bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection 2014
Authors: O'Connor Anthony , Vaira Dino , Gisbert Javier P. , O'Morain Colm
Published: August 2014

This review summarizes important studies regarding H.pylori therapy published from April 2013 to April 2014. The main themes that emerge are assessing the efficacy of standard triple therapy, as well as exploring new first‐line treatments, predominantly optimized triple therapies and non‐bismuth quadruple schemes. Regarding newer non‐bismuth quadruple regimens, the compliance and tolerance seem to be similar for sequential and concomitant regimens. Notably, no study yet has demonstrated a clear statistical superiority for either, and a systematic review and meta‐analysis may be warranted. Other studies examined the role of levofloxacin and bismuth based therapies in H. pylori eradication. The efficacy of bismuth as a second‐line after sequential therapy was particularly noteworthy. Levofloxacin‐based therapies also appear to be useful and versatile as part of different antibiotic combinations and in first‐, second‐, and third‐line therapies. The emerging problem of quinolone resistance remains a worry. Individualized therapy, based on factors such as antimicrobial information, resistance data, and CYP2C19 metabolism, may well be the most notable future trend to emerge this year.
Pointing as Epistemic Request: 12‐month‐olds Point to Receive New Information
Authors: Kovács Ágnes Melinda , Tauzin Tibor , Téglás Ernő , Gergely György , Csibra Gergely
Published: August 2014

Infants start pointing systematically to objects or events around their first birthday. It has been proposed that infants point to an event to share their appreciation of it with others. In this study, we tested another hypothesis, according to which infants’ pointing could also serve as an epistemic request directed to the adult. Thus, infants’ motivation for pointing could include the expectation that adults would provide new information about the referent. In two experiments, an adult reacted to 12‐month‐olds’ pointing gestures by exhibiting “Informing” or “Sharing” behavior. In response, infants pointed more frequently across trials in the Informing than in the Sharing condition. This suggests that the feedback that contained new information matched infants’ expectations more than mere attention sharing. Such a result is consistent with the idea that not just the comprehension but also the production of early communicative signals is tuned to assist infants’ learning from others.
The first nurse practitioner graduate programme in Japan
Authors: Fukuda H. , Miyauchi S. , Tonai M. , Ono M. , Magilvy J.K. , Murashima S.
Published: August 2014

Aim

This paper describes the establishment of the first Japanese nurse practitioner graduate programme and legislative activities to institutionalize nurse practitioners in Japan.

Background

To address the super‐ageing population, Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences initiated the first academic graduate level nurse practitioner programme in Japan, based upon the global standard defined by the International Council of Nurses.

Conclusion

In 2010, Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences graduated the first nurse practitioner. We believe that nurse practitioners will be highly valued in Japan for thoughtful nursing care to the fragile elders living in rural and urban Japan.
Comparative Study of CaMsrB2 Gene Containing Drought‐Tolerant Transgenic Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Non‐Transgenic Counterpart
Authors: Dhungana S. K. , Kim B.‐R. , Son J.‐H. , Kim H.‐R. , Shin D.‐H.
Published: August 2014

Concerns regarding the safety of transgenic foods have been raised because of possibility of undesirable effects development during genetic engineering. Analysis of phenotypic traits can increase the likelihoods of identifying those unintended effects in dietary composition of the GM crops. Objective of this study was to compare the transgenic lines with their non‐transgenic counterpart. Different vegetative and reproductive traits as well as antioxidant properties were considered to evaluate the transgenic (HV8 and HV23) lines containing CaMsrB2 gene and their non‐transgenic (Ilmi) parent line. Grain size and weight, seed germination, root length, root and shoot dry weight, length and width of flag leaf, plant height, and ligule, stamen and carpel length were not significantly different. Onset and completion of heading in each line occurred almost during the same period. The antioxidant properties in terms of DPPH (1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and polyphenol content were not statistically different under same treatment condition. The results suggested that the transgenic rice lines containing CaMsrB2 gene were equivalent to their non‐transgenic counterpart without any visible unintended effects.
Symptomatic dermographism: an inadequately described disease
Authors: Schoepke N. , Młynek A. , Weller K. , Church M.K. , Maurer M.
Published: August 2014

Background

Symptomatic dermographism is the most common form of physical urticaria with a prevalence of 2–5%. However, its clinical picture has rarely been described.

Objective

To understand more of patients' views about the practical aspects of their condition, its cause and impact on quality of life.

Methods

Ninety‐one of 150 patients with symptomatic dermographism from our specialist urticaria clinic completed a 38‐question questionnaire sent them by mail.

Results

The mean duration of disease was 6¼ years. In most patients, the condition was continuous, but ~25% had prolonged symptom‐free phases. Severity was evaluated as moderate in 45%, severe in 33% and very severe in 6% of respondents. Other responses included: symptoms worse in the evening in 81%; quality of life significantly impaired in 44%; normal life not possible 7%; stress induces acute episodes 44%; other urticarial forms coexist 21%; allergy coexist 48%. A family history was reported in 14%. Almost all patients were taking H1‐anti‐histamines, 49% getting marked improvement and 23% becoming symptoms free.

Limitations

It is a survey only of patient opinions.

Conclusions

This questionnaire survey confirmed that symptomatic dermographism is a debilitating condition with profound effects on quality of life but its underlying cause and disease mechanisms remain obscure.
Analysis of current data on the use of topical rapamycin in the treatment of facial angiofibromas in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
Authors: Balestri R. , Neri I. , Patrizi A. , Angileri L. , Ricci L. , Magnano M.
Published: August 2014

Background

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous syndrome causing hamartomatous growths in multiple organs. Facial angiofibromas occur in up to 80% of patients and can be highly disfiguring. Treatment for these lesions has historically been challenging. Recently, topical rapamycin has been proposed as an effective option to treat angiofibromas but a commercially available compound has not yet been developed.

Objectives

The aim of this review is to analyse the current data on the use of topical rapamycin in the treatment of angiofibromas in TSC, focusing on the risk‐benefit profile.

Methods

A retrospective review of the English‐language literature was conducted.

Results

Sixteen reports describing the use of topical rapamycin in the treatment of angiofibromas in TSC were considered, involving a total of 84 patients. An improvement of the lesions has been shown in 94% of subjects, particularly if the treatment was started at early stages. Several different formulations (ointment, gel, solution and cream) with a wide range of concentrations (0.003%–1%) were proposed. Only 4 local adverse side‐effects were reported after the use of rapamycin solution.

Conclusion

Topical rapamycin can be considered a safe option for the treatment and the prevention of facial angiofibromas in younger patients, but the best formulation has not been established. Our review demonstrates that ointment and gel should be preferred, but it is not clear which concentration is optimal. Long‐term and comparative studies between topical rapamycin and ablative techniques are required to establish which treatment has a better outcome and lower recurrence rate.
Functional optical coherence tomography of pigmented lesions
Authors: Wessels R. , de Bruin D.M. , Relyveld G.N. , Faber D.J. , Vincent A.D. , Sanders J. , van Leeuwen T.G. , Ruers T.J.M.
Published: August 2014

Background

Cutaneous melanomas are diagnosed worldwide in 231 130 patients per year. The sensitivity and specificity of melanoma diagnosis expresses the need for an additional diagnostic method. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has shown that it allows morphological (qualitative) description of image features and quantitative analysis of pathology related light scattering by means of the attenuation coefficient (μoct).

Objective

We hypothesize that OCT images of nevi will differ qualitatively and quantitatively from melanomas.

Methods

Forty lesions from 33 consecutive patients were imaged with OCT. After data acquisition, excision was performed. Epidermal layer thickness was measured and values of μoct were extracted from 200 OCT images of pigmented lesions.

Results

Morphologically, absence of the lower border of the lesion was characteristic for melanoma (P = 0.02). Also, the μoct was different between benign and malignant lesions (P = 0.02). There were no differences in epidermal layer thickness of benign lesions and melanoma.

Conclusion

Although this preliminary study comprised a small number of patients, quantitative analysis of OCT images in pigmented skin lesions give valuable additional information about lesions characteristics. When using the attenuation coefficient, it might be possible to distinguish between benign lesions and melanomas.
Preservatives in cosmetics in the Israeli market conform well to the EU legislation
Authors: Horev L. , Isaksson M. , Engfeldt M. , Persson L. , Ingber A. , Bruze M.
Published: August 2014

Background

Preservatives are important and frequent skin sensitizers, found in a wide range of products for personal and occupational use. According to the European legislation, some cosmetic ingredients are restricted in terms of quantity and a detailed list of ingredients must be present on the product or packaging.

Objectives

To examine the use of preservatives in common cosmetics on the Israeli market.

Materials/Methods

Sixty different Israeli brand cosmetics, including shampoos, liquid soaps, body creams and hand creams were randomly selected. Ingredient labels were examined. The products were investigated by the chromotropic acid method for release of formaldehyde and by high performance liquid chromatography for the presence of formaldehyde, DMDM hydantoin and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) and MI content.

Results

All products but one contained a detailed list of ingredients printed on the package. According to labelling, the most prevalent preservatives in Israeli shampoos and liquid soaps were DMDM hydantoin and MCI/MI. Hand creams and body creams contained mainly parabens but also iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, phenoxyethanol and DMDM hydantoin. Formaldehyde in doses from 4 to 429 ppm, and DMDM hydantoin were detected in 38 and 16 (63% and 27%) of the products, respectively. MCI/MI was detected in 11 (18%) of the products, with highest prevalence in rinse‐ off products (55%). Excluding one hand cream which measured 106 ppm MI, the amount of formaldehyde, DMDM hydantoin, MCI/MI and MI was within the allowed concentrations by the European directive in all cases.

Conclusions

In Israel, adaptation of the European directive prevails, as shown by the measurements we performed on randomly selected products.
Treatment of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma with oral alitretinoin
Authors: Kapser C. , Herzinger T. , Ruzicka T. , Flaig M. , Molin S.
Published: August 2014

Background

Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a potentially life‐limiting malignant disease. Treatment strategies in CTCL aim at disease control and remission with the lowest possible side‐effects.

Objective

Recent reports suggest that the new vitamin A derivative alitretinoin might be a well‐tolerated treatment option.

Methods

We analysed the files of 11 CTCL patients with mycosis fungoides (n = 10) or Sézary syndrome (n = 1), who were treated with oral alitretinoin alone or in combination with standard treatment based on individual off‐label treatment decisions. Patients had been monitored every 4–8 weeks with skin examination and laboratory analyses.

Results

Ten of 11 patients (90.9%) showed a marked improvement of their CTCL skin lesions and no progress of the disease during treatment with alitretinoin, one patient showed no response to the treatment (9.1%). Four of the responding patients (40.0%) had a complete response and 6 (60.0%) had a partial response. Average time to response was 2.5 months. Duration of treatment varied depending on whether patients had reached complete or partial remission. In general, alitretinoin was well tolerated. One of 11 patients developed high non‐fasting average serum cholesterol (>300 mg/dL) and 1/11 a mean non‐fasting triglyceride value >500 mg/dL. In 3/11 patients, thyroid‐stimulating hormone declined without clinical symptoms during treatment, with one of the patients also showing a decreased thyroxin level.

Conclusion

In our group of CTCL patients we noticed a low rate of side‐effects and an overall good clinical response to treatment with alitretinoin. Further studies are required to substantiate this early clinical observation.
A possible relationship of human leucocyte antigens with psoriasis vulgaris and geographic tongue
Authors: Picciani B.L.S. , Carneiro S. , Sampaio A.L.B. , Santos B.M. , Santos V.C.B. , Gonzaga H.F.S. , Oliveira J.C. , Porto L.C. , Dias E.P.
Published: August 2014

Background

Geographic tongue (GT) is the most frequent oral lesion in psoriatic patients (PP), and genetic involvement in these conditions has been described. The association of psoriasis with GT is still not clear, and the study of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) may help clarify this relation.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of HLA alleles with psoriasis vulgaris and GT.

Methods

Fifty‐eight Brazilian PP, 29 GT patients and 125 healthy controls individuals were selected. Information on demographic and clinical characteristics was collected. All patients underwent an oral examination and blood collection for HLA typing.

Results

HLA‐A did not show significant differences in frequencies among the groups. HLA‐B*57 allele was more frequently found in PP and was not found in GT. HLA‐B*58 allele was more frequently found in GT. HLA‐C*06 and ‐C*18 alleles were associated with psoriasis. No significant differences in HLA‐DRB1 and HLA‐DQB1 were observed.

Conclusion

HLA‐B*58 was associated with GT and HLA‐B*57 was possibly associated with psoriasis. This suggested that some GT cases may represent true oral psoriasis and some may represent only GT. Therefore, it is necessary to make this distinction and increase our sample size to improve the correct diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.
Long‐term sustained lesion clearance from Lmax with imiquimod 3.75%, a new field‐directed treatment for actinic keratosis
Authors: Gupta G. , Stockfleth E. , Peris K. , Aractingi S. , Alomar A. , Dakovic R. , Dirschka T.
Published: August 2014

Background

In patients with actinic keratosis (AK), subclinical and clinical lesions coexist across large areas of sun‐exposed skin. The long‐term efficacy of AK treatments depends on their ability to eradicate both types of lesions across the entire field.

Objective

To assess the long‐term efficacy of imiquimod 3.75% using the reduction in lesions from Lmax (maximum lesion count during treatment), which assesses the ability to clear subclinical and clinical lesions.

Methods

Patients with 5–20 AK lesions on the full face or balding scalp from two 14‐week, randomized, vehicle‐controlled, double‐blind studies of imiquimod 3.75% (daily for two 2‐week treatment cycles separated by a 2‐week treatment‐free period) were eligible to enter a 12‐month follow‐up study if they had no AK lesions at Week 14. Lesion reduction from Lmax was calculated at 6 and 12 months during follow‐up.

Results

The 42 patients in this long‐term study had a median of nine baseline lesions and a median Lmax of 22 lesions. At 6 and 12 months of follow‐up, the median absolute reduction in AK lesions from Lmax with imiquimod 3.75% was 21 and 19, respectively. The median percentage reduction in lesions from Lmax to 6 and 12 months was 100% and 97.2%, respectively.

Conclusions

The ability of imiquimod 3.75% to eliminate clinical and subclinical lesions across an entire sun‐exposed field translates into sustained long‐term efficacy. Imiquimod 3.75% may therefore represent a first‐choice treatment for patients with AK.
Direct visualization of the novel pathogen, Spiroplasma eriocheiris, in the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard) using fluorescence in situ hybridization
Authors: Ding Z F , Xia S Y , Xue H , Tang J Q , Ren Q , Gu W , Meng Q G , Wang W
Published: August 2014

Spiroplasma eriocheiris is the first spiroplasma strain known to be pathogenic to freshwater crustaceans. It has caused considerable economic losses both in the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard) and in some other crustaceans. The monitoring of the pathogen in crustacean populations and study of its behaviour in the laboratory require the development of reliable diagnostic tools. In this article, we improved microscopic identification of S. eriocheiris by combining in situ hybridization with specific fluorescently labelled oligonucleotide probes. The established fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) allowed simultaneous visualization, identification and localization of S. eriocheiris in the tissues of diseased crayfish P. clarkii and exhibited low background autofluorescence and ideal signal‐to‐noise ratio. With the advantages of better tissue penetration, potentially more specific and stable, we designed three species‐specific oligonucleotide probes utilizing the sequences of 16S‐23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions (ISRs) of S. eriocheiris. Positive hybridization signals were visualized in haemocytes and connective tissues of hepatopancreas, cardiac muscle and gill from diseased crayfish. This unique distribution pattern matched the pathological changes when diagnosed by H&E staining and indicated that S. eriocheiris probably spread throughout the tissues in P. clarkii by hemokinesis. This assay will facilitate our understanding of the pathogenesis of S. eriocheiris and enhance the early diagnosis of the novel pathogen.
From Refining Sugar to Growing Tomatoes
Authors: Short Samuel W. , Bocken Nancy M.P. , Barlow Claire Y. , Chertow Marian R.
Published: August 2014

This article seeks to advance the understanding of the relationship between industrial ecology (IE) and business model innovation for sustainability as a means and driver of new value creation and competitive advantage by expanding the understanding of industrial symbiosis (IS) and internal symbiosis. This is explored through the case study of British Sugar, which, at the time of writing, is the UK's largest sugar producer by market share. Over the past three decades, the company has systematically sought opportunities to turn waste streams and emissions from their core production processes into useful and positive inputs to new product lines. Their core business is still sugar, but the business model has evolved to offer a broad range of additional synergistic and profitable product lines, including animal feed, electricity, tomatoes, and bioethanol. The research explores the temporal dimension of dynamic business model innovation, framing it in the context of a continuous evolutionary process rather than a discrete design activity. The case will be of interest as an additional contribution to the growing literature on IS; in offering an approach for linking the themes of IE literature and sustainable business model innovation more concretely in research and practice; and, by presenting the case as an evolutionary innovation process, the article furthers the emerging literature on business model innovation for sustainability.
ROP GTPase‐mediated auxin signaling regulates pavement cell interdigitation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Lin Deshu , Ren Huibo , Fu Ying
Published: August 2014

In multicellular plant organs, cell shape formation depends on molecular switches to transduce developmental or environmental signals and to coordinate cell‐to‐cell communication. Plants have a specific subfamily of the Rho GTPase family, usually called Rho of Plants (ROP), which serve as a critical signal transducer involved in many cellular processes. In the last decade, important advances in the ROP‐mediated regulation of plant cell morphogenesis have been made by using Arabidopsis thaliana leaf and cotyledon pavement cells. Especially, the auxin‐ROP signaling networks have been demonstrated to control interdigitated growth of pavement cells to form jigsaw‐puzzle shapes. Here, we review findings related to the discovery of this novel auxin‐signaling mechanism at the cell surface. This signaling pathway is to a large extent independent of the well‐known Transport Inhibitor Response (TIR)–Auxin Signaling F‐Box (AFB) pathway, and instead requires Auxin Binding Protein 1 (ABP1) interaction with the plasma membrane‐localized, transmembrane kinase (TMK) receptor‐like kinase to regulate ROP proteins. Once activated, ROP influences cytoskeletal organization and inhibits endocytosis of the auxin transporter PIN1. The present review focuses on ROP signaling and its self‐organizing feature allowing ROP proteins to serve as a bustling signal decoder and integrator for plant cell morphogenesis.

Deshu Lin
The association between a single bout of moderate physical activity and executive function in young adults with Down syndrome: a preliminary study
Authors: Chen C.‐C. (JJ) , Ringenbach S. D. R. , Crews D. , Kulinna P. H. , Amazeen Eric L.
Published: August 2014

Background

This study was aimed at investigating the impact of a single exercise intervention on executive function in young adults with Down syndrome (DS).

Methods

Considering the relations among executive function, physical and mental health and early onset of Alzheimer's disease in this population, we tested three components of executive function (e.g. choice–response time, attention shifting and inhibition) that have been shown to be impaired in previous studies. Ten persons with DS were assigned to an exercise group, who walked on a treadmill for 20 min at moderate intensity and ten additional persons with DS were assigned to an attentional control group, who watched a video. Measures of executive function were tested pre and post interventions.

Results

These results showed non‐significant improvements in choice–response time (P = 0.32) and attention shifting (P = 0.13) but a statistically significant improvement in inhibition (P = 0.03) after the exercise intervention.

Conclusions

Given the improved inhibition ability, exercise may be an effective intervention, even in a signal session. However, only a few studies have focused on this topic. Based on theoretical models linking exercise to executive function, we proposed that exercise may increase arousal status or enhance neural transmission. Hence, future work is needed to examine the exact mechanism in the relationship between exercise and executive function for individuals with DS.
Sleep quality of middle‐aged Tai Chi practitioners
Authors: Lee Linda Yin King , Tam Ka Wai , Lee Mei Lam , Lau Nga Yi , Lau Joanne Cho Yan , Lam Yin Mai , Lam Christine Hoi Wai , Kwan Wing Kit , Chan Daisy , Chan Betsy , Chan Paul Zoen Kit
Published: August 2014

Aim

This study aimed to assess the association between Tai Chi and sleep quality in middle‐aged Tai Chi practitioners.

Methods

This cross‐sectional descriptive study recruited a convenience sample of 250 middle‐aged Tai Chi practitioners. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage were used to describe the demographic characteristics of the subjects. Pearson's product–moment correlation was used to determine the relationship between sleep quality and duration of practicing Tai Chi. anova was used to compare difference in sleep quality among subjects practicing different styles of Tai Chi. Linear regression was conducted to determine the contribution of duration of practicing Tai Chi and the style of Tai Chi being practiced to explaining sleep quality.

Results

Subjects had practiced Tai Chi for 4.7 years. They reported a global PSQI score of 5.3. Among the subjects, 156 were classified as good sleepers (PSQI score, <5). No significant relationship was reported between sleep quality and duration of Tai Chi practice (P = 0.175). No significant differences in sleep quality were found among subjects who practiced different styles of Tai Chi (P = 0.876). Linear regression analysis indicated that the duration of practicing Tai Chi and the style of Tai Chi being practiced did not make a significant contribution to sleep quality.

Conclusion

The present study represented an initial attempt to investigate the sleep quality among middle‐aged Tai Chi practitioners. It serves to generate hypotheses for future testing.
Radiation response in Deinococcus deserti: IrrE is a metalloprotease that cleaves repressor protein DdrO
Authors: Ludanyi Monika , Blanchard Laurence , Dulermo Rémi , Brandelet Géraldine , Bellanger Laurent , Pignol David , Lemaire David , de Groot Arjan
Published: August 2014

Deinococcus bacteria are famous for their extreme radiation tolerance. The IrrE protein was shown to be essential for radiation tolerance and, in an unelucidated manner, for induction of a number of genes in response to radiation, including recA and other DNA repair genes. Earlier studies indicated that IrrE could be a zinc peptidase, but proteolytic activity was not demonstrated. Here, using several in vivo and in vitro experiments, IrrE from Deinococcus deserti was found to interact with DdrO, a predicted regulator encoded by a radiation‐induced gene that is, like irrE, highly conserved in Deinococcus. Moreover, IrrE was found to cleave DdrO in vitro and when the proteins were coexpressed in Escherichia coli. This cleavage was not observed in the presence of metal chelator EDTA or when IrrE contains a mutation in the conserved active‐site motif of metallopeptidases. In D. deserti, IrrE‐dependent cleavage of DdrO was observed after exposure to radiation. Furthermore, DdrO‐dependent repression of the promoter of a radiation‐induced gene was shown. These results demonstrate that IrrE is a metalloprotease and we propose that IrrE‐mediated cleavage inactivates repressor protein DdrO, leading to transcriptional induction of various genes required for repair and survival after exposure of Deinococcus to radiation.
Population genetic structure of Gasterophilus pecorum in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI) gene sequence
Authors: WANG W. , ZHANG D. , HU D. , CHU H. , CAO J. , ENTE M. , JIANG G. , LI K.
Published: August 2014

Gasterophilosis is a significant threat to equids in the desert steppe of Xinjiang, China, where Gasterophilus pecorum (Fabricius) (Diptera: Gasterophilidae) is the dominant botfly species. A population analysis was conducted on 195 individual G. pecorum larvae from three host species, Przewalski's horse, the domestic horse and the Asiatic wild ass. The distribution of haplotypes of the maternally inherited mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was analysed to assess the population differentiation of G. pecorum. High haplotype diversity was observed among G. pecorum populations from all host species, indicating that the G. pecorum infecting one host had multiple maternal ancestors. A phylogenetic tree showed six clades, suggesting a high degree of genetic differentiation. A constructed haplotype network described both the origin of the haplotypes and the population structure. The findings indicated that G. pecorum infections within Przewalski's horses were mainly transmitted from Asiatic wild asses. Clade 1 was found to be the most primitive group and to have evolved to be highly adaptable to the desert steppe. Clade 2 originated from Clade 1, potentially as a result of the annual migration of domestic horses. Revealing the differentiation of the G. pecorum population is important for elucidating the aetiology of Gasterophilus infection in Xinjiang and for planning appropriate control measures.
Second‐generation sequencing of entire mitochondrial coding‐regions (∼15.4 kb) holds promise for study of the phylogeny and taxonomy of human body lice and head lice
Authors: XIONG H. , CAMPELO D. , POLLACK R. J. , RAOULT D. , SHAO R. , ALEM M. , ALI J. , BILCHA K. , BARKER S. C.
Published: August 2014

The Illumina Hiseq platform was used to sequence the entire mitochondrial coding‐regions of 20 body lice, Pediculus humanus Linnaeus, and head lice, P. capitis De Geer (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae), from eight towns and cities in five countries: Ethiopia, France, China, Australia and the U.S.A. These data (∼310 kb) were used to see how much more informative entire mitochondrial coding‐region sequences were than partial mitochondrial coding‐region sequences, and thus to guide the design of future studies of the phylogeny, origin, evolution and taxonomy of body lice and head lice. Phylogenies were compared from entire coding‐region sequences (∼15.4 kb), entire cox1 (∼1.5 kb), partial cox1 (∼700 bp) and partial cytb (∼600 bp) sequences. On the one hand, phylogenies from entire mitochondrial coding‐region sequences (∼15.4 kb) were much more informative than phylogenies from entire cox1 sequences (∼1.5 kb) and partial gene sequences (∼600 to ∼700 bp). For example, 19 branches had > 95% bootstrap support in our maximum likelihood tree from the entire mitochondrial coding‐regions (∼15.4 kb) whereas the tree from 700 bp cox1 had only two branches with bootstrap support > 95%. Yet, by contrast, partial cytb (∼600 bp) and partial cox1 (∼486 bp) sequences were sufficient to genotype lice to Clade A, B or C. The sequences of the mitochondrial genomes of the P. humanus, P. capitis and P. schaeffi Fahrenholz studied are in NCBI GenBank under the accession numbers KC660761‐800, KC685631‐6330, KC241882‐97, EU219988‐95, HM241895‐8 and JX080388‐407.
Invasion of Wolbachia at the residential block level is associated with local abundance of Stegomyia aegypti, yellow fever mosquito, populations and property attributes
Authors: HOFFMANN A. A. , GOUNDAR A. A. , LONG S. A. , JOHNSON P. H. , RITCHIE S. A.
Published: August 2014

Wolbachia can suppress dengue and control mosquito populations and this depends on the successful invasion of Wolbachia‐infected mosquitoes into local populations. Ovitrap data collected during the recent invasion of wMel‐infected Stegomyia aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) (Linnaeus) into Gordonvale near Cairns, Australia, were used to identify variables that help predict the success of localized invasion. Based on the variance in Wolbachia frequencies across Gordonvale as well as at another release site at Yorkeys Knob in comparison to simulations, it was estimated that on average 2–4 females contributed eggs to an ovitrap. By collating ovitrap data from two collection periods at the start of the release from residential blocks, it was found that uninfected mosquitoes had a patchy distribution across the release site. Residential blocks with relatively high uninfected mosquito numbers were less easily invaded by Wolbachia than blocks with low numbers. The numbers of uninfected mosquitoes in ovitraps were negatively correlated with the proportion of brick houses in a residential block, whereas local Wolbachia frequencies were correlated positively with this variable as well as negatively with the amount of shading in a yard and availability of breeding sites. These findings point to proxy measures for predicting the ease of localized invasion of Wolbachia.
Genetic epidemiology and pathology of raccoon‐derived Sarcoptes mites from urban areas of Germany
Authors: RENTERÍA‐SOLÍS Z. , MIN A. M. , ALASAAD S. , MÜLLER K. , MICHLER F.‐U. , SCHMÄSCHKE R. , WITTSTATT U. , ROSSI L. , WIBBELT G.
Published: August 2014

The raccoon, Procyon lotor (Carnivora: Procyonidae), is an invasive species that is spreading throughout Europe, in which Germany represents its core area. Here, raccoons mostly live in rural regions, but some urban populations are already established, such as in the city of Kassel, or are starting to build up, such as in Berlin. The objective of this study was to investigate Sarcoptes (Sarcoptiformes: Sarcoptidae) infections in racoons in these two urban areas and to identify the putative origin of the parasite. Parasite morphology, and gross and histopathological examinations of diseased skin tissue were consistent with Sarcoptes scabiei infection. Using nine microsatellite markers, we genotyped individual mites from five raccoons and compared them with Sarcoptes mites derived from fox, wild boar and Northern chamois, originating from Italy and Switzerland. The raccoon‐derived mites clustered together with the fox samples and were clearly differentiated from those of the wild boar and chamois samples, which suggests a fox origin for the raccoon mange infection. These results are evidence of the cross‐transmission of S. scabiei among wild carnivores. Although our results cannot elucidate whether raccoons became infected by frequent interaction with endemically or epidemically infected foxes or whether these cases resulted from occasional contacts among these animal species, they do nevertheless show that pathogens can be shared among urban populations of native and invasive carnivores.
A systematic review of sacral nerve stimulation mechanisms in the treatment of fecal incontinence and constipation
Authors: Carrington E. V. , Evers J. , Grossi U. , Dinning P. G. , Scott S. M. , O'Connell P. R. , Jones J. F. X. , Knowles C. H.
Published: August 2014

Background

Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) is now well established as a treatment for fecal incontinence (FI) resistant to conservative measures and may also have utility in the management of chronic constipation; however, mechanism of action is not fully understood. End organ effects of SNS have been studied in both clinical and experimental settings, but interpretation is difficult due to the multitude of techniques used and heterogeneity of reported findings. The aim of this study was to systematically review available evidence on the mechanisms of SNS in the treatment of FI and constipation.

Methods

Two systematic reviews of the literature (performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses framework) were performed to identify manuscripts pertaining to (a) clinical and (b) physiological effects of SNS during the management of hindgut dysfunction.

Key Results

The clinical literature search revealed 161 articles, of which 53 were deemed suitable for analysis. The experimental literature search revealed 43 articles, of which nine were deemed suitable for analysis. These studies reported results of investigative techniques examining changes in cortical, gastrointestinal, colonic, rectal, and anal function.

Conclusions & Inferences

The initial hypothesis that the mechanism of SNS was primarily peripheral motor neurostimulation is not supported by the majority of recent studies. Due to the large body of evidence demonstrating effects outside of the anorectum, it appears likely that the influence of SNS on anorectal function occurs at a pelvic afferent or central level.
Maternal hookworm modifies risk factors for childhood eczema: results from a birth cohort in Uganda
Authors: Mpairwe Harriet , Ndibazza Juliet , Webb Emily L. , Nampijja Margaret , Muhangi Lawrence , Apule Barbara , Lule Swaib , Akurut Hellen , Kizito Dennison , Kakande Mohammed , Jones Frances M. , Fitzsimmons Colin M. , Muwanga Moses , Rodrigues Laura C. , Dunne David W. , Elliott Alison M.
Published: August 2014

Background

Worms may protect against allergy. Early‐life worm exposure may be critical, but this has not been fully investigated.

Objectives

To investigate whether worms in pregnancy and in early childhood are associated with childhood eczema incidence.

Methods

The Entebbe Mother and Baby Study, an anthelminthic treatment trial, enrolled pregnant women between 2003 and 2005 in Uganda. Mothers were investigated for worms during pregnancy and children annually. Eczema was doctor‐diagnosed from birth to age five years. A planned observational analysis was conducted within the trial cohort to investigate associations between worms and eczema.

Results

Data for 2345 live‐born children were analysed. Hookworm was the most prevalent maternal worm (45%). Childhood worms were less prevalent. Eczema incidence was 4.68/100 person‐years. Maternal hookworm was associated with reduced eczema incidence [adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval), p‐value: 0.71(0.51–0.99), 0.04] and modified effects of known risk factors for eczema: Dermatophagoides‐specific IgE in children was positively associated with eczema incidence if the mother had no hookworm [2.72(1.11–6.63), 0.03], but not if the mother had hookworm [0.41(0.10–1.69), 0.22], interaction p‐value = 0.03. Similar interactions were seen for maternal history of eczema {[2.87(1.31–6.27, 0.008) vs. [0.73(0.23–2.30), 0.60], interaction p‐value = 0.05}, female gender {[1.82(1.22–2.73), 0.004 vs. [0.96(0.60–1.53), 0.87], interaction p‐value = 0.04} and allergen‐specific IgE. Childhood Trichuris trichiura and hookworm were inversely associated with eczema.

Conclusions

Maternal hookworm modifies effects of known risk factors for eczema. Mechanisms by which early‐life worm exposures influence allergy need investigation. Worms or worm products, and intervention during pregnancy have potential for primary prevention of allergy.
Portrayal of the Other in Palestinian and Israeli Schoolbooks: A Comparative Study
Authors: Adwan Sami , Bar‐Tal Daniel , Wexler Bruce E.
Published: August 2014

The present study examined how Israelis and Palestinians present their narratives related to their conflict in school textbooks used by the state educational system and the ultraorthodox community in Israel and by all Palestinian schools in Palestinian National Territories. The focus was on how each side portrays the Other and their own group. The content analysis was based on a developed conceptual framework and standardized and manualized rating criteria with quantitative and qualitative aspects. The results showed in general that (1) dehumanizing and demonizing characterizations of the Other are rare in both Israeli and Palestinian books; (2) both Israeli and Palestinian books present unilateral national narratives that portray the Other as enemy, chronicle negative actions by the Other directed at the self‐community, and portray the self‐community in positive terms with actions aimed at self‐protection and goals of peace; (3), there is lack of information about the religions, culture, economic and daily activities of the Other, or even of the existence of the Other on maps; (4) the negative bias in portrayal of the Other, the positive bias in portrayal of the self, and the absence of images and information about the Other are all statistically significantly more pronounced in Israeli Ultra‐Orthodox and Palestinian books than in Israeli state books.
Cloning and characterization of a novel Nicotiana tabacumABC transporter involved in shoot branching
Authors: Xie Xiaodong , Wang Genhong , Yang Ling , Cheng Tingcai , Gao Junping , Wu Yuqian , Xia Qingyou
Published: August 2014

The ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) superfamily is a large protein family with diverse physiological functions in all kingdoms of life. One distinguished subfamily, the pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) transporters, has only been identified in plants and fungi. Here, we identified a Nicotiana tabacum PDR gene, NtPDR6, which is a homolog of Petunia hybrida PDR1. The full‐length cDNA of NtPDR6 had a 4482‐bp open reading frame encoding a full‐size ABC transporter with 1493 amino acids. Sequence comparison showed that NtPDR6 had high homology with plant PDR proteins. NtPDR6 was strongly induced by phosphate starvation as well as by 1‐naphthalene acetic acid. Tissue expression pattern analysis showed that NtPDR6 was detected in all surveyed tissues but preferentially in roots. We cloned the 1.3‐kb NtPDR6 promoter and found that there was one phosphate starvation response‐related element Pho‐like and several root‐specific expression‐related elements rootmotiftapox1 in the NtPDR6 promoter. A tissue‐specific pattern of NtPDR6 promoter‐β‐glucuronidase expression was dominantly observed in subepidermal cells and the elongation zone of lateral roots. RNA interference technology was used to knock down NtPDR6 expression, and there was a significantly increased branching phenotype in the NtPDR6 knockdown plants. These data suggest that NtPDR6 plays a key role in regulation of shoot branching processes.
Thylakoid membrane oxidoreductase LTO1/AtVKOR is involved in ABA‐mediated response to osmotic stress in Arabidopsis
Authors: Lu Ying , Peng Jun‐Jie , Yu Zhi‐Bo , Du Jia‐Jia , Xu Jia‐Ning , Wang Xiao‐Yun
Published: August 2014

Arabidopsis lumen thiol oxidoreductase 1 (LTO1) – the At4g35760 gene product – was previously found to be related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Here, we show that ROS accumulated in a mutant Arabidopsis line (lto1‐2, mutant of LTO1/AtVKOR) under osmotic stress at a higher level than that observed in wild‐type and transgenic complemented plants of the lto1‐2 mutant (lto1‐2C, transgenic complemented plants of lto1‐2). Because ROS accumulation in osmotic stress is triggered by abscisic acid (ABA), an ABA‐responsive gene, Annexin 1 (AnnAt1), was selected to study the response. Osmotic stress or exogenous ABA can significantly upregulate the transcription of AnnAt1 in wild‐type and lto1‐2C plants. Only a slight change in the transcriptional abundance of AnnAt1 was observed under osmotic stress in the lto1‐2 mutant, but exogenous ABA application could increase the expression of AnnAt1, which suggested that exogenous ABA had a partial complementation role. Because the transcription of AnnAt1 is regulated by ABRE (ABA‐responsive elements) binding proteins (AREBs)/ABRE binding factors (ABFs), the expression of AREBs/ABFs was also analyzed. The transcription of AREBs/ABFs in the lto1‐2 mutant was not induced by osmotic stress but was significantly upregulated by exogenous ABA, which significantly differs from the wild‐type and lto1‐2C plant responses. Similarly, the expression of another ABA‐responsive gene, RD29B (responsive to desiccation stress gene 29B), in the lto1‐2 mutant was also upregulated by exogenous ABA. The partial complementation of mutants by ABA indicated that the ABA signal transduction pathway was not significantly affected in the lto1‐2 mutant. Taken together, these results suggest that LTO1 is involved in ABA‐mediated response to osmotic stress, possibly by affecting the biosynthesis of endogenous ABA.
Sincerity and Transmission
Authors: Wright Stephen
Published: August 2014

According to some theories of testimonial knowledge, testimony can allow you, as a knowing speaker, to transmit your knowledge to me. A question in the epistemology of testimony concerns whether or not the acquisition of testimonial knowledge depends on the speaker's testimony being sincere. In this paper, I outline two notions of sincerity and argue that, construed in a certain way, transmission theorists should endorse the claim that the acquisition of testimonial knowledge requires sincerity.
Non‐uniform continuity of the semiflow map associated to the porous medium equation
Authors: Matioc Bogdan‐Vasile
Published: August 2014

We prove that the semiflow map associated to the evolution problem for the porous medium equation (PME) is real‐analytic as a function of the initial data in , at any fixed positive time, but it is not uniformly continuous. More precisely, we construct two sequences of exact positive solutions of the PME which at initial time converge to zero in , but such that the limit inferior of the difference of the two sequences is bounded away from zero in at any later time.
Is contraction‐stimulated glucose transport feedforward regulated by Ca2+?
Authors: Jensen Thomas E. , Angin Yeliz , Sylow Lykke , Richter Erik A.
Published: August 2014

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

The article critically reviews the role of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ as a feedforward regulator of glucose uptake in skeletal muscle.

What advances does it highlight?

We highlight recent findings suggesting that stimulation of glucose transport in muscle can be completely uncoupled from Ca2+ release from the SR and weigh these data against the previous literature supporting a key role of Ca2+ in regulation of glucose transporter 4 translocation and glucose transport. A revised working model for contraction‐regulated glucose transport is proposed.

In many cell types, Ca2+ signals to increase the movement and surface membrane insertion of vesicles. In skeletal muscle, Ca2+ is predominantly released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) to initiate contraction. Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release is widely believed to be a direct feedforward regulator of the translocation of glucose transporter 4 to the cell surface to facilitate transmembrane glucose transport. This review summarizes the evidence supporting the Ca2+ feedforward model and its proposed signalling links to regulation of glucose transport in skeletal muscle and other cell types. The literature is contrasted against our recent findings suggesting that SR Ca2+ release is neither essential nor adequate to stimulate glucose transport in muscle. Instead, feedback signals through AMPK and mechanical stress are likely to account for most of contraction‐stimulated glucose transport. A revised working model is proposed, in which muscle glucose transport during contraction is not directly regulated by SR Ca2+ release but rather responds exclusively to feedback signals activated secondary to cross‐bridge cycling and tension development.
Corticospinal activity evoked and modulated by non‐invasive stimulation of the intact human motor cortex
Authors: Di Lazzaro Vincenzo , Rothwell John C.
Published: August 2014

A number of methods have been developed recently that stimulate the human brain non‐invasively through the intact scalp. The most common are transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial electric stimulation (TES) and transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS). They are widely used to probe function and connectivity of brain areas as well as therapeutically in a variety of conditions such as depression or stroke. They are much less focal than conventional invasive methods which use small electrodes placed on or in the brain and are often thought to activate all classes of neurones in the stimulated area. However, this is not true. A large body of evidence from experiments on the motor cortex shows that non‐invasive methods of brain stimulation can be surprisingly selective and that adjusting the intensity and direction of stimulation can activate different classes of inhibitory and excitatory inputs to the corticospinal output cells. Here we review data that have elucidated the action of TMS and TES, concentrating mainly on the most direct evidence available from spinal epidural recordings of the descending corticospinal volleys. The results show that it is potentially possible to test and condition specific neural circuits in motor cortex that could be affected differentially by disease, or be used in different forms of natural behaviour. However, there is substantial interindividual variability in the specificity of these protocols. Perhaps in the future it will be possible, with the advances currently being made to model the electrical fields induced in individual brains, to develop forms of stimulation that can reliably target more specific populations of neurones, and open up the internal circuitry of the motor cortex for study in behaving humans.