bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomised controlled study comparing comfort‐related outcomes between two rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses with different sessile drop contact angles
Authors: Fortuin Marten F , Schilperoort John , Evans Bruce JW , Edgar David F , Manon Hector M Tello , Kiers Henri
Published: February 2011

Citation information: Fortuin MF, Schilperoort J, Evans BJW, Edgar DF, Tello Manon HM & Kiers H. Randomised controlled study comparing comfort‐related outcomes between two rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses with different sessile drop contact angles. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2011, 31, 190–199. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2010.00812.x

Purpose:  To compare comfort‐related outcomes when wearing rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses made of two different materials and using two cleaning regimes.

Methods:  In a double‐masked lens material cross‐over study, subjects (n = 28 who completed the study) were refitted with new lenses made from (A) Boston XO material in one eye and made from (B) ONSI‐56 material in the other eye. The lenses made from materials A and B were worn on the right eye and the left eye following the pattern AB–BA–AB (or vice versa) during the first, second, and third 5 week trial periods respectively. Miraflow cleaner (1st and 2nd period) was replaced by Boston Advance cleaner in the 3rd period. Comfort‐related outcomes were assessed by a numerical rating scale (NRS) after each period. Subjects rated six comfort‐related factors: satisfaction, sharpness of vision, end of day comfort, maximum comfortable wearing time, maximum wearing time and foreign body feeling. Additionally we obtained subjects’ preferences for type of lens and lens cleaner during an exit interview. The sessile drop method was used to measure static contact angles.

Results:  The mean of the contact angle measured for the Boston XO material was 93.3° and for the ONSI‐56 material was 75.8°. Mean ‘end of the day comfort’, ‘satisfaction’ and ‘lens feeling’ scores reached statistical significance (anova periods 1, 2 and 3, p’s: 0.005, 0.028, 0.046, n = 23) with marginal differences in favour of those eyes that had worn lenses made of the ONSI‐56 material (differences in mean scores on a 1–10 NRS never exceeded 0.7, 0.5 and 0.2 points in periods 1, 2, 3 respectively). At the exit interview 60% of the subjects (n = 17) were not able to express a preference for wearing either of the lenses, while 29% reported some preference for lenses made of the ONSI‐56 material (n = 8) and 11% for wearing lenses made of the Boston XO material (n = 3) within one or more periods.

Conclusions:  The differences in comfort‐related outcomes between contact lenses made from two different materials, with sessile contact angles that differed by 17.5°, were small. Although some observed comfort differences reached statistical significance, none of these differences were sufficiently large to support a clinically significant difference in comfort between the two materials. We recommend that both the sessile drop and the captive bubble contact angles, measured according to current standards, are made available to practitioners.
Decision making in chronic glaucoma – optometrists vs ophthalmologists in a shared care service
Authors: Ho Shu , A Vernon Stephen
Published: February 2011

Citation information: Ho S & Vernon SA. Decision making in chronic glaucoma – optometrists vs ophthalmologists in a shared care service. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2011, 31, 168–173. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2010.00813.x

Purpose:  Shared care schemes have become popular in glaucoma management in the UK over the past 20 years. Published audits of decision making processes by non‐ophthalmologists working in such schemes are however rare. Our aim was to audit the appropriateness of optometrists’ decision‐making when working in an in‐house shared care glaucoma scheme.

Methods:  A single masked comparison study utilising retrospective consensus decisions by two ophthalmologists compared with ‘live’ optometrist decisions from three optometrists who reviewed patients with glaucoma, suspect glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Results:  Comparisons were made on management decisions on 140 consecutive eligible patients. There were high degrees of agreement (>88%) in terms of visual field interpretation, medical and surgical management decisions, timing of next appointment and ordering of visual field tests. Accuracy of communication with primary physicians was excellent with two optometrists but sub‐optimal in a third.

Conclusion:  An audit model of decision‐making in shared care is demonstrated that in this case supported the apprenticeship model of training utilised in the clinic.
Colchicine inhibits cationic dye uptake induced by ATP in P2X2 and P2X7 receptor‐expressing cells: implications for its therapeutic action
Authors: Marques‐da‐Silva C , Chaves MM , Castro NG , Coutinho‐Silva R , Guimaraes MZP
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The two longest C‐termini of the purinergic P2X receptors occur in the P2X2 and P2X7 receptors and are thought to interact with multiple cytoplasmic proteins, among which are members of the cytoskeleton, including microtubules. In this work we asked whether disrupting the microtubule cytoskeleton might affect the functions of these receptors.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Functions of heterologously expressed P2X2 and P2X7 receptors were evaluated with electrophysiology and dye uptake following ATP application. Permeabilization and secretion of pro‐inflammatory agents were quantified from fresh or cultured peritoneal mouse macrophages, treated in vitro or in vivo with colchicine.

KEY RESULTS Disrupting the microtubule network with colchicine did not affect currents generated by ATP in P2X2 and P2X7 receptor‐expressing cells but inhibited uptake of the dye Yo‐Pro‐1 in Xenopus oocytes and HEK293 cells expressing these channels. Peritoneal mouse macrophages showed less ATP‐induced permeabilization to ethidium bromide in the presence of colchicine, and less reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin (IL)‐1β release. Colchicine treatment did not affect ATP‐evoked currents in macrophages. Finally, in vivo assays with mice inoculated with lipopolysaccharide and ATP showed diminished ROS, IL‐1β, interferon‐γ and NO production after colchicine treatment.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Colchicine has known anti‐inflammatory actions and is used to treat several conditions involving innate immunity, including gout and familial Mediterranean fever. Here we propose a new mechanism of action – inhibition of pore formation induced by activation of P2X receptors – which could explain some of the anti‐inflammatory effects of colchicine.

LINKED ARTICLE This article is commented on by Pelegrín, pp. 908–911 of this issue. To view this commentary visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2011.01325.x
The Rho kinase inhibitor Fasudil up‐regulates astrocytic glutamate transport subsequent to actin remodelling in murine cultured astrocytes
Authors: Lau CL , O'Shea RD , Broberg BV , Bischof L , Beart PM
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Glutamate transporters play a major role in maintaining brain homeostasis and the astrocytic transporters, EAAT1 and EAAT2, are functionally dominant. Astrocytic excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) play important roles in various neuropathologies wherein astrocytes undergo cytoskeletal changes. Astrocytic plasticity is well documented, but the interface between EAAT function, actin and the astrocytic cytoskeleton is poorly understood. Because Rho kinase (ROCK) is a key determinant of actin polymerization, we investigated the effects of ROCK inhibitors on EAAT activity and astrocytic morphology.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The functional activity of glutamate transport was determined in murine cultured astrocytes after exposure to the ROCK inhibitors Fasudil (HA‐1077) and Y27632 using biochemical, molecular and morphological approaches. Cytochemical analyses assessed changes in astrocytic morphology, F‐/G‐actin, and localizations of EAAT1/2.

RESULTS Fasudil and Y27632 increased [3H]‐d‐aspartate (d‐Asp) uptake into astrocytes, and the action of Fasudil was time‐dependent and concentration‐related. The rapid stellation of astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein immunocytochemistry) induced by Fasudil was accompanied by reduced phalloidin staining of F‐actin and increased Vmax for [3H]‐d‐Asp uptake. Immunoblotting after biotinylation demonstrated that Fasudil increased the expression of EAAT1 and EAAT2 on the cell surface. Immunocytochemistry indicated that Fasudil induced prominent labelling of astrocytic processes by EAAT1/2.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS These data show for the first time that ROCK plays a major role in determining the cell surface expression of EAAT1/2, providing new evidence for an association between transporter function and astrocytic phenotype. ROCK inhibitors, via the actin cytoskeleton, effect a consequent elevation of glutamate transporter function – this activity profile may contribute to their beneficial actions in neuropathologies.
The Military Metropolis: Defense Dependence in U.S. Metropolitan Areas
Authors: Gauchat Gordon , Wallace Michael , Borch Casey , Scott Lowe Travis
Published: February 2011

This article examines the “military metropolis,” an urban community that depends highly on military expenditures in order to sustain economic vitality. We build on past theories of military Keynesianism and employ insights from urban political economy theory to examine the effects of defense contracts and defense personnel spending on five measures of labor market quality (median household income, income inequality, poverty 125 percent, unemployment, and casualization) in 276 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas in the year 2000. Whereas previous studies of military spending have focused primarily on nations and U.S. states, this study examines metropolitan areas. We test three hypotheses about how federal military outlays might influence urban economies: first, the defense–dependency hypothesis suggests that urban areas rely on defense dollars in varying degrees to sustain their economic stability and vitality. Second, the localized effects hypothesis proposes that defense personnel spending on military bases and civilian personnel will have more immediate effects on urban economies than spending on defense procurement contracts. Third, the gunbelt hypothesis predicts that military spending has affected urban economies unevenly, benefiting metropolitan areas in some regions of the country more than others. The results of this study support all three hypotheses. We offer interpretations of our results and discuss the policy implications for U.S. metropolitan areas.
Rationing Consumption of Private Goods that Produce Collective Bads
Authors: Coram Alex
Published: February 2011

This article looks at collective decisions over the limits to consumption of a private good that produces a collective bad and studies the way in which these decisions are affected by changes in the distribution of wealth. It shows that a democratic voting program reduces the maximum permissible consumption of the good, whereas a benevolent planner, and a voting program dominated by the rich, will increase this level. It also shows that, under all programs, production of the bad is driven down by increases in inequality.
The small covering factor of cold accretion streams
Authors: Faucher-Giguère Claude-André , Kereš Dušan
Published: February 2011

Theoretical models of galaxy formation predict that galaxies acquire most of their baryons via cold mode accretion. Observations of high-redshift galaxies, while showing ubiquitous outflows, have so far not revealed convincing traces of the predicted cold streams, which has been interpreted as a challenge for the current models. Using high-resolution, zoom-in smooth particle hydrodynamics simulations of Lyman break galaxy (LBG) haloes combined with ionizing radiative transfer, we quantify the covering factor of the cold streams at z= 2–4. We focus specifically on Lyman limit systems (LLSs) and damped Lyα absorbers (DLAs), which can be probed by absorption spectroscopy using a background galaxy or quasar sightline, and which are closely related to low-ionization metal absorbers. We show that the covering factor of these systems is relatively small and decreases with time. At z= 2, the covering factor of DLAs within the virial radius of the simulated galaxies is ∼3 per cent (∼1 per cent within twice this projected distance), and arises principally from the galaxy itself. The corresponding values for LLSs are ∼10 and 4 per cent. Because of their small covering factor compared to the order unity covering fraction expected for galactic winds, the cold streams are naturally dominated by outflows in stacked spectra. We conclude that the existing observations are consistent with the predictions of cold mode accretion, and outline promising kinematic and chemical diagnostics to separate out the signatures of galactic accretion and feedback.
THE CHANGE OF APPARENT VISCOSITY OF LIQUID WHOLE EGG DURING OHMIC AND CONVENTIONAL HEATING
Authors: BOZKURT HAYRIYE , ICIER FILIZ
Published: February 2011

Electrical heating of food products is a novel technique which provides rapid and uniform heating, resulting in less thermal damage to the product. Although the technology offers many advantages, the rheological behavior of liquid whole egg during ohmic heating has not been known yet in the literature. The objective of this research was to examine effects of conventional and electrical heating methods on the rheological behavior of liquid whole egg at a temperature range between 20 and 60C by using concentric rotational viscometer. The ohmic heating was applied at the voltage gradient of 20 V/cm at 50 Hz by matching the same heating curve with the conventional method. The liquid whole egg exhibited characteristics of non‐Newtonian shear thinning fluid. The flow behavior index (n) of liquid whole egg was in the range of 0.908–0.992 and 0.909–0.983 for ohmic and conventional heating, respectively. The consistency coefficient decreased as the temperature increased. The apparent viscosity of heated liquid egg was not statistically different for both heating methods (P > 0.05). The activation energy values for temperature dependency of predicted apparent viscosity were not statistically different for rheological models applied (P > 0.05), while they were significantly different according to heating method (P < 0.05). The liquid whole egg was more sensible to temperature changes during conventional heating. It was concluded that this difference could be either the result of the electrical effect on the apparent viscosity of the liquid whole egg or thermal effect during ohmic heating and fast homogeneous heating during ohmic treatment.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Liquid egg products are so sensible to heat treatments that it can result in many undesirable changes which would provide the occurrence of many undesirable changes. To avoid these undesirable changes, ohmic heating could be applied to liquid whole egg products as a faster and homogeneous alternative heating method. As the rheological behavior changes during heating must be characterized especially for the application of novel heating technologies. Although there were numerous researches on the determination of rheological properties of egg products, unfortunately, there has been no study ever done on explaining the rheological behavior of liquid whole egg during ohmic heating in open literature to the best of the authors' knowledge. Electrical effects of ohmic heating on food rheology rather than thermal effects are also still unclear. Results from this study will give important information to academic studies and industrial applications for the design of continuous ohmic heating systems for non‐Newtonian foods.
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE DRYING PROCESS OF BEE POLLEN FROM TWO ZONES OF COLOMBIA
Authors: BARAJAS JOHANNA , CORTES‐RODRIGUEZ MISAEL , RODRÍGUEZ‐SANDOVAL EDUARDO
Published: February 2011

The influence of the drying temperature (35 and 45C) on bee pollen is evaluated based on the physical, chemical and nutritional characteristics of dried bee pollen from two zones in Colombia (La Calera and Zipaquira). The methods used to establish the effect of the treatment are: determination of chemical composition, measurement of water activity, solubility index, mean particle size, vitamin C content and carotene content. The results confirm that the drying process of bee pollen at 45C has the shorter drying time (156–198 min), moisture content (7–8%) and water activity (0.3), but higher levels of carotene and vitamin C losses. The protein, fiber and ash contents are not affected by the drying temperature. The observed higher carotene content of the pollen from La Calera is probably because of the flora composition in this zone. The vitamin C content decreases as the drying temperature increases, but there are no significant differences between zones.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Bee pollen can be sold as both fresh and dried products. However, refrigeration with temperature between 5 and 10C is required for storage of the fresh bee pollen to preserve quality. The bee pollen drying allows preserving the product at room temperature, making the product marketing easier and increasing the profits of beekeepers. The drying process of bee pollen in Colombia is done by sun, solar and oven‐drying methods. But hot‐air drying is considered as a suitable drying method because it decreases drying time and improves the hygienic quality of the dried product. The chemical, physical and nutritional properties of dried bee pollen were studied in order to evaluate the effect of drying temperature on pollen from different origins. Thus, the results of this investigation can help the apiarists to use the best drying conditions to produce dried bee pollen.
OSMOTIC DEHYDRATION OF BANANAS (MUSA SAPIENTUM, SHUM.) IN TERNARY AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF SUCROSE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE
Authors: MERCALI GIOVANA DOMENEGHINI , MARCZAK LÍGIA DAMASCENO FERREIRA , TESSARO ISABEL CRISTINA , NOREÑA CACIANO PELAYO ZAPATA
Published: February 2011

Bananas (Musa sapientum, shum.) were dehydrated by immersion in ternary aqueous solutions of sucrose and sodium chloride with different concentrations and temperatures. The temperature (25–55C), sugar concentration (30–60%) and salt concentration (0–10%) of each run were set according to a central composite design. Bananas of the Prata variety were cut into cylindrical pieces of 1.8 cm in diameter and 10 cm in length. Analyses were conducted for moisture, sugar and salt contents. Moisture content was determined by gravimetry in a drying oven according to an Association of Official Analytical Chemists method. Sugar and salt contents were determined by using high‐performance liquid chromatography and conductivity meter, respectively. The results showed that water loss (WL) increased as temperature, salt and sugar concentrations increased. An antagonistic effect has been observed between the two solutes on sugar gain (SG) and on salt gain (SC), and a synergistic effect of the two solutes on WL. The SG was minimal at the minimum levels of the independent variables, and SC was minimized at temperature of 36.3C with concentration of 50% sucrose. Results show that the use of a ternary osmotic solution enhances the WL when compared with the use of binary osmotic solutions.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Brazil stands as one of the largest producers of bananas, and among the varieties produced the Prata variety occupies a prominent place. The osmotic dehydration of Cavendish bananas in binary solutions has already been studied, but studies about the Prata variety using ternary systems were not found in the literature. This lack is the main motivation for the present work. The results obtained from this study can be used to optimize osmotic treatment of bananas in industrial scale. Depending on the specific process goals, it is possible to choose from a range of process conditions to direct treatment toward dewatering, impregnation or a mixed effect. The dried bananas can be directly consumed or used as an ingredient in cakes, pastries, candies and many other products. The developed model allows the determination of the amount of water loss and solute uptake in order to predict the different mass transfer flows associated to this process.
Influence of Oscillating Flow on Hyporheic Zone Development
Authors: Maier Herb S. , Howard Ken W.F.
Published: February 2011

The hyporheic zone is an ecologically important ecotone that describes the extent to which nutrient‐rich surface waters penetrate the shallow subsurface adjacent to a flowing surface water body. Although steady‐state models satisfactorily explain the incursion of surface water into the subsurface as a function of head gradients developed across streambed riffles, they fail to account for the depth that surface water is observed to penetrate the subsurface or for the extent to which the hyporheic zone develops adjacent to the stream channel. To investigate these issues, transient flow modeling has been conducted at the riffle scale and supported by data for an instrumented site in northern Ontario where stream‐stage fluctuations are strictly regulated. Model results show that daily stream‐stage fluctuations between 0.6 and 4 m produce oscillating solute flow paths that typically reduce residence times of water and solutes in the hyporheic zone from 60 days or more under steady‐state conditions to less than 1 day. Furthermore, similar stream‐stage fluctuations increase the depth that solutes pervade the subsurface and banks lateral to the stream from around 1 m under steady‐state conditions to as much as 2 and 10 m, respectively. The results demonstrate that the transient flow conditions triggered in the subsurface by variable stream stage can exert a strong influence on hyporheic zone development and have important implications for the hyporheos. The results are especially important for hyporheic communities that may survive gradual changes to their living conditions by migrating to more hospitable aquatic habitats, but are unable to respond to rapid changes provoked by more extreme hydrological events.
Estimation of Groundwater Residence Time Using the 36Cl Bomb Pulse
Authors: Tosaki Yuki , Tase Norio , Sasa Kimikazu , Takahashi Tsutomu , Nagashima Yasuo
Published: February 2011

We propose a methodology for estimating the residence time of groundwater based on bomb‐produced 36Cl. Water samples were collected from 28 springs and 2 flowing wells located around Mt. Fuji, Central Japan. 36Cl/Cl ratios in the water samples, determined by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), were between 43 × 10−15 and 412 × 10−15. A reference time series of the above‐background (i.e., bomb‐derived) 36Cl concentration was constructed by linearly scaling the background‐corrected Dye‐3 data according to the estimated total bomb‐produced 36Cl fallout in the Mt. Fuji area. Assuming piston flow transport, estimates of residence time were obtained by comparing the measured bomb‐derived 36Cl concentrations in spring water with the reference curve. The distribution of 36Cl‐based residence times is basically consistent with that of tritium‐based estimates calculated from data presented in previous studies, although the estimated residence times differ between the two tracers. This discrepancy may reflect chlorine recycling via vegetation or the relatively small change in fallout rate, approximately since 1975, which would give rise to large uncertainties in 36Cl‐based estimates of recharge for the period, approximately since 1975. Given the estimated ages for groundwater from flowing wells, dating based on a 36Cl bomb pulse may be more reliable and sensitive for groundwater recharged before 1975, back as far as the mid‐1950s.
Environmental Public Health Law: Three Pillars
Authors: Jackson Richard J. , Malloy Timothy F.
Published: February 2011

Most people dread being the subject of interest for doctors, scientists, regulators, and lawyers. While we may joke about the arrogance of the medical profession and the aggressiveness of the legal field, both lie at the core of environmental public health (EPH). They are inseparable, sometimes complementary and other times in tension. The role of medicine and science in EPH is clear, but their relationship with law is often opaque. Yet in no other area of public health, from infectious and chronic disease prevention to providing health care in underserved communities, is law so central as an instrument and partner. In this article we explore the relationship of law and science in the broader context of EPH, beginning with an overview of potential goals and challenges. We then offer three organizing principles that inform and guide the integration of law, science and policy in EPH.
Meaningful Use and Certification of Health Information Technology: What about Safety?
Authors: Hoffman Sharona , Podgurski Andy
Published: February 2011

Health information technology (HIT) is becoming increasingly prevalent in medical offices and facilities. Like President George W. Bush before him, President Obama announced a plan to computerize all Americans’ medical records by 2014. Computerization is certain to transform American health care, but to ensure that its benefits outweigh its risks, the federal government must provide appropriate oversight.

President Obama’s stimulus legislation, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), dedicated $27 billion to the promotion of health information technology. It provides payments of up to $44,000 per clinician under the Medicare incentive program and $63,750 per clinician under the Medicaid program.
Becoming the Standard: How Innovative Procedures Benefitting Public Health are Incorporated into the Standard of Care
Authors: Arias Jalayne J.
Published: February 2011

Physicians’ resistance to implementing innovative medical procedures due to a perceived risk of liability can adversely affect the public’s health. This resistance prevents public access to procedures that could better treat communicable or chronic diseases. Innovative procedures, for the purpose of this article, are medical practices that require physicians to modify current clinical approaches to treating or diagnosing a patient’s condition and incorporate: (1) newly developed tests, treatments, drugs or devices (e.g., genetic screening to identify drug sensitivities to reduce adverse drug reactions); or (2) novel methods not commonly used by a majority of physicians (e.g., partner delivered therapy to treat an intimate partner for a communicable disease or advanced prescription of naloxone to patients prone to an opioid overdose). Innovative procedures do not include treatments provided during clinical research or those beyond a physician’s scope of practice.
Polite Society and the Rural Resort: The Meanings of Moffat Spa in the Eighteenth Century
Authors: GLOVER KATHARINE
Published: February 2011

Numerous small spa resorts dotted the British countryside throughout the eighteenth century. They played a key role in the annual leisure cycle of the polite, yet little scholarly attention has been paid to the precise workings of the polite sociability with which such resorts were associated. This article takes as a case‐study Moffat spa, a small but significant resort in southern Scotland. It uses visitors' responses to and correspondence from the spa to explore the ways in which such resorts could be constructed as a place of politeness, and the social possibilities this opened up for those who frequented them.
Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 barcode data of fish of the Nayband National Park in the Persian Gulf and analysis using meta‐data flag several cryptic species
Authors: ASGHARIAN HOSSEINALI , SAHAFI HOMAYOUN HOSSEINZADEH , ARDALAN ARIA ASHJA , SHEKARRIZ SHAHROKH , ELAHI ELAHE
Published: February 2011

We provide cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) barcode sequences of fishes of the Nayband National Park, Persian Gulf, Iran. Industrial activities, ecological considerations and goals of The Fish Barcode of Life campaign make it crucial that fish species residing in the park be identified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of barcoding data on fishes of the Persian Gulf. We examined 187 individuals representing 76 species, 56 genera and 32 families. The data flagged potentially cryptic species of Gerres filamentosus and Plectorhinchus schotaf. 16S rDNA data on these species are provided. Exclusion of these two potential cryptic species resulted in a mean COI intraspecific distance of 0.18%, and a mean inter‐ to intraspecific divergence ratio of 66.7. There was no overlap between maximum Kimura 2‐parameter distances among conspecifics (1.66%) and minimum distance among congeneric species (6.19%). Barcodes shared among species were not observed. Neighbour‐joining analysis showed that most species formed cohesive sequence units with little variation. Finally, the comparison of 16 selected species from this study with meta‐data of conspecifics from Australia, India, China and South Africa revealed high interregion divergences and potential existence of six cryptic species. Pairwise interregional comparisons were more informative than global divergence assessments with regard to detection of cryptic variation. Our analysis exemplifies optimal use of the expanding barcode data now becoming available.
Quality of life of eye amputated patients
Authors: Rasmussen Marie L. R. , Ekholm Ola , Prause Jan U. , Toft Peter B.
Published: February 2011

Purpose:  To evaluate eye‐amputated patients’ health‐related quality of life, perceived stress, self‐rated health, job separation because of illness or disability and socioeconomic position.

Methods:  Patients were recruited from a tertiary referral centre situated in Copenhagen. Inclusion criteria were eye amputation, i.e. evisceration, enucleation, orbital exenteration or secondary implantation of an orbital implant during the period 1996–2003, and participation in a previous investigation (2005).

In total, 159 eye‐amputated patients were included, and completed a self‐administered questionnaire containing health‐related quality of life (SF‐36), the perceived stress scale and answered questions about self‐rated health, job changes because of illness or disability and socioeconomic status. These results were compared with findings from the Danish Health Interview Survey 2005.

Results:  The eye‐amputated patients had significantly (p < 0.05) lower scores (poorer health) on all SF‐36 subscales and more perceived stress compared to the general population. In all, 43.3% of the patients rated their health as excellent or very good compared to 52.1% of the general population. In total, 25% of the study population has retired or changed to a part‐time job because of eye disease.

The percentage of eye amputated patients, who were divorced or separated, was twice as high as in the general population.

Conclusion:  The impact of an eye amputation is considerable. The quality of life, perceived stress and self‐rated health of many eye‐amputated patients are drastically changed. Eye amputation has a marked negative influence on job separation because of illness or disability and on socioeconomic position.
Fair Value Accounting and Stewardship*
Authors: Rashad Abdel‐Khalik A.
Published: February 2011

Current standards define fair value as the market price at which an asset could be sold or a liability could be settled in the normal course of business. Setting aside measurement issues, assessing the relevance of exit values has intensified in recent years as fair value becomes a pervasive component of accounting regulation. The current debate about accounting measurement is framed in terms of making a choice between fair value and historical cost. In this article I argue that this is not a correct framing of the issues; knowledge of fair value alone cannot help investors to evaluate stewardship, because they would not know how much resources the management had sacrificed to obtain that fair value. To properly evaluate stewardship, investors need both types of information, historical cost and fair value.Using this information, a rate‐of‐return‐like index of stewardship quality is proposed. This commentary concludes with a statement about three significant drawbacks of relying solely on fair value accounting.
The Relationship of Teacher‐Facilitated, Inquiry‐Based Instruction to Student Higher‐Order Thinking
Authors: Marshall Jeff C. , Horton Robert M.
Published: February 2011

Commissions, studies, and reports continue to call for inquiry‐based learning approaches in science and math that challenge students to think critically and deeply. While working with a group of middle school science and math teachers, we conducted more than 100 classroom observations, assessing several attributes of inquiry‐based instruction. We sorted the observations into two groups based on whether students both explored underlying concepts before receiving explanations and contributed to the explanations. We found that in both math and science classrooms, when teachers had students both explore concepts before explanations and contribute to the explanations, a higher percent of time was spent on exploration and students were more frequently involved at a higher cognitive level. Further, we found a high positive correlation between the percent of time spent exploring concepts and the cognitive level of the students, and a negative correlation between the percent of time spent explaining concepts and the cognitive level. When we better understand how teachers who are successful in challenging students in higher‐order thinking spend their time relative to various components of inquiry‐based instruction, then we are better able to develop professional development experiences that help teachers transition to more desired instructional patterns.
Data Analysis and Statistics in Middle Grades: An Analysis of Content Standards
Authors: Sorto M. Alejandra
Published: February 2011

The purpose of the study reported herein was to identify the important aspects of statistical knowledge that students in the middle school grades in United States are expected to learn as well as what the teachers are expected to teach. A systematic study of 49 states standards and one set of national standards was used to identify these important aspects, and to measure the degree of emphasis or importance suggested for the content. Results show that state and national standards differ greatly in their expectations of what topics in data analysis and statistics students and teachers should master. There is also a large variation in the degree of emphasis given to the content. The majority of the standards analyzed suggest giving greater emphasis to the selection and proper use of graphical data representation and measures of center.
A semi‐Markov model to assess reliably survival patterns from birth to death in free‐ranging populations
Authors: Choquet Rémi , Viallefont Anne , Rouan Lauriane , Gaanoun Kamel , Gaillard Jean‐Michel
Published: February 2011

1. Semi‐Markov models explicitly define the distribution of waiting time duration and have been used as a convenient framework for modelling the time spent in one physiological state in previous biological studies.

2. Here, we focus on the modelling of the time spent within a life‐cycle stage (e.g. juvenile, adult and old) by individuals over their lifetime from Capture–Mark–Recapture data, which are commonly used to estimate demographic parameters in free‐ranging populations.

3. We propose a parametric model (1) with a semi‐Markov state, (2) associated to a hazard function and (3) accounting for imperfect detection to assess reliably survival patterns from birth to death.

4. These models indeed outperform models with a linear trend or a quadratic form, often selected as the best model for survival in capture–recapture studies.

5. Moreover, our approach offers the first opportunity to estimate statistically rather than visually the age of the onset of actuarial senescence, associated with confidence intervals.

6. The application of this new approach to the detailed long‐term study of survival in roe deer at Trois Fontaines (France) illustrates the relevance of semi‐Markov models to assess survival patterns from birth to death.
Changing the Equation on Scientific Data Visualization
Authors: Fox Peter , Hendler James
Published: February 2011

An essential facet of the data deluge is the need for different types of users to apply visualizations to understand how data analyses and queries relate to each other. Unfortunately, visualization too often becomes an end product of scientific analysis, rather than an exploration tool that scientists can use throughout the research life cycle. However, new database technologies, coupled with emerging Web-based technologies, may hold the key to lowering the cost of visualization generation and allow it to become a more integral part of the scientific process.
Structure of MyTH4-FERM Domains in Myosin VIIa Tail Bound to Cargo
Authors: Wu Lin , Pan Lifeng , Wei Zhiyi , Zhang Mingjie
Published: February 2011

Structural data suggest how mutations in a myosin tail cause deafness in humans.
Advancing Global Health Research Through Digital Technology and Sharing Data
Authors: Lang Trudie
Published: February 2011

The imperative for improving health in the world’s poorest regions lies in research, yet there is no question that low participation, a lack of trained staff, and limited opportunities for data sharing in developing countries impede advances in medical practice and public health knowledge. Extensive studies are essential to develop new treatments and to identify better ways to manage healthcare issues. Recent rapid advances in availability and uptake of digital technologies, especially of mobile networks, have the potential to overcome several barriers to collaborative research in remote places with limited access to resources. Many research groups are already taking advantage of these technologies for data sharing and capture, and these initiatives indicate that increasing acceptance and use of digital technology could promote rapid improvements in global medical science.
Access to Stem Cells and Data: Persons, Property Rights, and Scientific Progress
Authors: Mathews Debra J. H. , Graff Gregory D. , Saha Krishanu , Winickoff David E.
Published: February 2011

Many fields have struggled to develop strategies, policies, or structures to optimally manage data, materials, and intellectual property rights (IPRs). There is growing recognition that the field of stem cell science, in part because of its complex IPRs landscape and the importance of cell line collections, may require collective action to facilitate basic and translational research. Access to pluripotent stem cell lines and the information associated with them is critical to the progress of stem cell science, but simple notions of access are substantially complicated by shifting boundaries between what is considered information versus material, person versus artifact, and private property versus the public domain.
Complete Fourth Metatarsal and Arches in the Foot of
Australopithecus afarensis
Authors: Ward Carol V. , Kimbel William H. , Johanson Donald C.
Published: February 2011

A long bone of the foot of an early human indicates that its foot was stiff and arched, as in modern humans.
Ending Earmarks Also Means the End Of Many Research Projects
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: February 2011

The last pillar supporting congressional earmarks crumbled last week, dooming the controversial practice for at least the next 2 years. Turning off the spigot will have a dramatic impact on scientists who receive the money and perhaps also on the societal problems they are tackling.
Histoplasma Antigen Clearance during Treatment of Histoplasmosis in Patients with AIDS Determined by a Quantitative Antigen Enzyme Immunoassay
Authors: Hage Chadi A. , Kirsch Emily J. , Stump Timothy E. , Kauffman Carol A. , Goldman Mitchell , Connolly Patricia , Johnson Philip C. , Wheat L. Joseph , Baddley John W.
Published: February 2011

Clearance ofHistoplasmaantigen has been used as a marker for response to treatment of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH) in patients with AIDS. Advancements inHistoplasmaantigen detection permit accurate quantification of antigen concentration. We compared the clearance of antigenemia and antigenuria during effective treatment of PDH. Urine and serum specimens were serially collected from patients with AIDS who were successfully treated for PDH as part of two prospective clinical trials. Samples were stored frozen until they were tested in the quantitativeHistoplasmaantigen enzyme immunoassay. The kinetics of antigen clearance during the first 12 weeks of therapy were assessed in urine and serum during treatment with liposomal or deoxycholate amphotericin B followed by itraconazole and, in a separate analysis, in patients receiving only itraconazole. Latent class growth analysis was performed to define patterns of antigen clearance over time. In patients receiving amphotericin B, antigen levels declined the most during the first 2 weeks of treatment and antigenemia decreased more rapidly than antigenuria (5.90 ng/ml per week versus 4.21 ng/ml per week, respectively;P= 0.09). Mean reductions of antigen levels from baseline at weeks 2 and 12 were greater in sera than in urine: 11.26 ng/ml versus 7.65 ng/ml (P= 0.0948) and 18.52 ng/ml versus 14.64 ng/ml (P= 0.0440), respectively. In patients who received itraconazole alone, most of the decline in antigenuria occurred later during treatment and was overall slower than that seen with amphotericin B (P< 0.0001). Results of latent class growth modeling showed two distinct trajectories for each parameter. With effective therapy,Histoplasmaantigenemia decreases more rapidly than antigenuria, providing a more sensitive early laboratory marker for response to treatment. Antigenuria declines earlier with amphotericin B than with itraconazole.
Comparison of Western Immunobloting to an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Determination of Anti-Bordetella pertussis Antibodies
Authors: Merrigan Stephen D. , Welch Ryan J. , Litwin Christine M.
Published: February 2011

DuringBordetella pertussisinfection, it has been established that an increase of anti-pertussis toxin (PT) and anti-filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) antibodies occurs. Immunoblots from two manufacturers using FHA and PT antigens were compared with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that used both FHA and PT. One manufacturer used two concentrations of PT bands for the IgG immunoblot, calibrated to the World Health Organization standard for PT in international units (IU/ml), 100 IU/ml (PT-100) and 8 IU/ml (PT). The second immunoblot kit measured antibodies to a single calibrated PT band. Both kits measured IgA antibodies, and one additionally measured IgM antibodies. Two of 41 (5%) ELISA IgM positives were confirmed positive by IgM immunoblotting, suggesting poor specificity of the IgM ELISA. The agreements of the IgG and IgA immunoblots with the ELISA ranged from 72.5% to 85.3%, with only 38 to 51% of IgA positives confirmed by immunoblotting and only 61 to 68% of IgG positives confirmed by immunoblotting. The two immunoblots correlated well with each other, with 91.7% and 94.3% agreement for IgG and IgA, respectively. When the FHA band was used with the PT band as the criterion for positivity, significant differences existed in specificity compared to the ELISA (IgG, 84.1% versus 33.3%; IgA, 82.4% versus 71.0%). When the positive IgA immunoblots (evidence of natural recent infection) were compared to the positive PT-100 IgG immunoblots (evidence of recent infection or vaccination), the PT-100 blot showed a 71% sensitivity in detecting natural recent infection.B. pertussisimmunoblots, alone or in combination with ELISAs, can aid in the diagnosis ofB. pertussisinfection.
Parvovirus among Patients with Cytopenia of Unknown Origin in Brazil: a Case-Control Study
Authors: de Oliveira Garcia Sheila , Neto Walter Kleine , da Costa Antonio Charlys , Sanabani Sabri Saeed , Mendrone Alfredo , Pereira Juliana , Sabino Ester Cerdeira
Published: February 2011

The molecular prevalence of human parvovirus B19V (B19V) in bone marrow (BM) samples from 120 cases with cytopenias of unknown etiology was compared with that in samples from 45 BM donors (control group 1) and 120 oncohematological patients (control group 2) to determine the role that B19V genotypes may play in unexplained cytopenias. Of the 285 participants, the BM samples of 39 (13.7%) contained B19V DNA (21 with genotype 1, 5 with genotype 2, and 13 with genotype 3). The prevalences of B19V were similar between case and control subjects (15.0% versus 12.7%, respectively). Genotypes 2 and 3 were associated with older age and were detected in similar proportions between case and control group 2 subjects. The results of this study do not support a role for B19V genotype variants in the etiology of unexplained cytopenias.
Adenoid Reservoir for Pathogenic Biofilm Bacteria
Authors: Nistico L. , Kreft R. , Gieseke A. , Coticchia J. M. , Burrows A. , Khampang P. , Liu Y. , Kerschner J. E. , Post J. C. , Lonergan S. , Sampath R. , Hu F. Z. , Ehrlich G. D. , Stoodley P. , Hall-Stoodley L.
Published: February 2011

Biofilms of pathogenic bacteria are present on the middle ear mucosa of children with chronic otitis media (COM) and may contribute to the persistence of pathogens and the recalcitrance of COM to antibiotic treatment. Controlled studies indicate that adenoidectomy is effective in the treatment of COM, suggesting that the adenoids may act as a reservoir for COM pathogens. To investigate the bacterial community in the adenoid, samples were obtained from 35 children undergoing adenoidectomy for chronic OM or obstructive sleep apnea. We used a novel, culture-independent molecular diagnostic methodology, followed by confocal microscopy, to investigate the
in situ
distribution and organization of pathogens in the adenoids to determine whether pathogenic bacteria exhibited criteria characteristic of biofilms. The Ibis T5000 Universal Biosensor System was used to interrogate the extent of the microbial diversity within adenoid biopsy specimens. Using a suite of 16 broad-range bacterial primers, we demonstrated that adenoids from both diagnostic groups were colonized with polymicrobial biofilms.
Haemophilus influenzae
was present in more adenoids from the COM group (
P
= 0.005), but there was no significant difference between the two patient groups for
Streptococcus pneumoniae
or
Staphylococcus aureus
. Fluorescence
in situ
hybridization, lectin binding, and the use of antibodies specific for host epithelial cells demonstrated that pathogens were aggregated, surrounded by a carbohydrate matrix, and localized on and within the epithelial cell surface, which is consistent with criteria for bacterial biofilms.
Comparison of BD Bactec Plus Blood Culture Media to VersaTREK Redox Blood Culture Media for Detection of Bacterial Pathogens in Simulated Adult Blood Cultures Containing Therapeutic Concentrations of Antibiotics
Authors: Miller Nancy S. , Rogan Dagmar , Orr Beverley L. , Whitney Dana
Published: February 2011

Antibiotic neutralization in blood culture media from two automated systems was evaluated by measuring the recovery of organisms and times to detection in simulated cultures. Overall, BD Bactec Plus media (Bactec FX system) outperformed TREK 80 ml Redox media (VersaTREK system), although results suggest a relative rather than an absolute increased rate of recovery for the Bactec media.