bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Huntington's disease (HD): the neuropathology of a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder of the human brain
Authors: Rüb U. , Seidel K. , Heinsen H. , Vonsattel J.P. , den Dunnen W.F. , Korf H.W.
Published: August 2016

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominantly inherited, and currently untreatable, neuropsychiatric disorder. This progressive and ultimately fatal disease is named after the American physician George Huntington and according to the underlying molecular biological mechanisms is assigned to the human polyglutamine or CAG‐repeat diseases. In the present article we give an overview of the currently known neurodegenerative hallmarks of the brains of HD patients. Subsequent to recent pathoanatomical studies the prevailing reductionistic concept of HD as a human neurodegenerative disease, which is primarily and more or less exclusively confined to the striatum (ie, caudate nucleus and putamen) has been abandoned. Many recent studies have improved our neuropathological knowledge of HD; many of the early groundbreaking findings of neuropathological HD research have been rediscovered and confirmed. The results of this investigation have led to the stepwise revision of the simplified pathoanatomical and pathophysiological HD concept and culminated in the implementation of the current concept of HD as a multisystem degenerative disease of the human brain. The multisystem character of the neuropathology of HD is emphasized by a brain distribution pattern of neurodegeneration (i) which apart from the striatum includes the cerebral neo‐and allocortex, thalamus, pallidum, brainstem and cerebellum, and which (ii) therefore, shares more similarities with polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias than previously thought.
The role of the human globus pallidus in Huntington's disease
Authors: Singh‐Bains Malvindar K. , Waldvogel Henry J. , Faull Richard L. M.
Published: August 2016

Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by pronounced pathology of the basal ganglia, with numerous studies documenting the pattern of striatal neurodegeneration in the human brain. However, a principle target of striatal outflow, the globus pallidus (GP), has received limited attention in comparison, despite being a core component of the basal ganglia. The external segment (GPe) is a major output of the dorsal striatum, connecting widely to other basal ganglia nuclei via the indirect motor pathway. The internal segment (GPi) is a final output station of both the direct and indirect motor pathways of the basal ganglia. The ventral pallidum (VP), in contrast, is a primary output of the limbic ventral striatum. Currently, there is a lack of consensus in the literature regarding the extent of GPe and GPi neurodegeneration in HD, with a conflict between pallidal neurons being preserved, and pallidal neurons being lost. In addition, no current evidence considers the fate of the VP in HD, despite it being a key structure involved in reward and motivation. Understanding the involvement of these structures in HD will help to determine their involvement in basal ganglia pathway dysfunction in the disease. A clear understanding of the impact of striatal projection loss on the main neurons that receive striatal input, the pallidal neurons, will aid in the understanding of disease pathogenesis. In addition, a clearer picture of pallidal involvement in HD may contribute to providing a morphological basis to the considerable variability in the types of motor, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms in HD. This review aims to highlight the importance of the globus pallidus, a critical component of the cortical‐basal ganglia circuits, and its role in the pathogenesis of HD. This review also summarizes the current literature relating to human studies of the globus pallidus in HD.
“I Have the Worst Fear of Teachers”: Moments of Inclusion and Exclusion in Family/School Relationships among Indigenous Families in Southern Ontario
Authors: Milne Emily
Published: August 2016

Student success is facilitated by strong bonds between families and schools, including a shared sense of purpose and mutual trust. However, for Indigenous peoples these relationships are often broken, undermined by the legacy of residential schooling and assimilative educational practices. Drawing on interviews with 50 Indigenous (mainly Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Métis) and non‐Indigenous parents and educators, this paper examines the ways in which issues of class and race shape interactions between teachers and Indigenous parents. The interviews reveal that legacies of racial discrimination against Indigenous peoples in schooling affect family/school relations among middle‐class (MC) and lower‐class (LC) parents in different ways. MC parents intensify relations with the school while, in comparison, LC parents tend to disengage as a consequence of their negative schooling experiences.

Les relations étroites entre les familles et les écoles, et notamment leurs buts communs et leur confiance partagée, facilitent la réussite des étudiants. Toutefois, au sein des populations autochtones, ces liens sont pour la plupart rompus en raison des conséquences des pensionnats scolaires et des pratiques éducatives d'assimilation. Cette étude s'appuie sur des entretiens avec 50 parents et éducateurs issus de populations autochtones (principalement celles d'Haudenosaunee, d'Anishinaabe et de Métis) et non autochtones pour étudier la manière dont les questions de classe et de race affectent les interactions entre les enseignants et les parents issus de populations autochtones. Ces entretiens montrent que le passé discriminatoire des écoles envers les peuples autochtones a eu des répercussions différentes sur les relations famille/école, selon qu'il s'agisse de parents issus de la classe moyenne ou de parents issus d'un milieu pauvre. Les parents issus de la classe moyenne ont renforcé leurs liens avec l’école alors que les parents des classes inférieures tendent à se désengager du fait de leur expérience scolaire négative.
Characterization of MymA protein as a flavin‐containing monooxygenase and as a target of isoniazid
Authors: Saraav Iti , Pandey Kirti , Misra Richa , Singh Swati , Sharma Monika , Sharma Sadhna
Published: August 2016

Tuberculosis is a global health problem especially with the emergence of drug‐resistantMycobacterium tuberculosisstrains, creating an urgent need to identify new drug targets. The mycobacterial cell wall is an attractive target for chemotherapeutic agents. Gene products ofmymAoperon are known to be required for the maintenance of cell wall and play an important role in persistence, thus making them important drug targets. This study was undertaken to biochemically characterize the MymA as a flavin‐containing monooxygenase (FMO). Our results established its enzymatic activityin vitroand found that the mycobacterial FMO requires NADPH and FAD as cofactors, similar to other characterized bacterial FMOs. The enzyme follows Michaelis–Menten kinetics to catalyze substrates such as trimethylamine and thiourea. We also propose that MymA could be one of the targets of the antituberculosis drug, isoniazid (INH), which is a cell wall inhibitor. Molecular docking studies revealed that INH targeted NADPH‐binding site of the MymA. Further, experimental validation revealed that INH inhibits MymA with the IC50value of 4.9 μm. Thus, this study characterizes for the first time that MymA is a mycobacterial FMO, which may be a target of INH.
Immune senescence: significance of the stromal microenvironment
Authors: Masters A R , Haynes L , Su D-M , Palmer D B
Published: August 2016

The immune system undergoes age-associated changes known as immunosenescence, resulting in increased susceptibility to infections, cancers and autoimmunity in the aged. The basis of our understanding of immunosenescence has been derived primarily from studies examining intrinsic defects within many of the cells of the immune system. While these studies have provided insight into the mechanisms of immunosenescence, a picture is now emerging that the stromal microenvironment within lymphoid organs also contributes significantly to the age-associated decline of immune function. These extrinsic defects appear to impact the functional activity of immune cells and may offer a potential target to recover immune activity. Indeed, rejuvenation studies which have targeted the stromal niche have restored immune function in aged successfully, highlighting the impact of the microenvironment towards the aetiology of immunosenescence.
The clinical spectrum of female epilepsy patients with PCDH19 mutations in a Chinese population
Authors: Liu A. , Xu X. , Yang X. , Jiang Y. , Yang Z. , Liu X. , Wu Y. , Wu X. , Wei L. , Zhang Y.
Published: August 2016

Mutations in PCDH19, which encodes protocadherin 19, have been identified in epilepsy, mainly in affected females. We summarized the clinical spectrum of female epilepsy patients with PCDH19 mutations in a Chinese population. We screened for PCDH19 mutations in 75 girls diagnosed with Dravet syndrome (DS) without a SCN1A mutation and 29 girls with fever‐sensitive and cluster seizures. We identified 11 novel and 7 reported mutations in 21 of 104 probands (20.2%), including 6 (6/75, 8%) DS girls and 15 (15/29, 51.7%) girls with fever‐sensitive epilepsy. The mutations were inherited in 9 probands, de novo in 11, and undetermined in the remaining patient. Shared clinical features included early onset seizures (5–18 months), seizures sensitive to fever, focal seizures or generalized tonic–clonic seizures in clusters and brief seizures. Mental retardation was present in 17 probands. Three patients had autistic features. Two of the nine probands with inherited mutations had no family history of epilepsy, one inherited the mutation from her transmitting father and the other inherited from her asymptomatic mother. Our results confirmed that the clinical spectrum of PCDH19 mutations includes female DS patients, epilepsy and mental retardation limited to females, epilepsy with normal development and asymptomatic female carriers.
Advection‐Based Function Matching on Surfaces
Authors: Azencot Omri , Vantzos Orestis , Ben‐Chen Mirela
Published: August 2016

A tangent vector field on a surface is the generator of a smooth family of maps from the surface to itself, known as the flow. Given a scalar function on the surface, it can be transported, or advected, by composing it with a vector field's flow. Such transport is exhibited by many physical phenomena, e.g., in fluid dynamics. In this paper, we are interested in the inverse problem: given source and target functions, compute a vector field whose flow advects the source to the target. We propose a method for addressing this problem, by minimizing an energy given by the advection constraint together with a regularizing term for the vector field. Our approach is inspired by a similar method in computational anatomy, known as LDDMM, yet leverages the recent framework of functional vector fields for discretizing the advection and the flow as operators on scalar functions. The latter allows us to efficiently generalize LDDMM to curved surfaces, without explicitly computing the flow lines of the vector field we are optimizing for. We show two approaches for the solution: using linear advection with multiple vector fields, and using non‐linear advection with a single vector field. We additionally derive an approximated gradient of the corresponding energy, which is based on a novel vector field transport operator. Finally, we demonstrate applications of our machinery to intrinsic symmetry analysis, function interpolation and map improvement.
Splines in the Space of Shells
Authors: Heeren Behrend , Rumpf Martin , Schröder Peter , Wardetzky Max , Wirth Benedikt
Published: August 2016

Cubic splines in Euclidean space minimize the mean squared acceleration among all curves interpolating a given set of data points. We extend this observation to the Riemannian manifold of discrete shells in which the associated metric measures both bending and membrane distortion. Our generalization replaces the acceleration with the covariant derivative of the velocity. We introduce an effective time‐discretization for this novel paradigm for navigating shell space. Further transferring this concept to the space of triangular surface descriptors—edge lengths, dihedral angles, and triangle areas—results in a simplified interpolation method with high computational efficiency.
Interactive Modeling of Mechanical Objects
Authors: Ureta Francisca Gil , Tymms Chelsea , Zorin Denis
Published: August 2016

Objects with various types of mechanical joints are among the most commonly built. Joints implement a vocabulary of simple constrained motions (kinematic pairs) that can be used to build more complex behaviors. Defining physically correct joint geometry is crucial both for realistic appearance of models during motion, as these are typically the only parts of geometry that stay in contact, and for fabrication. Direct design of joint geometry often requires more effort than the design of the rest of the object geometry, as it requires design of components that stay in precise contact, are aligned with other parts, and allow the desired range of motion. We present an interactive system for creating physically realizable joints with user‐controlled appearance. Our system minimizes or, in most cases, completely eliminates the need for the user to manipulate low‐level geometry of joints. This is achieved by automatically inferring a small number of plausible combinations of joint dimensions, placement and orientation from part geometry, with the user making the final high‐level selection based on object semantic. Through user studies, we demonstrate that functional results with a satisfying appearance can be obtained quickly by users with minimal modeling experience, offering a significant improvement in the time required for joint construction, compared to standard modeling approaches.
Construction of Topologically Correct and Manifold Isosurfaces
Authors: Grosso Roberto
Published: August 2016

We present a simple method to describe the geometry and topologically classify the intersection of level sets of trilinear interpolants with a reference unit cell. The solutions of three quadratic equations are used to correctly triangulate the level set within the cell satisfying the conditions imposed by the asymptotic decider. This way the triangulation of isosurfaces across cells borders is manifold and topologically correct. The algorithm presented is intuitive and easy to implement.
Symmetry and Orbit Detection via Lie‐Algebra Voting
Authors: Shi Zeyun , Alliez Pierre , Desbrun Mathieu , Bao Hujun , Huang Jin
Published: August 2016

In this paper, we formulate an automatic approach to the detection of partial, local, and global symmetries and orbits in arbitrary 3D datasets. We improve upon existing voting‐based symmetry detection techniques by leveraging the Lie group structure of geometric transformations. In particular, we introduce a logarithmic mapping that ensures that orbits are mapped to linear subspaces, hence unifying and extending many existing mappings in a single Lie‐algebra voting formulation. Compared to previous work, our resulting method offers significantly improved robustness as it guarantees that our symmetry detection of an input model is frame, scale, and reflection invariant. As a consequence, we demonstrate that our approach efficiently and reliably discovers symmetries and orbits of geometric datasets without requiring heavy parameter tuning.
Imaging population dynamics of surround suppression in the superior colliculus
Authors: Kasai Masatoshi , Isa Tadashi
Published: August 2016

The superior colliculus (SC) plays a key role in controlling spatial attention. It is hypothesized that some forms of spatial attention, such as the detection of a single salient object arise from lateral competitive interactions between different locations within the spatial map in the SC. This hypothesis is supported by a recent in vitro study showing that a ‘Mexican hat’‐like pattern of synaptic connectivity is implemented in the intrinsic circuit of the superficial layer of the SC (sSC). However, the neuronal population mechanisms responsible for this pattern still remain unclear. Here, we examined how spatial response modulations, for example lateral interactions and surround suppression, are represented at the neuronal population level using in vivo two‐photon calcium imaging in the mouse sSC. Observation of neuronal population responses with single‐cell resolution enabled us to identify a small subset of neurons that were activated by relatively small visual stimuli (< 1° diameter), and thus allowed us to detect the exact location of the ‘response center’ in the sSC to a visual stimulus presented at a given location. We demonstrated that presenting two‐point stimuli or one large stimulus modulated the spatial response pattern of the neuronal population, i.e. centre facilitation and surround suppression. Furthermore, we found that both GABAergic and non‐GABAergic neurons showed a similar population response pattern of surround suppression. The population dynamics suggest the circuit mechanism underlying lateral inhibition and surround suppression may be supported by long‐range inhibitory neurons in the sSC.
Genetic diversity and connectivity within Mytilus spp. in the subarctic and Arctic
Authors: Mathiesen Sofie Smedegaard , Thyrring Jakob , Hemmer‐Hansen Jakob , Berge Jørgen , Sukhotin Alexey , Leopold Peter , Bekaert Michaël , Sejr Mikael Kristian , Nielsen Einar Eg
Published: August 2016

Climate changes in the Arctic are predicted to alter distributions of marine species. However, such changes are difficult to quantify because information on present species distribution and the genetic variation within species is lacking or poorly examined. Blue mussels, Mytilus spp., are ecosystem engineers in the coastal zone globally. To improve knowledge of distribution and genetic structure of the Mytilus edulis complex in the Arctic, we analyzed 81 SNPs in 534 Mytilus spp. individuals sampled at 13 sites to provide baseline data for distribution and genetic variation of Mytilus mussels in the European Arctic. Mytilus edulis was the most abundant species found with a clear genetic split between populations in Greenland and the Eastern Atlantic. Surprisingly, analyses revealed the presence of Mytilus trossulus in high Arctic NW Greenland (77°N) and Mytilus galloprovincialis or their hybrids in SW Greenland, Svalbard, and the Pechora Sea. Furthermore, a high degree of hybridization and introgression between species was observed. Our study highlights the importance of distinguishing between congener species, which can display local adaptation and suggests that information on dispersal routes and barriers is essential for accurate predictions of regional susceptibility to range expansions or invasions of boreal species in the Arctic.
The continued use of sunscreen prevents the development of actinic keratosis in aged Japanese subjects
Authors: Kunimoto Kayo , Furukawa Fukumi , Uede Mikiko , Mizuno Makoto , Yamamoto Yuki
Published: August 2016

It is well known that the trigger for actinic keratosis (AK) mainly depends on UV exposure. We evaluated the effects of long‐term use of sunscreen on the histopathological and dermoscopic changes of AK in aged patients. Eighteen months use of sunscreen produced no change in the number of actinic keratoses or the advancement of histological grade. Although a significant decrease was not observed in the number of positive cells of p53, Ki‐67 and COX‐2 of the subjects who used sunscreen for 18 months, the downward tendencies of these proteins were observed. The continued use of sunscreen decreased the number of CD31‐positive vessels significantly using the Chalkley method, and a significant improvement in scaling and vessel dots was found by dermoscopic study. Moreover, a relationship was found in the amount of sunscreen use and the number of actinic keratoses. Considering these results, it was thought that application of sunscreen reduces the risk of advancement of AK to higher grade AK and squamous cell carcinoma.
Characterization and mechanisms of photoageing‐related changes in skin. Damages of basement membrane and dermal structures
Authors: Amano Satoshi
Published: August 2016

Sun‐exposed skin is characterized by superficial changes such as wrinkles, sagging and pigmentary changes, and also many internal changes in the structure and function of epidermis, basement membrane (BM) and dermis. These changes (so‐called photoageing) are predominantly induced by the ultraviolet (UV) component of sunlight. Epidermis of UV‐irradiated skin produced several enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), urinary plasminogen activator (uPA)/plasmin and heparanase, which degrade dermal collagen fibres and elastic fibres in the dermis, and components of epidermal BM. The BM at the dermal–epidermal junction (DEJ) controls dermal–epidermal signalling and plays an important role in the maintenance of a healthy epidermis and dermis. BM is repetitively damaged in sun‐exposed skin compared with unexposed skin, leading to epidermal and dermal deterioration and accelerated skin ageing. UV exposure also induces an increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an angiogenic factor, while thrombospondin‐1 (TSP‐1), an anti‐angiogenic factor, is decreased; these changes induce angiogenesis in papillary dermis with increased migration of elastase‐positive leucocytes, leading to dermal elastic fibre damage. Elastic fibres, such as oxytalan fibres in papillary dermis, are associated with not only skin resilience, but also skin surface texture, and elastic fibre formation by fibroblasts is facilitated by increased expression of fibulin‐5. Thus, induction of fibulin‐5 expression is a damage‐repair mechanism, and fibulin‐5 is an early marker of photoaged skin. UV‐induced skin damage is cumulative and leads to premature ageing of skin. However, appropriate daily skincare may ameliorate photoageing by inhibiting processes causing damage and enhancing repair processes.
A polymethoxyflavone mixture, extracted from orange peels, suppresses the UVB‐induced expression of MMP‐1
Authors: Yoshizaki Norihiro , Fujii Takahiro , Hashizume Ron , Masaki Hitoshi
Published: August 2016

Ultraviolet (UV) B is the main cause of skin photoageing, which has characteristic features such as deep wrinkles. UVB increases the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the skin and can cause wrinkles by disrupting components of the extracellular matrix, such as collagen fibres. We now report that a polymethoxyflavone (PMF) mixture, extracted from orange peels, suppresses the UVB‐induced expression of MMP‐1 that involves the inhibition of c‐jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) activity. Furthermore, the PMF mixture also inhibits the UVB‐induced phosphorylation of JNK. Therefore, the results suggest that the PMF mixture suppresses the UVB‐induced expression of MMP‐1 through the inhibition of JNK phosphorylation and should be useful as an antiphotoageing agent.
Plant adaptation or acclimation to rising CO2? Insight from first multigenerational RNA‐Seq transcriptome
Authors: Watson‐Lazowski Alexander , Lin Yunan , Miglietta Franco , Edwards Richard J. , Chapman Mark A. , Taylor Gail
Published: August 2016

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) directly determines the rate of plant photosynthesis and indirectly effects plant productivity and fitness and may therefore act as a selective pressure driving evolution, but evidence to support this contention is sparse. Using Plantago lanceolata L. seed collected from a naturally high CO2 spring and adjacent ambient CO2 control site, we investigated multigenerational response to future, elevated atmospheric CO2. Plants were grown in either ambient or elevated CO2 (700 μmol mol−1), enabling for the first time, characterization of the functional and population genomics of plant acclimation and adaptation to elevated CO2. This revealed that spring and control plants differed significantly in phenotypic plasticity for traits underpinning fitness including above‐ground biomass, leaf size, epidermal cell size and number and stomatal density and index. Gene expression responses to elevated CO2 (acclimation) were modest [33–131 genes differentially expressed (DE)], whilst those between control and spring plants (adaptation) were considerably larger (689–853 DE genes). In contrast, population genomic analysis showed that genetic differentiation between spring and control plants was close to zero, with no fixed differences, suggesting that plants are adapted to their native CO2 environment at the level of gene expression. An unusual phenotype of increased stomatal index in spring but not control plants in elevated CO2 correlated with altered expression of stomatal patterning genes between spring and control plants for three loci (YODA, CDKB1;1 and SCRM2) and between ambient and elevated CO2 for four loci (ER, YODA, MYB88 and BCA1). We propose that the two positive regulators of stomatal number (SCRM2) and CDKB1;1 when upregulated act as key controllers of stomatal adaptation to elevated CO2. Combined with significant transcriptome reprogramming of photosynthetic and dark respiration and enhanced growth in spring plants, we have identified the potential basis of plant adaptation to high CO2 likely to occur over coming decades.
The impact of education and cooking methods on serum phosphate levels in patients on hemodialysis: 1‐year study
Authors: Vrdoljak Ivica , Panjkota Krbavčić Ines , Bituh Martina , Leko Ninoslav , Pavlović Draško , Vrdoljak Margeta Tea
Published: August 2016

Introduction: Control of serum phosphate is important for patients on hemodialysis. The aim of the study was to determine if education based on phosphorus‐reducing techniques in food preparation and thermal processing, and accordingly prepared and applied diets, will lead to better outcomes than a standard education program to improve phosphate control in patients on hemodialysis.

Methods: Forty‐seven patients on hemodialysis were divided between an intervention and a control group. All subjects received training about nutrition for hemodialysis patients by trained dietitian. In addition, subjects in the intervention group received additional training in phosphorus‐reducing techniques in food preparation and received two hospital meals prepared using suggested cooking methods to reduce the phosphate content of food during dialysis treatment. Serum phosphate, serum albumin, and anthropometric parameters were measured, while nPCR was calculated, at the baseline and during the 1‐year study.

Findings: No differences in serum phosphate levels were observed between intervention (1.68 mmol/L [1.48–2.03]) and control group (1.88 mmol/L [1.57–2.2]) at baseline (P = 0.130). Although not statistically significant between groups the mean reduction was more apparent in the intervention group (−0.3 mmol/L (−0.4 to 0.1) vs. −0.2 (−0.5 to 0.1)), and lead to significantly reduction of phosphate binder therapy. During the study, the nPCR and anthropometric status of the patients did not change significantly.

Discussion: Providing additional education to hemodialysis patients on the specific cooking methods and accordingly prepared meals may decrease serum phosphate levels without significantly affecting nutritional status which may be useful in helping to prevent and treat hyperphosphatemia.
Emerging role of exosomes in liver physiology and pathology
Authors: Cai Shuangpeng , Cheng Xiaoyu , Pan Xueyin , Li Jun
Published: August 2016

Exosomes can mediate intercellular communication by conveying various bioactive molecules. Plentiful evidence suggests that exosomes are involved in many liver diseases including hepatitis C virus infection, hepatitis B virus infection, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, and alcoholic liver disease. Moreover, exosomes are present in nearly all human body fluids. Therefore, exosomal miRNA or proteins have the potential to be novel biomarkers of liver diseases. In the treatment of liver diseases, exosomes could participate in adaptive immune response and mesenchymal stem cell‐based therapy. Exosomes can also be used as vehicles for genetic materials and drug delivery.
“Caring‐about” and the Problem of Overwhelming Obligations
Authors: O'Dowd Ornaith
Published: August 2016

Care theorists often think of care as involving (at least) “caring‐about”—concern or attentiveness—and “caring‐for”—acting to nurture, look after, or meet needs. One problem for any theory of care is the scope of our obligations to care in both of those senses; in particular, our capacities for “caring‐about” often outrun our capacities for “caring‐for.” Accounts of care as potentially global in scope may ascribe overwhelming obligations to moral agents; however, we are often tempted to avoid or ignore situations that may call for a caring response. I suggest that some Kantian ideas may help to strike a reasonable balance.
Spontaneously Resolving Hyperreninemic Hypertension Caused by Accessory Renal Artery Stenosis in a 13‐Year‐Old Girl: A Case Report
Authors: Akbeyaz Ismail Hakki , Tirosh Amit , Robinson Cemre , Broadney Miranda M. , Papadakis Georgios Z. , Belyavskaya Elena , Lyssikatos Charalampos , Lodish Maya B. , Stratakis Constantine A.
Published: August 2016

The authors describe the clinical investigation and progress of a 13‐year‐old girl diagnosed with hypertension 4 years prior to her admission. A thorough history was taken and physical examination performed. Laboratory analysis and relevant radiological evaluation were obtained in order to determine the etiology for suspected secondary hypertension, and later to differentiate between the possible causes of hyperreninemic hypertension. The patient had an accessory left renal artery, presumptively leading to renin secretion by the underperfused kidney. The patient was treated medically with spontaneous resolution of her hypertension and near normalization of plasma renin activity. On repeat imaging, the artery was not demonstrated. The authors concluded that the diagnosis of hyperreninemic hypertension in young ages should prompt investigation for the etiology. However, cautious observation is a valid option that might lead to spontaneous resolution.
The European Parliament's Role: Towards New Copenhagen Criteria for Existing Member States?
Authors: Sargentini Judith , Dimitrovs Aleksejs
Published: August 2016

The new own‐initiative report the European Parliament is preparing has three aims: to provide a formal evaluation of the recent initiatives by the Commission and the Council; to present a viable alternative; and to do so in the form of a legislative report, so as to obtain a formal reaction from the Commission. The institutions have proposed several possible solutions to the crisis of the Rule of Law in the EU. It is time to put them into a coherent system. The report will focus on five issues: the body for a permanent country‐by‐country monitoring of democracy, the Rule of Law and fundamental rights in the EU; the role of the Agency for Fundamental Rights; whether and how infringement procedures should be revisited in this context; what a proper pre‐Article 7 Treaty on European Union (TEU) procedure should look like; and what a valid legal basis for the proposed changes should be.
Bridging the boundaries between scientists and clinicians—mechanistic hypotheses and patient stories in risk assessment of drugs
Authors: Rocca Elena
Published: August 2016

The cultural divide between scientists and clinicians has been described as undermining the advance of medical science, by hindering the production of practice‐relevant research and of research‐informed clinical decisions. Here, I consider the field of post‐marketing risk assessment of drugs as an example of strict interdependence between basic biomedical research, clinical research, and clinical evaluation and show how it would benefit from a closer collaboration between scientists and clinicians. The risk assessment of drugs after their marketing relies on spontaneous adverse effect reports to drug agencies and on peer‐reviewed case reports. I emphasize the importance of qualitative analysis of such reports for the improvement of mechanistic understanding of harmful effects of drugs. I argue that mechanistic explanations of drug effects are at least as important as determination of their frequency, in order to establish causation. An ideal risk assessment, then, verifies not only the frequency of undesired effects but also why and how the harm happens. For this purpose, the frequency or novelty of the unintended outcome, although contextually indicative, should not determine the epistemic value of a report. Details about the context that generated an unexpected outcome, instead, can offer the chance of improving causal understanding about how the intervention works. This is illustrated through examples from medical research. Mechanistic understanding is a domain of joint collaboration among (1) clinicians, in charge of detailed, qualitative reporting of patient stories about side effects, (2) qualitative clinical researchers, in charge of analyzing clinical contexts or harmful effects and formulating explanatory hypotheses, and (3) basic biomedical researchers, in charge of verifying such hypotheses. In addition, direct information flow can on one side focus clinicians' attention on knowledge gaps about drugs/effects where more research is needed, while on the other side create a more contextualized concept of mechanism among scientists.
Kinetics of gluconic acid production and cell growth in a batch bioreactor by Aspergillus niger using breadfruit hydrolysate
Authors: Ajala E. O. , Ajala M. A. , Ogunniyi D. S. , Sunmonu M. O.
Published: August 2016

The kinetics of gluconic acid production by Aspergillus niger (A. niger) using breadfruit hydrolysate was studied in a batch bioreactor. A simple model of Luedeking–Piret, logistic, and Luedeking–Piret‐like equations were proposed for gluconic acid production, cell growth, and breadfruit hydrolysate consumption respectively. The maximum gluconic acid concentration (Pt) of 109.95 g/L with 0.967 g/g process yield (88.70%) was obtained for the medium containing 120 g/l breadfruit hydrolysate at 2 vvm aeration rate. For the same conditions, the biomass concentration and maximum specific growth were obtained as 24.3 g/L and 0.018 hr−1 respectively. The models proposed for the gluconic acid production was sufficiently satisfactory, since the theoretical values of Pt (100.94 g/L) and biomass concentration (23.43 g/L) obtained from the models were almost the same with the experimental values. The model for the breadfruit hydrolysate utilization gave R2 and Adj. R2 of above 0.840 and 0.660 respectively; an indication that the model is suitable for the production of gluconic acid. Therefore, the concentration of initial breadfruit hydrolysate as substrate and aeration rate have shown significant effect on gluconic acid production and A. niger accumulation. The evaluation of the models showed that the gluconic acid production was growth‐associated.

Practical applications

Breadfruits, a perishable fruit has been abundantly found in Ile‐Ife, Nigeria where 50% of it perishes due to its short shelf‐life. This study therefore provides alternative use for breadfruit, in order to reduce its wastage. Furthermore, the growing demand of gluconic acid can be met through the use of this cheap and available breadfruit. The findings in this study can be employed to develop a bioreactor for fermentation of breadfruit hydrolysate to produce gluconic acid.
Kinetics of hot air roasting of cocoa nibs and product quality
Authors: Hii Ching Lik , Menon Abhay S. , Chiang Choon Lai , Sharif Suzannah
Published: August 2016

Cocoa beans are widely used in the manufacturing of various food and beverage products such as chocolates, powdered drink, cookies, confectioneries, and others. Processing plays a vital role in governing the final flavor profile of cocoa beans especially during roasting. The current studies aimed to determine the transport properties of cocoa nibs during roasting and also to investigate the quality of roasted cocoa nibs. Cocoa nibs were roasted at temperatures of 120, 130, and 140 °C inside a hot air convective oven. Kinetics analyses showed that overall rates of sensible heating (from T = 27 to 100 °C) were in the range of 5.1–9.5 °C/min as compared to overall rates of effective roasting (from T = 100 °C onwards) in the range of 0.9–1.4 °C/min. The observed moisture content profiles followed the typical exponential decay as commonly explained by the Fick's second law of diffusion. The dependency of thermal and moisture diffusivities with temperatures could be described using quadratic and Arrhenius models, respectively. It was determined that the average order of magnitude for moisture diffusivity was 10−10 m2/s as compared to 10−9 m2/s for thermal diffusivity. High roasting temperature had a negative impact on cocoa polyphenols where greater degradation was observed. Sensory evaluation showed that cocoa liquor produced from the higher temperature treatment (T = 140 °C) had the highest cocoa flavor.

Practical applications

Information on the roasting kinetics and moisture/thermal diffusivities are important design parameters for cocoa roaster. Changes in flavor quality during roasting are important in governing the development of flavor in the finished chocolate products. Therefore, the current studies contribute knowledge to the cocoa industry for both equipment and chocolate manufacturers.
Developing the Chinese Environmentally Extended Input‐Output (CEEIO) Database
Authors: Liang Sai , Feng Tiantian , Qu Shen , Chiu Anthony S.F. , Jia Xiaoping , Xu Ming
Published: August 2016

Environmentally extended input‐output (EEIO) databases are increasingly used to examine environmental footprints of economic activities. Studies focusing on China have independently, repeatedly developed EEIO databases for China. These databases are usually not publicly available, leading to repeated efforts, inconsistent with one another using different approaches, of limited environmental accounts, and lacking transparency, preventing continuous updating. We developed a transparent, comprehensive, and consistent Chinese EEIO database covering a wide period of time (currently 1992, 1997, 2002, and 2007 for which benchmark input‐output tables [IOTs] are available), sector classifications (original sector classifications in benchmark IOTs, a 45‐sector classification commonly used in China's environmental and energy statistics, and a 91‐sector classification with maximized sector resolution ensuring temporal consistence), and environmental satellite accounts for 256 types of resources and 30 types of pollutants in this study. Moreover, the environmental satellite accounts cover households in addition to sectors, allowing developing closed models. We make this database publicly available with open access for broader dissemination (www.ceeio.com). We demonstrate the database by evaluating environmental pressures of Chinese products in 2007. Comparisons of our database with previous studies validate its rationality and reliability.
Internal architecture of coffin‐shaped ZSM‐5 zeolite crystals with hourglass contrast unravelled by focused ion beam‐assisted transmission electron microscopy
Authors: LU J. , BARTHOLOMEEUSEN E. , SELS B.F. , SCHRYVERS D.
Published: August 2016

Optical microscopy, focused ion beam and transmission electron microscopy are combined to study the internal architecture in a coffin‐shaped ZSM‐5 crystal showing an hourglass contrast in optical microscopy. Based on parallel lamellas from different positions in the crystal, the orientation relationships between the intergrowth components of the crystal are studied and the internal architecture and growth mechanism are illustrated. The crystal is found to contain two pyramid‐like components aside from a central component. Both pyramid‐like components are rotated by 90° along the common c‐axis and with respect to the central component while the interfaces between the components show local zig‐zag feature, the latter indicating variations in relative growth velocity of the two components. The pyramid‐like intergrowth components are larger and come closer to one another in the middle of the crystal than at the edges, but they do not connect. A model of multisite nucleation and growth of 90° intergrowth components is proposed.
Neuron‐microglia interaction induced bi‐directional cytotoxicity associated with calpain activation
Authors: Podbielska Maria , Das Arabinda , Smith Amena W. , Chauhan Ashok , Ray Swapan K. , Inoue Jun , Azuma Mitsuyoshi , Nozaki Kenkichi , Hogan Edward L. , Banik Naren L.
Published: August 2016

Activated microglia release pro‐inflammatory factors and calpain into the extracellular milieu, damaging surrounding neurons. However, mechanistic links to progressive neurodegeneration in disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS) remain obscure. We hypothesize that persistent damaged/dying neurons may also release cytotoxic factors and calpain into the media, which then activate microglia again. Thus, inflammation, neuronal damage, and microglia activation, i.e., bi‐directional interaction between neurons and microglia, may be involved in the progressive neurodegeneration. We tested this hypothesis using two in vitro models: (i) the effects of soluble factors from damaged primary cortical neurons upon primary rat neurons and microglia and (ii) soluble factors released from CD3/CD28 activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of MS patients on primary human neurons and microglia. The first model indicated that neurons due to injury with pro‐inflammatory agents (IFN‐γ) release soluble neurotoxic factors, including COX‐2, reactive oxygen species, and calpain, thus activating microglia, which in turn released neurotoxic factors as well. This repeated microglial activation leads to persistent inflammation and neurodegeneration. The released calpain from neurons and microglia was confirmed by the use of calpain inhibitor calpeptin or SNJ‐1945 as well as μ‐ and m‐calpain knock down using the small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology. Our second model using activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a source of pro‐inflammatory Th1/Th17 cytokines and calpain released from auto‐reactive T cells, corroborated similar results in human primary cell cultures and confirmed calpain to be involved in progressive MS. These insights into reciprocal paracrine regulation of cell injury and calpain activation in the progressive phase of MS, Parkinson's disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases suggest potentially beneficial preventive and therapeutic strategies, including calpain inhibition.

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Results of a national survey of Australian nurses' practice caring for older people in an emergency department
Authors: Deasey Debra , Kable Ashley , Jeong Sarah
Published: August 2016

Aim and objective

To report Australian nurses' practices caring for older people in the emergency department.

Background

Unmet clinical needs of older patients in the emergency departments can have a negative impact on nurses and patients.

Method and design

A national cross‐sectional survey using a previously validated instrument, Older Person in Acute Care survey, was conducted to measure Australian emergency nurses' attitudes towards older people in their care. Members of the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) were invited to participate in the study. There were 371 (39%) completed and valid surveys returned.

Results

This study determined that Australian emergency department nurses report many positive practices used for older patients in their care.

Conclusion

In this study, the Older Person in Acute Care survey has identified that, overall, emergency departments nurses have positive clinical practices towards their older patients in the emergency departments. The implications for clinical practice are significant as patient centred care in the Australian emergency departments will reduce adverse events for the older patient.
Post‐traumatic growth in parents after infants’ neonatal intensive care unit hospitalisation
Authors: Aftyka Anna , Rozalska‐Walaszek Ilona , Rosa Wojciech , Rybojad Beata , Karakuła‐Juchnowicz Hanna
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To determine the incidence and severity of post‐traumatic growth in a group of parents of children hospitalised in the intensive care unit in the past.

Background

A premature birth or a birth with life‐threatening conditions is a traumatic event for the parents and may lead to a number of changes, some of which are positive, known as post‐traumatic growth.

Method

The survey covered 106 parents of 67 infants aged 3–12 months. An original questionnaire and standardised research tools were used in the study: Impact Event Scale – Revised, Perceived Stress Scale, COPE Inventory: Positive Reinterpretation and Growth, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, Post‐traumatic Growth Inventory and Parent and Infant Characteristic Questionnaire.

Results

Due to a stepwise backward variables selection, we found three main factors that explain post‐traumatic growth: post‐traumatic stress symptoms, positive reinterpretation and growth and dichotomic variable infants’ survival. This model explained 29% of the post‐traumatic growth variation. Similar models that were considered separately for mothers and fathers showed no significantly better properties.

Conclusion

Post‐traumatic growth was related to a lesser extent to sociodemographic variables or the stressor itself, and related to a far greater extent to psychological factors.

Relevance to clinical practice

Our study highlights the fact that post‐traumatic growth in the parents of neonates hospitalised in the neonatal intensive care units remains under‐evaluated.
Ichthyosis uteri with leiomyoma
Authors: Kanno Kiyoshi , Kusakabe Takashi , Takata Megumi , Suzuki Kazuo , Oowada Makoto , Suzuki Hiroshi
Published: August 2016

A 58‐year‐old, postmenopausal, multiparous woman presented with a chief complaint of abnormal vaginal bleeding. Endometrial cytology was evaluated twice, revealing only squamous epithelial cells both times. Degenerated leiomyoma or uterine sarcoma was suspected from imaging findings, and total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy were therefore performed. However, histopathological examination revealed no signs of malignancy, and the patient was diagnosed as having ichthyosis uteri with uterine leiomyoma. No koilocytosis was evident, and immunostaining for p16 was also negative. Ichthyosis uteri is an extremely rare disease of unknown origin in which squamous metaplasia of the endometrium occurs across a wide area. Although regarded as a benign condition, cases have been reported in which the underlying condition was squamous cell carcinoma or endometrial adenocarcinoma. If ichthyosis uteri is present, a comprehensive approach is required, and the possibility of uterine malignancy should be considered. However, there may be no direct association between the malignant lesions and ichthyosis uteri.