bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibiofilm efficacy evaluation of a bioelectric dressing in mono- and multi-species biofilms
Authors: Kim H. , Izadjoo M.J.
Published: February 2015

Objective:

Chronic infections are often related to the formation of single or polymicrobial biofilms, which lead to hard-to-treat infections, difficult wound management, and recurrent infections. In this study, we evaluated in vitro antibiofilm properties of a silver and zinc bioelectric dressing (Procellera).

Method:

We customised and established a poloxamer biofilm model using glass coverslips for the efficacy evaluation of the bioelectric dressing. For antimicrobial susceptibility testing, each bacterial pathogen was diluted to 105CFUs/ml, mixed with 30% poloxamer hydrogels and dropped onto round glass coverslips (25mm diameter) as an abiotic support. Additionally, we mixed four bacterial strains and developed multi-species biofilms in the poloxamer model to examine anti-biofilm efficacy testing against polymicrobial biofilms.

Results:

After 24 hours incubation, we observed significant inhibition of bacterial growth in nine pathogens (∼2- or 3-fold log10 reduction) compared to controls (no treatment, gauze, and blank polyester with no silver and zinc). The smallest effect was seen with Enterococcus faecalis strain where there was approximately a 1-fold log10 reduction of microbial growth. The antibiofilm efficacy against multi-species (four pathogens) biofilms, evaluated on chromogenic agar plates, was 1- or 2-fold log10 reduction compared to controls.

Conclusion:

This poloxamer biofilm model was easy to set up, simple to apply, and demonstrated appropriate biofilm formation. The data showed the formation of biofilms inoculated with either single or polymicrobial bacteria under no shear condition, and the bioelectric dressing tested in this study showed effective antibiofilm activity against both the mono- and multi-species biofilms.

Declaration of interest:

None. The opinions or assertions contained here are the private views of the authors, based on scientific investigation, and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the US Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine.
The interaction between diversity of herbaceous species and history of planting, Masalâ€™s plantations, Guilan Province, Iran
Authors: POURBABAEI HASSAN , ESKANDARI MASOUMEH , DARYAEI MEHRDAD GHODSKHAH , HEYDARI MEHDI
Published: February 2015

Pourbabaei H, Eskandari M, Daryaei MG, Heydari M. 2015. The interaction between diversity of herbaceous species and history of planting, Masalâ€™s forests, Guilan Province, Iran. Biodiversitas 16: 84-88. The purpose of this study was to determine therelationship between the plantation age and diversity of herbaceous species. The study area is located in the Masalâ€™s plantations ofGuilan in north of Iran. For this purpose, 60 plots were sampled by a randomized-systematic method throughout the study area in orderto record the herbaceous species, the Whitakerâ€²s nested plot was applied and the minimal area was obtained 64 m2 (8 Ã— 8 m). In order toevaluate the plant diversity, some indices including Shannon-Wienerâ€™s diversity (Hâ€²), species richness (S) and Smith-Wilsonâ€™s evenness(Evar) were utilized. Results indicated that 31 herbaceous species were found in two plantations. There were significant differencesbetween two sites regarding Hâ€² and Evar. Whereas, there was no significant difference in view of species richness between two sites. Inaddition, results revealed that older plantation has not caused to increase richness and evenness of species.
Erik Satie’s mise-en-scène: Uniforms and the self-image of a composer in turn-of-the-century Paris
Authors: San Martín-Arbide Lola
Published: February 2015

Dressed as a dandy, a bureaucrat, a regional schoolteacher or even as an undertaker, French composer Erik Satie was easily spotted in Paris during the first half of the twentieth century. Hundreds of testimonies and anecdotes about the musician reveal that his appearance was perceived in itself as an artistic statement. After World War I he was known as ‘The Velvet Gentleman’ to the anglophile artists of Montparnasse and during the last 25 years of his life; not even on the sunniest of days in the Ville Lumière did he leave his house without his famous umbrella. With all these eccentric uniforms, Satie embraced his lifelong habit of defying preconceived notions of the connections between art and everyday life. The self-image he carefully tailored was in clear opposition to the setting of his room in the suburb of Arcueil-Cachan, which he never cleaned or tidied up. Satie is hence an interesting case study of the opposition of private and public image as well as of the unification of art and life. Many of his friends recall that watching him come out of his house was like seeing an actor going onstage.
They have no right to wear those clothes: The ambivalence of the dress code of German skinheads and Estonian metal heads
Authors: Araste Lii , Ventsel Aimar
Published: February 2015

Ever since the beginning of post-subcultural studies, youth studies have developed in the direction of theorizing on the decreasing emphasis on the significance of a coherent style, towards the disappearance of subcultural boundaries and a switching between identities. In our article we are going to demonstrate that in some cases subcultures maintain and defend their style. By highlighting studies of German punks and skinheads and the Estonian metal scene, we show how subcultures develop strategies for defining the boundaries of their scene and collective identity. Subcultures prompt an inner discussion about the ‘real’ and ‘wannabe’ ways of being a member of a scene. We show in the case of German skinheads that a purist cult of ‘old-school’ clothing can appear and demonstrate with the example of Estonian metal fans that a subculture can choose and focus on some elements of style which they claim to be ‘theirs’ and which become central symbols for the metal style. The main platforms for these discussions within both subcultures are printed fanzines and face-to-face interactions. In this manner subcultures develop the ‘communities of practice’, which is critical to the commercialization of former subcultural dress and other commodities. Using social network theories we show that subcultures are capable of establishing methods of inner social control and initiating discussions with the aim of establishing clear boundaries between the mainstream society and their scene, through controlling the ‘meaning of style’. This demonstrates that in combination with network theories the classic subculture theory can still be relevant for understanding music-related social groups.
Exhibition Reviews
Authors: McIntyre Ellen , Miller Janice
Published: February 2015

Fashion Rules: Dress from the Collections of HM The Queen, Princess Margaret and Diana, Princess of Wales, Kensington Palace, London, 4 July 2013–Summer 2015

David Bowie is inside…

David Bowie Is, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 23 March–11 August 2013
Teorías sobre la globalización: una evaluación crítica
Authors: Martín Cabello Antonio
Published: February 2015

Este artículo trata de revisar la abundante y dispersas literatura científica con el objetivo de identificar las principales explicaciones del proceso de globalización. El objetivo es construir una perspectiva meta-teórica que nos permita desarrollar una teoría de la globalización más analítica para evitar las trampas del debate político. Las diferentes teorías son analizadas utilizando una aproximación histórica y analítica para detectar el mecanismo explicativo propuesto para interpretar la globalización. Se han encontrado cuatro aproximaciones principales: la tesis del comercio, la tesis de la modernización, la tesis tecnológica y la tesis del capitalismo. Después, el artículo trata de hacer una evaluación crítica de las cuatro tesis sobre la globalización. Por último, concluye discutiendo las críticas posmodernas al carácter moderno de la teoría de la globalización.
El subregistro consular: magnitudes y efectos en las estadísticas de emigración española
Authors: Romero-Valiente Juan Manuel , Hidalgo-Capitán Antonio Luis
Published: February 2015

El subregistro consular representa uno de los principales problemas para la adecuada observación y medición estadística de la emigración española actual. Tomando como base los datos de una encuesta realizada en 2012 a más de cuatro mil emigrantes españoles residentes en el extranjero, se ha tratado de conocer las magnitudes del subregistro y sus efectos en las estadísticas oficiales. Los análisis realizados ponen en evidencia un subregistro en torno al 50% entre los emigrados españoles en el período 2008-2012. Esta cifra se eleva a cerca del 60% entre los que han tenido como destino la Unión Europea y del 75% en el caso del Reino Unido.
The level of the organizational socializational of the primary school teachers
Authors: Çobanoğlu Fatma , Öğretir Mustafa
Published: February 2015

The process of socialization is important for the teachers to be integrated to the educational system and acting in accordance with the system values, norm and attitudes. In this study, the levels of the organizational socialization of primary school teachers have been examined. The population of the study organized as a relational descriptive survey consists of 364 teachers. In the study, Organizational Socialization Scale (Kartal, 2003) and a form prepared for determining the personal characteristics of the teachers were used in order to collect the data. Since the obtained data did not have normal distribution, nonparametric tests were used for the analysis. According to the results of the study, it was observed that the levels of organizational socialization of primary school teachers were higher in the sub dimensions of job satisfaction, motivation, organizational commitment and acceptance. Furthermore, the level of organizational socialization of teachers has no statistically significant differences in related to their gender, marital status and working period in recent school at the all sub-dimensions, but it is seen that the more seniority of teachers increases the more the level of organizational socialization increases and the more education level of teachers' increases, the more the level of organizational socialization decreases.
Ten-year anniversary of CD3δ deficiency
Authors: Roifman Chaim
Published: February 2015

CD3δ deficiency was first identified a decade ago by using differential expression libraries derived from thymocytes of patients with severe combined immunodeficiency. The phenotype was surprisingly severe unlike the mouse model or other human CD3 deficiencies known at that time.
Determination of Fracture Behavior of AA6060 Aluminum Alloy Extrusion Using Digital Image Correlation3© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources, 2015.
Authors: Kang Jidong , Gong Kevin
Published: February 2015

The dependence of fracture strain on stress triaxiality has been recently recognized as an important factor that controls the fracture of aluminum alloys. A number of experimental programs have been reported to determine fracture strains in a wide range of stress triaxiality using a variety of types of specimens. However, because of the lack of direct measurement of local strains near the fracture zone, indirect estimations of fracture strain are commonly used. The errors in determining fracture strain are uncertain. In this study we use the digital image correlation (DIC) method to determine the fracture strains in AA6060 aluminum extrusion material. This material is often used in automotive crash management systems. A commercially available DIC system was used to follow the deformation occurring during the tests of a set of newly designed specimens with a wide range of stress triaxiality; thus, the inception of instability and fracture can be captured and distinguished precisely. More importantly, post-experiment analysis in DIC allows strain calculations at macroscopic levels at varying step sizes, thus, the dependence of fracture strain on gauge length has been determined in each testing condition. The fracture locus of AA6060 aluminum extrusion has been successfully determined and the concept of “scaled fracture strain” has then been proposed to ensure consistency of the fracture locus in both the experiment and in modeling.
Listening for the “Still Small Voice” of Mendelssohn’s Domestic Elijah
Authors: Mercer-Taylor Peter
Published: February 2015

The notion that there might be autobiographical, or personally confessional, registers at work in Mendelssohn’s 1846 Elijah has long been established, with three interpretive approaches prevailing: the first, famously advanced by Prince Albert, compares Mendelssohn’s own artistic achievements with Elijah’s prophetic ones; the second, in Eric Werner’s dramatic formulation, discerns in the aria “It is enough” a confession of Mendelssohn’s own “weakening will to live”; the third portrays Elijah as a testimonial on Mendelssohn’s relationship to the Judaism of his birth and/or to the Christianity of his youth and adulthood.

This article explores a fourth, essentially untested, interpretive approach: the possibility that Mendelssohn crafts from Elijah’s story a heartfelt affirmation of domesticity, an expression of his growing fascination with retiring to a quiet existence in the bosom of his family.

The argument unfolds in three phases. In the first, the focus is on that climactic passage in Elijah’s Second Part in which God is revealed to the prophet in the “still small voice.” The turn from divine absence to divine presence is articulated through two clear and powerful recollections of music that Elijah had sung in the oratorio’s First Part, a move that has the potential to reconfigure our evaluation of his role in the public and private spheres in those earlier passages. The second phase turns to Elijah’s own brief sojourn into the domestic realm, the widow’s scene, paying particular attention to the motivations that may have underlain the substantial revisions to the scene that took place between the Birmingham premiere and the London premiere the following year. The final phase explores the possibility that the widow and her son, the “surrogate family” in the oratorio, do not disappear after the widow’s scene, but linger on as “para-characters” with crucial roles in the unfolding drama.
MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Exogenous insulin does not increase muscle protein synthesis rate when administered systemically: a systematic review
Authors: Trommelen Jorn , Groen Bart B L , Hamer Henrike M , de Groot Lisette C P G M , van Loon Luc J C
Published: February 2015

Background

Though it is well appreciated that insulin plays an important role in the regulation of muscle protein metabolism, there is much discrepancy in the literature on the capacity of exogenous insulin administration to increase muscle protein synthesis ratesin vivoin humans.

Objective

To assess whether exogenous insulin administration increases muscle protein synthesis rates in young and older adults.

Design

A systematic review of clinical trials was performed and the presence or absence of an increase in muscle protein synthesis rate was reported for each individual study arm. In a stepwise manner, multiple models were constructed that excluded study arms based on the following conditions: model 1, concurrent hyperaminoacidemia; model 2, insulin-induced hypoaminoacidemia; model 3, supraphysiological insulin concentrations; and model 4, older, more insulin resistant, subjects.

Conclusions

From the presented data in the current systematic review, we conclude that: i) exogenous insulin and amino acid administration effectively increase muscle protein synthesis, but this effect is attributed to the hyperaminoacidemia; ii) exogenous insulin administered systemically induces hypoaminoacidemia which obviates any insulin-stimulatory effect on muscle protein synthesis; iii) exogenous insulin resulting in supraphysiological insulin levels exceeding 50 000 pmol/l may effectively augment muscle protein synthesis; iv) exogenous insulin may have a diminished effect on muscle protein synthesis in older adults due to age-related anabolic resistance; and v) exogenous insulin administered systemically does not increase muscle protein synthesis in healthy, young adults.
No beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation on muscle function or quality of life in primary hyperparathyroidism: results from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rolighed Lars , Rejnmark Lars , Sikjaer Tanja , Heickendorff Lene , Vestergaard Peter , Mosekilde Leif , Christiansen Peer
Published: February 2015

Context

Impairments of muscle function and strength in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) are rarely addressed, although decreased muscle function may contribute to increased fracture risk.

Objective

We aimed to assess the changes in muscle strength, muscle function, postural stability, quality of life (QoL), and well-being during treatment with vitamin D or placebo before and after parathyroidectomy (PTX) in PHPT patients.

Design

A randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Patients

We included 46 PHPT patients, mean age 58 (range 29–77) years and 35 (76%) were women.

Interventions

Daily treatment with 70 μg (2800 IU) cholecalciferol or placebo for 52 weeks. Treatment was administered 26 weeks before PTX and continued for 26 weeks after PTX.

Main outcome measures

Changes in QoL and measures of muscle strength and function.

Results

Preoperatively, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) increased significantly (50–94 nmol/l) compared with placebo (57–52 nmol/l). We did not measure any beneficial effects of supplementation with vitamin D compared with placebo regarding well-being, QoL, postural stability, muscle strength, or function. In all patients, we measured marked improvements in QoL, well-being (P<0.01), muscle strength in the knee flexion and extension (P<0.001), and muscle function tests (P<0.01) after surgical cure. Postural stability improved during standing with eyes closed (P<0.05), but decreased with eyes open (P<0.05).

Conclusions

Patients with PHPT and 25OHD levels around 50 nmol/l did not benefit from vitamin D supplementation concerning muscle strength, muscle function, postural stability, well-being, or QoL. Independent of preoperative 25OHD levels, PTX improved these parameters.
Characterization of porcine partially reprogrammed iPSCs from adipose-derived stem cells
Authors: Wei Chao , Li Xia , Zhang Pengfei , Zhang Yu , Liu Tong , Jiang Shaoshuai , Han Fei , Zhang Yunhai
Published: February 2015

Partially reprogrammed induced pluripotent stem cells (PiPSCs) have great potential for investigating reprogramming mechanisms and represent an alternative potential material for making genetically modified animals and regenerative medicine. To date, PiPSCs have scarcely been reported in detail when compared with mice and humans. In this study, we obtained PiPSCs from porcine adipose-derived stem cells (pADSCs) by ectopic expression of human transcription factors (OCT4, SOX2, c-MYC, and KLF4) in feeder-free condition. The morphology and proliferation activity of porcine PiPSCs (pPiPSCs) were similar to those of porcine fully reprogrammed iPSCs (pFiPSCs); furthermore, pPiPSCs expressed higher levels of the typical surface molecules (CD29) found in pADSCs. However, pPiPSCs were negative for key proteins (NANOG) connected with stemness and possessed lower differentiation ability in vivo and in vitro. When differentiation-inhibiting factors were withdrawn, pPiPSCs-derived cells (pPiPSC-DCs) showed similar features to pADSCs in many aspects, including proliferation, differentiation, and immunosuppression. When both types of cells were used to produce cloned embryos, we found that the blastocyst formation rate of 19DC (one of the pPiPSC-DC cell lines)-derived cloned embryos was obviously higher than that of others. The total cell number of 19DC-derived blastocysts was significantly higher than the 30DC (one pFiPSC-DC cell line)-derived blastocysts. In all, through limited differentiation ability, the proliferation activity of pPiPSCs is similar to that of pFiPSCs, and pPiPSCs can retain several of the features of pADSCs, which are beneficial to cell therapy. Furthermore, the differentiation of pPiPSCs is more favorable for producing high-quality reconstructed embryos.

Free Chinese abstract: A Chinese translation of this abstract is freely available at http://www.reproduction-online.org/content/149/5/485/suppl/DC2.
The Phage Mu Middle Promoter Pm Contains a Partial UP Element
Authors: Ma Ji , Howe Martha M
Published: February 2015

There are three phases of transcription during lytic development of bacteriophage Mu: early, middle, and late. Transcription from the middle phase promoter Pm requires the activator protein Mor. In the presence of Mor, transcription from Pm is carried out by the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase holoenzyme containing σ70. A Mor dimer binds to two 5-bp inverted repeats within a 16-bp element centered at −43.5 in Pm, replacing the normal −35 element contacted by RNA polymerase (RNAP). In this study random and targeted mutagenesis of the sequence upstream (−88 to −52) of the Mor binding site was performed to determine whether Pm also contains an UP element for binding of the RNAP α subunit, thereby stimulating transcription. The results demonstrated that mutations upstream of −57 had no effect on Pm activity in vivo, assayed by expression of lacZ fused downstream of a wild-type or mutant Pm. Mutations at positions −57 through −52 led to decreased transcription from Pm, consistent with the presence of an UP element. In DNase I footprinting and gel mobility shift assays, paired mutations at positions −55 and −54 did not affect Mor binding but decreased the synergistic binding of Mor with histidine tagged α (His-α), indicating that His-α binds to Pm in a sequence- and/or structure-specific manner. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Pm has a strong proximal UP element subsite, but lacks a distal subsite.
Photovoltaic-Installation Performance in Central Europe on the Example of Poland
Authors: Ewa Klugmann-Radziemska
Published: February 2015

The amount of the electric energy obtained from a photovoltaic (PV) installation depends on the energy of the radiation. Weather conditions differ strongly between various years even in the same season. Depending on the climatic conditions of a given location, fixed PV solar plants as well as one-axis and dual-axis tracking PV solar plants are being installed worldwide. The aim of this work is to analyse the sunlight intensity and PV system performance under the geographic conditions of central Europe. The analysis was made on the basis of multi-month monitoring in Gdańsk, Poland, and by comparison with systems in other locations on the basis of the results of researchat Opole University, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poznan University of Technology, and AGH University of Science and Technology.The annual irradiation and the electrical PV energy production have been averaged over a time period of several years. Two aspects are explored within this paper: the expected average annual electricity generation of a standard 1-kWp standalone or grid-connected PV system and the theoretical potential of PV electricity generation in the European countries.
Potential for Energy Conservation by a Hybrid Natural Lighting System with LED Illumination
Authors: Shih-Chuan Yeh  , Ju-Lin Lu De Lin
Published: February 2015

In buildings, efficient lighting systems and excellent design of interior natural light illumination would contribute to energy saving by direct use solar energy for illumination. This paper propose a model of hybrid natural lighting system with LEDs illumination that would be improve the efficiency of solar energy use. The system is compounded by a prismatic daylight collector, a reflector for re-directing daylight into the room and a diffuse reflector for indoor illumination. The main emerged intensity distribution of the right-angle prismatic collector was investigated using matrix ray tracing model and edge ray principle. The directionality of main emerged light from hypotenuse of the prism is applied to effort the performance of natural light illumination systems by simply guiding design. In this paper, we propose that an efficient hybrid natural lighting system with LED which combined with the prismatic daylight collector can be realizable by a suitable tilted angle of the prismatic daylight collector for different daylight conditions. The reduced electrical energy consumption for using hybrid natural lighting system with LED illumination system can contribute to 70%, 61% and 40% compared to using T8 fluorescent, T5 fluorescent and LEDs, respectively.
Timing of Initial Well-Child Visit and Readmissions of Newborns
Authors: Shakib Julie , Buchi Karen , Smith Elizabeth , Korgenski Kent , Young Paul C.
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Recommendations for the timing of the first well-child visit (WCV) after discharge from a well-baby nursery (WBN) suggest that the visit occur within 48 hours of discharge for those with a WBN length of stay of ≤48 hours and within 3 to 5 days for those with a WBN length of stay of >48 hours. The purpose of these early visits is to detect conditions that may cause readmission in the first weeks after birth, but the effectiveness of early visits to accomplish this has not been shown. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the frequency of early visits and (2) to compare readmission rates for those who had an early visit compared with those who did not.

METHODS:

Using data from a large health care system in Utah, we determined the readmission rates newborns with an estimated gestational age ≥34 weeks and compared the rates for those who had an early WCV with those who did not.

RESULTS:

Of 79 720 newborns, 50 606 (63%) were discharged within 48 hours of birth. Of these, 7638 (15%) had a visit within 72 hours of discharge. The readmission rate for newborns who had a visit within the recommended time frame was 15.7 per 1000 compared with 18.4 for those with a later visit (odds ratio 0.85; 95% confidence interval 0.73–0.99)

CONCLUSIONS:

The frequency of first WCVs that occurred within the recommended time frames was low. Early visits were associated with a 15% reduction in the rate of readmissions.
Hair Nicotine Levels in Children With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: Collaco Joseph M. , Aherrera Angela D. , Breysse Patrick N. , Winickoff Jonathan P. , Klein Jonathan D. , McGrath-Morrow Sharon A.
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND:

Tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) may increase respiratory morbidities in young children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Rapid respiratory rates, close proximity to a smoking caregiver, and increased dermal absorption of tobacco smoke components can contribute to systemic exposure. In this study, hair nicotine levels were used as a biomarker of chronic TSE in young children with BPD to determine if hair nicotine levels correlate with caregiver self-report of TSE and respiratory morbidities.

METHODS:

From 2012 to 2014, hair nicotine levels were measured from consecutive children seen in a BPD outpatient clinic and compared with caregiver questionnaires on household smoking. The relationship between respiratory morbidities and self-reported TSE or hair nicotine level was assessed.

RESULTS:

The mean hair nicotine level from 117 children was 3.1 ± 13.2 ng/mg. Hair nicotine levels were significantly higher in children from smoking households by caregiver self-report compared with caregivers who reported no smoking (8.2 ± 19.7 ng/mg vs 1.8 ± 10.7; P < .001). In households that reported smoking, hair nicotine levels were higher in children with a primary caregiver who smoked compared with a primary caregiver who did not smoke. Among children with BPD who required respiratory support (n = 50), a significant association was found between higher log hair nicotine levels and increased hospitalizations and limitation of activity.

CONCLUSIONS:

Chronic TSE is common in children with BPD, with hair nicotine levels being more likely to detect TSE than caregiver self-report. Hair nicotine levels were also a better predictor of hospitalization and activity limitation in children with BPD who required respiratory support at outpatient presentation.
A Case of Respiratory Depression in a Child With Ultrarapid CYP2D6 Metabolism After Tramadol
Authors: Orliaguet Gilles , Hamza Jamil , Couloigner Vincent , Denoyelle Françoise , Loriot Marie-Anne , Broly Franck , Garabedian Erea Noel
Published: February 2015

We discuss a case of severe respiratory depression in a child, with ultrarapid CYP2D6 genotype and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, after taking tramadol for pain relief related to a day-case tonsillectomy.
A Comparison of Individual- Versus Practice-Level Measures of the Medical Home
Authors: Long Webb E. , Garg Arvin
Published: February 2015

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the association between a widely used individual-level assessment of the medical home derived from parental perception and practice-level assessment of the medical home.

METHODS:

Thirty parents at each of 6 Boston-area community health centers (CHCs) were administered the 19-question medical home measure of the 2011 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Each CHC was scored in accordance with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 2011 Patient-Centered Medical Home Standards and Guidelines. Bivariate analysis of the independent variables against the dependent variable (the NCQA measure, assessed as both a continuous score and a categorical tier) was performed. Linear and logistical regression models accounting for the cluster design were then constructed, with the NSCH measure as the primary predictor.

RESULTS:

Of the 180 parents, 52% had a medical home according to the NSCH criteria. Of the 6 CHCs, 5 were a medical home according to the NCQA Standards (2 at Tier 3, 3 at Tier 2). Regression modeling demonstrated nonsignificant associations between both the continuous and categorical (tier) NCQA scores and the NSCH assessment of the medical home, with a β of −2.80 (95% confidence interval, −7.75 to 13.35) and an adjusted odds ratio of 2.17 (95% confidence interval, 0.82 to 5.74), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

There was no significant association between the individual-level and practice-level assessments of the medical home. Given this discrepancy, our results suggest that we may need to temper our expectations that the medical home transformation currently being implemented at the practice level will lead to the child health and health care utilization outcomes extensively demonstrated in the literature.
Multigeneration Effects of Plasma Irradiation to Seeds of Arabidopsis Thaliana and Zinnia on Their Growth
Authors: Sarinont Thapanut , Amano Takaaki , Koga Kazunori , Shiratani Masaharu , Hayashi Nobuya
Published: February 2015

We have studied multigeneration effects of plasma irradiation to seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) and Zinnia peruviana (L.) on their growth using a scalable DBD device. Atmospheric plasma irradiation enhances growth of these plants in multi-generations. For Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) in the third generation, the leaf area is 2 times larger than that without plasma irradiation and the stem length is 1.5 times longer than that without plasma. For Zinnia peruviana (L.) in the second generation, the stem length is 2 times longer than that without plasma.
In situ stresses in bridge beams. Part II: prestress force
Authors: McGinnis Michael J.
Published: February 2015

An advanced investigation of the core-drilling method (CDM) for direct application in bridge assessment is conducted. In the CDM, a small hole is drilled into concrete and the displacements that result are measured and related to the in situ stress. Knowledge of the stress profile within the concrete of a girder would allow determination of the magnitude and location of force in its prestressing steel. The programme described in this paper and its companion paper had two objectives – to demonstrate the effectiveness of the CDM in determining concrete stresses when using small-diameter holes and to demonstrate feasibility, accuracy and appropriateness of the CDM for the assessment of prestressed concrete bridge girders and for determining the existing prestress in their tendons. The method had never been applied to a prestressed beam. After verifying the method in concrete slabs in part I of this work, the technique was used with 75 mm holes to investigate the stresses in a prestressed beam and to determine the force in its prestressing steel. The tendon forces determined by drilling any single hole using the CDM are accurate, with an average error of 58·5 kN and a relative error of 15·94%. They are also consistent, with a standard deviation in error of 75·2 kN. The tendon force in a prestressed concrete beam can be determined to within ±8% if three holes are drilled.
Plagiarism in South African management journals
Authors: Thomas Adele , De Bruin Gideon P.
Published: February 2015

Plagiarism by academics has been relatively unexplored thus far. However, there has been a growing awareness of this problem in recent years. We submitted 371 published academic articles appearing in 19 South African management journals in 2011 through the plagiarism detection software program Turnitin™. High and excessive levels of plagiarism were detected. The cost to government of subsidising unoriginal work in these journals was calculated to approximate ZAR7 million for the period under review. As academics are expected to role model ethical behaviour to students, such a finding is disturbing and has implications for the reputations of the institutions to which the authors are affiliated as well as that of the journals that publish articles that contain plagiarised material.
Emerging Regenerative Approaches for Periodontal Reconstruction: A Systematic Review From the AAP Regeneration Workshop
Authors: Lin Zhao , Rios Hector F. , Cochran David L.
Published: February 2015

More than 30 years have passed since the first successful application of regenerative therapy for treatment of periodontal diseases. Despite being feasible, periodontal regeneration still faces numerous challenges, and complete restoration of structure and function of the diseased periodontium is often considered an unpredictable task. This review highlights developing basic science and technologies for potential application to achieve reconstruction of the periodontium. A comprehensive search of the electronic bibliographic database PubMed was conducted to identify different emerging therapeutic approaches reported to influence either biologic pathways and/or tissues involved in periodontal regeneration. Each citation was assessed based on its abstract, and the full text of potentially eligible reports was retrieved. Based on the review of the full papers, their suitability for inclusion in this report was determined. In principle, only reports from scientifically well‐designed studies that presented preclinical in vivo (animal studies) or clinical (human studies) evidence for successful periodontal regeneration were included. Hence, in vitro studies, namely those conducted in laboratories without any live animals, were excluded. In case of especially recent and relevant reviews with a narrow focus on specific regenerative approaches, they were identified as such, and thereby the option of referring to them to summarize the status of a specific approach, in addition to or instead of listing each separately, was preserved. Admittedly, the presence of subjectivity in the selection of studies to include in this overview cannot be excluded. However, it is believed that the contemporary approaches described in this review collectively represent the current efforts that have reported preclinical or clinical methods to successfully enhance regeneration of the periodontium. Today's challenges facing periodontal regenerative therapy continue to stimulate important research and clinical development, which, in turn, shapes the current concept of periodontal tissue engineering. Emerging technologies—such as stem cell therapy, bone anabolic agents, genetic approaches, and nanomaterials—also offer unique opportunities to enhance the predictability of current regenerative surgical approaches and inspire development of novel treatment strategies.
Closed-Loop Feedback Control in Intelligent Wells: Application to a Heterogeneous, Thin Oil-Rim Reservoir in the North Sea
Authors: Dilib F.A.. A. , Jackson M.D.. D. , Zadeh A. Mojaddam , Aasheim R.. , Årland K.. , Gyllensten A.J.. J. , Erlandsen S.M.. M.
Published: February 2015

Important challenges remain in the development of optimized control strategies for intelligent wells, particularly with respect to incorporating the impact of reservoir uncertainty. Most optimization methods are model-based and are effective only if the model or ensemble of models used in the optimization captures all possible reservoir behaviors at the individual-well and -completion level. This is rarely the case. Moreover, reservoir models are rarely predictive at the spatial and temporal scales required to identify control actions. We evaluate the benefit of the use of closed-loop control strategies, on the basis of direct feedback between reservoir monitoring and inflow-valve settings, within a geologically heterogeneous, thin oil-rim reservoir. This approach does not omit model predictions completely; rather, model predictions are used to optimize a number of adjustable parameters within a general direct feedback relationship between measured data and inflow-control settings. A high-resolution sector model is used to capture reservoir heterogeneity, which incorporates a locally refined horizontal grid in the oil zone, to accurately represent the horizontal-well geometry and fluid contacts, and capture water and gas flow. Two inflow-control strategies are tested. The first is an open-loop approach, using fixed inflow-control devices to balance the pressure drawdown along the well, sized before installation. The second is a closed-loop, feedback-control strategy, using variable inflow-control valves that can be controlled from the surface in response to multiphase-flow data obtained downhole. The closed-loop strategy is optimized with a base-case model, and then tested against unexpected reservoir behavior by adjusting a number of uncertain parameters in the model but not reoptimizing. We find that closed-loop feedback control yields positive gains in net-present value (NPV) for the majority of reservoir behaviors investigated, and higher gains than the open-loop strategy. Closed-loop control also can yield positive gains in NPV even when the reservoir does not behave as expected, and in tested scenarios returned a near optimal NPV. However, inflow control can be risky, because unpredicted reservoir behavior also leads to negative returns. Moreover, assessing the benefits of inflow control over an arbitrarily fixed well life can be misleading, because observed gains depend on when the calculation is made.
Morphological and Molecular Diversity in Turkish Sesame Germplasm and Core Set Selection
Authors: Frary Anne , Tekin Pelin , Celik Ibrahim , Furat Seymus , Uzun Bulent , Doganlar Sami
Published: February 2015

The conservation of plant germplasm is essential to ensure future breeding gains and crop bio‐diversity. To be truly useful, such germplasm must be characterized for morphological traits and genetic diversity. In this work, agro‐morphological diversity was assessed in 137 Turkish sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes (129 accessions and eight cultivars) by examination of eight qualitative and nine quantitative traits. As expected, morphological variability in the cultivars was low with broader diversity present in sesame accessions. However, some accessions were identified with interesting features, such as increased number of capsules and seed yield, which could be employed in future cultivar development. The sesame genotypes were analyzed for molecular genetic diversity with 140 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) loci. The results indicated a relatively low level of variability with an average dissimilarity value of 0.33 for all genotypes. Population structure was also examined and indicated that the material fell into two subpopulations. As most of the accessions (82%) were obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and are not yet housed in the Turkish national sesame germplasm collection, the data were used to identify a core set of 22 accessions that should be preserved in Turkey. The importance of using both molecular and morphological data for core selection is highlighted with a focus on germplasm preservation and breeding.
Estimating the Genetic Effects Modifying Endosperm Composition in Sugary1 Maize
Authors: De Vries Brian D. , Peters Tessa E. , Glaza Brittany J. , Viesselmann Leah M. , Tracy William F.
Published: February 2015

Pseudostarchy (su1‐ref/su1‐ref) maize (Zea mays L.) inbreds contain wild‐type levels of starch and water‐soluble polysaccharides (WSP), even though the su1‐ref allele is present. The su1‐ref allele of maize contains a single nucleotide polymorphism alteration in the Sugary1 gene that results in near‐equal concentrations of WSP and starch in the mature kernel. Seven maize inbreds, fixed for the sugary1‐reference (su1‐ref) allele, were developed out of two divergently‐selected maize populations and have starch and WSP concentrations ranging from 223–570 mg g−1 and 26–294 mg g−1, respectively. Determining the type and magnitude of the genetic effects controlling the pseudostarchy phenotype is important for understanding the inheritance of the trait. The seven inbreds were crossed in a complex mating design that included inbred, F1, F2, and BC1 generations and evaluated using a genetic model for triploid endosperm traits. This analysis allowed additive and dominance genetic effects of the endosperm to be separated from cytoplasmic effects and additive and dominance genetic effects of the diploid maternal plant. WSP and wrinkling rating and starch and WSP concentration had greater than 60% of the phenotypic variation as additive endosperm effects. Cytoplasmic inheritance was not significant for any of the traits measured. Additive diploid maternal plant effects were significant for all traits measured and contributed 36% of the phenotypic variance for kernel weight. The presence of additive and dominance diploid maternal plant effects indicates that selection among kernels on an ear can be complicated due to the genetic effect of the mother plant. Overall, the traits measured, which reflect the visual difference between the pseudostarchy and extreme sugary inbreds, were controlled primarily by additive endosperm genetic effects indicating that allele or chromosome dosage is the primary genetic effect controlling how the pseudostarchy phenotype is inherited in this population.
Economic Risk and Profitability of Soybean Fungicide and Insecticide Seed Treatments at Reduced Seeding Rates
Authors: Gaspar Adam P. , Mitchell Paul D. , Conley Shawn P.
Published: February 2015

Earlier soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] planting, increased seed costs, and higher commodity prices have led to a surge in the use of soybean fungicide and insecticide seed treatments, while recent studies have suggested that growers should consider lowering seeding rates to increase their return on investment. Ultimately, growers would like to know the value proposition of combining seed treatments with lowered seeding rates. Therefore, three seed treatments (untreated, ApronMaxx, and CruiserMaxx) and six seeding rates (98,800, 148,200, 197,600, 247,000, 296,400, and 345,800 seeds ha−1) were evaluated to determine seed yield, profitability, and economic risk of various seed treatments and seeding rates, including the economically optimal seeding rate (EOSR) for each seed treatment. Trials were conducted at nine locations throughout Wisconsin during the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons, totaling 18 site‐years. Across a wide range of seeding rates, ApronMaxx provided no yield or profitability gains and only slight risk benefits (<0.54 break‐even probability) at grain sale prices between .33 and .55 kg−1. CruiserMaxx increased yield by 12% at 98,800 seeds ha−1 and by 4% at 345,800 seeds ha−1. In addition, CruiserMaxx was able to substantially lower risk and increase profit at both reduced and recommended (197,000–345,800 seeds ha−1) seeding rates across a wide range of environments and grain sale prices. The lowest risk and largest average profit increase was always at the EOSR, which decreased as the grain sale price declined. At current seed costs, the EOSR for CruiserMaxx treated seed ranged from 232,000 to 261,000 seeds ha−1 depending on the grain sale price. These data indicate that producers should account for their expected grain sale price and seed treatment choice when determining seeding rates to reduce economic risk and increase profitability.
Transcriptome Profiling ofhrf2Transgenic Rapeseed Revealed Genes Related to the Defense Responses and Signaling Pathways
Authors: Wang Yu , Wu Huijun , Wei Guifang , Zhang Hongyue , Zhang Yan , Gao Xuewen
Published: February 2015

Ectopic expression of the HarpinXooc–encoding genehrf2in rapeseed (Brassica napusL.) confers enhanced resistance toSclerotinia sclerotiorumand improved agronomic performance. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of harpin‐mediated plant responses, we developed a 3’–tag digital gene expression (DGE) method to compare the mRNA expression patterns of transgenic T‐4 rapeseed harboringhrf2and untransformed Yangyou 4 (Y4) at the global level. Solexa Illumina sequencing yielded 5,645,091 and 6,007,037 clean tags, corresponding to 14,237 and 14,773 genes for Y4 and T‐4, respectively. We identified 2114 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; log2 ratio ≥ 1, false discovery rate [FDR] ≤ 0.001) between transgenic T‐4 and untransformed Y4 that assigned to seven Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways and 19 Gene Ontology categories. Numerous genes related to defense responses were differentially expressed in T‐4, representing categories such as hypersensitive response, defense proteins, plant cell wall components, and phenylpropanoid metabolism pathway. Furthermore, expression was largely modified in T‐4 in signaling pathways including G protein, Ca2+, ubiquitination, protein kinase, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, ethylene, and auxin hormones. We also identified numerous DEGs encoding transcription factors in T‐4. This analysis shows the breadth of molecular mechanisms of harpin‐mediated plant responses in genetically transformed plants. Furthermore, the DGE sequence resources identified in this study provide a platform for functional genomics studies of rapeseed.
Analysis of Series of Cultivar Trials with Perennial Grasses for Subdivided Target Regions
Authors: Eckl Thomas , Piepho Hans‐Peter
Published: February 2015

Field trials with perennial grasses may often be conducted at several locations with different starting years. A key issue in the analysis of such trials is the distinction between effects of calendar years, which are associated with external environmental variation, and harvest years, which represent internal yield formation processes of the perennial crop. Furthermore, analysis of field trials with perennial grasses needs to account for serial correlation of observations on the same plot from consecutive harvest years. Such analyses are conveniently implemented using mixed models. Here, we consider series of trials when the target region is subdivided into several zones. We show how cultivar yield means per zone can be estimated borrowing strength across zones. The proposed mixed models are illustrated using simulated data generated by employing variance component estimates from real experiments. It is shown in simulations that best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) can provide more precise zone‐specific mean estimates than alternative methods.