bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct Visualization of De novo Lipogenesis in Single Living Cells
Authors: Li Junjie , Cheng Ji-Xin
Published: October 2014

Increased de novo lipogenesis is being increasingly recognized as a hallmark of cancer. Despite recent advances in fluorescence microscopy, autoradiography and mass spectrometry, direct observation of de novo lipogenesis in living systems remains to be challenging. Here, by coupling stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy with isotope labeled glucose, we were able to trace the dynamic metabolism of glucose in single living cells with high spatial-temporal resolution. As the first direct visualization, we observed that glucose was largely utilized for lipid synthesis in pancreatic cancer cells, which occurs at a much lower rate in immortalized normal pancreatic epithelial cells. By inhibition of glycolysis and fatty acid synthase (FAS), the key enzyme for fatty acid synthesis, we confirmed the deuterium labeled lipids in cancer cells were from de novo lipid synthesis. Interestingly, we also found that prostate cancer cells exhibit relatively lower level of de novo lipogenesis, but higher fatty acid uptake compared to pancreatic cancer cells. Together, our results demonstrate a valuable tool to study dynamic lipid metabolism in cancer and other disorders.
DNA nanotubes and helical nanotapes via self-assembly of ssDNA-amphiphiles
Authors: Pearce Timothy R. , Kokkoli Efrosini
Published: October 2014

ssDNA-amphiphiles with three building blocks, a hydrophobic tail, a polycarbon spacer and different ssDNA headgroups that were created to explore the effect of DNA length and secondary structure on the self-assembly behavior of the amphiphiles, formed bilayer nanotapes that transitioned from twisted nanotapes, to helical nanotapes to nanotubes.
Aβ self-association and adsorption on a hydrophobic nanosurface: competitive effects and the detection of small oligomers via electrical response
Authors: Jana Asis K. , Sengupta Neelanjana
Published: October 2014

Electrical current signals of SWCNT adsorbed full-length Aβ contain information about the oligomeric state.
Structural and mechanical properties of cardiolipin lipid bilayers determined using neutron spin echo, small angle neutron and X-ray scattering, and molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Pan Jianjun , Cheng Xiaolin , Sharp Melissa , Ho Chian-Sing , Khadka Nawal , Katsaras John
Published: October 2014

Determining structural and mechanical properties of cardiolipin lipid bilayers using a multitude of experimental and computational approaches.
Tracheostomy and Dysphagia: True, True, and Unrelated?
Authors: Francis David , Gelbard Alexander
Published: October 2014

The relationship between tracheostomy and dysphagia remains controversial. Many centers require swallow evaluations for all patients after tracheostomy because of the assumed increased rate of dysphagia and aspiration that they are thought to promote. Tracheostomies are now most commonly placed in the intensive care setting in adult patients with polytrauma or severe medical illness who are on mechanical ventilation. While tracheostomy and dysphagia often coexist in this population, they may not be directly related, as physiologic alterations observed in tracheostomized patients have not demonstrably translated into clinically significant complications of dysphagia. Instead, there is growing evidence that chronicity and severity of underlying illness, comorbidities, and recent intubation are the major arbiters of dysphagia in patient population. This brief report reviews the literature investigating the association between tracheostomy and dysphagia in adults, and discusses the role that illness severity, comorbidity, and intubation play in dysphagia etiology and how they confound the tracheostomy-dysphagia relationship.
Optimizing Function for Patients Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Edwards Donna , Bacon Elizabeth
Published: October 2014

Cerebral palsy is a complex disease process that impacts the lifespan of a child, an adolescent, and an adult, as well as the family/caregiver dynamic. Clinicians can optimize function and enhance quality of life by consistently supporting caregivers while being mindful to re-assess patient skill level as maturational physiological changes indicate need for treatment modifications.
Critical binding and electron scattering by symmetric-top polar molecules
Authors: Garrett W. R.
Published: October 2014

Quantum treatments of electron interactions with polar symmetric-top rotor molecules show features not present in the treatment of the linear-polar-rotor model. For symmetric tops possessing non-zero angular momentum about the symmetry axis, a new critical dipole can be defined that guarantees an infinite set of dipole-bound states independent of the values of the components of the inertial tensor. Additionally, for this same class, the scattering cross section diverges for all nonzero values of dipole moments and inertial moments, similar to solutions for the fixed linear dipole. Additional predictions are presented for electron affinities and rotational resonances of these systems.
Microwave remote plasma enhanced-atomic layer deposition system with multicusp confinement chamber
Authors: Dechana A. , Thamboon P. , Boonyawan D.
Published: October 2014

A microwave remote Plasma Enhanced-Atomic Layer Deposition system with multicusp confinement chamber is established at the Plasma and Beam Physics research facilities, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The system produces highly-reactive plasma species in order to enhance the deposition process of thin films. The addition of the multicusp magnetic fields further improves the plasma density and uniformity in the reaction chamber. Thus, the system is more favorable to temperature-sensitive substrates when heating becomes unwanted. Furthermore, the remote-plasma feature, which is generated via microwave power source, offers tunability of the plasma properties separately from the process. As a result, the system provides high flexibility in choice of materials and design experiments, particularly for low-temperature applications. Performance evaluations of the system were carried on coating experiments of Al2O3 layers onto a silicon wafer. The plasma characteristics in the chamber will be described. The resulted Al2O3 films—analyzed by Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry in channeling mode and by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy techniques—will be discussed.
Structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of GdTiO3 Mott insulator thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Grisolia M. N. , Bruno F. Y. , Sando D. , Zhao H. J. , Jacquet E. , Chen X. M. , Bellaiche L. , Barthélémy A. , Bibes M.
Published: October 2014

We report on the optimization process to synthesize epitaxial thin films of GdTiO3 on SrLaGaO4 substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Optimized films are free of impurity phases and are fully strained. They possess a magnetic Curie temperature TC = 31.8 K with a saturation magnetization of 4.2 μB per formula unit at 10 K. Transport measurements reveal an insulating response, as expected. Optical spectroscopy indicates a band gap of ∼0.7 eV, comparable to the bulk value. Our work adds ferrimagnetic orthotitanates to the palette of perovskite materials for the design of emergent strongly correlated states at oxide interfaces using a versatile growth technique such as pulsed laser deposition.
Data fusion in neutron and X-ray computed tomography
Authors: Schrapp Michael J. , Goldammer Matthias , Schulz Michael , Issani Siraj , Bhamidipati Suryanarayana , Böni Peter
Published: October 2014

We present a fusion methodology between neutron and X-ray computed tomography (CT). On the one hand, the inspection by X-ray CT of a wide class of multimaterials in non-destructive testing applications suffers from limited information of object features. On the other hand, neutron imaging can provide complementary data in such a way that the combination of both data sets fully characterizes the object. In this contribution, a novel data fusion procedure, called Fusion Regularized Simultaneous Algebraic Reconstruction Technique, is developed where the X-ray reconstruction is modified to fulfill the available data from the imaging with neutrons. The experiments, which were obtained from an aluminum profile containing a steel screw, and attached carbon fiber plates demonstrate that the image quality in CT can be significantly improved when the proposed fusion method is used.
Four dimensional hybrid ultrasound and optoacoustic imaging via passive element optical excitation in a hand-held probe
Authors: Fehm Thomas Felix , Deán-Ben Xosé Luís , Razansky Daniel
Published: October 2014

Ultrasonography and optoacoustic imaging share powerful advantages related to the natural aptitude for real-time image rendering with high resolution, the hand-held operation, and lack of ionizing radiation. The two methods also possess very different yet highly complementary advantages of the mechanical and optical contrast in living tissues. Nonetheless, efficient integration of these modalities remains challenging owing to the fundamental differences in the underlying physical contrast, optimal signal acquisition, and image reconstruction approaches. We report on a method for hybrid acquisition and reconstruction of three-dimensional pulse-echo ultrasound and optoacoustic images in real time based on passive ultrasound generation with an optical absorber, thus avoiding the hardware complexity of active ultrasound generation. In this way, complete hybrid datasets are generated with a single laser interrogation pulse, resulting in simultaneous rendering of ultrasound and optoacoustic images at an unprecedented rate of 10 volumetric frames per second. Performance is subsequently showcased in phantom experiments and in-vivo measurements from a healthy human volunteer, confirming general clinical applicability of the method.
Modelling Urban Crime through Workforce Size: A Test of the Activity Support Concept
Authors: Montoya Lorena
Published: October 2014

Crime has not figured strongly in urban planning agendas, it has been more of an afterthought. The consequences of this are property losses, psychological impact, high insurance premiums, and large police forces. There has been a gradual shift from the study of the offender to that of the victimized object. Most design-related efforts have been directed at the building and few at the neighbourhood or city level. There are opposing views regarding the effect of land use on crime. This research studies the relationship between the extent of economic activities and services and five types of crime using data from Utrecht in Holland. The findings show that (a) a relationship does exist, (b) the effect of some sectors is constant across crime types, and (c) some activities have a positive relation whilst others a negative relation with crime. The implications of these findings for planning and crime prevention are discussed.
Mutations in the Predicted Active Site of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae XopQ Differentially Affect Virulence, Suppression of Host Innate Immunity, and Induction of the HR in a Nonhost Plant
Authors: Gupta Mahesh Kumar , Nathawat Rajkanwar , Sinha Dipanwita , Haque Asfarul S. , Sankaranarayanan Rajan , Sonti Ramesh V.
Published: October 2014

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the bacterial blight pathogen of rice, secretes a number of effectors through a type 3 secretion system. One of these effectors, called XopQ, is required for virulence and suppression of rice innate immune responses induced by the plant cell-wall-degrading enzyme lipase/esterase A (LipA). Bioinformatic analysis suggested that XopQ is homologous to inosine-uridine nucleoside hydrolases (NH). A structural model of XopQ with the protozoan Crithidia fasciculata purine NH suggested that D116 and Y279 are potential active site residues. X. oryzae pv. oryzae xopQ mutants (xopQ−/pHM1::xopQD116A and xopQ−/pHM1::xopQY279A) show reduced virulence on rice compared with xopQ−/pHM1::xopQ. The two predicted XopQ active site mutants (xopQ−/pHM1::xopQD116A and xopQ−/pHM1::xopQY279A) exhibit a reduced hypersensitive response (HR) on Nicotiana benthamiana, a nonhost. However, Arabidopsis lines expressing either xopQ or xopQY279A are equally proficient at suppression of LipA-induced callose deposition. Purified XopQ does not show NH activity on standard nucleoside substrates but exhibits ribose hydrolase activity on the nucleoside substrate analogue 4-nitrophenyl β-D-ribofuranoside. The D116A and Y279A mutations cause a reduction in biochemical activity. These results indicate that mutations in the predicted active site of XopQ affect virulence and induction of the HR but do not affect suppression of innate immunity.
Comparison of the Clinical and Radiographic Results Between Cervical Artificial Disk Replacement and Anterior Cervical Fusion
Authors: Tian Wei , Yan Kai , Han Xiao , Yu Jie , Jin Peihao , Han Xiaoguang
Published: October 2014

Study Design:

Prospective nonrandomized comparative study.

Objective:

To compare the long-term clinical and radiographic results of cervical artificial disk replacement (CADR) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), and to provide our evidence if CADR could reduce adjacent segment degeneration (ASD).

Summary of Background Data:

CADR is widely used in spine surgery today. Despite the short-term results of it having been ascertained, the long-term results are still under observation. Meanwhile it is still debatable if CADR could reduce ASD in the long run.

Materials and Methods:

Sixty-three patients with cervical myelopathy who underwent CADR (28) or ACDF (35) with a minimum follow-up of 68 months were included. Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, neck disability index, and Odom’s scale were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes. Radiographs, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were used to evaluate the radiographic outcomes.

Results:

Both CADR and ACDF groups showed significant improvement on Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores and neck disability index, and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. The sagittal alignment was maintained for both the groups. The C2–C7 range of motion had no significant change for CADR group, whereas it significantly decreased for ACDF group. The range of motion at index level of CADR patients decreased from 9.5±3.7 degrees before surgery to 7.0±3.0 degrees at 3 months after surgery (P<0.001), and it was maintained to 6.6±4.1 degrees at last follow-up without significant decrease (P=0.448). We used radiographic data to evaluate ASD and we found the incidence of ASD was significantly lower for CADR group than ACDF group.

Conclusions:

The clinical and radiographic results of CADR over 6-year follow-up are basically satisfying. Compared with ACDF, CADR could better preserve physiological motion and biomechanics of cervical spine, and reduce the occurrence of ASD.
Phenylobacterium kunshanense sp. nov., isolated from the sludge of a pesticide manufacturing factory
Authors: Chu Cuiwei , Yuan Cansheng , Liu Xin , Yao Li , Zhu Jianchun , He Jian , Kwon Soon-Wo , Huang Xing
Published: October 2014

A novel aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, motile bacterium, designated strain BUT-10T, was isolated from the sludge of a pesticide manufacturing factory in Kunshan, China. Cells were rod-shaped (0.4–0.45×0.9–1.4 µm) and colonies were white, circular with entire edges and had a smooth surface. The strain grew at 25–37 °C, at pH 6.0–8.0 and with 0–0.5 % NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain BUT-10T was a member of the genus

Phenylobacterium

, and showed highest sequence similarities to

Phenylobacterium muchangponense

A8T (97.49 %),

Phenylobacterium immobile

DSM 1986T (97.14 %) and

Phenylobacterium lituiforme

FaiI3T (96.34 %). Major fatty acids (>5 %) were summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The major isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10. The DNA G+C content was 71.85 mol%. Strain BUT-10T showed low DNA–DNA relatedness with

P. muchangponense

A8T (15.7±2.9 %) and

P. immobile

DSM 1986T (12.8±1.1 %). On the basis of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic data, strain BUT-10T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Phenylobacterium

, for which the name Phenylobacterium kunshanense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BUT-10T ( = CCTCC AB 2013085T = KCTC 42014T).
Selling stem cell based biologics and salesforce alignment for the biomedical device industry
Authors: Jaeger Benjamin , Kopf Dennis
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discover best practices for selling stem cell based biologics and ensuring proper sales force alignment in the biomedical device industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research is based on an immersion into the industry as well as several formal, semi-structured interviews and dozens of informal interviews of surgeons, medical staff and medical device salespersons and managers. Data were also collected and analyzed from wipricepoint.org. The factors analyzed were the number of discharges, average charge per procedure, median age, male/female patient ratio and total hospital charges per year.

Findings

– Secondary data can augment primary data collection to determine the most lucrative markets for salespersons to target their efforts. In addition, the data when combined with sales force specific data can help optimize sales force alignment. Insights into the industry are also given such as how to overcome objections to the use of stem cell based biologics for spinal surgeries.

Research limitations/implications

– Much of the findings are specific to only one industry (medical device sales). However, we do present a generalized process for analyzing a key source of secondary data that could be beneficial to any hospital-serving industry.

Originality/value

– Within the medical equipment industries, approximately 58 per cent of sales territories were either too large or too small (Zoltners and Lorimer, 2000). This paper shows how secondary data sources can be obtained and analyzed to better focus sales force effort.
Assisting students to identify sources: an investigation
Authors: Faix Allison
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to look at three classes of first-year students enrolled in an Information Literacy course and examines the difficulties these students encountered when attempting to identify different types of information.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this study, 41 annotated bibliography assignments, in which students were required to state which type of source they had chosen and why were examined and trends in the misidentification of sources were analysed.

Findings

– Students in the study misidentified half of the sources they used, and struggled equally when identifying sources they located through library databases and the Internet. Trends in the misidentification of these sources were analysed, leading to recommendations for assisting students with learning how to identify sources.

Research limitations and implications

– Although the sample size of this study was small, further research into how students identify different types of information would help librarians develop further strategies for teaching source identification as a first step in the source evaluation process.

Originality/value

– Librarians and writing instructors often collaborate to help first-year college students learn how to evaluate the sources they use in research projects, but often overlook making sure these students can first correctly identify the different types of information they are evaluating.
REVIEW: Chemical contaminant effects on marine ecosystem functioning
Authors: Johnston Emma L. , Mayer‐Pinto Mariana , Crowe Tasman P.
Published: October 2014

Ecosystem functioning underpins the ecosystem services upon which humans rely. Critical functions, such as primary and secondary productivity, are, however, increasingly threatened by a range of anthropogenic stressors. Although the extent of the threat of contamination is large and has been increasing, pollution is one of the least‐studied stressors in ecology.

We did a systematic review and critical synthesis of the effects of contaminants on marine and estuarine ecosystem functioning. No other stressors besides toxic chemicals were included in this review.

We identified 264 relevant studies across a range of contaminants. Toxic contaminants generally altered marine ecosystem functioning by reducing productivity and increasing respiration. Effects varied, however, according to the type of contaminant and the component(s) of the system studied (e.g. particular trophic levels, functional groups or taxonomic groups). Toxicity studies that included a measure of ecosystem function were strongly biased towards planktonic communities in contrast to studies of biodiversity, which have been dominated by work on soft‐sediment communities. Toxicant studies that included measures of ecosystem function rarely included a measure of biodiversity and rarely interpreted their findings within an ecosystem function context.

Studies that included multiple components of an ecosystem, that is more than one functional group of organisms, were more likely to find no effect of contamination, possibly due to ecological interactions. Studies that suffered from unclear or flawed methodology were more likely to find a significant impact of contaminants on some endpoints of ecosystem functioning than studies with appropriate designs.

Synthesis and applications. Up to 70% of studies found negative impacts of contaminants on primary production. Toxic contaminants therefore have the potential to greatly affect the ecosystem services and benefits provided by these systems. Our findings will help managers and policymakers to determine whether contaminants are affecting both biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in a given context, therefore helping to prioritize areas for remediation. There is still, however, much to understand about the relationships between biological diversity and ecosystem functioning. Our understanding of chemical contaminant effects will remain patchy until direct measures of both variables are undertaken within multiple ecosystems. We therefore recommend the adoption of functional endpoints, such as productivity and respiration, in ecological studies, routine toxicological studies and ecological risk assessment.
From Government to Governance: A Symbolic Mutation and its Repercussions for Democracy
Authors: Lievens Matthias
Published: October 2014

This article develops an assessment of the shift from government to governance from the perspective of the concept of democratic representation developed by the French political theorist Claude Lefort. It is argued that this shift does not primarily entail a change of actors, norms or decision-making processes, but that it should rather be understood more fundamentally as a symbolic mutation. In governance regimes, a novel representation of power and society comes into being which transforms the basic symbolic configuration of society. Focusing especially on forms of global governance, the article investigates how this mutation provides society with a new image of itself, and how it affects the democratic nature of current society.
Reducing maternal mortality from preeclampsia and eclampsia in low‐resource countries – what should work?
Authors: Goldenberg Robert L. , Jones Bonnie , Griffin Jennifer B. , Rouse Doris J. , Kamath‐Rayne Beena D. , Trivedi Nehal , McClure Elizabeth M.
Published: October 2014

Objective

Preeclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E) remains a major cause of maternal death in low‐income countries. We evaluated interventions to reduce PE/E‐related maternal mortality in sub‐Saharan Africa.

Design

Mathematical model to assess impact of interventions on PE/E‐related maternal morbidity and mortality.

Setting

Sub‐Saharan Africa countries.

Population

Pregnant women in sub‐Saharan Africa in 2012.

Methods

A systematic literature review populated a decision‐tree mathematical model with interventions to diagnose, prevent, and treat women with PE/E. The impact of increased use of interventions [diagnostics, transfer to a hospital, magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) use, cesarean section/labor induction] on PE/E‐related maternal mortality was analyzed.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of PE/E and PE/E‐associated maternal mortality rates in sub‐Saharan Africa.

Results

Without interventions, an estimated 20 570 PE/E‐associated deaths would have occurred in sub‐Saharan Africa in 2012. With current low rates of diagnosis, MgSO4 use, transfers and cesarean section/induction rates, about 17 520 maternal deaths were associated with PE/E in 2012. Higher use of MgSO4 would have prevented about 610 deaths. With high diagnostic levels, MgSO4 use, transfer and cesarean section/induction, mortality was reduced to 3750 annual deaths, saving about 13 770 maternal lives. If all MgSO4 use was removed from the model, 4060 maternal deaths would occur, increasing maternal deaths by only 310.

Conclusions

In sub‐Saharan Africa, our model suggests that increasing use of PE/E diagnostics, transfer to higher levels of care and increased hospitalization with cesarean section/induction of labor would substantially reduce maternal mortality from PE/E. Increasing use of MgSO4 would have a smaller impact on maternal mortality.
Laparoscopic excision of a lymphangioma of the cystic duct
Authors: Natoudi Maria , Tsamis Dimitrios , Zoumpouli Christina , Leandros Emmanouil , Albanopoulos Konstantinos
Published: October 2014

Lymphangiomas are benign tumors that originate from malformations of the lymphatic vessels. They are rarely seen in adults and are extremely rare in the cystic duct. Herein, we report the case of a 48‐year‐old woman who presented with a cystic lymphangioma that originated in the cystic duct and was excised laparoscopically. Preoperative imaging revealed the cystic and benign nature of the lesion. Laparoscopic abdominal exploration and excision of the 10‐cm cystic lymphangioma were performed. Four trocar sites were used, and the excision was achieved using clips and electrocautery. The laparoscopic excision of these benign masses is safe and efficacious in experienced hands. This procedure requires preoperative planning and must be individualized.
Thoracoscopic caudal left lower lobectomy in a patient with fused fissure
Authors: Igai Hitoshi , Kamiyoshihara Mitsuhiro , Kawatani Natsuko , Ibe Takashi , Shimizu Kimihiro
Published: October 2014

A 72‐year‐old man diagnosed as having primary lung cancer underwent surgical resection using a totally thoracoscopic approach. The thoracoscopic view revealed an incomplete fissure and severe emphysematous change. Therefore, to avoid postoperative air leakage, we decided not to expose the pulmonary artery at the fissure. The inferior pulmonary vein, lower bronchus, and pulmonary artery branches were divided by staplers in a caudal‐to‐head direction, and then the interlobar area was divided. Postoperative air leakage was not observed.
Does chronic rhinosinusitis increase the risk of lung cancer? A population cohort study
Authors: Ng Teik‐Ying , Huang Kuang‐Hua , Tsai Ming‐Hsui , Tai Chih‐Jaan , Ng Yon‐Keat
Published: October 2014

Background and Aims

Chronic rhinosinusitis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper airway. A previous study of chronic rhinosinusitis and the risks of lung cancer was based on a self‐reported questionnaire concerning rhinosinusitis. Population‐based cohort studies of the correlation between chronic rhinosinusitis and the adenocarcinoma subtype of lung cancer have been limited.

Objectives

In the present study, we used a population‐based database to investigate the risks related to the adenocarcinoma subtype of lung cancer among patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Methods

We identified 13 072 patients who were diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis in 1998–2010 as the exposure group. There were 52 288 randomly selected patients as the comparison cohort. We used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database; the Taiwan National Health Insurance programme offers health‐care services to 99% of the 23 million people residing in Taiwan. We compared the incidence of the adenocarcinoma subtype of lung cancer between the two cohorts. The cumulative incidence and hazard ratios of developing the adenocarcinoma subtype of lung cancer were calculated.

Results

This study included 13 072 participants with chronic rhinosinusitis and 52 288 participants with non‐chronic rhinosinusitis. The risk of the adenocarcinoma subtype of lung cancer was higher in the chronic rhinosinusitis cohort than in the non‐chronic rhinosinusitis cohort, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.52 after controlling for age and gender.

Conclusion

This large population‐based cohort study demonstrated that patients in Taiwan with previous chronic rhinosinusitis are at greater risk of developing the adenocarcinoma subtype of lung cancer.
Vibration signals of snoring as a simple severity predictor for obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Wu Hsien‐Tsai , Pan Wen‐Yao , Liu An‐Bang , Su Mao‐Chang , Chen Hong‐Ruei , Tsai I‐Ting , Lin Meng‐Chih , Sun Cheuk‐Kwan
Published: October 2014

Background and Aim

Polysomnography (PSG), which involves simultaneous monitoring of various physiological monitors, is the current comprehensive tool for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We aimed at validating vibrating signals of snoring as a single physiological parameter for screening and evaluating severity of OSA.

Methods

Totally, 111 subjects from the sleep center of a tertiary referral center were categorized into four groups according to the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) obtained from PSG: simple snoring group (5 > AHI, healthy subjects, n = 11), mild OSA group (5 ≤ AHI < 15, n = 11), moderate OSA group (15 ≤ AHI < 30, n = 30) and severe OSA group (AHI ≥ 30, n = 59). Anthropometric parameters and sleep efficiency of all subjects were compared. Frequencies of amplitude changes of vibrating signals on anterior neck during sleep were analyzed to acquire a snoring burst index (SBI) using a novel algorithm. Data were compared with AHI and index of arterial oxygen saturation (Δ Index).

Results

There were no significant differences in age and sleep efficiency among all groups. Bland–Altman analysis showed better agreement between SBI and AHI (r = 0.906, P < 0.001) than Δ Index and AHI (r = 0.859, P < 0.001). Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) showed substantially stronger sensitivity and specificity of SBI in distinguishing between patients with moderate and severe OSA compared with Δ Index (sensitivity: 81.4% vs 66.4%; specificity: 96.7% vs 86.7%, for SBI and Δ Index, respectively).

Conclusion

SBI may serve as a portable tool for screening patients and assessing OSA severity in a non‐hospital setting.
Elusive Empowerment: Price Information and Disintermediation in Soybean Markets in Malwa, India
Authors: Kumar Richa
Published: October 2014

Price information provision and disintermediation have often been considered means to empower farmers, since lack of information and multiple intermediaries are seen as major obstacles preventing farmers from obtaining a higher price for their produce. Using the example of soybean in Malwa, central India, which is a cash crop that links farmers to global consumers, this article argues that the very expectation of disintermediation in the soybean supply chain is misleading. India's position in these global networks puts farmers and intermediaries in Malwa in the position of price receivers: they are unable to influence the global price of soybean or manipulate its local price in any way. In this context, providing price information has negligible impact on the final price obtained by farmers. The potential for empowerment has to be understood more broadly, by mapping out the ways in which power is exercised by various actors in the marketplace — one of which is the determination of the quality of a farmer's crop. This article maps such possibilities by examining how norms regarding quality in soybean are created and enforced, and how they are influenced by broader logics that go beyond the soybean marketplace itself.
Acute inhibition of a cortical motor area impairs vocal control in singing zebra finches
Authors: Yazaki‐Sugiyama Yoko , Yanagihara Shin , Fuller Patrick M. , Lazarus Michael
Published: October 2014

Genetically targeted approaches that permit acute and reversible manipulation of neuronal circuit activity have enabled an unprecedented understanding of how discrete neuronal circuits control animal behavior. Zebra finch singing behavior has emerged as an excellent model for studying neuronal circuit mechanisms underlying the generation and learning of behavioral motor sequences. We employed a newly developed, reversible, neuronal silencing system in zebra finches to test the hypothesis that ensembles of neurons in the robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) control the acoustic structure of specific song parts, but not the timing nor the order of song elements. Subunits of an ivermectin‐gated chloride channel were expressed in a subset of RA neurons, and ligand administration consistently suppressed neuronal excitability. Suppression of activity in a group of RA neurons caused the birds to sing songs with degraded elements, although the order of song elements was unaffected. Furthermore some syllables disappeared in the middle or at the end of song motifs. Thus, our data suggest that generation of specific song parts is controlled by a subset of RA neurons, whereas elements order coordination and timing of whole songs are controlled by a higher premotor area.
Prognostic value of the full‐scale Periapical Index
Authors: Kirkevang L.‐L. , Ørstavik D. , Wenzel A. , Væth M.
Published: October 2014

Aim

To evaluate whether the full‐scale Periapical Index (PAI) can predict the periapical status over time in nonroot filled and root filled teeth.

Methodology

Full‐mouth radiographic surveys of a random sample from a general population were performed in 1997, 2003 and 2008. The present investigation included 330 persons who participated in all three examinations and 143 persons who participated in the first and second examination. At each examination, the presence or absence of a tooth and of a root filling was recorded, and a PAI score (1–5) was assigned to all teeth. Retreatment of a root filling was recorded for root filled teeth. Statistical analysis was carried out using ordinal logistic regression and logistic regression and computed as Wald's tests.

Results

At baseline, nonroot filled teeth had lower PAI scores than root filled teeth (P < 0.0001). A high baseline PAI increased the risk of extraction for both root filled (P < 0.001) and nonroot filled teeth (P < 0.001). At 5‐year follow‐up, PAI scores were higher when baseline PAI scores had been higher. The overall pattern for root filled and nonroot filled teeth was similar, however, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). In particular, the follow‐up PAI score for nonroot filled teeth with baseline PAI score 1 or 2 was significantly lower than that of root filled teeth (P < 0.001). For root filled teeth with baseline PAI score 3, 4 or 5, the trend was reversed as they overall had slightly lower PAI scores at follow‐up (P = 0.023).

Conclusion

Repeated radiographic assessments of teeth using the full‐scale PAI reveal that each of the five scores had distinct prognostic value for the course of periapical disease over a 5‐year period for both nonroot filled and root filled teeth.
A research protocol for testing relationships between nurse workload, missed nursing care and neonatal outcomes: the neonatal nursing care quality study
Authors: Tubbs‐Cooley Heather L. , Pickler Rita H. , Mark Barbara A. , Carle Adam C.
Published: October 2014

Aim

We describe an innovative research protocol to test the role of missed nursing care as a mediator of the association between nurse workload and patient outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Background

Increases in nurses' workloads are associated with adverse patient outcomes in neonatal intensive care settings. Missed nursing care is a frequently hypothesized explanation for the association between workload and outcomes. Few studies to date have tested missed care as a variable that mediates the workload–outcomes relationship.

Design

We use a longitudinal, observational study design.

Methods

We will recruit approximately 125 nurses (80% of target population) providing direct patient care in one neonatal intensive care unit. Four, 6‐week data collection cycles occur over 1 year. At the end of every shift, nurses report on their workloads and the frequency with which specific patient care activities were missed for each infant cared for during the shift. Infant‐specific nurse reports of missed care are linked to shift‐level infant outcomes data extracted from the electronic health record. Funding for the study began in July 2012; Research Ethics Committee approval was granted in December 2012.

Discussion

Missed care may explain the effects of nurse workload on patient outcomes. This research will generate preliminary evidence regarding the causal relationships among nurses' workloads, missed care and infant outcomes that we will confirm in a future multi‐site study.
Cardiomyocyte‐specific role of miR‐24 in promoting cell survival
Authors: Guo Chuner , Deng Yangmei , Liu Jiandong , Qian Li
Published: October 2014

Cardiomyocyte cell death is a major contributing factor to various cardiovascular diseases and is therefore an important target for the design of therapeutic strategies. More recently, stem cell therapies, such as transplantation of embryonic or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell‐derived cardiomyocytes, have emerged as a promising alternative therapeutic avenue to treating cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, survival of these introduced cells is a serious issue that must be solved before clinical application. We and others have identified a small non‐coding RNA, microRNA‐24 (miR‐24), as a pro‐survival molecule that inhibits the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. However, these earlier studies delivered mimics or inhibitors of miR‐24 via viral transduction or chemical transfection, where the observed protective role of miR‐24 in cardiomyocytes might have partially resulted from its effect on non‐cardiomyocyte cells. To elucidate the cardiomyocyte‐specific effects of miR‐24 when overexpressed, we developed a genetic model by generating a transgenic mouse line, where miR‐24 expression is driven by the cardiac‐specific Myh6 promoter. The Myh6‐miR‐24 transgenic mice did not exhibit apparent difference from their wild‐type littermates under normal physiological conditions. However, when the mice were subject to myocardial infarction (MI), the transgenic mice exhibited decreased cardiomyocyte apoptosis, improved cardiac function and reduced scar size post‐MI compared to their wild‐type littermates. Interestingly, the protective effects observed in our transgenic mice were smaller than those from earlier reported approaches as well as our parallelly performed non‐genetic approach, raising the possibility that non‐genetic approaches of introducing miR‐24 might have been mediated via other cell types than cardiomyocytes, leading to a more dramatic phenotype. In conclusion, our study for the first time directly tests the cardiomyocyte‐specific role of miR‐24 in the adult heart, and may provide insight to strategy design when considering miRNA‐based therapies for cardiovascular diseases.
Antibody‐ and aptamer‐strategies for GvHD prevention
Authors: Oelkrug Christopher , Sack Ulrich , Boldt Andreas , Nascimento Isis C. , Ulrich Henning , Fricke Stephan
Published: October 2014

Prevention of Graft‐versus‐Host‐Disease (GvHD) by preserved Graft‐versus‐Leukaemia (GvL) effect is one of the major obstacles following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Currently used drugs are associated with side effects and were not able to separate GvHD from the GvL‐effect because of general T‐cell suppression. This review focuses on murine models for GvHD and currently available treatment options involving antibodies and applications for the therapeutic use of aptamers as well as strategies for targeting immune responses by allogenic antigens.
The kinesin‐like proteins, KAC1/2, regulate actin dynamics underlying chloroplast light‐avoidance inPhyscomitrella patens
Authors: Shen Zhiyuan , Liu Yen‐Chen , Bibeau Jeffrey P. , Lemoi Kyle P. , Tüzel Erkan , Vidali Luis
Published: October 2014

In plants, light determines chloroplast position; these organelles show avoidance and accumulation responses in high and low fluence‐rate light, respectively. Chloroplast motility in response to light is driven by cytoskeletal elements. The actin cytoskeleton mediates chloroplast photorelocation responses inArabidopsis thaliana. In contrast, in the mossPhyscomitrella patens, both, actin filaments and microtubules can transport chloroplasts. Because of the surprising evidence that two kinesin‐like proteins (called KACs) are important for actin‐dependent chloroplast photorelocation in vascular plants, we wanted to determine the cytoskeletal system responsible for the function of these proteins in moss. We performed gene‐specific silencing using RNA interference inP. patens. We confirmed existing reports using gene knockouts, that PpKAC1 and PpKAC2 are required for chloroplast dispersion under uniform white light conditions, and that the two proteins are functionally equivalent. To address the specific cytoskeletal elements responsible for motility, this loss‐of‐function approach was combined with cytoskeleton‐targeted drug studies. We found that, inP. patens, these KACs mediate the chloroplast light‐avoidance response in an actin filament‐dependent, rather than a microtubule‐dependent manner. Using correlation‐decay analysis of cytoskeletal dynamics, we found that PpKAC stabilizes cortical actin filaments, but has no effect on microtubule dynamics.
Drivers of Supplier Sustainability: Moving Beyond Compliance to Commitment
Authors: Foerstl Kai , Azadegan Arash , Leppelt Thomas , Hartmann Evi
Published: October 2014

Mounting pressure for sustainable business practices has led to a greatly increased focus on highlighting sustainability drivers throughout the supply chain. While the literature has concentrated on why downstream original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and retailers become “sustainable,” much less is known regarding why and how upstream suppliers implement sustainability practices. Based on findings from a cross‐case analysis of eight first‐tier (FT) suppliers and an integration of resource dependency theory (RDT), this study explores the drivers and mechanisms of FT supplier engagement in sustainable supply chain management. Suppliers need to understand the sustainability priorities of customers and stakeholders to derive the effective focus and depth of further upstream integration with subsuppliers. Therefore, the integration between the two functions that manage the relevant external interfaces, namely marketing (downstream and stakeholder communication) and procurement (upstream), appears to be the essential cornerstone to move beyond FT supplier compliance to actual commitment to sustainability practices. We present findings on how (1) stakeholder‐related, (2) process‐related, and (3) product‐related drivers influence the choice and effectiveness of the procurement–marketing integration (PM integration) mechanisms. Stakeholder pressures are considered to be the principal drivers of sustainability efforts. However, on their own, they rarely provide sufficient grounds for permanent and embedded PM integration initiatives at FT suppliers. Evidence suggests that suppliers' commitment to PM integration is motivated by the opportunity to leverage sustainability initiatives in their product offerings and sustainability certificates recognizable by customers and secondary stakeholders.
Single‐nucleotide substitution of Hepatitis B virus in intrauterine infection
Authors: Wang L.‐J. , Xu Y.‐F. , Liu X.‐X. , Chen Y.
Published: October 2014

The relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene polymorphism and intrauterine infection has not been completely illuminated. Six pairs of mother and infant from intrauterine infection group and six mothers from nonintrauterine infection group in the previous study were randomly selected and separately divided into group M (Mother group), group N (Neonate group) and group NM (Negative‐mother group) in this study. We found that age, gestational weeks, HBsAg titre, HBeAg titre and HBV DNA level of mothers from group M and group NM were not significantly different. Pre‐S1/S2 and S regions in HBV genome were amplified, inserted into pUC19 plasmid and sequenced. It was found that all clone sequences clustered into genotype C (AY123041) through the Genotyping tool in NCBI and phylogenetic trees. Compared with AY123041, there were 20 (11 plus 9) mutations significantly different in the three groups. Most of the mutations were synonymous in pre‐S1/S2/S region, while mutations of C2990T, T3205A, A167G, C407A, A667T and A680C resulted in amino acid substitution of A90V, S162T, T47A, P127T, L213F and I218L, respectively. In addition, most of the 20 mutations caused amino acid substitution in polymerase region for the tight structure of HBV genome. The occurrence and location of mutations indicated that mutation of C2990T only existing in group NM may serve as an index for nonintrauterine infection. In contrast, the incidence of intrauterine HBV infection from mothers with mutation of T3205A was lower. Then, mutations of G403A, T670G, A673G, A167G, C407A, A667T and A680C may be closely related to intrauterine HBV infection.
The Intimin periplasmic domain mediates dimerisation and binding to peptidoglycan
Authors: Leo Jack C. , Oberhettinger Philipp , Chaubey Manish , Schütz Monika , Kühner Daniel , Bertsche Ute , Schwarz Heinz , Götz Friedrich , Autenrieth Ingo B. , Coles Murray , Linke Dirk
Published: October 2014

Intimin and Invasin are prototypical inverse (Type Ve) autotransporters and important virulence factors of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Yersinia spp. respectively. In addition to a C‐terminal extracellular domain and a β‐barrel transmembrane domain, both proteins also contain a short N‐terminal periplasmic domain that, in Intimin, includes a lysin motif (LysM), which is thought to mediate binding to peptidoglycan. We show that the periplasmic domain of Intimin does bind to peptidoglycan both in vitro and in vivo, but only under acidic conditions. We were able to determine a dissociation constant of 0.8 μM for this interaction, whereas the Invasin periplasmic domain, which lacks a LysM, bound only weakly in vitro and failed to bind peptidoglycan in vivo. We present the solution structure of the Intimin LysM, which has an additional α‐helix conserved within inverse autotransporter LysMs but lacking in others. In contrast to previous reports, we demonstrate that the periplasmic domain of Intimin mediates dimerisation. We further show that dimerisation and peptidoglycan binding are general features of LysM‐containing inverse autotransporters. Peptidoglycan binding by the periplasmic domain in the infection process may aid in resisting mechanical and chemical stress during transit through the gastrointestinal tract.