bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contested Ecologies: Gender, Genies, and Agricultural Knowledge in Zanzibar
Authors: Dean Erin
Published: December 2013

In the village of Jongowe in the Zanzibar archipelago, women are the guardians of extensive agricultural knowledge. Yet male authority circumscribes this feminine sphere in the form of ritual and scientific “experts.” Annual planting is dependent on the advice and goodwill of genies, spiritual beings who are ritually summoned, celebrated in song and dance (ngoma), and formally consulted by elder male ritual leaders. At the same time, a male government extension agent has introduced agricultural extension programs that bring new planting calendars, farming techniques, and seed varieties to the village. Through these male ritual and scientific authority figures, ecological knowledge in the village is controlled, classified, and contested. However, recent challenges to local land use have cast new light on the ordering of agricultural knowledge. I suggest that although the control of knowledge and resources in Jongowe may be most obviously understood through an idiom of gender, the most important epistemological distinctions in this community may lie elsewhere.
Land Degradation, Faith‐Based Organizations, and Sustainability in Senegal
Authors: Cochrane Laura L.
Published: December 2013

Over the past one hundred years, Senegal has experienced repeated droughts and shifting economic and agricultural policies that have contributed to long‐term land degradation in a once‐productive agricultural region. Faith‐based organizations have become prominent in community‐level projects that are working to rebuild Senegal's rural agriculture and work toward environmental sustainability. Through ethnographic interviews with religious leaders and project managers, this article highlights Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant organizations that are involved in environmental and economic development efforts across central Senegal. Local faith‐based organizations are effective in this work because they are integral parts of communities, they share communities' faith‐based motivations for development work, and they have long‐term strategies for sustainability that involve individuals, communities, and their natural environment.
HEMA‐induced cytotoxicity: oxidative stress, genotoxicity and apoptosis
Authors: Gallorini M. , Cataldi A. , di Giacomo V.
Published: December 2013

Dental resin composites consist of organic polymers with inorganic fillers used as bonding resins and direct filling materials in dentine adhesives and as sealing agents for inlays, crowns and orthodontic brackets. Despite various modifications in the formulation, the chemical composition of composite resins includes inorganic filler particles and additives, which are incorporated into a mixture of an organic resin matrix. Among them, 2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) is one of the most frequently used. Several studies have attempted to clarify the mechanisms underlying HEMA cytotoxicity. Most of them support the hypothesis that this compound, once released in the oral environment, increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative DNA damage through double‐strand breaks evidenced by in vitro presence of micronuclei. As a consequence, the glutathione detoxifying intracellular pool forms adducts with HEMA through its cysteine motif and inflammation begins to occur: transcription of early genes of inflammation such as tumour necrosis factor α or inducible cyclooxygenase up to the secretion of prostaglandins 2. These phenomena are counteracted by N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), a nonenzymatic antioxidant, but not by vitamin E or other antioxidant. Consequently, NAC prevents HEMA‐induced apoptosis acting as a direct ROS scavenger. This minireview collects the most significant papers on HEMA and tries to make an overview of its cytotoxicity on different cell types and experimental models.
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Does Not Promote Neurogenesis after Experimental Intracerebral Haemorrhage
Authors: Kallmünzer Bernd , Tauchi Miyuki , Schlachetzki Johannes C. , Machold Kristin , Schmidt Ariana , Winkler Jürgen , Schwab Stefan , Kollmar Rainer
Published: December 2013

Background

Hematopoietic growth factors have been suggested to induce neuroprotective and regenerative effects in various animal models of cerebral injury. However, the pathways involved remain widely unexplored.

Aims

This study aimed to investigate effects of local and systemic administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on brain damage, functional recovery, and cerebral neurogenesis in an intracerebral haemorrhage whole blood injection model in rats.

Methods

Eight-week-old male Wistar rats ( n = 100) underwent induction of striatal intracerebral haemorrhage by autologous whole blood injection or sham procedure and were randomly assigned to either (a) systemic treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (60 μg/kg) for five-days; (b) single intracerebral injection of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (60 μg/kg) into the cavity; or (c) application of vehicle for five-days. Bromodeoxyuridine-labelling and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze proliferation and survival of newly born cells in the sub-ventricular zone and the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Moreover, functional deficits and lesion volume were assessed until day 42 after intracerebral haemorrhage.

Results

Differences in lesion size or hemispheric atrophy between granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-treated and control groups did not reach statistical significance. Neither systemic, nor local granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration induced neurogenesis within the dentate gyrus or the sub-ventricular zone. The survival of newborn cells in these regions was prevented by intracerebral granulocyte colony-stimulating factor application. A subtle benefit in functional recovery at day 14 after intracerebral haemorrhage induction was observed after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment.

Conclusion

There was a lack of neuroprotective or neuroregenerative effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the present rodent model of intracerebral haemorrhage. Conflicting results from functional outcome assessment require further research.
Differences in Lipid Profiles in Two Hispanic Ischemic Stroke Populations
Authors: Arauz A , Romano J. G. , Ruiz-Franco A , Shang T , Dong C. , Rundek T. , Koch S. , Hernández-Curiel B. , Pacheco J. , Rojas P. , Ruiz-Navarro F. , Katsnelson M. , Sacco R. L.
Published: December 2013

Background and Purpose

The study aims to compare lipid profiles among ischemic stroke patients in a predominantly Caribbean-Hispanic population in Miami and a Mestizo Hispanic population in Mexico City.

Methods

We analyzed ischemic stroke Hispanic patients with complete baseline fasting lipid profile enrolled contemporaneously in the prospective registries of two tertiary care teaching hospitals in Mexico City and Miami. Demographic characteristics, risk factors, medications, ischemic stroke subtype, and first fasting lipid profile were compared. Vascular risk factor definitions were standardized. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to compare lipid fractions.

Results

A total of 324 patients from Mexico and 236 from Miami were analyzed. Mexicans were significantly younger (58·1 vs. 67·4 years), had a lower frequency of hypertension (53·4% vs. 79·7%), and lower body mass index (27 vs. 28·5). There was a trend toward greater prevalence of diabetes in Mexicans (31·5 vs. 24·6%, P = 0·07). Statin use at the time of ischemic stroke was more common in Miami Hispanics (18·6 vs. 9·4%). Mexicans had lower total cholesterol levels (169·9 ± 46·1 vs. 179·9 ± 48·4 mg/dl), lower low-density lipoprotein (92·3 ± 37·1 vs. 108·2 ± 40·8 mg/dl), and higher triglyceride levels (166·9 ± 123·9 vs. 149·2 ± 115·2 mg/dl). These differences remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, body mass index, smoking, ischemic stroke subtype, and statin use.

Conclusion

We found significant differences in lipid fractions in Hispanic ischemic stroke patients, with lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, and higher triglyceride levels in Mexicans. These findings highlight the heterogeneity of dyslipidemia among the Hispanic race-ethnic group and may lead to different secondary prevention strategies.
Economic Governance on Trial: High Courts and Elected Leaders in Argentina and Brazil
Authors: Kapiszewski Diana
Published: December 2013

Beginning in the 1980s, social and political actors across Latin America turned to courts in unprecedented numbers to contest economic policies. Very different patterns of high court–elected branch interaction over economic governance emerged across the region, with crucial implications for economic development, democratic governance, and the rule of law. Building on both institutional and strategic accounts of judicial politics, this article argues that high court “character,” a relatively stable congeries of informal institutional features, channels interbranch struggles into persistent patterns. Two case studies illustrate the argument. In Argentina, the high court's political character encouraged a pattern of court submission to elected leaders marked by periodic bouts of interbranch confrontation over economic governance. In Brazil, the high court's statesmanlike character induced interbranch accommodation. This study demonstrates that even in politically unstable settings, institutional features can shape law and politics.
Cumplimiento y cobertura del salario mínimo en países en desarrollo
Authors: RANI Uma , BELSER Patrick , OELZ Martin , RANJBAR Setareh
Published: December 2013

A partir de datos estadísticos, los autores analizan la cobertura del salario mínimo en once países en desarrollo, su grado de incumplimiento y la brecha salarial derivada de este, tanto para trabajadores formales como informales. Observan que los países con salario mínimo nacional (aun a buen nivel en relación con la mediana salarial) obtienen mejor cumplimiento que aquellos con salarios mínimos múltiples por ocupación y sector. Abogan además por políticas amplias de sensibilización y control con participación de los interlocutores sociales a fin de afrontar la brecha superior que afecta a las mujeres, los grupos étnicos y los trabajadores no calificados e informales.
Pagos salariales no declarados en la Unión Europea
Authors: WILLIAMS Colin C. , PADMORE Jo
Published: December 2013

El presente artículo proporciona datos empíricos sobre la frecuencia de los pagos salariales no declarados en contextos formales. Según datos procedentes de 26.659 entrevistas personales realizadas en 2007, uno de cada dieciocho trabajadores formales recibe de su empleador formal una remuneración en mano que asciende por término medio al 25 por ciento de su salario bruto. La práctica existe en toda Europa, pero parece más o menos frecuente en función del país, el sector de actividad, la categoría profesional y el tamaño de la empresa. Los autores concluyen reflexionando sobre las implicaciones teóricas y políticas de sus hallazgos.
Elección del tipo de empleo y movilidad en mercados plurisegmentados: un modelo teórico aplicado a Ghana
Authors: TAIWO Olumide
Published: December 2013

Con datos sobre empleo masculino procedentes de una encuesta de hogares de Ghana, el autor comprueba empíricamente un modelo teórico que contempla la segmentación del mercado en un sector asalariado (fundamentalmente formal), otro independiente y otro familiar (fundamentalmente informales), así como la dependencia del capital familiar para la actividad independiente. Los datos muestran muy poca movilidad entre los sectores (mayor entre los trabajadores familiares y menor entre los independientes). Según los resultados, el ingreso asalariado no proporciona liquidez para la actividad independiente, y a este freno a la movilidad se suman las dificultades de transferencia de competencias entre los sectores.
Economic Growth and Inflation in Europe: A Tale of Two Thresholds
Authors: Crespo Cuaresma Jesús , Silgoner Maria
Published: December 2013

This article reassesses the impact of inflation on long‐term growth for a panel of 14 European Union countries in the years prior to monetary unification. While previous research mostly focuses on a linear nexus or allows for a piecewise linear relationship with a single threshold, this study takes account of a more complex relationship. The empirical estimates for the full EU sample confirm the hypothesis that the relationship between inflation and growth is positive for very low inflation rates (that is, below an estimate of 1.6 per cent), insignificant thereafter and negative for high, two‐digit inflation levels. The estimate of the inflation level that divides the insignificant from the negative effect is found to be higher in the group of traditional cohesion countries than for the rest of the sample.
Sex‐specific responses of Asian citrus psyllid to volatiles of conspecific and host‐plant origin
Authors: Moghbeli Gharaei A. , Ziaaddini M. , Jalali M. A. , Michaud J. P.
Published: December 2013

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is the primary vector of Candidatus Liberibacter spp. bacteria that cause citrus greening, a disease of worldwide importance. Olfactometry was employed to test responses of D. citri to odours from intact citrus plants (Mexican lime, Citrus aurantifolia, sour orange, Citrus aurantium, Marsh grapefruit, Citrus paradisi and Valencia orange, Citrus sinensis), citrus plants previously infested with D. citri, and odours of conspecifics including nymphs, adult insects of same and opposite sex, and their products (honeydew), both alone and in combination. In contrast to other studies, psyllids of both sexes were attracted to volatiles of undamaged Mexican lime leaves, whereas undamaged grapefruit attracted only females, and leaves of Valencia and sour orange did not attract either sex. All four plant species attracted female psyllids when previously infested, but only Mexican lime and sour orange‐attracted males. Thus, Citrus species appear to vary in the production of both constituitive and induced volatiles that attract adult psyllids. Volatiles emitted by nymphs did not attract either sex, but psyllid honeydew was attractive to males, likely due to female pheromone residues. Males oriented to the odour of females, whereas the reverse was not true, and neither males nor females oriented to same‐sex volatiles. The addition of conspecific cues (adults, nymphs or honeydew) did not increase female attraction to previously infested leaves, but male response was increased by the presence of adults and honeydew, regardless of plant species. Thus, female psyllids appear to orient more strongly to volatiles of plant origin, whereas males respond more strongly to cues emanating from females and conspecific excretions. These results suggest that female psyllids drive the initial colonization of host plants, whereas males orient to females and infested plants. Identification of the specific volatiles involved may permit their use in monitoring and management of this pest.
A Patient‐Focused Framework Integrating Self‐Management and Informatics
Authors: Knight Elizabeth P. , Shea Kimberly
Published: December 2013

Purpose

This article introduces a framework to (a) guide chronic illness self‐management interventions through the integration of self‐management and nursing informatics, (b) focus self‐management research, and (c) promote ethical, patient‐empowering technology use by practicing nurses.

Methods

Existing theory and research focusing on chronic illness, self‐management, health‐enabling technology, and nursing informatics were reviewed and examined and key concepts were identified. A care paradigm focusing on concordance, rather than compliance, served as the overall guiding principle.

Findings

This framework identifies key relationships among self‐management (patient behaviors), health force (patient characteristics), and patient‐defined goals. The role of health‐enabling technology supporting these relationships is explored in the context of nursing informatics.

Conclusions

The Empowerment Informatics framework can guide intervention design and evaluation and support practicing nurses’ ethical use of technology as part of self‐management support.

Clinical Relevance

Nurses worldwide provide support to patients who are living with chronic illnesses. As pressures related to cost and access to care increase, technology‐enabled self‐management interventions will become increasingly common. This patient‐focused framework can guide nursing practice using technology that prioritizes patient needs.
Directed dispersal by rotational shepherding supports landscape genetic connectivity in a calcareous grassland plant
Authors: Rico Yessica , Holderegger Rolf , Boehmer Hans Juergen , Wagner Helene H.
Published: December 2013

Directed dispersal by animal vectors has been found to have large effects on the structure and dynamics of plant populations adapted to frugivory. Yet, empirical data are lacking on the potential of directed dispersal by rotational grazing of domestic animals to mediate gene flow across the landscape. Here, we investigated the potential effect of large‐flock shepherding on landscape‐scale genetic structure in the calcareous grassland plant Dianthus carthusianorum, whose seeds lack morphological adaptations to dispersal to animals or wind. We found a significant pattern of genetic structure differentiating population within grazed patches of three nonoverlapping shepherding systems and populations of ungrazed patches. Among ungrazed patches, we found a strong and significant effect of isolation by distance (r = 0.56). In contrast, genetic distance between grazed patches within the same herding system was unrelated to geographical distance but significantly related to distance along shepherding routes (r = 0.44). This latter effect of connectivity along shepherding routes suggests that gene flow is spatially restricted occurring mostly between adjacent populations. While this study used nuclear markers that integrate gene flow by pollen and seed, the significant difference in the genetic structure between ungrazed patches and patches connected by large‐flock shepherding indicates the potential of directed seed dispersal by sheep across the landscape.
Dysfunctional endogenous pain modulation in patients with functional dyspepsia
Authors: Wilder‐Smith C. H. , Li X. , Shen L. , Cao Y. , Ho K. Y. , Wong R. K.
Published: December 2013

Background

Endogenous pain modulation (EPM) is central to the processing of sensory information. Visceral and somatic EPM are abnormal in irritable bowel syndrome, but have not been studied in functional dyspepsia (FD).

Methods

Visceral EPM was assessed in 34 FD patients and 42 healthy controls. Gastric pain was induced with oral capsaicin and EPM was studied by adding heterotopic thermal foot stimulation or distraction by STROOP test. Somatic EPM was assessed using foot heat stimulation with heterotopic hand electrical stimulation.

Key Results

Endogenous pain modulation by distraction reduced mean gastric pain by 11.9 on the 0–100 visual analog scale (95% CI: 3.8–20.1) in controls (p = 0.006) and by 2.0 (−6.18 to 10.44) in FD (p = 0.6), with greater EPM in controls than in FD (difference −13.3 [−26.1 to −0.5]; p = 0.04). Endogenous pain modulation by heterotopic foot stimulation reduced gastric pain by 6.5 (−0.7 to 13.6) in controls (p = 0.07) and by 7.1 (−2.29 to 16.47) in FD (p = 0.1), with no significant difference in EPM between controls and FD (−2.0 [−14.5 to 10.5]; p = 0.75). In patients with prominent FD pain, greater pain correlated with decreased visceral EPM by distraction (r = 0.51, p = 0.04). Somatic EPM by heterotopic stimulation significantly decreased foot pain in controls (p = 0.004), but not in FD (p = 0.80).

Conclusions & Inferences

In FD, visceral pain modulation by distraction was dysfunctional compared to controls. Somatic pain modulation was also decreased in FD. These data and the correlation of abnormal pain modulation by distraction with clinical pain in pain‐predominant FD suggest a potential pathophysiological significance of abnormal pain modulation in FD.
Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability on emergence, nodulation and growth of Trifolium medium L. in alkaline soil
Authors: Chmelíková L. , Hejcman M.
Published: December 2013

Little is known about the effects of nutrient availability on the growth of Trifolium medium in alkaline soil. In 2010, a pot experiment (10 N, P and K fertiliser treatments) with seeding of T. medium into alkaline soil was performed and emergence of seedlings, survival, aboveground and belowground organs were studied. The positive effects of increased nutrient availability on seedling emergence ranged from 5% in the control to 17% in the high P treatment. The lowest mortality was in treatments with P and K supply and the highest in treatments with N supply, due to the sensitivity of young plants to high N availability. The highest values of most measured aboveground plant traits were recorded in treatments with simultaneous application of N, P and K. There were highly positive effects of P supply alone or in combination with N and K on the development of belowground organs. Taproot length ranged from 11.5 in high N to 40.2 cm in P treatment. There was a negative effect of N application on nodulation, especially in N treatments, where growth of T. medium was limited by insufficient P supply. The number of nodules per plant ranged from 0.8 to 4.5 in the high N and P treatments. As demonstrated in this study, T. medium is a potentially suitable legume for alkaline soils. It requires a relatively high P and K supply as well as moderate mineral N supply to achieve its maximum growth potential.
HLA phenotypes of candidates for HSCT: comparing transplanted versus non‐transplanted candidates, resulting in the predictive estimation of the probability to find a 10/10 HLA matched donor
Authors: Gourraud P. A. , Balère M. L. , Faucher C. , Loiseau P. , Dormoy A. , Marry E. , Garnier F.
Published: December 2013

In order to study the impact of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism distribution in identifying a matched haematopoietic stem cells unrelated donor (UD), we performed a multi‐centric retrospective analysis with the aim of comparing the HLA‐A, HLA‐B, HLA‐C, HLA‐DRB1 and HLA‐DQB1 phenotypes of 2126 patients (772 patients for whom a donor search failed to identify a matched UD, and 1354 patients who received a 10/10 allele level matched UD). Our results showed that rare HLA‐C is often responsible for difficulty in identifying a donor. This locus may add a degree of complexity to a supposed ‘frequent’ HLA‐A HLA‐B and HLA‐DRB1 phenotype, turning this phenotype into a less frequent one. For example, 32.5% of the phenotypes in the non‐transplanted patients could not be explained by any of the pairs of known HLA‐A, HLA‐B, HLA‐C and HLA‐DRB1 haplotypes while this percentage dropped to less than 2% if combinations of only HLA‐A, HLA‐B and HLA‐DRB1 haplotypes were considered. Such situations can be anticipated by computing an index, based on HLA haplotype frequency, the average registry sample size (ARS). ARS is defined as the inverse of the phenotype frequency computed using all corresponding pairs of haplotype frequencies. ARS confirmed that the most significant difference between transplanted and non‐transplanted patients was correlated with the introduction of the locus HLA‐C in the analysis (median: 8.3e + 4 vs 3.1e + 6, P < 0.0001). The higher the ARS the lower the likelihood of finding a 10/10 match UD reflecting the rareness of the patient's HLA. The area under receiver operator characteristics (AUROC) values of the ARS computation for HLA‐A, HLA‐B and HLA‐DRB1 was 0.82 (0.80; 0.84) at a low‐resolution level (two digits). Overall, our study promotes the use of haplotype frequency‐based computations to develop computer‐assisted donor search.
Genetic polymorphism in IFNL4 and response to pegylated interferon‐α and ribavirin in Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients
Authors: Nozawa Y. , Umemura T. , Katsuyama Y. , Shibata S. , Kimura T. , Morita S. , Joshita S. , Komatsu M. , Matsumoto A. , Yoshizawa K. , Ota M. , Tanaka E.
Published: December 2013

A genetic polymorphism of the newly discovered interferon‐λ 4 (IFNL4) gene was associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance in individuals of African ancestry. To assess whether a dinucleotide variant of IFNL4 (ss469415590) also affected treatment outcome of antiviral therapy in Japan, we genotyped 213 patients with chronic genotype 1 HCV infection and 176 healthy subjects. The ΔG allele was associated with treatment failure [odds ratio (OR) 4.73, P = 0.019], as was the IFL3 rs8099917 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (OR 5.06, P = 0.068). The correlation between ss469415590 and rs8099917 was high (r2 = 0.92, D′ = 0.98). Multivariate analysis revealed that the rs8099917 SNP was independently associated with treatment failure (OR 5.28, P = 0.009). Therefore, ss469415590 may be another predictive marker of antiviral therapy outcome in the Japanese population.
Group‐specific amplification of HLA‐DQA1 revealed a number of genomic full‐length sequences including the novel HLA alleles DQA1*01:10 and DQA1*01:11
Authors: Witter K. , Halliwell J. A. , Mautner J. , Jolesch A. , von Welser G. , Rampp I. , Spannagl M. , Kauke T. , Dick A.
Published: December 2013

In this article, we describe a subgroup‐specific amplification assay for HLA‐DQA1 that encompasses the whole coding region and allows us to sequence full‐length HLA‐DQA1 genes. We introduce the novel alleles HLA‐DQA1*01:10 and HLA‐DQA1*01:11. Moreover, we were able to confirm the full‐length genomic sequence data of the alleles HLA‐DQA1*01:07, HLA‐DQA1*03:01:01, HLA‐DQA1*03:02, HLA‐DQA1*04:01:02, HLA‐DQA1*04:02, HLA‐DQA1*05:03, HLA‐DQA1*05:05:01:02 and HLA‐DQA1*06:01:01. A complete genomic overview of all six HLA‐DQA1 allele groups is now available from the submission of our data to the IMGT/HLA database. Because our approach facilitates the analysis of all HLA‐DQA1 allele sequences, HLA‐DQA1 may become the first HLA locus from which all subgroup members will be known in detail in the near future.
Experiments by nature: lessons on type 1 diabetes
Authors: Battaglia M.
Published: December 2013

The etiology and pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) – one of the most frequent chronic, life‐debilitating diseases in humans – have long fascinated endocrinologists, pathologists and biologists alike. Currently conventional wisdom portrays T1D as a chronic T cell‐mediated autoimmune disease that leads to the specific destruction of pancreatic insulin‐producing β cells. The process of β cell destruction is accompanied (or preceded) by the production of autoantibodies (autoAb) to β cell antigens (i.e. insulin, GAD65, IA‐2 and ZnT8). These autoAb have proved to be instrumental in identifying subjects at risk of developing the disease prior to overt hyperglycemia, and they help to distinguish T1D from T2D patients (who have no autoAb), but are not deemed to be pathogenic. This review will examine to which extent this well‐established disease‐dogmas are sustained by experiments by nature, which should not suffer from the common biases and errors of experiments by humans.
A Nonclassical Model for Circular Mindlin Plates Based on a Modified Couple Stress Theory
Authors: Zhou S.-S. , Gao X.-L.
Published: December 2013

A nonclassical model for circular Mindlin plates subjected to axisymmetric loading is developed using a modified couple stress theory. The equations of motion and boundary conditions are simultaneously obtained through a variational formulation based on Hamilton's principle. The new model contains a material length scale parameter and can capture the size effect, unlike existing circular Mindlin plate models based on classical elasticity. In addition, both the stretching and bending of the plate are considered in the formulation. The current plate model reduces to the classical elasticity-based Mindlin plate model when the material length scale parameter is set to be zero. Additionally, the new circular Mindlin plate model recovers the circular Kirchhoff plate model as a special case. To illustrate the new model, the static bending problem of a clamped solid circular Mindlin plate subjected to an axisymmetrically distributed normal pressure is analytically solved by directly applying the new model and using the Fourier–Bessel series. The numerical results show that the deflection and rotation angle predicted by the new model are smaller than those predicted by the classical Mindlin plate model. It is further seen that the differences between the two sets of predicted values are significantly large when the plate thickness is small, but they are diminishing with the increase of the plate thickness.
Novel method for the prediction of an interface bonding species at alumina/metal interfaces
Authors: Yoshitake Michiko , Yagyu Shinjiro , Chikyow Toyohiro
Published: December 2013

Interface bonding between alumina and various metals is discussed from the viewpoint of chemical thermodynamics. A method to predict the interface bonding species at an alumina/metal interface under equilibrium conditions is proposed by using the concept of chemical equilibrium for interface termination. The originality of this method is in the way a simple estimation of the interface binding energy, which is generally applicable to most metals, is developed. The effectiveness of this method is confirmed by careful examination of the experimental results. Comparison of the predicted and experimentally observed interface terminations reveals that the proposed method agrees well with the reported results. The method uses only basic quantities of pure elements and the formation enthalpy of oxides. Therefore, it can be applied to most metals in the periodic table and is useful for screening materials in the quest to develop interfaces with particular functions.
Properties of HfLaO MOS capacitor deposited on SOI with plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition
Authors: Wan Wenyan , Cheng Xinhong , Cao Duo , Zheng Li , Xu Dawei , Wang Zhongjian , Xia Chao , Shen Lingyan , Yu Yuehui , Shen DaShen
Published: December 2013

Amorphous HfLaO dielectric film was successfully deposited on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate by plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition with in situ plasma treatment. The HfLaO film retained its insulating characteristics and is thermally stable even after annealing at 800 °C. The film has a dielectric constant of 27.3 and leakage of only 0.03 mA/cm2 at a gate bias of |Vg − Vfb| = 1 V. The capacitance equivalent oxide thickness is 0.7 nm. A new parallel electrode testing structure was applied to measure C–V and J–V characteristics for the SOI samples. This testing method for metal–oxide–semiconductor capacitors has potential uses for measuring other layered substrates.
Epistemology in the Time of Cholera
Knowledge in the Time of Cholera
The Struggle over American Medicine in the Nineteenth Century

by Owen Whooley

University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2013. 321 pp. $90. ISBN 9780226017464. Paper, $30, £21. ISBN 9780226017631.
Authors: Warner John Harley
Published: December 2013

Through his consideration of responses to 19th-century cholera outbreaks in the United States, Whooley explores interplay among science, medicine, and society.
U.S. Budget Deal Offers Researchers Some Sequester Relief
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey , Malakoff David
Published: December 2013

A 2-year budget agreement pushes back the threat of sequestration, but leaves scientists still wondering how much money the U.S. government will spend this year on research.
Amid Superconductor Debate, Clash of Physics Titans Resumes
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: December 2013

Rekindling an old feud, a Nobel laureate argues that most physicists' basic assumptions about the origins of high-temperature superconductivity are wrong.
Development of Two Antibody Detection Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays for Serodiagnosis of Human Chronic Fascioliasis
Authors: Cabán-Hernández Kimberly , Gaudier José F. , Ruiz-Jiménez Caleb , Espino Ana M.
Published: December 2013

Coprological examination based on egg detection in stool samples is currently used as the gold standard for the diagnosis of human fascioliasis. However, this method is not effective during the acute phase of the disease and has poor sensitivity during the chronic phase. Serodiagnosis has become an excellent alternative to coprological examination in efforts to combat the effects of fascioliasis on human and animal health. Two novel recombinant
Fasciola hepatica
proteins, i.e., a ferritin (FhFtn-1) and a tegument-associated protein (FhTP16.5), were used as antigens to develop in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. The assays were optimized and validated using 152 serum samples from humans with a known infection status, including healthy subjects, patients with chronic fascioliasis, and patients with other parasitic diseases. The FhFtn-1 ELISA was shown to be 96.6% sensitive and 95.7% specific; the respective parameters for the FhTP16.5 ELISA were 91.4% and 92.4%. The performances of the FhFtn-1 and FhTP16.5 ELISAs were compared with that of an available commercial test (the DRG test) using a subset of serum samples. Our in-house tests were slightly more sensitive than the DRG test in detecting antibodies against
F. hepatica
, but the differences were not statistically significant. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence for the potential of the FhFtn-1 and FhTP16.5 ELISAs as diagnostic tools for human fascioliasis, as might be implemented in conjunction with standard assays for large-scale screenings in areas where the disease is endemic and for the detection of occasional cases in clinical laboratories.
Development of a Luminex-Based Multiplex Assay for Detection of Mutations Conferring Resistance to Echinocandins in Candida glabrata
Authors: Pham Cau D. , Bolden Carol B. , Kuykendall Randall J. , Lockhart Shawn R.
Published: December 2013

Echinocandins are the recommended treatment for invasive candidiasis due to
Candida glabrata
. Resistance to echinocandins is known to be caused by nonsynonymous mutations in the hot spot-1 (HS1) regions of the
FKS1
and
FKS2
genes, which encode a subunit of the β-1,3-glucan synthase, the target of echinocandins. Here, we describe the development of a microsphere-based assay using Luminex MagPix technology to identify mutations in the
FKS1
HS1 and
FKS2
HS1 domains, which confer
in vitro
echinocandin resistance in
C. glabrata
isolates. The assay is rapid and can be performed with high throughput. The assay was validated using 102 isolates that had
FKS1
HS1 and
FKS2
HS1 domains previously characterized by DNA sequencing. The assay was 100% concordant with DNA sequencing results. The assay was then used for high-throughput screening of 1,032
C. glabrata
surveillance isolates. Sixteen new isolates with mutations, including a mutation that was new to our collection (del659F), were identified. This assay provides a rapid and cost-effective way to screen
C. glabrata
isolates for echinocandin resistance.
Effect of Microtubule Disruption on Neuronal Spread and Replication of Demyelinating and Nondemyelinating Strains of Mouse Hepatitis Virus
In Vitro
Authors: Biswas Kaushiki , Das Sarma Jayasri
Published: December 2013

The isogenic host attachment spike protein recombinant demyelinating strain of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) (RSA59) and the nondemyelinating strain (RSMHV2) differ in their abilities to infect distinct types of neural cells, spread from cell to cell, and induce subsequent demyelination and axonal loss. The differential demyelination properties of RSA59 and RSMHV2 may be a function of spike protein-mediated neuronal transport. Disruption of microtubules with colchicine and vinblastine significantly blocks neuronal transport and reduces the replication of RSA59, whereas RSMHV2 remains unaffected.
Human Enterovirus 71 Uncoating Captured at Atomic Resolution
Authors: Lyu Ke , Ding Jie , Han Jian-Feng , Zhang Yu , Wu Xiao-Yan , He Ya-Ling , Qin Cheng-Feng , Chen Rong
Published: December 2013

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the major causative agent of severe hand-foot-and-mouth diseases (HFMD) in young children, and structural characterization of EV71 during its life cycle can aid in the development of therapeutics against HFMD. Here, we present the atomic structures of the full virion and an uncoating intermediate of a clinical EV71 C4 strain to illustrate the structural changes in the full virion that lead to the formation of the uncoating intermediate prepared for RNA release. Although the VP1 N-terminal regions observed to penetrate through the junction channel at the quasi-3-fold axis in the uncoating intermediate of coxsackievirus A16 were not observed in the EV71 uncoating intermediate, drastic conformational changes occur in this region, as has been observed in all capsid proteins. Additionally, the RNA genome interacts with the N-terminal extensions of VP1 and residues 32 to 36 of VP3, both of which are situated at the bottom of the junction. These observations highlight the importance of the junction for genome release. Furthermore, EV71 uncoating is associated with apparent rearrangements and expansion around the 2- and 5-fold axes without obvious changes around the 3-fold axes. Therefore, these structures enabled the identification of hot spots for capsid rearrangements, which led to the hypothesis that the protomer interface near the junction and the 2-fold axis permits the opening of large channels for the exit of polypeptides and viral RNA, which is an uncoating mechanism that is likely conserved in enteroviruses.

IMPORTANCE
Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the major causative agent of severe hand-foot-and-mouth diseases (HFMD) in young children. EV71 contains an RNA genome protected by an icosahedral capsid shell. Uncoating is essential in EV71 life cycle, which is characterized by conformational changes in the capsid to facilitate RNA release into host cell. Here we present the atomic structures of the full virion and an uncoating intermediate of a clinical C4 strain of EV71. Structural analysis revealed drastic conformational changes associated with uncoating in all the capsid proteins near the junction at the quasi-3-fold axis and protein-RNA interactions at the bottom of the junction in the uncoating intermediate. Significant capsid rearrangements also occur at the icosahedral 2- and 5-fold axes but not at the 3-fold axis. Taking the results together, we hypothesize that the junction and nearby areas are hot spots for capsid breaches for the exit of polypeptides and viral RNA during uncoating.
Nucleic Acid Chaperone Activity Associated with the Arginine-Rich Domain of Human Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein
Authors: Chu Tien-Hua , Liou An-Ting , Su Pei-Yi , Wu Huey-Nan , Shih Chiaho
Published: December 2013

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA replication occurs within the HBV icosahedral core particles. HBV core protein (HBc) contains an arginine-rich domain (ARD) at its carboxyl terminus. This ARD domain of HBc 149-183 is known to be important for viral replication but not known to have a structure. Recently, nucleocapsid proteins of several viruses have been shown to contain nucleic acid chaperone activity, which can facilitate structural rearrangement of viral genome. Major features of nucleic acid chaperones include highly basic amino acid residues and flexible protein structure. To test the nucleic acid chaperone hypothesis for HBc ARD, we first used the disassembled full-length HBc from
Escherichia coli
to analyze the nucleic acid annealing and strand displacement activities. To exclude the potential contamination of chaperones from
E. coli
, we designed synthetic HBc ARD peptides with different lengths and serine phosphorylations. We demonstrated that HBc ARD peptide can behave like a bona fide nucleic acid chaperone and that the chaperone activity depends on basic residues of the ARD domain. The loss of chaperone activity by arginine-to-alanine substitutions in the ARD can be rescued by restoring basic residues in the ARD. Furthermore, the chaperone activity is subject to regulation by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation at the HBc ARD. Interestingly, the HBc ARD can enhance
in vitro
cleavage activity of RNA substrate by a hammerhead ribozyme. We discuss here the potential significance of the HBc ARD chaperone activity in the context of viral DNA replication, in particular, at the steps of primer translocations and circularization of linear replicative intermediates.

IMPORTANCE
Hepatitis B virus is a major human pathogen. At present, no effective treatment can completely eradicate the virus from patients with chronic hepatitis B. We report here a novel chaperone activity associated with the viral core protein. Our discovery could lead to a new drug design for more effective treatment against hepatitis B virus in the future.
Dispersed and Conserved Hydrophobic Residues of HIV-1 Vif Are Essential for CBFβ Recruitment and A3G Suppression
Authors: Zhou Xiaohong , Han Xue , Zhao Ke , Du Juan , Evans Sean L. , Wang Hong , Li Peng , Zheng Wenwen , Rui Yajuan , Kang Jian , Yu Xiao-Fang
Published: December 2013

CBFβ was recently found to be a key regulator of the ability of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vif to overcome host antiviral APOBEC3 proteins. However, the detailed molecular requirements for the Vif-CBFβ interaction are still not clear. Here, we mapped the minimum Vif domain required for CBFβ binding. In terms of CBFβ binding, the Vif N terminus was very sensitive to deletions. We determined that the Vif fragment from residues 5 to 126 was sufficient to form a stable complex with CBFβ
in vitro
. We also observed that ionic interactions were not the main contributor to the interaction between Vif and CBFβ. Instead, hydrophobic interactions were important for maintaining the Vif-CBFβ complex, since it could be disrupted by nonionic detergent. Site-directed mutagenesis of conserved hydrophobic amino acids revealed novel residues in Vif that were important for CBFβ binding and APOBEC3 inactivation. At least part of the well-characterized HCCH domain (residues 108 to 139) was required to form a stable Vif-CBFβ complex. Thus, the HCCH motif may have a dual role in binding both Cul5 and CBFβ. Considering the importance of Vif in HIV-1 infection, this unique Vif-CBFβ interaction represents an attractive pharmacological intervention target against HIV-1.

IMPORTANCE
Vif-induced APOBEC3 protein degradation was the first host antiviral mechanism against HIV-1/simian immunodeficiency virus to be revealed, yet details regarding which proteins are degraded are not fully demonstrated. Recently, host cellular factor CBFβ was found to be essential for Vif to function and promote viral infectivity. In this study, we present more critical information on the Vif-CBFβ interaction by revealing that hydrophobicity contributes the most to the Vif-CBFβ interaction and locating several novel hydrophobic sites (tryptophans and phenylalanines) that are conserved among Vif proteins from different lentiviruses and essential for Vif binding to CBFβ. Mutations on these sites result in a reduced/abolished Vif-CBFβ interaction, leading to the attenuated potency of Vif on both inducing the degradation of antiviral factors like APOBEC3G and promoting HIV-1 infectivity. Therefore, information from this study will help people to further understand how Vif acts against host antiviral mechanism, which is important for novel anti-HIV-1 drug development.
Incidental findings of elevated random plasma glucose in the ED as a prompt for outpatient diabetes screening: a retrospective study
Authors: Friedman Steven Marc , Vallipuram Janaki , Baswick Brenda
Published: December 2013

Objective

To determine whether random plasma glucose (RPG) collected from patients without known impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) in the emergency department (ED) is a useful screen for diabetes or prediabetes.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

ED of a Canadian teaching hospital over 1 month.

Participants

Adult patients in ED with RPG over 7 mmol/L were recruited for participation. Exclusion criteria included known diabetes, hospital admission and inability to consent. Participants were contacted by mail, encouraged to follow-up with their family physician (FP) for further testing and subsequently interviewed.

Outcome measures

The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients in the ED with RPG over 7 mmol/L and no previous diagnosis of IGM who were diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes after secondary testing by FP with oral glucose tolerance test or fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Secondary outcomes included patient characteristics (age, gender, body mass index and language) and (2) compliance with advice to seek an appropriate follow-up care.

Results

RPG was drawn on approximately one-third (33%, n=1149) of the 3470 patients in the ED in March 2010. RPG over 7 mmol/L was detected in 24% (n=278) of patients, and after first telephone follow-up, 32% (n=88/278) met the inclusion criteria and were advised to seek confirmatory testing. 41% (n=114/278) of patients were excluded for known diabetes. 73% of patients contacted (n=64/88) followed up with their FP. 12.5% (n=11/88) of patients had abnormal FPG, and of these 11% (n=10/88) were encouraged to initiate lifestyle modifications and 1% (n=1/88) was started on an oral hypoglycaemic agent. For 7% (n=6/88) of patients, FP's declined to do follow-up fasting blood work.

Conclusions

Elevated RPG in the ED is useful for identification of patients at risk for IGM and in need of further diabetic screening. Emergency physicians should advise patients with elevated RPG to consider screening for diabetes. For ED screening to be successful, patient education and collaboration with FPs are essential.
Patient safety culture in China: a case study in an outpatient setting in Beijing
Authors: Liu Chaojie , Liu Weiwei , Wang Yuanyuan , Zhang Zhihong , Wang Peng
Published: December 2013

Objectives

To investigate the patient safety culture in an outpatient setting in Beijing and explore the meaning and implications of the safety culture from the perspective of health workers and patients.

Methods

A mixed methods approach involving a questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews was adopted. Among the 410 invited staff members, 318 completed the Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Culture (HSOPC). Patient safety culture was described using 12 subscale scores. Inter-subscale correlation analysis, ANOVA and stepwise multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify the determinants of the patient safety culture scores. Interviewees included 22 patients selected through opportunity sampling and 27 staff members selected through purposive sampling. The interview data were analysed thematically.

Results

The survey respondents perceived high levels of unsafe care but had personally reported few events. Lack of ‘communication openness’ was identified as a major safety culture problem, and a perception of ‘penalty’ was the greatest barrier to the encouragement of error reporting. Cohesive ‘teamwork within units’, while found to be an area of strength, conversely served as a protective and defensive mechanism for medical practice. Low levels of trust between providers and consumers and lack of management support constituted an obstacle to building a positive patient safety culture.

Conclusions

This study in China demonstrates that a punitive approach to error is still widespread despite increasing awareness of unsafe care, and managers have been slow in acknowledging the importance of building a positive patient safety culture. Strong ‘teamwork within units’, a common area of strength, could fuel the concealment of errors.