bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Growth‐dependent bacterial susceptibility to ribosome‐targeting antibiotics
Authors: Greulich Philip , Scott Matthew , Evans Martin R , Allen Rosalind J 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBacterial growth environment strongly influences the efficacy of antibiotic treatment, with slow growth often being associated with decreased susceptibility. Yet in many cases, the connection between antibiotic susceptibility and pathogen physiology remains unclear. We show that for ribosome‐targeting antibiotics acting on Escherichia coli, a complex interplay exists between physiology and antibiotic action; for some antibiotics within this class, faster growth indeed increases susceptibility, but for other antibiotics, the opposite is true. Remarkably, these observations can be explained by a simple mathematical model that combines drug transport and binding with physiological constraints. Our model reveals that growth‐dependent susceptibility is controlled by a single parameter characterizing the ‘reversibility’ of ribosome‐targeting antibiotic transport and binding. This parameter provides a spectrum classification of antibiotic growth‐dependent efficacy that appears to correspond at its extremes to existing binary classification schemes. In these limits, the model predicts universal, parameter‐free limiting forms for growth inhibition curves. The model also leads to non‐trivial predictions for the drug susceptibility of a translation mutant strain of E. coli, which we verify experimentally. Drug action and bacterial metabolism are mechanistically complex; nevertheless, this study illustrates how coarse‐grained models can be used to integrate pathogen physiology into drug design and treatment strategies.
Expression of estrogen receptor alpha is associated with prolactin pituitary tumor prognosis and supports the sex-related difference in tumor growth
Authors: Delgrange Etienne , Vasiljevic Alexandre , Wierinckx Anne , François Patrick , Jouanneau Emmanuel , Raverot Gérald , Trouillas Jacqueline 
Published: March 2015

ContextA sex difference in the progression of prolactin (PRL) tumors has been disputed for years.ObjectiveTo compare tumor characteristics and postoperative clinical course between men and women, and correlate data with estrogen receptor alpha (ERα (ESR1)) expression status.Design, patients, and methodsEighty-nine patients (59 women and 30 men) operated on for a prolactinoma and followed for at least 5 years were selected. Tumors were classified into five grades according to their size, invasion, and proliferation characteristics. The ERα expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and a score (0–12) calculated as the product of the percentage of positive nuclei and the staining intensity.ResultsWe found a significant preponderance of high-grade tumors among men and a lower surgical cure rate in men (23%) than in women (71%). Patients resistant to medical treatment were mainly men (7/8), six of whom showed tumor progression despite postoperative medical treatment, which led to multiple therapies and eventually death in three. The median score for ERα expression was 1 in men (range, 0–8) and 8 in women (range, 0–12) (P<0.0001). The expression of ERα was inversely correlated with tumor size (r=−0.59;P<0.0001) and proliferative activity. All dopamine agonist-resistant tumors and all grade 2b (invasive and proliferative) tumors (from ten men and four women) were characterized by low ERα expression.ConclusionsPRL tumors in men are characterized by lower ERα expression, which is related to higher tumor grades, resistance to treatment, and an overall worse prognosis.
Combining experiments and computations to understand the intercalation potential and redox mechanism for A2Ti3O7 (A=Li, Na)
Authors: Morales-García A. , Arroyo-de Dompablo M. Elena , Rousse A. G. , Senguttuvan P. , Tarascon J.-M. , Rosa Palacín M. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTNa2Ti3O7, a potential negative electrode for Na batteries, is investigated by combining experiments and first-principles calculations at the Density Functional Theory (DFT) level. A structural model is proposed for the reduced phases (A2+xTi3O7), with all alkali ions in octahedral coordination, leading to a distorted rocksalt type structure. The calculated elastic constants support the mechanical stability of the proposed Na4Ti3O7 structure. Calculated average intercalation potentials are 0.37 V for Na insertion in Na2Ti3O7 and 1.46 V for Li insertion in Li2Ti3O7, being in very good agreement with the values observed experimentally (0.3 V and 1.6 V respectively). The higher polarizing character of Li ions vs Na ions acts as a key-factor to bring the Li intercalation voltage 0.7 V above that of Na intercalation in layered-A2Ti3O7 materials.
U.S.-Listed Foreign Companies' Choice of a U.S.-Based versus Home Country-Based Big N Principal Auditor and the Effect on Audit Fees and Earnings Quality
Authors: Asthana Sharad C. , Raman K. K. , Xu Hongkang 
Published: March 2015

SYNOPSIS
We examine why U.S.-listed foreign companies choose to have a U.S.-based (rather than home country-based) Big N firm as their principal auditor for SEC reporting purposes and the effects of that choice for audit fees and earnings quality. We find that the likelihood of the Big N principal auditor being U.S.-based is decreasing in client size and the level of investor protection in the home country, and increasing in the proportion of income earned outside the home country. We also find compelling evidence that U.S.-based Big N auditors are associated with higher-quality earnings (albeit for a higher fee), despite two factors—the greater distance between the U.S.-based (vis-à-vis home country-based) Big N auditor and the client, and the likelihood that much of the audit work is done outside the U.S.—which potentially could lower the earnings quality of the U.S.-listed foreign client when the Big N principal auditor is U.S.-based. Overall, our study suggests that the higher fees associated with a U.S.-based Big N principal auditor is not just price protection; rather, U.S.-based Big N principal auditors are also improving the financial reporting environment by reporting higher-quality audited earnings for their U.S.-listed foreign clients.
JEL Classifications: L11; L15; M42.
A Theory of Hard and Soft Information
Authors: Bertomeu Jeremy , Marinovic Iván 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACT
We study optimal disclosure via two competing communication channels: hard information whose value has been verified, and soft disclosures such as forecasts, unaudited statements, and press releases. We show that certain soft disclosures may contain as much information as hard disclosures, and we establish that: (1) exclusive reliance on soft disclosures tends to convey bad news, (2) credibility is greater when unfavorable information is reported, and (3) misreporting is more likely when soft information is issued jointly with hard information. We also show that a soft report that is seemingly unbiased in expectation need not indicate truthful reporting. We demonstrate that mandatory disclosure of hard information reduces the transmission of soft information, and that the aggregation of hard with soft information will turn all information soft.
JEL Classifications: D72; D82; D83; G20.
Hemodynamic influence of acepromazine or dexmedetomidine premedication in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs
Authors: Grasso Stefania C. , Ko Jeff C. , Weil Ann B. , Paranjape Vaidehi , Constable Peter D. 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Objective—To investigate hemodynamic effects of acepromazine and dexmedetomidine premedication in dogs undergoing general anesthesia induced with propofol and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen and assess the influence of these drugs on oxygen-carrying capacity and PCV.
Design—Prospective, randomized crossover study.
Animals—6 healthy adult dogs.
Procedures—Dogs received acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg [0.023 mg/lb]) or dexmedetomidine (15.0 μg/kg [6.82 μg/lb]) IM. Fifteen minutes later, anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained at end-tidal isoflurane concentration of 1.28% (1 minimum alveolar concentration) for 30 minutes. Hemodynamic variables were recorded at predetermined times. The experiment was repeated 48 hours later with the alternate premedication. Results were analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA with a mixed-models procedure.
Results—Bradycardia, hypertension, and significant cardiac output (CO) reduction developed after dexmedetomidine premedication but improved during isoflurane anesthesia. Hypotension developed after acepromazine administration and persisted throughout the isoflurane maintenance period, but CO was maintained throughout the anesthetic period when dogs received this treatment. Oxygen delivery and consumption were not different between treatments at most time points, whereas arterial oxygen content was lower with acepromazine premedication owing to lower PCV during isoflurane anesthesia.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Acepromazine exacerbated hypotension, but CO did not change in dogs anesthetized with propofol and isoflurane. Dexmedetomidine reduced CO but prevented propofol-isoflurane–induced hypotension. In general, oxygen-carrying capacity and PCV were higher in dexmedetomidine-treated than in acepromazine-treated dogs anesthetized with propofol and isoflurane.
Pcl/Chitosan Blended Nanofibrous Tubes Made by Dual Syringe Electrospinning
Authors: Hild Martin , Fayez Al Rez Mohammed , Aibibu Dilbar , Toskas Georgios , Cheng Tong , Laourine Ezzedine , Cherif Chokri 
Published: March 2015

Abstract3D tubular scaffolds made from Poly-(Ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL)/chitosan (CS) nanofibres are very promising candidate as vascular grafts in the field of tissue engineering. In this work, the fabrication of PCL/CS-blended nanofibrous tubes with small diameters by electrospinning from separate PCL and CS solutions is studied. The influence of different CS solutions (CS/polyethylene glycol (PEO)/glacial acetic acid (AcOH), CS/trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), CS/ AcOH) on fibre formation and producibility of nanofibrous tubes is investigated. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) is used to verify the presence of CS in the blended samples. Tensile testing and pore size measurements are done to underline the good prerequisites of the fabricated blended PCL/ CS nanofibrous tubes as potential scaffolds for vascular grafts. Tubes fabricated from the combination of PCL and CS dissolved in AcOH possesses properties, which are favourable for future cell culture studies.
Pallidal stimulation for Holmes tremor: clinical outcomes and single-unit recordings in 4 cases
Authors: Kilbane Camilla , Ramirez-Zamora Adolfo , Ryapolova-Webb Elena , Qasim Salman , Glass Graham A. , Starr Philip A. , Ostrem Jill L. 
Published: March 2015

OBJECT
Holmes tremor (HT) is characterized by irregular, low-frequency (< 4.5 Hz) tremor occurring at rest, with posture, and with certain actions, often affecting proximal muscles. Previous reports have tended to highlight the use of thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) in cases of medication-refractory HT. In this study, the authors report the clinical outcome and analysis of single-unit recordings in patients with medication-refractory HT treated with globus pallidus internus (GPi) DBS.

METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 4 patients treated with pallidal DBS for medication-refractory HT at the University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Clinical outcomes were measured at baseline and after surgery using an abbreviated motor-severity Fahn-Tolosa-Marin (FTM) tremor rating scale. Intraoperative microelectrode recordings were performed with patients in the awake state. The neurophysiological characteristics identified in HT were then also compared with characteristics previously described in Parkinson's disease (PD) studied at the authors' institution.

RESULTS
The mean percentage improvement in tremor motor severity was 78.87% (range 59.9%–94.4%) as measured using the FTM tremor rating scale, with an average length of follow-up of 33.75 months (range 18–52 months). Twenty-eight GPi neurons were recorded intraoperatively in the resting state and 13 of these were also recorded during contralateral voluntary arm movement. The mean firing rate at rest in HT was 56.2 ± 28.5 Hz, and 63.5 ± 19.4 Hz with action, much lower than the GPi recordings in PD. GPi unit oscillations of 2–8 Hz were prominent in both patients with HT and those with PD, but in HT, unlike PD, these oscillations were not suppressed by voluntary movement.

CONCLUSIONS
The efficacy of GPi DBS exceeded that reported in prior studies of ventrolateral thalamus DBS and suggest GPi may be a better target for treating HT. These clinical and neurophysiological findings help illuminate evolving models of HT and highlight the importance of cerebellar–basal ganglia interactions.
Development and Validation of the Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire
Authors: Dover Geoffrey , Amar Vanessa 
Published: March 2015

Context
The fear-avoidance model was developed in an attempt to explain the process by which “pain experience” and “pain behavior” become dissociated from the actual pain sensation in individuals who manifest the phenomenon of exaggerated pain perception. High levels of fear avoidance can lead to chronic pain and disability and have successfully predicted rehabilitation time in the work-related–injury population. Existing fear-avoidance questionnaires have all been developed for the general population, but these questionnaires may not be specific enough to fully assess fear avoidance in an athletic population that copes with pain differently than the general population.

Objective
To develop and validate the Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ).

Design
Qualitative research to develop the AFAQ and a cross-sectional study to validate the scale.

Patients or Other Participants
For questionnaire development, a total of 8 experts in the fields of athletic therapy, sport psychology, and fear avoidance were called upon to generate and rate items for the AFAQ. For determining concurrent validity, 99 varsity athletes from various sports participated.

Data Collection and Analysis
A total of 99 varsity athletes completed the AFAQ, the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. We used Pearson correlations to establish concurrent validity.

Results
Concurrent validity was established with significant correlations between the AFAQ and the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Physical Activity (r = 0.352, P &gt; .001) as well as with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (r = 0.587, P &gt; .001). High internal consistency of our questionnaire was established with a Cronbach α coefficient of 0.805. The final version of the questionnaire includes 10 items with good internal validity (P &lt; .05).

Conclusions
We developed a questionnaire with good internal and external validity. The AFAQ is a scale that measures sport-injury–related fear avoidance in athletes and could be used to identify potential psychological barriers to rehabilitation.
The relevance of human capital to firm performance: A focus on the retail industry in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Urban Boris , Kongo Michael 
Published: March 2015

Purpose and problem: Human capital represents an investment in education and skills. However, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) the ability of small-scale retailers to grow and increase firm performance is restricted by the scarcity of education and prior work experience.Methodology: Survey data were collected from 126 owner-managers in the retail industry in Kinshasa, DRC, in order to investigate the proposed relationship between the human capital components of education, work experience and venture performance.Findings: Several variables pertaining to education and prior work experience were related to different aspects of venture performance, allowing for support of the hypotheses. Nonetheless, when clustering was conducted some surprising results were observed in that owner-managers tended to have little work experience even where their venture was performing well.Implications: Research into human capital and links to performance in Africa and emerging markets is valuable as recent research has found that the matching of entrepreneurial human capital with opportunities for growth is the essence of economic development.
Cracking the nut of service-learning in nursing at a higher educational institution
Authors: Julie Hester , Adejumo Oluyinka A. , Frantz Jose M. 
Published: March 2015

Background: The readiness of academics to engage in the service-learning (SL) institutionalisation process is not accentuated in research on SL institutionalisation in South Africa. The argument has been advanced that SL scholarship and willingness of key stakeholders are crucial for SL institutionalisation at the academic programme level.Aim: The research focus of the study being reported here was on readiness of respondents to embed SL in the curricula of the nursing programme.Method: This study used a quantitative, exploratory and descriptive design. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a stratified sample comprising 34 respondents. The data were analysed for descriptive statistics using SPSS 19.Results: The demographic profile of the respondents indicated that 31 (66%) were between 31 and 50 years old; 36 (75.16%) had a minimum of 10 years’ nursing experience; 19 (39.6%) had a master’s degree, two (4.2%) had a doctorate; and 29 (60.4%) had been employed by the school for a maximum of five years. The results indicated that the nurse educators were in need of SL capacity-building because 9 (18.8%) had limited or no knowledge of SL and 24 (50%) confused SL with other forms of community engagement activities. However, only 15 (33%) of the clinical supervisors and 13 (27%) of the lecturers indicated a willingness to participate in such a programme.Conclusion: The school was not ready to embed SL in the academic programme because of a lack of SL scholarship and willingness to remediate the identified theory–practice gaps.
A Propensity Score-Matching Analysis of Transthoracic Echocardiography and Abdominal Ultrasonography for the Detection of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Kato Takao , Ishida Seiko , Miyamoto Shoichi , Iura Tamae , Ban Yoko , Fujikawa Jun , Nakane Eisaku , Izumi Toshiaki , Haruna Tetsuya , Ueyama Koji , Nohara Ryuji , Inoko Moriaki 
Published: March 2015

Introduction We previously reported that the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) was higher in patients undergoing scheduled transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) than in patients undergoing abdominal ultrasonography (AUS); however, intergroup patient backgrounds differed significantly in that report. Purpose We tested the hypothesis that TTE could detect AAA as effectively as AUS. Design A propensity score-matching analysis of a cross-sectional study was adopted as the design for this study. Methods We enrolled 7,619 and 15,433 patients scheduled to undergo TTE with additional evaluation of abdominal aorta at the end of the routine study and AUS, respectively, from 2009 to 2010 in our hospital, as reported. A propensity score for profiles of patients who underwent TTE or AUS was developed to adjust for potential confounding bias. Consequently, 4,388 patients in each group were matched for analyses. Results In propensity-matched patients, AAA was detected in 59 patients of the TTE group and in 48 patients of the AUS group; the prevalence of AAA detection did not differ significantly between TTE and AUS groups ( P = 0.331). Positive associations were observed between AAA detection and male sex (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 3.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.05-5.15; P < 0.001), older age (adjusted OR: 1.029; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04; P < 0.001), and the presence of ischemic heart disease (adjusted OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.04-3.03; P = 0.033) and hypertension (adjusted OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.38-3.37; P = 001). Conclusion TTE detected AAA with comparable efficacy as AUS in propensity-matched groups who underwent scheduled TTE and AUS.
Influence of Occlusal Contact Area on Cusp Deflection and Stress Distribution
Authors: Costa Anna Karina Figueiredo , Xavier Thaty Aparecida , Paes-Junior Tarcisio José Arruda , Andreatta-Filho Oswaldo Daniel , Borges Alexandre Luiz Souto 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACT

Objective
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of occlusal contact area for loading on the cuspal deflection and stress distribution in a first premolar restored with a high elastic modulus restorative material.

Materials and methods
The Rhinoceros 4.0 software was used for modeling the three-dimensional geometries of dental and periodontal structures and the inlay restoration. Thus, two different models, intact and restored teeth with three occlusal contact areas, 0.1, 0.5 and 0.75 mm2, on enamel at the occlusal surface of buccal and lingual cusps. Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed with the program ANSYS (Workbench 13.0), which generated a mesh with tetrahedral elements with greater refinement in the regions of interest, and was constrained at the bases of cortical and trabecular bone in all axis and loaded with 100 N normal to each contact area.

Results
To analysis of maximum principal stress, the smaller occlusal contact area showed greater compressive stress in region of load application for both the intact and inlay restored tooth. However, tensile stresses at the occlusal isthmus were similar for all three tested occlusal contact areas (60 MPa). To displacement of the cusps was higher for teeth with inlay (0.46- 0.48 mm). For intact teeth, the smaller contact area showed greater displacement (0.10 mm). For teeth with inlays, the displacement of the cusps were similar in all types of occlusal area.

Conclusion
Cuspal displacement was higher in the restored tooth when compared to the intact tooth, but there were no significant variations even with changes in the occlusal contact area.

Relevance clinical
Occlusal contacts have a great influence on the positioning of teeth being able to maintain the position and stability of the mandible. Axial loads would be able to generate more uniform stress at the root presenting a greater concentration of load application in the point and the occlusal surface. Thus, is necessary to analyze the relationship between these occlusal contacts as dental wear and subsequent occlusal interferences.

How to cite this article
Costa AKF, Xavier TA, Paes-Junior TJA, Andreatta-Filho OD, Borges ALS. Influence of Occlusal Contact Area on Cusp Deflection and Stress Distribution. J Contemp Dent Pract 2014;15(6):699-704.
Study of Pulp Chamber Morphology of Primary Mandibular Molars using Spiral Computed Tomography
Authors: Selvakumar Haridoss , Kavitha Swaminathan , Vijayakumar Rajendran , Eapen Thomas , Bharathan Rajendran 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACT

Aim
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pulp chamber morphology in primary mandibular molars using spiral computed tomography (SCT).

Materials and methods
Sixty extracted primary mandibular molars were scanned using SCT for the (i) distance between the central fissure to furcation, (ii) distance between the central fissure to the floor of the pulp chamber, (iii) height of the pulp chamber (roof-floor), (iv) distance between the floor of the pulp chamber to the furcation. The mean and standard deviation was analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) program.

Results
The results of this study show that the average mean distance from the central fissure to the floor of the pulp chamber is 5.07 mm in first mandibular primary molar and 5.54 mm in second mandibular primary molar.

Conclusion
It can be concluded that the greatest depth to which a bur can go during access opening without perforating the furcation in first primary mandibular molar is 5.07 mm and 5.54 mm in second primary mandibular molar.

How to cite this article
Selvakumar H, Kavitha S, Vijayakumar R, Eapen T, Bharathan R. Study of Pulp Chamber Morphology of Primary Mandibular Molars using Spiral Computed Tomography. J Contemp Dent Pract 2014;15(6):726-729.