bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The crystal structure of archaeal serine hydroxymethyltransferase reveals idiosyncratic features likely required to withstand high temperatures
Authors: Angelucci Francesco , Morea Veronica , Angelaccio Sebastiana , Saccoccia Fulvio , Contestabile Roberto , Ilari Andrea 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTSerine hydroxymethyltransferases (SHMTs) play an essential role in one‐carbon unit metabolism and are used in biomimetic reactions. We determined the crystal structure of free (apo) and pyridoxal‐5′‐phosphate‐bound (holo) SHMT from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, the first from a hyperthermophile, from the archaea domain of life and that uses H4MPT as a cofactor, at 2.83 and 3.0 Å resolution, respectively. Idiosyncratic features were observed that are likely to contribute to structure stabilization. At the dimer interface, the C‐terminal region folds in a unique fashion with respect to SHMTs from eubacteria and eukarya. At the active site, the conserved tyrosine does not make a cation‐π interaction with an arginine like that observed in all other SHMT structures, but establishes an amide‐aromatic interaction with Asn257, at a different sequence position. This asparagine residue is conserved and occurs almost exclusively in (hyper)thermophile SHMTs. This led us to formulate the hypothesis that removal of frustrated interactions (such as the Arg‐Tyr cation‐π interaction occurring in mesophile SHMTs) is an additional strategy of adaptation to high temperature. Both peculiar features may be tested by designing enzyme variants potentially endowed with improved stability for applications in biomimetic processes. Proteins 2014; 82:3437–3449. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Guaranteed cost consensus for multi‐agent systems with switching topologies
Authors: Wang Zhong , Xi Jianxiang , Yao Zhicheng , Liu Guangbin 
Published: September 2014

SummaryFirstly, guaranteed cost consensus for multi‐agent systems is introduced based on state errors among neighboring agents and control inputs of all agents, where a tradeoff between the consensus regulation performance and the control effort is considered. Then, a sufficient condition for guaranteed cost consensus is given by the state‐space decomposition approach and the Lyapunov method, where an upper bound of the cost function is determined and an approach is proposed to determine the control gain. It is worth mentioning that the criterions for guaranteed cost consensus are only dependent on the maximum eigenvalue of the Laplacian matrices of switching topologies. Finally, numerical simulations are given to demonstrate theoretical results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prospective Comparison of the Six-Item Carpal Tunnel Symptoms Scale and Portable Nerve Conduction Testing in Measuring the Outcomes of Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Steroid Injection
Authors: Craw John R. , Church Dane J. , Hutchison Richard L. 
Published: September 2014

Background We prospectively studied patients clinically diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and treated with the injection of corticosteroid into their carpal tunnel in order to compare changes in the six-item CTS symptoms scale and portable nerve conduction study (NCS) parameters as outcome tools. Our pilot study was the first to assess the utility of the six-item CTS symptom scale (CTS-6) with steroid injections as a patient-directed outcome measure for the treatment of CTS. Methods We enrolled patients who presented to our county hospital orthopedic surgery clinic from August 2012 through August 2013. The patients were clinically diagnosed with CTS. After completing the six-item CTS symptoms scale questionnaire, portable NCS was obtained. Each patient then received an injection of 1 ml of triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg/ml mixed with 1 ml of 1 % lidocaine into the carpal tunnel. Six weeks postinjection, each patient repeated a CTS-6 questionnaire and underwent a repeat portable NCS. The CTS-6 and NCS results were analyzed using the paired samples t test. A Pearson correlation was used to assess the correlation between the changes in the CTS-6 and the NCS measurements. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results Thirty-two wrists in 20 patients were evaluated. There was a statistically significant difference between the CTS-6 scores before and after injection. There were also statistically significant changes in the five of the NCS parameters. None of the correlations between the CTS-6 and the NCS parameters were statistically significant. Conclusions The six-item CTS symptoms scale and portable NCS are both useful measures for evaluating the results of steroid injections. The CTS-6 is an effective tool because of its ease of use, low cost, correspondence with changes in NCS, and ability to monitor the outcome of steroid treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Ulnar Digits Contribution to Grip Strength in Patients with Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis is Less than in Normal Controls
Authors: Villafañe Jorge H. , Valdes Kristin , Angulo-Diaz-Parreño Santiago , Pillastrini Paolo , Negrini Stefano 
Published: September 2014

Background Grip testing is commonly used as an objective measure of strength in the hand and upper extremity and is frequently used clinically as a proxy measure of function. Increasing knowledge of hand biomechanics, muscle strength, and prehension patterns can provide us with a better understanding of the functional capabilities of the hand. The objectives of this study were to determine the contribution of ulnar digits to overall grip strength in individuals with thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Thirty-seven subjects participated in the study. This group consisted of 19 patients with CMC OA (aged 60–88 years) and 18 healthy subjects (60–88 years). Three hand configurations were used by the subjects during grip testing: use of the entire hand (index, middle, ring, and little fingers) (IMRL); use of the index, middle, and ring fingers (IMR); and use of only the index and middle fingers (IM). Results Grip strength findings for the two groups found that compared to their healthy counterparts, CMC OA patients had, on average, a strength deficiency of 45.6, 35.5, and 28.8% in IMRL, IMR, and IM, respectively. The small finger contribution to grip is 14.3% and the ring and small finger contribute 34% in subjects with CMC OA. Discussion Grip strength decreases as the number of digits contributing decreased in both groups. The ulnar digits contribution to grip strength is greater than one third of total grip strength in subjects with CMC OA. Individuals with CMC OA demonstrate significantly decreased grip strength when compared to their healthy counterparts.
Faecal microbiota of domestic cats fed raw whole chicksv.an extruded chicken-based diet
Authors: Kerr K. R. , Dowd S. E. , Swanson K. S. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractExtruded cat foods differ greatly in macronutrient distribution compared with wild-type diets (i.e. small mammals, reptiles, birds and insects). Based on the literature, this variability likely impacts faecal microbial populations. A completely randomised design was utilised to test the impacts of two dietary treatments on faecal microbial populations: (1) chicken-based extruded diet (EXT;n3 cats) and (2) raw 1–3-d-old chicks (CHI;n5 cats). Cats were adapted to diets for 10 d. Bacterial DNA was isolated from faecal samples and amplicons of the 16S rRNA V4–V6 region were generated and analysed by 454 pyrosequencing. Faeces of cats fed CHI had greater (P < 0·05) proportions of the following bacterial genera: unidentified Lachnospiraceae (15v.5 %),Peptococcus(9v.3 %) andPseudobutyrivibrio(4v.1 %). Faeces of cats fed EXT had greater (P < 0·05) proportions ofFaecalibacterium(1·0v.0·2 %) andSuccinivibrio(1·2v. < 0·1 %). Five genera, includingLactobacillusandBifidobacterium, were present in a majority of samples (two to three out of three) from cats fed EXT, but were not detected in the samples (zero of five) for cats fed CHI. These shifts in faecal bacterial populations compared with feeding a whole-prey diet may impact the functional capacities of the microbiota and its interaction with the host. Further research is warranted to determine the impacts of these shifts on long-term health of domestic cats.
Composició culta / Neoclassical compounding
Authors: Ginebra Jordi , Llagostera Roser , Rull Xavier 
Published: September 2014

The data from the NEOXOC Project corresponding to the years 2008–2010 provide 2,039 neologic lexical units formed by neoclassical compounding (1,506 after eliminating the words detected in more than one node). Neoclassical compounding is therefore one of the most productive processes, after suffixation, prefixation, and English loanwords. Upon analyzing the representativeness of neoclassical compounding in comparison to other neologic processes in each node, we find that it carries about the same weight as it does over the global data set. Differences are hardly perceptible, and this fact can be easily explained if we consider that neoclassical compounding belongs to language varieties that are not particularly sensitive to regional variation.
More than 200 roots generated the 1,506 neologisms. The most frequent is auto-, especially involved in the creation of verbs. It is followed at a great distance by mini-, macro- and micro-, three elements with aspective value. We then find eco-, euro-, ciber- and bio-, being the lexical content morphemes most frequently used for word formation in contemporary Catalan media. As a general trend, prototypical neoclassical compounding – the union of two classical roots – is not very productive today, whereas hybrid formations, or neologisms with a classical root (in fact, an affix created from a learned root) and a vernacular word, are very common, a point that coincides with the fact that prefixation is a more productive process in word formation than compounding. The current strength of Catalan prefixation is to a large extent due to prefixes originated in classical roots. It should also be noted that other different kinds of compounding have been found: compounds à la savante, compounds created with pesudoclassical forms, and neologisms created with suffixes originated in classical roots.
Regarding the productivity of the different elements in the material collected, it should be noted that data also shows that compounding is a word formation process hardly affected by territorial variation. The first 14 out of the 25 most productive elements are found in all nodes. Finally, it should be noted that some nodes have collected new compounds that are not found in any other node, and this could be a sign of regional trends, although most of them do not show any specific cultural link with the geographic areas. In any case, it is an issue that should be considered in the future.
Organizational Predictors and use of Evidence-Based Practices in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment
Authors: Paino Maria , Aletraris Lydia , Roman Paul M. 
Published: September 2014

Background Adolescent substance abuse remains a significant problem in the United States, yet treatment centers do not always admit adolescent clients. In this paper, we first determine the extent to which treatment is available for adolescents in general and whether or not adolescent-specific (segregated) tracks are offered. Second, we examine the organizational characteristics associated with adolescent treatment. Third, we illuminate how the adolescent caseload in a treatment center is related to offering evidence-based practices (EBPs). Methods Drawing upon a nationally representative sample of US treatment programs, we use logistic regression to assess how organizational characteristics are associated with the provision of adolescent treatment. Using ordinal logistic regression, we analyze how the treatment center's adolescent caseload and organizational characteristics affect the extent to which a treatment center offers medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and psychosocial treatment. Results Half (49.5%) of treatment programs admitted adolescents, and 41.8% offered an adolescent-specific track. Findings from the logistic regression suggested several organizational characteristics that were significantly associated with treating adolescents and/or having an adolescent-only track. Our findings from the ordinal models indicated a negative relationship between the percent of adolescents in a treatment center and the extent of MAT, and a positive relationship between the percent of adolescent clients and the extent of psychosocial treatment offered. Conclusions This paper highlights organizational barriers to treatment entry for adolescents, who remain a small proportion of clients in treatment centers. When treatment centers serve adolescents, however, those adolescents are likely to receive care in adolescent-only tracks and/or services and in programs that offer several psychosocial EBPs. Finally, adolescents are less likely to receive treatment in centers that offer a variety of MAT.
Medicine Resident Preparedness to Diagnose and Treat Substance use Disorders: Impact of an Enhanced Curriculum
Authors: Wakeman Sarah E. , Pham-Kanter Genevieve , Baggett Meridale V. , Campbell Eric G. 
Published: September 2014

Background The authors’ previous study found that despite caring for many patients with addiction, most Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) internal medicine residents feel unprepared to treat substance use disorders (SUDs) and rate SUD instruction during training as fair or poor. This follow-up study evaluates the impact of an enhanced curriculum on resident perceptions of the quality of instruction, knowledge base, and self-perceived preparedness to diagnose and treat SUDs. Methods Based on the findings of the earlier study, an enhanced SUD curriculum was designed and delivered to MGH medicine residents. Impact of the curriculum was evaluated using the same Web-based survey that was administered in the earlier study to compare pre- and posttest results. Results The authors’ earlier study found that 75% of residents felt prepared to diagnose and 37% to treat SUDs and 45% of residents rated the overall quality of SUD instruction as good or excellent. Following the curriculum intervention, 87% of residents reported feeling prepared to diagnose ( P = .028) and 60% to treat ( P = .002) SUDs. Three quarters of residents rated the overall quality of instruction as good or excellent ( P < .001), and 98% reported residency curriculum had a positive impact on their preparedness to care for patients with a SUDs. Residents who reported receiving an adequate amount of SUD instruction were more likely to feel prepared to diagnose and treat addiction ( P < .001). Thirty-one percent of residents still rated the overall amount of SUD instruction as too little. The intervention did not significantly improve answers to knowledge questions. Conclusions An enhanced SUDs curriculum for medicine residents increased self-perceived preparedness to diagnose and treat SUDs and educational quality ratings. However, there was no significant change in knowledge. Implementation of a more comprehensive curriculum and evaluation at other sites are necessary to determine the ideal SUD training model.
Trajectories of Marijuana use Beginning in Adolescence Predict Tobacco Dependence in Adulthood
Authors: Brook Judith S. , Lee Jung Yeon , Brook David W. 
Published: September 2014

Background Although the “stage theory” suggests that marijuana use occurs after the initiation of tobacco smoking, substantial evidence exists that they often occur concurrently, and that the use of marijuana may influence the use of tobacco. Methods This study uses trajectory analysis to examine the relationship between marijuana use beginning in adolescence and adult tobacco dependence in a 5-wave longitudinal study (mean ages in each wave: 14, 19, 24, 29, and 32). The sample consisted of 816 participants (52% African Americans, 48% Puerto Ricans), of whom 60% were females. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict later tobacco dependence from earlier trajectories of marijuana use. Results A higher Bayesian posterior probability (BPP) for the chronic marijuana use trajectory group (odds ratio [OR] = 10.93, P < .001; adjusted OR [AOR] = 10.40, P < .001), for the increasing marijuana use trajectory group (OR = 6.94, P < .001; AOR = 6.73, P < .001), and for the moderate marijuana use trajectory group (OR = 3.13, P < .001; AOR = 3.18, P < .001) was associated with an increased likelihood of being dependent on tobacco compared with the BPP of the no or low marijuana use trajectory group. Conclusions The results underscore the value of considering multiple patterns of marijuana use within a person-centered approach. Thus, it would be appropriate for marijuana cessation programs to incorporate the prevention, assessment, and cessation of tobacco use in their health promotion strategies.
Investigating Social Support and Network Relationships in Substance use Disorder Recovery
Authors: Stevens Ed , Jason Leonard A. , Ram Daphna , Light John 
Published: September 2014

Background Social support and characteristics of one's social network have been shown to be beneficial for abstinence and substance use disorder recovery. The current study explores how specific sources of social support relate to general feelings of social support and abstinence-specific self-efficacy. Methods Data were collected from 31 of 33 individuals residing in 5 recovery houses. Participants were asked to complete social support and social network measures, along with measures assessing abstinence from substance use, abstinence self-efficacy, and involvement in 12-step groups. Results A significant positive relationship was found between general social support and abstinence-specific self-efficacy. General social support was also significantly associated with the specific social support measures of sense of community and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) affiliation. Social network size predicted abstinence-related factors such as AA affiliation and perceived stress. Conclusions These results provide insight regarding individual feelings of social support and abstinence-specific self-efficacy by showing that one's social network-level characteristics are related to one's perceptions of social support. We also found preliminary evidence that individual Oxford Houses influence one's feelings of social support.
Can social resilience inform SA/SIA for adaptive planning for climate change in vulnerable regions?
Authors: Dale Allan , Vella Karen J. , Cottrell Alison 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Social resilience concepts are gaining momentum in environmental planning through an emerging understanding of the socio-ecological nature of biophysical systems. There is a disconnect, however, between these concepts and the sociological and psychological literature related to social resilience. Further still, both schools of thought are not well connected to the concepts of social assessment (SA) and social impact assessment (SIA) that are the more standard tools supporting planning and decision-making. This raises questions as to how emerging social resilience concepts can translate into improved SA/SIA practices to inform regional-scale adaptation. Through a review of the literature, this paper suggests that more cross-disciplinary integration is needed if social resilience concepts are to have a genuine impact in helping vulnerable regions tackle climate change.
Ten best resources for conducting financing and benefit incidence analysis in resource-poor settings
Authors: Wiseman Virginia , Asante Augustine , Price Jennifer , Hayen Andrew , Irava Wayne , Martins Joao , Guinness Lorna , Jan Stephen 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Many low- and middle-income countries are seeking to reform their health financing systems to move towards universal coverage. This typically means that financing is based on people’s ability to pay while, for service use, benefits are based on the need for health care. Financing incidence analysis (FIA) and benefit incidence analysis (BIA) are two popular tools used to assess equity in health systems financing and service use. FIA studies examine who pays for the health sector and how these contributions are distributed according to socioeconomic status (SES). BIA determines who benefits from health care spending, with recipients ranked by their relative SES. In this article, we identify 10 resources to assist researchers and policy makers seeking to undertake or interpret findings from financing and benefit incidence analyses in the health sector. The article pays particular attention to the data requirements, computations, methodological challenges and country level experiences with these types of analyses.
Customer service in supply chain management: a case study
Authors: Naoui Fatiha 
Published: September 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present a case study to assess the customer service within supply chain management (SCM). In particular, the paper emphasizes an interest in an integrated approach to considering customer service performance in an efficient way. Indeed, information systems as technical support play an essential role in the SCM of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The reasons for pursuing such research can be explained by the fact that the customers are the first concern of any firm that seeks to be competitive. Indeed, the author seeks to answer the following question: Which are the main explaining factors of the customers’ service performance within Alpha SCM?

Design/methodology/approach
– A qualitative research methodology is used based on 11 semi-structured interviews with professionals and direct observation as part of a telecommunications network SME in France.

Findings
– This empirical case study is to delineate the concept dimensions. These dimensions allow the drawing up of a framework of actions to improve SME customer service performance evaluations in the SCM.

Research limitations/implications
– The paper is a single case study, not generalizable, but might be useful in general way. Another issue that the author can reflect on is the key performance indicators (KPIs). The KPIs selected are rather subjective and not generic relating to supply chain as “process”. The answers correspond to the managers’ perception and the international dimension is not taken into account in this work.

Practical implications
– The results contribute to the existing body of knowledge regarding services for improving the relationship with the customers; improve operational reporting; improve invoice control and indicator follow-ups with the project manager; and improve cost management.

Social implications
– The human factor is an important and current issue and is discussed in context of the case study.

Originality/value
– The paper adds to the understanding by showing that the human motivation and intellectual capital management are critical success factors in the Alpha SCM case study. It offers a new perspective that customers are among the major actors in the telecommunications market, along with the corporate customers and administration involved in implementation or service quality follow-up and telecommunications use. The group offers a wide range of skills to help the customers to make the most of technology.