bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of Oral Health, Preventive Care, and Care‐Seeking Behaviors Among Rural Adolescents
Authors: Dodd Virginia J. , Logan Henrietta , Brown Cameron D. , Calderon Angela , Catalanotto Frank
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUND

An asymmetrical oral disease burden is endured by certain population subgroups, particularly children and adolescents. Reducing oral health disparities requires understanding multiple oral health perspectives, including those of adolescents. This qualitative study explores oral health perceptions and dental care behaviors among rural adolescents.

METHODS

Semistructured individual interviews with 100 rural, minority, low socioeconomic status adolescents revealed their current perceptions of oral health and dental care access. Respondents age ranged from 12 to 18 years. The sample was 80% black and 52% male.

RESULTS

Perceived threat from dental disease was low. Adolescents perceived regular brushing and flossing as superseding the need for preventive care. Esthetic reasons were most often cited as reasons to seek dental care. Difficulties accessing dental care include finances, transportation, fear, issues with Medicaid coverage and parental responsibility. In general, adolescents and their parents are in need of information regarding the importance of preventive dental care.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings illuminate barriers to dental care faced by low‐income rural adolescents and counter public perceptions of government‐sponsored dental care programs as being “free” or without cost. The importance of improved oral health knowledge, better access to care, and school‐based dental care is discussed.
The Effects of Sensory and Nonsensory Factors on Consumer Acceptability and Purchase Intention of Commercial Toothpaste
Authors: Kim Ji‐Yoon , Kim Kwang‐Ok
Published: November 2014

The number of toothpastes on the market has increased not only with respect to flavors (a sensory factor) but also to nonsensory factors such as function, price and brand. The objectives of this study were to examine the consumer liking and purchase intention of toothpaste in the presence and absence of product information and to relate them to the sensory attributes identified in a previous study. Eight commercial toothpastes were selected as samples of the diverse flavors and manufacturers. In total, 160 consumers who were balanced for age and gender were recruited. The consumer test was conducted under both blind (N = 80) and informed (N = 80) conditions. Overall, the preferred sensory attributes were sweet, peppermint, menthol and cooling; however, sensory attributes driving flavor acceptability differed according to gender. Purchase intention appeared to be affected not only by flavor but also by price, brand and labeling.

Practical Applications

This study applied a procedure developed in a previous study evaluating toothpaste flavor that involved diluting the toothpaste. The tasting of diluted toothpaste by consumers enabled a quick and easy evaluation without oral numbness that can result from repeated toothbrushing, which might have affected consumer acceptability. The findings demonstrated the importance of the presence of information in the consumer test. This study is beneficial in the context of conducting the consumer acceptability study for commercial toothpaste first, and that this study aimed to examine the multilateral factors that affect consumer acceptability and purchase intention of toothpaste with segmented consumers.
CheY's acetylation sites responsible for generating clockwise flagellar rotation in Escherichia coli
Authors: Fraiberg Milana , Afanzar Oshri , Cassidy C. Keith , Gabashvili Alexandra , Schulten Klaus , Levin Yishai , Eisenbach Michael
Published: November 2014

Stimulation of Escherichia coli with acetate elevates the acetylation level of the chemotaxis response regulator CheY. This elevation, in an unknown mechanism, activates CheY to generate clockwise rotation. Here, using quantitative selective reaction monitoring mass spectrometry and high‐resolution targeted mass spectrometry, we identified K91 and K109 as the major sites whose acetylation level in vivo increases in response to acetate. Employing single and multiple lysine replacements in CheY, we found that K91 and K109 are also the sites mainly responsible for acetate‐dependent clockwise generation. Furthermore, we showed that clockwise rotation is repressed when residue K91 is nonmodified, as evidenced by an increased ability of CheY to generate clockwise rotation when K91 was acetylated or replaced by specific amino acids. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we show that K91 repression is manifested in the conformational dynamics of the β4α4 loop, shifted toward an active state upon mutation. Removal of β4α4 loop repression may represent a general activation mechanism in CheY, pertaining also to the canonical phosphorylation activation pathway as suggested by crystal structures of active and inactive CheY from Thermotoga maritima. By way of elimination, we further suggest that K109 acetylation is actively involved in generating clockwise rotation.
The transmembrane protein FgSho1 regulates fungal development and pathogenicity via the MAPK module Ste50‐Ste11‐Ste7 in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Gu Qin , Chen Yun , Liu Ye , Zhang Chengqi , Ma Zhonghua
Published: November 2014

The mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways have been characterized in Fusarium graminearum. Currently, the upstream sensors of these pathways are unknown.

Biological functions of a transmembrane protein FgSho1 were investigated using a target gene deletion strategy. The relationship between FgSho1 and the MAPK cassette FgSte50‐Ste11‐Ste7 was analyzed in depth.

The transmembrane protein FgSho1 is required for conidiation, full virulence, and deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis in F. graminearum. Furthermore, FgSho1 and FgSln1 have an additive effect on virulence of F. graminearum. The yeast two‐hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation, colocalization and affinity capture‐mass spectrometry analyses strongly indicated that FgSho1 physically interacts with the MAPK module FgSte50‐Ste11‐Ste7. Similar to the FgSho1 mutant, the mutants of FgSte50, FgSte11, and FgSte7 were defective in conidiation, pathogenicity, and DON biosynthesis. In addition, FgSho1 plays a minor role in the response to osmotic stress but it is involved in the cell wall integrity pathway, which is independent of the module FgSte50‐Ste11‐Ste7 in F. graminearum.

Collectively, results of this study strongly indicate that FgSho1 regulates fungal development and pathogenicity via the MAPK module FgSte50‐Ste11‐Ste7 in F. graminearum, which is different from what is known in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Intellectual and academic performance in children undergoing solid organ pretransplant evaluation
Authors: Reed‐Knight Bonney , Lee Jennifer L. , Cousins Laura A. , Mee Laura L.
Published: November 2014

Although prior research has shown lower intellectual functioning across pediatric solid organ transplant recipients relative to matched siblings or norm comparisons, few studies have assessed intellectual and academic performance prior to transplant across organ groups. The current data examine intellectual and academic functioning in children being evaluated for kidney, liver, or heart transplant. This investigation included intellectual and academic testing data from 195 children and adolescents between the ages of six and 19 yr evaluated for solid organ transplantation. Across organ groups, patients' intellectual functioning as estimated by the WASI/WASI‐II at the time of pretransplant evaluation was within the average range, but lower compared to test norms. Patients demonstrated lower estimates of word reading, math computation, and spelling skills compared to the normal population, with the exception of heart patients' word reading and spelling skills and liver patients' spelling scores. Cognitive and academic impairments exist in children prior to transplantation. Findings emphasize the support that patients may require to manage the complicated medical regimen and succeed academically. Routine cognitive and academic assessment can inform healthcare providers regarding transplant patients' capacity to take on increasing medical responsibility and successfully reintegrate into the school environment.
Is a regional flood signal reproducible from lake sediments?
Authors: Wilhelm Bruno , Sabatier Pierre , Arnaud Fabien
Published: November 2014

The evolution of flood activity with global warming remains uncertain. To better assess flood–climate relationships, lake sediments are increasingly being investigated because they could provide regional flood histories long enough to cover past climate changes. However, site‐specific sedimentary processes may bias flood reconstructions. The aim of this article is to investigate these effects through the reconstruction of two distinct flood records from independent, neighbouring sedimentary basins of the same lake (Lake Allos in the Mediterranean French Alps), i.e. under the same climate conditions. Understanding of sedimentary processes is crucial in order to adapt the sampling strategy and the flood‐intensity proxy to each sedimentary system and, thereby, reconstruct a complete and reliable flood history. Thanks to this detailed approach, the main trends of the regional flood variability can be reproduced; i.e. periods of high flood‐frequency, ranges of flood‐frequency values and timing of the most intense events. In detail, some differences appeared associated to the various stream capacities to erode and transport flood sediments to the lake system, implying variable sensitivity of sedimentary systems in recording floods. Comparing regional flood records based on independent sedimentary systems from similar environments could thus be a complementary approach to assessing past flood intensity. Such an approach could open particularly interesting perspectives because reconstructing the long‐term evolution of flood intensity is a key challenge in the geosciences.
The Role of Social Connectedness and Sexual Orientation in the Prevention of Youth Suicide Ideation and Attempts Among Sexually Active Adolescents
Authors: Stone Deborah M. , Luo Feijun , Lippy Caroline , McIntosh Wendy LiKamWa
Published: November 2014

The impact of types of social connectedness—family, other adult, and school—on suicide ideation and attempts among all youth, the relative impact of each type, and effect modification by sexual orientation was assessed. Data were from the 2007–2009 Milwaukee Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. Multivariable logistic regression analyses calculated the risk of suicide ideation and attempts by sexual orientation, types of social connectedness, and their interaction. Among all youth, each type of connectedness modeled singly conferred protective effects for suicide ideation. Family and other adult connectedness protected against suicide attempts. When modeled simultaneously, family connectedness protected against ideation and attempts. Sexual orientation modified the association between other adult connectedness and suicide ideation. Findings suggest that family connectedness confers the most consistent protection among all youth and sexual orientation does not generally modify the association between connectedness and suicidal behavior.
2′‐Deoxymugineic acid promotes growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by orchestrating iron and nitrate uptake processes under high pH conditions
Authors: Araki Ryoichi , Kousaka Kayoko , Namba Kosuke , Murata Yoshiko , Murata Jun
Published: November 2014

Poaceae plants release 2′‐deoxymugineic acid (DMA) and related phytosiderophores to chelate iron (Fe), which often exists as insoluble Fe(III) in the rhizosphere, especially under high pH conditions. Although the molecular mechanisms behind the biosynthesis and secretion of DMA have been studied extensively, little information is known about whether DMA has biological roles other than chelating Fe in vivo. Here, we demonstrate that hydroponic cultures of rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings show almost complete restoration in shoot height and soil‐plant analysis development (SPAD) values after treatment with 3–30 μm DMA at high pH (pH 8.0), compared with untreated control seedlings at normal pH (pH 5.8). These changes were accompanied by selective accumulation of Fe over other metals. While this enhanced growth was evident under high pH conditions, DMA application also enhanced seedling growth under normal pH conditions in which Fe was fairly accessible. Microarray and qRT‐PCR analyses revealed that exogenous DMA application attenuated the increased expression levels of various genes related to Fe transport and accumulation. Surprisingly, despite the preferential utilization of ammonium over nitrate as a nitrogen source by rice, DMA application also increased nitrate reductase activity and the expression of genes encoding high‐affinity nitrate transporters and nitrate reductases, all of which were otherwise considerably lower under high pH conditions. These data suggest that exogenous DMA not only plays an important role in facilitating the uptake of environmental Fe, but also orchestrates Fe and nitrate assimilation for optimal growth under high pH conditions.
IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOMEDIASTINUM SECONDARY TO PRIMARY PULMONARY PATHOLOGY IN A DALMATIAN DOG
Authors: Agut Amalia , Talavera Jesus , Buendia Antonio , Anson Agustina , Santarelli Giorgia , Gomez Serafin
Published: November 2014

A 1.5‐year‐old, 23 kg intact male Dalmatian dog was evaluated for acute respiratory insufficiency without a previous history of trauma or toxic exposition. Imaging revealed pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, diffuse unstructured interstitial pulmonary pattern, pulmonary interstitial emphysema, and pneumoretroperitoneum. Histopathological evaluation of the lungs revealed perivascular and peribronchial emphysema, mild lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia with atypical proliferation of type II pneumocytes in bronchioles and alveoli. A lung disease resembling fibrosing interstitial pneumonia in man and cats has been previously reported in Dalmatians and should be included as a differential diagnosis for Dalmatians with this combination of clinical and imaging characteristics.
Rising CO2 can alter fodder–weed interactions and suppression of Parthenium hysterophorus
Authors: Khan N , George D , Shabbir A , Hanif Z , Adkins S W
Published: November 2014

Three C4 grass (Setaria incrassata, Astrebla squarrosa and Bothriochloa decipiens) and one C3 legume (Clitoria ternatea) suppressive fodder species, were re‐evaluated against the growth of the C3 Parthenium hysterophorus under an ambient (390 μmol mol−1) and an elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (550 μmol mol−1). Under the elevated atmospheric CO2, shoot dry biomass and suppression index (SI) value of the C4 S. incrassata were both reduced by 32% and 0.7 respectively, while those for A. squarrosa were reduced by 23% and 0.3. In contrast and under the same elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration, the shoot dry biomass and SI of the C4 B. decipiens were increased by 8% and 0.1 respectively, while those for the C3 C. ternatea were increased by 38% and 0.8. Our results suggest that C3 fodder plants along with certain C4 species could be utilised for the effective management of P. hysterophorus under the future elevated atmospheric CO2 conditions. However, this system needs more fodder species to be investigated. Our results suggest that rising CO2 per se may alter the efficacy of suppressive fodder management of an invasive C3 species, P. hysterophorus.
Experimental verification of achieving vertical sidewalls for nanoscale features in electron-beam lithography
Authors: Lee Soo-Young , Choi Jin , Lee Sang-Hee , Shin In-Kyun , Jeon Chan-Uk , Jeon Sang-Chul
Published: November 2014

It is often necessary to achieve a vertical sidewall in the remaining resist profile obtained through electron-beam lithographic process. For nanoscale features, the spatial dose distribution of V-shape typically used in a conventional two-dimensional proximity effect correction scheme cannot easily achieve a vertical sidewall while also minimizing the critical dimension (CD) error. In an earlier study, it was shown through simulation based on a three-dimensional model that new types of spatial dose distributions, i.e., M- and A-shapes, are effective in achieving vertical sidewalls and minimizing the CD error and total dose. These two dose distributions exploit the fact that the exposure varies along the depth dimension with high and low contrasts at the top and bottom layers of resist, respectively. In this study, a number of experiments have been carried out in order to verify the simulation results reported earlier. This paper includes a review of the new dose distribution types and experimental results with a detailed discussion.
Carbonaceous contamination growth induced by resist outgassing under e-beam exposure
Authors: Pourteau Marie-Line , Mebiene-Engohang Armel-Petit , Marusic Jean-Christophe , Pain Laurent , David Sylvain , Smits Marc , Wieland Marco
Published: November 2014

The emerging lithography tools with large numbers of parallel electron beams and direct-write capabilities provide an alternative solution to achieve high-resolution and high-throughput lithography for advanced CMOS nodes [Pain et al., C. R. Acad. Sci., Ser. IIB 7, 910 (2006); de Boer et al., Proc. SPIE 8680, 86800O (2013)]. However, resist outgassing during exposure induces carbonaceous contamination of the optics projection systems. This contamination is a major issue, much more than in classical electron-beam lithography, as the outgassing level is much higher. Thus, it is crucial to study both the outgassing phenomena and the associated contamination growth mechanisms, to assess resist platforms and define realistic specifications in order to limit their impact on the exposure systems. A specific experimental setup has been designed at Leti to perform 5-keV electron bombardment of e-beam resist-coated 100-mm silicon wafers. The setup allows two different configurations: an outgassing measurement mode and a contamination mode. In the outgassing measurement mode, the induced outgassing is monitored with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. In the contamination mode, the wafer is exposed through a silicon micromachined membrane (called a mimic) that simulates the projection optics system of the multi-ebeam exposure tool. In this case, the wafer stage allows suitable displacements of wafers to expose the resists to the targeted dose, thus inducing carbonaceous contamination growth on mimic edges. Outgassing rates of resists under electronic exposure have been studied in a previous work [Mebiene-Engohang et al., Proc. SPIE 9049, 90492Q (2014)]. This paper will focus, rather, on the kinetics of the contamination growth on the mimic, as a function of current density during exposure, contaminant partial pressures surrounding the mimic, and potential presence of a top-coat designed to prevent outgassing. The contamination of the mimic induced by outgassed compounds during exposure was characterized using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectrometry.
Registration of clinical volumes to beams‐eye‐view images for real‐time tracking
Authors: Bryant Jonathan H. , Rottmann Joerg , Lewis John H. , Mishra Pankaj , Keall Paul J. , Berbeco Ross I.
Published: November 2014

Purpose:

The authors combine the registration of 2D beam's eye view (BEV) images and 3D planning computed tomography (CT) images, with relative, markerless tumor tracking to provide automatic absolute tracking of physician defined volumes such as the gross tumor volume (GTV).

Methods:

During treatment of lung SBRT cases, BEV images were continuously acquired with an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) operating in cine mode. For absolute registration of physician‐defined volumes, an intensity based 2D/3D registration to the planning CT was performed using the end‐of‐exhale (EoE) phase of the four dimensional computed tomography (4DCT). The volume was converted from Hounsfield units into electron density by a calibration curve and digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) were generated for each beam geometry. Using normalized cross correlation between the DRR and an EoE BEV image, the best in‐plane rigid transformation was found. The transformation was applied to physician‐defined contours in the planning CT, mapping them into the EPID image domain. A robust multiregion method of relative markerless lung tumor tracking quantified deviations from the EoE position.

Results:

The success of 2D/3D registration was demonstrated at the EoE breathing phase. By registering at this phase and then employing a separate technique for relative tracking, the authors are able to successfully track target volumes in the BEV images throughout the entire treatment delivery.

Conclusions:

Through the combination of EPID/4DCT registration and relative tracking, a necessary step toward the clinical implementation of BEV tracking has been completed. The knowledge of tumor volumes relative to the treatment field is important for future applications like real‐time motion management, adaptive radiotherapy, and delivered dose calculations.
The Myotonometer: Not a Valid Measurement Tool for Active Hamstring Musculotendinous Stiffness
Authors: Pamukoff Derek N. , Bell Sarah E. , Ryan Eric D. , Blackburn J. Troy
Published: November 2014

Context:

Hamstring musculotendinous stiffness (MTS) is associated with lower-extremity injury risk (ie, hamstring strain, anterior cruciate ligament injury) and is commonly assessed using the damped oscillatory technique. However, despite a preponderance of studies that measure MTS reliably in laboratory settings, there are no valid clinical measurement tools. A valid clinical measurement technique is needed to assess MTS and permit identification of individuals at heightened risk of injury and track rehabilitation progress.

Objective:

To determine the validity and reliability of the Myotonometer for measuring active hamstring MTS.

Design:

Descriptive laboratory study.

Setting:

Laboratory

Participants:

33 healthy participants (15 men, age 21.33 ± 2.94 y, height 172.03 ± 16.36 cm, mass 74.21 ± 16.36 kg).

Main Outcome Measures:

Hamstring MTS was assessed using the damped oscillatory technique and the Myotonometer. Intraclass correlations were used to determine the intrasession, intersession, and interrater reliability of the Myotonometer. Criterion validity was assessed via Pearson product–moment correlation between MTS measures obtained from the Myotonometer and from the damped oscillatory technique.

Results:

The Myotonometer demonstrated good intrasession (ICC3,1 = .807) and interrater reliability (ICC2,k = .830) and moderate intersession reliability (ICC2,k = .693). However, it did not provide a valid measurement of MTS compared with the damped oscillatory technique (r = .346, P = .061).

Conclusions:

The Myotonometer does not provide a valid measure of active hamstring MTS. Although the Myotonometer does not measure active MTS, it possesses good reliability and portability and could be used clinically to measure tissue compliance, muscle tone, or spasticity associated with multiple musculoskeletal disorders. Future research should focus on portable and clinically applicable tools to measure active hamstring MTS in efforts to prevent and monitor injuries.
Characterization of a Replication-Incompetent Pseudorabies Virus Mutant Lacking the Sole Immediate Early Gene IE180
Authors: Wu Brendan W. , Engel Esteban A. , Enquist Lynn W.
Published: November 2014

The alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PRV) encodes a single immediate early gene called IE180. The IE180 protein is a potent transcriptional activator of viral genes involved in DNA replication and RNA transcription. A PRV mutant with both copies of IE180 deleted was constructed 20 years ago (S. Yamada and M. Shimizu, Virology 199:366–375, 1994, doi:10.1006/viro.1994.1134), but propagation of the mutant depended on complementing cell lines that expressed the toxic IE180 protein constitutively. Recently, Oyibo et al. constructed a novel set of PRV IE180 mutants and a stable cell line with inducible IE180 expression (H. Oyibo, P. Znamenskiy, H. V. Oviedo, L. W. Enquist, A. Zador, Front. Neuroanat. 8:86, 2014, doi:10.3389/fnana.2014.00086), which we characterized further here. These mutants failed to replicate new viral genomes, synthesize immediate early, early, or late viral proteins, and assemble infectious virions. The PRV IE180-null mutant did not form plaques in epithelial cell monolayers and could not spread from primary infected neurons to second-order neurons in culture. PRV IE180-null mutants lacked the property of superinfection exclusion. When PRV IE180-null mutants infected cells first, subsequent superinfecting viruses were not blocked in cell entry and formed replication compartments in epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and neurons. Cells infected with PRV IE180-null mutants survived as long as uninfected cells in culture while expressing a fluorescent reporter gene. Transcomplementation with IE180 in epithelial cells restored all mutant phenotypes to wild type. The conditional expression of PRV IE180 protein enables the propagation of replication-incompetent PRV IE180-null mutants and will facilitate construction of long-term single-cell-infecting PRV mutants for precise neural circuit tracing and high-capacity gene delivery vectors.

IMPORTANCE
Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is widely used for neural tracing in animal models. The virus replicates and spreads between synaptically connected neurons. Current tracing strains of PRV are cytotoxic and kill infected cells. Infected cells exclude superinfection with a second virus, limiting multiple virus infections in circuit tracing. By removing the only immediate early gene of PRV (called IE180), the mutant virus will not replicate or spread in epithelial cells, fibroblasts, or neurons. The wild-type phenotype can be restored by transcomplementation of infected cells with IE180. The PRV IE180-null mutant can express fluorescent reporters for weeks in cells with no toxicity; infected cells survive as long as uninfected cells. Infection with the mutant virus allows superinfection of the same cell with a second virus that can enter and replicate. The PRV IE180-null mutant will permit conditional long-term tracing in animals and is a high-capacity vector for gene delivery.
Superresolution Imaging Captures Carbohydrate Utilization Dynamics in Human Gut Symbionts
Authors: Karunatilaka Krishanthi S. , Cameron Elizabeth A. , Martens Eric C. , Koropatkin Nicole M. , Biteen Julie S.
Published: November 2014

Gut microbes play a key role in human health and nutrition by catabolizing a wide variety of glycans via enzymatic activities that are not encoded in the human genome. The ability to recognize and process carbohydrates strongly influences the structure of the gut microbial community. While the effects of diet on the microbiota are well documented, little is known about the molecular processes driving metabolism. To provide mechanistic insight into carbohydrate catabolism in gut symbionts, we studied starch processing in real time in the model
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
starch utilization system (Sus) by single-molecule fluorescence. Although previous studies have explored Sus protein structure and function, the transient interactions, assembly, and collaboration of these outer membrane proteins have not yet been elucidated in live cells. Our live-cell superresolution imaging reveals that the polymeric starch substrate dynamically recruits Sus proteins, serving as an external scaffold for bacterial membrane assembly of the Sus complex, which may promote efficient capturing and degradation of starch. Furthermore, by simultaneously localizing multiple Sus outer membrane proteins on the
B. thetaiotaomicron
cell surface, we have characterized the dynamics and stoichiometry of starch-induced Sus complex assembly on the molecular scale. Finally, based on Sus protein knockout strains, we have discerned the mechanism of starch-induced Sus complex assembly in live anaerobic cells with nanometer-scale resolution. Our insights into the starch-induced outer membrane protein assembly central to this conserved nutrient uptake mechanism pave the way for the development of dietary or pharmaceutical therapies to control
Bacteroidetes
in the intestinal tract to enhance human health and treat disease.

IMPORTANCE
In this study, we used nanometer-scale superresolution imaging to reveal dynamic interactions between the proteins involved in starch processing by the prominent human gut symbiont
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
in real time in live cells. These results represent the first working model of starch utilization system (Sus) complex assembly and function during glycan catabolism and are likely to describe aspects of how other Sus-like systems function in human gut
Bacteroidetes
. Our results provide unique mechanistic insights into a glycan catabolism strategy that is prevalent within the human gut microbial community. Proper understanding of this conserved nutrient uptake mechanism is essential for the development of dietary or pharmaceutical therapies to control intestinal tract microbial populations, to enhance human health, and to treat disease.
Recurrent gallstone ileus: beware of the faceted stone
Authors: Gandamihardja Tasha A K , Kibria Shah M G
Published: November 2014

A 73-year-old man with gallstone disease was admitted with right upper quadrant abdominal pain. He was treated for cholecystitis with intravenous antibiotics. Two days later, he reported of new onset left iliac fossa pain, with tenderness and guarding. An abdominal X-ray demonstrated small bowel obstruction, a CT scan demonstrated an impacted gallstone within the proximal ileum. He was treated for a gallstone ileum and underwent an uncomplicated laparotomy, small bowel enterotomy and removal of a faceted gallstone. Three months later, the patient re-presented with generalised abdominal pain, guarding and rebound tenderness. Small bowel obstruction was again demonstrated with an impacted gallstone within the distal ileum seen on CT scan. A second laparotomy revealed two further faceted gallstones, which were removed through an enterotomy. The densely adherent gallbladder to the duodenum precluded a surgical repair of the cholecystoduodenal fistula. He made an uneventful recovery and was subsequently discharged home.
Retrospective case review of missed opportunities for primary prevention of stroke and TIA in primary care: protocol paper
Authors: Moran Grace M , Calvert Melanie , Feltham Max G , Marshall Tom
Published: November 2014

Introduction

Stroke is a major health problem and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is an important risk factor for stroke. Primary prevention of stroke and TIA will have the greatest impact on reducing the burden of these conditions. Evidence-based guidelines for stroke/TIA prevention identify individuals eligible for preventative interventions in primary care. This study will investigate: (1) the proportion of strokes/TIAs with prior missed opportunities for prevention in primary care; (2) the influence of patient characteristics on missed prevention opportunities and (3) how the proportion of missed prevention opportunities has changed over time.

Methods and analysis

A retrospective case review will identify first-ever stroke and patients with TIA between 2000 and 2013 using anonymised electronic medical records extracted from the health improvement network (THIN) database. Four categories of missed opportunities for stroke/TIA prevention will be sought: untreated high blood pressure in patients eligible for treatment (either blood pressure ≥160/100 or ≥140/90 mm Hg in patients at high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk); patients with atrial fibrillation with high stroke risk and no anticoagulant therapy; no lipid modifying drug therapy prescribed in patients at high CVD risk or with familial hypercholesterolaemia. The proportion of patients with each missed opportunity and multiple missed opportunities will be calculated. Mixed effect logistic regression will model the relationship between demographic and patient characteristics and missed opportunities for care; practice will be included as a random effect.

Ethics and dissemination

THIN data collection was approved by the NHS South East Multi-centre Research Ethics Committee (MREC) in 2003. This study was approved by the independent scientific review committee in May 2013. Dissemination of findings has the potential to change practice, improve the quality of care provided to patients and ultimately reduce the incidence of strokes and TIAs. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated at national and international conferences.
Analytical solution for radial consolidation considering soil structure characteristics
Authors: Rujikiatkamjorn Cholachat , Indraratna Buddhima
Published: November 2014

A system of surcharge load combined with vertical drains to speed up consolidation of soft soil by reducing the drainage path is one of the most efficient and economical ground improvement techniques. In the field, conventional theories including smear zone have been commonly employed to predict the radial consolidation behaviour induced by vertical drains in soft clay. One of the key parameters in conventional analysis is the use of mean coefficient of volume compressibility and soil permeability, which are often assumed to be constant. The effect of drain installation on the soil compressibility of the in situ clay structure is often ignored. Laboratory testing has shown that the soil compressibility and permeability can vary nonlinearly over a considerable range of applied surcharge pressure, and both these properties can be affected during the drain installation. This study presents a mathematical model of radial consolidation via vertical drains incorporating the variations of soil compressibility and permeability as well as highlighting the effects of drain installation on those parameters. The main differences between the proposed and conventional models are elucidated, in terms of stress history and preloading (surcharge) pressure. The effects of preconsolidation pressure and the magnitude of applied preloading are examined through the dissipation of average excess pore pressure and associated settlement. Supported by experimental observations, the proposed theory is validated with field data of a selected case study in the town of Ballina, New South Wales, Australia.
Consequences for ectomycorrhizal fungi of the selective loss or gain of pine across landscapes
Authors: Karst Justine , Randall Morgan J. , Gehring Catherine A.
Published: November 2014

Altered disturbance regimes and novel introductions are causing rapid shifts in the distribution of pines (Pinus L.). The functionally obligate symbiosis between pines and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi dictates that shifts in the distribution of one partner will affect the distribution of the other. In this review, we examine evidence for three hypotheses. (1) The loss of photosynthates through stress or tree mortality decreases the abundance of EM fungi and selects for less carbon-demanding species. (2) Pine introductions initiate establishment of novel EM fungal communities. (3) The extent of shifts in EM fungal abundance and community composition is mediated by surrounding vegetation. We find support for these hypotheses though changes in EM fungal abundance are variable and context-dependent. We posit that the consequences of shifts in EM fungal abundance and community composition extend beyond the individual tree to the landscape; these changes may affect population dynamics of both symbionts, ecosystem processes, and the conservation and evolution of fungi. In addition to conducting baseline surveys to assess the distribution of EM fungi, increasing our understanding of their function, morphology, propagation, and controls on host-specificity, and shifts would also assist in predicting the trajectory of ecosystems following the loss or gain of pine.
Efficient Mining of Robust Closed Weighted Sequential Patterns Without Information Loss
Authors: Yun Unil , Pyun Gwangbum , Yoon Eunchul
Published: November 2014

Sequential pattern mining has become one of the most important topics in data mining. It has broad applications such as analyzing customer purchase data, Web access patterns, network traffic data, DNA sequencing, and so on. Previous studies have concentrated on reducing redundant patterns among the sequential patterns, and on finding meaningful patterns from huge datasets. In sequential pattern mining, closed sequential pattern mining and weighted sequential pattern mining are the two main approaches to perform mining tasks. This is because closed sequential pattern mining finds representative sequential patterns which show exactly the same knowledge as the complete set of frequent sequential patterns, and weight-based sequential pattern mining discovers important sequential patterns by considering the importance of each sequential pattern. In this paper, we study the problem of mining robust closed weighted sequential patterns by integrating two paradigms from large sequence databases. We first show that the joining order between the weight constraints and the closure property in sequential pattern mining leads to different sets of results. From our analysis of joining orders, we suggest robust closed weighted sequential pattern mining without information loss, and present how to discover representative important sequential patterns without information loss. Through performance tests, we show that our approach gives high performance in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, memory usage, and scalability.
Generalized uncertainty principle: Approaches and applications
Authors: Tawfik A. , Diab A.
Published: November 2014

In this paper, we review some highlights from the String theory, the black hole physics and the doubly special relativity and some thought experiments which were suggested to probe the shortest distances and/or maximum momentum at the Planck scale. Furthermore, all models developed in order to implement the minimal length scale and/or the maximum momentum in different physical systems are analyzed and compared. They entered the literature as the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) assuming modified dispersion relation, and therefore are allowed for a wide range of applications in estimating, for example, the inflationary parameters, Lorentz invariance violation, black hole thermodynamics, Saleker–Wigner inequalities, entropic nature of gravitational laws, Friedmann equations, minimal time measurement and thermodynamics of the high-energy collisions. One of the higher-order GUP approaches gives predictions for the minimal length uncertainty. A second one predicts a maximum momentum and a minimal length uncertainty, simultaneously. An extensive comparison between the different GUP approaches is summarized. We also discuss the GUP impacts on the equivalence principles including the universality of the gravitational redshift and the free fall and law of reciprocal action and on the kinetic energy of composite system. The existence of a minimal length and a maximum momentum accuracy is preferred by various physical observations. The concern about the compatibility with the equivalence principles, the universality of gravitational redshift and the free fall and law of reciprocal action should be addressed. We conclude that the value of the GUP parameters remain a puzzle to be verified.
Junctionless Tunnel Field Effect Transistor with Nonuniform Doping
Authors: Goswami Yogesh , Asthana Pranav , Basak Shibir , Ghosh Bahniman
Published: November 2014

In this paper, the dc performance of a double gate Junctionless Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (DG-JLTFET) has been further enhanced with the implementation of double sided nonuniform Gaussian doping in the channel. The device has been simulated for different channel materials such as Si and various III-V compounds like Gallium Arsenide, Aluminium Indium Arsenide and Aluminium Indium Antimonide. It is shown that Gaussian doped channel Junctionless Tunnel Field Effect Transistor purveys higher ION/IOFF ratio, lower threshold voltage and sub-threshold slope and also offers better short channel performance as compared to JLTFET with uniformly doped channel.
Introduction
Authors: Gaskin J. A. , Smith I. S. , Jones W. V.
Published: November 2014

In 1783, the Montgolfier brothers ushered in a new era of transportation and exploration when they used hot air to drive an un-tethered balloon to an altitude of ~2 km. Made of sackcloth and held together with cords, this balloon challenged the way we thought about human travel, and it has since evolved into a robust platform for performing novel science and testing new technologies. Today, high-altitude balloons regularly reach altitudes of 40 km, and they can support payloads that weigh more than 3000 kg. Long-duration balloons can currently support mission durations lasting ~55 days, and developing balloon technologies (i.e. Super-Pressure Balloons) are expected to extend that duration to 100 days or longer; competing with satellite payloads. This relatively inexpensive platform supports a broad range of science payloads, spanning multiple disciplines (astrophysics, heliophysics, planetary and earth science). Applications extending beyond traditional science include testing new technologies for eventual space-based application and stratospheric airships for planetary applications.
Spectral Method for Solving the Nonlinear Thomas-Fermi Equation Based on Exponential Functions
Authors: Jovanovic Raka , Kais Sabre , Alharbi Fahhad H.
Published: November 2014

We present an efficient spectral methods solver for the Thomas-Fermi equation for neutral atoms in a semi-infinite domain. The ordinary differential equation has been solved by applying a spectral method using an exponential basis set. One of the main advantages of this approach, when compared to other relevant applications of spectral methods, is that the underlying integrals can be solved analytically and numerical integration can be avoided. The nonlinear algebraic system of equations that is derived using this method is solved using a minimization approach. The presented method has shown robustness in the sense that it can find high precision solution for a wide range of parameters that define the basis set. In our test, we show that the new approach can achieve a very high rate of convergence using a small number of bases elements. We also present a comparison of recently published results for this problem using spectral methods based on several different basis sets. The comparison shows that our method is highly competitive and in many aspects outperforms the previous work.
Investigations of the Biological Effects of Airborne and Inhalable Substances by Cell-Based In Vitro Methods: Fundamental Improvements to the ALI Concept
Authors: Ritter Detlef , Knebel Jan
Published: November 2014

The state of the art for cell-based in vitro investigations of airborne and inhalable material is “air-liquid interface” (ALI) technology. Cell lines, primary cells, complex 3D models, or precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) are used to represent the lung or skin by way of an in vitro barrier model. These models have been applied in toxicity or pharmacological testing. However, contrasting with a clear demand for alternative methods, there is still no widely accepted procedure for cell-based in vitro testing of inhalable substances. In the light of this, an analysis was undertaken of common drawbacks of current approaches. Hence, the pivotal improvements aimed at were the cellular exposure environment, overall performance and applicability, operability of online investigations during exposure and routine setup. It resulted in an improved device (P.R.I.T. ExpoCube) based on an “all-in-one-plate” concept including all phases of the experiment (cell culture, exposure, and read-out) and all experimental groups (two test gas groups, controls) in one single commercial multiwell plate. Verification of the concept was demonstrated in a first experimental series using reference substances (formaldehyde, ozone, and clean air). The resulting ALI procedure enables the application of inhalable substances and mixtures under highly effective exposure conditions in routine utilization.
Thymic Carcinoma Presenting as Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Authors: Siricilla Mamatha , Memon Jawairia , Avery Robert
Published: November 2014

Thymomas and thymic carcinomas are rare tumors, which originate from the epithelial cells of the thymus. We present a case of thymic carcinoma, which presented with DIC as an initial manifestation. DIC improved with corticosteroid treatment and thymic carcinoma was amendable to chemoradiation.
Emerging Roles of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplementation in Human Diseases
Authors: Tamanna Nahid , Mahmood Niaz
Published: November 2014

The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), namely, valine, leucine, and isoleucine, are indispensable amino acids required for body protein synthesis. Unlike other amino acids, the BCAAs are primarily catabolised in the extrahepatic tissues. The BCAAs play role in regulation of protein synthesis and turnover as well as maintenance of the body glutamate-glutamine level. In strenuous and traumatic conditions, the BCAAs are oxidized which limits their availability in tissues. Such condition affects the body glutamate-glutamine pool and protein synthesis mechanisms. Thus BCCA supplementation is emerging as a nutritional strategy for treating many diseases. Many studies have found that BCAA administration is able to improve the health status of the patients suffering from different diseases even though there are conditions where they do not exert any effect. There are also some reports where elevated BCAAs have been shown to be associated with the pathogenesis of diseases. In this review, we have discussed the implication of BCAA supplementation in different pathological conditions and their relevant outcomes.
Major Cognitive Changes and Micrographia following Globus Pallidus Infarct
Authors: Nelson Sarah , Toma Hassanain , LaMonica Haley , Chabrashvili Tinatin
Published: November 2014

Importance. Globus pallidus (GP) lesions are well known to cause motor deficits but are less commonly—and perhaps not conclusively—associated with cognitive problems.Observations. We present a 45-year-old male with no significant neurological or psychological problems who after suffering a GP infarct was subsequently found to have substantial cognitive problems and micrographia. Formal neuropsychological testing was not possible due to lack of patient follow-up.Conclusions and Relevance. Despite the conflicting literature on the association of GP lesions and cognitive deficits, our patient demonstrated significant neuropsychological changes following his stroke. In addition, evidence of micrographia likely adds to the literature on the localization of this finding. Our case thus suggests that neuropsychological testing may be beneficial after GP strokes.