bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phylogeny, morphology, and physiology of Micractinium strains isolated from shallow ephemeral freshwater in Antarctica
Authors: Hong Ji Won , Jo Seung‐Woo , Cho Hyung‐Woo , Nam Seung Won , Shin Woongghi , Park Kyung Mok , Lee Kyoung In , Yoon Ho‐Sung
Published: July 2015

Cryotolerant eukaryotic microalgae were isolated from meltwater streams on Ardley Island and King George Island in Antarctica, and their morphological, molecular, and physiological characteristics were investigated. Owing to their simple morphology, distinctive characters were not observed with neither light microscopy nor transmission electron microscopy. However, molecular phylogenetic inferences drawn from the concatenated small subunit rRNA and internal transcribed spacer sequence data indicated that these microalgal strains belonged to the genus Micractinium. All the Micractinium strains showed cryotolerant properties, while their optimum growth temperature was around 20°C. Similar to other cryotolerant organisms, these Antarctic microalgae also contained a higher ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids. In this study, new Antarctic Micractinium spp. were discovered and added to the culture collection. These cryotolerant strains may serve as a promising source of nutritionally important linoleic (C18:2 ω6) and α‐linolenic (C18:3 ω3) acids.
Smoking‐related idiopathic interstitial pneumonia: A review
Authors: Margaritopoulos George A. , Harari Sergio , Caminati Antonella , Antoniou Katerina M.
Published: July 2015

For many years, cigarette smoking has been considered as the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Recently, however, it has also been associated with the development of diffuse interstitial lung diseases. In the latest classification of the major idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIP), the term smoking‐related IIP has been introduced, including two entities, namely desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP) and respiratory bronchiolitis‐interstitial lung disease (RB‐ILD). Other entities in which smoking has a definite or suggested role include pulmonary Langerhan's cell histiocytosis, smoking‐related interstitial fibrosis, combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema syndrome and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In this review, we will focus on the mechanisms of smoking‐related lung damage and on the clinical aspects of these disorders with the exception of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which will be reviewed elsewhere in this review series.
Nasal obstruction and male gender contribute to the persistence of mouth opening during sleep in CPAP‐treated obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: Lebret Marius , Arnol Nathalie , Contal Olivier , Martinot Jean Benoît , Tamisier Renaud , Pepin Jean‐Louis , Borel Jean‐Christian
Published: July 2015

Background and objective

During continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, some patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) require an oronasal mask (ONM) to prevent excessive mouth leakage. Factors contributing to sleep‐related mouth opening under CPAP treatment remain known. We compared mouth opening during sleep in patients treated with CPAP by nasal mask (NM) versus ONM.

Methods

Cross‐sectional prospective study: patients treated with CPAP for at least 4 months underwent a sleep recording using a type 4 monitoring device (Brizzy‐Nomics) that records mouth opening via a magnetometric distance meter. Clinical assessment included anthropometry, smoking status and the Mallampati score. Nasal obstruction was assessed by the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation questionnaire.

Results

Thirty‐eight patients were included, 34 analysed (22 men; age = 57.4 (53; 62) years; body mass index = 32.6 (29.1; 35.2) kg/m2; median (25th; 75th)). Twenty‐seven patients were treated with NM and seven with ONM. Patients with ONM were more often active smokers and trended to have greater nasal obstruction and lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s. They also exhibited a greater mouth opening during sleep (median (25th;75th) = 13.0 (11.0; 15.0) vs 6.0 (5.0; 10.0) mm, P < 0.001) and a higher oxygen desaturation index (9.5 (6.2; 15.5) vs 2.9 (1.0; 6.1) events/h, P = 0.009). In multivariate analysis, male gender and nasal obstruction were independently associated with mouth opening under ONM CPAP treatment.

Conclusions

After several months of CPAP treatment, some patients using ONM persist in keeping their mouths open at night. Nasal obstruction and male gender contribute to this phenomenon.
What is the Role of HbA1c in Diabetic Hemodialysis Patients?
Authors: Coelho Silvia
Published: July 2015

The definition of a good glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus on hemodialysis is far from settled. In the general population, hemoglobin A1c is highly correlated with the average glycemia of the last 8–12 weeks. However, in hemodialysis patients, the correlation of hbA1c with glycemia is weaker as it also reflects changes in hemoglobin characteristics and red blood cells half‐life. As expected, studies show that the association between HbA1c and outcomes in these patients differ from the general population. Therefore, the value of HbA1c in the treatment of hemodialysis patients has been questioned. Guidelines are generally cautious in their recommendations about possible targets of HbA1c in this population. Indeed, the risk of not treating hyperglycemia should be weighed against the particularly high risk of precipitating hypoglycemia in dialysis patients. In this review, a critical analysis of the current role of HbA1c in the care of hemodialysis patients is presented.
An Experimental Study on Dividing Gains through Politics
Authors: Hsu Li‐Chen , Kan Kamhon , Yang C.C. , Yang Chun‐Lei
Published: July 2015

This article offers experimental evidence to examine an important case in politics where a monopolistic proposer seeks a majority's consent from competitive responders to split the gain. The unique subgame perfect equilibrium prediction is that the side of trade with a monopoly will exploit the side of trade with competition to reap almost all of the gain. Our experimental evidence reveals that while responders do compete with each other to race to the bottom (consistent with the prediction), the monopolistic proposer settles down to offer a ‘fair’ share of the pie to those from whom he or she seeks majority support (contrary to the prediction).
Cultivating Market Relations – Diversification in theDanish Organic Production Sector Following Market Expansion
Authors: Thorsøe Martin , Noe Egon
Published: July 2015

Understanding how the market influences the development of organic food networks is relevant as the consumption of organics grows in many parts of the world. This article investigates how market relations influence the decision‐making of farmers. We explore the different strategies employed by organic farmers for building trust, ensuring consistency in food quality and at the farm level. By analysing 14 qualitative interviews conducted withDanish organic farmers we identify four marketagencements– assemblages of actors endowed with agency. The four agencements are: (1) A standardising market agencement, (2) a personalising market agencement, (3) a specialising market agencement and (4) an aestheticising market agencement. Each of the four market agencements supports a different approach to producing and selling organics. Hence, theDanish organic market is diversified in terms of the qualities that are transferred, the relations of trust underpinning the market, and the production strategies of the farmers. Moreover, developments in the market have enabled some producers to develop large‐scale organic production, while enabling other farmers to develop niches emphasising new product qualities and consumer relations. Consequently, we argue that organic farmers do not only produce goods for pre‐existing, predefined markets, but that they also cultivate new market relations.
Executive Control and Relationship Maintenance Processes: An Empirical Overview and Theoretical Integration
Authors: Karremans Johan C. , Pronk Tila M. , van der Wal Reine C.
Published: July 2015

Why do romantic partners sometimes act in ways that potentially threaten relationship satisfaction and stability, even when strongly committed to the relationship? This article discusses research that has addressed this question by examining the role of executive control. We argue that executive control plays a particularly important role in relationship functioning when partners are faced with dilemmas between acting on self‐interest and acting on partner or relationship interest. We review the key findings in this domain, demonstrating that individual differences in executive control are positively associated with sacrifice, forgiveness, and the ability to resist the temptation of attractive alternatives. We conclude with proposing a theoretical model that integrates the role of motivation and capacity factors in promoting pro‐relationship responses and discuss promising areas for future research.
Fluency and Attitudes
Authors: Claypool Heather M. , Mackie Diane M. , Garcia‐Marques Teresa
Published: July 2015

The goal of this article is to review how, when, and why fluency, or processing ease, affects attitudes. The current article first defines fluency and then discusses its direct impact on attitudes, noting that fluency usually makes attitudes more positive and that it does so for a wide array of attitude objects. Mechanisms and moderators of these direct effects are also described. The article then summarizes how fluency can affect attitudes indirectly, through its impact on other judgments (like perceptions of confidence or truth) and on cognitive operations (like information processing). The article ends by highlighting a few areas where additional research is likely to reap impressive benefits.
Embodied Methodologies, Participation, and the Art of Research
Authors: Fox Madeline
Published: July 2015

In this article, I make the case for scholarship potential at the overlap of art and research. Using the case of the psychological study of adolescence, I show that in order to produce findings of meaning from a critical psychological perspective, it is imperative to consider methodology and epistemology. With a focus on artistic embodied methodologies within participatory action research projects on adolescence, I explore how creative approaches can be an analytic process for knowledge production in the critical social sciences. I argue that the artistic approaches employed using embodied methodologies can be considered as a way to make meaning and that especially within participatory research, these approaches can strengthen validity. In response to theepistemological violence(Teo, 2010) of some conventional social psychological studies, participatory artistic embodied methodologies contribute to building liberatory knowledge and rigorous science.
The System‐Justifying Function of Gratitude Norms
Authors: Eibach Richard P. , Wilmot Matthew O. , Libby Lisa K.
Published: July 2015

We propose that gratitude norms function to motivate people to express system‐justifying beliefs and attitudes. When people feel grateful for the benefits they receive from sociopolitical institutions, they may feel compelled to express their appreciation by self‐censoring any grievances they may have about the functioning of their system. We review theory and research on the psychology of gratitude and integrate it with theory and research on the system‐justification motive. We illustrate how new insights into various effects in the literature on ideology and system justification might be gained by considering how the expression of system‐justifying opinions might function as an expression of gratitude toward one's system. We speculate that this system‐justifying function of gratitude is a consequence of social norms that overgeneralize the domain of gratitude from the context of interpersonal relations between peers to the context of relations with the larger, impersonal systems that govern people's lives.
Metaphor for Teaching: Good Teaching is Like Good Sex
Authors: Delgado Teresa
Published: July 2015

Based on a real teaching experience in the classroom, the author reflects on the dynamics of gender, race/ethnicity, power, and privilege in the context of an undergraduate course in Christian sexual ethics. Through this analysis of pedagogical style and process initiated by a challenging moment at the midpoint of the semester, the author develops ten guiding principles for good teaching, using the metaphor that “good teaching is like good sex,” which emphasize the necessary elements and outcomes of a positive learning environment: intimacy, flexibility, creativity, satisfaction, care and attentiveness, vulnerability, fun and playfulness, reciprocity, full engagement, and risk‐taking. This experience provided the foundation for planning and assessment for the author's courses since.
Teaching Religion Around the World: A Modest First Glimpse
Authors: Robinson Joanne Maguire
Published: July 2015

This essay introduces a collection of short essays solicited from authors around the globe who teach religion courses at the college level (not for professional religious training). The central question uniting this collection is whether religious studies is a unified and global pedagogical field, and this introduction teases out salient continuities and discontinuities driven by broad cultural and political contexts. These essays are published together with this introduction inTeaching Theology and Religion18:3 (July 2015). The authors were asked to provide a brief overview of the curriculum, student learning goals, and pedagogical techniques employed in their courses.
Prospects for Religious Studies inTurkey
Authors: Wiseman Wendy A. , Kesgin Burak
Published: July 2015

This essay is part of a collection of short essays solicited from authors around the globe who teach religion courses at the college level (not for professional religious training). They are published together with an introduction inTeaching Theology and Religion18:3 (July 2015). The authors were asked to provide a brief overview of the curriculum, student learning goals, and pedagogical techniques employed in their courses. Wendy Wiseman taught Humanities courses at Ozyegin University in Istanbul from 2008‐2013, taught Religious Studies at Indiana University the following year, and returned to Istanbul to teach at Beykent University. Burak Kesgin is Chair of Sociology at Beykent University, with a focus on political economy and sociology of religion.
How Religious Studies is Taught in Japan
Authors: Fujiwara Satoko
Published: July 2015

This essay is part of a collection of short essays solicited from authors around the globe who teach religion courses at the college level (not for professional religious training). They are published together with an introduction in Teaching Theology and Religion 18:3 (July 2015). The authors were asked to provide a brief overview of the curriculum, student learning goals, and pedagogical techniques employed in their courses.
Teaching Religion in Brazil, in Public Schools and Confessional Colleges
Authors: Cruz Eduardo R. , Soares Afonso L.
Published: July 2015

This essay is part of a collection of short essays solicited from authors around the globe who teach religion courses at the college level (not for professional religious training). They are published together with an introduction in Teaching Theology and Religion 18:3 (July 2015). The authors were asked to provide a brief overview of the curriculum, student learning goals, and pedagogical techniques employed in their courses.
The auxin transporter, OsAUX1, is involved in primary root and root hair elongation and in Cd stress responses in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Yu ChenLiang , Sun ChenDong , Shen Chenjia , Wang Suikang , Liu Fang , Liu Yan , Chen YunLong , Li Chuanyou , Qian Qian , Aryal Bibek , Geisler Markus , Jiang De An , Qi YanHua
Published: July 2015

Auxin and cadmium (Cd) stress play critical roles during root development. There are only a few reports on the mechanisms by which Cd stress influences auxin homeostasis and affects primary root (PR) and lateral root (LR) development, and almost nothing is known about how auxin and Cd interfere with root hair (RH) development. Here, we characterize rice osaux1 mutants that have a longer PR and shorter RHs in hydroponic culture, and that are more sensitive to Cd stress compared to wild‐type (Dongjin). OsAUX1 expression in root hair cells is different from that of its paralogous gene, AtAUX1, which is expressed in non‐hair cells. However, OsAUX1, like AtAUX1, localizes at the plasma membrane and appears to function as an auxin tranporter. Decreased auxin distribution and contents in the osaux1 mutant result in reduction of OsCyCB1;1 expression and shortened PRs, LRs and RHs under Cd stress, but may be rescued by treatment with the membrane‐permeable auxin 1‐naphthalene acetic acid. Treatment with the auxin transport inhibitors 1‐naphthoxyacetic acid and N‐1‐naphthylphthalamic acid increased the Cd sensitivity of WT rice. Cd contents in the osaux1 mutant were not altered, but reactive oxygen species‐mediated damage was enhanced, further increasing the sensitivity of the osaux1 mutant to Cd stress. Taken together, our results indicate that OsAUX1 plays an important role in root development and in responses to Cd stress.
Taste and move: glucose and peptide transporters in the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Daniel Hannelore , Zietek Tamara
Published: July 2015

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

Nutrient absorption in the gastrointestinal tract requires membrane proteins embedded in the apical membrane of epithelial cells that allow bulk quantities of nutrients, such as monosaccharides and amino acids, to be moved into epithelial cells. Very recently, a new function of the transporters as nutrient sensors mediating peptide hormone release from enteroendocrine cells has been discovered.

What advances does it highlight?

The review covers recent advances in membrane transporter functions for the absorption and sensing of dietary peptides and sugars and their putative interplay.

Nutrient transporters are integral membrane proteins responsible for uptake into enterocytes and release of nutrients into the circulation. Absorption of food breakdown products, such as fatty acids, monosaccharides or amino acids, requires high‐capacity transporters. In the case of glucose, amino acids and peptides, the transporters are electrogenic in nature, coupling substrate flux to ion movement. While glucose absorption is mediated by the Na+‐dependent SGLT1 protein, uptake of short‐chain peptides is mediated by the H+‐coupled PEPT1 protein. Interestingly, both transporters were recently shown to fulfil an additional role as intestinal ‘sensors’ in enteroendocrine cells, mediating the release of gastrointestinal peptide hormones into the circulation. Sensing of d‐glucose and of di‐ and tripeptides is particularly relevant for the secretion of the incretins glucose‐dependent insulinotrophic polypeptide and glucagon‐like peptide 1 that promote insulin output from β‐cells and mediate β‐cell protection. In addition to these sensing pathways, a variety of G‐protein‐coupled receptors are involved in sensing of intestinal contents. d‐Glucose is sensed not only by SGLT1 but also by the sweet taste receptor T1R2/3 expressed in enteroendocrine cells. Activation of T1R2/3 increases SGLT1 levels and intestinal glucose absorption. Although T1R2/3 ligands, such as artificial sweeteners, were shown to elicit incretin secretion from enteroendocrine cell lines or in vitro in tissue preparations, convincing data that this is also relevant in vivo are missing to date. However, there is growing interest in targeting intestinal sensory pathways, involving receptors but also the ‘transceptors’ PEPT1 and SGLT1, by use of drugs or food constituents to elicit the beneficial effects of incretins on the pancreas and metabolic control.
Nonlinear Adaptive Observer for a Lithium-Ion Battery Cell Based on Coupled Electrochemical–Thermal Model
Authors: Dey S. , Ayalew B. , Pisu P.
Published: July 2015

Real-time estimation of battery internal states and physical parameters is of the utmost importance for intelligent battery management systems (BMS). Electrochemical models, derived from the principles of electrochemistry, are arguably more accurate in capturing the physical mechanism of the battery cells than their counterpart data-driven or equivalent circuit models (ECM). Moreover, the electrochemical phenomena inside the battery cells are coupled with the thermal dynamics of the cells. Therefore, consideration of the coupling between electrochemical and thermal dynamics inside the battery cell can be potentially advantageous for improving the accuracy of the estimation. In this paper, a nonlinear adaptive observer scheme is developed based on a coupled electrochemical–thermal model of a Li-ion battery cell. The proposed adaptive observer scheme estimates the distributed Li-ion concentration and temperature states inside the electrode, and some of the electrochemical model parameters, simultaneously. These states and parameters determine the state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH) of the battery cell. The adaptive scheme is split into two separate but coupled observers, which simplifies the design and gain tuning procedures. The design relies on a Lyapunov's stability analysis of the observers, which guarantees the convergence of the combined state-parameter estimates. To validate the effectiveness of the scheme, both simulation and experimental studies are performed. The results show that the adaptive scheme is able to estimate the desired variables with reasonable accuracy. Finally, some scenarios are described where the performance of the scheme degrades.
Viscous torque on spherical micro particles in two orthogonal acoustic standing wave fields
Authors: Lamprecht Andreas , Schwarz Thomas , Wang Jingtao , Dual Jurg
Published: July 2015

This paper reports the experimental results of the acoustic rotation of spherical micro particles because of two orthogonal standing waves. When the standing waves are excited at equal frequency but with a phase shift between two external voltage signals there is an acoustic streaming around the particles. This streaming is due to a time averaging of the acoustic wave field and produces a nonzero viscous torque on the particles, driving them to rotate. The work investigates the micro-particle rotation due to the viscous torque and predict the particle's steady state rotational velocity. The previous theoretical discussions [Nyborg, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 85, 329–339 (1958); Lee and Wang, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 85, 1081–1088 (1989)] of the viscous torque on a non-rotating sphere are expanded to allow free rotations. The analytical calculations provide a deeper understanding of the viscous torque and explain the experimental observations of rotating particles. A macroscopic experimental device is designed to provide the necessary boundary conditions for the viscous torque to rotate spherical particles. The experiments not only show good agreement with the analysis, but also demonstrate that the viscous torque due to acoustic streaming may dominate for the case of near-spherical particle dynamics.
Spending bills put NIH on track for biggest raise in 12 years
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: July 2015

House and Senate also want to resurrect canceled National Children's Study.
Narcolepsy link to pandemic flu vaccine becomes clearer
Authors: Vogel Gretchen
Published: July 2015

Pandemrix may have caused autoimmune reactions.
The liver's weighty problem
Authors: Leslie Mitch
Published: July 2015

As obesity rates soar, a sometimes fatal liver disease is becoming epidemic.
Eureka!
Flight from Wonder
An Investigation of Scientific Creativity
Albert Rothenberg
Oxford University Press, 2015. 221 pp.
The Creativity Crisis
Reinventing Science to Unleash Possibility
Roberta B. Ness
Oxford University Press, 2015. 287 pp.
Authors: Jones Benjamin F.
Published: July 2015

Recognizing and rewarding scientific creativity
Cryo-EM structure of an antibody that neutralizes dengue virus type 2 by locking E protein dimers
Authors: Fibriansah Guntur , Ibarra Kristie D. , Ng Thiam-Seng , Smith Scott A. , Tan Joanne L. , Lim Xin-Ni , Ooi Justin S. G. , Kostyuchenko Victor A. , Wang Jiaqi , de Silva Aravinda M. , Harris Eva , Crowe James E. , Lok Shee-Mei
Published: July 2015

An antibody to lock dengue virus out

Mosquito-borne dengue virus (DENV) is a growing public health threat. Nearly 400 million people are infected annually, and no vaccine is currently available. Fibriansah
et al.
report that a human antibody (2D22) specific for DENV serotype 2, when given therapeutically, can protect mice from a lethal form of this virus. Structural analysis revealed that 2D22 binds across multiple DENV envelope proteins, which probably blocks the ability of these proteins to assemble into the orientation necessary for viral entry. The epitope where 2D22 binds to the virus may therefore represent a potential vaccine target.

Science
, this issue p.
88
Cortical folding scales universally with surface area and thickness, not number of neurons
Authors: Mota Bruno , Herculano-Houzel Suzana
Published: July 2015

The best way to fold a mammalian brain

As mammalian brains grew larger through evolution, the organization and folding of brains changed too. In a series of statistical analyses comparing a large number of mammalian species, Mota and Herculano-Houzel found that brain folding is not simply a phylogenetic consequence of brain mass increase (see the Perspective by Striedter and Srinivasan). The exposed surface of the cortex scales across all mammals and across individuals as a single power law of the product of total cortical surface and the square root of cortical thickness.

Science
, this issue p.
74
; see also p.
31
Experimental evidence for hillslope control of landscape scale
Authors: Sweeney K. E. , Roering J. J. , Ellis C.
Published: July 2015

Landscape evolution in a sandbox

The long-term response of hills and valleys to changes in climate depends on a variety of physical factors. Sweeney
et al.
performed tabletop erosion experiments as a function of rainfall and uplift: variables that are impossible to precisely control in nature (see the Perspective by McCoy). Ridge and valley spacing are set by the balance of sediment moving down hillslopes or being washed out of valleys by rivers. Landscapes therefore evolve as a response to climate change altering erosion rates.

Science
, this issue p.
51
; see also p.
32
Single-cell–initiated monosynaptic tracing reveals layer-specific cortical network modules
Authors: Wertz Adrian , Trenholm Stuart , Yonehara Keisuke , Hillier Daniel , Raics Zoltan , Leinweber Marcus , Szalay Gergely , Ghanem Alexander , Keller Georg , Rózsa Balázs , Conzelmann Karl-Klaus , Roska Botond
Published: July 2015

Tracing cells that project to one neuron

Feature extraction is a prominent characteristic of cortical neurons involved in the early stages of sensory processing. Wertz
et al.
retrogradely marked an injected neuron and its direct inputs to reveal the network mechanisms that mediate their response. Neurons within each presynaptic network layer of single direction-selective cells showed similar motion direction preferences. In some networks, layer-specific functional modules were identical to the orientation preference of the postsynaptic neuron. Presynaptic neurons, however, displayed a general bias toward the stimulus feature that elicited a response in the postsynaptic neuron.

Science
, this issue p.
70
A tethered niacin-derived pincer complex with a nickel-carbon bond in lactate racemase
Authors: Desguin Benoît , Zhang Tuo , Soumillion Patrice , Hols Pascal , Hu Jian , Hausinger Robert P.
Published: July 2015

Nickel pincers as enzyme cofactors

Organometallic nickel complexes long synthesized in the laboratory exist naturally in enzymes as well. Desguin
et al.
determined the structure and metal-binding residues of the Ni-containing active site in bacterial lactate racemase (see the Perspective by Zamble). A dithiodinicotinic acid mononucleotide derivative cofactor binds Ni through sulfur and carbon bonds, resembling synthetic nickel pincer complexes. Genes encoding accessory proteins involved in the synthesis of this cofactor are widely distributed in other bacteria, suggesting its involvement in other enzymes.

Science
, this issue p.
66
; see also p.
35
Protective efficacy of adenovirus/protein vaccines against SIV challenges in rhesus monkeys
Authors: Barouch Dan H. , Alter Galit , Broge Thomas , Linde Caitlyn , Ackerman Margaret E. , Brown Eric P. , Borducchi Erica N. , Smith Kaitlin M. , Nkolola Joseph P. , Liu Jinyan , Shields Jennifer , Parenteau Lily , Whitney James B. , Abbink Peter , Ng’ang’a David M. , Seaman Michael S. , Lavine Christy L. , Perry James R. , Li Wenjun , Colantonio Arnaud D. , Lewis Mark G. , Chen Bing , Wenschuh Holger , Reimer Ulf , Piatak Michael , Lifson Jeffrey D. , Handley Scott A. , Virgin Herbert W. , Koutsoukos Marguerite , Lorin Clarisse , Voss Gerald , Weijtens Mo , Pau Maria G. , Schuitemaker Hanneke
Published: July 2015

To defeat SIV, add a protein boost

Despite 30 years of effort, no HIV-1 vaccine exists. Barouch
et al.
evaluated one promising strategy in rhesus macaques, a preclinical model commonly used to test potential HIV-1 vaccine candidates. They immunized monkeys with adenovirus-36 vectors engineered to express SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus) genes and then boosted them with a recombinant gp120 envelope glycoprotein (Env) from SIV. This regimen afforded greater protection than a strategy that instead used a viral vector–based boost. A parallel trial using a SHIV (simian/human immunodeficiency virus)–based vaccine and challenge model produced similar results. Whether this particular approach will be equally successful in humans remains to be tested.

Science
, this issue p.
320
Contrasting futures for ocean and society from different anthropogenic CO
2
emissions scenarios
Authors: Gattuso J.-P. , Magnan A. , Billé R. , Cheung W. W. L. , Howes E. L. , Joos F. , Allemand D. , Bopp L. , Cooley S. R. , Eakin C. M. , Hoegh-Guldberg O. , Kelly R. P. , Pörtner H.-O. , Rogers A. D. , Baxter J. M. , Laffoley D. , Osborn D. , Rankovic A. , Rochette J. , Sumaila U. R. , Treyer S. , Turley C.
Published: July 2015

Carbon emissions and their ocean impacts

Anthropogenic CO
2
emissions directly affect atmospheric chemistry but also have a strong influence on the oceans. Gattuso
et al.
review how the physics, chemistry, and ecology of the oceans might be affected based on two CO
2
emission trajectories: one business as usual and one with aggressive reductions. Ocean warming, acidification, sea-level rise, and the expansion of oxygen minimum zones will continue to have distinct impacts on marine communities and ecosystems. The path that humanity takes regarding CO
2
emissions will largely determine the severity of these phenomena.

Science
, this issue
10.1126/science.aac4722
Landscapes in the lab
Authors: McCoy Scott W.
Published: July 2015

A table-top experiment can probe the processes of landscape evolution

[Also see Report by

Sweeney
et al.

]
The beyond-two-degree inferno
Authors: McNutt Marcia
Published: July 2015

In the history of humankind, there is a dearth of examples of global threats so far-reaching in their impact, so dire in their consequences, and considered so likely to occur that they have engaged all nations in risk mitigation. But now with climate change, we face a slowly escalating but long-enduring global threat to food supplies, health, ecosystem services, and the general viability of the planet to support a population of more than 7 billion people. The projected costs of addressing the problem grow with every year that we delay confronting it. In recognition of the shared risks we face and the collective action that will be necessary, an international meeting of stakeholders will convene in Paris next week (
www.commonfuture-paris2015.org
), ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in December, to discuss solutions for both climate mitigation and adaptation.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain WS136, a Highly Cytotoxic ExoS-Positive Wound Isolate Recovered from Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Authors: Arnold Martin , Wibberg Daniel , Blom Jochen , Schatschneider Sarah , Winkler Anika , Kutter Yvonne , Rückert Christian , Albersmeier Andreas , Albaum Stefan , Goesmann Alexander , Zange Sabine , Heesemann Jürgen , Pühler Alfred , Hogardt Michael , Vorhölter Frank-Jörg
Published: July 2015

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is an opportunistic pathogen that typically infects patients with a compromised immune defense. Here, we present the improved 6.5-Mb draft genome of strain WS136, an ExoS-positive and ExoU-negative highly cytotoxic chronic wound isolate recovered from pyoderma gangrenosum of a patient who received bone marrow transplantation.
Complete Genome Sequence of
Bacilli bacterium
Strain VT-13-104 Isolated from the Intestine of a Patient with Duodenal Cancer
Authors: Tetz George , Tetz Victor
Published: July 2015

We report the complete genome sequence of
Bacilli bacterium
strain VT-13-104 isolated from the intestine of a patient with duodenal cancer. The genome is composed of 3,573,421 bp, with a G+C content of 35.7%. It possesses 3,254 predicted protein-coding genes encoding multidrug resistance transporters, resistance to antibiotics, and virulence factors.
Cost-effectiveness of first-line erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer unsuitable for chemotherapy
Authors: Khan Iftekhar , Morris Stephen , Hackshaw Allan , Lee Siow-Ming
Published: July 2015

Objective

To assess the cost-effectiveness of erlotinib versus supportive care (placebo) overall and within a predefined rash subgroup in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer who are unfit for chemotherapy and receive only active supportive care due to their poor performance status or presence of comorbidities.

Setting

Between 2005 and 2009, a total of 670 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were randomised across 78 hospital sites (centres) in the UK.

Participants

670 patients with pathologically confirmed stage IIIb-IV NSCLC, unfit for chemotherapy, predominantly poor performance status (>2 on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, ECOG) and estimated life expectancy of at least 8 weeks. Patients were followed until disease progression or death, including a subgroup of patients who developed first cycle rash.

Interventions

Patients were randomised (1:1) to receive best supportive care plus oral placebo or erlotinib (150 mg/day) until disease progression, toxicity or death.

Primary outcome

Overall survival (OS).

Secondary outcomes

Progression-free survival (PFS), tumour response and quality adjusted life years (QALY), including within prespecified subgroups.

Results

The mean incremental cost per QALY in all patients was £202 571/QALY. The probability of cost-effectiveness of erlotinib in all patients was <10% at thresholds up to £100 000. However, within the rash subgroup, the incremental cost/QALY was £56 770/QALY with a probability of cost-effectiveness of about 80% for cost-effectiveness thresholds between £50 000 to £60 000.

Conclusions

Erlotinib has about 80% chance of being cost-effective at thresholds between £50 000–£60 000 in a subset of elderly poor performance patients with NSCLC unfit for chemotherapy who develop first cycle (28 days) rash. Erlotinib is potentially cost-effective for this population, for which few treatment options apart from best supportive care are available.

Trial registration number

(ISCRTN): 77383050.
Burden and trend analysis of injury mortality in China among children aged 0–14 years from 2004 to 2011
Authors: Yin Zhaoxue , Wu Jing , Luo Jiesi , Pak Anita WP , Choi Bernard CK , Liang Xiaofeng
Published: July 2015

Objective

To track changes of the burden and trends of childhood injury mortality among children aged 0–14 years in China from 2004 to 2011.

Design

National representative data from the Chinese Disease Surveillance Points system and Chinese Maternal and Child Mortality Surveillance system from 2004 to 2011 were used. Rates and 95% CIs of aged-standardised mortality, as well as the proportions of injury death, were estimated.

Setting

Urban and rural China.

Participants

Children aged 0–14 years from 2004 to 2011.

Results

The proportion of injury among all deaths in children increased from 18.69% in 2004 to 21.26% in 2011. A ‘V’ shape change was found in the age-standardised injury mortality rate during the study period among the children aged 0–14 years, with the age-standardised injury mortality rate decreasing from 29.71 per 100 000 per year in 2004 to 24.12 in 2007, and then increasing to 28.12 in 2011. A similar change was observed in the rural area. But the age-standardised mortality rate decreased consistently in the urban area. The rate was higher among boys than among girls. Drowning, road traffic accidents and falls were consistently the top three causes of death among children.

Conclusions

Childhood injury is an increasingly serious public health problem in China. The increasing trend of childhood injury mortality is driven by the rural areas rather than urban areas. More effective strategies and measures for injury prevention and control are needed for rural areas, boys, drowning, road traffic accidents and falls.
Development and validation of Australian aphasia rehabilitation best practice statements using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method
Authors: Power Emma , Thomas Emma , Worrall Linda , Rose Miranda , Togher Leanne , Nickels Lyndsey , Hersh Deborah , Godecke Erin , O'Halloran Robyn , Lamont Sue , O'Connor Claire , Clarke Kim
Published: July 2015

Objectives

To develop and validate a national set of best practice statements for use in post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation.

Design

Literature review and statement validation using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM).

Participants

A national Community of Practice of over 250 speech pathologists, researchers, consumers and policymakers developed a framework consisting of eight areas of care in aphasia rehabilitation. This framework provided the structure for the development of a care pathway containing aphasia rehabilitation best practice statements. Nine speech pathologists with expertise in aphasia rehabilitation participated in two rounds of RAND/UCLA appropriateness ratings of the statements. Panellists consisted of researchers, service managers, clinicians and policymakers.

Main outcome measures

Statements that achieved a high level of agreement and an overall median score of 7–9 on a nine-point scale were rated as ‘appropriate’.

Results

74 best practice statements were extracted from the literature and rated across eight areas of care (eg, receiving the right referrals, providing intervention). At the end of Round 1, 71 of the 74 statements were rated as appropriate, no statements were rated as inappropriate, and three statements were rated as uncertain. All 74 statements were then rated again in the face-to-face second round. 16 statements were added through splitting existing items or adding new statements. Seven statements were deleted leaving 83 statements. Agreement was reached for 82 of the final 83 statements.

Conclusions

This national set of 82 best practice statements across eight care areas for the rehabilitation of people with aphasia is the first to be validated by an expert panel. These statements form a crucial component of the Australian Aphasia Rehabilitation Pathway (AARP) (http://www.aphasiapathway.com.au) and provide the basis for more consistent implementation of evidence-based practice in stroke rehabilitation.
Interprofessional Simulation Olympics as a platform to assess team work knowledge acquisition
Authors: Sanko Jill Steiner , Shekhter Ilya , Mckay Mary , Gattamorta Karina , Birnbach David J
Published: July 2015

Introduction

Several years ago an on-stage competition called SimWars was introduced to the simulation community. This concept was adopted into a patient safety course as a way to further engage students and named Sim Olympics. We sought to evaluate it as a platform for assessment of learning in students who participated as audience members.

Methods

A non-equivalent groups design was used to assess whether students could be taught to recognise features of effective teamwork, including a pair of expert raters. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare students’ attitudes toward interprofessional education (IPE) education, teamwork and simulation, before and after the course.

Results

Student scores compared to expert scores showed good agreement. For team 1 there were no statistical differences noted (M=19.58, SD=4.34 given by the students, M=17.50, SD=2.12 given by the experts), t (192)=1.26, p=0.264. There was also no difference for team 2 (M=15.173, SD=5.52 given by the students, M=19.50, SD=3.53 given by the experts), t (173)=0.863, p=0.354. A premeasure and postmeasure of students’ attitudes towards IPE education, teamwork and simulation, also showed significant time effect, p<0.001.

Conclusions

Medical and nursing students were able to demonstrate their learning of teamwork dynamics by discerning differences between great teamwork and good teamwork as proficiently as seasoned experts. Findings of this study may further support the use of observation as a method to evaluate learning.
Sickness absence and the time-varying excess risk of premature death: a Swedish population-based prospective cohort study
Authors: Olsson Daniel , Alexanderson Kristina , Bottai Matteo
Published: July 2015

Background

Previous studies have found that sickness absentees have an excess risk of premature death. Most of the studies compared sickness absentees with non-sickness absentees, with 1 report including the total population. However, no study to date has investigated in detail how the risk of premature death varies over the time course of a sick-leave spell.

Methods

A population-based cohort of all 5.6 million people aged 16–64 years was followed up for 6 years. Hazard rates with 95% CI for mortality in the total population, sickness absentees with sick-leave spells exceeding 30 days and non-sickness absentees, were estimated over time and were standardised so that the distribution of background variables in all 3 groups was as close as possible to that in the total population.

Results

The standardised hazard rate of premature death at the first day under risk for the sickness absentees was 13.58 (95% CI 13.26 to 13.95) deaths per 1000 person-years, 2.29 (2.24 to 2.35) in the total population and 0.90 (0.87 to 0.94) among non-sickness absentees. The standardised hazard rates of premature death at 6 years was 3.42 (3.22 to 3.62) among sickness absentees, 3.48 (3.43 to 3.52) in the total population and 2.61 (2.57 to 2.66) among the non-sickness absentees. The hazard rates varied greatly across sick-leave diagnoses.

Conclusions

Right after start of a sick-leave spell exceeding 30 days, sickness absentees were at higher risk of premature death than the total population. The difference in risk, however, decreased over time and vanished completely after 6 years of follow-up.
Improved clinical outcome 3 months after endovascular treatment, including thrombectomy, in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis
Authors: Falk-Delgado Anna , Kuntze Söderqvist Åsa , Fransén Jian , Falk-Delgado Alberto
Published: July 2015

Background and purpose

Intravenous thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator is standard treatment in acute stroke today. The benefit of endovascular treatment has been questioned. Recently, studies evaluating endovascular treatment and intravenous thrombolysis compared with intravenous thrombolysis alone, have reported improved outcome for the intervention group. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing endovascular treatment in addition to intravenous thrombolysis with intravenous thrombolysis alone.

Methods

Databases were searched for eligible randomized controlled trials. The primary outcome was a functional neurological outcome after 90 days. A secondary outcome was severe disability and death. Data were pooled in the control and intervention groups, and OR was calculated on an intention to treat basis with 95% CIs. Outcome heterogeneity was evaluated with Cochrane's Q test (significance level cut-off value at <0.10) and I2(significance cut-off value >50%) with the Mantel–Haenszel method for dichotomous outcomes. A p value <0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.

Results

Six studies met the eligibility criteria, and data from 1569 patients were analyzed. A higher probability of a functional neurological outcome after 90 days was found for the intervention group (OR 2, 95% CI 2 to 3). There was a significantly higher probability of death and severe disability in the control group compared with the intervention group.

Conclusions

Endovascular treatment in addition to intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke leads to an improved clinical outcome after 3 months, compared with patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis alone.
Physical characteristics of catheters used for subarachnoid drainage
Authors: Wong A Ian , Gao Shengqiang , Bain Mark D , Fitzsimons Brian , Hui Ferdinand K
Published: July 2015

Background

Cerebrospinal fluid diversion through lumbar drainage catheters is a routine procedure that is used in a variety of clinical applications. Fracture of catheters during insertion or removal may result in retained foreign bodies that may lead to patient morbidity with potential legal ramifications. Fracture resistance is an important component of drain selection.

Objective

To analyze catheter integrity to determine which commercially available catheters are most robust and resistant to fracture.

Methods

Physical properties of the commercially available drainage catheters that can be advanced through a Touhy needle were assessed using laboratory equipment and reported. Five types of catheter were analyzed for break load, tensile strength, extension at break, and shear strength.

Results and conclusions

Of the five types of catheter, the Arrow catheter showed the greatest resistance to fracture. Of the drainage catheters, the Codman catheter showed the greatest resistance to fracture.
Robust Metric Inequalities for Network Loading Under Demand Uncertainty
Authors: Claßen Grit , Koster Arie M. C. A. , Kutschka Manuel , Tahiri Issam
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we consider the network loading problem under demand uncertainties with static routing, i.e., a single routing scheme based on the fraction of the demands has to be determined. We generalize the class of metric inequalities to the Γ-robust setting and show that they yield a formulation in the capacity space. We describe a polynomial time exact algorithm to separate violated robust metric inequalities as model constraints. Moreover, rounded and tight robust metric inequalities describing the convex hull of integer solutions are presented and separated in a cut-and-branch approach. Computational results using real-life telecommunication data demonstrate the potential of (tight) robust metric inequalities by considering the integrality gaps at the root node and the overall optimality gaps. Average speed-up factors between 2 and 5 for the compact flow and between 3 and 25 for the capacity formulation in the case of mid-sized instances have been achieved by exploiting robust metric inequalities in the solving process.