bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient generalized Laguerre-spectral methods for solving multi-term fractional differential equations on the half line
Authors: Bhrawy AH , Baleanu D , Assas LM
Published: June 2013

The main purpose of this paper is to provide an efficient numerical approach for the fractional differential equations (FDEs) on the half line with constant coefficients using a generalized Laguerre tau (GLT) method. The fractional derivatives are described in the Caputo sense. We state and prove a new formula expressing explicitly the derivatives of generalized Laguerre polynomials of any degree and for any fractional order in terms of generalized Laguerre polynomials themselves. We develop also a direct solution technique for solving the linear multi-order FDEs with constant coefficients using a spectral tau method. The spatial approximation with its fractional-order derivatives described in the Caputo sense are based on generalized Laguerre polynomials [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and i denoting the polynomial degree.
Performance degradation assessment of rolling bearing based on bispectrum and support vector data description
Authors: Wang Hongchao , Chen Jin
Published: June 2013

In order to realize equipment’s near-zero downtime and maximum productivity a rolling bearing performance degradation assessment is proposed, which is one of the most important techniques. The traditional feature extraction methods based on stationary and Gauss characteristics were unfit to handle non-stationary and non-Gauss signals when the rolling bearing performance begins to degrade. The higher-order statistics (HOS) are fit for handling the non-stationary and non-Gauss signals. Bispectrum not only possesses all the properties of HOS but also has a higher computational efficiency because of a lower order compared with other types of HOS. The support vector data description (SVDD) is a single value classification method which can overcome the problem of a lack of samples in the degradation process of the rolling bearing. A method is proposed in the paper which is based on the bispectrum and SVDD. Firstly, the rolling bearing data of normal state is collected and handled by bispectrum. Based on feature vectors extracted from normal data an SVDD model fitting a tight hypersphere around them is trained. The general distance of test data handled by the bispectrum to this hypersphere is used as the degradation index. In the end, through simulation and a rolling bearing’s accelerated life test, the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method is verified.
Investigations of denoising source separation technique and its application to source separation and identification of mechanical vibration signals
Authors: Cheng Wei , Zhang Zhousuo , Lee Seungchul , He Zhengjia
Published: June 2013

A novel vibration source separation and identification method using the denoising source separation (DSS) technique is proposed for the mixed mechanical vibration signals from engines in ships. Denoising source separation enables us to extract the source signals from the mixed signals without prior knowledge of sources and their mixing mode, and thus the important source information extracted by DSS can be used to monitor or actively control engine noises. Different denoising functions such as energy, skew, kurtosis, and tangential functions in DSS are applied to both simulation studies and experimental data to evaluate their separating performances. The tangential function provides the best outperformance with both numerical study and engineering application. In addition, the effectiveness of the proposed DSS method is validated by correlation analysis and the frequency marker tracking method.
Poststructuralist Metaphor Analysis Through the “Gender” Lens
Authors: Henderson Emily F.
Published: June 2013

This is the account of an attempt to conceptualize a poststructuralist metaphor analysis of the use of the term gender as designating a domain of research and study. In the first section of the article, I explain the choice of empirical materials, which is taken from the discussion section of a seminar on Gender and International Development, given by Professors Naila Kabeer (School of Oriental and African Studies [SOAS]) and Elaine Unterhalter (Institute of Education [IOE]), at the London International Development Centre. I then delve into the contradictions of poststructuralist metaphor analysis, while trying to construct the foundations of an analytical method from the tatters of my original understanding of a linguistic metaphor analysis. In the second section, I offer a sample analysis of the seminar discussion text. I finally return to the two questions posed in tandem by this piece: How does “gender” operate as a designation of a domain of research and study? Is poststructuralist metaphor analysis epistemologically possible?
Appropriated Poetry
Authors: Lahman Maria K. E. , Richard Veronica M.
Published: June 2013

The development of transcription poems is presented along with the authors’ borrowing from found poetry to create the research poetry form archival or artifact poetry. Archival poetry has roots in the arts such as the traditional poem centos, contemporary found poetry, and appropriation in the arts. Appropriated poetry exemplars are included. The authors advocate for a space they term good enough poetry for researchers to write what at first might be “inferior,” but what might develop into refined poetry. The following areas are discussed: (a) merit, (b) who should write poetry, (c) becoming a research poet, and (d) accessibility.
Situational Analysis as an Avenue for Critical Qualitative Research
Authors: Pérez Michelle Salazar , Cannella Gaile S.
Published: June 2013

Hypercapitalism in the United States and globally has created neoliberal conditions that have reinterpreted notions of the public good as an entrepreneurial endeavor. In this current context, critical qualitative methods such as situational analysis combined with theoretical perspectives like Black feminist thought can provide activist methodological tools to expose and reenvision privatized constructions of the common good. In this article, we describe possibilities for using critical situational analysis to examine a broad range of complex conditions and provide examples of situational mapping from a study focusing on disaster capitalism and the privatization of the public education system in post-Katrina New Orleans. We then offer possibilities for using situational analysis to create new imaginaries for critical qualitative inquiry.
Composing, songwriting, and producing: Informing popular music pedagogy
Authors: Tobias Evan S.
Published: June 2013

In forwarding comprehensive popular music pedagogies, music educators might acknowledge and address expanded notions of composition in popular music that include processes of recording, engineering, mixing, and producing along with the technologies, techniques, and ways of being musical that encompass these processes. This article advances a perspective of popular music pedagogy that is situated in the role production plays in contemporary music-making. Drawing upon a single intrinsic case study focusing on secondary students’ creation and production of popular music, as well as theoretical frameworks that highlight recording, mixing, and production processes, this article provides an expanded perspective of composition and songwriting within a popular music context and proposes related pedagogical considerations. Themes addressed include: developing a theoretical framework within music education that addresses the role of production in contemporary music-making, expanding notions of aural skills and music literacy appropriate for producing popular music, and incorporating production processes in music classrooms.
Archival research: unravelling space/time/matter entanglements and fragments
Authors: Tamboukou Maria
Published: June 2013

In recent years, archival research in the social sciences is emerging as a vibrant field of qualitative research, with contributions from a range of disciplinary fields, epistemological standpoints, theoretical insights and methodological approaches. In this article, I explore archival research strategies in life-history research, drawing on my experience of working at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Centre, University of Texas at Austin, reading the letters of Dora Carrington (1893–1932), an English painter, who lived and worked in the peripheries of the Bloomsbury group. The archive in my analysis is theorized as a spatial and discursive apparatus of experimentation, whose configuration has an impact on the type of data and the kind of knowledges that will derive from it. Drawing on neo-materialist approaches in feminist science studies, what I suggest is that the researcher’s questions, interpretations, theoretical insights and analytical tropes emerge as intra-actions between space/time/matter relations and forces within the archive.
Persons, polities and planning
Authors: Kaza Nikhil
Published: June 2013

Deliberative democracy often presumes that the deliberators are members of a political community who often share common understanding about their values, even when they disagree about them. Participatory planning processes building upon these ideas argue that planning itself has to be communicative among a variety of interest groups and should, usually, result in a common consensus. However, the boundaries of these groups rarely get attention. These boundaries shape not only the discursive practices within groups but also among them, and therefore need to be examined more thoroughly. Furthermore, the relationship of membership to substantive issues of planning is important yet underexplored. Political membership in a diverse, mobile, transient and multicultural world is a contested subject and should be given deserving attention for its implications for planning practice.
The Research and Policy Importance of Nursing Sample Surveys and Minimum Data Sets
Authors: Spetz Joanne
Published: June 2013

This article reviews the information gathered by the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN) and other sources of data on the registered nurse (RN) workforce. It examines how the data have been used to create knowledge about the RN workforce and highlights the relative strengths and weaknesses of different data sets. Recommendations for future data collection affirm the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation that both license-record based minimum data and the NSSRN be collected in order to help the United States and states meet current and future nursing needs.
Defining the Role of Sensation, Strength, and Prehension for Upper Limb Function in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Kalsi-Ryan Sukhvinder , Beaton Dorcas , Curt Armin , Duff Susan , Jiang Depeng , Popovic Milos R. , Rudhe Claudia , Fehlings Michael G. , Verrier Mary C.
Published: June 2013

Background. Upper limb function plays a significant role in enhancing independence for individuals with tetraplegia. However, there is limited knowledge about the specific input of sensorimotor deficits on upper limb function. Thus the theoretical framework designed to develop the Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength Sensibility and Prehension (GRASSP) was used as a hypothetical model to analyze the impact of impairment on function. Objective. To define the association of impairment (sensation, strength, and prehension measured by the GRASSP) to upper limb function as defined by functional measures (Capabilities of Upper Extremity Questionnaire, Spinal Cord Independence Measure). Methods. A hypothetical model representing relationships by applying structural equation modeling was used to estimate the effect of the impairment domains in GRASSP on upper limb function. Data collected on 72 chronic individuals with tetraplegia was used to test the hypothetical model. Results. Structural equation modeling confirmed strong associations between sensation, strength, and prehension with upper limb function, and determined 72% of the variance in “sensorimotor upper limb function” was explained by the model. Statistics of fit showed the data did fit the hypothesized model. Sensation and strength influence upper limb function directly and indirectly with prehension as the mediator. Conclusions. The GRASSP is a sensitive diagnostic tool in distinguishing the relative contribution of strength, sensation and prehension to function. Thus, the impact of interventions on specific domains of impairment and related contribution on clinical recovery of the upper limb can be detailed to optimize rehabilitation programs.
Beneficial Effects of Minocycline and Botulinum Toxin–Induced Constraint Physical Therapy Following Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Lam Tina I. , Bingham Deborah , Chang Ting Ju , Lee Chih Cheng , Shi Jian , Wang Dongmin , Massa Stephen , Swanson Raymond A. , Liu Jialing
Published: June 2013

Background. Effective recovery from functional impairments caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) requires appropriate rehabilitation therapy. Multiple pathways are involved in secondary injury and recovery suggesting a role for multimodal approaches. Objective. Here, we examined the efficacy of the anti-inflammatory agent minocycline and botulinum toxin (botox)–induced limb constraint with structured physical therapy, delivered alone or in combination, after a severe TBI produced by a controlled cortical impact in rats. Methods. Minocycline was administered at 25 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks beginning 1 day after TBI or sham surgery. For constraint/physical therapy, botox-type A was injected into the nonaffected forearm muscle 1 day after injury and 2 weeks of physical therapy commenced at 5 days after injury. Functional evaluations were conducted 8 weeks after injury. Results. Minocycline, either as a monotherapy or as combination treatment with botox/physical therapy significantly reduced impairments of spatial learning and memory in the water maze test, whereas botox/physical therapy reduced forelimb motor asymmetry and improved manual dexterity in the cylinder and vermicelli handling tests, A synergistic effect between the 2 treatments was observed when rats performed tasks requiring dexterity. Inflammation was attenuated in the peri-contusion cortex and hippocampus in all TBI groups receiving mono or combination therapies, though there was no significant difference in lesion size among groups. Conclusion. These data provide a rationale for incorporating anti-inflammatory treatment during rehabilitation therapy.
Satisfaction with student pharmacists administering vaccinations in the University of Alberta annual influenza campaign
Authors: Cheung Wendy , Tam Kathie , Cheung Phoebe , Banh Hoan Linh
Published: June 2013

Objective:

To evaluate University of Alberta staff and students’ acceptance of and satisfaction with receiving influenza vaccinations from student pharmacists during the university’s annual influenza campaign.

Material and methods:

A patient survey was created to collect patient demographics, influenza history and feedback on the services provided by pharmacy students and to measure willingness to receive vaccinations from a pharmacist in a community pharmacy. The 13-question survey was distributed to patients who received an influenza vaccination from a student pharmacist during the influenza campaign.

Key findings:

A total of 1555 staff and students completed the satisfaction survey. Almost all ( n = 1533, 99%) survey participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the service provided by student pharmacists. A total of 1437 (92%) participants agreed or strongly agreed that based on this experience, they would be willing to receive vaccinations from a pharmacist in a community pharmacy and 1526 (98%) participants rated their overall experience at the flu clinic as very good or excellent.

Conclusions:

Positive responses to the survey suggest that University of Alberta staff and students are satisfied with the service provided by student pharmacists. Their willingness to receive vaccines from a pharmacist in a community pharmacy highlighted public acceptance of the expanding role of pharmacists as immunizers.
Public health and health and wellbeing boards: antecedents, theory and development
Authors: Murphy Peter
Published: June 2013

The 2012 Health and Social Care Act transfers responsibility for public health in England from primary care trusts to local authorities. This article traces the theoretical and policy antecedents of the proposals and highlights some key changes since their original conception in the 2010 public health white paper. It suggests that the development of health and well-being boards and their objectives can best be understood by viewing them through the theoretical prism of public value or new public service theory and concludes with some recommendations for their implementation and development.
The environmental health practitioner: new evidence-based roles in housing, public health and well-being
Authors: Stewart Jill , Bourn Camilla
Published: June 2013

Since the Victorian public health acts, the now named environmental health practitioner (EHP) (previously public health inspector or environmental health officer) has been pivotal in providing healthier housing through a range of policy initiatives and legislative requirements. The role of the practitioner has changed substantially in the past decade, particularly as the public health and well-being agendas have brought focus to the socio-economic determinants of health, including housing, with a renewed vision of tackling the most acute health inequalities through evidence-based practice and taking a population-based approach. The now established Housing Health and Safety Rating System has enabled a far greater focus on evidence than previously. However, for many households on low incomes living in owner-occupied and privately rented housing the situation is inequitable and, for many, has negative health effects. The private-sector housing renewal budget has been discontinued and the allied housing and social care resource has been cut. As a result, EHPs and colleagues need to promote the importance of their work at every opportunity as Public Health England came into being in 2013 and public health has been transferred from the National Health Service to local authorities. This presents both opportunities and challenges in demonstrating the effectiveness of housing strategies and interventions by fine-tuning arguments for securing greater resources through joint strategic needs assessments presented to health and well-being boards.
Narrative Language as an Expression of Individual and Group Identity
Authors: László János , Csertő István , Fülöp Éva , Ferenczhalmy Réka , Hargitai Rita , Lendvai Piroska , Péley Bernadette , Pólya Tibor , Szalai Katalin , Vincze Orsolya , Ehmann Bea
Published: June 2013

Scientific Narrative Psychology integrates quantitative methodologies into the study of identity. Its methodology, Narrative Categorical Analysis, and its toolkit, NarrCat, were both originally developed by the Hungarian Narrative Psychology Group. NarrCat is for machine-made transformation of sentences in self-narratives into psychologically relevant, statistically processable narrative categories. The main body of this flexible and comprehensive system is formed by Psycho-Thematic modules, such as Agency, Evaluation, Emotion, Cognition, Spatiality, and Temporality. The Relational Modules include Social References, Semantic Role Labeling (SRL), and Negation. Certain elements can be combined into Hypermodules, such as Psychological Perspective and Spatio-Temporal Perspective, which allow for even more complex, higher level exploration of composite psychological processes. Using up-to-date developments of corpus linguistics and Natural Language Processing (NLP), a unique feature of NarrCat is its capacity of SRL. The structure of NarrCat, as well as the empirical results in group identity research, is discussed.
The Effect of Strategies-Based Instruction on the Improvement of EFL Learners’ Writing Quality
Authors: Rahimi Mohammad , Noroozisiam Elmira
Published: June 2013

The present study draws primarily on Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural approach and sets out to explore the effect of instruction of sociocultural writing strategies on the improvement of EFL learners’ quality of writing. The study was conducted with two EFL writing classes randomly assigned to an experimental ( N = 22) and a control group ( N = 21) during a university term. Although the students in both classes worked in groups while practicing writing, only the experimental group was continuously taught to mediate their writings through different strategies and contextual mediations based on Engstrom’s (1987) activity theory. The students’ individual writing scores at the beginning and at the end of the experiment were compared, and the results convincingly proved that the experimental group made significantly more improvement in their writing ability than did the control group. The analysis of the recorded students’ interactions in both groups revealed that the experimental group used almost all the sociocultural strategies while practicing writing, whereas the control group made a very limited use of only some of these strategies.
Inequality and political violence: A review of the literature
Authors: Østby Gudrun
Published: June 2013

Does economic inequality breed political violence? For almost half a century, scholars have tried to test this assumption, finding little empirical support for a statistical relationship between the two variables. This article provides a critical review of this literature, starting out with the link between so-called vertical (inter-individual) inequality and conflict. I argue that the lack of empirical results can largely be attributed to the almost exclusive focus on individual-level differences in terms of income or land. Group identity is critical to recruitment and maintaining allegiance to a military organization. Hence, we should focus the attention on the relevant form of inequality—that between groups, or so-called horizontal inequalities. In contrast to the studies focusing on vertical inequality, an emerging quantitative literature on horizontal inequalities and conflict has found a positive link, which is more in line with the evidence from several case studies. However, measuring horizontal inequalities is a clear challenge, and there is a need for additional studies to qualify the initial findings. I conclude by suggesting some avenues for future research.
Integration in the post-Soviet space
Authors: Hansen Flemming Splidsboel
Published: June 2013

Established in 1991, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is still struggling to define a clear and commonly accepted identity for itself. As the member states hold very different views of the future CIS, they pull the organization in different directions, giving it a somewhat fuzzy character. While the Russian-led core is seeking closer integration, possibly even a transfer of decision-making to the supranational level, another group of states is insisting that the CIS should remain a loose and non-binding forum for cooperation. As a reflection of this reality, the CIS space is home to a number of other organizations which all take their members from the CIS circle. These organizations deliver what the CIS as a whole—because of its lowest common denominator policy—cannot do. The host of acronyms offer something to most member states, but they also cause the CIS space to be highly fragmented. Russia, in particular, has worked to bring all the different parts of the CIS closer together under its own leadership, but has remained largely unsuccessful. With its most recent initiative, a Eurasian Economic Union to be established by 2015, Russia is making a new effort to achieve what has failed so far. Little suggests that it will have any greater success now than before, and it therefore seems likely that the CIS will remain in the future also a complex organizational setting and a difficult challenge for Russia to handle.
Resilience and recovery: The Philippine IT–BPO industry during the global crisis
Authors: Abara Anna Charmaine , Heo Yoon
Published: June 2013

The Philippine business process outsourcing industry is poised to be a significant sector contributing to the country’s economic growth. Owing to the rapid development of information and communication technology in the past decade, the industry constantly boasts double-digit growth rates in revenue and manpower. However, as demand for outsourcing decelerated during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, the industry faced its first major challenge. This research explores the Philippine information technology–business process outsourcing industry’s performance during the crisis by assessing the post-crisis results of the industry’s targets and strategies. The study identifies and analyzes the factors that contribute to the sector’s resilience and robust growth during the recession and concludes that offshored services can maintain short- to mid-term growth, but in the long term face major challenges with respect to innovation and talent sustainability. More importantly, the research emphasizes the central role of the Philippine government in the decision-making and policy-reform process that is essential in developing the Philippines into a business process outsourcing center of excellence.
Iatrogenic Cushing Syndrome and Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency Related to Concomitant Triamcinolone and Ritonavir Administration
Authors: Song Yu , Schroeder Jonathan R. , Bush Larry M.
Published: June 2013

Triamcinolone is a long-acting glucocorticoid medication that can be responsible for transient suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. This physiologic alteration may persist for weeks after repeated or even single localized injection of this agent. However, when this glucocorticoid agent is given to patients receiving the HIV protease inhibitor (PI) ritonavir (RTV), inhibition of their shared cytochrome P450 3A4 degradation pathway leads to an increased bioavailability of triamcinolone, with subsequent heightening and prolongation of the glucocorticoid serum levels. In those instances, iatrogenic Cushing syndrome may ensue. The authors encountered such an event in an HIV-infected patient on chronic treatment with an antiretroviral regimen containing RTV. The patient’s clinical presentation and laboratory investigations confirmed a diagnosis of Cushing syndrome and secondary adrenal insufficiency. This was believed to have occurred in close association following cervical vertebral column facet joint injections with triamcinolone acetonide for cephalagia deemed related to cervical spine disease. The discontinuation of the RTV-boosted PI therapy alone, promoting the clearance of the elevated triamcinolone serum levels and restoration of HPA homeostasis, proved successful in this patient. For this case, the authors review the published English medical literature relating to this uncommon phenomenon.
Hypersensitivity and Desensitization to Darunavir in a Case of HIV Infection with Triple-Class Drug Resistance
Authors: Lorber Margalit , Haddad Salim
Published: June 2013

We report on a case of severe cutaneous reaction to darunavir/r and a successful desensitization protocol. The patient was a 41-year-old female, known to be HIV infected for 18 years and who had received several drug regiments in the past. As a consequence, her virus had triple-class mutations but was susceptible to darunavir/r. Her CD4 was 200 cells/mm3 and HIV viral load 56,000 copies/mL. Eight days after initiation of darunavir/r the patient developed a severe pruritic vesicular extended cutaneous allergic reaction which required cessation of all drugs. Due to the severity of the allergic reaction no rechallenge was done. After the patient's recovery, the virus was found to be susceptible only to maraviroc, raltegravir, and darunavir/r. Since darunavir/r was an essential component in treating this triple-class mutated virus, a desensitization protocol was applied successfully. Six months after desensitization, the patient is asymptomatic, compliant, and her HIV viral load remains at <20 copies/mL.
Association between Dog Guardianship and HIV Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Saberi Parya , Neilands Torsten B. , Johnson Mallory O.
Published: June 2013

Despite numerous potential health outcomes of dog guardianship, their value has not been examined in the HIV-positive population. The study objective was to examine the relationship between dog guardianship and HIV clinical outcomes (antiretroviral adherence [≥95% versus <95%], HIV viral load [≥48 versus <48 copies/mL], and CD4 count) among HIV-positive individuals. The authors conducted a secondary analysis of baseline data of 370 HIV-positive men on antiretroviral regimen enrolled in the Duo Project. Generalized estimating equations were used for inferential regression analyses, while controlling for the focal dog guardianship variable and nonfocal covariates. Current dog guardianship was reported in 28.7% of participants. Dog guardianship may be associated with higher CD4 (coefficient = 60.6, P = .052) and adherence ≥95% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.80, P = .048); however, having a detectable viral load was not related to dog guardianship (OR = 0.94, P = .85). Further clinical research with detailed dog guardianship data is needed to further examine the association between dog guardianship and HIV clinical outcomes.
HLA class II upregulation during viral infection leads to HLA-DP–directed graft-versus-host disease after CD4+ donor lymphocyte infusion
Authors: Stevanović Sanja , van Bergen Cornelis A. M. , van Luxemburg-Heijs Simone A. P. , van der Zouwen Boris , Jordanova Ekaterina S. , Kruisselbrink Alwine B. , van de Meent Marian , Harskamp Jessica C. , Claas Frans H. J. , Marijt Erik W. A. , Zwaginga Jaap Jan , Halkes Constantijn J. M. , Jedema Inge , Griffioen Marieke , Falkenburg J. H. Frederik
Published: June 2013

Key Points

GVHD after HLA-DPB1–mismatched CD4+ DLI after TCD-alloSCT is mediated by allo-reactive HLA-DPB1–directed CD4+ T cells. Viral infections after TCD-alloSCT can induce HLA class II on nonhematopoietic tissues, making them targets for CD4+ T cells in GVHD.
Pharmacokinetics and safety of a novel recombinant human von Willebrand factor manufactured with a plasma-free method: a prospective clinical trial
Authors: Mannucci Pier Mannuccio , Kempton Christine , Millar Carolyn , Romond Edward , Shapiro Amy , Birschmann Ingvild , Ragni Margaret V. , Gill Joan Cox , Yee Thynn Thynn , Klamroth Robert , Wong Wing-Yen , Chapman Miranda , Engl Werner , Turecek Peter L. , Suiter Tobias M. , Ewenstein Bruce M.
Published: June 2013

Key Points

rVWF is safe, well tolerated, and has a PK profile generally comparable to pdVWF, but promotes enhanced stabilization of endogenous FVIII.
Dysregulated signaling pathways in the development of CNTRL-FGFR1–induced myeloid and lymphoid malignancies associated with FGFR1 in human and mouse models
Authors: Ren Mingqiang , Qin Haiyan , Kitamura Eiko , Cowell John K.
Published: June 2013

Key Points

CNTRL-FGFR1 induces AML and T-cell lymphoma in murine and human progenitor cells. Simultaneously targeting FGFR1, FLT3, KIT, and MYC synergistically induces cell growth inhibition in CNTRL-FGFR1–transformed cells.
Improvements in observed and relative survival in follicular grade 1-2 lymphoma during 4 decades: the Stanford University experience
Authors: Tan Daryl , Horning Sandra J. , Hoppe Richard T. , Levy Ronald , Rosenberg Saul A. , Sigal Bronislava M. , Warnke Roger A. , Natkunam Yasodha , Han Summer S. , Yuen Alan , Plevritis Sylvia K. , Advani Ranjana H.
Published: June 2013

Key Points

This study is a retrospective analysis of long-term outcomes of patients with FL treated at Stanford University for 4 decades. Study results showed significant improvement in OS in patients with FL despite no change in event-free survival after first-line therapy.
IRP1 regulates erythropoiesis and systemic iron homeostasis by controlling HIF2α mRNA translation
Authors: Wilkinson Nicole , Pantopoulos Kostas
Published: June 2013

Key Points

IRP1 controls HIF2α mRNA translation in vivo and thereby acts as an upstream regulator of Epo expression. IRP1 deficiency leads to age-dependent erythropoietic abnormalities and misregulation of body iron metabolism via the HIF2α/Epo pathway.
RNAi screen identifies Jarid1b as a major regulator of mouse HSC activity
Authors: Cellot Sonia , Hope Kristin J. , Chagraoui Jalila , Sauvageau Martin , Deneault Éric , MacRae Tara , Mayotte Nadine , Wilhelm Brian T. , Landry Josette R. , Ting Stephen B. , Krosl Jana , Humphries Keith , Thompson Alexander , Sauvageau Guy
Published: June 2013

Key Points

Jarid1b knockdown promotes enhanced HSC activity.
The synergistic necrohemorrhagic action of Clostridium perfringens perfringolysin and alpha toxin in the bovine intestine and against bovine endothelial cells
Authors: Verherstraeten Stefanie , Goossens Evy , Valgaeren Bonnie , Pardon Bart , Timbermont Leen , Vermeulen Karen , Schauvliege Stijn , Haesebrouck Freddy , Ducatelle Richard , Deprez Piet , Van Immerseel Filip
Published: June 2013

Bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis is a major cause of mortality in veal calves. Clostridium perfringens is considered as the causative agent, but there has been controversy on the toxins responsible for the disease. Recently, it has been demonstrated that a variety of C. perfringens type A strains can induce necrohemorrhagic lesions in a calf intestinal loop assay. These results put forward alpha toxin and perfringolysin as potential causative toxins, since both are produced by all C. perfringens type A strains. The importance of perfringolysin in the pathogenesis of bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis has not been studied before. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the role of perfringolysin in the development of necrohemorrhagic enteritis lesions in calves and its synergism with alpha toxin. A perfringolysin-deficient mutant, an alpha toxin-deficient mutant and a perfringolysin alpha toxin double mutant were less able to induce necrosis in a calf intestinal loop assay as compared to the wild-type strain. Only complementation with both toxins could restore the activity to that of the wild-type. In addition, perfringolysin and alpha toxin had a synergistic cytotoxic effect on bovine endothelial cells. This endothelial cell damage potentially explains why capillary hemorrhages are an initial step in the development of bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis. Taken together, our results show that perfringolysin acts synergistically with alpha toxin in the development of necrohemorrhagic enteritis in a calf intestinal loop model and we hypothesize that both toxins act by targeting the endothelial cells.
Nocturnal CPAP improves walking capacity in COPD patients with obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: Wang Tsai-Yu , Lo Yu-Lun , Lee Kang-Yun , Liu Wen-Te , Lin Shu-Min , Lin Ting-Yu , Ni Yung-Lun , Wang Chao-Yung , Ho Shu-Chuan , Kuo Han-Pin
Published: June 2013

Background

Exercise limitation is an important issue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and it often co-exists with obstructive sleep apnoea (overlap syndrome). This study examined the effects of nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on walking capacity in COPD patients with or without obstructive sleep apnoea.

Methods

Forty-four stable moderate-to-severe COPD patients were recruited and completed this study. They all underwent polysomnography, CPAP titration, accommodation, and treatment with adequate pressure. The incremental shuttle walking test was used to measure walking capacity at baseline and after two nights of CPAP treatment. Urinary catecholamine and heart rate variability were measured before and after CPAP treatment.

Results

After two nights of CPAP treatment, the apnoea-hypopnoea index and oxygen desaturation index significantly improved in both overlap syndrome and COPD patients, however these changes were significantly greater in the overlap syndrome than in the COPD group. Sleep architecture and autonomic dysfunction significantly improved in the overlap syndrome group but not in the COPD group. CPAP treatment was associated with an increased walking capacity from baseline from 226.4 ± 95.3 m to 288.6 ± 94.6 m (P < 0.05), and decreased urinary catecholamine levels, pre-exercise heart rate, oxygenation, and Borg scale in the overlap syndrome group. An improvement in the apnoea-hypopnoea index was an independent factor associated with the increase in walking distance (r = 0.564).

Conclusion

Nocturnal CPAP may improve walking capacity in COPD patients with overlap syndrome.

Trial registration

NCT00914264
Low-frequency intermediate penetrance variants in the ROCK1 gene predispose to Tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Palomino Doza Julian , Topf Ana , Bentham Jamie , Bhattacharya Shoumo , Cosgrove Catherine , Brook J David , Granados-Riveron Javier , Bu’Lock Frances A , O’Sullivan John , Stuart A Graham , Parsons Jonathan , Relton Caroline , Goodship Judith , Henderson Deborah J , Keavney Bernard
Published: June 2013

Background

Epidemiological studies indicate a substantial excess familial recurrence of non-syndromic Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), implicating genetic factors that remain largely unknown. The Rho induced kinase 1 gene (ROCK1) is a key component of the planar cell polarity signalling pathway, which plays an important role in normal cardiac development. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of genetic variation in ROCK1 on the risk of TOF.

Results

ROCK1 was sequenced in a discovery cohort of 93 non-syndromic TOF probands to identify rare variants. TagSNPs were selected to capture commoner variation in ROCK1. Novel variants and TagSNPs were genotyped in a discovery cohort of 458 TOF cases and 1331 healthy controls, and positive findings were replicated in a further 209 TOF cases and 1290 healthy controls. Association between genotypes and TOF was assessed using LAMP.

A rare SNP (c.807C > T; rs56085230) discovered by sequencing was associated with TOF risk (p = 0.006) in the discovery cohort. The variant was also significantly associated with the risk of TOF in the replication cohort (p = 0.018). In the combined cohorts the odds ratio for TOF was 2.61 (95% CI 1.58-4.30); p < 0.0001. The minor allele frequency of rs56085230 in the cases was 0.02, and in the controls it was 0.007. The variant accounted for 1% of the population attributable risk (PAR) of TOF. We also found significant association with TOF for an uncommon TagSNP in ROCK1, rs288979 (OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.15-2.30]; p = 1.5x10-5). The minor allele frequency of rs288979 in the controls was 0.043, and the variant accounted for 11% of the PAR of TOF. These association signals were independent of each other, providing additional internal validation of our result.

Conclusions

Low frequency intermediate penetrance (LFIP) variants in the ROCK1 gene predispose to the risk of TOF.
Phage cluster relationships identified through single gene analysis
Authors: Smith Kyle C , Castro-Nallar Eduardo , Fisher Joshua NB , Breakwell Donald P , Grose Julianne H , Burnett Sandra H
Published: June 2013

Background

Phylogenetic comparison of bacteriophages requires whole genome approaches such as dotplot analysis, genome pairwise maps, and gene content analysis. Currently mycobacteriophages, a highly studied phage group, are categorized into related clusters based on the comparative analysis of whole genome sequences. With the recent explosion of phage isolation, a simple method for phage cluster prediction would facilitate analysis of crude or complex samples without whole genome isolation and sequencing. The hypothesis of this study was that mycobacteriophage-cluster prediction is possible using comparison of a single, ubiquitous, semi-conserved gene. Tape Measure Protein (TMP) was selected to test the hypothesis because it is typically the longest gene in mycobacteriophage genomes and because regions within the TMP gene are conserved.

Results

A single gene, TMP, identified the known Mycobacteriophage clusters and subclusters using a Gepard dotplot comparison or a phylogenetic tree constructed from global alignment and maximum likelihood comparisons. Gepard analysis of 247 mycobacteriophage TMP sequences appropriately recovered 98.8% of the subcluster assignments that were made by whole-genome comparison. Subcluster-specific primers within TMP allow for PCR determination of the mycobacteriophage subcluster from DNA samples. Using the single-gene comparison approach for siphovirus coliphages, phage groupings by TMP comparison reflected relationships observed in a whole genome dotplot comparison and confirm the potential utility of this approach to another widely studied group of phages.

Conclusions

TMP sequence comparison and PCR results support the hypothesis that a single gene can be used for distinguishing phage cluster and subcluster assignments. TMP single-gene analysis can quickly and accurately aid in mycobacteriophage classification.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of microsclerotia development in Nomuraea rileyi
Authors: Song Zhangyong , Yin Youping , Jiang Shasha , Liu Juanjuan , Chen Huan , Wang Zhongkang
Published: June 2013

Background

Nomuraea rileyi is used as an environmental-friendly biopesticide. However, mass production and commercialization of this organism are limited due to its fastidious growth and sporulation requirements. When cultured in amended medium, we found that N. rileyi could produce microsclerotia bodies, replacing conidiophores as the infectious agent. However, little is known about the genes involved in microsclerotia development. In the present study, the transcriptomes were analyzed using next-generation sequencing technology to find the genes involved in microsclerotia development.

Results

A total of 4.69 Gb of clean nucleotides comprising 32,061 sequences was obtained, and 20,919 sequences were annotated (about 65%). Among the annotated sequences, only 5928 were annotated with 34 gene ontology (GO) functional categories, and 12,778 sequences were mapped to 165 pathways by searching against the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway (KEGG) database. Furthermore, we assessed the transcriptomic differences between cultures grown in minimal and amended medium. In total, 4808 sequences were found to be differentially expressed; 719 differentially expressed unigenes were assigned to 25 GO classes and 1888 differentially expressed unigenes were assigned to 161 KEGG pathways, including 25 enrichment pathways. Subsequently, we examined the up-regulation or uniquely expressed genes following amended medium treatment, which were also expressed on the enrichment pathway, and found that most of them participated in mediating oxidative stress homeostasis. To elucidate the role of oxidative stress in microsclerotia development, we analyzed the diversification of unigenes using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that oxidative stress occurs during microsclerotia development, along with a broad metabolic activity change. Our data provide the most comprehensive sequence resource available for the study of N. rileyi. We believe that the transcriptome datasets will serve as an important public information platform to accelerate studies on N. rileyi microsclerotia.
Holdfast spreading and thickening during Caulobacter crescentus attachment to surfaces
Authors: Li Guanglai , Brun Yves V , Tang Jay X
Published: June 2013

Background

Adhesion to surfaces facilitates many crucial functions of microbes in their natural habitats. Thus understanding the mechanism of microbial adhesion is of broad interest to the microbiology research community.

Results

We report a study by fluorescence imaging and atomic force microscopy on the growth in size and thickness of the holdfast of synchronized Caulobacter crescentus cells as they attach to a glass surface. We found that the holdfast undergoes a two-stage process of spreading and thickening during its morphogenesis. The holdfast first forms a thin plate on the surface. The diameter of the holdfast plate reaches its final average value of 360 nm by the cell age of ~ 30 min, while its thickness further increases until the age of ~ 60 min. Our AFM analysis indicates that the holdfast is typically thicker in the middle, with gradual falloff in thickness towards the outer edge.

Conclusions

We propose that the newly secreted holdfast substance is fluid-like. It has strong affinity to the surface and cures to form a plate-like holdfast capable of supporting strong and permanent adhesion.
Moraxella catarrhalis uses a twin-arginine translocation system to secrete the β-lactamase BRO-2
Authors: Balder Rachel , Shaffer Teresa L , Lafontaine Eric R
Published: June 2013

Background

Moraxella catarrhalisis a human-specific gram-negative bacterium readily isolated from the respiratory tract of healthy individuals. The organism also causes significant health problems, including 15-20% of otitis media cases in children and ~10% of respiratory infections in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The lack of an efficacious vaccine, the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance in clinical isolates, and high carriage rates reported in children are cause for concern. Virtually allMoraxella catarrhalisisolates are resistant to β-lactam antibiotics, which are generally the first antibiotics prescribed to treat otitis media in children. The enzymes responsible for this resistance, BRO-1 and BRO-2, are lipoproteins and the mechanism by which they are secreted to the periplasm ofM. catarrhaliscells has not been described.

Results

Comparative genomic analyses identifiedM. catarrhalisgene products resembling the TatA, TatB, and TatC proteins of the well-characterized Twin Arginine Translocation (TAT) secretory apparatus. Mutations in theM. catarrhalis tatA,tatBandtatCgenes revealed that the proteins are necessary for optimal growth and resistance to β-lactams. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to replace highly-conserved twin arginine residues in the predicted signal sequence ofM. catarrhalisstrain O35E BRO-2, which abolished resistance to the β-lactam antibiotic carbanecillin.

Conclusions

Moraxella catarrhalispossesses a TAT secretory apparatus, which plays a key role in growth of the organism and is necessary for secretion of BRO-2 into the periplasm where the enzyme can protect the peptidoglycan cell wall from the antimicrobial activity of β-lactam antibiotics.
Resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to antibiotics in Lao PDR: first multicentric study conducted in 3 hospitals
Authors: Iem Vibol , Somphavong Silaphet , Buisson Yves , Steenkeste Nicolas , Breysse Franck , Chomarat Monique , Sylavanh Phannasinh , Nanthavong Phouratsamy , Rajoharison Alain , Berland Jean-Luc , Paboriboune Phimpha
Published: June 2013

Background

It is estimated that Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) ranks fifth among the seven countries most affected by TB in the WHO Western Pacific Region. However, because of late implementation of mycobacterial culture, no study on resistance to anti-TB drugs had been performed yet. The objective of this study was to document drug resistance rate among patients hospitalized for pulmonary TB in threeprovinces of Lao PDR.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in three sites, one central and two regional hospitals, from April to November 2010. For each TB suspected patient sputum smear microscopy and culture on Lowenstein-Jensen media were performed. GenoType® MTBDRplus assay was used to test the susceptibility to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RMP), GenoType® MTBDRsl for second-line drugs and GenoType® Mycobacterium CMAS for non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).

Results

Out of 104 positive culture on Lowenstein-Jensen, 87 (83.6%) were M. tuberculosis and 17 (16.4%) were NTM. Of 73 new TB cases, 5 isolates (6.8%) were resistant to INH. Of 14 previously treated cases, 2 isolates (14.3%) were resistant to INH and one isolate was XDR.

Conclusion

Despite an overall rate of resistance still moderate, the frequency of mutations conferring INH monoresistance and identification of the first strain of XDR require strengthening surveillance of drug resistant tuberculosis in Lao PDR.