bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supporting navigation in Wikipedia by information visualization: extended evaluation measures
Authors: Wu I-Chin , Vakkari Pertti
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The authors introduce two semantics-based navigation applications that facilitate information-seeking activities in internal link-based web sites in Wikipedia. These applications aim to help users find concepts within a topic and related articles on a given topic quickly and then gain topical knowledge from internal link-based encyclopedia web sites. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The WNavi
s application consists of three information visualization (IV) tools which are a topic network, a hierarchy topic tree and summaries for topics. The WikiMap application consists of a topic network. The goal of the topic network and topic tree tools is to help users to find the major concepts of a topic and identify relationships between these major concepts easily. In addition, in order to locate specific information and enable users to explore and read topic-related articles quickly, the topic tree and summaries for topics tools support users to gain topical knowledge quickly. The authors then apply the k-clique of cohesive indicator to analyze the sub topics of the seed query and find out the best clustering results via the cosine measure. The authors utilize four metrics, which are correctness, time cost, usage behaviors, and satisfaction, to evaluate the three interfaces. These metrics measure both the outputs and outcomes of applications. As a baseline system for evaluation the authors used a traditional Wikipedia interface. For the evaluation, the authors used an experimental user study with 30 participants.

Findings

– The results indicate that both WikiMap and WNavi
s supported users to identify concepts and their relations better compared to the baseline. In topical tasks WNavi
s over performed both WikiMap and the baseline system. Although there were no time differences in finding concepts or answering topical questions, the test systems provided users with a greater gain per time unit. The users of WNavi
s leaned on the hierarchy tree instead of other tools, whereas WikiMap users used the topic map.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings have implications for the design of IR support tools in knowledge-intensive web sites that help users to explore topics and concepts.

Originality/value

– The authors explored to what extent the use of each IV support tool contributed to successful exploration of topics in search tasks. The authors propose extended task-based evaluation measures to understand how each application provides useful context for users to accomplish the tasks and attain the search goals. That is, the authors not only evaluate the output of the search results, e.g. the number of relevant items retrieved, but also the outcome provided by the system for assisting users to attain the search goal.
RDA perceptions among Malaysian catalogers
Authors: Mansor Yushiana , Ramdzan Emilia
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to investigate Malaysian catalogers’ awareness, familiarity and understanding of the new bibliographic content standard, i.e. Resource Description and Access (RDA).

Design/methodology/approach

– The survey method was adopted in this study. Questionnaires were used to gather data from respondents. The study included catalogers from higher education institutions in the area of Klang Valley, Malaysia. Purposive sampling method was used to identify the respondents.

Findings

– The results revealed that, in general, though Malaysian catalogers were aware of the RDA, they were only familiar with the basics of RDA and its related topics. They were mainly aware of topics regarding the overview and development of RDA, and indicated low understanding of other topics, such as Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR), related to RDA. The study found that respondents acknowledged the inadequacy of their basic understanding of RDA. The study also identified the catalogers’ needs and preference for RDA training. Most of the catalogers favored learning more about RDA context topics which include FRBR, Functional Requirements for Authority Data and International Cataloging Principles. They indicated willingness to undergo a two- to three-day intensive workshop to learn more about RDA.

Practical implications

– Like in other countries, catalogers in Malaysia may also encounter problems when implementing the new RDA. Findings of this study would be useful in designing RDA trainings for catalogers.

Originality/value

– No study has been done to investigate Malaysian catalogers’ awareness and understanding of RDA.
The impact of information and communication technology on retail property in Malaysia
Authors: Najib Razali Muhammad , Abdul Rahman Rohana , Mohd Adnan Yasmin , Mohd. Yassin Azlina
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of using information and communication technology (ICT) on retail property in Malaysia. It also examines what listed property companies perceive in terms of the implications of using ICT in the retail property sector in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from sample surveys completed by 79 property companies listed on the Bursa Malaysia (formerly known as the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange). An ICT retail impact matrix was then developed to assess the significance of ICT on retail property in Malaysia.

Findings

– The findings of the study revealed that ICT would have only a minor impact on retail property in Malaysia and that there would still be a need for the traditional means of conducting a retail property business. It also found that the listed property companies were ready to implement ICT applications and that the demand for retail property would still increase in Malaysia in the future.

Research limitations/implications

– Only 66 percent of listed property companies in Malaysia (the respondents) participated in the study.

Originality/value

– This paper seeks to look at the impact ICT has on retail property in Malaysia. For this purpose, an ICT retail impact matrix was developed to assess this impact. As such, this study will be used as a benchmark for future ICT studies relating to retail property and the real estate sector in Malaysia.
To what extent does the audit committee curb downward earnings forecast guidance?
Authors: Jennifer Ho Li-Chin , Liu Chao-Shin , Frank Wang Xu
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between audit committee characteristics and a firm’s ability to guide analysts’ forecasts downward to meet or beat earnings benchmarks.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors expect that a more effective audit committee would be able to reduce managers’ propensity to use downward forecast guidance to avoid negative earnings surprises. Four committee characteristics are used to measure its effectiveness: independence, diligence, expertise and size.

Findings

– For the pre-SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act) period (1996-2002), none of the four audit committee characteristics are significantly associated with managers’ propensity to use downward forecast guidance to avoid negative earnings surprises. For the post-SOX era (2003-2004), however, the likelihood of engaging in downward forecast guidance is significantly lower for firms with larger and more independent audit committees. In addition, the likelihood is significantly lower for audit committees that are more diligent and have a higher proportion of the committee members with accounting or finance-related expertise.

Research limitations/implications

– Overall, the authors results suggest that, in response to the increased regulatory and listing requirements in the post-SOX era, audit committees have played a more active role in scrutinizing earnings guidance. Our results also suggest that a more effective audit committee in the post-SOX era curbs managers’ tendency to use downward forecast guidance to meet or beat quarterly earnings targets.

Originality/value

– To the authors knowledge, this study is one of the first to examine the role of the audit committee in reviewing managerial earnings guidance. As earnings guidance plays an important role in the overall financial reporting process over time and given the increasing importance of downward forecast guidance in earnings surprise games in recent years, the authors believe this study addresses an important question and adds to prior literature. Also, this study contributes to their understanding of the changing nature and scope of audit committee oversight activities since the passage of SOX.
Polyadenylation of Friend murine leukemia virus env‐mRNA is affected by its splicing
Authors: Machinaga Akihito , Takase‐Yoden Sayaka
Published: June 2014

As splicing was previously found to be important for increasing Friend murine leukemia virus env‐mRNA stability and translation, we investigated whether splicing of env‐mRNA affected the poly(A) tail length using env expression vectors that yielded unspliced or spliced env‐mRNA. Incomplete polyadenylation was detected in a fraction of the unspliced env‐mRNA products in an env gene‐dependent manner, showing that splicing of Friend murine leukemia virus plays an important role in the efficiency of complete polyadenylation of env‐mRNA. These results suggested that the promotion of complete polyadenylation of env‐mRNA by splicing might partially explain up‐regulation of Env protein expression as a result of splicing.
Optimizing methyl‐eugenol aromatherapy to maximize posttreatment effects to enhance mating competitiveness of male Bactrocera carambolae (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Haq Ihsan ul , Vreysen Marc J.B. , Cacéres Carlos , Shelly Todd E. , Hendrichs Jorge
Published: June 2014

Methyl‐eugenol (ME) (1,2‐dimethoxy‐4‐(2‐propenyl)benzene), a natural phytochemical, did enhance male Bactrocera carambolae Drew & Hancock (Diptera: Tephritidae) mating competitiveness 3 d after ingestion. Enhanced male mating competitiveness can significantly increase the effectiveness of the sterile insect technique (SIT). ME application to mass reared sterile flies by feeding is infeasible. ME application by aromatherapy however, would be a very practical way of ME application in fly emergence and release facilities. This approach was shown to enhance mating competitiveness of B. carambolae 3 d posttreatment (DPT). Despite this added benefit, every additional day of delaying release will reduce sterile fly quality and will add cost to SIT application. The present study was planned to assess the effects of ME‐aromatherapy on male B. carambolae mating competitiveness 1DPT and 2DPT. ME aromatherapy 1DPT or 2DPT did enhance mating competitiveness of B. carambolae males whereas ME feeding 1DPT and 2DPT did not. Male mating competitiveness was enhanced by the ME aromatherapy irrespective if they received 1DPT, 2DPT or 3DPT. ME aromatherapy, being a viable approach for its application, did enhance mating competitiveness of male B. carambolae 1 d posttreatment as ME feeding did 3 d after ingestion.
Women, Enlightenment and the Literary Fairy Tale in English
Authors: Douglas Aileen
Published: June 2014

In eighteenth‐century England the literary fairy tale was known mainly through translation from the French, especially of the works of Marie‐Catherine, Comtesse d'Aulnoy. There were, however, several indigenous efforts at the form, including the two fairy tales in Sarah Fielding's The Governess (1749) and The Fairy‐Ring, or Emeline (1783), by Elizabeth Sheridan. Particularly identified with the female reader, the literary fairy tale was also hospitable to women writers. Appealing to the imagination through their fantastic and marvellous elements, the fairy tales of Fielding and Sheridan are also concerned with the exertions of female reason and the foundations of female autonomy.
Interleukin‐6 deletion in mice driven by aP2‐Cre‐ERT2 prevents against high‐fat diet‐induced gain weight and adiposity in female mice
Authors: Navia B. , Ferrer B. , Giralt M. , Comes G. , Carrasco J. , Molinero A. , Quintana A. , Leclerc J. , Viollet B. , Señarís R. M. , Hidalgo J.
Published: June 2014

Aim

Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is a major cytokine controlling body weight and metabolism, but because many types of cells can synthesize and respond to IL‐6 considerable uncertainty still exists about the mechanisms underlying IL‐6 effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the effects of tissue‐specific deletion of IL‐6 using a fatty acid binding protein (aP2) promoter‐Cre inducible system (aP2‐Cre‐ERT2).

Methods

Tissue‐specific IL‐6 KO mice (aP2‐IL‐6 KO mice) were produced upon tamoxifen administration and were fed a high‐fat diet (HFD, 58.4% kcal from fat) or a control diet (18%) for 14 weeks.

Results

aP2‐IL‐6 KO female mice on a HFD gained less weight and adiposity than littermate wild‐type mice, but these effects were not observed in males. Hypothalamic factors such as NPY and AgRP showed a pattern of expression consistent with this sex‐specific phenotype. PGC‐1α expression was increased in several tissues in aP2‐IL‐6 KO female mice, which is compatible with increased energy expenditure. Serum leptin, insulin, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides levels were increased by HFD, and in females IL‐6 deficiency reversed this effect in the case of insulin and cholesterol. HFD induced impaired responses to insulin and glucose tolerance tests, but no significant differences between genotypes were observed.

Conclusion

The present results demonstrate that deletion of IL‐6 driven by aP2‐Cre regulates body weight, body fat and metabolism in a sex‐specific fashion.
Metabolic syndrome‐like components and prostate cancer risk: results from the Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) study
Authors: Sourbeer Katharine N. , Howard Lauren E. , Andriole Gerald L. , Moreira Daniel M. , Castro‐Santamaria Ramiro , Freedland Stephen J. , Vidal Adriana C.
Published: June 2014

Objective

To evaluate the relationship between number of metabolic syndrome (MetS)‐like components and prostate cancer diagnosis in a group of men where nearly all biopsies were taken independent of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level, thus minimising any confounding from how the various MetS‐like components may influence PSA levels.

Subjects/Patients and Methods

We analysed data from 6426 men in the Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) study with at least one on‐study biopsy. REDUCE compared dutasteride vs placebo on prostate cancer risk among men with an elevated PSA level and negative pre‐study biopsy and included two on‐study biopsies regardless of PSA level at 2 and 4 years. Available data for MetS‐like components included data on diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, and body mass index. The association between number of these MetS‐like components and prostate cancer risk and low‐grade (Gleason sum <7) or high‐grade (Gleason sum >7) vs no prostate cancer was evaluated using logistic regression.

Results

In all, 2171 men (34%) had one MetS‐like component, 724 (11%) had two, and 163 (3%) had three or four. Men with more MetS‐like components had lower PSA levels (P = 0.029). One vs no MetS‐like components was protective for overall prostate cancer (P = 0.041) and low‐grade prostate cancer (P = 0.010). Two (P = 0.69) or three to four (P = 0.15) MetS‐like components were not significantly related to prostate cancer. While one MetS‐like component was unrelated to high‐grade prostate cancer (P = 0.97), two (P = 0.059) or three to four MetS‐like components (P = 0.02) were associated with increased high‐grade prostate cancer risk, although only the latter was significant.

Conclusion

When biopsies are largely PSA level independent, men with an initial elevated PSA level and a previous negative biopsy, and multiple MetS‐like components were at an increased risk of high‐grade prostate cancer, suggesting the link between MetS‐like components and high‐grade prostate cancer is unrelated to a lowered PSA level.
Drug Repurposing Based on Drug–Drug Interaction
Authors: Zhou Bin , Wang Rong , Wu Ping , Kong De‐Xin
Published: June 2014

Given the high risk and lengthy procedure of traditional drug development, drug repurposing is gaining more and more attention. Although many types of drug information have been used to repurpose drugs, drug–drug interaction data, which imply possible physiological effects or targets of drugs, remain unexploited. In this work, similarity of drug interaction was employed to infer similarity of the physiological effects or targets for the drugs. We collected 10 835 drug–drug interactions concerning 1074 drugs, and for 700 of them, drug similarity scores based on drug interaction profiles were computed and rendered using a drug association network with 589 nodes (drugs) and 2375 edges (drug similarity scores). The 589 drugs were clustered into 98 groups with Markov Clustering Algorithm, most of which were significantly correlated with certain drug functions. This indicates that the network can be used to infer the physiological effects of drugs. Furthermore, we evaluated the ability of this drug association network to predict drug targets. The results show that the method is effective for 317 of 561 drugs that have known targets. Comparison of this method with the structure‐based approach shows that they are complementary. In summary, this study demonstrates the feasibility of drug repurposing based on drug–drug interaction data.
Neural and psychological mechanisms underlying compulsive drug seeking habits and drug memories – indications for novel treatments of addiction
Authors: Everitt Barry J.
Published: June 2014

This review discusses the evidence for the hypothesis that the development of drug addiction can be understood in terms of interactions between Pavlovian and instrumental learning and memory mechanisms in the brain that underlie the seeking and taking of drugs. It is argued that these behaviours initially are goal‐directed, but increasingly become elicited as stimulus–response habits by drug‐associated conditioned stimuli that are established by Pavlovian conditioning. It is further argued that compulsive drug use emerges as the result of a loss of prefrontal cortical inhibitory control over drug seeking habits. Data are reviewed that indicate these transitions from use to abuse to addiction depend upon shifts from ventral to dorsal striatal control over behaviour, mediated in part by serial connectivity between the striatum and midbrain dopamine systems. Only some individuals lose control over their drug use, and the importance of behavioural impulsivity as a vulnerability trait predicting stimulant abuse and addiction in animals and humans, together with consideration of an emerging neuroendophenotype for addiction are discussed. Finally, the potential for developing treatments for addiction is considered in light of the neuropsychological advances that are reviewed, including the possibility of targeting drug memory reconsolidation and extinction to reduce Pavlovian influences on drug seeking as a means of promoting abstinence and preventing relapse.
Performance of compulsive behavior in rats is not a unitary phenomenon – validation of separate functional components in compulsive checking behavior
Authors: Tucci Mark C. , Dvorkin‐Gheva Anna , Johnson Eric , Cheon Paul , Taji Leena , Agarwal Arnav , Foster Jane , Szechtman Henry
Published: June 2014

A previous analysis of the quinpirole sensitisation rat model of obsessive‐compulsive disorder revealed that the behavioral phenotype of compulsive checking consists of three constitutive components – vigor of checking performance, focus on the task of checking, and satiety following a bout of checking. As confirmation of this analysis, the aim of the present study was to reconstitute, without quinpirole treatment, each of the putative components, with the expectation that these would self‐assemble into compulsive checking. To reconstitute vigor and satiety, the employed treatment was a bilateral lesion of the nucleus accumbens core (NAc), as this treatment was shown previously to exaggerate these components. To reconstitute focus, the employed treatment was a low dose of the serotonin‐1A receptor agonist 8‐hydroxy‐2‐(di‐n‐propylamino) tetralin hydrochloride (DPAT) (0.0625 mg/kg), as high doses of this drug induce compulsive behavior and exacerbate focus. Results showed that injection of DPAT to NAc lesion rats did yield compulsive checking. Neither the drug alone nor the NAc lesion by itself produced compulsive checking. The demonstrated synthesis of compulsive checking by the combined treatment of low‐dose DPAT and NAc lesion strengthened the previous fractionation of the model obsessive‐compulsive disorder phenotype into three constitutive components, and suggested a role for serotonin‐1A receptors outside the NAc in enhanced focus on the task of checking.
Hyperactive antifreeze protein from an Antarctic sea ice bacterium Colwellia sp. has a compound ice‐binding site without repetitive sequences
Authors: Hanada Yuichi , Nishimiya Yoshiyuki , Miura Ai , Tsuda Sakae , Kondo Hidemasa
Published: June 2014

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are structurally diverse macromolecules that bind to ice crystals and inhibit their growth to protect the organism from injuries caused by freezing. An AFP identified from the Antarctic bacterium Colwellia sp. strain SLW05 (ColAFP) is homologous to AFPs from a wide variety of psychrophilic microorganisms. To understand the antifreeze function of ColAFP, we have characterized its antifreeze activity and determined the crystal structure of this protein. The recombinant ColAFP exhibited thermal hysteresis activity of approximately 4 °C at a concentration of 0.14 mm, and induced rapid growth of ice crystals in the hexagonal direction. Fluorescence‐based ice plane affinity analysis showed that ColAFP binds to multiple planes of ice, including the basal plane. These observations show that ColAFP is a hyperactive AFP. The crystal structure of ColAFP determined at 1.6 Å resolution revealed an irregular β‐helical structure, similar to known homologs. Mutational and molecular docking studies showed that ColAFP binds to ice through a compound ice‐binding site (IBS) located at a flat surface of the β‐helix and the adjoining loop region. The IBS of ColAFP lacks the repetitive sequences that are characteristic of hyperactive AFPs. These results suggest that ColAFP exerts antifreeze activity through a compound IBS that differs from the characteristic IBSs shared by other hyperactive AFPs. This study demonstrates a novel method for protection from freezing by AFPs in psychrophilic microorganisms.

Database

Structural data for ColAFP have been submitted to the Protein Data Bank (PDB) under accession number 3WP9.
Decoupling Streamflow Responses to Climate Variability and Land Use/Cover Changes in a Watershed in Northern China
Authors: Guo Junting , Zhang Zhiqiang , Zhou Jie , Wang Shengping , Strauss Peter
Published: June 2014

Restored annual streamflow (Qr) and measured daily streamflow of the Chaohe watershed located in northern China and associated long‐term climate and land use/cover data were used to explore the effects of land use/cover change and climate variability on the streamflow during 1961‐2009. There were no significant changes in annual precipitation (P) and potential evapotranspiration, whereas Qr decreased significantly by 0.81 mm/yr (p < 0.001) over the study period with a change point in 1999. We used 1961‐1998 as the baseline period (BP) and 1999‐2009 the change period (CP). The mean Qr during the CP decreased by 39.4 mm compared with that in the BP. From 1979 to 2009, the grassland area declined by 69.6%, and the forest and shrublands increased by 105.4 and 73.1%, respectively. The land use/cover change and climate variability contributed for 58.4 and 41.6% reduction in mean annual Qr, respectively. Compared with the BP, median and high flows in the CP decreased by 38.8 and up to 75.5%, respectively. The study concludes that large‐scale ecological restoration and watershed management in northern China has greatly decreased water yield and reduced high flows due to the improved land cover by afforestation leading to higher water loss through evapotranspiration. At a large watershed scale, land use/cover change could play as much of an important role as climate variability on water resources.
Helical tomotherapy for cancer treatment: a rapid health technology assessment
Authors: Yang Zong Xia , Shen Jian Tong , Li You Ping , Zhao Kun , Shi Cheng Hu , Xiao Yue , Yu Jia Jie , Guo Wu Dong , Li Cui Cui , Wang Ying Qiang , Li Xiang Lian ,   on behalf of the Rapid Health Technology Assessment Working Group of Chinese Evidence‐Based Medicine Centre
Published: June 2014

Objectives

Helical tomotherapy (HT) can be applied to treat complex malignant cancer with high‐precise radiotherapy, and it can reduce the damage to normal tissues and improve treatment effects. But the procurement of HT must be approved by relevant departments of administration affairs. This study, appointed by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China and undertook by the National Health Development Research Center and the Chinese Evidence‐Based Medicine Centre, was aimed to rapidly assess the effectiveness, safety, costs, and applicability of HT, so as to provide currently available best evidence for decision‐makers of health policies.

Methods

We electronically searched databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, CBM, and other professional websites. Two reviewer independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, assessed quality, and then performed descriptive analysis.

Results

(i) We finally included 150 studies, encompassing 5 HTAs, 18 CCTs, and 127 observational studies. (ii) The included HTAs were published during 2006–2009, providing fairly less evidence of low quality and the results of 145 primary studies showed that: HT had been used mainly in the treatments of 14 kinds of cancer, with low total toxicity and high survival rates. Although the quality of the included studies was poor, there was much evidence about prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, nasopharynx cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer and liver cancer, with enough sample and fairly reliable results in HT efficacy and safety. And (iii) a total of 56 clinical trials were registered in Clinicaltrials.gov, most of which were registered by the occident. Among them, 9 were completed but the results had not been published yet.

Conclusions

The evidence of this study showed that, HT is safe and effective in clinic. But the abovementioned conclusion needs to be verified by conducting more high‐quality studies with long‐term follow‐up. The costs of HT in procurement, maintenance, and application are high; and the skills, training, and qualification of operators are required. We suggest that the procurement of HT should be reduced; it should be allocated rationally and effectively used after comprehensive assessment in China's cancer epidemiology characteristics, health resource allocation, disease burden, medical service level, etc.; and also high‐quality studies with long‐term follow‐up should be financially supported on the basis of establishing projects, so as to provide local evidence and consistently guide and improve scientific decision‐making.
C
ymbopogon martinii essential oil and geraniol at noncytotoxic concentrations exerted immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory effects in human monocytes
Authors: Murbach Teles Andrade Bruna Fernanda , Conti Bruno José , Santiago Karina Basso , Fernandes Ary , Sforcin José Maurício
Published: June 2014

Objectives

In traditional medicine, plants have formed the basis of sophisticated systems that have been in existence for thousands of years and still provide mankind with new remedies. Cymbopogon martinii, known as palmarosa, has been used in aromatherapy as a skin tonic due to its antimicrobial properties. It has also used in Ayurvedic medicine for skin problems and to relieve nerve pain. The immunomodulatory action of C. martinii essential oil (EO) and geraniol was evaluated regarding the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-10, respectively) by human monocytes in vitro.

Methods

Monocyte cultures were incubated with EO or geraniol. After 18 h, cytotoxicity assays were performed using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method, and cytokine production was determined by ELISA.

Key findings

The variables showed no cytotoxic effects on monocytes. TNF-α production was not affected by C. martinii and geraniol, and only the concentration of 5 μg/ml of C. martinii stimulated its production. On the other hand, all concentrations of C. martinii and geraniol increased IL-10 production by human monocytes.

Conclusions

Data showed that noncytotoxic concentrations of EO and geraniol exerted an anti-inflammatory action by increasing IL-10 production; moreover, geraniol seemed to be probably responsible for EO immunomodulatory activity in our assay condition.
The immunomodulatory effect of propolis on receptors expression, cytokine production and fungicidal activity of human monocytes
Authors: Búfalo Michelle Cristiane , Bordon-Graciani Ana Paula , Conti Bruno José , de Assis Golim Marjorie , Sforcin José Maurício
Published: June 2014

Objectives

Propolis is a beehive product and its immunomodulatory action has been documented; however, little is known concerning its mechanisms of action on human cells. Propolis influence on the initial events of the immune response was assessed, evaluating cell markers, cytokine production and the fungicidal activity of human monocytes.

Methods

Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, TLR-4, human leukocyte antigen-DR and cluster of differentiation (CD)80 expression by human monocytes was assessed using a FACSCalibur flow cytometer, cytokine production (tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-10) was determined by ELISA and the candidacidal activity was investigated after monocytes incubation with propolis and challenged with Candida albicans. The role of TLR-2 and TLR-4 on propolis action was assessed as well.

Key findings

Propolis upregulated TLR-4 and CD80 expression and affected TNF-α and IL-10 production, depending on concentration. Propolis also increased the fungicidal activity of monocytes. Cytokine production was decreased by blocking TLR-4, whereas the fungicidal activity was affected by blocking TLR-2.

Conclusions

Propolis exerted an immunomodulatory action on cell receptors, cytokine production and fungicidal activity of human monocytes without affecting cell viability and depending on concentration. TLR-2 and TLR-4 may be involved in its mechanism of action.
Nothing About Us Without Us: Does Action Research in Developmental Disabilities Research Measure Up?
Authors: Stack Erin , McDonald Katherine E.
Published: June 2014

Action research—research collaborations between professional researchers and community members to address community concerns—has become increasingly popular in developmental disability research. Advocates of these approaches argue that they reflect the value of including people with disabilities in matters that affect them and generate benefits for people with disabilities and for research. However, it is not clear how well action research with adults with developmental disabilities reflect core action research principles. The authors identified 21 action research projects with adults with developmental disabilities in English‐language referred journals. The authors found that the majority of these projects took place in the UK or the United States, with individuals with intellectual disabilities, were published in or after 2005, and used qualitative methods to examine research aims on social issues important to adults with developmental disabilities. They reviewed common challenges, facilitators, and indicators of success described by authors and found that relatively few projects can be classified as high on the continuum of shared power. Based on these findings, the authors recommended a continued focus on the accurate understanding and application of action research models, building our knowledge of and evidence base for effective tools, strategies, resources, and personal characteristics for action research with adults with developmental disabilities, adequately funding this research, and pursuing a broader array of research methods. The projects studied herein provide evidence for the promise and possibility of action research with adults with developmental disabilities.
Assessment of Mitral Regurgitation Severity by Doppler Color Flow Mapping of the Vena Contracta in Dogs
Authors: Di Marcello M. , Terzo E. , Locatelli C. , Palermo V. , Sala E. , Dall'Aglio E. , Bussadori C.M. , Spalla I. , Brambilla P.G.
Published: June 2014

Background

Quantitative and semiquantitative methods have been proposed for the assessment of MR severity, and though all are associated with limitations. Measurement of vena contracta width (VCW) has been used in clinical practice.

Objective

To measure the VCW in dogs with different levels of MR severity.

Animals

Two hundred and seventy‐nine dogs were classified according to 5 levels of MR severity.

Methods

This was a retrospective study. EROA and regurgitant volume calculated by the PISA method, were measured and indexed to BSA. Descriptive statistics were calculated for VCW and VCW index for all categories of MR severity. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (ρs) were calculated to compare the results of the different methods (VCW and VCW index vs RV PISA, RV PISA index, EROA, EROA index), and between VCW and VCW index versus MR severity.

Results

All Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were significant (P < .001). The median values of VCW resulted of 2.9 mm (IQR 3.4–2.5) and of 4.6 mm (IQR 5.4–4.1) in the groups previously classified as mild‐to‐moderate and moderate‐to‐severe, respectively. The median values of VCW index resulted of 4.4 mm/m2 (IQR = 5.5–4.2) in mild‐to‐moderate MR and of 10.8 mm/m2 (IQR = 12.8–9.4) in moderate‐to‐severe MR.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

This is not a validation study against any previously validated invasive gold standard, the VCW method has proved easy to employ and it might be an additional tool in quantifying disease severity that supports, rather than replace, data coming from other techniques in daily clinical practice and research.
Cognitive function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Relationship to global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease 2011 categories
Authors: Tulek Baykal , Atalay Nart Bedin , Yildirim Gulfem , Kanat Fikret , Süerdem Mecit
Published: June 2014

Background and objective

Recently, comorbidities such as impaired cognitive function have been attracting more focus when considering the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Here we investigated the relationship between cognitive function and the categories given in the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines in 2011. Specifically, after controlling for non‐COPD covariates, we assessed the clinical features that may be predictive of cognitive impairment in patients with COPD.

Methods

We recruited 119 stable patients with mild to very severe COPD. We administered a broad array of standardized neuropsychological tests that assessed cognitive functions in the domains of attention, memory, psychomotor coordination and language.

Results

Cognitive scores were significantly different between patients falling within GOLD 2011 categories. Scores were lower in patients with high future risk compared with low future risk. In parallel, there were significant differences in cognitive function between COPD patient subgroups when patients were grouped according to the forced expiratory volume in 1 s, exacerbation history and C‐reactive protein levels. After controlling for non‐COPD predictors, only exacerbation history remained a significant predictor of cognitive scores.

Conclusions

The number of exacerbation events in a year may be used as a predictor of cognitive impairment in patients with COPD.
Computational Validation of the Motor Contribution to Speech Perception
Authors: Badino Leonardo , D'Ausilio Alessandro , Fadiga Luciano , Metta Giorgio
Published: June 2014

Action perception and recognition are core abilities fundamental for human social interaction. A parieto‐frontal network (the mirror neuron system) matches visually presented biological motion information onto observers' motor representations. This process of matching the actions of others onto our own sensorimotor repertoire is thought to be important for action recognition, providing a non‐mediated “motor perception” based on a bidirectional flow of information along the mirror parieto‐frontal circuits. State‐of‐the‐art machine learning strategies for hand action identification have shown better performances when sensorimotor data, as opposed to visual information only, are available during learning. As speech is a particular type of action (with acoustic targets), it is expected to activate a mirror neuron mechanism. Indeed, in speech perception, motor centers have been shown to be causally involved in the discrimination of speech sounds. In this paper, we review recent neurophysiological and machine learning‐based studies showing (a) the specific contribution of the motor system to speech perception and (b) that automatic phone recognition is significantly improved when motor data are used during training of classifiers (as opposed to learning from purely auditory data).
Canine Rabies inAustralia: A Review of Preparedness and Research Needs
Authors: Sparkes J. , Fleming P. J. S. , Ballard G. , Scott‐Orr H. , Durr S. , Ward M. P.
Published: June 2014

Australia is unique as a populated continent in that canine rabies is exotic, with only one likely incursion in 1867. This is despite the presence of a widespread free‐ranging dog population, which includes the naturalized dingo, feral domestic dogs and dingo‐dog cross‐breeds. ToAustralia's immediate north, rabies has recently spread within the Indonesian archipelago, with outbreaks occurring in historically free islands to the east includingBali,Flores,Ambon and theTanimbarIslands. Australia depends on strict quarantine protocols to prevent importation of a rabid animal, but the risk of illegal animal movements by fishing and recreational vessels circumventing quarantine remains. Predicting where rabies will enterAustralia is important, but understanding dog population dynamics and interactions, including contact rates in and around human populations, is essential for rabies preparedness. The interactions among and betweenAustralia's large populations of wild, free‐roaming and restrained domestic dogs require quantification for rabies incursions to be detected and controlled. The imminent risk of rabies breachingAustralian borders makes the development of disease spread models that will assist in the deployment of cost‐effective surveillance, improve preventive strategies and guide disease management protocols vitally important. Here, we critically reviewAustralia's preparedness for rabies, discuss prevailing assumptions and models, identify knowledge deficits in free‐roaming dog ecology relating to rabies maintenance and speculate on the likely consequences of endemic rabies forAustralia.
AASP-Certified Consultants’ Experiences of Spirituality within Sport Psychology Consultation
Authors: Egli Trevor J. , Fisher Leslee A. , Gentner Noah
Published: June 2014

In this paper, the experiences of nine AASP-certified sport psychology consultants (SPCs) working with athletes who invoke spirituality in their consulting sessions are described. After a brief review of terms and literature, consultants’ own words from interview transcripts are used to illustrate four major themes. These were: (a) SPC definitions of spirituality; (b) SPC definitions of faith: (c) SPC perceived challenges; and (d) spirituality implementation within consulting session. We conclude by addressing why we believe that spirituality is a cultural competence component and why sport psychology consultants should engage with the ongoing development of cultural competency.
Comparison of Daclatasvir Resistance Barriers on NS5A from Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes 1 to 6: Implications for Cross-Genotype Activity
Authors: Wang Chunfu , Jia Lingling , O'Boyle Donald R. , Sun Jin-Hua , Rigat Karen , Valera Lourdes , Nower Peter , Huang Xin , Kienzle Bernadette , Roberts Susan , Gao Min , Fridell Robert A.
Published: June 2014

A comparison of the daclatasvir (DCV [BMS-790052]) resistance barrier on authentic or hybrid replicons containing NS5A from hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1 to 6 (GT-1 to -6) was completed using a replicon elimination assay. The data indicated that genotype 1b (GT-1b) has the highest relative resistance barrier and genotype 2a (GT-2a M31) has the lowest. The rank order of resistance barriers to DCV was 1b > 4a ≥ 5a > 6a ≅ 1a > 2a JFH > 3a > 2a M31. Importantly, DCV in combination with a protease inhibitor (PI) eliminated GT-2a M31 replicon RNA at a clinically relevant concentration. Previously, we reported the antiviral activity and resistance profiles of DCV on HCV genotypes 1 to 4 evaluated in the replicon system. Here, we report the antiviral activity and resistance profiles of DCV against hybrid replicons with NS5A sequences derived from HCV GT-5a and GT-6a clinical isolates. DCV was effective against both GT-5a and -6a hybrid replicon cell lines (50% effective concentrations [EC
50
s] ranging from 3 to 7 pM for GT-5a, and 74 pM for GT-6a). Resistance selection identified amino acid substitutions in the N-terminal domain of NS5A. For GT-5a, L31F and L31V, alone or in combination with K56R, were the major resistance variants (EC
50
s ranging from 2 to 40 nM). In GT-6a, Q24H, L31M, P32L/S, and T58A/S were identified as resistance variants (EC
50
s ranging from 2 to 250 nM). The
in vitro
data suggest that DCV has the potential to be an effective agent for HCV genotypes 1 to 6 when used in combination therapy.
First Detection of TR
46
/Y121F/T289A and TR
34
/L98H Alterations in Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from Azole-Naive Patients in Denmark despite Negative Findings in the Environment
Authors: Astvad K. M. T. , Jensen R. H. , Hassan T. M. , Mathiasen E. G. , Thomsen G. M. , Pedersen U. G. , Christensen M. , Hilberg O. , Arendrup M. C.
Published: June 2014

Azole-resistant
Aspergillus fumigatus
harboring the TR
34
/L98H or TR
46
/Y121F/T289A alterations is increasingly found in Europe and Asia. Here, we present the first clinical cases of TR
46
/Y121/T289A and three cases of TR
34
/L98H outside the cystic fibrosis (CF) population in Denmark and the results of environmental surveys. Four patients (2012 to 2014) with 11
A. fumigatus
and 4
Rhizomucor pusillus
isolates and 239 soil samples (spring 2010 and autumn 2013, respectively) with a total of 113
A. fumigatus
isolates were examined.
Aspergillus
isolates were screened for azole resistance using azole-containing agar. Confirmatory susceptibility testing was done using the EUCAST microbroth dilution EDEF 9.1 reference method. For relevant
A. fumigatus
isolates,
CYP51A
sequencing and microsatellite genotyping were performed. Three patients harbored TR
34
/L98H isolates. Two were azole naive at the time of acquisition and two were coinfected with wild-type
A. fumigatus
or
R. pusillus
isolates, complicating and delaying diagnosis. The TR
46
/Y121F/T289A strain was isolated in 2014 from a lung transplant patient. Genotyping indicated that susceptible and resistant
Aspergillus
isolates were unrelated and that no transmission between patients occurred. Azole resistance was not detected in any of the 113 soil isolates. TR
34
/L98H and TR
46
/Y121F/T289A alterations appear to be emerging in the clinical setting in Denmark and now involve azole-naive patients. Two recent soil-sampling surveys in Denmark were unable to indicate any increased prevalence of azole-resistant
A. fumigatus
in the environment. These findings further support the demand for real-time susceptibility testing of all clinically relevant isolates and for studies investigating the seasonal variation and ecological niches for azole-resistant environmental
A. fumigatus
.
Elongation Factor P and Modifying Enzyme PoxA Are Necessary for Virulence of Shigella flexneri
Authors: Marman Hannah E. , Mey Alexandra R. , Payne Shelley M.
Published: June 2014

Elongation factor P (EF-P) is a universally conserved bacterial translation factor. In many bacteria, EF-P is posttranslationally modified by PoxA, which covalently attaches a β-lysine to a conserved lysine residue of EF-P. Here we show that both EF-P and PoxA are necessary for virulence of the human diarrheal pathogen
Shigella flexneri
. Loss of either EF-P or PoxA leads to an impaired ability of
S. flexneri
to invade epithelial cells and form plaques in an epithelial cell monolayer. Proteomic analysis of
efp
and
poxA
deletion mutants revealed decreased levels of several virulence effector proteins, including IpaA, -B, and -C and IcsA. Additionally, mRNA levels of
virB
and
virF
, which encode master virulence regulators, were decreased in the
efp
mutant. The reduction in
virF
transcription was at least partially due to decreased levels of CpxA, which activates
virF
through the response regulator CpxR. The role of CpxAR in reduced synthesis of VirF and its downstream effectors was indicated by restoration of invasion when a mutation resulting in constitutively activated CpxR was introduced into the
efp
mutant. Thus, modified EF-P is required for appropriate synthesis of proteins involved in the virulence of this bacterial pathogen.
Distinct Regions of NLRP1B Are Required To Respond to Anthrax Lethal Toxin and Metabolic Inhibition
Authors: Neiman-Zenevich Jana , Liao Kuo-Chieh , Mogridge Jeremy
Published: June 2014

Pattern recognition receptors monitor for signs of infection or cellular dysfunction and respond to these events by initiating an immune response. NLRP1B is a receptor that upon activation recruits multiple copies of procaspase-1, which promotes cytokine processing and a proinflammatory form of cell death termed pyroptosis. NLRP1B detects anthrax lethal toxin when the toxin cleaves an amino-terminal fragment from the protein. In addition, NLRP1B is activated when cells are deprived of glucose or treated with metabolic inhibitors, but the mechanism by which the resulting reduction in cytosolic ATP is sensed by NLRP1B is unknown. Here, we addressed whether these two activating signals of NLRP1B converge on a common sensing system. We show that an NLRP1B mutant lacking the amino-terminal region exhibits some spontaneous activity and fails to be further activated by lethal toxin. This mutant was still activated in cells depleted of ATP, however, indicating that the amino-terminal region is not the sole sensing domain of NLRP1B. Mutagenesis of the leucine-rich repeat domain of NLRP1B provided evidence that this domain is involved in autoinhibition of the receptor, but none of the mutants tested was specifically defective at sensing activating signals. Comparison of two alleles of NLRP1B that differed in their response to metabolic inhibitors, but not to lethal toxin, led to the finding that a repeated sequence in the function to find domain (FIIND) that arose from exon duplication facilitated detection of ATP depletion. These results suggest that distinct regions of NLRP1B detect activating signals.
Bedside cardiac testing in acute cor pulmonale
Authors: Ali Omair M , Masood Abdul Mannan , Siddiqui Faisal
Published: June 2014

We present a case where an ECG and echocardiogram suggested pulmonary embolism and early treatment led to a positive outcome.