bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extensive umbilical herniation of the large colon in a foal
Authors: Bodaan C. J. , Panizzi L. , Stewart A. J. , Cypher E. , Whitfield L. , Riley C. B.
Published: March 2014

A 5‐month‐oldWarmblood cross colt was presented with focal swelling of the ventral abdomen extending from the umbilicus to the scrotum in the absence of colic signs. Palpation and ultrasound examination revealed the presence of incarcerated large intestine within the subcutaneous space adjacent to the caudal ventral abdomen and prepuce. Surgery was performed and revealed that the umbilical hernia sac had ruptured, and confirmed that the left dorsal and ventral colon were present in the subcutaneous space. The mild degree of vascular compromise of the large colon did not necessitate resection and so it was replaced within the abdomen. The abdominal wall defect was closed and the subcutaneous dead space was reduced by using a walking suture pattern. Herniation of the large colon through the umbilicus with dissection through the subcutaneous tissues of the ventral abdominal wall and prepuce has not been previously reported in foals. Ultrasonography permits differentiation of herniated small intestine from large intestine.
Surgical repair of a congenital lateral abdominal wall hernia in a neonatal foal
Authors: Hill J. A. , Story M.
Published: March 2014

A 16‐hour‐old Quarter Horse filly presented for evaluation of a soft mass in the right caudoventral lateral abdominal wall. Radiography and ultrasonography confirmed the presence of a nonreducible lateral abdominal wall hernia with small intestine located between the skin and body wall. The size of the defect itself could not be imaged and the filly was taken to surgery. A 4 cm vertical defect that appeared congenital was found in the transverse abdominal muscle and was repaired by primary apposition. This case report describes the repair and outcome of this unusual type of congenital hernia.
Reduction in DNA methyltransferases and alteration of DNA methylation pattern associate with mouse skin ageing
Authors: Qian Hong , Xu Xiangru
Published: March 2014

Understanding molecular mechanisms of skin ageing is critical for developing effective anti‐ageing strategies. Recently, it has been suggested that epigenetics maybe be involved in tissue ageing and age‐related diseases; however, the evidence regarding skin ageing has been very limited. We ran a pilot study in mouse skin to test whether DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts), DNA demethylases such as ten‐eleven translocation enzymes (Tets) and DNA methylation of gene promoters change with age by quantitative RT‐PCR and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP)‐chip. We discovered that the expression of Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b and Tet2 declines significantly with skin ageing. The genome‐wide DNA methylation analysis indicates that both hypermethylation and hypomethylation in promoters of genes are taken place. Functional category of those genes suggests that inhibition of cell proliferation and activation of immune response are important adaptations likely induced by skin ageing. These findings shed new light on epigenetic regulation of skin ageing.
Structural insights into bacterial resistance to cerulenin
Authors: Trajtenberg Felipe , Altabe Silvia , Larrieux Nicole , Ficarra Florencia , de Mendoza Diego , Buschiazzo Alejandro , Schujman Gustavo E.
Published: March 2014

Cerulenin is a fungal toxin that inhibits both eukaryotic and prokaryotic ketoacyl‐acyl carrier protein synthases or condensing enzymes. It has been used experimentally to treat cancer and obesity, and is a potent inhibitor of bacterial growth. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of resistance to cerulenin and similar compounds is thus highly relevant for human health. We have previously described a Bacillus subtilis cerulenin‐resistant strain, expressing a point‐mutated condensing enzyme FabF (FabF[I108F]) (i.e. FabF with isoleucine 108 substituted by phenylalanine). We now report the crystal structures of wild‐type FabF from B. subtilis, both alone and in complex with cerulenin, as well as of the FabF[I108F] mutant protein. The three‐dimensional structure of FabF[I108F] constitutes the first atomic model of a condensing enzyme that remains active in the presence of the inhibitor. Soaking the mycotoxin into preformed wild‐type FabF crystals allowed for noncovalent binding into its specific pocket within the FabF core. Interestingly, only co‐crystallization experiments allowed us to trap the covalent complex. Our structure shows that the covalent bond between Cys163 and cerulenin, in contrast to that previously proposed, implicates carbon C3 of the inhibitor. The similarities between Escherichia coli and B. subtilis FabF structures did not explain the reported inability of ecFabF[I108F] (i.e. FabF from Escherichia coli with isoleucine 108 substituted by phenylalanine) to elongate medium and long‐chain acyl‐ACPs. We now demonstrate that the E. coli modified enzyme efficiently catalyzes the synthesis of medium and long‐chain ketoacyl‐ACPs. We also characterized another cerulenin‐insensitive form of FabF, conferring a different phenotype in B. subtilis. The structural, biochemical and physiological data presented, shed light on the mechanisms of FabF catalysis and resistance to cerulenin.

Database

Crystallographic data (including atomic coordinates and structure factors) have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession codes 4LS5, 4LS6, 4LS7 and 4LS8.
Influence of notch severity on thermomechanical fatigue life of a directionally solidified Ni‐base superalloy
Authors: Fernandez‐Zelaia P. , Neu R. W.
Published: March 2014

The aim of this work is to understand the influence of notches under thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) in a directionally solidified Ni‐base superalloy. Experiments were performed utilizing linear out‐of‐phase and in‐phase TMF loadings on longitudinally oriented smooth and cylindrically notched specimens. Several notch severities were considered with elastic stress concentrations ranging from 1.3 to 3.0. The local response of the notched specimens was determined using the finite element method with a transversely isotropic viscoplastic constitutive model. Comparing the analysis to experiments, the locations observed for crack nucleation in the notch, which are offset from the notch root in directionally solidified alloys, are consistent with the maximum von Mises stress. Various local and nonlocal methods are evaluated to understand the life trends under out‐of‐phase TMF. The results show that a nonlocal invariant area‐averaging method is the best approach for collapsing the TMF lives of specimens with different notch severities.
Fatigue crack growth property of laser beam welded 6156 aluminium alloy
Authors: Liu H. , Shang D.‐G. , Guo Z.‐K. , Zhao Y.‐G. , Liu J.‐Z.
Published: March 2014

Fatigue crack growth behaviours in different welding zones of laser beam welded specimens were investigated using central crack tension specimens for 6156 aluminium alloy under constant amplitude loading at nominal applied stress ratio R = 0.5, 0.06, −1. The experimental results showed that base metal (BM) exhibited superior fatigue crack resistance compared to weld metal (WM) and heat‐affected zone (HAZ). Crack growth resistance of WM was the lowest. The exponent m values for BM and HAZ at different stress ratios are close and around 2.6, while m for WM at different stress ratio is around 4.7. The discrepancy between crack growth rates for WM and BM is more evident with increasing stress ratio, while it is a little change for HAZ and BM. Change of the microstructure in WM deteriorates the resistance of fatigue crack growth compared to BM. It was mainly due to grain boundary liquation and dissolving of second‐phase particles in the weld region. It was also found that the variety of fatigue crack resistance for different welding zones is in conformity with the change of hardness. BM with the highest hardness exhibited the maximum resistance for fatigue crack, and WM with the lowest hardness exhibited the minimum fatigue crack resistance.
Does denture‐wearing status in edentulous South Korean elderly persons affect their nutritional intakes?
Authors: Han Sun Young , Kim Cheoul Sin
Published: March 2014

Objective

The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to determine whether denture‐wearing status in edentulous South Korean elders affected their nutritional intakes, using the 2008–2010 data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

Background

Good nutritional status is a requirement for healthy aging in the elders. Tooth loss is the key to lead to low masticatory ability and alterative food choice, which may increase the risks of systemic disease. Therefore, denture treatment is important to improve general health of edentulous persons.

Materials and methods

From KNHANES data, 1168 edentulous older people were selected as the participants of the present study. Nutrient intake data collected via participants' 24‐h dietary recalls were used to determine the ratio of nutrient intake to the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Koreans, the percentage of individuals with inadequate nutrient and the effects of denture wearing on the risk of undernourishment.

Results

The results showed that compared to denture wearers, edentulous persons without dentures had lower intakes of potassium, niacin and vitamin C. In addition, the distribution of inadequate nutrient intake among participants without dentures was higher than among participants with dentures; the risk of undernourishment was 1.89 times that of denture wearers. [Correction made on 21 March 2014, after first online publication: “[…] participants with dentures was higher than among participants without dentures” was corrected to “[…] participants without dentures was higher than among participants with dentures”]

Conclusion

Denture wearing was seen to have a significant effect on the level of nutrient intake in edentulous elders.
Impact of inflammation on anti‐oxidative effects of vitamin E‐coated membrane dialyzer in patients on chronic hemodialysis
Authors: Kirmizis Dimitrios , Papagianni Aikaterini , Efstratiadis Georgios , Memmos Dimitrios
Published: March 2014

Hemodialysis (HD) with the use of vitamin E‐coated membrane (VEM) dialyzers is shown to exert anti‐inflammatory and antioxidative effects in patients with end‐stage renal disease on HD. However, the association of baseline inflammatory status with the antioxidative effects of VEM has not been investigated thus far. Thirty‐five stable end‐stage renal disease patients treated with VEM for 6 months were enrolled in the present prospective, observational cohort study. For the previous 3 months minimum, 17 (48%) patients were dialyzed with a cellulose, eight (23%) patients with a hemophane, and 10 (29%) patients with a polysulfone 1.2 to 1.5 m2 hollow fiber dialyzer. The effects of treatment on oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL) were stratified according to half percentiles of baseline serum logC‐reactive protein and interleukin‐6, and the association between treatment goal, arbitrarily defined as a minimum 30% decrease in baseline oxLDL, was assessed with the use of logistic regression analysis. The higher C‐reactive protein and interleukin‐6 half percentiles were independently and additively associated with a higher odds ratio for achieving treatment goal. Adjustment for baseline oxLDL, age, sex, HD duration, smoking, and body mass index did not attenuate the odds ratios, whereas the history of diabetes, as primary renal disease, significantly decreased the odds ratio for achieving treatment goal. Increased baseline C‐reactive protein and interleukin‐6 are independent, additive factors associated with the effect of VEM on oxLDL in HD patients.
Modelling clinical progression and health care utilization of HIV‐positive patients in British Columbia prior to death
Authors: Cui Z , Grafstein E , Yip B , Hogg R , Montaner JSG , Lima VD
Published: March 2014

Objectives

The extent to which clinical progression of HIV‐positive patients leads to an increase in health care utilization, especially prior to their death, is unknown. Thus, we modelled trends in CD4 cell count and emergency department utilization and the likelihood of an emergency department visit leading to a transfer to an acute care‐level facility prior to a patient's death from nonaccidental causes.

Methods

Eligible patients initiated highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in British Columbia between August 1996 and June 2006 (n = 457). Patients were followed until their death, which occurred on or before 30 June 2007 (period in which the emergency department visit data were available). Trends were modelled using generalized mixed effects.

Results

Patients experienced a significantly steep decline in CD4 cell count and a corresponding increase in the number of emergency department visits and transfers to acute‐level facilities in the 5 years prior to death. For every 6‐month interval prior to death, the CD4 cell count decreased by 13.22 cells/μL, the risk of experiencing an emergency department visit increased by 9%, and among those ever admitted, the odds ratio of being transferred to an acute care‐level facility increased by 3%.

Conclusions

We showed that patients experienced a steep decline in CD4 cell count, which was associated with an increase in health care utilization prior to their death. These findings highlight the substantial residual avoidable burden that unsuccessfully managed HIV disease poses, even in the HAART era. Further strategies to enhance sustained and successful engagement in care are urgently needed to mitigate high health care utilization.
Predicting intramuscular fat content and marbling score of pork along the longissimus muscle based on the last rib
Authors: Huang Hui , Liu Li , Ngadi Michael O. , Gariépy Claude
Published: March 2014

The possibility of using IMF content/MS at the last rib to predict the corresponding fat attribute of loin chops at the 2nd last to the 7th last thoracic ribs and the mean of IMF content/MS of the whole loin joint was investigated. Linear and quadratic regression, cross‐validation analysis and analysis of variance were employed for the study. For either IMF or MS, linear and quadratic regression models had similar performance. The best mean correlation coefficients of calibration (Rc) of 0.91 and cross‐validation (Rv) of 0.88 were obtained for linear regression model of IMF content of the whole loin, while Rc of 0.90 and Rv of 0.88 were obtained for quadratic regression model of MS of the whole loin. The results indicated that IMF content and MS at the last rib had great potential for the prediction of IMF content and MS at the other ribs.
Women's and Men's Relative Status and Intimate Partner Violence in India
Authors: Weitzman Abigail
Published: March 2014

In recent years, gender‐based violence in South Asia has been of great concern to scholars and policymakers alike. This study explores the effects of women's relative resources on several dimensions of intimate partner violence in India, and tests whether economic resources allow women to “bargain” for less violence, or exacerbate the violence they face. To explore both possibilities, I use data from the 2005–06 Indian National Family Health Survey. The findings indicate that women with relatively higher education, employment, or earnings status than their spouse face more frequent and severe violence than women with lower status. Together, these findings suggest that women's superior material power bases threaten patriarchal norms and are responded to with the use of violence.
Predicting Crop Yields with the Agricultural Reference Index for Drought
Authors: Woli P. , Jones J. W. , Ingram K. T. , Hoogenboom G.
Published: March 2014

A generic agricultural drought index, called Agricultural Reference Index for Drought (ARID), was designed recently to quantify water stress for use in predicting crop yield loss from drought. This study evaluated ARID in terms of its ability to predict crop yields. Daily historical weather data and yields of cotton, maize, peanut and soybean were obtained for several locations and years in the south‐eastern USA. Daily values of ARID were computed for each location and converted to monthly average values. Using regression analyses of crop yields vs. monthly ARID values during the crop growing season, ARID‐yield relationships were developed for each crop. The ability of ARID to predict yield loss from drought was evaluated using the root mean square error (RMSE), the Willmott index and the modelling efficiency (ME). The ARID‐based yield models predicted relative yields with the RMSE values of 0.144, 0.087, 0.089 and 0.142 (kg ha−1 yield per kg ha−1 potential yield); the Willmott index values of 0.70, 0.92, 0.86 and 0.79; and the ME values of 0.33, 0.73, 0.60 and 0.49 for cotton, maize, peanut and soybean, respectively. These values indicated that the ARID‐based yield models can predict the yield loss from drought for these crops with reasonable accuracy.
Recurrent short‐distance dispersal explains wide distributions of hydrophytic umbellifers (Apiaceae tribe Oenantheae)
Authors: Spalik Krzysztof , Banasiak Łukasz , Feist Mary Ann E. , Downie Stephen R.
Published: March 2014

Aim

Long‐distance dispersal (LDD) by migratory birds is often invoked to explain the broad and disjunct distributions of many aquatic plants. Such distributions may also be achieved by recurrent short‐distance dispersal (SDD) to adjacent areas and extinctions in connecting areas. To test the relative importance of LDD and SDD in shaping the distributions of hydrophytes, we examined different dispersal models for a clade of hydrophytic umbellifers (Apiaceae tribe Oenantheae).

Location

Worldwide, with emphasis on Eurasian–North American disjunctions.

Methods

A dated phylogeny of the group was obtained with Bayesian methods using nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cpDNA rps16–trnK sequences from 100 species and infraspecific taxa of Oenantheae and two outgroup species. Ancestral habits were inferred using maximum likelihood (R package ape). Six connectivity models were compared using a maximum‐likelihood‐based method (Lagrange), four with symmetrical dispersal rate matrices and two assuming asymmetrical exchanges between Eurasia and North America, with or without spatial and temporal constraints on LDD.

Results

The age of the crown node of Oenantheae was estimated at 26.3 Ma, and western Europe was reconstructed as its most likely ancestral area. The divergence between Peucedanum sandwicense, an endemic of Hawaii, and its sister Oenanthe occurred 17.2 Ma, pre‐dating the emergence of the Hawaiian Islands. Throughout the phylogeny, the hydrophytic habit (including helophytes and amphiphytes) dominated. Of the six connectivity models considered, the model restricting all intracontinental and transoceanic LDDs and assuming an almost unidirectional dispersal from Eurasia to North America received the highest likelihood score. This model was also characterized by the highest dispersal rate. A stratified model assuming a higher probability for dispersals between Eurasia and North America when these continents were connected with land bridges received a lower likelihood score.

Main conclusions

The results suggest that the broad and often disjunct distribution of Oenantheae hydrophytes is mostly achieved through an increased dispersal rate and recurrent SDD rather than frequent LDD. Our data confirm the asymmetry of the floristic exchange between Eurasia and North America and do not support the increase of this exchange when the continents were connected with land bridges.
Learning with video‐based examples – Are you sure you do not need help?
Authors: Schworm S. , Bolzer M.
Published: March 2014

This study investigated help‐seeking activities in a computer‐based environment teaching argumentative skills by videos of argumentative dialogues of teachers who discussed controversy issues in the context of a workshop. Learners, all of them students of educational sciences, solved learning tasks on the presented argumentative dialogues and reflected on their response certitude. Forty‐three students voluntary took part in the study. Two experimental groups varied according to the type of task they solved. Group 1 got adjunct questions, so‐called self‐explanation prompts that elicited elaboration of the video content. Group 2 answered multiple‐choice tasks that assessed the same knowledge. After each task, participants of both groups (a) had to judge the certainty of their response being correct (i.e., the marking of the multiple‐choice task or the written self‐explanations) and (b) were offered to use the help function on demand. Results revealed the relevance of learners' response certitude with respect to their help use. Low response certitude about the correctness of a task solution led to higher help use which was positively related to learning outcome. However, learners' response certitude was unrelated to the actual correctness of their task solution. Type of task had no influence on response certitude, help use or learning outcome.
Efficacy of periodontal plastic surgery procedures in the treatment of localized facial gingival recessions. A systematic review
Authors: Cairo Francesco , Nieri Michele , Pagliaro Umberto
Published: March 2014

Background

The aim of this Systematic Review (SR) was to assess the clinical efficacy of periodontal plastic surgery procedures in the treatment of localized gingival recessions (Rec) with or without inter‐dental clinical attachment loss (iCAL).

Material and Methods

Electronic and hand searches were performed to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on treatment of single gingival recessions with at least 6 months of follow‐up. Primary outcome variable was complete root coverage (CRC). Secondary outcome variables were recession reduction (RecRed) and keratinized tissue (KT) gain. To evaluate treatment effect, Odds Ratios were combined for dichotomous data and mean differences in continuous data using a random‐effect model.

Results

Fifty‐one RCTs (53 articles) with a total of 1574 treated patients (1744 recessions) were included in this SR. Finally, 30 groups of comparisons were identified and a total of 80 meta‐analyses were performed. Coronally Advanced Flap (CAF) was associated with higher probability of CRC and higher amount of RecRed than Semilunar Coronal Positioned Flap (SCPF). The combination CAF plus Connective Tissue Graft (CAF+CTG) or CAF plus Enamel Matrix Derivative (CAF+EMD) was more effective than CAF alone in terms of CRC and RecRed. The combination CAF plus Collagen Matrix (CAF+CM) achieved higher RecRed than CAF alone. In addition, CAF+CTG achieved CRC more frequently than CAF+EMD, SCPF, Free Gingival Graft (FGG) and Laterally Positioned Flap (LPS). CAF+CTG was also associated with higher RecRed than Barrier Membranes (CAF+GTR), CAF+EMD and CAF+CM. GTR was not able to improve the clinical efficacy of CAF. Studies adding Acellular Dermal Matrix (ADM) under CAF showed a large heterogeneity and not significant benefits compared with CAF alone. Multiple combinations, using more than a single graft/biomaterial under the flap, usually provide similar or less benefits than simpler, control procedures in term of root coverage outcomes.

Conclusions

CAF procedures alone or with CTG, EMD are supported by large evidence in modern periodontal plastic surgery. CAF+CTG achieved the best clinical outcomes in single gingival recessions with or without iCAL.
Flap approaches in plastic periodontal and implant surgery: critical elements in design and execution
Authors: de Sanctis Massimo , Clementini Marco
Published: March 2014

Aim

To identify critical elements in design and execution of coronally advanced flap, lateral positioned flap and their variations for the treatment of facial gingival recessions or peri‐implant soft tissue dehiscences.

Materials and Methods

Clinical studies were identified with both electronic and hand searches, and examined for the following aspects: flap design and incision techniques, flap elevation, root conditioning, flap mobility, flap stability and suturing. Moreover, prognostic factors for complete recession coverage were identified.

Results

Some critical elements are evident in flap design and execution: the dimension and the thickness of tissue positioned over the denuded roots; the use on root surface of enamel matrix derivate; the stability and suturing of the flap in a position coronal to the cemento‐enamel junction. The pre‐determination of the clinical cemento‐enamel junction, smoking status, operator surgical skills and the compliance to a supportive care programme have a role in obtaining and maintaining a complete root coverage.

Conclusions

Different flap approaches are available when performing periodontal plastic surgery, resulting in a great variability in clinical outcomes. The possibility of using pedicle flaps alone to achieve complete soft tissue coverage of facial implant dehiscence has not yet been investigated.
Soft tissue wound healing around teeth and dental implants
Authors: Sculean Anton , Gruber Reinhard , Bosshardt Dieter D.
Published: March 2014

Aim

To provide an overview on the biology and soft tissue wound healing around teeth and dental implants.

Material and Methods

This narrative review focuses on cell biology and histology of soft tissue wounds around natural teeth and dental implants.

Results and conclusions

The available data indicate that:

Oral wounds follow a similar pattern.

The tissue specificities of the gingival, alveolar and palatal mucosa appear to be innately and not necessarily functionally determined.

The granulation tissue originating from the periodontal ligament or from connective tissue originally covered by keratinized epithelium has the potential to induce keratinization. However, it also appears that deep palatal connective tissue may not have the same potential to induce keratinization as the palatal connective tissue originating from an immediately subepithelial area.

Epithelial healing following non‐surgical and surgical periodontal therapy appears to be completed after a period of 7–14 days. Structural integrity of a maturing wound between a denuded root surface and a soft tissue flap is achieved at approximately 14‐days post‐surgery.

The formation of the biological width and maturation of the barrier function around transmucosal implants requires 6–8 weeks of healing.

The established peri‐implant soft connective tissue resembles a scar tissue in composition, fibre orientation, and vasculature.

The peri‐implant junctional epithelium may reach a greater final length under certain conditions such as implants placed into fresh extraction sockets versus conventional implant procedures in healed sites.
Biology of soft tissue wound healing and regeneration – Consensus Report of Group 1 of the 10th European Workshop on Periodontology
Authors: Hämmerle Christoph H. F. , Giannobile William V. ,   Working Group 1 of the European Workshop on Periodontology
Published: March 2014

Background

The scope of this consensus was to review the biological processes of soft tissue wound healing in the oral cavity and to histologically evaluate soft tissue healing in clinical and pre‐clinical models.

Aims

To review the current knowledge regarding the biological processes of soft tissue wound healing at teeth, implants and on the edentulous ridge. Furthermore, to review soft tissue wound healing at these sites, when using barrier membranes, growth and differentiation factors and soft tissue substitutes.

Collection of data

Searches of the literature with respect to recessions at teeth and soft tissue deficiencies at implants, augmentation of the area of keratinized tissue and soft tissue volume were conducted. The available evidence was collected, categorized and summarized.

Fundamental principles of oral soft tissue wound healing

Oral mucosal and skin wound healing follow a similar pattern of the four phases of haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and maturation/matrix remodelling. The soft connective tissue determines the characteristics of the overlaying oral epithelium. Within 7–14 days, epithelial healing of surgical wounds at teeth is completed. Soft tissue healing following surgery at implants requires 6–8 weeks for maturation. The resulting tissue resembles scar tissue. Well‐designed pre‐clinical studies providing histological data have been reported describing soft tissue wound healing, when using barrier membranes, growth and differentiation factors and soft tissue substitutes. Few controlled clinical studies with low numbers of patients are available for some of the treatments reviewed at teeth. Whereas, histological new attachment has been demonstrated in pre‐clinical studies resulting from some of the treatments reviewed, human histological data commonly report a lack of new attachment but rather long junctional epithelial attachment and connective tissue adhesion. Regarding soft tissue healing at implants human data are very scarce.

Conclusions

Oral soft tissue healing at teeth, implants and the edentulous ridge follows the same phases as skin wound healing. Histological studies in humans have not reported new attachment formation at teeth for the indications studied. Human histological data of soft tissue wound healing at implants are limited.

Clinical recommendations

The use of barriers membranes, growth and differentiation factors and soft tissue substitutes for the treatment of localized gingival/mucosal recessions, insufficient amount of keratinized tissue and insufficient soft tissue volume is at a developing stage.
Folliculotropic T‐cell infiltrates associated with B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or MALT lymphoma may reveal either true mycosis fungoides or pseudolymphomatous reaction: seven cases and review of the literature
Authors: Ingen‐Housz‐Oro S. , Franck N. , Beneton N. , Fauconneau A. , Do‐Pham G. , Carlotti A. , Petit T. , Liolios I. , Bara C. , Carpentier H. , Storelli D. , Prophette B. , Garderet L. , Haioun C. , Petit E. , Delfau‐Larue M.‐H. , Vergier B. , Chosidow O. , Beylot‐Barry M. , Ortonne N.
Published: March 2014

Background

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and pseudo‐MF (or MF simulant) can be associated with B‐cell malignancies, but distinction between a true neoplasm and a reactive process may be difficult.

Objectives

To report seven patients with B‐cell malignancy and folliculotropic MF or pseudo‐MF and emphasize on criteria allowing distinction between the two conditions.

Methods

We retrospectively and prospectively included seven patients with B‐cell malignancy who presented skin lesions histologically consisting in a folliculotropic T‐cell infiltrate and reviewed the literature on the topic.

Results

Four men and three women had a chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (n = 6) or a MALT‐type lymphoma (n = 1). Five patients had localized papules, and two had patches and plaques. Histological examination showed in all cases a diffuse dermal T‐cell infiltrate with folliculotropic involvement and follicular mucinosis associated with clusters of the B‐cell lymphoma, without significant expression of follicular helper T‐cell markers. T‐cell rearrangement studies showed a polyclonal pattern in the patients with papules and a monoclonal pattern in the cases of patches and plaques. Papular lesions had an indolent evolution, whereas patches and plaques persisted or worsened into transformed MF.

Conclusion

Folliculotropic T‐cell infiltrates associated with B‐cell malignancies can be either a true folliculotropic MF or a pseudo‐MF. The distinction between both conditions cannot rely only on the histopathological aspect, but needs both a clinical pathological correlation and the search for a dominant T‐cell clone. Whether the neoplastic T and B cells derive from a common ancestor or the T‐cell proliferation is promoted by the underlying B‐cell lymphoma remains unsolved, but interaction between B and T cell in the skin does not appear to be dependent on a TFH differentiation of the T‐cell infiltrate.
First records of reproductive behaviour and early development of the bearded goby Sufflogobius bibarbatus
Authors: Skrypzeck H. , Salvanes A. G. V. , Currie B. , Kotze A.
Published: March 2014

Data on developmental characteristics from fertilization to 2 days post‐hatching during captivity of the anoxia tolerant bearded goby Sufflogobius bibarbatus, one of the keystone prey species for many of the commercial fish populations, sea mammals and birds in south‐west Africa, are presented.
Evaluation of Tapuy Lees as a Functional Ingredient in the Snack Food Polvoron
Authors: Manaois Rosaly V. , Morales Amelia V.
Published: March 2014

Rice wine lees is a major by‐product generated in the Philippine rice wine or tapuy production. Flour was developed using tapuy lees and used as a functional ingredient in polvoron. Preparation of flour involved washing of the pressed lees, filtration, sterilization, drying and grinding to a fine powder. The water activity of the sample was <0.400 and microbial loads were within acceptable limits, with 2.30 × 104 cfu/g total plate count and 2.50 cfu/g mold count. The flour had high crude protein (45.03 ± 0.14%) and dietary fiber (13.10 ± 0.08%) levels. When used in polvoron, up to 50% (w/w) of lees can be substituted to all‐purpose flour with minimal effect on quality. Using 33% lees, significant improvement in crude protein content was noted, without adversely affecting the taste and overall sensory quality of the product. Results demonstrated the feasibility of producing a functional food ingredient using a major by‐product of tapuy production.

Practical Applications

Lees is a nutritious, but underutilized, by‐product of rice wine manufacture. In tapuy production, a large volume of lees (about 27% of the weight of raw rice) is generated and is merely discarded. The use of lees in the development of value‐added food products will be a step toward making nutrient‐dense foods available to consumers, while addressing waste management problem from rice wine production. Results of this study would provide manufacturers of rice wine a valuable resource to make their process more efficient and productive. This will also serve as a basis to further explore the nutritional quality of rice wine lees and its potential applications in other food products.
Low Endogenous Recanalization in Embolic Central Retinal Artery Occlusion—The Retrobulbar “Spot Sign”
Authors: Altmann Mathias , Ertl Michael , Helbig Horst , Schömig Beate , Bogdahn Ulrich , Gamulescu Maria‐Andreea , Schlachetzki Felix
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is most often indirectly diagnosed by lack of retinal perfusion. Direct embolus characterization may help to understand the natural course and low response to treatment. In a previous study we identified a hyperechoic signal within the optic nerve and in the central retinal artery (“spot sign”).

METHODS

In this study we performed a follow‐up investigation in 7 patients with CRAO and positive spot sign indicating the embolic cause of the occlusion after a median interval of 17 months (range 11‐38 months) using a battery of tests (ocular color‐coded sonography, optic coherence tomography [OCT], fundoscopy, amongst others).

RESULTS

The spot sign persisted in all patients, none had high‐grade internal carotid artery stenosis, stroke or transient ischemic attacks. Four patients were completely blind, 3 patients were able to recognize hand movements. OCT demonstrated retinal atrophy, and fundoscopy revealed only minimal arterial perfusion.

CONCLUSIONS

The hyperechoic spot sign may be an important predictive prognostic marker for persistent loss of vision. Its persistence may indicate calcified or cholesterol emboli and may explain the low therapeutic success rate to thrombolysis. Further studies on their origin and significance in atherosclerotic disease are warranted.
Combination of Psychological Intervention and Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors for Erectile Dysfunction: A Narrative Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Schmidt Hannah M. , Munder Thomas , Gerger Heike , Frühauf Sarah , Barth Jürgen
Published: March 2014

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an increasing health problem that demands effective treatment. There is evidence that phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) and psychological intervention (PI) are effective treatment options; however, little is known about their comparative efficacy and the efficacy of combined treatments.

Aim

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the comparative efficacy of PI, PDE5-Is, and their combination in the treatment of ED.

Main Outcome Measures

Primary outcome was ED symptoms, and secondary outcome was sexual satisfaction of the patient.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in order to identify relevant articles published between 1998 and 2012. We included randomized controlled trials and controlled trials comparing PI with PDE5-I treatment or one of them against a combination of both.

Results

Eight studies with a total number of 562 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results of the included studies are inconclusive, though they show a trend towards a larger effect of combined treatment compared with PI or PDE5-I treatment alone. The meta-analysis found that, overall, combined treatment was more efficacious for ED symptoms than PDE5-I treatment or PI alone. Combined treatment was more efficacious than PDE5-I use alone on sexual satisfaction. No differences were found between PDE5-Is and PI as stand-alone treatments. None of the moderators (treatment duration, methodological quality, or researcher allegiance) altered the effects.

Conclusions

The combination of PI and PDE5-Is is a promising strategy for a favorable outcome in ED and can be considered as a first-choice option for ED patients. Stronger RCTs are required to confirm this initial finding.
Formal Functions and Retrospective Reinterpretation in the First Movement of Schubert's String Quintet
Authors: Martin Nathan John , Vande Moortele Steven
Published: March 2014

The first movement of Schubert's String Quintet, D. 956, is among the early nineteenth‐century repertoire's clearest examples of what Janet Schmalfeldt has called ‘form as the process of becoming’. In this article we show how the governing formal principle of the movement's exposition is the conflation of distinct and typically consecutive formal functions. The result is an extraordinary chain of form‐functional overlaps, requiring the analyst to engage in a process of constant retrospective reinterpretation that ends only with the unambiguous closing group. Our aim is not only to revisit some familiar analytical questions about Schubert's Quintet from a form‐functional perspective, but also to provide a test case showing the applicability of form‐functional thinking to early nineteenth‐century music. We begin by presenting a form‐functional overview and cadential plan of the exposition and then home in on three passages that pose particular analytical challenges: the introduction/main‐theme/transition complex (bars 1–59), the transition/subordinate‐theme complex (bars 60–100) and the closing‐group/subordinate theme complex (bars 100–138). The article concludes by proposing certain ways in which Schmalfeldt's idea of retrospective reinterpretation may be further refined.
Renal replacement therapy in Brunei Darussalam: Comparing standards with international renal registries
Authors: Tan Jackson
Published: March 2014

Background and Aim

Brunei Darussalam is a small South East Asian country with a high prevalence and incidence of end stage kidney disease (ESRD). This study aims to compare key performance indicators recorded in the Brunei Dialysis and Transplant Registry and department records against international practice. Registries from the USA (USRDS), UK (UK Renal Registry), Australasia (ANZDATA), Europe (ERA‐EDTA Registry) and Malaysia (MDTR) were used for comparisons.

Methods and Results

Haemodialysis (83%) and renal transplantation (6%) were the most and least favoured modality of renal replacement therapy in Brunei. Diabetes mellitus as a cause of ESRD (57%) was high in Brunei but on par with other South East Asian countries. Dialysis death rates (11%) and living‐related transplant survival rates (5 year graft and patient survival 91% and 96% respectively) were favourable compared with other registries. Anaemia and mineral bone disease management were similar to Malaysia but slightly inferior to the others, but generally in keeping with KDOQI and KDIGO targets. Haemodialysis adequacy (48% achieving urea reduction ratio of >65%) was relatively poorer due to poor dialysis flow rates and low fistula usage (71%). Peritoneal dialysis peritonitis (24.5 patient‐month/episode) and adequacy (78% achieving kt/v of 1.7) were in keeping with ISPD targets and international registries' results.

Conclusion

Brunei has achieved reasonable and commendable standards in many areas pertaining to the renal services. This report has identified several key areas for developments but this is to be expected for a service making its first foray into international benchmarked practice.
Not worth the risk: apex predators suppress herbivory on coral reefs
Authors: Rizzari Justin R. , Frisch Ashley J. , Hoey Andrew S. , McCormick Mark I.
Published: March 2014

Apex predators are known to exert strong ecological effects, either through direct or indirect predator–prey interactions. Indirect interactions have the potential to influence ecological communities more than direct interactions as the effects are propagated throughout the population as opposed to only one individual. Indirect effects of apex predators are well documented in terrestrial environments, however there is a paucity of information for marine environments. Furthermore, manipulative studies, as opposed to correlative observations, isolating apex predator effects are lacking. Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems, providing a useful model system for investigating the ecological role of apex predators and their influence on lower trophic levels. Using predator models and transplanted macroalgae we examined the indirect effects of predators on herbivore foraging behaviour. We show that the presence of a model reef shark or large coral‐grouper led to a substantial reduction in bite rate and species richness of herbivorous fishes and an almost absolute localized cessation of macroagal removal, due to the perceived risk of predation. A smaller‐sized coral‐grouper also reduced herbivore diversity and activity but to a lesser degree than the larger model predators. These indirect effects of apex predators on the foraging behaviour of herbivores may have flow‐on effects on the biomass and distribution of macroalgae, and the functioning of coral reef ecosystems. This highlights that the ecological interactions and processes that contribute to ecosystem resilience may be more complex than previously assumed.
The Pursuit of Productivity
Authors: Schmenner Roger W.
Published: March 2014

This study names a pantheon of entrepreneurs and managers who have introduced a range of far‐reaching productivity innovations throughout modern history. The thread tying together all of the innovations, in whatever sector of the economy one examines, is the theory of swift, even flow. The study argues why swift, even flow explains the power and long‐lasting nature of these innovations and why other factors thought by some to affect productivity fall short.
Comparing Parametric and Non‐parametric Early Warning Systems for Currency Crises in Emerging Market Economies
Authors: Comelli Fabio
Published: March 2014

This paper compares in‐sample and out‐of‐sample performances of parametric and non‐parametric early warning systems (EWS) for currency crises in emerging economies. The parametric EWS achieves superior out‐of‐sample results compared with the non‐parametric EWS. The policymaker faces a trade‐off when using EWS: greater cautiousness allows the policymaker to correctly call more crisis episodes, but this comes at the cost of issuing more false alarms. The benefit of correctly calling more currency crises needs to be traded off against the cost of issuing more false alarms and of implementing corrective policies prematurely.
A Welfare Ranking of Multilateral Reductions in Real and Tariff Trade Barriers when Firms are Heterogenous
Authors: Schröder Philipp J. H. , Sørensen Allan
Published: March 2014

Trade liberalization comes about through reductions in various types of trade barriers. This paper introduces, apart from the customary real trade costs (i.e. iceberg and fixed export costs), two revenue generating trade barriers (i.e. an ad valorem tariff and a trade license) into a standard heterogeneous‐firms‐trade model with Pareto distributed productivities. We derive analytical welfare rankings of all four liberalization channels for an equal effect on two openness measures, for any trade cost level and while all four barriers are simultaneously present, i.e. for any initial equilibrium. We show that when openness is measured at retail prices, not border prices, the welfare rankings are sensitive to the degree of efficiency in revenue redistribution, e.g. the share of tariff revenues wasted on rent‐seeking activities. As a result, multilateral tariff reductions can switch from the least to the most preferred mode of liberalization. Among the other three barriers we establish a universal welfare ranking for any strictly positive level of revenue redistribution and for either measure of openness.
Energy Abundance or Environmental Worries? Analyzing Public Support for Fracking in the United States
Authors: Davis Charles , Fisk Jonathan M.
Published: March 2014

This paper provides an analysis of public attitudes toward fracking use and policies with an eye toward factors that help us account for differing levels of support. Using data from a national survey of American adults, we found that women and people residing in urban areas are slightly more inclined to oppose fracking and to favor more regulation in terms of drilling operations and company chemical disclosure requirements than men or people living in rural areas. Our key findings, however, are that opposition to fracking and support for current or increased levels of regulation are strongly related to Democratic Party identification and to pro‐environmental policy attitudes. We conclude by suggesting that a tendency for people to view fracking as an environmental rather than an energy issue has potentially important implications for the implementation of locally based regulatory requirements.
Examining the Canadian Government's Resistance to Including Socioeconomic Concerns in Genetically Modified Seeds Regulation: A Policy Transfer and Multilevel Approach
Authors: Marcoux Jean‐Michel , Létourneau Lyne
Published: March 2014

In 2011, Canadian Members of Parliament refused to transfer a regulatory initiative taken from Argentina that would have required an analysis of potential harm to export markets before authorizing the sale of any new genetically modified seed. This was the purpose of Bill C‐474, which was defeated in the House of Commons. After exploring Argentina's regulatory framework as a source of transfer, this paper combines a multilevel analysis with a typology of policy transfer mechanisms in order to address the complexities underlying this unsuccessful attempt. We explore how the mechanisms of competition and coercion might have impeded the transfer of such an initiative at the international and the macro‐state levels. Moreover, while a policy transfer network in support of the bill called on previous experiences with genetically modified seeds, their efforts appear to have been outweighed by another network using arguments based on the mechanisms of competition, coercion, and mimicry.