bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The plant glycosyltransferase clone collection for functional genomics
Authors: Lao Jeemeng , Oikawa Ai , Bromley Jennifer R. , McInerney Peter , Suttangkakul Anongpat , Smith‐Moritz Andreia M. , Plahar Hector , Chiu Tsan‐Yu , González Fernández‐Niño Susana M. , Ebert Berit , Yang Fan , Christiansen Katy M. , Hansen Sara F. , Stonebloom Solomon , Adams Paul D. , Ronald Pamela C. , Hillson Nathan J. , Hadi Masood Z. , Vega‐Sánchez Miguel E. , Loqué Dominique , Scheller Henrik V. , Heazlewood Joshua L.
Published: June 2014

The glycosyltransferases (GTs) are an important and functionally diverse family of enzymes involved in glycan and glycoside biosynthesis. Plants have evolved large families of GTs which undertake the array of glycosylation reactions that occur during plant development and growth. Based on the Carbohydrate‐Active enZymes (CAZy) database, the genome of the reference plant Arabidopsis thaliana codes for over 450 GTs, while the rice genome (Oryza sativa) contains over 600 members. Collectively, GTs from these reference plants can be classified into over 40 distinct GT families. Although these enzymes are involved in many important plant specific processes such as cell‐wall and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, few have been functionally characterized. We have sought to develop a plant GTs clone resource that will enable functional genomic approaches to be undertaken by the plant research community. In total, 403 (88%) of CAZy defined Arabidopsis GTs have been cloned, while 96 (15%) of the GTs coded by rice have been cloned. The collection resulted in the update of a number of Arabidopsis GT gene models. The clones represent full‐length coding sequences without termination codons and are Gateway® compatible. To demonstrate the utility of this JBEI GT Collection, a set of efficient particle bombardment plasmids (pBullet) was also constructed with markers for the endomembrane. The utility of the pBullet collection was demonstrated by localizing all members of the Arabidopsis GT14 family to the Golgi apparatus or the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Updates to these resources are available at the JBEI GT Collection website http://www.addgene.org/.
Conducting Systematic Reviews of Intervention Questions II: Relevance Screening, Data Extraction, Assessing Risk of Bias, Presenting the Results and Interpreting the Findings
Authors: Sargeant J. M. , O'Connor A. M.
Published: June 2014

This is the fifth in a series of six articles describing systematic reviews in animal agriculture and veterinary medicine. The previous articles in this series overviewed the development of a review protocol and the initial steps in conducting a systematic review: identification of a structured question to be answered and conducting a comprehensive literature search to find potentially relevant original research to address the review question. This article describes relevance screening of literature identified in the search to determine which of the original research articles are relevant to the review question, data extraction from primary research studies, the use of standardized procedures to assess the risk of bias in the relevant research studies, presenting the results of the body of research identified and interpreting these results.
The biology of developmental plasticity and the Predictive Adaptive Response hypothesis
Authors: Bateson Patrick , Gluckman Peter , Hanson Mark
Published: June 2014

Many forms of developmental plasticity have been observed and these are usually beneficial to the organism. The Predictive Adaptive Response (PAR) hypothesis refers to a form of developmental plasticity in which cues received in early life influence the development of a phenotype that is normally adapted to the environmental conditions of later life. When the predicted and actual environments differ, the mismatch between the individual's phenotype and the conditions in which it finds itself can have adverse consequences for Darwinian fitness and, later, for health. Numerous examples exist of the long‐term effects of cues indicating a threatening environment affecting the subsequent phenotype of the individual organism. Other examples consist of the long‐term effects of variations in environment within a normal range, particularly in the individual's nutritional environment. In mammals the cues to developing offspring are often provided by the mother's plane of nutrition, her body composition or stress levels. This hypothetical effect in humans is thought to be important by some scientists and controversial by others. In resolving the conflict, distinctions should be drawn between PARs induced by normative variations in the developmental environment and the ill effects on development of extremes in environment such as a very poor or very rich nutritional environment. Tests to distinguish between different developmental processes impacting on adult characteristics are proposed. Many of the mechanisms underlying developmental plasticity involve molecular epigenetic processes, and their elucidation in the context of PARs and more widely has implications for the revision of classical evolutionary theory.
Inheritance is where physiology meets evolution
Authors: Danchin Étienne , Pocheville Arnaud
Published: June 2014

Physiology and evolutionary biology have developed as two separated disciplines, a separation that mirrored the hypothesis that the physiological and evolutionary processes could be decoupled. We argue that non‐genetic inheritance shatters the frontier between physiology and evolution, and leads to the coupling of physiological and evolutionary processes to a point where there exists a continuum between accommodation by phenotypic plasticity and adaptation by natural selection. This approach is also profoundly affecting the definition of the concept of phenotypic plasticity, which should now be envisaged as a multi‐scale concept. We further suggest that inclusive inheritance provides a quantitative way to help bridging infra‐individual (i.e. physiology) with supra‐individual (i.e. evolution) approaches, in a way that should help building the long sough inclusive evolutionary synthesis.
The holist tradition in twentieth century genetics. Wilhelm Johannsen's genotype concept
Authors: Roll‐Hansen Nils
Published: June 2014

The terms ‘genotype’, ‘phenotype’ and ‘gene’ originally had a different meaning from that in the Modern Synthesis. These terms were coined in the first decade of the twentieth century by the Danish plant physiologist Wilhelm Johannsen. His bean selection experiment and his theoretical analysis of the difference between genotype and phenotype were important inputs to the formation of genetics as a well‐defined special discipline. This paper shows how Johannsen's holistic genotype theory provided a platform for criticism of narrowly genocentric versions of the chromosome theory of heredity that came to dominate genetics in the middle decades of the twentieth century. Johannsen came to recognize the epoch‐making importance of the work done by the Drosophila group, but he continued to insist on the incompleteness of the chromosome theory. Genes of the kind that they mapped on the chromosomes could only give a partial explanation of biological heredity and evolution.
Cross‐species cloning: influence of cytoplasmic factors on development
Authors: Sun Yong‐Hua , Zhu Zuo‐Yan
Published: June 2014

It is widely accepted that the crosstalk between naive nucleus and maternal factors deposited in the egg cytoplasm before zygotic genome activation is crucial for early development. This crosstalk may also exert some influence on later development. It is interesting to clarify the relative roles of the zygotic genome and the cytoplasmic factors in development. Cross‐species nuclear transfer (NT) between two distantly related species provides a unique system to study the relative role and crosstalk between egg cytoplasm and zygotic nucleus in development. In this review, we will summarize the recent progress of cross‐species NT, with emphasis on the cross‐species NT in fish and the influence of cytoplasmic factors on development. Finally, we conclude that the developmental process and its evolution should be interpreted in a systemic way, rather than in a way that solely focuses on the role of the nuclear genome.
Chasing Mendel: five questions for personalized medicine
Authors: Joyner Michael J. , Prendergast Franklyn G.
Published: June 2014

Ideas about personalized medicine are underpinned in part by evolutionary biology's Modern Synthesis. In this essay we link personalized medicine to the efforts of the early statistical investigators who quantified the heritability of human phenotype and then attempted to reconcile their observations with Mendelian genetics. As information about the heritability of common diseases was obtained, similar efforts were directed at understanding the genetic basis of disease phenotypes. These ideas were part of the rationale driving the Human Genome Project and subsequently the personalized medicine movement. In this context, we discuss: (1) the current state of the genotype–phenotype relationship in humans, (2) the common‐disease–common‐variant hypothesis, (3) the current ability of ‘omic’ information to inform clinical decision making, (4) emerging ideas about the therapeutic insight available from rare genetic variants, and (5) the social and behavioural barriers to the wider potential success of personalized medicine. There are significant gaps in knowledge as well as conceptual, intellectual, and philosophical limitations in each of these five areas. We then provide specific recommendations to mitigate these limitations and close by asking if it is time for the biomedical research community to ‘stop chasing Mendel?’
Epigenetic resolution of the ‘curse of complexity’ in adaptive evolution of complex traits
Authors: Badyaev Alexander V.
Published: June 2014

The age of most genes exceeds the longevity of their genomic and physiological associations by many orders of magnitude. Such transient contexts modulate the expression of ancient genes to produce currently appropriate and often highly distinct developmental and functional outcomes. The efficacy of such adaptive modulation is diminished by the high dimensionality of complex organisms and associated vast areas of neutrality in their genotypic and developmental networks (and, thus, weak natural selection). Here I explore whether epigenetic effects facilitate adaptive modulation of complex phenotypes by effectively reducing the dimensionality of their deterministic networks and thus delineating their developmental and evolutionary trajectories even under weak selection. Epigenetic effects that link unconnected or widely dispersed elements of genotype space in ecologically relevant time could account for the rapid appearance of functionally integrated adaptive modifications. On an organismal time scale, conceptually similar processes occur during recurrent epigenetic reprogramming of somatic stem cells to produce, recurrently and reversibly, a bewildering array of differentiated and persistent cell lineages, all sharing identical genomic sequences despite strongly distinct phenotypes. I discuss whether close dependency of onset, scope and duration of epigenetic effects on cellular and genomic context in stem cells could provide insights into contingent modulation of conserved genomic material on a much longer evolutionary time scale. I review potential empirical examples of epigenetic bridges that reduce phenotype dimensionality and accomplish rapid adaptive modulation in the evolution of novelties, expression of behavioural types, and stress‐induced ossification schedules.
Non‐coding RNAs as the bridge between epigenetic mechanisms, lineages and domains of life
Authors: Sela Mor , Kloog Yoel , Rechavi Oded
Published: June 2014

Many cases of heritable environmental responses have been documented but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Recently, inherited RNA interference has been shown to act as a multigenerational genome surveillance apparatus. We suggest that inheritance of regulatory RNAs is at the root of many other epigenetic phenomena, the trigger that induces other epigenetic mechanisms, such as the depositing of histone modifications and DNA methylation. In addition, we explore the possibility that interacting organisms influence each other's transcriptomes by exchanging heterologous non‐coding RNAs.
Biophysical constraints on the evolution of tissue structure and function
Authors: Hunter P. J. , de Bono B.
Published: June 2014

Key points

We outline an extension of phylogenetic studies of protein interaction networks to take into account biophysical constraints to interaction imposed by tissues regulating these networks and we define these constraints explicitly as a means to track the evolution of tissue structure and function objectively.

For biophysical constraints that are associated at the lowest spatial scales with molecular diffusion within and between cells that are less than 100 μm apart, we define a cylinder of 40 μm radius centred on a small vessel as the primary functional tissue unit (pFTU).

Molecular transport and communication between distributed or contiguous pFTUs via the endothelial or epithelial vessels is characterised at the level of secondary functional tissue units (sFTUs). sFTUs represent units of physiological function that are replicated multiple times in a whole organ.

Non‐dimensional analysis, which expresses the relative importance of biophysical processes, provides the metrics to quantify and compare the function of FTUs for phylogenetic analysis.

We lay the ground for a systematic approach to the measurement of tissue structure and function, based on biophysical principles, at the level of primary and secondary FTUs.

Phylogenetic analyses based on models of molecular sequence evolution have driven to industrial scale the generation, cataloguing and modelling of nucleic acid and polypeptide structure. The recent application of these techniques to study the evolution of protein interaction networks extends this analytical rigour to the study of nucleic acid and protein function. Can we further extend phylogenetic analysis of protein networks to the study of tissue structure and function? If the study of tissue phylogeny is to join up with mainstream efforts in the molecular evolution domain, the continuum field description of tissue biophysics must be linked to discrete descriptions of molecular biochemistry. In support of this goal we discuss tissue units, and biophysical constraints to molecular function associated with these units, to present a rationale with which to model tissue evolution. Our rationale combines a multiscale hierarchy of functional tissue units (FTUs) with the corresponding application of physical laws to describe molecular interaction networks and flow processes over continuum fields within these units. Non‐dimensional numbers, derived from the equations governing biophysical processes in FTUs, are proposed as metrics for comparative studies across individuals, species or evolutionary time. We also outline the challenges inherent to the systematic cataloguing and phylogenetic analysis of tissue features relevant to the maintenance and regulation of molecular interaction networks. These features are key to understanding the core biophysical constraints on tissue evolution.
The Temperature-Dependent Strength of Metals: Theory and Experimental Validation
Authors: Su Honghong , Fang Xufei , Feng Xue , Yan Bo
Published: June 2014

In this work, we propose a strength theory as a function of temperature and state of stresses for metals. Based on the fracture in the hydrostatic stress, we derived a generalized strength model, in which the fracture strength decreases almost linearly with the increasing of the temperature. Furthermore this generalized strength model was extended to the general state of stresses by replacing the equivalent hydrostatic stresses with the temperature effect based on the general thermodynamics principles. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was also conducted to simulate the fracture evolution at high temperature and to explain the mechanism of temperature-dependent strength at atomic scale. The proposed model was also verified by experiment of Mo-10Cu alloy at elevated temperature.
Lower-Leg Compression, Running Mechanics, and Economy in Trained Distance Runners
Authors: Stickford Abigail S.L. , Chapman Robert F. , Johnston Jeanne D. , Stager Joel M.
Published: June 2014

The efficacy of and mechanisms behind the widespread use of lower-leg compression as an ergogenic aid to improve running performance are unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine whether wearing graduated lower-leg compression sleeves during exercise evokes changes in running economy (RE), perhaps due to altered gait mechanics. Sixteen highly trained male distance runners completed 2 separate RE tests during a single laboratory session, including a randomized-treatment trial of graduated calf-compression sleeves (CS; 15–20 mm Hg) and a control trial (CON) without compression sleeves. RE was determined by measuring oxygen consumption at 3 constant submaximal speeds of 233, 268, and 300 m/min on a treadmill. Running mechanics were measured during the last 30 s of each 4-min stage of the RE test via wireless triaxial 10-g accelerometer devices attached to the top of each shoe. Ground-contact time, swing time, step frequency, and step length were determined from accelerometric output corresponding to foot-strike and toe-off events. Gait variability was calculated as the standard deviation of a given gait variable for an individual during the last 30 s of each stage. There were no differences in VO2 or kinematic variables between CON and CS trials at any of the speeds. Wearing lower-leg compression does not alter the energetics of running at submaximal speeds through changes in running mechanics or other means. However, it appears that the individual response to wearing lower-leg compression varies greatly and warrants further examination.
Investigation of Older Adults’ Participation in Exercises Following Completion of a State-wide Survey Targeting Evidence-based Falls Prevention Strategies
Authors: Lee Den-Ching A. , Day Lesley , Finch Caroline F. , Hill Keith , Clemson Lindy , McDermott Fiona , Haines Terry P.
Published: June 2014

This paper examines whether involvement in an observational study may prompt participants to change their exercise behaviors. Data were collected from 394 older community dwellers in Victoria, Australia using a baseline survey, and 245 of these participated in a follow-up survey one year later. Survey domains were drawn from constructs of relevant health behavior models. Results showed that the proportion of respondents who were currently participating in exercises to prevent falls at follow-up was 12% higher than at baseline (Wilcoxon p value < .001). Twenty-nine percent reported they had changed their perceptions about falls and their risk of falls, with comments focused on threat appraisal. Forty-four percent reported having taken strategies to reduce their risk of falling, with comments based on implementation of different preventive strategies. Respondents who held favorable views toward exercises for the prevention of falls appear to change their behaviors that might address falls when participating in observational studies.
Screening for noise in gene expression identifies drug synergies
Authors: Dar Roy D. , Hosmane Nina N. , Arkin Michelle R. , Siliciano Robert F. , Weinberger Leor S.
Published: June 2014

Noisy genes flush HIV out of hiding

HIV can hide in the body, making it hard to kill with drugs. Increasing variation or “noise” in the virus's gene expression turns out to be an effective strategy for reactivating latent HIV. Once reawakened, the virus is more sensitive to antiviral drugs. Dar
et al.
screened for agents that increased variation in the expression of HIV genes. In a model system with HIV-infected human cells, the noise enhancers worked with existing compounds used to reactivate latent HIV and helped eradicate the virus.

Science
, this issue p.
1392
Genome Sequence of Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp.
cremoris
Strain T26, Isolated from Mesophilic Undefined Cheese Starter
Authors: Pedersen T. B. , Kot W. P. , Hansen L. H. , Sørensen S. J. , Broadbent J. R. , Vogensen F. K. , Ardö Y.
Published: June 2014

Leuconostoc
is the main group of heterofermentative bacteria found in mesophilic dairy starters. They grow in close symbiosis with the
Lactococcus
population and are able to degrade citrate. Here we present a draft genome sequence of
Leuconostoc mesenteroides
subsp.
cremoris
strain T26.
Avian Influenza Virus with Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase Combination H8N8, Isolated in Russia
Authors: Sivay Mariya V. , Sharshov Kirill A. , Pantin-Jackwood Mary , Muzyka Vladimir V. , Shestopalov Alexander M.
Published: June 2014

We report the genome sequence of an avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H8N8, isolated in Russia. The genome analysis shows that all genes belong to AIV Eurasian lineages. The PB2 gene was similar to a Mongolian low-pathogenic (LP) AIV H7N1 and a Chinese high-pathogenic (HP) AIV H5N2.
Draft Genome Sequence of Acetobacter aceti Strain 1023, a Vinegar Factory Isolate
Authors: Hung John E. , Mill Christopher P. , Clifton Sandra W. , Magrini Vincent , Bhide Ketaki , Francois Julie A. , Ransome Aaron E. , Fulton Lucinda , Thimmapuram Jyothi , Wilson Richard K. , Kappock T. Joseph
Published: June 2014

The genome sequence of
Acetobacter aceti
1023, an acetic acid bacterium adapted to traditional vinegar fermentation, comprises 3.0 Mb (chromosome plus plasmids).
A. aceti
1023 is closely related to the cocoa fermenter
Acetobacter pasteurianus
386B but possesses many additional insertion sequence elements.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Virulent Strain, Streptococcus iniae ISET0901, Isolated from Diseased Tilapia
Authors: Pridgeon Julia W. , Zhang Dunhua , Zhang Lee
Published: June 2014

Streptococcus iniae
ISET0901 is a virulent strain isolated in 2007 from diseased tilapia. Its full genome is 2,070,856 bp. The availability of this genome will allow comparative genomics to identify virulence genes important for the pathogenesis of streptococcosis caused by
S. iniae
, as well as possible immunogens for vaccine development.
Atrioventricular block related to liposomal amphotericin B
Authors: Sanches Bruno Fernandes , Nunes Pedro , Almeida Helena , Rebelo Mónica
Published: June 2014

Atrioventricular block can occur in normal children, young adults or athletes. It is also associated with underlying heart disease or occurs as a drug adverse effect. Amphotericin B is used in the treatment of invasive fungal infections. Cardiac toxicity is a rare adverse reaction. We report the case of a 9-month girl, admitted in the paediatric intensive care unit with cytomegalovirus pneumonitis. During hospitalisation the patient developed a systemic fungic infection and was medicated with liposomal amphotericin B. On the third day of treatment she began repeated episodes of bradycardia with spontaneous reversion. The investigation revealed a second-degree atrioventricular block. We excluded the misplacement of the central catheter, myocarditis or structural cardiomyopathy and suspended amphotericin. After 8 days, the bradycardia episodes ceased what was consistent with the drug's half-life. Amphotericin cardiotoxic mechanism is still unclear. It may be related with alteration of myocardial membrane depolarisation.
Chronological hypoplasia: aesthetic management
Authors: Jayam Cheranjeevi , Bandlapalli Anila , Patel Nikunj , Choudhary Rama Shankar Kashinath
Published: June 2014

Enamel hypoplasia is defined as a break in the continuity of enamel with a reduction in the layers leading to depressions or grooves. Chronological hypoplasia is differentiated from other forms of hypoplasia due to its characteristic presentation (multiple, symmetrical, chronological pattern). Chronological hypoplasias are seen at the time tooth erupts into the oral cavity leading to several problems like aesthetic problems, tooth sensitivity, caries and early pulpal involvement. Prevention of interaction of aetiological factors is not possible because multiple factors are required for enamel synthesis. This paper highlights how to diagnose, intercept and treat chronological hypoplasias. It also mentions reasons for treating a case and different modalities available.
Pelvic arteriovenous malformation treated by transarterial glue embolisation combining proximal balloon occlusion and devascularisation of multiple feeding arteries
Authors: Murakami Kenji , Yamada Takayuki , Kumano Reiko , Nakajima Yasuo
Published: June 2014

We present a case of a 70-year-old man with abdominal aortic aneurysm and coincident pelvic arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Before the operation for the aneurysm, we embolised the pelvic AVM that had multiple feeding arteries and an aneurysmal-dilated draining vein. After decreasing the number of the feeding arteries by coil embolisation, ann-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate/lipiodol mixture (1:1) was injected into the prominent feeding artery and nidus with proximal balloon occlusion of the right internal iliac artery to decrease the flow to the nidus. The mixture (1:4–8) was also added for the finer feeding arteries that became apparent after the initial procedure to embolise the rest of the nidus. A follow-up study showed no contrast enhancement of the nidus and aneurysmal draining vein.
Acute hepatitis C infection in a renal transplant recipient: primacy of the liver or kidney?
Authors: Althaf Mohammed Mahdi , Abdelsalam Mohamed Said , Rashwan Mohamed , Nadri Quaid
Published: June 2014

We present a case where a renal transplant recipient contracted chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection post-transplantation. The disease progressed and deteriorated leading to fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis that mandated treatment. Treatment with pegylated interferon α-2a and ribavirin was successful in salvaging the liver and eradicating the virus but as a consequence lead to treatment-resistant acute rejection and loss of the renal allograft.
Hepatic PEComa: a potential pitfall in the evaluation of hepatic neoplasms
Authors: Khan Hadi Mohammad , Katz Steven C , Libbey N Peter , Somasundar Ponnandai S
Published: June 2014

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumour (PEComa) of the liver is very uncommon and may be overlooked in the clinical and histological differential diagnosis of a liver tumour. We report the case of an incidentally discovered liver mass suspicious for hepatocellular carcinoma, which on biopsy was suggestive of a pseudocyst but after resection was found to be hepatic PEComa with some of the usual characteristics of this neoplasm as well as several less familiar features. We have also reviewed cases of hepatic PEComa from the literature in order to provide insight into recognising possible PEComa preoperatively and assessing its risk of malignancy after diagnosis.
Metastasising pleomorphic salivary gland adenoma presenting as synchronous pulmonary and hepatic metastases
Authors: Abou-Foul Ahmad K , Madi Mohammed , Bury Danielle , Merritt Anita
Published: June 2014

Pleomorphic salivary adenomas (PAs) are the commonest benign tumours of glandular origin in the head and neck. Occasionally PAs undergo malignant transformation to carcinoma-ex-PA and can metastasise. More rarely they metastasise without malignant transformation of the primary tumour. We present a case of a benign pleomorphic salivary gland adenoma, presenting 7 years later with multiple liver metastases and a synchronous pulmonary metastasis. Histological analysis of the lung and liver lesions confirmed a diagnosis of metastasising pleomorphic adenoma (MPA). The lung lesion was fully excised, but the multifocal nature of the liver lesions rendered them inoperable. The patient is being managed conservatively and to date has no local recurrence of the primary salivary gland tumour or any further metastases. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case of MPA with simultaneous metastasis to both lungs and liver, and also the first to describe multiple liver metastases.
Validation of risk assessment scales and predictors of intentions to quit smoking in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: a cross-sectional survey protocol
Authors: Gould Gillian Sandra , Watt Kerrianne , McEwen Andy , Cadet-James Yvonne , Clough Alan R
Published: June 2014

Introduction

Tobacco smoking is a very significant behavioural risk factor for the health of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and is embedded as a social norm. With a focus on women of childbearing age, and men of similar age, this project aims to determine how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers assess smoking risks and how these assessments contribute to their intentions to quit. The findings from this pragmatic study should contribute to developing culturally targeted interventions.

Methods and analysis

A cross-sectional study using quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 120 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members aged 18–45 years will be recruited at community events and through an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS). Participants will be interviewed using a tablet computer or paper survey. The survey instrument uses modified risk behaviour scales, that is, the Risk Behaviour Diagnosis (RBD) scale and the Smoking Risk Assessment Target (SRAT) (adapted from the Risk Acceptance Ladder) to determine whether attitudes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers to health risk messages are predictors of intentions to quit smoking.

The questionnaire will be assessed for face and content validity with a panel of Indigenous community members. The internal consistency of the RBD subscales and their patterns of correlation will be explored. Multivariate analyses will examine predictors of intentions to quit. This will include demographics such as age, gender, nicotine dependence, household smoking rules and perceived threat from smoking and efficacy for quitting. The two risk-assessment scales will be examined to see whether participant responses are correlated.

Ethics and dissemination

The Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council Ethics Committee and university ethics committees approved the study. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and a community report will be disseminated by the ACCHS, and at community forums.

Note about terminology

We use the term Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, except where previous research has reported findings from only one group for example, Aboriginal people. Indigenous is used here to refer to Indigenous peoples in the international context, and issues, policies or systems, for example, Indigenous health, Indigenous tobacco control.
Use of corticosteroids during pregnancy and risk of asthma in offspring: a nationwide Danish cohort study
Authors: Byrjalsen Anna , Frøslev Trine , Telén Andersen Ane Birgitte , Olsen Morten , Toft Sørensen Henrik
Published: June 2014

Objective

To examine whether in utero exposure to local and systemic corticosteroids is associated with asthma development in offspring.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting

Denmark.

Participants

We included all singletons born alive in Denmark between 1996 and 2009. Data on maternal corticosteroid use, asthma in offspring and covariates were obtained from medical registries.

Main outcome measures

We compared asthma risks of children prenatally exposed to corticosteroids and of children of former corticosteroid users with that of unexposed children. We computed absolute risks and used proportional-hazards regression to compute adjusted HRs (aHRs). Using logistic regression we compared exposed children with unexposed siblings in a ‘within-mother-between-pregnancy’ analysis. Adjustment addressed varying length of follow-up.

Results

We identified 877 778 children, 3.6% of whom were prenatally exposed to systemic (n=5327) or local (n=24 436) corticosteroids. A total of 105 677 children developed asthma during follow-up with a 10-year risk of 18.4% among the exposed and 13.5% among the unexposed. The aHR was 1.54 (95% CI 1.45 to 1.65) for systemic use, 1.45 (95% CI 1.40 to 1.50) for local use and 1.32 (95% CI 1.30 to 1.34) for former use. The adjusted OR of the ‘within-mother-between-pregnancy’ analysis was 1.11 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.25).

Conclusions

These population-based data do not support a strong causal association between maternal corticosteroid use during pregnancy and increased asthma risk in offspring.
Impact of comorbidity on risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with breast cancer: a Danish population-based cohort study
Authors: Ording Anne Gulbech , Horváth-Puhó Erzsébet , Garne Jens Peter , Nyström Petra Witt , Vyberg Mogens , Sørensen Henrik Toft , Lash Timothy L
Published: June 2014

Objectives

To assess the interaction between comorbidity and breast cancer (BC) on the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) beyond what can be explained by the independent effects of BC and comorbidity.

Design

Population-based matched cohort study.

Setting

Denmark.

Participants

Danish patients with BC (n=62 376) diagnosed in 1995–2010 and a comparison cohort of women without BC (n=304 803) from the general population were matched to the patients with BC on year of birth in 5-year intervals and on the specific diseases included in the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and atrial fibrillation and obesity.

Measures

The rate ratios of VTE per 1000 person-years (PY) were computed by comorbidity levels using the CCI, and interaction contrasts (IC) were calculated as a measure of the excess or deficit VTE rate not explained by the independent effects of BC and comorbidity.

Results

Among patients with BC with a CCI score of 1, the 0–1 year VTE rate was 12/1000 PY, and interaction accounted for 10% of the rate (IC=3.2, 95% CI 0.5 to 5.9). Among patients with BC with CCI ≥4, the VTE rate was 17, and interaction accounted for 8% of the rate (IC=1.2, 95% CI −1.8 to 4.2). There was no interaction during 2–5 years of follow-up.

Conclusions

There was only little interaction between BC and the CCI score on the rate of VTE.
Parental perceptions of school-based influenza immunisation in Ontario, Canada: a qualitative study
Authors: MacDougall Donna , Crowe Lois , Pereira Jennifer A , Kwong Jeffrey C , Quach Susan , Wormsbecker Anne E , Ramsay Hilary , Salvadori Marina I , Russell Margaret L ,   for the Public Health Agency of Canada/Canadian Institutes of Health Research Influenza Research Network (PCIRN) Program Delivery and Evaluation Group
Published: June 2014

Objective

To understand the perspectives of Ontario parents regarding the advantages and disadvantages of adding influenza immunisation to the currently existing Ontario school-based immunisation programmes.

Design

Descriptive qualitative study.

Participants

Parents of school-age children in Ontario, Canada, who were recruited using a variety of electronic strategies (social media, emails and media releases), and identified as eligible (Ontario resident, parent of one or more school-age children, able to read/write English) on the basis of a screening questionnaire. We used stratified purposeful sampling to obtain maximum variation in two groups: parents who had ever immunised at least one child against influenza or who had never done so. We conducted focus groups (teleconference or internet forum) and individual interviews to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Setting

Ontario, Canada.

Results

Of the 55 participants, 16 took part in four teleconference focus groups, 35 in 6 internet forum focus groups and four in individual interviews conducted between October 2012 and February 2013. Participants who stated that a school-based influenza immunisation programme would be worthwhile for their child valued its convenience and its potential to reduce influenza transmission without interfering with the family routine. However, most thought that for a programme to be acceptable, it would need to be well designed and voluntary, with adequate parental control and transparent communication between the key stakeholder groups of public health, schools and parents.

Conclusions

These results will benefit decision-makers in the public health and education sectors as they consider the advantages and disadvantages of immunising children in schools as part of a system-wide influenza prevention approach. Further research is needed to assess the perceptions of school board and public health stakeholders.
Improvement of patient satisfaction with the neurosurgery service at a large tertiary care, London-based hospital
Authors: Khan Amad , Naushad Chaudhry Mohammad , Khalid Salema , Nandi Dipankar
Published: June 2014

Patient satisfaction is central to healthcare provision and the effective running of any surgical unit. Following on from both formal and informal feedback, we decided to look objectively at patient satisfaction with the neurosurgery service at a large tertiary care hospital in London and identify areas that needed improvement within the unit. Patient satisfaction was looked at with respect to four different aspects of the neurosurgery service: the surgeons, ward doctors, nurses, and hospital services. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted and once the data were collected a plan of action to improve service provision was put into place. Data were collected from 150 patients over a 3 month period from September to November 2012. Interventions were made and data re-collected from 150 patients from January to March 2013. With regards to satisfaction with the neurosurgery service, 76.7% (n=115) were satisfied; following implementation of our measures for improvement, which included staff education, meetings and posters, this figure increased to 90.6% (n=136, p<0.001 on Chi-square testing). In conclusion, patient satisfaction should be at the crux of patient care, with a strong focus on effective communication skills, and can be improved by identification of issues by direct patient feedback and subsequent action based on this.
Paediatric ED reattendance rates: comparing nurse practitioners and other clinicians
Authors: Feetham Jane E , Christian Will , Benger Jonathan R , Hoskins Rebecca , Odd David , Lyttle Mark D
Published: June 2014

Objective

The aim of this project is to establish the unplanned reattendance rate for paediatric emergency nurse practitioners (PENPs) working in a designated paediatric emergency department (PED) while identifying the case mix of patients seen by PENPs compared with their medical counterparts.

Design

Quantitative data regarding patient characteristics and reattendance were collected during retrospective review of case notes across two representative 2-week periods.

Setting

The study site is a tertiary urban PED with an annual attendance of 32 000 patients aged from birth to 15 years.

Main outcome measures

Reattendance rates, patient characteristics, triage scores, presenting complaint and numbers of patients discussed with a paediatric emergency medicine consultant were evaluated.

Results

The results showed that PENPs have a lower reattendance rate (1.75%) when compared with senior and junior doctors in training (4.29%, 5.76%); however, PENPs treat a different population of children. When the odds of PENP reattendance are adjusted for this, the significance of the difference becomes less certain.

Conclusions

PENPs work autonomously when seeing children presenting with minor trauma and make a positive contribution in achieving the reattendance Clinical Quality Indicator.
Musculoskeletal symptoms and orthopaedic complications in pregnancy: pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches and modern management
Authors: Bhardwaj Amit , Nagandla Kavitha
Published: June 2014

Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal symptom in pregnancy that can present as lumbar pain or pelvic girdle pain, with significant physical and psychosocial implications. Pelvic girdle pain is more prevalent and results in greater disability than lumbar pain. It is possible to distinguish between these two conditions from a detailed history based on the site of the pain, its intensity, disability and pain provocation tests. Management of low back pain in pregnancy is conservative, with physical exercise for lumbar pain and minimising activities that exacerbate pain, analgesics and bed rest for pelvic girdle pain, as well as avoiding abduction beyond the pain-free zone in labour. There is evidence that stabilising exercises in patients with pelvic girdle pain postpartum have a beneficial effect. Other treatment modalities that have been shown to be safe and effective include pelvic belts, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, spinal manipulative therapy, acupuncture and complementary therapy with yoga. Other orthopaedic complications in pregnancy such as carpal tunnel syndrome, pubic symphysis rupture, transient osteoporosis and osteonecrosis are usually self-limiting with a satisfactory outcome. However, a lack of awareness and failure to recognise these complications can result in long-term morbidity. Knowledge of the preoperative diagnostic investigations, surgical approaches and intraoperative positioning of the mother to avoid gravid uterus compression is vital in orthopaedic emergencies such as lumbar disc herniation, cauda equina syndrome, fractures and acute compartment syndrome of the lower limb to ensure a safe maternal and fetal outcome and to prevent serious disability. Pregnancy is not contraindicated in women with pre-existing orthopaedic complications such as kyphoscoliosis and total hip arthroplasty as there is no evidence to suggest increased maternal or fetal risks.
Large testes and brain sizes in odontocetes (order Cetacea, suborder Odontoceti): the influence of mating system on encephalization
Authors: Kelley Trish C. , Higdon Jeff W. , Ferguson Steven H.
Published: June 2014

Little is known about their mating systems, but odontocetes may utilize the same types of mating systems as terrestrial mammals. Species with relatively large testes are likely to be polygynandrous, while species with smaller testes and greater sexual size dimorphism (SSD) are predicted to be polygynous. The “Machiavellian intelligence or sexual conflict” hypothesis predicts that polygynadrous species also evolved larger brains both to coerce conspecifics to mate and to resist mating attempts by undesirable mates. The “costly tissue” hypothesis predicts that species investing heavily in testes invest less in brain tissue and vice versa to conserve energy.

Residual testes and brain mass measurements were used to test the sexual conflict and costly tissue hypotheses in 40 species of odontocetes. Correlations were performed on both raw data and independent contrasts to control for phylogeny. There was a significant positive correlation between residual testes mass and SSD in both data sets, and between residual testes mass and residual brain mass in the non-phylogenetically controlled data set. Results indicate a negative relationship between increased testes masses and SSD in odontocetes. There was no support for the costly tissue hypothesis. Support for Machiavellian intelligence or sexual conflict hypothesis was found only when phylogenetic effects were not considered.
Timing is the only thing: reproduction in female yellow ground squirrels (Spermophilus fulvus)
Authors: Vasilieva N.A. , Tchabovsky A.V.
Published: June 2014

Based on 4-year field observations of yellow ground squirrels (Spermophilus fulvus (Lichtenstein, 1823)), we determined whether female reproductive effort, annual reproductive success, and survival were dependent on age, body condition, time of emergence from hibernation, and previous reproduction. The probability of weaning a litter did not vary with female age, body condition, time of emergence, or previous reproduction. Litter size, litter mass, and offspring survival did not vary with age, whereas individual offspring mass was lower in yearlings than in older females. Body condition upon emergence had no effect on litter size, litter mass, offspring mass, and survival. Reproduction did not influence female survival, physical condition upon emergence next spring, or subsequent reproductive efforts. The only factor that affected the extent of reproductive effort and offspring survival was the date of emergence: the later a female emerged, the lower the total and mean offspring mass, and fewer offspring survived. The modulation of reproduction in female S. fulvus by only the timing of vernal emergence and independent of other individual characteristics can be explained by the high costs of missed reproductive opportunity because of short longevity combined with low costs of reproduction when resources are abundant enough to meet both somatic and reproductive needs.
ACTIVE TILE SELF-ASSEMBLY, PART 2: SELF-SIMILAR STRUCTURES AND STRUCTURAL RECURSION
Authors: JONOSKA NATAŠA , KARPENKO DARIA
Published: June 2014

We introduce a mathematical framework to describe self-similarity and structural recursion within the active tile self-assembly model, thereby providing a connection between substitution tiling and algorithmic self-assembly. We show that one such structurally recursive assembly system can simulate the dynamics of the self-similar substitution tiling known as the L-shape tiling.
DYNAMIC REDUCTS GENERATION USING CASCADING HASHES
Authors: WANG PAI-CHOU
Published: June 2014

Reducts preserve original classification properties using minimal number of attributes in a table. Dynamic reducts are the most stable reducts in the process of random sampling of original decision table, and they are proposed to classify unseen cases. Classical reduct generation methods can be applied to compute dynamic reducts but the time complexity of computing dynamic reducts are rarely discussed. This paper proposes a cascading hash function, and dynamic reduct can be derived in O(m2n) time with O(mn) space where m and n are total number of attributes and total number of instances of the table. Core of dynamic reducts is also discussed, and the computation of core of dynamic reducts takes O(mn) time with O(mn) space. Sixteen UCI datasets are applied to compute (F, ε)-dynamic reducts for ε = 1, and results are compared to Rough Set Exploration System (RSES). Results show the execution time on generating dynamic reducts using cascading hash tables is faster than RSES up to 1700 times. Besides the efficiency issue of the algorithms, our algorithms are also very easy to implement and applicable to any system.
Universal R-matrix and functional relations
Authors: Boos Herman , Göhmann Frank , Klümper Andreas , Nirov Khazret S. , Razumov Alexander V.
Published: June 2014

We collect and systematize general definitions and facts on the application of quantum groups to the construction of functional relations in the theory of integrable systems. As an example, we reconsider the case of the quantum group [Formula: see text] related to the six-vertex model. We prove the full set of the functional relations in the form independent of the representation of the quantum group in the quantum space and specialize them to the case of the six-vertex model.
Self-gravitation interaction of IR deformed Hořava–Lifshitz gravity via new Hamilton–Jacobi method
Authors: Liu Molin , Xu Yin , Lu Junwang , Yang Yuling , Lu Jianbo , Wu Yabo
Published: June 2014

The apparent discovery of logarithmic entropies has a significant impact on IR deformed Hořava–Lifshitz (IRDHL) gravity in which the original infrared (IR) property is improved by introducing three-geometry's Ricci scalar term "μ4 R" in action. Here, we reevaluate the Hawking radiation in IRDHL by using recent new Hamilton–Jacobi method (NHJM). In particular, a thorough analysis is considered both in asymptotically flat Kehagias–Sfetsos and asymptotically non-flat Park models in IRDHL. We find the NHJM offers simplifications on the technical side. The modification in the entropy expression is given by the physical interpretation of self-gravitation of the Hawking radiation in this new Hamilton–Jacobi (HJ) perspectives.