bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recommendations for the development of e‐modules for the continuing professional development of European dentists
Authors: Kavadella A. , Kossioni A. E. , Tsiklakis K. , Cowpe J. , Bullock A. , Barnes E. , Bailey S. , Thomas H. , Thomas R. , Karaharju‐Suvanto T. , Suomalainen K. , Kersten H. , Povel E. , Giles M. , Walmsley D. , Soboleva U. , Liepa A. , Akota I.
Published: April 2013

Aims

To provide evidence‐based and peer‐reviewed recommendations for the development of dental continuing professional development (CPD) learning e‐modules.

Methods

The present recommendations are consensus recommendations of the DentCPD project team and were informed by a literature research, consultations from e‐learning and IT expert, discussions amongst the participants attending a special interest group during the 2012 ADEE meeting, and feedback from the evaluation procedures of the exemplar e‐module (as described in a companion paper within this Supplement). The main focus of these recommendations is on the courses and modules organised and offered by dental schools.

Results and discussion

E‐modules for dental CPD, as well as for other health professionals’ continuing education, have been implemented and evaluated for a number of years. Research shows that the development of e‐modules is a team process, undertaken by academics, subject experts, pedagogists, IT and web designers, learning technologists and librarians. The e‐module must have clear learning objectives (outcomes), addressing the learners’ individual needs, and must be visually attractive, relevant, interactive, promoting critical thinking and providing feedback. The text, graphics and animations must support the objectives and enable the learning process by creating an attractive, easy to navigate and interactive electronic environment. Technology is usually a concern for learners and tutors; therefore, it must be kept simple and interoperable within different systems and software. The pedagogical and technological proficiency of educators is of paramount importance, yet remains a challenge in many instances.

Conclusions

The development of e‐courses and modules for dental CPD is an endeavour undertaken by a group of professionals. It must be underpinned by sound pedagogical and e‐learning principles and must incorporate elements for effective visual learning and visual design and a simple, consistent technology.
Host plant manipulation by fig gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) which induce emergence projections on flower galls in the syconia of Ficus microcarpa (Moraceae)
Authors: Yafuso Masako , Adaniya Shinichi , Yukawa Junichi
Published: April 2013

We observed that unique projections developed from female flower galls induced by three unidentified cecidomyiid species in the syconia of Ficus microcarpa (Moraceae) on Okinawa and Amami Islands, Japan. The three cecidomyiids (sp. 1, 2 and 3) were tentatively distinguished by the differences in the shape of the projections. The projection of sp. 1 started to develop from the bottom of each gall before emergence, broke the skin of the syconium, and developed finally up to 5–6 mm in length within 6–8 h. During this period, the pupa oriented its head towards the bottom of the gall. After the projection fully elongated, the pupa pushed open the bottom of the projection with its head. The projection was easily removed from the gall at the base. The pupa quickly crawled half way out of the gall through the opening at the bottom of the projection and an adult then emerged. The projection did not develop when other hymenopteran gall inhabitants emerged. The projection was derived from plant tissues consisting of a mass of small square cells in the basal and distal portions and regularly arranged long cells in the middle portion. No projection was induced by the application of gibberellin's paste to the bottom of syconia. The gall midge seemed to manipulate the fig plant to develop the projection before emergence, so that the pupa can easily pass through the sticky epidermis of the syconium. The emergence of sp. 2 and 3 could not be intensively observed.
Intravenous topiramate: Safety and pharmacokinetics following a single dose in patients with epilepsy or migraines taking oral topiramate
Authors: Clark Anne M. , Kriel Robert L. , Leppik Ilo E. , White James R. , Henry Thomas R. , Brundage Richard C. , Cloyd James C.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

Although topiramate is widely prescribed for epilepsy and migraine, there is no intravenous product. We have developed an injectable topiramate formulation in which the drug is solubilized in a cyclodextrin matrix, Captisol® (Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc., La Jolla, CA). Our long‐term goal is to evaluate intravenous topiramate for the treatment of neonatal seizures. Prior to studies in newborns, we carried out an investigation of injectable topiramate's safety and pharmacokinetics in adult patients.

Methods

Twenty adult volunteers with epilepsy or migraine on stable, on maintenance topiramate therapy were given 25 mg of a stable‐labeled intravenous topiramate over 10 min, followed by their usual oral doses. Vital signs were taken, electrocardiography studies (ECGs) were recorded, and the infusion sites were periodically examined prior to and up to 24 h after dosing. Blood samples were collected prior to administration and serially for 96 h thereafter. Plasma concentrations of both stable‐labeled and regular topiramate were measured using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS). Concentration‐time data were analyzed using a noncompartmental approach with WinNonlin 5.2 (Pharsight Corporation, Mountain View, CA, U.S.A.).

Key Findings

Seven patients experienced one or more of the following minor adverse events including nausea and vomiting (1), tingling around the lips (1), paresthesia in the arms and legs (1), and a mild vasovagal response with intravenous catheter placement (1). Included in the adverse events were four patients with epilepsy who had seizures consistent with their histories. There were no changes in heart rate, blood pressure, or ECG results, and there were no infusion site reactions. Pharmacokinetic parameters (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) determined following the intravenous dose included absolute bioavailability: 110 ± 16%, distribution volume: 0.79 ± 0.22 L/kg, clearance: 2.03 ± 1.07 L/h, and elimination half‐life: 27.6 ± 9.7 h. Distribution volume, half‐life, and clearance were significantly altered by enzyme‐inducing drugs.

Significance

A single 25‐mg dose of intravenous topiramate caused minimal infusion site or systemic adverse effects in patients taking oral topiramate. Pharmacokinetic results show that oral topiramate is completely absorbed and that its steady‐state elimination half‐life is longer than previously assumed, which permits once or twice daily dosing even in the presence of enzyme‐inducing drugs. The information from this study can inform the design of subsequent studies in adults, older children, and newborns, including controlled clinical trials intended to determine the efficacy and safety of intravenous topiramate for neonatal seizures.
Adapting and testing the oral impacts on daily performances among adults and elderly in Brazil
Authors: Abegg Claides , Fontanive Victor Nascimento , Tsakos George , Davoglio Rosane Silvia , de Oliveira Mônica Maria Celestina
Published: April 2013

Objectives

To cross‐culturally adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the oral impact on daily performance (OIDP) in Brazilians aged 50–74 years; to test the impact of oral health on ‘work’ and ‘vigorous physical activity’.

Background

Clinical oral health indicators do not assess the perceived impact of oral health on people's lives.

Methods

The study was performed through small group interviews, pilot studies and a main study with 200 people aged 50 and over. Data were collected through interviews in health centres.

Results

For content validity, ‘eating’ (1.00, p < 0.001) and ‘speaking’ (0.96, p < 0.001) obtained the highest level of agreement among experts. For criterion and construct validity, there was an inverse correlation between self‐rated oral health, perceived oral treatment needs and satisfaction with oral health and OIDP score. Cronbach's alpha coefficient varied from 0.69 to 0.67 when ‘work’ and ‘vigorous physical activities’ were deleted. Test–retest reliability was 0.69 (ICC).

Conclusion

The validation process showed that the Brazilian OIDP has the necessary basic psychometric properties to be used in the 50–74 years age group in Brazil. ‘Work’ and ‘vigorous physical activities’ had low impact on oral health. The activity ‘vigorous physical activities’ was not maintained in the instrument because of its low impact, while ‘work’ was maintained due of the increase in the 50–59 years age group in the Brazilian population.
Control of glycemia and other cardiovascular disease risk factors in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Data from the Adult Diabetes Control and Management
Authors: Sazlina Shariff‐Ghazali , Mastura Ismail , Ahmad Zaiton , Cheong Ai‐Theng , Adam Bujang‐Mohamad , Jamaiyah Haniff , Lee Ping‐Yein , Syed‐Alwi Syed‐Abdul‐Rahman , Chew Boon‐How , SriWahyu Taher
Published: April 2013

Aim

The aims of the present study were to assess the control of glycemia and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, and the association between age and these controls among older adults with type 2 diabetes in Malaysia.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was carried out using cases notified to the Adult Diabetes Control and Management database between 1 January and 31 December 2009. A total of 10 363 people aged over 60 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in the analyses. A standard online case report form was used to record demographic data, clinical factors (diabetes duration, comorbid condition and treatment modalities), cardiovascular disease risk factors, diabetes complications and laboratory assessments. The cardiovascular disease risk factors controls assessed included glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) <7.0%, blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference and lipid profiles.

Results

The proportion of older adults who achieved target HbA1c (<7.0%) was 41.7%. A greater proportion of older adults aged ≥80 years significantly achieved the targets of HbA1c <7% (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P < 0.001), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol <2.6 mmol/L (P = 0.007) and triglycerides <1.7 mmol/L (P = 0.001) when compared with the younger elderly groups. They were also associated with achieving target HbA1c <7.0% (OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.68–2.26) and triglycerides <1.7 mmol/L (OR = 1.20, 95%CI 1.04–1.46) than those aged 60–69 years.

Conclusion

The control of cardiovascular disease risk factors was suboptimal in older adults with type 2 diabetes. The oldest elderly were more likely to achieve target HbA1c (<7.0%) and triglycerides (<1.7 mmol/L) than older adults aged 60–69 years. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 130–137.
Glass Formation and Characterization Studies in the TeO2–WO3–Na2O System
Authors: Çelikbilek Miray , Erçin Ersundu A. , Aydin Suheyla
Published: April 2013

Glass formation behavior of the TeO2–WO3–Na2O system was studied by using conventional melt‐quenching technique. A wide glass formation range was determined for the first time in the literature and thermal, physical, and structural characterization of sodium‐tungsten‐tellurite glasses were realized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques. Glass transition (Tg) and crystallization (Tc/Tp) temperatures, glass stability (∆T), density (ρ), molar volume (VM), oxygen molar volume (VO), and oxygen packing density (OPD) values and structural transformations in the glass network were investigated according to the equimolar substitution of TeO2 by Na2O+WO3 and changing Na2O or WO3 at constant TeO2.
A HuD‐ZBP1 ribonucleoprotein complex localizes GAP‐43 mRNA into axons through its 3′ untranslated region AU‐rich regulatory element
Authors: Yoo Soonmoon , Kim Hak H. , Kim Paul , Donnelly Christopher J. , Kalinski Ashley L. , Vuppalanchi Deepika , Park Michael , Lee Seung J. , Merianda Tanuja T. , Perrone‐Bizzozero Nora I. , Twiss Jeffery L.
Published: April 2013

Localized translation of axonal mRNAs contributes to developmental and regenerative axon growth. Although untranslated regions (UTRs) of many different axonal mRNAs appear to drive their localization, there has been no consensus RNA structure responsible for this localization. We recently showed that limited expression of ZBP1 protein restricts axonal localization of both β‐actin and GAP‐43 mRNAs. β‐actin 3′UTR has a defined element for interaction with ZBP1, but GAP‐43 mRNA shows no homology to this RNA sequence. Here, we show that an AU‐rich regulatory element (ARE) in GAP‐43′s 3′UTR is necessary and sufficient for its axonal localization. Axonal GAP‐43 mRNA levels increase after in vivo injury, and GAP‐43 mRNA shows an increased half‐life in regenerating axons. GAP‐43 mRNA interacts with both HuD and ZBP1, and HuD and ZBP1 co‐immunoprecipitate in an RNA‐dependent fashion. Reporter mRNA with the GAP‐43 ARE competes with endogenous β‐actin mRNA for axonal localization and decreases axon length and branching similar to the β‐actin 3′UTR competing with endogenous GAP‐43 mRNA. Conversely, over‐expressing GAP‐43 coding sequence with its 3′UTR ARE increases axonal elongation and this effect is lost when just the ARE is deleted from GAP‐43′s 3′UTR.

image

We have recently found that over‐expression of GAP‐43 using an axonally targeted construct with the 3′UTRs of GAP‐43 promoted elongating growth of axons, while restricting the mRNA to the cell body with the 3′UTR of γ‐actin had minimal effect on axon length. In this study, we show that the ARE in GAP‐43′s 3′UTR is responsible for localization of GAP‐43 mRNA into axons and is sufficient for GAP‐43 protein's role in elongating axonal growth.
Gratuity, Embodiment, and Reciprocity
Authors: Sullivan‐Dunbar Sandra
Published: April 2013

Protestant Christian ethicist Timothy Jackson and secular feminist philosopher Eva Feder Kittay each explore the relationship between love or care and justice through the lens of human dependency. Jackson sharply prioritizes agape over justice, whereas Kittay articulates a more complex and integrated understanding of the relationship of care and distributive justice. An account of Christian love and its relation to justice must account for the gratuity, mutuality, and reciprocity that pervade human existence. Such an account must integrate provision for another's basic needs, a feature of agape, with a distributive justice that fairly allocates the material prerequisites of care and the burden of caring labor. Kittay's treatment of care and justice is more adequate to the realities of human embodiment and the social organization of care than Jackson's, but neither offers a fully adequate ground for the moral personhood of all human beings, including deeply dependent persons.
Molecular‐ and pollen‐based vegetation analysis in lake sediments from central Scandinavia
Authors: Parducci Laura , Matetovici Irina , Fontana Sonia L. , Bennett K. D. , Suyama Yoshihisa , Haile James , Kjær Kurt H. , Larsen Nicolaj K. , Drouzas Andreas D. , Willerslev Eske
Published: April 2013

Plant and animal biodiversity can be studied by obtaining DNA directly from the environment. This new approach in combination with the use of generic barcoding primers (metabarcoding) has been suggested as complementary or alternative to traditional biodiversity monitoring in ancient soil sediments. However, the extent to which metabarcoding truly reflects plant composition remains unclear, as does its power to identify species with no pollen or macrofossil evidence. Here, we compared pollen‐based and metabarcoding approaches to explore the Holocene plant composition around two lakes in central Scandinavia. At one site, we also compared barcoding results with those obtained in earlier studies with species‐specific primers. The pollen analyses revealed a larger number of taxa (46), of which the majority (78%) was not identified by metabarcoding. The metabarcoding identified 14 taxa (MTUs), but allowed identification to a lower taxonomical level. The combined analyses identified 52 taxa. The barcoding primers may favour amplification of certain taxa, as they did not detect taxa previously identified with species‐specific primers. Taphonomy and selectiveness of the primers are likely the major factors influencing these results. We conclude that metabarcoding from lake sediments provides a complementary, but not an alternative, tool to pollen analysis for investigating past flora. In the absence of other fossil evidence, metabarcoding gives a local and important signal from the vegetation, but the resulting assemblages show limited capacity to detect all taxa, regardless of their abundance around the lake. We suggest that metabarcoding is followed by pollen analysis and the use of species‐specific primers to provide the most comprehensive signal from the environment.
Inflammatory tinea capitis mimicking dissecting cellulitis in a postpubertal male: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Stein Loretta L. , Adams Erin G. , Holcomb Katherine Z.
Published: April 2013

Tinea capitis in postpubertal patients is unusual and may be misdiagnosed as dissecting cellulitis. We report a case of a healthy 19‐year‐old Hispanic male presenting with a 2‐month history of a large, painful subcutaneous boggy plaque on the scalp with patchy alopecia, erythematous papules, cysts and pustules. Although initially diagnosed as dissecting cellulitis, potassium hydroxide evaluation (KOH preparation) of the hair from the affected region was positive. A punch biopsy of the scalp demonstrated endothrix consistent with tinea capitis, but with a brisk, deep mixed inflammatory infiltrate as can be seen with chronic dissecting cellulitis. Fungal culture revealed Trichophyton tonsurans, and a diagnosis of inflammatory tinea capitis was made. The patient was treated over the course of 17 months with multiple systemic and topical antifungal medications, with slow, but demonstrable clinical and histopathological improvement. A rare diagnosis in adults, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for this condition in an adult with an inflammatory scalp disorder not classic for dissecting cellulitis or with a recalcitrant dissecting cellulitis. Prompt, appropriate diagnosis and treatment is necessary to prevent the long‐term complications of scarring alopecia.
Accumulation of phosphorylated TDP‐43 in the CNS of a patient with Cockayne syndrome
Authors: Sakurai Atsushi , Makioka Kouki , Fukuda Toshio , Takatama Masamitsu , Okamoto Koichi
Published: April 2013

Here, we report a case of Cockayne syndrome (CS) in a Japanese man who displayed a unique pathology of phosphorylated trans‐activation response (TAR) DNA‐binding protein 43 (pTDP‐43) with abundant Rosenthal fibers. Many round pTDP‐43‐positive structures were detected throughout the CNS; however, most of them were located in two regions that also exhibited neuronal depletion: the cerebellar cortex and the inferior olivary nucleus. To a lesser extent, these aggregates were also present in the cerebellar white matter, around the subependymal regions in the brain stem, and in the spinal cord. Intraneuronal pTDP‐43 inclusions were only observed in a small number of neurons in the inferior olivary nucleus. Double‐label immunofluorescence revealed that many of the aggregates were localized to astrocytes. The observed distribution and the morphology of the pTDP‐43‐positive structures were unique and have not yet been reported. Therefore, a pTDP‐43‐related pathology may be implicated in CS as well as in other neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Whether the pathology of these diseases reflects a primary neurodegenerative process or a secondary reaction is not known.
Value Receptacles
Authors: Chappell Richard Yetter
Published: April 2013

Utilitarianism is often rejected on the grounds that it fails to respect the separateness of persons, instead treating people as mere “receptacles of value”. I develop several different versions of this objection, and argue that, despite their prima facie plausibility, they are all mistaken. Although there are crude forms of utilitarianism that run afoul of these objections, I advance a new form of the view—‘token‐pluralistic utilitarianism’—that does not.
Metastatic Spiradenocarcinoma Occurring in an 8‐Year‐Old Boy
Authors: Miedema Jayson R. , Burgon Eric , Burkhart Craig , Stitzenberg Karyn , Hipps John , Zedek Daniel
Published: April 2013

We recently saw the case of an 8‐year‐old boy with histologic findings of spiradenocarcinoma. Malignant adnexal tumors in children are exceedingly rare, and cases of spiradenocarcinoma in children are absent in the literature. We report the case of an 8‐year‐old boy with metastatic spiradenocarcinoma. A biopsy 2 years before his presentation at our institution was interpreted as a benign lesion, but when the lesion regrew, a repeat biopsy was performed that demonstrated ominous findings, prompting a reexcision. This reexcision demonstrated an area with significant necrosis, many mitoses, and cellular pleomorphism apparently arising out of a sharply demarcated, adjacent, lower‐grade area. The histologic features of this patient's biopsies were those of spiradenocarcinoma, potentially arising out of a preexisting spiradenoma, a finding that has not been documented previously in this age group. Staging studies demonstrated multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules, which were confirmed using thoracoscopic biopsy to be metastatic disease. His chemotherapy regimen has included several cycles of cisplatin and 5‐flourouracil, with ongoing disease progression of pulmonary disease. It has been 16 months since he presented to our institution (>3 years since the appearance of his initial lesion). Imaging studies demonstrate a slowly increasing size and number of pulmonary lesions. The long‐term prognosis is guarded.
Identification of differentially accumulating pistil proteins associated with self‐incompatibility of non‐heading Chinese cabbage
Authors: Wang L. , Peng H. , Ge T. , Liu T. , Hou X. , Li Y.
Published: April 2013

Non‐heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis Makino), an important vegetable crop in China, exhibits a typical sporophytic self‐incompatibility (SI) system. To better understand the mechanism of SI response and identify potential candidate proteins involved in the SI system of this vegetable crop, the proteomic approach was taken to identify differential accumulating pistil proteins. Pistils were collected at 0 h and 2 h after self‐pollination at anthesis in self‐incompatible and compatible lines of non‐heading Chinese cabbage, and total proteins were extracted and separated by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE). A total of 25 protein spots that displayed differential abundance were identified by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation‐time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF/TOF MS) and peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF). Among them, 22 protein spots were confidently established. The mRNA levels of the corresponding genes were detected by quantitative RT‐PCR. The 22 identified protein spots are involved in energy metabolism (four), protein biosynthesis (three), photosynthesis (six), stress response and defence (five), and protein degradation (four). Among these potential candidate proteins, UDP‐sugar pyrophosphorylase could be involved in sucrose degradation to influence pollen germination and growth. Glutathione S–transferases could be involved in pollen maturation, and affect pollen fertility. Senescence‐associated cysteine protease, which is related to programmed cell death, could be mainly related to self pollen recognition of non‐heading Chinese cabbage. The study will contribute to further investigations of molecular mechanism of sporophytic SI in Brassicaceae.
Two redundant octanoyltransferases and one obligatory lipoyl synthase provide protein‐lipoylation autonomy to plastids of Arabidopsis
Authors: Ewald R. , Hoffmann C. , Neuhaus E. , Bauwe H.
Published: April 2013

Octanoyltransferases (LIP2) are important for the lipoylation of several α‐ketoacid decarboxylases and glycine decarboxylase, all of which are essential multienzyme complexes of central metabolism, by attaching de novo‐synthesised octanoyl moieties to the respective target subunits. Lipoyl synthase (LIP1) then inserts two sulphur atoms each into the protein‐bound octanoyl chains to generate the functional lipoamide arms. In plants, most of the above multienzyme complexes occur only in mitochondria. Pyruvate dehydrogenase is an exception, since it also occurs in plastids. Plastidial LIP1 and LIP2 are known, but it is not clear how essential these enzymes are. Here, we report that not just one but two redundant LIP2 isoforms, LIP2p and LIP2p2, operate in plastids of Arabidopsis. The combined deletion of the two isoenzymes is embryo‐lethal. Deletion of the plastidial lipoyl synthase LIP1p is also embryo‐lethal, indicating that all plastidial LIP1 activity is due to LIP1p. These features suggest that protein lipoylation is based on an autonomous and partially redundant de novo lipoylation pathway in plastids.
Refugees' Employment Integration in Sweden: Cultural Distance and Labor Market Performance
Authors: Lundborg Per
Published: April 2013

This paper is the first to specifically focus on the integration of refugee immigrants into the Swedish labor market. Using highly detailed register data on blue collar workers it is shown that refugees' employment lags that of natives basically for their whole life time in Sweden. Time in Sweden reduces drastically the unemployment days, though from very high initial levels. Refugees from culturally distant Iran/Iraq and Horn of Africa experience considerably more days in unemployment than refugees from the less distant Eastern Europe and Latin America. The differences are large during the first 20 years in Sweden but some convergence occurs thereafter. Following a business cycle upturn this paper finds that the reduction of refugees' unemployment is half of that of natives'. Since refugees arrive at different ages, high numbers of unemployment days are recorded also for relatively old refugees with the highest number for those above 30.
What Drives Individual Attitudes towards Immigration in South Africa?
Authors: Facchini Giovanni , Mayda Anna Maria , Mendola Mariapia
Published: April 2013

This paper empirically investigates the determinants of individual attitudes towards immigration in South Africa using the 1996, 2001 and 2007 rounds of the World Values Survey, looking at the role played by both economic and non‐economic drivers. Our findings suggest that economic characteristics that work through the labor marketare not likely to explain the observed variation in individual preferences. We find instead some evidence for the role played by non‐economic drivers, in particular by the ethnic background of the respondent and his/her religious affiliation. Our analysis thus highlights the importance of cultural factors for the design of migration policy in South Africa.
Population Aging and Individual Attitudes toward Immigration: Disentangling Age, Cohort and Time Effects
Authors: Calahorrano Lena
Published: April 2013

In the face of rising old‐age dependency ratios in industrialized countries such as Germany, politicians and their electorates are discussing the loosening of immigration policies as one policy option to ensure the sustainability of public social security systems. The question arises whether this policy option is feasible in aging countries. Are their electorates becoming more favorable to immigration? The attitudes of the people living in the recipient locations are a key issue in the study of migration and culture. This paper uses the 1999–2010 waves of the German Socio‐Economic Panel to disentangle the effects of age, birth cohort and time on concerns about immigration. Older birth cohorts are found to be more concerned than younger ones whereas concerns are found to decrease over the life cycle. Both findings suggest scope for the loosening of immigration constraints.
Identification of two novel HLA‐B*54 alleles, B*54:01:03 and B*54:01:04 by polymerase chain reaction sequence‐based typing
Authors: He Y.‐M. , Wang W. , He J. , Zhu F.‐M. , Lv H.‐J.
Published: April 2013

HLA‐B*54:01:03 and HLA‐B*54:01:04 show one nucleotide change compared to HLA‐B*54:01:01.
A woman with a painful eruption following liver transplantation
Authors: Wooten D. , Feramisco J.D. , Mully T.W. , Fox L.P.
Published: April 2013

A 29‐year‐old woman with hepatitis C presented 2 years after an orthotopic liver transplant with several weeks of fevers, abdominal pain, nausea, and a painful ulcerated nodular eruption on her abdomen and lower extremities. The patient was evaluated, and her case is presented and the differential discussed.
An Arabidopsis homolog of importin β1 is required for ABA response and drought tolerance
Authors: Luo Yanjie , Wang Zhijuan , Ji Hongtao , Fang Hui , Wang Shuangfeng , Tian Lining , Li Xia
Published: April 2013

The import of proteins into the nucleus in response to drought is critical for mediating the reprogramming of gene expression that leads to drought tolerance. However, regulatory mechanisms involved in nuclear protein import remain largely unknown. Here, we have identified an Arabidopsis gene (AtKPNB1) as a homolog of human KPNB1 (importin β1). AtKPNB1 was expressed in multiple organs, and the protein was localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. AtKPNB1 was able to facilitate nuclear import of a model protein. Null mutation of AtKPNB1 delayed development under normal growth conditions and increased sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA) during seed germination and cotyledon development. Inactivation of AtKPNB1 increased stomatal closure in response to ABA, reduced the rate of water loss, and substantially enhanced drought tolerance. AtKPNB1 interacted with several importin α proteins, nucleoporin AtNUP62, and the Arabidopsis Ran proteins. Inactivation of AtKPNB1 did not affect the ABA responsiveness or the expression level or subcellular localization of ABI1, ABI2 or ABI5, key regulators of the ABA signaling pathway. Moreover, phenotypic analysis of epistasis revealed that AtKPNB1 modulates the ABA response and drought tolerance through a pathway that is independent of ABI1 and ABI5. Collectively, our results show that AtKPNB1 is an Arabidopsis importin β that functions in ABA signaling.
Very‐short‐term perioperative intravenous iron administration and postoperative outcome in major orthopedic surgery: a pooled analysis of observational data from 2547 patients
Authors: Muñoz Manuel , Gómez‐Ramírez Susana , Cuenca Jorge , García‐Erce José Antonio , Iglesias‐Aparicio Daniel , Haman‐Alcober Sami , Ariza Daniel , Naveira Enrique
Published: April 2013

Background

Postoperative nosocomial infection (PNI) is a severe complication in surgical patients. Known risk factors of PNI such as allogeneic blood transfusions (ABTs), anemia, and iron deficiency are manageable with perioperative intravenous (IV) iron therapy. To address potential concerns about IV iron and the risk of PNI, we studied a large series of orthopedic surgical patients for possible relations between IV iron, ABT, and PNI.

Study Design and Methods

Pooled data on ABT, PNI, 30‐day mortality, and length of hospital stay (LHS) from 2547 patients undergoing elective lower‐limb arthroplasty (n = 1186) or hip fracture repair (n = 1361) were compared between patients who received either very‐short‐term perioperative IV iron (200‐600 mg; n = 1538), with or without recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO; 40,000 IU), or standard treatment (n = 1009).

Results

Compared to standard therapy, perioperative IV iron reduced rates of ABT (32.4% vs. 48.8%; p = 0.001), PNI (10.7% vs. 26.9%; p = 0.001), and 30‐day mortality (4.8% vs. 9.4%; p = 0.003) and the LHS (11.9 days vs. 13.4 days; p = 0.001) in hip fracture patients. These benefits were observed in both transfused and nontransfused patients. Also in elective arthroplasty, IV iron reduced ABT rates (8.9% vs. 30.1%; p = 0.001) and LHS (8.4 days vs.10.7 days; p = 0.001), without differences in PNI rates (2.8% vs. 3.7%; p = 0.417), and there was no 30‐day mortality.

Conclusion

Despite known limitations of pooled observational analyses, these results suggest that very‐short‐term perioperative administration of IV iron, with or without rHuEPO, in major lower limb orthopedic procedures is associated with reduced ABT rates and LHS, without increasing postoperative morbidity or mortality.
DTW–RADON-BASED SHAPE DESCRIPTOR FOR PATTERN RECOGNITION
Authors: SANTOSH K. C. , LAMIROY BART , WENDLING LAURENT
Published: April 2013

In this paper, we present a pattern recognition method that uses dynamic programming for the alignment of Radon features. The key characteristic of the method is to use dynamic time warping (DTW) to match corresponding pairs of the Radon features for all possible projections. Thanks to DTW, we avoid compressing the feature matrix into a single vector which would otherwise miss information. To reduce the possible number of matchings, we rely on a initial normalization based on the pattern orientation. A comprehensive study is made using major state-of-the-art shape descriptors over several public datasets of shapes such as graphical symbols (both printed and hand-drawn), handwritten characters and footwear prints. In all tests, the method proves its generic behavior by providing better recognition performance. Overall, we validate that our method is robust to deformed shape due to distortion, degradation and occlusion.
SELF-INVERSES, LAGRANGIAN PERMUTATIONS AND MINIMAL INTERVAL EXCHANGE TRANSFORMATIONS WITH MANY ERGODIC MEASURES
Authors: FICKENSCHER JONATHAN
Published: April 2013

Thanks to works by Kontsevich and Zorich followed by Boissy, we have a classification of all Rauzy Classes of any given genus. It follows from these works that Rauzy Classes are closed under the operation of inverting the permutation. In this paper, we shall prove the existence of self-inverse permutations in every Rauzy Class by giving an explicit construction of such an element satisfying the sufficient conditions. We will also show that self-inverse permutations are Lagrangian, meaning any suspension has its vertical cycles span a Lagrangian subspace in homology. This will simplify the proof of a lemma in a work by Forni. Veech proved a bound on the number of distinct ergodic probability measures for a given minimal interval exchange transformation. We verify that this bound is sharp by constructing examples in each Rauzy Class.
SOLUTIONS WITH MULTIPLE ALTERNATE SIGN PEAKS ALONG A BOUNDARY GEODESIC TO A SEMILINEAR DIRICHLET PROBLEM
Authors: D'APRILE TERESA , PISTOIA ANGELA
Published: April 2013

We study the existence of sign-changing multiple interior spike solutions for the following Dirichlet problem [Formula: see text] where Ω is a smooth and bounded domain of ℝN, ε is a small positive parameter, f is a superlinear, subcritical and odd nonlinearity. In particular we prove that if Ω has a plane of symmetry and its intersection with the plane is a two-dimensional strictly convex domain, then, provided that k is even and sufficiently large, a k-peak solution exists with alternate sign peaks aligned along a closed curve near a geodesic of ∂Ω.
A PROVABLE ALGORITHM TO DETECT WEAK SYMMETRY IN A POLYGON
Authors: MELKEMI MAHMOUD , CORDIER FREDERIC , SAPIDIS NICKOLAS S.
Published: April 2013

This paper deals with the problem of detecting "weak symmetry" in a polygon, which is a special bijective and continuous mapping between the vertices of the given polygon. An application of this work is the automatic reconstruction of 3D polygons symmetric with respect to a plane from free-hand sketches of weakly-symmetric 2D polygons. We formalize the weak-symmetry notion and highlight its many properties which lead to an algorithm detecting it. The closest research work to the proposed approach is the detection of skewed symmetry. Skewed symmetry detection deals only with reconstruction of planar mirror-symmetric 3D polygons while our method is able to identify symmetry in projections of planar as well as nonplanar mirror-symmetric 3D polygons.
Somatotropic Signaling: Trade-Offs Between Growth, Reproductive Development, and Longevity
Authors: Bartke Andrzej , Sun Liou Y. , Longo Valter
Published: April 2013

Growth hormone (GH) is a key determinant of postnatal growth and plays an important role in the control of metabolism and body composition. Surprisingly, deficiency in GH signaling delays aging and remarkably extends longevity in laboratory mice. In GH-deficient and GH-resistant animals, the “healthspan” is also extended with delays in cognitive decline and in the onset of age-related disease. The role of hormones homologous to insulin-like growth factor (IGF, an important mediator of GH actions) in the control of aging and lifespan is evolutionarily conserved from worms to mammals with some homologies extending to unicellular yeast. The combination of reduced GH, IGF-I, and insulin signaling likely contributes to extended longevity in GH or GH receptor-deficient organisms. Diminutive body size and reduced fecundity of GH-deficient and GH-resistant mice can be viewed as trade-offs for extended longevity. Mechanisms responsible for delayed aging of GH-related mutants include enhanced stress resistance and xenobiotic metabolism, reduced inflammation, improved insulin signaling, and various metabolic adjustments. Pathological excess of GH reduces life expectancy in men as well as in mice, and GH resistance or deficiency provides protection from major age-related diseases, including diabetes and cancer, in both species. However, there is yet no evidence of increased longevity in GH-resistant or GH-deficient humans, possibly due to non-age-related deaths. Results obtained in GH-related mutant mice provide striking examples of mutations of a single gene delaying aging, reducing age-related disease, and extending lifespan in a mammal and providing novel experimental systems for the study of mechanisms of aging.
Inverse Problems for the Quadratic Pencil of the Sturm-Liouville Equations with Impulse
Authors: Amırov Rauf Kh. , Nabıev A. Adiloglu
Published: April 2013

In this study some inverse problems for a boundary value problem generated with a quadratic pencil of Sturm-Liouville equations with impulse on a finite interval are considered. Some useful integral representations for the linearly independent solutions of a quadratic pencil of Sturm-Liouville equation have been derived and using these, important spectral properties of the boundary value problem are investigated; the asymptotic formulas for eigenvalues, eigenfunctions, and normalizing numbers are obtained. The uniqueness theorems for the inverse problems of reconstruction of the boundary value problem from the Weyl function, from the spectral data, and from two spectra are proved.
Postnatal Development of the Retina in Rats Exposed to Hyperoxia: A Fractal Analysis
Authors: Ştefănuţ Anne Claudia , Ţălu Ştefan , Miclăuş Viorel , Mureşan Adriana , Moldovan Remus , Szabo Bianca
Published: April 2013

Purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate and quantify changes in the newborn rats retinal layers during the hyperoxia (80% O2) exposure using fractal analysis. Materials and Methods. This study was conducted on two groups of 20 newborn rats: a control (normal) group (10 rats) and an experimental group (10 rats). The control group was composed of 10 newborn rats, which were placed at 12 hours after birth, in a pediatric incubator, together with their mother, in conditions of normoxia for 21 days. The experimental group consisted of 10 newborn rats, which were placed at 12 hours after birth, in a pediatric incubator with their mother, in conditions of normoxia for 7 days, then 7 days of hyperoxia (80% O2) for 22.5 hours/day, and then 7 days in conditions of normoxia. Slaughtering of the rats was performed on day 21 and the eye globes were harvested in order to perform histopathological examinations. The fractal analyses of the retinal digital images were performed using the fractal analysis software Image J, and the fractal dimensions were calculated using the standard box-counting method. Results. Microscopic examination revealed a normal development of the retina in the control group. In the experimental group, all the animals exposed to hyperoxia revealed both structural and vascular abnormalities on entire retina. Conclusions. The results showed that the fractal analysis is a valuable tool to quantify histoarchitectural changes in the newborn rats retinal layers during the hyperoxia (80% O2).
Identification of LDPE Grades Focusing on Specific CH2 Raman Vibration Modes
Authors: Jumeau Richard , Bourson Patrice , Ferriol Michel , Lahure François , Ponçot Marc , Dahoun Abdesselam
Published: April 2013

The possibilities of applications of vibrational spectroscopy techniques (Raman spectroscopy) in the analysis and characterization of polymers are more and more used and accurate. In this paper, our purpose is to characterize Low Density Poly(Ethylene) (LDPE) grades by Raman spectroscopy and in particular with CH2 Raman vibration modes. With temperature measurements, we determine different amorphous and crystalline Raman assignments. From these results and on the basis of the evolution of CH2 bending Raman vibration modes, we develop a phenomenological model in correlation with Differential Scanning Calorimetry and in particular with crystalline lamella thickness determination.
Viral Aetiology in Adults with Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in Jinan, Northern China
Authors: Lu Yanqin , Tong Jiabei , Pei Fengyan , Yang Yanping , Xu Dong , Ji Mingyu , Xing Chunyan , Jia Pingdong , Xu Chao , Wang Yunshan , Li Gongchao , Chai Zhenbin , Liu Yan , Han Jinxiang
Published: April 2013

Our study investigated the epidemiology of respiratory viruses in adult patients with upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) between August 2009 and September 2010 in Jinan, northern China. Nasal and throat swabs (n=596) were collected from adult patients with URTIs. Nine respiratory-related viruses, including IFV, PIV, HRV, HMPV, HBoV, HCoV, ADV, RSV, and EV, were detected in all samples by conventional and reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions. Positive detection rate for respiratory virus was 38.76% and codetection rate was 4.70% in adults with acute respiratory tract infections. IFV (20.81%) was the dominant agent detected and IFVB had a higher incidence (12.58%) than IFVA (7.72%). Detection rates of 8.22%, 5.03%, 3.69%, and 2.52% were observed for HBoV, HRV, EV, and RSV, respectively. HCoV had the lowest detection rate of 0.50%. HBoV, HRV, EV, and ADV infection rates were higher in the 14–25-year-old group than in the 26–65-year-old group. Codetection rates were higher (7.52%) in the 14–25-year-old group than in the older age group (2.64%). The spectrum of respiratory virus infection in adult patients with URTIs was different in Jinan compared with other cities in China.
Three Independent Mesial Canals in a Mandibular Molar: Four-Year Followup of a Case Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography
Authors: de Paula Adrianne Freire , Brito-Júnior Manoel , Quintino Alex Carvalho , Camilo Carla Cristina , Cruz-Filho Antônio Miranda , Sousa-Neto Manoel Damião
Published: April 2013

Endodontic treatment of mandibular molars is challenging because of variable root canal morphology. The nonsurgical endodontic management of a mandibular first molar presenting an independent middle mesial canal is reported. After coronal access, additional clinical inspection of the mesial canals’ orifices and their interconnecting groove using an endodontic explorer and 4.5× loupes enabled the identification of the middle mesial canal orifice. All root canals were chemomechanically prepared and filled. The tooth was asymptomatic and functional after 4 years of followup. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images revealed normal periapical status and three-dimensional (3D) anatomical aspects of the root canal system.
Cloning, Overexpression, and Functional Characterization of a Phytase from the Genus Bacillus
Authors: Li Zhengang , Zhao Aichun , Wang Xiling , Jin Xiaoyun , Li Jun , Yu Maode
Published: April 2013

Bacillus strain WYCQ02 was obtained from soil samples by high-temperature screening. A 1,327-bp DNA fragment containing a 1,152-bp long open reading frame named phyC-WYCQ02 was amplified from the genomic DNA of strain WYCQ02 by PCR. The ORF encoded a polypeptide of 383 amino acid residues with a putative signal peptide of 26 amino acids. The 1,089-bp fragment encoding the mature peptide of neutral phytase and a 6 × histidine tag was cloned into the plasmid pPIC9K. The expression vector, pPIC9K-phyC, was linearized and transformed in Pichia pastoris. The molecular weight of phytase was estimated to be approximately 53 kDa by electrophoresis. The optimal temperature of the purified phytase was 55°C and the optimal pH value was between 7.0 and 8.0. After incubation at 70°C for 10 and 30 min, the relative activity was still over 80 and 62%, and over 70% of enzyme activity remained in the pH range of 5.0-10.0. There was no significant difference in enzymatic activity after incubation for 30 or 60 min in buffer with different pH values, therefore the purified phytase had some acid and alkali resistance. The phytase gene and the engineered yeast strain may have value in industrial applications.
Simple Method to Differentiate among Rickettsia Species
Authors: Peniche-Lara Gaspar , Zavala-Velazquez Jorge , Dzul-Rosado Karla , Walker D.H. , Zavala-Castro Jorge
Published: April 2013

In this work we present a new option to identify 11 rickettsial species that cause human rickettsioses, with some advantages over the previous methods described. Using rickettsial isolates from 11 Rickettsia species as a sample, we used the polymerase chain reaction to amplify a 990- to 1,000-bp DNA fragment from the ompB gene, common for the 11 Rickettsia species analyzed in this study, which were digested with AluI restriction enzyme to obtain different digestion patterns. This restriction pattern can be visualized using a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique. Using this method we could differentiate between the 11 Rickettsia species analyzed regardless of the group to which the Rickettsia belonged. We developed a simple method to identify 11 Rickettsia species which cause human rickettsioses using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques with the advantage that it only needs one amplicon and only one restriction enzyme to obtain the restriction pattern. The identification of the species infecting vectors, reservoirs, and humans is essential to establish the ecological and behavioral ecosystem involved in its maintenance and transmission in nature in the specific region where the pathogen is circulating. This method is very helpful to identify Rickettsia species in a short time.