bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas in humans and dogs
Authors: Galac S. , Korpershoek E.
Published: January 2017

Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are described in several species. In humans and dogs they have many similarities: the excessive catecholamine release in hormonally active PCC causes similar clinical signs, the frequency of metastasis is similar, and they are histopathologically almost identical. Surgery is curative when PCC and PGL have not metastasized, while only palliative treatment is possible for patients with metastatic disease. Mutations in succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) are associated with metastatic behaviour in human PCC/PGL and the same mutation has been described in dogs. The dog might therefore be a suitable model for study of the pathogenesis of metastatic PCC and PGL in humans. Further molecular studies of common tumourigenic pathways and comparative studies of histopathology of human and canine PCC and PGL are warranted.
PD‐1 expression by canine T cells and functional effects of PD‐1 blockade
Authors: Coy J. , Caldwell A. , Chow L. , Guth A. , Dow S.
Published: January 2017

The co‐inhibitory checkpoint molecule programmed death receptor 1 (PD‐1) can trigger T cell functional exhaustion upon binding to its ligand PD‐L1 expressed on tumour cells or macrophages. PD‐1 blocking antibodies have generated remarkable results in human cancer patients, including inducing durable responses in a number of advanced cancers. Therefore, monoclonal antibodies specific for canine PD‐1 were assessed for T cell binding and induction of functional activation. A total of 5–10% of CD4 T cells and 20–25% of CD8 T cells from healthy dogs expressed PD‐1, and PD‐1 expression was upregulated on T cells from dogs with cancer. Functionally, PD‐1 antibodies significantly enhanced T‐cell activation, as assessed by proliferation and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) production. PD‐1 antibodies also reversed T‐cell suppression induced by canine soluble PD‐L1 and by tumour cells and tumour explant fragments. These findings indicate that PD‐1 antibodies have potential for use in cancer immunotherapy in dogs.
Sigma 2 receptor expression levels in blood and bladder from healthy and bladder cancer cattle
Authors: Russo V. , Inglese C. , Avallone L. , Roperto F. , Abate C. , Zizzo N. , Munday J. S. , Berardi F. , Colabufo N. A. , Roperto S.
Published: January 2017

The expression of sigma‐2 receptor (S2R) was assayed in blood and bladder samples from healthy cattle and in blood and bladder of cattle with deltapapillomavirus‐associated urothelial tumors. Samples of bladder from cattle with neoplasia had significantly higher S2R than samples of bladder from healthy cattle (95% CI 0.31–0.82, P < 0.05). In addition, significantly higher S2R was detected in the blood of cattle with bladder cancer than blood from healthy cattle (95% CI 0.22–0.41, P < 0.05). The results provide evidence that increased expression of SR2 in blood could be useful as circulating biomarker for bladder cancer in cattle. PGRMC1 protein levels were also found to be increased in blood and bladder from cattle with cancer and increased expression of PGRMC1 transcripts was detected by quantitative real time PCR in samples from cattle neoplasia. Furthermore, electron microscopy revealed phagophores and numerous autophagosomes, ultrastructural hallmark of autophagy.
Immature platelets do not reliably predict platelet recovery in patients with intensive chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation
Authors: Meintker L. , Fritsch J. D. , Ringwald J. , Krause S. W.
Published: January 2017

Background and Objectives

It has been reported that immature platelets may indicate imminent platelet (PLT) recovery following intensive chemotherapy and/or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation with the perspective to withhold unnecessary transfusions. The objective of our prospective study was to test immature PLTs as measured by two haematology analysers to predict PLT recovery.

Material and Methods

This study monitored 51 courses of severe thrombocytopenia after chemotherapy in 35 adult haematology/oncology patients starting at a PLT count <70 × 109/l until PLT recovery (>20 × 109/l) or discharge from hospital. Immature platelets as measured by immature platelet fraction (IPF) (Sysmex XE‐5000) and retPLT (Abbott CD‐Sapphire) as well as reticulocyte and leucocyte count were evaluated regarding their usefulness to predict PLT recovery. Furthermore, the influence of platelet concentrate (PC) transfusions upon IPF and retPLT was assessed.

Results

With beginning of thrombocytopenia, most patients demonstrated elevated IPF% (median 8·6%) and retPLT% (median 6·8%). These elevated values significantly dropped after transfusions of PCs. IPF and retPLT values during nadir and at imminent PLT recovery were largely overlapping and receiver operating characteristics analysis demonstrated poor separation between both clinical situations. A reasonable cut‐off could not be established to prospectively predict imminent PLT recovery for either of the parameters investigated.

Conclusion

Measurements of IPF and retPLT lack predictive power regarding imminent PLT recovery in patients with severe thrombocytopenia following intensive chemotherapy. Decisions regarding prophylactic PC transfusions should not be based on these parameters.
Haematological aspects of bleeding emergencies – a brief overview
Authors: Allard S. , Bolton‐Maggs P. H. B.
Published: January 2017

Bleeding emergencies can be encountered in many clinical settings. While there are some key common principles, a focussed targeted approach is also needed for optimum patient outcome depending on the scenario, for example trauma, obstetric, acute gastrointestinal. Coherent multidisciplinary management with explicitly clear communication in particular between clinical and laboratory teams is essential. Major haemorrhage protocols developed in consensus between key teams and based on national guidelines where available will help support management in these clinically fraught situations. Important lessons can be learnt with review of adverse events in patients with major haemorrhage and by reporting these to haemovigilance schemes. There has been a shift to early use of empirical blood and component ratios particularly in trauma. Further research is needed to help define a more evidence‐based approach to management of patients with significant haemorrhage which is seen in a variety of clinical disciplines.
El estado oculto de la salud
Authors: Jara-Navarro María Inés
Published: January 2017

Reseña
Earth Beings: Ecologies of Practice Across Andean Worlds
Authors: Micarelli Giovanna
Published: January 2017

Earth Beings: Ecologies of Practice Across Andean Worlds
Marisol de la Cadena
Durham and London:
Duke University Press, 2015. 315 pp.
Políticas educativas en Latinoamérica: la vinculación entre los investigadores académicos y tomadores de decisiones en educación. Un análisis desde la teoría de los campos
Authors: Tello César
Published: January 2017

La temática que aborda la relación entre producción de conocimientos y toma de decisiones en educación es un ámbito de estudios que se viene desarrollando desde la década de 1990. En la literatura especializada este tema se centra particularmente en las vinculaciones y relaciones que los actores deben establecer. Sin embargo, no se han planteado estudios acerca del rol social y político de los actores de esa relación. En el presente artículo se analiza esta dinámica desde la teoría de los campos, para comprender la complejidad deeste ámbito de estudios que se hace cada vez más necesario en Latinoamérica.
Relatos y metáforas. Dos aproximaciones para comprender los procesos de tesis
Authors: Bartolini Ana María , Vivas Daniela Roxana , Ferreira Carmela , Petric Natalia
Published: January 2017

Se presenta un análisis complementario de dos fuentes de información: entrevistas focalizadas y selección de objetos ―pintura, imagen, palabra, frase, foto, etc.―. Ambas técnicas pretendieron comprender, desde una perspectiva cualitativa, el proceso de tesis de egresados de dos facultades de la Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos (UADER). A partir de las entrevistas, se construyeron trayectorias grupales de tesis, en tanto que los objetos elegidos fueron interpretados como metáforas de los procesos. Dichas fuentes discursivas y metafóricas se convierten en dos caminos diferentes, pero complementarios, cuya confluencia enriquece y completa la comprensión. Los hallazgos presentados dan cuenta de: una mayor variabilidad comprensiva por parte del análisis de metáforas; el otorgamiento de un plus de sentido de las metáforas sobre el relato de la experiencia; la validación de los hallazgos generales en función de ambas fuentes; y la profundización en la comprensión de procesos complejos, como es la realización de una tesis.
Wheel–Rail Impact at Crossings: Relating Dynamic Frictional Contact to Degradation
Authors: Wei Zilong , Shen Chen , Li Zili , Dollevoet Rolf
Published: January 2017

Irregularities in the geometry and flexibility of railway crossings cause large impact forces, leading to rapid degradation of crossings. Precise stress and strain analysis is essential for understanding the behavior of dynamic frictional contact and the related failures at crossings. In this research, the wear and plastic deformation because of wheel–rail impact at railway crossings was investigated using the finite-element (FE) method. The simulated dynamic response was verified through comparisons with in situ axle box acceleration (ABA) measurements. Our focus was on the contact solution, taking account not only of the dynamic contact force but also the adhesion–slip regions, shear traction, and microslip. The contact solution was then used to calculate the plastic deformation and frictional work. The results suggest that the normal and tangential contact forces on the wing rail and crossing nose are out-of-sync during the impact, and that the maximum values of both the plastic deformation and frictional work at the crossing nose occur during two-point contact stage rather than, as widely believed, at the moment of maximum normal contact force. These findings could contribute to the analysis of nonproportional loading in the materials and lead to a deeper understanding of the damage mechanisms. The model provides a tool for both damage analysis and structure optimization of crossings.
Experimental and Simulation Results of a Cam and a Flat-Faced Follower Mechanism
Authors: Yousuf Louay S. , Marghitu Dan B.
Published: January 2017

In this study, a cam and a flat-faced follower system with impacts and friction at the contact points are analyzed. The dynamic analysis has been done by simulating the follower displacement at a uniform cam angular velocity. Impact and friction are considered to determine the Lyapunov exponent based on different follower guides' clearances and cam rotational speeds. The simulation analysis has been carried out using solidworks. An experimental procedure is developed to capture the follower position through high-resolution optical markers mounted on the moving link. The experimental results are compared with the simulation results.
Strategies to predict radiated sound fields from foldable, Miura-ori-based transducers for acoustic beamfolding
Authors: Lynd Danielle T. , Harne Ryan L.
Published: January 2017

To bypass challenges of digital signal processing for acoustic beamforming applications, it is desirable to investigate repeatable mechanical approaches that accurately reposition transducers for real-time, simple guiding of acoustic energy. One promising approach is to create arrays configured on origami-inspired tessellated architectures. The low dimensionality, easy implementation, compactness, and use of straightforward folding to guide acoustic energies suggest that tessellated arrays may bypass limitations of conventional digital signal processing for beamforming. On the other hand, the challenge of developing such reconfigurable arrays lies in determining tessellation design and folding extent that direct sound as required. This research assesses the utility of the computationally efficient, approximate solutions to Rayleigh's integral to predict radiated sound fields from tessellated arrays based on Miura-ori fold patterns. Despite altering assumptions upon which the integral is derived, it is found that the salient beam-steering properties and amplitudes are accurately reconstructed by the analytical approach, when compared to boundary element model results. Within the far field angular space accommodated by the formulation assumptions, the analytical approach provides a powerful, time-efficient, and intuitive means to identify tessellated topologies and folding extents that empower desired wave-guiding functionalities, giving fuel to the concept of acoustic beamfolding.
ACOUSTICAL STANDARDS NEWS
Authors: Stremmel Neil B. , Struck Christopher J.
Published: January 2017

American National Standards (ANSI Standards) developed by Accredited Standards Committees S1, S2, S3, S3/SC 1, and S12 in the areas of acoustics, mechanical vibration and shock, bioacoustics, animal bioacoustics, and noise, respectively, are published by the Acoustical Society of America (ASA). In addition to these standards, ASA publishes a catalog of Acoustical American National Standards. To receive a copy of the latest Standards catalog, please contact Neil Stremmel.

Comments are welcomed on all material in Acoustical Standards News.

This Acoustical Standards News section in JASA and other information on the Standards Program of the Acoustical Society of America are available via the ASA home page: http://acousticalsociety.org.
Feasibility and Impact of High-Intensity Walking Training in Frail Older Adults
Authors: Danilovich Margaret K. , Conroy David E. , Hornby T. George
Published: January 2017

To investigate the impact of high-intensity walking training (HIWT) on prefrail and frail older adults, five assisted living residents underwent a supervised 12-session intervention. The intervention consisted of 30 min of HIWT at 70–80% of heart rate reserve or ratings of 15 to 17 (hard to very hard) on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale. Training included walking at fast speeds, multi-directions, stairs, and outdoor surfaces with and without an assistive device. Training significantly reduced frailty using the SHARE-FI (p = .008), increased fast gait speed (p = .01), improved 6-min walk test distance (p = .03), and enhanced Berg Balance Scale scores (p = .03). There were no adverse events and all participants reached target training intensity in all 12 sessions. Participants viewed the walking intervention as highly satisfactory (9.6/10 on a Likert scale) and 100% recommended that the assisted living facility should offer HIWT as part of routine programming.
Collaborative Advantages: The Role of Interorganizational Partnerships for Youth Sport Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Jones Gareth J. , Edwards Mike , Bocarro Jason N. , Bunds Kyle S. , Smith Jordan W.
Published: January 2017

Interorganizational partnerships have been used by nonprofits in a variety of industries to build organizational capacity, yet they are currently underutilized by many youth sport nonprofit organizations. While previous research has highlighted key features of dyadic relationships that inhibit the development and maintenance of partnerships, there has been less attention to the influence of broader or complete networks. This study examined key structural properties of a youth sport nonprofit network in one municipality to determine how interorganizational partnerships were used to build organizational capacity. Whole network analysis was used to study partnerships between youth sport nonprofits and analyze the configuration and structural features of the network. Results indicated a fragmented network of youth sport nonprofit organizations, with the majority of organizations operating independently of one another, and the network itself characterized by unbalanced ties. The discussion highlights how this network structure influences organizational action and contributes to relational issues often observed at the dyadic level. The introduction of a third-party brokerage organization is discussed as a potentially useful strategy for improving this network structure.
On Investigating Self-Talk: A Descriptive Experience Sampling Study of Inner Experience During Golf Performance
Authors: Dickens Yani L. , Van Raalte Judy , Hurlburt Russell T.
Published: January 2017

Although self-talk has been shown to be an effective performance enhancement tool, accessing athletes’ ongoing inner experiences, including self-talk, has proven difficult. This study investigated the feasibility and desirability of using Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES) to sample athletes’ inner experiences during competition, thus avoiding potential distortions that arise from retrospective reports and questionnaires. Golfers (N = 10) were trained as DES participants in their natural environments; then their experiences were sampled during a golf tournament. More self-talk occurred during tournament play than in natural environments. Self-talk was a frequent but not ubiquitous component of experience during tournament play, inner-speaking self-talk was six times as frequent as speaking aloud self-talk, and effortful System 2 self-talk was rare. The results of this research demonstrate that DES can be feasibly implemented in sport settings and may be a useful approach for researchers exploring athletes’ inner experiences.
Tau reduction prevents neuronal loss and reverses pathological tau deposition and seeding in mice with tauopathy
Authors: DeVos Sarah L. , Miller Rebecca L. , Schoch Kathleen M. , Holmes Brandon B. , Kebodeaux Carey S. , Wegener Amy J. , Chen Guo , Shen Tao , Tran Hien , Nichols Brandon , Zanardi Tom A. , Kordasiewicz Holly B. , Swayze Eric E. , Bennett C. Frank , Diamond Marc I. , Miller Timothy M.
Published: January 2017

Antisense oligonucleotides that reduce tau prevent neuronal loss and reverse tau deposition and seeding in a mouse model of tauopathy.
Molecular remission of infant B-ALL after infusion of universal TALEN gene-edited CAR T cells
Authors: Qasim Waseem , Zhan Hong , Samarasinghe Sujith , Adams Stuart , Amrolia Persis , Stafford Sian , Butler Katie , Rivat Christine , Wright Gary , Somana Kathy , Ghorashian Sara , Pinner Danielle , Ahsan Gul , Gilmour Kimberly , Lucchini Giovanna , Inglott Sarah , Mifsud William , Chiesa Robert , Peggs Karl S. , Chan Lucas , Farzaneh Farzin , Thrasher Adrian J. , Vora Ajay , Pule Martin , Veys Paul
Published: January 2017

Universal gene-edited CAR19 T cells eliminate infant leukemia.
Grease fires turn up the heat in autoimmune disease
Authors: Bhakta Nirav R.
Published: January 2017

Restoring reverse cholesterol transport ameliorates the B cell hyperexpansion and autoimmune disease found to be associated with accumulation of cholesterol in CD11c
+
antigen–presenting cells.
A big shot of small RNAs repairs a broken heart
Authors: Rayner Katey J.
Published: January 2017

Delivery of synthetic microRNAs directly to the damaged heart restores cardiac function and is a new therapeutic opportunity.
External and Internal Barriers to Studying Can Affect Student Success and Retention in a Diverse Classroom
Authors: Clement Laurence
Published: January 2017

Although a majority of under-represented minority (URM) students begin their postsecondary education at community colleges, little is known about barriers to success and retention for transfer-bound science students. This study focuses on some of the barriers that affect these students’ ability to study adequately for a community college “gateway” course. It tests whether instructors’ expectations of study time were realistic for community college students and whether students reported facing external barriers, such as job and family responsibilities, or internal barriers to studying, such as lack of motivational, cognitive, and metacognitive abilities, all of which have been shown to impact academic success and retention. It also tests whether students who faced such barriers were less likely to succeed in and complete the course, as well as whether time spent studying was related to course success. The findings reported here show that community college students do not have enough available time to study and that external and internal barriers are both prevalent among these students. In addition, students who faced such barriers are more likely to fail or drop the class. Results also show that study time is positively correlated with retention, but not performance, as well as with some motivational, cognitive, and metacognitive dimensions of self-regulated learning. These findings lead to new questions, including whether student success in a community college class is associated with the use of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies for students with no prior degrees, and whether increased course structure may improve success for college students with lower self-regulated abilities.
Isolation and Characterization of
Agrobacterium
Strains from Soil: A Laboratory Capstone Experience
Authors: Finer Kim R. , Fox Lee , Finer John J.
Published: January 2017

In this investigation, the students’ goal was to isolate and characterize
Agrobacterium
strains from soil. Following selection and enrichment on 1A-t medium, putative
Agrobacterium
isolates were characterized by Gram stain reaction and biochemical tests. Isolates were further evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with different primer sets designed to amplify specific regions of bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Primer sets included AGRH to identify isolates that were members of the
Rhizobiaceae
, BIOVAR1 primers to identify members of
Agrobacterium
biovar group I, and a third set, VIRG, to determine presence of
virG
(only present in pathogenic
Agrobacterium
strains). During the investigation, students applied previously learned techniques including serial dilution, use of selective/differential media, staining protocols, biochemical analysis, molecular analysis via PCR, and electrophoresis. Students also gained practical experience using photo documentation to record data for an eventual mock journal publication of the capstone laboratory experience. Pre- and post-evaluation of class content knowledge related to the techniques, protocols, and learning objectives of these laboratories revealed significant learning gains in the content areas of
Agrobacterium
–plant interactions (
p
≤ 0.001) and molecular biology (
p
≤ 0.01). The capstone journal assignment served as the assessment tool to evaluate mastery and application of laboratory technique, the ability to accurately collect and evaluate data, and critical thinking skills associated with experimental troubleshooting and extrapolation. Analysis of journal reports following the capstone experience showed significant improvement in assignment scores (
p
≤ 0.0001) and attainment of capstone experience learning outcomes.
The Impact of an Interactive Statistics Module on Novices’ Development of Scientific Process Skills and Attitudes in a First-Semester Research Foundations Course
Authors: Marsan Lynnsay A. , D’Arcy Christina E. , Olimpo Jeffrey T.
Published: January 2017

Evidence suggests that incorporating quantitative reasoning exercises into existent curricular frameworks within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines is essential for novices’ development of conceptual understanding and process skills in these domains. Despite this being the case, such studies acknowledge that students often experience difficulty in applying mathematics in the context of scientific problems. To address this concern, the present study sought to explore the impact of active demonstrations and critical reading exercises on novices’ comprehension of basic statistical concepts, including hypothesis testing, experimental design, and interpretation of research findings. Students first engaged in a highly interactive height activity that served to intuitively illustrate normal distribution, mean, standard deviation, and sample selection criteria. To enforce practical applications of standard deviation and
p
-value, student teams were subsequently assigned a figure from a peer-reviewed primary research article and instructed to evaluate the trustworthiness of the data. At the conclusion of this exercise, students presented their evaluations to the class for open discussion and commentary. Quantitative assessment of pre- and post-module survey data indicated a statistically significant increase both in students’ scientific reasoning and process skills and in their self-reported confidence in understanding the statistical concepts presented in the module. Furthermore, data indicated that the majority of students (>85%) found the module both interesting and helpful in nature. Future studies will seek to develop additional, novel exercises within this area and to evaluate the impact of such modules across a variety of STEM and non-STEM contexts.
Using Online Active-Learning Techniques to Convey Time Compensated Sun Compass Orientation in the Eastern North American Monarch
Authors: Green Noah H. , McMahon Douglas G. , Brame Cynthia
Published: January 2017

A common tool that animals use to navigate in a constant direction is known as “time compensated sun compass orientation.” This is a process by which animals use the position of the sun along with information from their internal circadian clocks to determine and maintain a directional heading. Many circadian scientists and educators use this process as an example of how the internal circadian clock can directly influence animal behavior. However, many students have difficulty grasping this biological process due to its multivariable nature. We have created an online module that uses the principles of active learning to facilitate student comprehension of this process. Our module contains instructional videos, practice problems and an interactive diagram. We implemented the module in an undergraduate biological clocks class at Vanderbilt University, where its use significantly improved students’ understanding of time compensated sun compass orientation as well as their ability to solve complex problems involving principles associated with this process.
Build the Future of Science Communication in Developing Countries through Systematic Training of Young Scientists
Authors: Karikari Thomas K. , Yawson Nat Ato , Quansah Emmanuel
Published: January 2017

While we are excited about the efforts of this journal to support scientific citizenship, we are concerned that science communication training efforts for budding scientists are lacking in many developing countries, casting doubts on measures to develop public engagement interest among the future scientific workforce in these environments. We discuss the need to address this challenge.
Prevalence and Persistence of Misconceptions in Tree Thinking
Authors: Kummer Tyler A. , Whipple Clinton J. , Jensen Jamie L.
Published: January 2017

Darwin described evolution as “descent with modification.” Descent, however, is not an explicit focus of most evolution instruction and often leaves deeply held misconceptions to dominate student understanding of common ancestry and species relatedness. Evolutionary trees are ways of visually depicting descent by illustrating the relationships between species and groups of species. The ability to properly interpret and use evolutionary trees has become known as “tree thinking.” We used a 20-question assessment to measure misconceptions in tree thinking and compare the proportion of students who hold these misconceptions in an introductory biology course with students in two higher-level courses including a senior level biology course. We found that misconceptions related to reading the graphic (
reading the tips
and
node counting
) were variably influenced across time with
reading the tips
decreasing and
node counting
increasing in prevalence. On the other hand, misconceptions related to the fundamental underpinnings of evolutionary theory (
ladder thinking
and
similarity equals relatedness
) proved resistant to change during a typical undergraduate study of biology. A possible new misconception relating to the length of the branches in an evolutionary tree is described. Understanding the prevalence and persistence of misconceptions informs educators as to which misconceptions should be targeted in their courses.
Traditional Versus Online Biology Courses: Connecting Course Design and Student Learning in an Online Setting
Authors: Biel Rachel , Brame Cynthia J.
Published: January 2017

Online courses are a large and growing part of the undergraduate education landscape, but many biology instructors are skeptical about the effectiveness of online instruction. We reviewed studies comparing the effectiveness of online and face-to-face (F2F) undergraduate biology courses. Five studies compared student performance in multiple course sections at community colleges, while eight were smaller scale and compared student performance in particular biology courses at a variety of types of institutions. Of the larger-scale studies, two found that students in F2F sections outperformed students in online sections, and three found no significant difference; it should be noted, however, that these studies reported little information about course design. Of the eight smaller scale studies, six found no significant difference in student performance between the F2F and online sections, while two found that the online sections outperformed the F2F sections. In alignment with general findings about online teaching and learning, these results suggest that well-designed online biology courses can be effective at promoting student learning. Three recommendations for effective online instruction in biology are given: the inclusion of an online orientation to acclimate students to the online classroom; student-instructor and student-student interactions facilitated through synchronous and asynchronous communication; and elements that prompt student reflection and self-assessment. We conclude that well-designed online biology courses can be as effective as their traditional counterparts, but that more research is needed to elucidate specific course elements and structures that can maximize online students’ learning of key biology skills and concepts.
Bioart andBildung—Wetware: Art, Agency, Animation, an Exhibition as Case Study
Authors: Terranova Charissa N.
Published: January 2017

Recent events in the field of biology have further unfixed the definition of life. The negotiability of “life” is at the center of the exhibition “Wetware: Art, Agency, Animation” at the Beall Center for Art + Technology at the University of California, Irvine. The exhibition includes art by nine international artists working in the avant-garde area of contemporary art called “bioart.” This article is devoted to the unique educational space opened through the practice of bioart, focusing on how the exhibition brings the scientific question “What is life?” to a public audience.Bildung, a term that translates as education but encompasses exploration and growth, is based on the holistic unity of science and art and is used here to show that neither science nor art sacrifices legitimacy or distinction within bioart. Art can suggest design and be useful; science can point to abstraction and be poetic. Bioart inspires a chain of curiosity about the form, materials, media that artists use to probe, shape, direct, and display scientific processes and concepts.
Quantitative Modeling of Membrane Transport and Anisogamy by Small Groups Within a Large-Enrollment Organismal Biology Course
Authors: Haag Eric S. , Marbach-Ad Gili
Published: January 2017

Quantitative modeling is not a standard part of undergraduate biology education, yet is routine in the physical sciences. Because of the obvious biophysical aspects, classes in anatomy and physiology offer an opportunity to introduce modeling approaches to the introductory curriculum. Here, we describe two in-class exercises for small groups working within a large-enrollment introductory course in organismal biology. Both build and derive biological insights from quantitative models, implemented using spreadsheets. One exercise models the evolution of anisogamy (i.e., small sperm and large eggs) from an initial state of isogamy. Groups of four students work on Excel spreadsheets (from one to four laptops per group). The other exercise uses an online simulator to generate data related to membrane transport of a solute, and a cloud-based spreadsheet to analyze them. We provide tips for implementing these exercises gleaned from two years of experience.
The Necessity of Prerequisite Undergraduate Microbiology Courses for Pre-Allied Health Professionals
Authors: Rediske Andrea M.
Published: January 2017

WA letter to the editor addressing recent concerns about the necessity of microbiology as a prerequisite for pre-nursing and pre-allied health programs.
The Science Teaching Fellows Program: A Model for Online Faculty Development of Early Career Scientists Interested in Teaching
Authors: Brancaccio-Taras Loretta , Gull Kelly A. , Ratti Claudia
Published: January 2017

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) has a history of providing a wide range of faculty development opportunities. Recently, ASM developed the Science Teaching Fellows Program (STF) for early career biologists and postdoctoral students to explore student-centered teaching and develop the skills needed to succeed in positions that have a significant teaching component. Participants were selected to STF through a competitive application process. The STF program consisted of a series of six webinars. In preparation for each webinar, participants completed a pre-webinar assignment. After each webinar, fellows practiced what they learned by completing a post-webinar assignment. In a survey used to assess the impact of STF, participants reported greater knowledge of the webinar-based instructional topics and a sense of being part of an educational community and were more confident about varied teaching methods.
Candida albicans
Chitin Increases Arginase-1 Activity in Human Macrophages, with an Impact on Macrophage Antimicrobial Functions
Authors: Wagener Jeanette , MacCallum Donna M. , Brown Gordon D. , Gow Neil A. R.
Published: January 2017

The opportunistic human fungal pathogen
Candida albicans
can cause a variety of diseases, ranging from superficial mucosal infections to life-threatening systemic infections. Phagocytic cells of the innate immune response, such as neutrophils and macrophages, are important first-line responders to an infection and generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as part of their protective antimicrobial response. During an infection, host cells generate nitric oxide through the enzyme inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) to kill the invading pathogen. Inside the phagocyte, iNOS competes with the enzyme arginase-1 for a common substrate, the amino acid
l
-arginine. Several pathogenic species, including bacteria and parasitic protozoans, actively modulate the production of nitric oxide by inducing their own arginases or the host’s arginase activity to prevent the conversion of
l
-arginine to nitric oxide. We report here that
C. albicans
blocks nitric oxide production in human-monocyte-derived macrophages by induction of host arginase activity. We further determined that purified chitin (a fungal cell wall polysaccharide) and increased chitin exposure at the fungal cell wall surface induces this host arginase activity. Blocking the
C. albicans
-induced arginase activity with the arginase-specific substrate inhibitor
N
ω-hydroxy-nor-arginine (nor-NOHA) or the chitinase inhibitor bisdionin F restored nitric oxide production and increased the efficiency of fungal killing. Moreover, we determined that
C. albicans
influences macrophage polarization from a classically activated phenotype toward an alternatively activated phenotype, thereby reducing antimicrobial functions and mediating fungal survival. Therefore,
C. albicans
modulates
l
-arginine metabolism in macrophages during an infection, potentiating its own survival.

IMPORTANCE
The availability and metabolism of amino acids are increasingly recognized as crucial regulators of immune functions. In acute infections, the conversion of the “conditionally essential” amino acid
l
-arginine by the inducible nitric oxide synthase to nitric oxide is a resistance factor that is produced by the host to fight pathogens. Manipulation of these host defense mechanisms by the pathogen can be key to successful host invasion. We show here that the human opportunistic fungal pathogen
Candida albicans
influences
l
-arginine availability for nitric oxide production by induction of the substrate-competing host enzyme arginase-1. This led to a reduced production of nitric oxide and, moreover, reduced eradication of the fungus by human macrophages. We demonstrate that blocking of host arginase-1 activity restored nitric oxide production and increased the killing potential of macrophages. These results highlight the therapeutic potential of
l
-arginine metabolism in fungal diseases.
A Flexible Binding Site Architecture Provides New Insights into CcpA Global Regulation in Gram-Positive Bacteria
Authors: Yang Yunpeng , Zhang Lu , Huang He , Yang Chen , Yang Sheng , Gu Yang , Jiang Weihong
Published: January 2017

Catabolite control protein A (CcpA) is the master regulator in Gram-positive bacteria that mediates carbon catabolite repression (CCR) and carbon catabolite activation (CCA), two fundamental regulatory mechanisms that enable competitive advantages in carbon catabolism. It is generally regarded that CcpA exerts its regulatory role by binding to a typical 14- to 16-nucleotide (nt) consensus site that is called a catabolite response element (
cre
) within the target regions. However, here we report a previously unknown noncanonical flexible architecture of the CcpA-binding site in solventogenic clostridia, providing new mechanistic insights into catabolite regulation. This novel CcpA-binding site, named
cre
var
, has a unique architecture that consists of two inverted repeats and an intervening spacer, all of which are variable in nucleotide composition and length, except for a 6-bp core palindromic sequence (TGTAAA/TTTACA). It was found that the length of the intervening spacer of
cre
var
can affect CcpA binding affinity, and moreover, the core palindromic sequence of
cre
var
is the key structure for regulation. Such a variable architecture of
cre
var
shows potential importance for CcpA’s diverse and fine regulation. A total of 103 potential
cre
var
sites were discovered in solventogenic
Clostridium acetobutylicum
, of which 42 sites were picked out for electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs), and 30 sites were confirmed to be bound by CcpA. These 30
cre
var
sites are associated with 27 genes involved in many important pathways. Also of significance, the
cre
var
sites are found to be widespread and function in a great number of taxonomically different Gram-positive bacteria, including pathogens, suggesting their global role in Gram-positive bacteria.

IMPORTANCE
In Gram-positive bacteria, the global regulator CcpA controls a large number of important physiological and metabolic processes. Although a typical consensus CcpA-binding site,
cre
, has been identified, it remains poorly explored for the diversity of CcpA-mediated catabolite regulation. Here, we discovered a novel flexible CcpA-binding site architecture (
cre
var
) that is highly variable in both length and base composition but follows certain principles, providing new insights into how CcpA can differentially recognize a variety of target genes to form a complicated regulatory network. A comprehensive search further revealed the wide distribution of
cre
var
sites in Gram-positive bacteria, indicating it may have a universal function. This finding is the first to characterize such a highly flexible transcription factor-binding site architecture, which would be valuable for deeper understanding of CcpA-mediated global catabolite regulation in bacteria.
Blood Group Antigen Recognition via the Group A Streptococcal M Protein Mediates Host Colonization
Authors: De Oliveira David M. P. , Hartley-Tassell Lauren , Everest-Dass Arun , Day Christopher J. , Dabbs Rebecca A. , Ve Thomas , Kobe Bostjan , Nizet Victor , Packer Nicolle H. , Walker Mark J. , Jennings Michael P. , Sanderson-Smith Martina L.
Published: January 2017

Streptococcus pyogenes
(group A streptococcus [GAS]) is responsible for over 500,000 deaths worldwide each year. The highly virulent M1T1 GAS clone is one of the most frequently isolated serotypes from streptococcal pharyngitis and invasive disease. The oral epithelial tract is a niche highly abundant in glycosylated structures, particularly those of the ABO(H) blood group antigen family. Using a high-throughput approach, we determined that a strain representative of the globally disseminated M1T1 GAS clone 5448 interacts with numerous, structurally diverse glycans. Preeminent among GAS virulence factors is the surface-expressed M protein. M1 protein showed high affinity for several terminal galactose blood group antigen structures. Deletion mutagenesis shows that M1 protein mediates glycan binding via its B repeat domains. Association of M1T1 GAS with oral epithelial cells varied significantly as a result of phenotypic differences in blood group antigen expression, with significantly higher adherence to those cells expressing H antigen structures compared to cells expressing A, B, or AB antigen structures. These data suggest a novel mechanism for GAS attachment to host cells and propose a link between host blood group antigen expression and M1T1 GAS colonization.

IMPORTANCE
There has been a resurgence in group A streptococcal (GAS) invasive disease, which has been paralleled by the emergence of the highly virulent M1T1 GAS clone. Intensive research has focused on mechanisms that contribute to the invasive nature of this serotype, while the mechanisms that contribute to host susceptibility to disease and bacterial colonization and persistence are still poorly understood. The M1T1 GAS clone is frequently isolated from the throat, an environment highly abundant in blood group antigen structures. This work examined the interaction of the M1 protein, the preeminent GAS surface protein, against a wide range of host-expressed glycan structures. Our data suggest that susceptibility to infection by GAS in the oral tract may correlate with phenotypic differences in host blood group antigen expression. Thus, variations in host blood group antigen expression may serve as a selective pressure contributing to the dissemination and overrepresentation of M1T1 GAS.
Cystic lymphangioma of spleen in adults
Authors: Duvvada Shalini , Senapati Debadutta , Challa Sreenivas Rao , Kalluri Tejokrishna
Published: January 2017

Splenic diseases are rare. Tumours of the spleen are classified as either benign or malignant. Primary benign tumours of the spleen are extremely rare, identified on surgery and autopsy, accounting for <0.007% of all splenic tumours. Splenic lymphangiomas are benign cystic tumours resulting from congenital malformations of the lymphatic system that appear as a single or multiple lesions of the spleen. It mainly affects children and is rarely manifested after the age of 20 years of age. We report a case of cystic lymphangioma of spleen in a 40-year-old woman admitted with a huge mass in the abdomen, which on imaging found to be a cystic mass arising from spleen. On laparotomy the spleen was found occupying a major part of the abdomen. Splenectomy was performed and histopathological examination revealed it to be a cystic lymphangioma of spleen. This case report emphasises on the rarity of the case at this age and the sheer size of the tumour, being largest until as per our knowledge.
Gluteal compartment syndrome with sciatic nerve palsy caused by traumatic rupture of the inferior gluteal artery: a successful surgical treatment
Authors: Rocos Brett , Ward Anthony
Published: January 2017

Gluteal compartment syndrome is a rare entity, usually caused by direct trauma. This occurrence with sciatic nerve palsy caused by inferior gluteal artery laceration and compressive haematoma has not been reported in the literature. We describe such a case treated successfully by urgent surgical decompression and resolution of the sciatic nerve palsy. A man aged 41 years sustained blunt trauma to the right gluteal region causing a rupture of the inferior gluteal artery, gluteal compartment syndrome and rapidly progressive sciatic nerve palsy. The condition was treated urgently with interventional radiology, open surgical decompression and debridement. Recovery was complicated by recurrent haematoma formation, treated successfully with subsequent complete resolution of the sciatic nerve palsy. A review of the literature of traumatic gluteal compartment syndrome is presented with discussion of the clinical diagnosis, multidisciplinary treatment and recommendations for treatment of this injury.
Use and outcomes of targeted therapies in early and metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer in Australia: protocol detailing observations in a whole of population cohort
Authors: Daniels Benjamin , Lord Sarah J , Kiely Belinda E , Houssami Nehmat , Haywood Philip , Lu Christine Y , Ward Robyn L , Pearson Sallie-Anne
Published: January 2017

Background

The management of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC) has changed dramatically with the introduction and widespread use of HER2-targeted therapies. However, there is relatively limited real-world information on patterns of use, effectiveness and safety in whole of population cohorts. The research programme detailed in this protocol will generate evidence on the prescribing patterns, safety monitoring and outcomes of patients with BC treated with HER2-targeted therapies in Australia.

Methods/design

Our ongoing research programme will involve a series of retrospective cohort studies that include every patient accessing Commonwealth-funded HER2-targeted therapies for the treatment of early BC and advanced BC in Australia. At the time of writing, our cohorts consist of 11 406 patients with early BC and 5631 with advanced BC who accessed trastuzumab and lapatinib between 2001 and 2014. Pertuzumab and trastuzumab emtansine were publicly funded for metastatic BC in 2015, and future data updates will include patients accessing these medicines. We will use dispensing claims for cancer and other medicines, medical service claims and demographics data for each patient accessing HER2-targeted therapies to undertake this research.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval has been granted by the Population Health Service Research Ethics Committee and data access approval has been granted by the Australian Department of Human Services (DHS) External Review Evaluation Committee. Our findings will be reported in peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and policy forums. By providing detailed information on the use and outcomes associated with HER2-targeted therapies in a national cohort treated in routine clinical care, our research programme will better inform clinicians and patients about the real-world use of these treatments and will assist third-party payers to better understand the use and economic costs of these treatments.