bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Central respiratory modulation of subretrofacial bulbospinal neurones in the cat.
Authors: McAllen R M
Published: January 2015

1. Spontaneous activity was recorded from spinally projecting neurones of the subretrofacial nucleus (s.r.f.) in seven chloralose‐anaesthetized, vagotomized, paralysed cats. Nineteen such neurones were identified by their antidromic response to stimulation of the ipsilateral dorsolateral funiculus at C5: their axonal conduction velocities were between 2.1 and 9.1 m/s (mean 5.4), and all were silenced by raising the pressure in the ipsilateral carotid sinus (prepared as a blind sac) to 200 mmHg. DL‐homocysteic acid was applied ionophoretically to six of these cells, and these were all excited. 2. Activity was recorded simultaneously from the right phrenic nerve and left cervical sympathetic trunk. The phrenic neurogram was taken as an index of central respiratory drive and used to trigger histograms of s.r.f. neurone activity within the respiratory cycle. To eliminate indirect effects via pressure fluctuations, the remaining arterial baroreceptors were disabled during tests by deflation of the ipsilateral carotid sinus and either section of the contralateral sinus nerve (six cats) or occlusion of the carotid artery (one cat). Phrenic‐triggered averages of cervical sympathetic activity were also constructed for comparison. 3. Respiratory modulation was detected in the activity of sixteen out of nineteen s.r.f. neurones. Twelve showed an inspiratory peak in activity that was superimposed on a steady discharge maintained throughout the cycle. Five of this group additionally displayed a post‐inspiratory dip in activity to below the late expiratory level, and this feature was also seen in one further cell without any detectable inspiratory peak. Three neurones showed an inverse pattern, with reduced or no activity during inspiration, followed by a 'rebound' increased activity level during the post‐inspiratory period. The remaining three cells had no discernible respiratory rhythm. 4. Raising end‐tidal CO2 levels increased the degree of respiratory modulation in all six inspiratory‐firing cells tested as well as one cell showing inspiratory inhibition. Within the range tested, CO2 had no clear effect on the respiratory modulation of two other cells showing inspiratory inhibition and one showing only post‐inspiratory depression. No consistent relation was apparent between the overall firing rate of neurones and end‐tidal CO2. 5. These results are discussed with reference to the respiratory modulation of sympathetic neurone activity. It is suggested that s.r.f. neurones supply respiratory‐related as well as tonic drive to preganglionic neurones.
Inhibitory control of local excitatory circuits in the guinea‐pig hippocampus.
Authors: Miles R , Wong R K
Published: January 2015

1. Exposure to the gamma‐aminobutyric acid antagonist, picrotoxin, causes the discharge of hippocampal pyramidal cells to become synchronized. Synaptic mechanisms underlying the development of synchrony were investigated by recording from pairs of cells in the CA3 region of guinea‐pig hippocampal slices. 2. Picrotoxin suppressed unitary inhibitory synaptic events. It appeared not to affect monosynaptic excitatory connections. Picrotoxin revealed latent excitatory connections in seven out of twenty‐one dual recordings from burst‐firing cells. 3. Post‐synaptic events revealed by picrotoxin were elicited rarely by single action potentials. They were evoked with mean latencies of at least 8 ms and with more than 30% failures of transmission by bursts of three or more action potentials. They were suppressed by increasing extracellular Ca2+. They were considered to be mediated by polysynaptic excitatory pathways. 4. Polysynaptic excitatory post‐synaptic potentials (e.p.s.p.s) had a smooth rising phase with time‐to‐peak of 15‐40 ms and a falling phase of similar duration. Their amplitude was 2‐3 mV at membrane potentials close to ‐70 mV. This shape was similar to that of summed e.p.s.p.s evoked by a burst of three to six action potentials at monosynaptic connections between CA3 cells. 5. One cell could evoke excitatory synaptic events in more than one follower cell, suggesting that axon collaterals mediating recurrent excitation were divergent. More than one polysynaptic excitatory pathway could exist between two cells. 6. We examined the role of recurrent excitatory synapses in the development of synchrony. As inhibition was suppressed by picrotoxin, simultaneous excitatory synaptic events appeared in recordings from pairs of cells. They occurred rhythmically at intervals of 0.5‐3 s and grew in amplitude with time. Synchronous neuronal discharges were observed when the threshold for action potential generation was exceeded. 7. Firing induced in one cell could sometimes evoke a sequence of post‐synaptic events in another cell as inhibition was suppressed. Initially, no connection was detected. On adding picrotoxin, a polysynaptic e.p.s.p. was revealed and with time longer‐latency components were recruited to the synaptic event. The amplitude of later components grew until firing threshold was reached. 8. We suggest that synchronous firing develops due to the loss of inhibitory control over the spread of firing between CA3 pyramidal cells via divergent, polysynaptic, recurrent excitatory pathways.
The measurement of single motor‐axon recurrent inhibitory post‐synaptic potentials in the cat.
Authors: Hamm T M , Sasaki S , Stuart D G , Windhorst U , Yuan C S
Published: January 2015

1. Signal averaging was used in forty experiments on low‐spinal cats to measure and characterize the oligosynaptic responses of seventy‐six motoneurons supplying the medial gastrocnemius muscle to the single impulses of antidromically stimulated single motor axons supplying the same muscle. 2. In thirteen experiments on chloralose‐urethane anaesthetized preparations, twelve (43%) of the tested twenty‐eight motoneurones exhibited a single‐axon recurrent inhibitory post‐synaptic potential (recurrent i.p.s.p.), as compared to sixty‐four (62%) of the 103 motoneurones tested in twenty‐seven animals in the absence of anaesthetic after ischaemic decapitation. 3. Single‐axon recurrent i.p.s.p.s most often consisted of a single, long‐lasting hyperpolarization. Ten of the recurrent i.p.s.p.s contained a second late peak of hyperpolarization. In another eight of the i.p.s.p.s, a small late depolarization was evident. 4. The distinct profiles of the recurrent i.p.s.p.s were readily distinguished from the relatively flat profiles with low noise levels in the averages of the fifty‐five 'no‐response' cells. The transmembrane and post‐synaptic nature of the i.p.s.p.s was confirmed by extracellular control recordings taken immediately outside seven of the cells with positive responses. In addition, ten cells with positive responses were subjected to current passage during the averaging procedure. In all cases, depolarization increased and hyperpolarization reduced the amplitude of their single‐axon recurrent i.p.s.p.s. 5. The mean amplitude of the responses was 12.0 microV in chloralose‐urethane preparations as compared to a peak‐to‐peak noise level less than 6.0 microV in the no‐response averages. Corresponding values in ischaemic‐decapitate preparations were 46.2 microV and less than 7.5 microV, respectively. 6. Latency, rise‐time and half‐width (i.e. duration at half‐amplitude) values of the i.p.s.p.s were similar for chloralose‐urethane and ischaemic‐decapitate preparations. The average values in both preparations were 2.5, 5.6 and 19.3 ms, respectively. The latency values indicated both disynaptic and, perhaps, longer components in the recurrent i.p.s.p.s. The rise‐time and half‐width values were relatively similar to those reported or measured from published records for analogous composite recurrent i.p.s.p.s (i.e. responses to antidromic stimulation of the whole muscle nerve rather than single motor axons). A weak, but significant, correlation between rise‐time and half‐width was observed for the sixty‐six single‐axon recurrent i.p.s.p.s with a single negative‐going peak.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A kinetic model for silica-filled rubber reinforcement
Authors: Majesté Jean-Charles , Vincent Frédéric
Published: January 2015

The competition between filler-filler interaction and filler-rubber interaction during the dispersion process of silica-filled rubber has been investigated. Several complementary techniques were carried out going from local observations of the dispersion to a global view given from linear and nonlinear rheological measurements in order to lead to a better estimation of the dispersion kinetics. It has been shown that reinforcement evolves with mixing time. A direct link between the bound rubber amount and reinforcement indicators was found, revealing a replacement of strong filler-filler interactions by weak rubber-filler ones. As a result, rheological reinforcement can be cast under the form of a universal power law by introducing an effective interacting surface between fillers. Finally, a kinetic model of the rubber reinforcement has been developed on the basis of the competition between filler dispersion mechanism and rubber physical adsorption.
Observation of optical polarization Möbius strips
Authors: Bauer Thomas , Banzer Peter , Karimi Ebrahim , Orlov Sergej , Rubano Andrea , Marrucci Lorenzo , Santamato Enrico , Boyd Robert W. , Leuchs Gerd
Published: January 2015

Light with twist and structure

Möbius strips are three-dimensional structures consisting of a surface with just a single side. Readily demonstrated by snipping a paper ring, adding a twist, and then joining the ends of paper together again, these structures have intriguing mathematical properties in terms of topology and geometry. Bauer
et al.
used a liquid crystal to engineer the wavefront of a laser beam to make an optical version of the Möbius strip by effectively “snipping and twisting” the polarization properties of the light beam.

Science
, this issue p.
964
Apoptosis and antigen affinity limit effector cell differentiation of a single naïve B cell
Authors: Taylor Justin J. , Pape Kathryn A. , Steach Holly R. , Jenkins Marc K.
Published: January 2015

For a single B cell, many roads to take

To successfully fight a pathogen, immunological B cells must wage a multipronged attack: They can differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells or become T cell–helping germinal center cells, or even long-lived memory cells. But can a single B cell acquire all of these different fates? To find out, Taylor
et al.
tracked the responses of single B cells in mice. Although some B cells acquired only one fate, others differentiated into all three. The authors linked the ability of B cells to differentiate into multiple subsets to their ability to proliferate and resist cell death, and the affinity of their antigen receptor.

Science
, this issue p.
784
Complete Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium sp. Strain VKM Ac-1817D, Capable of Producing 9α-Hydroxy-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione from Phytosterol
Authors: Shtratnikova Victoriya Y. , Schelkunov Mikhail I. , Dovbnya Dmitry V. , Pekov Yury A. , Bragin Eugeny Y. , Ashapkin Vasily V. , Donova Marina V.
Published: January 2015

Mycobacterium sp. strain VKM Ac-1817D is capable of converting phytosterol into 9α-hydroxy androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (9-OH-AD), which is a valuable intermediate for the steroid pharmaceutical industry. Here, a complete genome sequence of the strain is reported. The genome consists of a single circular 6,324,222-bp chromosome with a G+C content of 66.2% and encodes approximately 6,000 CDSs, 54 tRNAs, and 6 rRNAs.
Genome Sequence of a Fish-Associated Polyomavirus, Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) Polyomavirus 1
Authors: Peretti Alberto , FitzGerald Peter C. , Bliskovsky Valery , Pastrana Diana V. , Buck Christopher B.
Published: January 2015

All known polyomaviruses are associated with mammals or birds. Using virion enrichment, random-primed rolling circle amplification, and deep sequencing, we identified a polyomavirus associated with black sea bass (Centropristis striata). The virus has a variety of novel genetic features, suggesting a long evolutionary separation from polyomaviruses of terrestrial animals.
Draft Genome Sequence of Geobacter sp. Strain OR-1, an Arsenate-Respiring Bacterium Isolated from Japanese Paddy Soil
Authors: Ehara Ayaka , Suzuki Haruo , Amachi Seigo
Published: January 2015

Here, we report a draft genome sequence of Geobacter sp. strain OR-1, an arsenate-respiring bacterium isolated from Japanese paddy soil. It contained two distinct arsenic islands, one including genes for a respiratory arsenate reductase (Arr) as well as for arsenic resistance (
arsD-arsA-acr3-arsR-arrA-arrB
) and the second containing only genes for arsenic resistance.
Complete Genome Sequence of Yersinia ruckeri Strain CSF007-82, Etiologic Agent of Red Mouth Disease in Salmonid Fish
Authors: Nelson Michael C. , LaPatra Scott E. , Welch Timothy J. , Graf Joerg
Published: January 2015

We present the complete, closed, and finished chromosomal and extrachromosomal genome sequences of
Yersinia ruckeri
strain CSF007-82, the etiologic agent of enteric red mouth disease in salmonid fish. The chromosome is 3,799,036 bp with a G+C content of 47.5% and encodes 3,530 predicted coding sequences (CDS), 7 ribosomal operons, and 80 tRNAs.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Newcastle Disease Virus Isolated from a Rock Dove (Columba livia) in the Russian Federation
Authors: Yurchenko Kseniya S. , Sivay Mariya V. , Glushchenko Alexandra V. , Alkhovsky Sergey V. , Shchetinin Alexey M. , Shchelkanov Michail Y. , Shestopalov Alexander M.
Published: January 2015

We report here the complete genome sequence of a Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolate, NDV/Altai/pigeon/770/2011, isolated from a rock dove in the Russian Federation. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, this strain was clustered into genotype VIb class II.
Mortality of babies enrolled in a community-based support programme: CONI PLUS (Care of Next Infant Plus)
Authors: Waite Alison J , Coombs Robert C , McKenzie Angela , Daman-Willems Charlotte , Cohen Marta C , Campbell Michael J , Carpenter Robert G
Published: January 2015

Objective

To report mortality in babies enrolled on a community-based programme, Care of Next Infant Plus (CONI PLUS), which primarily supports parents anxious because of previous sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) in their extended family or following an apparent life threatening event (ALTE) in their baby.

Design

Prospective observational study from 1996 to 2010 in the UK.

Results

Of 6487 babies enrolled, 37 died (5.7 per 1000). There were 2789 (43.0%) SUDI related babies of whom, six died suddenly and unexpectedly (2.15 per 1000). Four babies were sharing a sofa at night or a bed with parent(s) who smoked or had consumed alcohol. Of the 1882 (29.0%) babies enrolled following an ALTE, five died suddenly and unexpectedly (2.66 per 1000): four unexplained and one due to infection. None occurred while sharing a sleep surface, and at least three died during the day. The remaining 1816 (28%) babies were enrolled for other reasons. Seven died suddenly and unexpectedly (3.85 per 1000), two were unexplained and none associated with bed sharing.

Conclusions

The number of SUDI deaths in babies enrolled on CONI PLUS is higher than expected from UK averages. Deaths in babies enrolled because of family history of SUDI were mostly associated with inappropriate sharing of a sleep surface at night and mostly outside the peak age range for sudden infant death. The opposite is true for those enrolled following an ALTE. The number of deaths is small but findings suggest a different mechanism for death in these two groups.
Paediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a practical overview for non-specialists
Authors: Mann Jake P , Goonetilleke Rajiv , McKiernan Pat
Published: January 2015

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common paediatric liver disease with a prevalence of almost 10%; therefore, the majority of affected patients are under the care of general practitioners and non-specialists. The condition is caused by central obesity with insulin resistance with additional factors influencing inflammatory activity (steatohepatitis). Ongoing inflammation leads to fibrosis and end-stage liver disease, though this will usually occur after children have transitioned into adult care. However, their main morbidity and mortality is from type 2 diabetes and complications of atherosclerosis. The minority of children undergo biopsy but currently there is no other method to accurately assess the stage of disease. Management is focused at weight loss through a combination of diet and exercise. Here, we present a current review of paediatric NAFLD aimed at non-specialists, with practice points for implementation.
Emergency placement of stent-graft for symptomatic acute carotid artery occlusion after endarterectomy
Authors: Ko Jun Kyeung , Choi Chang Hwa , Lee Sang Weon , Lee Tae Hong
Published: January 2015

A patient underwent a left-sided carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for an asymptomatic 80% carotid artery (CA) stenosis. There were no signs of intolerance during the carotid cross-clamping and an initially uneventful awakening was observed. However, in the third postoperative hour he experienced left amaurosis and dysarthria. An urgent MRI showed an occluded internal CA on the operated site without evidence of acute infarction. To recanalize the occluded internal CA and minimize leakage from the arteriotomy site, a self-expandable stent-graft was placed, covering the dissection and the distal atherosclerotic lesions. Complete recanalization of the left internal CA was achieved and the patient showed a dramatic improvement of his preoperative deficits. To our knowledge, this is the first case of stent-graft implantation for a symptomatic acute CA occlusion following CEA. Stent-graft placement should be considered as an alternative method of treatment for acute CA occlusion or dissection following CEA.
Massive carotid artery aneurysm presenting as an oropharyngeal swelling in a young woman
Authors: Chang Kah Hoong , Cotter James , McGreal Gerald Thomas
Published: January 2015

A 28-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a 5-day history of a sore throat and a pharyngeal swelling that increased in size. The patient was previously investigated for Marfan's syndrome after episodes of bilateral spontaneous pneumothoraces but did not meet the criteria for diagnosis. Examination revealed a large pulsatile lesion in the oropharynx. CT angiography revealed an internal carotid artery aneurysm. The patient underwent a successful urgent open repair of the aneurysm with a primary arterio-arterial anastomosis without a patch. Histopathology of the aneurysmal sac revealed cystic medial degeneration.
The role of tonsillectomy in psoriasis treatment
Authors: Simões João Filipe , Ribeiro João , Ferreira Bárbara Roque , Paiva Sofia
Published: January 2015

Psoriasis is a chronic and immune-mediated skin disease with a considerable negative impact on quality of life. The link between psoriasis, especially guttate psoriasis, and streptococcal infections, namely tonsillitis, has been studied for several years. Some authors have also suggested an association with other types of psoriasis, such as plaque psoriasis, which is the most common. The role of tonsillectomy in the treatment of plaque psoriasis is not consensual. This case report aims to discuss this topic. The authors intend to highlight the growing evidence of a relationship between plaque psoriasis and an infectious pathology of the otolaryngology area. A clinical case of severe chronic plaque psoriasis with exacerbations linked to acute tonsillitis is described. The case was recalcitrant to dermatological treatment and tonsillectomy was included in the treatment options. After surgery, the skin disease was evidently controlled and significant improvement on the patient's quality of life was also evident.
Ramifications of poor medical education and screening in minority populations: an extensive acral melanoma
Authors: Jackson Cody Ronald , Fernelius Colby , Arora Navin
Published: January 2015

After 2 years of holistic self-treatment on his home island, an elderly Samoan man presented with a painful, hyperpigmented mass on his left heel. Physical examination revealed a black, friable tumour with necrotic tissue and superficial ulcerations with no other associated symptoms. Further investigation revealed that the mass was invasive. The tumour was treated with resection and a final diagnosis of acral lentiginous melanoma, stage T4b was made. Poor access to care and screening services are large barriers to care for minorities and patients with low socioeconomic status. Once access is obtained, however, patient compliance is not guaranteed. Healthcare practices often clash with societal beliefs, and so patient education regarding their disease and its possible progression, along with treatment options, is important. Furthermore, a lack of ethnically diverse physicians contributes to low cultural competency during interaction with patients from minorities, resulting in poor communication and low patient satisfaction.
Sirenomelia: two cases in Cali, Colombia
Authors: Saldarriaga Wilmar , Salcedo-Arellano Maria Jimena , Ramirez-Cheyne Julian
Published: January 2015

We report two cases of sirenomelia, a rare congenital defect with a prevalence rate of 1:100 000 births; both cases were observed in Cali, Colombia. Both pregnant women were referred from Buenaventura, Colombia. The expecting mothers shared multiple adverse sociodemographic factors. Their homes were located in a city where the entire population is of low socioeconomic status living under conditions of extreme poverty. They were uneducated, with nutritional deficiencies and no access to drinking water most of the time. Both were exposed to water and fish from a nearby river contaminated with leachate from a poorly managed landfill. A similar relation was previously reported in Cali in 2005 between environmental factors and sirenomelia. We suggest that there is a common aetiological factor of environmental origin between these two sirenomelia cases and propose that exposure to derivatives from landfills should be included among the factors for this rare defect of multifactorial aetiological origin.
A corneal dendritic lesion with a skin eruption: eczema herpeticum, an important differential diagnosis
Authors: Steptoe Alex , Young-Zvandasara Tafadzwa , Muhtaseb Mohammed
Published: January 2015

Eczema herpeticum is a rare and potentially life-threatening viral infection. We present the case of a 54-year-old man who presented to the emergency eye clinic with a dendritic ulcer and a facial rash. An initial diagnosis of herpes zoster ophthalmicus was suspected. On follow-up, the rash had begun to rapidly disseminate and was no longer respecting dermatome boundaries. A diagnosis of eczema herpeticum was made and appropriate treatment started. This case highlights the importance of a comprehensive history and close inspection of skin lesions in patients with herpetic eye disease.
NSAIDs, statins, low-dose aspirin and PPIs, and the risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma among patients with Barrett's oesophagus: a population-based case–control study
Authors: Masclee Gwen M C , Coloma Preciosa M , Spaander Manon C W , Kuipers Ernst J , Sturkenboom Miriam C J M
Published: January 2015

Objectives

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), low-dose aspirin and statins may decrease the risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) among patients with Barrett's oesophagus (BO). However, previous studies did not adequately address bias and confounding. Our objective was to estimate the risk of OAC among patients with BO exposed to NSAIDs, statins and PPIs.

Design

Case–control study nested within a BO cohort.

Setting

Two primary care databases (the UK and the Netherlands (NL)).

Participants

Cases were adults ≥18 years of age with OAC or high-grade dysplasia (HGD) diagnosis ≥1 year after BO diagnosis. Controls were matched on age, sex, year of BO diagnosis and database.

Exposure

Drug use was assessed from BO diagnosis until matching date.

Outcome measure

Adjusted ORs with 95% CI were calculated by conditional logistic regression.

Results

Within the BO cohort (n=15 134), 45 OAC (UK: 40, NL: 5) and 12 HGD cases (NL: 12) were identified. ORa for OAC during NSAID use was 1.2 (95% CI 0.6 to 2.5) and during statin use for >3 years 0.5 (95% CI 0.1 to 1.7). When including HGD cases (n=57), ORa for NSAID use was 0.9 (95% CI 0.5 to 1.8) and for statin use >3 years 0.5 (95% CI 0.1 to 1.7). Higher doses of statins showed lower estimates for OAC and HGD, though not statistically significant. Low-dose aspirin and PPIs did not significantly decrease the risk of OAC and HGD.

Conclusions

In this population-based nested case–control study, use of NSAIDs, PPIs, low-dose aspirin or statins did not reduce the risk of HGD and OAC among patients with BO. These findings indicate that for an unselected group of patients with BO chemoprevention by use of drugs to reduce progression to HGD and OAC should not be directly considered as routine care.
A history of diabetes but not hyperglycaemia during exacerbation of obstructive lung disease has impact on long-term mortality: a prospective, observational cohort study
Authors: Koskela Heikki O , Salonen Päivi H , Romppanen Jarkko , Niskanen Leo
Published: January 2015

Objective

Hyperglycaemia is very common during exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, its clinical significance is not clear. The objective of the present study was to assess whether exacerbation-associated hyperglycaemia affects long-term mortality in these patients.

Design

A prospective, observational cohort study.

Setting

A single hospital in eastern Finland.

Participants

153 consecutive patients who were hospitalised due to mild to moderate obstructive lung disease exacerbation (110 with asthma and 43 with COPD) and who survived at least 30 days.

Interventions

Plasma glucose levels were recorded seven times during the first day on the ward. Several possible confounders were also recorded. The median follow-up time was 6 years and 2 months.

Results

During the follow-up, 57 (37%) of the patients died. Previously diagnosed diabetes was strongly associated with elevated mortality (adjusted HR (aHR) 3.03 (1.28 to 7.18). The highest fasting glucose value (aHR 1.10 (1.01 to 1.20) per 1 mmol/L) and the highest postprandial glucose value ((aHR 1.07 (1.00 to 1.16)) were also associated with late mortality. However, the associations between highest glucose values and mortality vanished when the diagnosis of diabetes was included in the same model. Within the patients without diabetes, neither fasting (aHR 0.92 (0.42 to 2.02)) nor postprandial ((aHR 1.04 (0.50 to 2.12)) hyperglycaemia was associated with late mortality. There were no statistically significant differences in the underlying causes of death between the patients with and without diabetes.

Conclusion

A history of diabetes but not hyperglycaemia during exacerbation of obstructive lung disease has impact on long-term mortality.
Influenza vaccination rates for hospitalised patients: a multiyear quality improvement effort
Authors: Cohen Emily Suzanne , Ogrinc Greg , Taylor Tom , Brown Christine , Geiling James
Published: January 2015

Background

Influenza vaccination is the most effective method for preventing influenza virus infection. Adult hospitalised patients form a particularly high-risk group for severe influenza given their advanced age and comorbidities. We sought to improve the influenza vaccination rates of hospitalised patients at the White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Methods

The improvement effort started in 2007 when our baseline vaccination rate was about 60%. An interprofessional team analysed the influenza vaccination process for hospitalised patients. During the course of six influenza seasons, eight Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles were used including a hospital-wide flu campaign, embedded orders in the electronic medical record (EMR) to facilitate ordering vaccinations by providers, daily reminders from ward clerks and standing orders for influenza vaccination on discharge. The measure was the monthly percentage of patients discharged from the hospital with an up-to-date influenza vaccination.

Results

The percentage of veterans discharged with an up-to-date influenza vaccination increased to over 80% in February 2009 and has remained high.

Conclusions

Although we are confident that our local efforts helped to improve the vaccination rate, external factors such as the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and universal vaccination may have primed our system to respond more readily to the implemented changes. Understanding all of the relevant factors that lead to vaccination uptake can be applied to future hospital influenza vaccination campaigns. In addition, our work demonstrates that an interprofessional approach is still required to apply the functionality of the EMR effectively.
Acarbose, lente carbohydrate, and prebiotics promote metabolic health and longevity by stimulating intestinal production of GLP-1
Authors: McCarty Mark F , DiNicolantonio James J
Published: January 2015

The α-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose, which slows carbohydrate digestion and blunts postprandial rises in plasma glucose, has long been used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes or glucose intolerance. Like metformin, acarbose tends to aid weight control, postpone onset of diabetes and decrease risk for cardiovascular events. Acarbose treatment can favourably affect blood pressure, serum lipids, platelet aggregation, progression of carotid intima-media thickness and postprandial endothelial dysfunction. In mice, lifetime acarbose feeding can increase median and maximal lifespan—an effect associated with increased plasma levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and decreased levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). There is growing reason to suspect that an upregulation of fasting and postprandial production of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)—stemming from increased delivery of carbohydrate to L cells in the distal intestinal tract—is largely responsible for the versatile health protection conferred by acarbose. Indeed, GLP-1 exerts protective effects on vascular endothelium, the liver, the heart, pancreatic β cells, and the brain which can rationalise many of the benefits reported with acarbose. And GLP-1 may act on the liver to modulate its production of FGF21 and IGF-I, thereby promoting longevity. The benefits of acarbose are likely mimicked by diets featuring slowly-digested ‘lente’ carbohydrate, and by certain nutraceuticals which can slow carbohydrate absorption. Prebiotics that promote colonic generation of short-chain fatty acids represent an alternative strategy for boosting intestinal GLP-1 production. The health benefits of all these measures presumably would be potentiated by concurrent use of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors, which slow the proteolysis of GLP-1 in the blood.
Installation of dynamically embedded plate anchors as assessed through field tests
Authors: Blake A.P. , O’Loughlin C.D.
Published: January 2015

A dynamically embedded plate anchor (DEPLA) is a rocket-shaped anchor that comprises a removable central shaft and a set of four flukes. The DEPLA penetrates to a target depth in the seabed by the kinetic energy obtained through free-fall in water. After embedment the central shaft is retrieved leaving the anchor flukes vertically embedded in the seabed. The flukes constitute the load-bearing element as a plate anchor. This paper focuses on the dynamic installation of the DEPLA. Net resistance and velocity profiles are derived from acceleration data measured by an inertial measurement unit during DEPLA field tests, which are compared with corresponding theoretical profiles based on strain rate–enhanced shear resistance and fluid mechanics drag resistance. Comparison of the measured net resistance force profiles with the model predictions shows fair agreement at 1:12 scale and good agreement at 1:7.2 and 1:4.5 scales. For all scales the embedment model predicts the final anchor embedment depth to a high degree of accuracy.
Cooperative interaction between hydrogen bond and N···Y interactions (Y = H, Li, F, Cl, and Br): a comparative study
Authors: Fallah Ebrahimi Zahra , Esrafili Mehdi D. , Vessally Esmail
Published: January 2015

A comparative ab initio study is performed to investigate the cooperativity between the N···H hydrogen bond and the N···Y interactions in XCN···HCN···YCN complexes, where X = H, F, and Y = H, Li, F, Cl, and Br. To understand the properties of the systems better, the corresponding dimers are also studied. It is found that the lithium bond has a larger influence on the hydrogen bond than vice versa. The shortening of the N···H distances in the trimers is dependent on the strength of the H···Y interactions and they become larger in the order lithium bond > hydrogen bond > halogen bond. The estimated values of cooperative energy Ecoopare all negative with much larger Ecoopin absolute value for the systems including lithium.
Early Cretaceous (?early late Albian) echinoderms from northeastern British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Ausich William I. , Stelck Charles R. , Plint A. Guy , Buckley Robin A. , Angiel Piotr J.
Published: January 2015

An echinoderm association is reported from the ?early late Albian Paddy Member of the Peace River Formation of British Columbia, Canada. The association includes Frasericrinus mauricensis gen. et sp. nov., two additional distinctive crinoid column types, a poorly preserved asteroid, and an umbilical fragment of the cephalopod Stelckiceras. This is the first report of a Cretaceous isocrinid from North America. The echinoderm fossils are from the top of a succession of storm-deposited sandstones and mudstones (Boulder Creek Formation) that can be correlated southward into nearshore and terrestrial facies of the Paddy Member of the Peace River Formation. The echinoderm fossils were buried (and probably lived) about 12–14 km from the contemporaneous shoreline in an estimated water depth of 10–20 m. Integration of biostratigraphic and allostratigraphic schemes suggests that the echinoderms are of earliest late Albian age. The association of the echinoderm fauna with ammonites of Boreal affinity indicates deposition in northern waters, although the presence of Tethyan inoceramids in apparently coeval Paddy Member strata 270 km to the east suggests that northward-advancing water from the Gulf of Mexico had reached northwestern Alberta, if not actually merged with the Boreal embayment. The nearshore occurrence of Cretaceous stalked crinoids is indicative of an asynchronous, gradual migration of stalked crinoids to deep-water habitats, to which they are restricted in modern oceans.
Chromosome constitution and origin analysis in three derivatives of Triticum aestivum – Leymus mollis by molecular cytogenetic identification
Authors: Yang Xiaofei , Wang Changyou , Chen Chunhuan , Zhang Hong , Tian Zengrong , Li Xin , Wang Yajuan , Ji Wanquan
Published: January 2015

Leymus mollis (2n = 4x = 28, NsNsXmXm) is an important tetraploid species in Leymus (Poaceae: Triticeae) and a useful genetic resource for wheat breeding because of the stress tolerance and disease resistance of this species. The development of Triticum aestivum (common wheat) – L. mollis derivatives with desirable genes will provide valuable bridge materials for wheat improvement, especially regarding powdery mildew resistance genes, which are rarely documented in L. mollis. In the present study, three derivatives of common wheat cultivar 7182 and L. mollis, namely M47, M51, and M42, were subjected to chromosomal characterization via cytogenetic identification, the analysis of molecular markers, and genomic in situ hybridization. These derivatives were all morphologically and cytogenetically stable. M47 was highly resistant to powdery mildew and nearly immune to stripe rust at the adult stage, and the chromosome constitution of this derivative can be expressed as 2n = 56 = 42T.a + 14L.m (where T.a = T. aestivum chromosomes; L.m = L. mollis chromosomes). Compared to M47, M42 was also resistant to stripe rust but was susceptible to powdery mildew; the chromosome constitution of M42 was 2n = 54 = 42T.a + 12L.m, in which a pair of homoeologous group 7 L.m chromosomes was eliminated. Finally, M51 was susceptible to powdery mildew and stripe rust and had a chromosome constitution of 2n = 48 = 42T.a + 6L.m, in which four pairs of L.m chromosomes from homoeologous groups 2, 4, 5, and 7 were eliminated. The differing disease resistances of the three derivatives are discussed in this report in the context of their chromosomal variations; this information can thus contribute to breeding disease resistant wheat with the potential for applying these derivatives as useful bridge materials.
Killing fields generated by multiple solutions to the Fischer–Marsden equation
Authors: Cernea Paul , Guan Daniel
Published: January 2015

In the process of finding Einstein metrics in dimension n ≥ 3, we can search critical metrics for the scalar curvature functional in the space of the fixed-volume metrics of constant scalar curvature on a closed oriented manifold. This leads to a system of PDEs (which we call the Fischer–Marsden Equation, after a conjecture concerning this system) for scalar functions, involving the linearization of the scalar curvature. The Fischer–Marsden conjecture said that if the equation admits a solution, the underlying Riemannian manifold is Einstein. Counter-examples are known by O. Kobayashi and J. Lafontaine. However, almost all the counter-examples are homogeneous. Multiple solutions to this system yield Killing vector fields. We show that the dimension of the solution space W can be at most n+1, with equality implying that (M, g) is a sphere with constant sectional curvatures. Moreover, we show that the identity component of the isometry group has a factor SO(W). We also show that geometries admitting Fischer–Marsden solutions are closed under products with Einstein manifolds after a rescaling. Therefore, we obtain a lot of non-homogeneous counter-examples to the Fischer–Marsden conjecture. We then prove that all the homogeneous manifold M with a solution are in this case. Furthermore, we also proved that a related Besse conjecture is true for the compact homogeneous manifolds.
On the examples of Nill and Paffenholz
Authors: Nakagawa Yasuhiro
Published: January 2015

In 1999, Batyrev and Selivanova introduced the notion of "symmetric toric Fano manifolds" and proved that every symmetric toric Fano manifold admits an Einstein–Kähler metric ([1]). For n ≦ 4, every Einstein–Kähler toric Fano n-fold is symmetric. Hence, it was conjectured that every Einstein–Kähler toric Fano manifold is symmetric. However, in [6], Nill and Paffenholz constructed the counter-examples of this conjecture. In this paper, we shall construct higher-dimensional generalizations of their examples and also discuss the Chow unstability of these generalizations.
Intrinsic properties of surfaces with singularities
Authors: Hasegawa Masaru , Honda Atsufumi , Naokawa Kosuke , Saji Kentaro , Umehara Masaaki , Yamada Kotaro
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we give two classes of positive semi-definite metrics on 2-manifolds. The one is called a class of Kossowski metrics and the other is called a class of Whitney metrics: The pull-back metrics of wave fronts which admit only cuspidal edges and swallowtails in R3 are Kossowski metrics, and the pull-back metrics of surfaces consisting only of cross cap singularities are Whitney metrics. Since the singular sets of Kossowski metrics are the union of regular curves on the domains of definitions, and Whitney metrics admit only isolated singularities, these two classes of metrics are disjoint. In this paper, we give several characterizations of intrinsic invariants of cuspidal edges and cross caps in these classes of metrics. Moreover, we prove Gauss–Bonnet type formulas for Kossowski metrics and for Whitney metrics on compact 2-manifolds.
Gap theorems for compact gradient Sasaki–Ricci solitons
Authors: Tadano Homare
Published: January 2015

In this paper, by using estimates for the transverse Ricci curvature in terms of the Sasaki–Futaki invariant, we shall give some gap theorems for compact gradient Sasaki–Ricci solitons by showing some necessary and sufficient conditions for the solitons to be Sasaki–Einstein. Our results may be regarded as a Sasaki geometry version of recent works by Li and Fernández-López and García-Río.
Degenerations of Calabi–Yau threefolds and BCOV invariants
Authors: Yoshikawa Ken-Ichi
Published: January 2015

In [M. Bershadsky, S. Cecotti, H. Ooguri and C. Vafa, Holomorphic anomalies in topological field theories, Nucl. Phys. B405 (1993) 279–304; M. Bershadsky, S. Cecotti, H. Ooguri and C. Vafa, Kodaira–Spencer theory of gravity and exact results for quantum string amplitudes, Commun. Math. Phys.165 (1994) 311–427], by expressing the physical quantity F1 in two distinct ways, Bershadsky–Cecotti–Ooguri–Vafa discovered a remarkable equivalence between Ray–Singer analytic torsion and elliptic instanton numbers for Calabi–Yau threefolds. After their discovery, in [H. Fang, Z. Lu and K.-I. Yoshikawa, Analytic torsion for Calabi–Yau threefolds, J. Differential Geom.80 (2008) 175–250], a holomorphic torsion invariant for Calabi–Yau threefolds corresponding to F1, called BCOV invariant, was constructed. In this article, we study the asymptotic behavior of BCOV invariants for algebraic one-parameter degenerations of Calabi–Yau threefolds. We prove the rationality of the coefficient of logarithmic divergence and give its geometric expression by using a semi-stable reduction of the given family.
The string theory landscape
Authors: Schellekens A. N.
Published: January 2015

Perhaps the most important way string theory has affected the perspective of particle physics phenomenology is through the "string theory landscape". We discuss the evidence supporting its existence, describe the regions of the landscape that have been explored, and examine what the string theory landscape might imply for most Standard Model problems.
Mathematics for string phenomenology
Authors: Douglas Michael R.
Published: January 2015

We survey some of the basic mathematical ideas and techniques which are used in string phenomenology, such as constructions of Calabi–Yau manifolds, singularities and orbifolds, toric geometry, variation of complex structure, and mirror symmetry.
Compactified string theories — Generic predictions for particle physics
Authors: Kumar Piyush
Published: January 2015

In recent years it has been realized that in string/M theories compactified to four dimensions which satisfy cosmological constraints, it is possible to make some generic predictions for particle physics: a nonthermal cosmological history before primordial nucleosynthesis, a scale of supersymmetry breaking which is "high" as in gravity mediation, and scalar superpartners too heavy to be produced at the LHC (although gluino production is predicted in many cases). When the matter and gauge spectrum below the compactification scale is that of the MSSM, a robust prediction of about 125 GeV for the Higgs boson mass, as well as predictions for future precision measurements, can be made. As a prototypical example, M theory compactified on a manifold of G2 holonomy leads to a good candidate for our "string vacuum", with the TeV scale emerging from the Planck scale, a de Sitter vacuum, robust electroweak symmetry breaking, and solutions of the weak and strong CP problems. In this article we review how these and other results are derived, from the key theoretical ideas to the final phenomenological predictions.
Models of pulsar glitches
Authors: Haskell Brynmor , Melatos Andrew
Published: January 2015

Radio pulsars provide us with some of the most stable clocks in the universe. Nevertheless several pulsars exhibit sudden spin-up events, known as glitches. More than forty years after their first discovery, the exact origin of these phenomena is still open to debate. It is generally thought that they are observational manifestation of a superfluid component in the stellar interior and provide an insight into the dynamics of matter at extreme densities. In recent years, there have been several advances on both the theoretical and observational side, that have provided significant steps forward in our understanding of neutron star interior dynamics and possible glitch mechanisms. In this article we review the main glitch models that have been proposed and discuss our understanding, in the light of current observations.
Inflation via gravitino condensation in dynamically broken supergravity
Authors: Alexandre Jean , Houston Nick , Mavromatos Nick E.
Published: January 2015

Gravitino-condensate-induced inflation via the super-Higgs effect is a UV-motivated scenario for both inflating the early universe and breaking local supersymmetry dynamically, entirely independent of any coupling to external matter. As an added benefit, this also removes the (as of yet unobserved) massless Goldstino associated to global supersymmetry breaking from the particle spectrum. In this review, we detail the pertinent properties and outline previously hidden details of the various steps required in this context in order to make contact with current inflationary phenomenology. The class of models of SUGRA we use to exemplify our approach are minimal four-dimensional N = 1 supergravity and extensions thereof with broken conformal symmetry. Therein, the gravitino condensate itself can play the role of the inflation, however the requirement of slow-roll necessitates unnaturally large values of the wave function renormalization. Nevertheless, there is an alternative scenario that may provide Starobinsky-type inflation, occurring in the broken-SUGRA phase around the nontrivial minima of the gravitino-condensate effective potential. In this scenario higher curvature corrections to the effective action, crucial for the onset of an inflationary phase, arise as a result of integrating out massive quantum gravitino fields in the path integral. The latter scenario is compatible with Planck satellite phenomenology but not with BICEP2 data.
Covariant extrinsic gravity and the geometric origin of dark energy
Authors: Jalalzadeh S. , Rostami T.
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we construct the covariant or model independent induced Einstein–Yang–Mills field equations on a four-dimensional brane embedded isometrically in an D-dimensional bulk space, assuming the matter fields are confined to the brane. Applying this formalism to cosmology, we derive the generalized Friedmann equations. We derive the density parameter of dark energy in terms of width of the brane, normal curvature radii and the number of extra large dimensions. We show that dark energy could actually be the manifestation of the local extrinsic shape of the brane. It is shown that the predictions of this model are in good agreement with observation if we consider an 11-dimensional bulk space.
Lyapunov exponents of linear cocycles over Markov shifts
Authors: Malheiro Elaís C. , Viana Marcelo
Published: January 2015

The Lyapunov exponents of GL(2)-cocycles over Markov shifts depend continuously on the underlying data, that is, on the matrix coefficients and the Markov measure transition probabilities.