bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
P2Y
6
Deficiency Limits Vascular Inflammation and Atherosclerosis in Mice
Authors: Stachon Peter , Peikert Alexander , Michel Nathaly Anto , Hergeth Sonja , Marchini Timoteo , Wolf Dennis , Dufner Bianca , Hoppe Natalie , Ayata Cemil Korcan , Grimm Melanie , Cicko Sanja , Schulte Lisa , Reinöhl Jochen , von zur Muhlen Constantin , Bode Christoph , Idzko Marco , Zirlik Andreas
Published: August 2014

Objective—

Nucleotides such as ATP, ADP, UTP, and UDP serve as proinflammatory danger signals via purinergic receptors on their release to the extracellular space by activated or dying cells. UDP binds to the purinergic receptor Y
6
(P2Y
6
) and propagates vascular inflammation by inducing the expression of chemokines such as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, interleukin-8, or its mouse homologsCCL1 (chemokine [C-C motif] ligand 1)/keratinocyte chemokine, CXCL2 (chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 2)/macrophage inflammatory protein 2, and CXCL5 (chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 5)/LIX, and adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1. Thus, P2Y
6
contributes to leukocyte recruitment and inflammation in conditions such as allergic asthma or sepsis. Because atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by leukocyte recruitment to the vessel wall, we hypothesized a role of P2Y
6
in atherogenesis.

Approach and Results—

Intraperitoneal stimulation of wild-type mice with UDP induced rolling and adhesion of leukocytes to the vessel wall as assessed by intravital microscopy. This effect was not present in P2Y
6
-deficient mice. Atherosclerotic aortas of low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient mice consuming high-cholesterol diet for 16 weeks expressed significantly more transcripts and protein of P2Y
6
than respective controls. Finally, P2Y
6
−/−
/low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient mice consuming high-cholesterol diet for 16 weeks developed significantly smaller atherosclerotic lesions compared with P2Y
6
+/+
/low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient mice. Bone marrow transplantation identified a crucial role of P2Y
6
on vascular resident cells, most likely endothelial cells, on leukocyte recruitment and atherogenesis. Atherosclerotic lesions of P2Y
6
-deficient mice contained fewer macrophages and fewer lipids as determined by immunohistochemistry. Mechanistically, RNA expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and interleukin-6 was decreased in these lesions and P2Y
6
-deficient macrophages took up less modified low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Conclusions—

We show for the first time that P2Y
6
deficiency limits atherosclerosis and plaque inflammation in mice.
Relationship Between MDCT‐Imaged Myocardial Fat and Ventricular Tachycardia Substrate in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Komatsu Yuki , Jadidi Amir , Sacher Frederic , Denis Arnaud , Daly Matthew , Derval Nicolas , Shah Ashok , Lehrmann Heiko , Park Chan‐Il , Weber Reinhold , Arentz Thomas , Pache Gregor , Sermesant Maxime , Ayache Nicholas , Relan Jatin , Montaudon Michel , Laurent François , Hocini Mélèze , Haïssaguerre Michel , Jaïs Pierre , Cochet Hubert
Published: August 2014

Background

Myocardial fibrofatty infiltration is a milieu for ventricular tachycardia (
VT
) in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (
ARVC
) and can be depicted as myocardial hypodensity on contrast‐enhanced multidetector computed tomography (
MDCT
) with high spatial and temporal resolution. This study aimed to assess the relationship between
MDCT
‐imaged myocardial fat and
VT
substrate in
ARVC
.

Methods and Results

We studied 16 patients with
ARVC
who underwent ablation and preprocedural
MDCT
. High‐resolution imaging data were processed and registered to high‐density endocardial and epicardial maps in sinus rhythm on 3‐dimensional electroanatomic mapping (3D‐
EAM
) (626±335 and 575±279 points/map, respectively). Analysis of the locations of low‐voltage and fat segmentation included the following endocardial and epicardial regions: apex, mid (anterior, lateral, inferior), and basal (anterior, lateral, inferior). The location of local abnormal ventricular activities (
LAVA
) was compared with fat distribution.
RV
myocardial fat was successfully segmented and integrated with 3D‐
EAM
in all patients. The κ agreement test demonstrated a good concordance between the epicardial low voltage and fat (κ=0.69, 95%
CI
0.54 to 0.84), but fair concordance with the endocardium (κ=0.41, 95%
CI
0.27 to 0.56). The majority of
LAVA
(520/653 [80%]) were located within the
RV
fat segmentation, of which 90% were not farther than 20 mm from its border. Registration of
MDCT
allowed direct visualization of the coronary arteries, thus avoiding coronary damage during epicardial radiofrequency delivery.

Conclusions

The integration of
MDCT
‐imaged myocardial fat with 3D‐
EAM
provides valuable information on the extent and localization of
VT
substrate and demonstrates ablation targets clustering in its border region.
Association of Cognitive Functioning, Incident Stroke, and Mortality in Older Adults
Authors: Rajan Kumar B. , Aggarwal Neelum T. , Wilson Robert S. , Everson-Rose Susan A. , Evans Denis A.
Published: August 2014

Background and Purpose—

Stroke increases the risk of dementia; however, bidirectional association of incident stroke and cognitive decline below dementia threshold is not well established. Also, both cognitive decline and stroke increase mortality risk.

Methods—

A longitudinal population-based cohort of 7217 older adults without a history of stroke from a biracial community was interviewed at 3-year intervals. Cognitive function was assessed using a standardized global cognitive score. Stroke was determined by linkage with Medicare claims, and mortality was ascertained via the National Death Index. We used a Cox model to assess the risk of incident stroke, a joint model with a piecewise linear mixed model with incident stroke as a change point for cognitive decline process, and a time-dependent relative risk regression model for mortality risk.

Results—

During follow-up, 1187 (16%) subjects had incident stroke. After adjusting for known confounders, lower baseline cognitive function was associated with a higher risk of incident stroke (hazard ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.46–1.77). Cognitive function declined by 0.064 U per year before incident stroke occurrence and 0.122 U per year after stroke, a nearly 1.9-fold increase in cognitive decline (95% confidence interval, 1.78–2.03). Both stroke (hazard ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–1.26) and cognitive decline (hazard ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.81–1.98) increased mortality risk.

Conclusions—

Baseline cognitive function was associated with incident stroke. Cognitive decline increased significantly after stroke relative to before stroke. Cognitive decline increased mortality risk independent of the risk attributable to stroke and should be followed as a marker for both stroke and mortality.
Aphodius petri: a replacement name for the primary junior homonym Aphodius kozlovi Frolov, 2009 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae)
Authors: FROLOV ANDREY V.
Published: August 2014

The alpine scarab beetle Aphodius (Agolius) kozlovi was described from Eastern Tibet, China from the materials collected by the Central Asian expedition (1899–1901) led by Petr Kuz’mich Kozlov (Frolov 2009). The new species was named after Kozlov, but I had overlooked Aphodius (Acrossidius) kozlovi Koshantschikov, 1916. Hence, Aphodius (Agolius) petri, new name is here proposed as a replacement name for Aphodius kozlovi Frolov, 2009. As the replaced name, the new name is patronymic after Petr Kuz’mich Kozlov.
An annotated checklist of Lithobiomorpha of China
Authors: MA HUIQIN , PEI SUJIAN , HOU XIAOJIE , ZHU TIEGANG , WU DAYONG , GAI YONGHUA
Published: August 2014

The lithobiomorph centipede fauna of China is listed here based on literature data. A total of 68 species in 15 genera/subgenera in 2 families, Henicopidae and Lithobiidae, has been recorded from China. Three genera and forty-four species are known only from China, including the monotypic genera Pterygotergum and Hedinobius. The original descriptions of 16 nominal species were based on specimens of single sex only and 13 nominal species of Lithobius have never been allocated to a subgenus. Lithobius (Lithobius) zhui Pei, Ma, Shi, Wu & Gai, 2011 is moved to subgenus Lithobius (Ezembius). Distribution data for each species is provided here to promote further studies on the Lithobiomorpha fauna of China.
A Unified Convection Scheme (UNICON). Part II: Simulation
Authors: Park Sungsu
Published: August 2014

A unified convection scheme (UNICON) is implemented into the Community Atmosphere Model, version 5 (CAM5), and tested in single-column and global simulations forced by observed sea surface temperature. Compared to CAM5, UNICON substantially improves the single-column simulations of stratocumulus-to-cumulus transition and shallow and deep convection cases. The global performance of UNICON is similar to CAM5 with a relative spatiotemporal root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.777 (0.755 in CAM5) against the earlier version of the model (CCSM3.5). The notable improvements in the UNICON-simulated climatologies over CAM5 are seasonal precipitation patterns (i.e., monsoon) over the western Pacific and South Asia, reduced biases of cloud radiative forcing in the tropical deep convection regions, aerosol optical depth in the tropical and subtropical regions, and cumulus fraction and in-cumulus condensate. One notable degradation is that UNICON simulates warmer near-surface air temperature over the United States during summer.

In addition to the climatology, UNICON significantly improves the simulation of the diurnal cycle of precipitation and the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). The surface precipitation simulated by UNICON is a maximum in the late afternoon (early afternoon in CAM5) over the summer continents and in the early morning (predawn in CAM5) over the ocean with a fairly realistic amplitude of the diurnal cycle. Sensitivity simulations indicate that the key for successful MJO simulation in UNICON is a seamless parameterization of the updraft plume dilution rate as convection evolves from shallow to deep convection. The mesoscale perturbation of the vertical velocity and the thermodynamic scalars of convective updrafts is an additional requirement for simulating the observed diurnal cycle of precipitation.
WRF Model Sensitivity to Land Surface Model and Cumulus Parameterization under Short-Term Climate Extremes over the Southern Great Plains of the United States
Authors: Pei Lisi , Moore Nathan , Zhong Shiyuan , Luo Lifeng , Hyndman David W. , Heilman Warren E. , Gao Zhiqiu
Published: August 2014

Extreme weather and climate events, especially short-term excessive drought and wet periods over agricultural areas, have received increased attention. The Southern Great Plains (SGP) is one of the largest agricultural regions in North America and features the underlying Ogallala-High Plains Aquifer system worth great economic value in large part due to production gains from groundwater. Climate research over the SGP is needed to better understand complex coupled climate–hydrology–socioeconomic interactions critical to the sustainability of this region, especially under extreme climate scenarios. Here the authors studied growing-season extreme conditions using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. The six most extreme recent years, both wet and dry, were simulated to investigate the impacts of land surface model and cumulus parameterization on the simulated hydroclimate. The results show that under short-term climate extremes, the land surface model plays a more important role modulating the land–atmosphere water budget, and thus the entire regional climate, than the cumulus parameterization under current model configurations. Between the two land surface models tested, the more sophisticated land surface model produced significantly larger wet bias in large part due to overestimation of moisture flux convergence, which is attributed mainly to an overestimation of the surface evapotranspiration during the simulated period. The deficiencies of the cumulus parameterizations resulted in the model’s inability to depict the diurnal rainfall variability. Both land surface processes and cumulus parameterizations remain the most challenging parts of regional climate modeling under extreme climates over the SGP, with the former strongly affecting the precipitation amount and the latter strongly affecting the precipitation pattern.
Exploring Differences in Practicing Teachers’ Valuing of Pedagogical Knowledge Based on Teaching Ability Beliefs
Authors: Fives Helenrose , Buehl Michelle M.
Published: August 2014

In this investigation, we assessed 443 teachers’ beliefs with the Teaching Ability Belief Scale (TABS) and the Importance of Teaching Knowledge Scale (ITKS). Using cluster analysis, we identified four groups of teachers based on their responses to the TABS reflecting Innate, Learned, Hybrid, and Requires Polish perspectives on the ability to teach. A comparative analysis, using the identified clusters, indicated differences in teachers’ valuing of teaching knowledge across the clusters. Teachers in the Learned cluster valued knowledge of theory significantly more so than other groups.
Informal and Formal Help-Seeking Decisions of Stalking Victims in the United States
Authors: Reyns Bradford W. , Englebrecht Christine M.
Published: August 2014

A large body of criminal justice research has investigated the decisions made by system actors, especially police, judges, and prosecutors. A growing area of research interest has focused on the decisions made by crime victims in response to criminal victimization. Many times, victims decide to seek help from informal sources such as friends or family in overcoming their criminal victimization, a decision that may influence the likelihood of reporting to more formal outlets, including the police. These decisions and the factors that influence a victim’s decision to seek help are not well understood, particularly for victims of stalking. The present study examines the situational and victim characteristics that affect informal help-seeking decisions among stalking victims while also exploring the impact of informal help-seeking on the decision to report the crime to law enforcement (formal help-seeking). Results suggest that dimensions of offense seriousness, fear of victimization, and victimization acknowledgment are among the factors affecting decision-making, and that these informal and formal victim decisions are unrelated despite having similar predictors.
Word Boxes Improve Phonemic Awareness, Letter–Sound Correspondences, and Spelling Skills of At-Risk Kindergartners
Authors: Keesey Susan , Konrad Moira , Joseph Laurice M.
Published: August 2014

Early literacy skills are critical for success in school, yet many children fail to obtain these skills in a timely manner leaving them unable to perform at minimal academic expectations. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of word box instruction, a research-based intervention designed to promote phonemic awareness, on the phonological, reading, and spelling skills of three kindergartners. A multiple probe design across the three skills was sequentially replicated across students to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. Results demonstrated a functional relation between the word box instruction and increases in all three students’ segmenting skills and letter–sound correspondences, along with demonstrated improvements in spelling and reading.
Gender-Specific Models of Work-Bound Korean Adolescents’ Social Supports and Career Adaptability on Subsequent Job Satisfaction
Authors: Han Hyojung , Rojewski Jay W.
Published: August 2014

A Korean national database, the High School Graduates Occupational Mobility Survey, was used to examine the influence of perceived social supports (family and school) and career adaptability on the subsequent job satisfaction of work-bound adolescents 4 months after their transition from high school to work. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that social supports indirectly influenced job satisfaction by enhancing career adaptability. Perceived school support and family support were found to be highly correlated with each other, indicating individuals are cognitively consistent in their perceptions of environmental supports. Gender differences existed on all chosen variables (except for career planning), with women reporting greater levels than men. A significant gender difference was also found in the relationship between career adaptability and job satisfaction. Men were more influenced by career adaptability in experiencing job satisfaction than women. Interpretations of these findings were shared in light of career development theory and Korean culture.
Subtalar Joint Axis in Patients With Symptomatic Peritalar Subluxation Compared to Normal Controls
Authors: Apostle Kelly L. , Coleman Nathan W. , Sangeorzan Bruce J.
Published: August 2014

Background:

The etiology of peritalar subluxation (PTS) is poorly understood and likely mutifactorial. An anatomic predisposition for posterolateral subluxation of the hindfoot has not been previously described or investigated. The aim of the current study was to describe the morphology of the subtalar joint axis (STJA) in patients with symptomatic PTS compared to normal controls.

Methods:

We identified patients with symptomatic PTS who had undergone operative correction from hospital records. The angle of the axis of the posterior facet of the subtalar joint was made on simulated weight-bearing CT (SWBCT) scans. A control group of patients who had no foot deformity on standing films was used for comparison. The STJA was defined as the angle between the superior talar dome and the posterior facet of the talus on coronal CT scan. The mean, maximum, and minimum STJAs were calculated for each cut from anterior to posterior across the posterior facet. The trend in progression across the posterior facet was also examined.

Results:

After exclusions, 22 feet in 20 patients were included in the study group and compared to 20 control subjects. It was seen that patients with PTS had an increased valgus orientation of the subtalar joint. In patients with PTS the STJA began in valgus and progressed to even greater valgus from anterior to posterior across the posterior facet. The STJA in control subjects was seen instead to begin in slight varus and transition to valgus at the junction of the anterior and middle third and then increase in valgus as the joint progressed posteriorly.

Conclusions:

The valgus orientation of the coronal plane of the subtalar joint may represent an anatomic contribution to the etiology of PTS.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, comparative series.
Implicit and explicit attitudes towards conventional and complementary and alternative medicine treatments: Introduction of an Implicit Association Test
Authors: Green James A , Hohmann Cynthia , Lister Kelsi , Albertyn Riani , Bradshaw Renee , Johnson Christine
Published: August 2014

This study examined associations between anticipated future health behaviour and participants’ attitudes. Three Implicit Association Tests were developed to assess safety, efficacy and overall attitude. They were used to examine preference associations between conventional versus complementary and alternative medicine among 186 participants. A structural equation model suggested only a single implicit association, rather than three separate domains. However, this single implicit association predicted additional variance in anticipated future use of complementary and alternative medicine beyond explicit. Implicit measures should give further insight into motivation for complementary and alternative medicine use.
Critical Assessment 7: Quenching and partitioning
Authors: Speer J. G. , De Moor E. , Clarke A. J.
Published: August 2014

Quenching and partitioning is a relatively new heat treatment concept to generate microstructures containing retained austenite stabilised by carbon partitioning from martensite. Research on quench and partitioning has been conducted by numerous groups, and this critical assessment provides some of the authors’ perspectives on progress and understanding in the field, with particular focus on the physical metallurgy and transformation mechanisms, process variations, mechanical behaviour, and industrial implementation. While much progress has been made, the field provides rich opportunity for further understanding and development.
Critical Assessment 8: Outstanding issues in electropulsing processing
Authors: Qin R. S.
Published: August 2014

The processing of materials using electrical pulses utilises effects other than resistive heating to stimulate changes in their microstructure and hence the properties. The direct effect of electropulsing has not, however, been fully understood. There remain issues that delay the industrialisation of the method and there are gaps in the scientific understanding of mechanisms. The thermodynamic description of electropulsing is based on a few oversimplified geometric models. The corresponding kinetic description remains qualitative and less than helpful in stimulating applications. The role of electropulsing in multiphase materials where the magnetic permeabilities of the phases are different has not been explored. Experiments on electropulse induced powder sintering reveal effects that are not related to resistive heating, but their origin has yet to be identified. Similar uncertainties apply to the mechanisms for electrically induced crystal rotation and texture evolution. Electropulse induced particle reconfiguration in liquid suspensions is a new field that is promising in helping to clean melts from insulating oxides. These, and other aspects connected with applications and scaling are critically assessed.
Predicting anticoagulant-related bleeding in patients with venous thromboembolism: a clinically oriented review
Authors: Klok Frederikus A. , Kooiman Judith , Huisman Menno V. , Konstantinides Stavros , Lankeit Mareike
Published: August 2014

Diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) requires prompt treatment with anticoagulants in therapeutic doses. Since these drugs are associated with the occurrence of haemorrhage, identification of patients at increased risk of major bleeding is of utmost clinical importance for defining the optimal treatment regimen and duration of anticoagulation. Current suggested prediction scores for bleeding risk in VTE patients have been derived from observational studies of moderate quality, or from patients with various indications for therapeutic anticoagulation other than VTE. To date, none of the scores have been adequately validated in cohorts that underwent dedicated monitoring and independent adjudication of bleeding complications. In addition, while the scarce available evidence has focused on patients treated with heparins and/or vitamin K antagonists, risk stratification scores for bleeding complications in VTE patients treated with non-vitamin K dependent anticoagulants have not yet been developed. This clinically oriented review covers the incidence and risk factors of anticoagulation-related bleeding in VTE patients treated with different anticoagulant drugs as well as the available bleeding-prediction scores. Further, we attempt to provide guidance for bleeding-prevention in clinical practice and speculate on developments in the near future that may fundamentally change our current thinking on VTE management.
The dynamic range of circulating tumor DNA in metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Heidary Maryam , Auer Martina , Ulz Peter , Heitzer Ellen , Petru Edgar , Gasch Christin , Riethdorf Sabine , Mauermann Oliver , Lafer Ingrid , Pristauz Gunda , Lax Sigurd , Pantel Klaus , Geigl Jochen B , Speicher Michael R
Published: August 2014

Introduction

The management of metastatic breast cancer needs improvement. As clinical evaluation is not very accurate in determining the progression of disease, the analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has evolved to a promising noninvasive marker of disease evolution. Indeed, ctDNA was reported to represent a highly sensitive biomarker of metastatic cancer disease directly reflecting tumor burden and dynamics. However, at present little is known about the dynamic range of ctDNA in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods

In this study, 74 plasma DNA samples from 58 patients with metastasized breast cancer were analyzed with a microfluidic device to determine the plasma DNA size distribution and copy number changes in the plasma were identified by whole-genome sequencing (plasma-Seq). Furthermore, in an index patient we conducted whole-genome, exome, or targeted deep sequencing of the primary tumor, metastases, and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Deep sequencing was done to accurately determine the allele fraction (AFs) of mutated DNA fragments.

Results

Although all patients had metastatic disease, plasma analyses demonstrated highly variable AFs of mutant fragments. We analyzed an index patient with more than 100,000 CTCs in detail. We first conducted whole-genome, exome, or targeted deep sequencing of four different regions from the primary tumor and three metastatic lymph node regions, which enabled us to establish the phylogenetic relationships of these lesions, which were consistent with a genetically homogeneous cancer. Subsequent analyses of 551 CTCs confirmed the genetically homogeneous cancer in three serial blood analyses. However, the AFs of ctDNA were only 2% to 3% in each analysis, neither reflecting the tumor burden nor the dynamics of this progressive disease. These results together with high-resolution plasma DNA fragment sizing suggested that differences in phagocytosis and DNA degradation mechanisms likely explain the variable occurrence of mutated DNA fragments in the blood of patients with cancer.

Conclusions

The dynamic range of ctDNA varies substantially in patients with metastatic breast cancer. This has important implications for the use of ctDNA as a predictive and prognostic biomarker.
A systems biology approach reveals a link between systemic cytokines and skeletal muscle energy metabolism in a rodent smoking model and human COPD
Authors: Davidsen Peter K , Herbert John M , Antczak Philipp , Clarke Kim , Ferrer Elisabet , Peinado Victor I , Gonzalez Constancio , Roca Josep , Egginton Stuart , Barberá Joan A , Falciani Francesco
Published: August 2014

Background

A relatively large percentage of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develop systemic co-morbidities that affect prognosis, among which muscle wasting is particularly debilitating. Despite significant research effort, the pathophysiology of this important extrapulmonary manifestation is still unclear. A key question that remains unanswered is to what extent systemic inflammatory mediators might play a role in this pathology.

Cigarette smoke (CS) is the main risk factor for developing COPD and therefore animal models chronically exposed to CS have been proposed for mechanistic studies and biomarker discovery. Although mice have been successfully used as a pre-clinical in vivo model to study the pulmonary effects of acute and chronic CS exposure, data suggest that they may be inadequate models for studying the effects of CS on peripheral muscle function. In contrast, recent findings indicate that the guinea pig model (Cavia porcellus) may better mimic muscle wasting.

Methods

We have used a systems biology approach to compare the transcriptional profile of hindlimb skeletal muscles from a Guinea pig rodent model exposed to CS and/or chronic hypoxia to COPD patients with muscle wasting.

Results

We show that guinea pigs exposed to long-term CS accurately reflect most of the transcriptional changes observed in dysfunctional limb muscle of severe COPD patients when compared to matched controls. Using network inference, we could then show that the expression profile in whole lung of genes encoding for soluble inflammatory mediators is informative of the molecular state of skeletal muscles in the guinea pig smoking model. Finally, we show that CXCL10 and CXCL9, two of the candidate systemic cytokines identified using this pre-clinical model, are indeed detected at significantly higher levels in serum of COPD patients, and that their serum protein level is inversely correlated with the expression of aerobic energy metabolism genes in skeletal muscle.

Conclusions

We conclude that CXCL10 and CXCL9 are promising candidate inflammatory signals linked to the regulation of central metabolism genes in skeletal muscles. On a methodological level, our work also shows that a system level analysis of animal models of diseases can be very effective to generate clinically relevant hypothesis.
Photo-sensitivity of large area physical vapor deposited mono and bilayer MoS2
Authors: Wang Baoming , Muratore Christopher , Voevodin Andrey A , Haque Md Amanul
Published: August 2014

We present photosensitivity in large area physical vapour deposited mono and bi-layer MoS2 films. Photo-voltaic effect was observed in single layer MoS2 without any apparent rectifying junctions, making device fabrication straightforward. For bi-layers, no such effect was present, suggesting strong size effect in light-matter interaction. The photo-voltaic effect was observed to highly direction dependent in the film plane, which suggests that the oblique deposition configuration plays a key role in developing the rectifying potential gradient. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of any large area and transfer free MoS2 photo device with performance comparable to their exfoliated counterparts.
Viability of equine mesenchymal stem cells during transport and implantation
Authors: Garvican Elaine R , Cree Sandra , Bull Lydia , Smith Roger KW , Dudhia Jayesh
Published: August 2014

Introduction

Autologous mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) injection into naturally-occurring equine tendon injuries has been shown to be safe and efficacious and protocols inform translation of the technique into humans. Efficient transfer of cells from the laboratory into tissue requires well-validated transport and implantation techniques.

Methods

Cell viability in a range of media was determined over 72 hours and after injection through a 19G, 21G or 23G needle. Viability, proliferation and apoptosis were analysed using TrypanBlue, alamarBlue® and AnnexinV assays.

Results

Cell viability was similar in all re-suspension media following 24 hour storage, however cell death was most rapid in bone marrow aspirate, platelet-rich plasma and serum after longer storage. Cryogenic media exhibited greatest viability regardless of storage time. Cell proliferation after 24 and 72 hour storage was similar for all media, except after 24 hours in serum wherein proliferation was enhanced. MSC tri-lineage differentiation and viability did not significantly change when extruded through 19G, 21G or 23G needles, but 21G and 23G needles significantly increased apoptotic cells compared to 19G and non-injected controls. All gauges induced a decrease in metabolic activity immediately post-injection but cells recovered by 2 hours.

Conclusions

These data indicate storage and injection influence viability and subsequent cell behaviour and provide recommendations for MSC therapy that implantation of cells should occur within 24 hours of recovery from culture, using larger needle bores.
“Black Land,” “Sick Land,” and “Lost Land”: Dianchi Xiaocun's Topography and the Problem of a Resistance Approach
Authors: Xiaoyang Zhu
Published: August 2014

Taking a topographical approach, this article provides an account of social change in the village of Xiaocun in Yunnan since the early twentieth century. For a century, the villagers have dwelled in the local environment, both changing and creating the village landscape. This article describes various facets of this landscape transformation, especially land use, and links them to their historical contexts. Today, the farmers and the local government have come to share developmentalism as a common-core doctrine. Thus these farmers on the whole do not adhere to any so-called “tradition,” while they do act on their need to acquire more land, water, food, and living space within political and economic constraints. In many cases, they appeared to be even more radical developmentalists than that of the modernization-oriented state. This, perhaps, is a result of what Michael Herzfeld called “the local knowledge — the ‘intellectual traditions’ — of those cunning planners and scientists who have managed to persuade so many citizens of so many countries to honor them for their ‘vision.’”
Functional subdivision of fin protractor and retractor muscles underlies pelvic fin walking in the African lungfish (Protopterus annectens)
Authors: Aiello Brett R. , King Heather M. , Hale Melina E.
Published: August 2014

African lungfish (Protopterus annectens) can produce rotational movements around the joint between the pelvis and the pelvic fin allowing these animals to walk across benthic substrates. In tetrapods, limb rotation at the hip joint is a common feature of substrate-based locomotion. For sprawling tetrapods, rotation can involve nine or more muscles, which are often robust and span multiple joints. In contrast, P. annectens uses a modest morphology of two fan-shaped muscles, the pelvic fin protractor and retractor, to accomplish this movement. We hypothesized that functional subdivision, coupled with their broad insertions on the femur, allows each of these muscles to pull on the limb from multiple directions and provides a mechanism for fin rotation. To test this hypothesis, we examined the muscle activity at three locations in both the protractor and the retractor muscles during walking. Electromyograms show differences in the timing of muscle activation between dorsal and ventral regions of each muscle, suggesting that each muscle is functionally subdivided once. The subdivisions demonstrate sequential onsets of muscle activity and overlap of activity between regions, which are also features of limb control in tetrapods. These data suggest that through functional subdivisions of the protractor and retractor muscles functional complexity is masked by morphological simplicity and suggest a mechanism that allows lungfish to produce a tetrapod-like walking gait with only two muscles. As one of few extant sarcopterygian fishes, P. annectens may provide important functional data to inform interpretation of limb movement of fossil relatives.
Muscle fibre size optimisation provides flexibility to energy budgeting in calorie-restricted Coho salmon transgenic for growth hormone
Authors: Johnston Ian A. , Garcia de la serrana Daniel , Devlin Robert H.
Published: August 2014

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) transgenic for growth hormone (GH) show substantially faster growth than wild-type (WT) fish. We fed GH-transgenic salmon either to satiation (1-year) (TF) or the same smaller ration of wild-type fish (2-years) (TR), resulting in groups matched for body size to WT salmon. The myotomes of TF and WT fish had the same number and size distribution of muscle fibres, indicating 2-fold higher rate of fibre recruitment in the GH-transgenics. Unexpectedly, calorie restriction was found to decrease the rate of fibre production in transgenics, resulting in a 21% increase in average fibre size and reduced costs of ionic homeostasis. Genes for myotube formation were down-regulated in TR relative to TF and WT fish. We suggest muscle fibre size optimisation allows the relocation of energy from maintenance to locomotion explaining the observation that calorie-restricted transgenics grow at the same rate as WT whilst exhibiting markedly higher foraging activity.
Promoting the health care needs of people with learning disabilities
Authors: Bollard Martin
Published: August 2014

The growing number of people with learning disabilities who live in the community presents a major challenge to primary health care teams. A brief postal survey sent to both fundholding and non-fundholding general practices in Coventry regarding this client group revealed a lack of awareness of local services available, a lack of understanding of the role of the community nurse, a limited knowledge of specific healthcare needs, and a lack of knowledge of how many people were registered at their practice.

To overcome this challenge the community nurse for learning disabilities needs to enter the primary health care arena, and work in partnership with the fundholding general practitioner (GP). It is hoped that the presence of a specialist practitioner within the primary health care team will encourage easier access to primary care for people with learning disabilities and their carers. This should also lead to greater surveillance and monitoring of the specific health care needs of this group of people.
A real opportunity for developing research in community nursing?
Authors: Brannigan Christopher
Published: August 2014

The White Paper Primary Care: Delivering the Future was good news for those of us interested in research in primary and community health care. ‘The Government aims to double the existing proportion of NHS R&D spending directly related to primary care practice from an estimated six-seven per cent (about £25 million) to some 14–15 per cent (£50 million) over the next five years.’ The increase is subject to the ‘…commitment of the University sector, other R&D funders and the professions…’
A study of guidelines for the management of children with asthma in primary schools within Birmingham
Authors: Evans Kathryn L , Kenkre Joyce E
Published: August 2014

A postal questionnaire concerning guidelines for the management of asthma was sent to every primary school in Birmingham. 203 (62.3%) responded. Within these schools the mean prevalence of asthma ranged from 7.1% to 9.2%. In the day to day management of asthma, 97 (47.8%) schools allowed children to keep their own inhalers and 188 (92.6%) allowed inhalers to be used when required. There was a designated member of staff responsible for asthmatic children in 54.2% of schools with 37.9% of responding schools having a policy for the management of asthma. It was found that if a school had a policy for asthma care, they were less likely to have a designated person responsible for asthmatic children (p < 0.01). Training was predominantly through First aid courses and it was thought that the majority of staff would recognise an acute asthma attack. However, schools were less likely to have received training if there was no designated member of staff for the care of children with asthma (p < 0.001).
Relative values: are children more special?
Authors: While Alison
Published: August 2014

The protection of the public must be a concern of all registered nurses. However, when one examines procedures designed to protect the vulnerable citizen, it seems that some members of the ‘public’ are more deserving than others.
Leg ulcers: a nutritional perspective
Authors: McLaren Susan
Published: August 2014

Socio-economic, physical and psychological risk factors may result in the consumption of poor diets by elderly patients suffering from leg ulceration. These diets may, in terms of quality and/or quantity, be inadequate to meet metabolic requirements or those for healing. Effective community support should focus on the modification of risk factors and multi-disciplinary teamwork to ensure diets consumed are appropriate to need and effectively delivered. The nature of injury may limit systemic access of nutrients to the ulcer wound site: topical application of micronutrients such as zinc oxide in conjunction with compression bandaging appears beneficial in some studies. Research focused on the evaluation of free radical scavengers to limit tissue damage and topical applications of growth factors could yield important future treatment benefits.
Time to Shift: From Scaling and Root Planing to Root Surface Debridement
Authors: Ciantar Marilou
Published: August 2014

Non-surgical periodontal treatment has traditionally been based on the notion that bacterial plaque (dental biofilm) penetrates and infects dental cementum. Removal of this infected cementum via scaling and root planing (SRP) was considered essential for re-establishing periodontal health. In the 1980s the concept of SRP was questioned because several in vitro studies showed that the biofilm was superficially located on the root surface and its disruption and removal could be relatively easily achieved by ultrasonic instrumentation of the root surface (known as root surface debridement (RSD). Subsequent in vivo studies corroborated the in vitro findings. There is now sufficient clinical evidence to substantiate the concept that the deliberate removal of cementum by SRP is no longer warranted or justified, and that the more gentle and conservative approach of RSD should be implemented in daily periodontal practice.
Electronic Cigarettes: A Friend or FOE in Tobacco Control?
Authors: Mehta Versha , Pemberton Michael N
Published: August 2014

Many dental practitioners will be aware of patients using electronic cigarettes over the last few years. These products are now widely used, but are they of help in tobacco control? And what are the implications of their use? The regulatory framework concerning these products is evolving rapidly with many opinions on what their final legal status should be. This paper explains their origin, explores some of the arguments and looks at possible future developments.
Full Mouth versus Quadrant Treatment in Chronic Periodontitis
Authors: Sagar Anjana
Published: August 2014

Aim

The aim of this review is to discuss the evidence for the management of chronic periodontitis, including methods of non-surgical therapy such as full mouth disinfection, full mouth debridement and conventional quadrant-by-quadrant therapy.

Methods

Manual searches of Medline and Embase databases provided the relevant studies.

Results

Multiple randomised controlled trials (RCTs) selected for the paper failed to show any significant differences between the quadrant-wise treatment and full mouth debridement and modalities.

Practical implications

This review demonstrates that there is no known difference in treatment outcomes between full mouth debridement and traditional quadrant therapy. Further RCTs are necessary to assess clinical effectiveness of chemical adjunct use.
Book Review
Authors: Burge Amy
Published: August 2014

Desert Passions: Orientalism and Romance Novels, Hsu-Ming Teo (2012) Austin: Texas University Press, 352 pp., ISBN: 9780292739383, h/bk, $60
‘Stop flexing your roots, man’: Reconversion strategies, consecrated heretics and the violence of UK first-wave punk
Authors: Branch Andrew
Published: August 2014

The article assesses how the reshaping of the habitus of UK punk’s original working-class and lower-middle-class practitioners framed their investment in this heavily mediated popular music culture. A reshaping that facilitated an increased reflexivity in these more socially mobile subjects. This is achieved by drawing on both published testimonies and the author’s own empirical research into how former first-wave punks now read their earlier practice. In recognizing first-wave punk’s initial status as a heterodox cultural formation, discursively defined by the modernist aesthetic it laid claim to and by the violence attributed to it in media representations, the article examines the degree to which its practitioners challenged orthodoxy in their desire to consecrate a new field of cultural practice, with its attendant forms of capital. By drawing on a Bourdieusian conceptual framework, the article demonstrates how first-wave punk derived its affective energy from working-class cultures and predicated this modernist aesthetic on the symbolic value it selectively extracted from them. In undertaking such an account, the article suggests that the violence of first-wave punk, symbolic and physical in form, was symptomatic of the divergent classed habitus of its practitioners. It concludes by arguing that in this respect, punk’s opening up of radical space might be read in a more ambivalent light than has hitherto been the case.
Perception of Special Education Teachers on the AAC Aid Development for Students with Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Han Kyung Im , Jung Myung Chul ,   Korean Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Published: August 2014

Background and Objectives: This study was to analyze perception of special education teachers on the Augmentative and Alternative Communication(AAC) aid for students with developmental disabilities by focus group interview method. Method: The participants were 7 teachers from D city, B city and C city and 3 males and 4 females. Results: The results of this study were as follows: First, teachers had lots of difficulties relation to the vocabulary limitation and behavior problem of students with developmental disabilities in the education field. Second, relation to difficulties they felt in using AAC aid, teachers expressed the problem of vocabulary display on AAC aids, the problem on the voice quality and menu navigation of AAC aids and the perception problem on the AAC of teachers and parents. Third, relation to AAC aid development for students with developmental disabilities, teachers suggested consider on the theoretical base, iconicity, various vocabulary display, and the feature of individual student and convenience. Fourth, relation to AAC aid development process and price, teachers suggested the reflection of AAC users' opinions, national based development, free or cheaper price aids and the limitation of AAC aid. Conclusion: It is need to develop various AAC aids based on special education teacher's opinion.
Estimation of age- and comorbidities-adjusted percentiles of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T levels in the elderly
Authors: Kuster Nils , Monnier Karine , Baptista Gregory , Dupuy Anne-Marie , Badiou Stéphanie , Bargnoux Anne-Sophie , Jeandel Claude , Cristol Jean-Paul
Published: August 2014

Cardiac troponin level measured by high-sensitivity assays (hs-cTn) in the elderly is frequently found higher than the 99th percentile upper reference limit, making the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) difficult. This study aimed at: 1) identifying determinants of hs-cTnT levels in an unselected population of elderly subjects; and 2) assessing the prognosis value of increased hs-cTnT in elderly people free of ACS.

Hs-cTnT was measured in 591 individuals aged over 65 years without suspicion of ACS. Comorbidities were assessed using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G). C-reactive protein, α

Age, gender, cardiac CIRS-G, estimated glomerular filtration rate (p<0.001 for all), albumin (p<0.028) and α

Hs-cTnT level is associated with inflammation and renal function in the elderly. Independently of comorbidities, hs-cTnT concentration increases exponentially with age after 65 years. Decision limits adapted to age and sex may be useful to patient management.