz , Dabbagh Basma , Daniel Sam J , Schwartz Stephane
Published: March 2015

Background

Sialorrhea is a common manifestation of several neurological disorders. The use of intraglandular onabotulinum toxin A (OBTXA) injection has been recognized to effectively treat sialorrhea. As OBTXA injection reduces salivary flow rate and alters salivary quality, its use may have a detrimental effect on oral health.

Aim

To examine the effect of OBTXA injection on caries experience and salivary pH of neurologically impaired children with sialorrhea.

Design

Twenty‐five children receiving OBTXA treatment and 25 control children were enrolled in the study. Whole saliva was collected to determine salivary pH. All participants underwent an interview on their dietary habits. Dental clinical examinations were carried out to evaluate caries experience and oral hygiene level.

Results

Overall, mean salivary pH value was significantly lower in the OBTXA group (6.92 ± 0.77) compared with the control group (7.36 ± 0.70). Caries activity was significantly higher in the OBTXA group (P = 0.01). The regression analyses showed a significant association between OBTXA treatment and salivary pH value (P = 0.03). Results from the logistic regression show that dental caries was significantly associated with OBTXA treatment (OR = 1.73, CI = 1.14–27.3).

Conclusions

The study showed an intricate relationship between OBTXA treatment and oral findings. Hence, special dental care should be given to children receiving OBTXA treatment.
Exploring the association between oral health problems and oral health‐related quality of life in Peruvian 11‐ to 14‐year‐old children
Authors: Pulache Jhonatan , Abanto Jenny , Oliveira Luciana Butini , Bönecker Marcelo , Porras Jacqueline Céspedes
Published: March 2015

Background

This is the first study that tested a Spanish version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11–14) in a population‐based sample.

Aim

To assess the impact of oral health problems on OHRQoL in 11‐ to 14‐year‐old children.

Design

Data from 473 11‐ to 14‐year‐old children were analysed. They were interviewed using the CPQ11–14. Examinations included dental caries, malocclusion, and traumatic dental injuries. Adjusted Poisson regression was used to associate different clinical conditions to the outcome.

Results

Overall, 100% of children reported oral impacts (total CPQ11–14 score ≥ 1). Children aged 12‐ to 14 years old experienced a negative impact on all domains and total CPQ11–14 scores (P < 0.05); the increase in DMFT index showed a negative impact on the oral symptoms domain (RR = 1.01; P = 0.05, whereas Class III malocclusion showed a positive impact on the emotional well‐being domain (RR = 0.71; P < 0.01). TDI (RR = 1.11; P = 0.01) and crown discoloration (RR = 1.23; P < 0.01) showed a negative impact on the emotional social well‐being domain.

Conclusion

Children aged 12‐ to 14 years old had a negative impact on all domains and total CPQ11–14 scores compared with those who are 11 years old. The increase in dental caries experience, presences of TDI and crown discoloration have a negative impact on some aspects of the children's OHRQoL. Class III malocclusion showed a positive impact on the emotional well‐being domain.
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Women with Recurrent Abortion Exhibit an Aberrant Reaction to Release Cytokines upon the Direct Contact of Human Leukocyte Antigen‐G‐Expressing Cells
Authors: HAMAI YOKO , FUJII TOMOYUKI , YAMASHITA TAKAHIRO , MIKI AKINORI , KOZUMA SHIRO , GERAGHTY DANIEL E. , TAKETANI YUJI
Published: March 2015

PROBLEM: In search for pathogenesis of recurrent abortion, we examined whether lymphocytes/macrophages from women with recurrent abortion exhibited an aberrant ability to release cytokines upon the direct contact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐G.

METHOD OF STUDY: The amounts of cytokines released from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from women with recurrent abortion were compared with those from normal multiparous women or normal nulligravidous women when cocultured with or without HLA‐G‐expressing target cells.

RESULTS: When cocultured with HLA‐G‐expressing target cells, the amount of interleukin‐1β released from PBMCs was increased in recurrent aborters whereas it decreased in both normal multiparous and nulligravidous women. The amount of interleukin‐3 released from PBMCs did not differ with or without HLA‐G‐expressing cells in recurrent aborters, whereas it increased in the presence of HLA‐G‐expressing cells in normal controls. The amount of tumor necrosis factor‐α released from PBMCs was decreased in the presence of HLA‐G‐expressing cells in both recurrent aborters and normal controls.

CONCLUSION: The aberrant reaction of maternal lymphocytes/macrophages in releasing cytokines upon the contact of HLA‐G expressed on trophoblasts may impact negatively on trophoblastic growth, which may be pathogenic in recurrent abortion.
Efficient Vocational Skills Training for People with Cognitive Disabilities: An Exploratory Study Comparing Computer‐Assisted Instruction to One‐on‐One Tutoring
Authors: Larson James R. , Juszczak Andrew , Engel Kathryn
Published: March 2015

Background

This study compared the effectiveness of computer‐assisted instruction to that of one‐on‐one tutoring for teaching people with mild and moderate cognitive disabilities when both training methods are designed to take account of the specific mental deficits most commonly found in cognitive disability populations.

Method

Fifteen participants (age 22–71) received either computer‐assisted instruction or one‐on‐one tutoring in three content domains that were of functional and daily relevance to them: behavioural limits, rights and responsibilities (two modules) and alphabetical sorting. Learning was assessed by means of a series of pretests and four learning cycle post‐tests. Both instructional conditions maintained time‐on‐task and teaching material equivalence, and both incorporated a set of best‐practices and empirically supported teaching techniques designed to address attentional deficits, stimulus processing inefficiencies and cognitive load limitations.

Results

Strong evidence of learning was found in both instructional method conditions. Moreover, in all content domains the two methods yielded approximately equivalent rates of learning and learning attainment.

Conclusions

These findings offer tentative evidence that a repetitive, computer‐assisted training program can produce learning outcomes in people with mild and moderate cognitive disabilities that are comparable to those achieved by high‐quality one‐on‐one tutoring.
Quality of Diagnosis and Treatment Plans After Using the ‘Diagnostic Guideline for Anxiety and Challenging Behaviours’ in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Comparative Multiple Case Study Design
Authors: Pruijssers Addy , van Meijel Berno , Maaskant Marian , Keeman Noortje , van Achterberg Theo
Published: March 2015

Background

People with intellectual disabilities often have a multitude of concurrent problems due to the combination of cognitive impairments, psychiatric disorders (particularly anxiety) and related challenging behaviours. Diagnoses in people with intellectual disabilities are complicated. This study evaluates the quality of the diagnoses and treatment plans after using a guideline that was developed to support professionals in their diagnostic tasks.

Materials and Methods

A comparative multiple case study with an experimental and control condition, applying deductive analyses of diagnoses and treatment plans.

Results

The analyses revealed that the number of diagnostic statements and planned treatment actions in the experimental group was significantly larger and more differentiated than in the control condition. In the control group, consequential harm and protective factors were hardly mentioned in diagnoses and treatment plans.

Conclusions

Working with the ‘Diagnostic Guideline for Anxiety and CB’ leads to improved diagnoses and treatment plans compared with care as usual.
A retrospective analysis of allele frequency changes of major genes during 20 years of selection in the Italian Large White pig breed
Authors: Fontanesi L. , Schiavo G. , Scotti E. , Galimberti G. , Calò D.G. , Samorè A.B. , Gallo M. , Russo V. , Buttazzoni L.
Published: March 2015

In this study, we investigated whether a selection programme based on boar genetic evaluation obtained with a classical BLUP animal model can change allele frequencies in a pig population. All Italian Large White boars born from 1992 to 2012 with estimated breeding value reliability >0.85 (n = 200) were selected among all boars of this breed. Boars were genotyped with markers in major genes (IGF2 intron3‐g.3072G>A, MC4R p.D298N, VRTN PRE1 insertion, PRKAG3 p.I199V and FTO g.276T>G). Genotyping data were analysed grouping boars in eight classes according to their year of birth. To evaluate the influence of time on allele frequencies of the genotyped markers, multinomial logistic regression models were computed. Four of five polymorphic sites (IGF2, MC4R, VRTN and FTO) showed significant (p < 0.01) changes in allele frequencies over time due to a progressive and continuous increase of one allele (associated with higher lean meat content, higher average daily gain and favourable feed: gain ratio) and, consequently, decrease of the other one, following the directional selection of the selection programme of this pig breed. The retrospective analysis that was carried out in Italian Large White boars suggests that selection based on methodologies assuming the infinitesimal model is able to modify in a quite short period of time allele frequencies in major genes, increasing the frequency of alleles explaining a relevant (non‐infinitesimal) fraction of the overall genetic variability for production traits.
Estimates of genetic variance and variance of predicted genetic merits using pedigree or genomic relationship matrices in six Brown Swiss cattle populations for different traits
Authors: Loberg A. , Dürr J. W. , Fikse W.F. , Jorjani H. , Crooks L.
Published: March 2015

The amount of variance captured in genetic estimations may depend on whether a pedigree‐based or genomic relationship matrix is used. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic variance as well as the variance of predicted genetic merits (PGM) using pedigree‐based or genomic relationship matrices in Brown Swiss cattle. We examined a range of traits in six populations amounting to 173 population‐trait combinations. A main aim was to determine how using different relationship matrices affect variance estimation. We calculated ratios between different types of estimates and analysed the impact of trait heritability and population size. The genetic variances estimated by REML using a genomic relationship matrix were always smaller than the variances that were similarly estimated using a pedigree‐based relationship matrix. The variances from the genomic relationship matrix became closer to estimates from a pedigree relationship matrix as heritability and population size increased. In contrast, variances of predicted genetic merits obtained using a genomic relationship matrix were mostly larger than variances of genetic merit predicted using pedigree‐based relationship matrix. The ratio of the genomic to pedigree‐based PGM variances decreased as heritability and population size rose. The increased variance among predicted genetic merits is important for animal breeding because this is one of the factors influencing genetic progress.
Climate change expected to drive habitat loss for two key herbivore species in an alpine environment
Authors: Parida M. , Hoffmann A. A. , Hill M. P.
Published: March 2015

Aim

Our first aim was to determine the environmental factors associated with two native Australian Lepidoptera species, Lomera caespitosae and Oncopera alpina, key herbivores of alpine and subalpine Poa grasses. Both species have been associated with areas of extensive grass death in Australian alpine regions, possibly affecting vegetation succession and recovery. Our second aim was to generate and evaluate potential distributional changes for both these moths and their host plants under scenarios of climate change.

Location

Alpine regions in south‐eastern Australia.

Methods

We surveyed alpine regions in south‐eastern Australia to compile presence–absence datasets for both moth species. We constructed ecological niche models from our survey data, in addition to predicting distributions of suitable host‐plant species for the moths. Grass damage sites attributed to the moths were used additionally as independent test datasets to validate model performance. Future effects on species distributions under climate change scenarios were then investigated.

Results

The environmental factors affecting distributions differed between the moth species; for example, precipitation variables appeared to be important for L. caespitosae, while low winter–spring temperatures were expected to limit O. alpina. The findings were related to the presence of grass damage, which was greater in areas where species distributions overlapped. A declining trend in suitability was predicted for both herbivore species under climate change, while Poa spp. distributions were expected to be less influenced by climate change.

Main conclusions

The distributions of both moth species are more likely to be restricted by climate than host‐plant availability. Predicted climate change effects are likely to put L. caespitosae under greater immediate risk of local extinction than O. alpina as a result of large areas of habitat loss by 2050.
Incongruent evolutionary histories of two parasitoids in the Mediterranean Basin: influence of host specialization and ecological characteristics
Authors: Auger‐Rozenberg Marie‐Anne , Torres‐Leguizamon Magally , Courtin Claudine , Rossi Jean‐Pierre , Kerdelhué Carole
Published: March 2015

Aim

The pine processionary moth (PPM) is a species complex containing two congeneric taxa, namely Thaumetopoea pityocampa and Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni, with a circum‐Mediterranean distribution and a strong geographical structure. We developed comparative phylogeographies for two of the main natural enemies of the PPM, the egg parasitoids Baryscapus servadeii and Ooencyrtus pityocampae, to determine to what extent their Quaternary histories were parallel and mirrored that of their host.

Location

Pine and cedar forests around the Mediterranean Basin.

Methods

Egg masses of the PPM were sampled from its whole range and parasitoids allowed to emerge in the laboratory. We sequenced one mitochondrial fragment from 303 individuals of B. servadeii and 239 of O. pityocampae, and the nuclear ITS2 for a subset of the samples. The distribution of genetic diversity, network of alleles and AMOVAs were analysed to decipher the phylogeographical structures, and PPM and host plant effects.

Results

Results differed drastically between the two parasitoid species. We found 87 haplotypes and five ITS alleles for B. servadeii, which showed a strong phylogeographical structure over its distribution range. We identified four divergent clades, one of them further forming four haplogroups. Refugial areas were similar to those of the host. AMOVA showed that over 40% of the variance could be explained by the insect host structure. In contrast, O. pityocampae showed 16 closely related haplotypes, one corresponding to 60% of the individuals. PPM structure explained only 15% of the variance. The effects of the pine host were limited in both parasitoid species.

Main conclusions

Baryscapus servadeii probably survived Quaternary climatic oscillations in long‐term refugia where the PPM host was also continuously present. Although not strictly parallel, its history showed high degrees of similarity with that of the host. Conversely, results suggest that O. pityocampae had different climatic requirements and experienced severe bottleneck(s) during the Quaternary. Yet, it efficiently recolonized its main host range, probably helped by its parthenogenetic reproduction and possibly also by local host shifts.
Remission of CVB3‐induced myocarditis with Astragaloside IV treatment requires A20 (TNFAIP3) up‐regulation
Authors: Gui Jun , Chen Ruizhen , Xu Wei , Xiong Sidong
Published: March 2015

Viral myocarditis (VMC) most prevalently caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection is characterized by severe cardiac inflammation. Therapeutic options for the disease are still limited. Astragaloside IV (AST‐IV), a purified small molecular saponin (C41H68O14, MW 784), is the main active component of Chinese medical herb Astragalus which has been empirically prescribed for the treatment of heart dysfunction for centuries. In this study, we investigated the effect of AST‐IV on CVB3‐induced myocarditis and explored its possible mechanism involved. The results showed that AST‐IV administration alleviated the severity of myocarditis and attenuated cardiac inflammation, which was mediated by inhibition of nuclear factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB) signalling. Importantly, we further identified that the inhibitory effect of AST‐IV on NF‐κB signalling was through increasing A20 (TNFAIP3) expression. Moreover, we validated that A20 was critical for the therapeutic efficacy of AST‐IV on CVB3‐induced myocarditis. Finally, we revealed that AST‐IV enhanced A20 expression at post‐transcriptional level by stabilization of mRNA. Our findings uncover a previously unknown mechanism for AST‐IV in the treatment of VMC because of modulating inflammatory response via increasing A20 expression, which provide a potential target for screening new drugs and are helpful for optimization of the therapeutic strategies for VMC.
Strength training and risk of type 2 diabetes in a Japanese working population: A cohort study
Authors: Kuwahara Keisuke , Honda Toru , Nakagawa Tohru , Yamamoto Shuichiro , Nanri Akiko , Kurotani Kayo , Hayashi Takeshi , Mizoue Tetsuya
Published: March 2015

Aims/Introduction

Muscle strength training has been suggested to improve glucose metabolism; however, epidemiological evidence regarding strength training's effects on diabetes risk is scarce. We prospectively examined the association between strength training and the risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men and women.

Materials and Methods

The sample included health checkups on 26,630 Japanese male and female workers aged 30–64 years without diabetes at baseline. Weekly time spent on strength training was elicited using a self‐reported questionnaire. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed based on hemoglobin A1c, fasting glucose, random plasma glucose and self‐report in an annual health checkup. Hazard ratio (HR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) for incident diabetes was estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

During a mean follow up of 5.2 years with 139,748 person‐years, 1,770 individuals developed diabetes. Age‐ and sex‐adjusted HR for diabetes was 0.58 (95% CI 0.42–0.79) in those who engaged in strength training compared with those who engaged in no strength training. After further adjusting for potential confounders, the corresponding HR was 0.66 (95% CI 0.48–0.90). Additional adjustment for body mass index did not materially change the result; the HR was 0.70 (95% CI 0.51–0.96). The association was more pronounced in individuals aged 50 years or older than those aged <50 years, although the difference in the association by age was not significant.

Conclusions

These results suggest that engagement in strength training could help to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in a Japanese working population.
Characterization of Lipids and Proteins Associated to the Cell Wall of the Acapsular Mutant Cryptococcus neoformans Cap 67
Authors: Longo Larissa V. G. , Nakayasu Ernesto S. , Pires Jhon H. S. , Gazos‐Lopes Felipe , Vallejo Milene C. , Sobreira Tiago J. P. , Almeida Igor C. , Puccia Rosana
Published: March 2015

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes life‐threatening meningitis. In this fungus, the cell wall is exceptionally not the outermost structure due to the presence of a surrounding polysaccharide capsule, which has been highly studied. Considering that there is little information about C. neoformans cell wall composition, we aimed at describing proteins and lipids extractable from this organelle, using as model the acapsular mutant C. neoformans cap 67. Purified cell wall preparations were extracted with either chloroform/methanol or hot sodium dodecyl sulfate. Total lipids fractionated in silica gel 60 were analyzed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS), while trypsin digested proteins were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). We detected 25 phospholipid species among phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid. Two glycolipid species were identified as monohexosyl ceramides. We identified 192 noncovalently linked proteins belonging to different metabolic processes. Most proteins were classified as secretory, mainly via nonclassical mechanisms, suggesting a role for extracellular vesicles (EV) in transwall transportation. In concert with that, orthologs from 86% of these proteins have previously been reported both in fungal cell wall and/or in EV. The possible role of the presently described structures in fungal–host relationship is discussed.
Some but not All Tetrahymena Species Destroy Monolayer Cultures of Cells from a Wide Range of Tissues and Species
Authors: Pinheiro Marcel D.O. , Bols Niels C.
Published: March 2015

The activities of Tetrahymena corlissi, Tetrahymena thermophila, and Tetrahymena canadensis were studied in coculture with cell lines of insects, fish, amphibians, and mammals. These ciliates remained viable regardless of the animal cell line partner. All three species could engulf animal cells in suspension. However, if the animal cells were monolayer cultures, the monolayers were obliterated by T. corlissi and T. thermophila. Both fibroblast and epithelial monolayers were destroyed but the destruction of human cell monolayers was done more effectively by T. thermophila. By contrast, T. canadensis was unable to destroy any monolayer. At 4 °C T. thermophila and T. corlissi did not carryout phagocytosis and did not destroy monolayers, whereas T. canadensis was able to carryout phagocytosis but still could not destroy monolayers. Therefore, monolayer destruction appeared to require phagocytosis, but by itself this was insufficient. In addition, the ciliates expressed a unique swimming behavior. Tetrahymena corlissi and T. thermophila swam vigorously and repeatedly into the monolayer, which seemed to loosen or dislodge cells, whereas T. canadensis swam above the monolayer. Therefore, differences in swimming behavior might explain why T. corlissi has been reported to be a pathogen but T. canadensis has not.
Effect of a New Longitudinal Interprofessional Geriatric Medicine Educational Track on Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Students: A Controlled Cohort Study
Authors: Koh Gerald C. H. , Ling Carolyn L. H. , Ma Bosco H. M. , Chen Cynthia , Lim Wee Shiong , Scherer Samuel C. , Amin Zubair , Merchant Reshma A.
Published: March 2015

A new interprofessional geriatric medicine curriculum was recently introduced at a large undergraduate Asian medical school. A longitudinal controlled interventional cohort study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the new curriculum on the knowledge and attitudes of medical students. The medical students under the new curriculum formed the intervention cohort, and those under the former curriculum formed the control cohort. To test knowledge, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) geriatrics knowledge test (GKT) was used in Year 2 and the University of Michigan GKT in Year 5. Geriatrics attitudes were evaluated using the UCLA geriatrics attitudes test in Years 2 and 5. Not surprisingly, geriatrics knowledge at the end of Year 5 of medical school was enhanced to a greater degree in the intervention cohort than the control cohort, although improvements in geriatrics attitudes in each cohort were of similar magnitude by the end of Year 5, suggesting that factors other than a formal geriatrics curriculum influenced the improvements in geriatrics attitudes. This article is one of few published on the effectiveness of geriatrics curricular innovations using validated knowledge and attitude outcomes in a longitudinal controlled study design and will be useful to other medical institutions seeking to improve the geriatrics knowledge and attitudes of their students.