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Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of anemia management and audit with feedback practices in reducing overuse of RBC transfusion. Methods This review follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Laboratory Medicine Best Practice Systematic Review (A-6) method. We searched the literature and solicited unpublished studies on practices to reduce overuse of RBC transfusions as measured by reductions in units transfused and proportion of patients transfused. Results Thirteen studies on preoperative anemia management and three studies on audit feedback practices met inclusion criteria. Strength of evidence was high to moderate for reducing the number of units and proportion of patients transfused. Conclusions Preoperative anemia management reduces the proportion of patients transfused and units of RBCs transfused. Audit with feedback across cases, physicians, and/or service areas, as part of a continuous quality improvement practice, reduces the proportion of patients and units of RBCs transfused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of plant species richness on the function and stability of ecosystems have been an area of focus in recent decades. Arthropod community is one of the most important components in agroecosystems and can provide multiple ecosystem services, including biocontrol and pollination. In particular, species composition and biocontrol function can be sensitive to changes in plant species richness. Here, we designed 50 plots with five levels of plant species richness to examine arthropod distribution and composition over 4 yr. Arthropod richness was found to be positively correlated with plant species richness. High plant species richness can enhance the temporal stability of the arthropod community but can also lead to a decline in the population stability of some species. The species richness and biomass of environmentally friendly insects (EFI), such as honeybees, ants and flies, were found to be positively correlated with those of the natural enemies. As such, high levels of EFI could sustain food web robustness by serving as alternative prey/hosts for natural enemies. The mediation of EFI in the interaction between crops and pests has implications for successful biocontrol practices using natural enemies. Planting diverse plant species with a certain level of spatial turnover could benefit the biocontrol function of natural enemies and safeguard multiple ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of media exposure differ when people are given the opportunity to choose content compared to when they are forced to view it. Contemporary explanations propose that differences between forced and selected exposure occur because of between-subject differences. We propose that differences also result from within-subject psychological reactions. Using a novel experimental design, a representative sample of U.S. adults (N = 1,967) provided their content preferences in a first session and then, in a second session, were randomly assigned to choose content or to view randomly-assigned content. Results confirm that forced exposure yields different psychological reactions than selected exposure, even in some cases among participants forced to view their preferred content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many lines of evidence point to HIV-1 subtype-specific differences in the development of drug resistance mutations. While variation between subtype C and others has been extensively explored, there has been less emphasis on subtypes common to West Africa. We examined a previously described national survey of pretreatment drug resistance in HIV-1-infected Nigerian children aged <18 months, to explore the association between subtypes and patterns of resistance.Methods: Five hundred and forty-nine dried blood spots, from 15 early infant diagnostic facilities in Nigeria, were amplified and HIV-1 polymerase was sequenced. Four hundred and twenty-four were analysed for surveillance drug resistance mutations (SDRMs). Associations between subtype and SDRMs were evaluated by Fisher's exact test and logistic regression analysis, controlling for geographical region and exposure.Results: Using the sub-subtypes of HIV-1 G defined by Delatorre et al. (PLoS One 2014.9: e98908) the most common subtypes were CRF02_AG (174, 41.0%), GWA-I (128, 30.2%), GWA-II (24, 5.7%), GCA (11, 2.6%), A (21, 5.0%) and CRF06_cpx (18, 4.2%). One hundred and ninety infants (44.8%) had ≥1 NNRTI mutation, 92 infants (21.7%) had ≥1 NRTI mutation and 6 infants (1.4%) had ≥1 PI mutation. By logistic regression, 67N was more common in GWA-II/GCA than CRF02_AG (OR 12.0, P = 0.006), as was 70R (OR 23.1, P = 0.007), 184I/V (OR 2.92, P = 0.020), the presence of ≥1 thymidine analogue mutation (TAM) (OR 3.87, P = 0.014), ≥1 type 2 TAM (OR 7.61, P = 0.001) and ≥1 NRTI mutation (OR 3.26, P = 0.005).Conclusions: This dataset reveals differences among SDRMs by subtype; in particular, between the GWA-II and GCA subclades, compared with CRF02_AG and GWA-I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Dundee classification is a simple severity assessment tool that could optimize treatment decisions and clinical outcomes in adult patients with cellulitis; however, it has not been validated in a large cohort.Objectives: To determine whether the Dundee classification reliably identified those patients with cellulitis who had a higher mortality, a longer length of hospital stay or an increased risk of readmission.Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all adults with a primary discharge diagnosis of cellulitis admitted to Auckland City Hospital from August 2013 to June 2015. We classified patients by severity using the Dundee scoring system.Results: The 30 day all-cause mortality in adult patients with a discharge diagnosis of cellulitis was 2% (29/1462) overall, and was 1% (10/806), 2% (6/271), 3% (10/353) and 9% (3/32) in Classes 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Dundee classification, respectively (P = 0.01). Mortality was strongly associated with age >65 years (OR 9.37, 95% CI 3.00-41.23) and with heart failure (OR 6.16, 95% CI 2.73-14.23). There were significant associations between the Dundee classification and the incidence of bacteraemia, the length of hospital stay and the rate of readmission to hospital.Conclusions: The Dundee classification is a simple, reliable tool that can be easily applied in clinical settings to predict risk of mortality in order to determine which patients can be managed in the community with oral or intravenous therapy, and which require inpatient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein synthesis inhibitor antibiotics inhibit synthesis of new proteins, including exotoxins and other important virulence determinants in Staphylococcus aureus. A summary of the literature regarding the use of adjunctive protein synthesis inhibitors for toxin suppression in the setting of S. aureus infections is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe the pharmacokinetics of isoniazid and acetyl-isoniazid in TB/HIV-coinfected patients, and assess the effects of efavirenz co-administration and a 50% increase in the dose of rifampicin on the pharmacokinetic parameters of isoniazid and acetyl-isoniazid.Methods: TB/HIV-coinfected patients participating in the three-treatment-arm RAFA randomized controlled trial conducted in West Africa were recruited into the pharmacokinetics sub-study. Five serial blood samples were collected on a single visit between 4 and 8 weeks after initiation of antituberculosis treatment. Concentration-time data for isoniazid and acetyl-isoniazid were analysed using non-linear mixed-effects models.Results: Isoniazid concentrations from 150 patients were available for analysis, and 79 of these (53%) also had concentrations of acetyl-isoniazid. Isoniazid pharmacokinetics was best described with a two-compartment disposition model with lagged first-order absorption and elimination using a semi-mechanistic model describing hepatic extraction. The model identified two elimination pathways, separating formation of acetyl-isoniazid from other routes of metabolism. The predicted AUC0-24 is reduced by 29% in patients who are fast acetylators of isoniazid and receiving efavirenz-based ART (6.73 versus 4.68 mg·h/L). In slow acetylators, efavirenz-based ART had no effect on isoniazid exposure (AUC0-24 = 17.5 mg·h/L).Conclusions: Efavirenz-based ART affects the acetylation metabolic pathway amongst rapid acetylators, resulting in reduced exposure to isoniazid. Pharmacokinetics of isoniazid and acetyl-isoniazid were not influenced by the 50% increase in rifampicin dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To conduct a clinicopathologic study of male breast carcinoma with Magee equation recurrence score (RS). Methods Seventy-four cases of male invasive breast cancers (MBCs) were studied, including 63 hormone receptor (HR)-positive, 10 human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive, and one triple-negative breast cancers. Results Among 63 HR-positive MBC patients, nine patients developed distal metastasis. Statistical analysis demonstrated distal metastasis was significantly associated with positive lymph node, high Nottingham grade, and increased Magee equation RS. All HR-positive MBCs were further stratified into two categories (low RS <18; intermediate/high RS ≥18). There was a significantly increased risk for distal metastasis in MBCs with intermediate/high Magee equation RS, but no increased risk for lymph node metastasis. Conclusions Our data suggest Magee equation RS may be useful to predict distal metastatic risk in MBC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Ethanol is a widely consumed drug in almost every society. In this study, the potential interfering effect of ethanol on routine biochemical tests was evaluated.Methods: Serum pools were prepared from blood samples collected from patients seeking treatment at the emergency department. Five separate groups were formed by adding ethanol to the samples, so the final concentrations were negative: 50 mg/dL, 100 mg/dL, 200 mg/dL, and 400 mg/dL. Each group was divided into 20 portions, and routine biochemical tests were measured from each portion. The coefficient of variation (CV), bias, and total error values were calculated for the measured parameters.Results: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT; EC 2.6.1.2) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27) activities decreased in proportion to the ethanol level. High negative biases were observed, suggesting a dose-dependent negative interference. The total error values calculated for direct bilirubin and urea were higher than the allowable total error reported in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988. For direct bilirubin, it was observed that the cause of this shift was due to the increase in CV values.Conclusions: We conclude that ethanol may cause interference in the measurement of some biochemical tests, whereas the most prominent effect was observed for LDH and ALT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual now stratifies nonmucinous lung adenocarcinomas (nmLACAs) by the size of the invasive component only. This is determined by direct gross or microscopic measurement; however, a calculated invasive size based on the percentage of invasive growth patterns has been proposed as an alternative option.Methods: To compare radiologic with different pathologic assessments of invasive tumor size, we retrospectively reviewed a cohort of resected nmLACAs with a part-solid appearance on computed tomography (CT) scan (n = 112).Results: The median direct microscopic pathologic invasive measurements were not significantly different from the median calculated pathologic invasive measurements; however, the median CT invasive measurements were 0.26 cm larger than the median direct pathologic measurements (P < .001).Conclusions: Our results show that pathologic calculated invasive tumor measurements are comparable to direct microscopic measurements of invasive tumor, thereby supporting the recommendation for use of calculated invasive tumor size by the pathologist if necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Although socioeconomic background is known to impact on the incidence and progression of chronic kidney disease, its influence of on the presentation and outcome for acute kidney injury is not known and is the subject of this study. Design The Welsh National electronic AKI reporting system was used to identify all cases of AKI in patients >18 years of age between March 2015 and November 2017. Methods Socioeconomic classification of patients was derived from the Welsh Index Multiple Deprivation score (WIMD). Patients were grouped according to the WIMD score by their postcode, and the ranked data were categorized into percentiles and correlated with incidence and measures of AKI severity and outcome. Results Date was collected on a total of 57 654 patients. Increased deprivation was associated with higher AKI incidence rates, more episodes of AKI per patient and more severe AKI at presentation. In contrast 90-day mortality was highest in the most affluent areas. Mortality in affluent areas was driven by increased patient age. Corrected for age 90-day mortality was higher in areas of increased deprivation. Conclusion This study highlights that AKI incidence presentation and outcomes are adversely affected by social deprivation. Further studies are required to understand the extent to which these differences reflect patient related factors or regional differences in provision and access to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty in the estimation of daytime ecosystem carbon cycling due to the light inhibition of leaf respiration and photorespiration, and how these small fluxes vary through the growing season in the field, remains a confounding element in calculations of gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration. Our study focuses on how phenology, short-term temperature changes and canopy position influence leaf-level carbon exchange in Quercus rubra L. (red oak) at Harvard Forest in central Massachusetts, USA. Using leaf measurements and eddy covariance, we also quantify the effect of light inhibition on estimates of daytime respiration at leaf and ecosystem scales. Measured rates of leaf respiration in the light and dark were highest in the early growing season and declined in response to 10-day prior air temperatures (P < 0.01), evidence of within-season thermal acclimation. Leaf respiration was significantly inhibited by light (27.1 ± 2.82% inhibited across all measurements), and this inhibition varied with the month of measurement; greater inhibition was observed in mid-summer leaves compared with early- and late-season leaves. Increases in measurement temperature led to higher rates of respiration and photorespiration, though with a less pronounced positive effect on photosynthesis; as a result, carbon-use efficiency declined with increasing leaf temperature. Over the growing season when we account for seasonally variable light inhibition and basal respiration rates, our modeling approaches found a cumulative 12.9% reduction of leaf-level respiration and a 12.8% reduction of canopy leaf respiration, resulting in a 3.7% decrease in total ecosystem respiration compared with estimates that do not account for light inhibition in leaves. Our study sheds light on the environmental controls of the light inhibition of daytime leaf respiration and how integrating this phenomenon and other small fluxes can reduce uncertainty in current and future projections of terrestrial carbon cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Determinants of hypertension diagnosis and/or awareness and control among older adults are understudied in Albania, a former communist country in South Eastern Europe, which is experiencing rapid demographic, socioeconomic and epidemiological transition. This paper examines the association of individual, interpersonal, organizational and community factors with hypertension awareness and control among older adults in Tirana, the Albanian capital. Methods Using 2012 International Mobility in Aging Study data on older adults from Albania's capital city (n = 393) and the socioecological model as a conceptual framework, multinomial regression models identified factors associated with controlled, uncontrolled and undiagnosed hypertension. Results For hypertension, 17.3% participants had none, 23.4% were controlled, 48.4% were uncontrolled and 10.9% were undiagnosed/unaware. Compared to those with controlled hypertension, in multivariable models, a high level of friend support was negatively associated with uncontrolled (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2–0.9) and undiagnosed (OR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1–0.6) hypertension. A high level of perceived neighbourhood safety was negatively associated with uncontrolled (OR: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.3–1.0) and undiagnosed (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2–1.0) hypertension. Compared to those with no hypertension, children's social support was positively associated with uncontrolled (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1–4.3) and undiagnosed (OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 1.3–9.6) hypertension. Conclusion This study provides new insights about distinct risk factors for inadequate hypertension management in Albania. It highlights the importance of community-level factors (safety) and interpersonal factors (family and friend ties) to hypertension diagnosis/awareness and control, which may provide novel intervention opportunities for hypertension programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an analysis of 2,216 European higher education institutions (HEIs) from 27 countries. It investigates determinants of participation in the European Union's Framework Programme for research and innovation (EU FP), Horizon 2020, and empirically assesses how influential network position affects the chances of applying for and receiving funding in collaborative projects. Having a strong, influential network position in collaborative EU research is found to affect participation in H2020 greatly—suggesting 'closed clubs', to the detriment of less influential HEIs. Greater access to resources and capabilities significantly strengthens the effect of network position on EU FP participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to shed light on the decision-making process at university technology transfer offices and show that the last steps in the process of international patent extension, when costs step up, tend to be only taken conditional on the existence of a licensing agreement. This information has so far been underexploited by policymakers and innovation scholars in search of innovation indicators. We argue that the number of international patent families filed by a university can be used as a rough indicator of technology transfer activity mediated through patents, especially in the context of tight public university budgets and national patent systems with fee reductions for universities. To support our argument, we review qualitative information from interviews at technology transfer offices, regulations, and internal statutes from a selection of Spanish universities and present a statistical analysis of the relation between patent internationalisation and licensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to provide a deeper understanding of the individual factors behind scientists' involvement in a wide variety of knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) activities. By doing so, the article addresses three major shortcomings in the literature. First, this article considers scientists' involvement in both formal and informal KTE activities. Secondly, the study focuses not only on KTE activities with the private sector, but also with other types of agents. Thirdly, the article adopts an individual approach to distinguish between three types of KTE predictors: individual capacities, training and career trajectories, and motivations. Overall, the results of the regression model applied to a sample of 1,295 researchers active in the largest public research organization in Spain (CSIC) suggest that, while some individual features are connected to some KTE activities, other individual predictors (e.g. multitasking and interdisciplinarity) are more evenly associated to a variety of KTE mechanisms and users. Based on those findings, the article offers policy recommendations to craft more accurate policies to encourage scientists' KTE engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) represent a major source of nosocomial infection worldwide. In Australia, there has been a recent concerning increase in bacteraemia associated with the vanA genotype, prompting investigation into the genomic epidemiology of VREfm.Methods: A population-level study of VREfm (10 November-9 December 2015) was conducted. A total of 321 VREfm isolates (from 286 patients) across Victoria State were collected and sequenced with Illumina NextSeq. SNPs were used to assess relatedness. STs and genes associated with resistance and virulence were identified. The vanA-harbouring plasmid from an isolate from each ST was assembled using long-read data. Illumina reads from remaining isolates were then mapped to these assemblies to identify their probable vanA-harbouring plasmid.Results: vanA-VREfm comprised 17.8% of isolates. ST203, ST80 and a pstS(-) clade, ST1421, predominated (30.5%, 30.5% and 37.2%, respectively). Most vanB-VREfm were ST796 (77.7%). vanA-VREfm were more closely related within hospitals versus between them [core SNPs 10 (IQR 1-357) versus 356 (179-416), respectively], suggesting discrete introductions of vanA-VREfm, with subsequent intra-hospital transmission. In contrast, vanB-VREfm had similar core SNP distributions within versus between hospitals, due to widespread dissemination of ST796. Different vanA-harbouring plasmids were found across STs. With the exception of ST78 and ST796, Tn1546 transposons also varied. Phylogenetic analysis revealed Australian strains were often interspersed with those from other countries, suggesting ongoing cross-continental transmission.Conclusions: Emerging vanA-VREfm in Australia is polyclonal, indicating repeat introductions of vanA-VREfm into hospitals and subsequent dissemination. The close relationship to global strains reinforces the need for ongoing screening and control of VREfm in Australia and abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine whether or not fluoroquinolone use increases the incidence of retinal detachment.Design: Self-controlled case series analysis.Participants: Participants were identified using the South Korean National Health Insurance Database between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2015. A total of 15 134 patients who experienced rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with at least one prescription of a fluoroquinolone were included.Methods: Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and their 95% CIs were calculated using conditional Poisson regression. The main outcome measure was a recorded diagnosis of RRD (ICD-10: H33.0) with a claim for the surgical code for RRD.Results: We found an increased risk of retinal detachment in the first 1-30 days following the initiation of fluoroquinolone therapy (IRR 1.85; 95% CI 1.71-1.95), which rose for the 31-60 days period (IRR 2.05; 95% CI 1.43-2.95) but remained constant after more than 60 days (IRR 1.25; 95% CI 0.75-2.10). However, the elevated risk was also found in the 1-30 day period prior to the initiation of fluoroquinolone therapy (IRR 1.58; 95% CI 1.49-1.68) and also 31-60 days before medication use (IRR 1.11; 95% CI 1.03-1.19).Conclusions: Our case-based study indicated that the risk after fluoroquinolone exposure doubled; however, the risk profile before and after fluoroquinolone use means that the association between fluoroquinolone use and retinal detachment might not be a causal relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the AusDiagnostics MT CRE EU assay for the detection of carbapenemase and acquired colistin resistance genes in Gram-negative bacteria.Methods: The assay allows the detection of blaKPC, blaOXA-48-like, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaIMP, blaSIM, blaGIM, blaSPM, blaFRI, blaIMI, blaGES (differentiating ESBL and carbapenemase variants), blaSME and mcr-1/-2. It was evaluated against a panel of isolates including Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. retrospectively (n = 210) and prospectively (n = 182).Results: The CRE EU assay was able to detect 268/268 carbapenemase genes, with 239 belonging to the 'big five' families (KPC, OXA-48-like, NDM, VIM and IMP) and 29 carbapenemase genes of the SIM, GIM, SPM, FRI, IMI, SME and GES families. It could distinguish between ESBL and carbapenemase variants of GES. It also allowed detection of mcr-1/-2 colistin resistance genes on their own or in isolates co-producing a carbapenemase.Conclusions: The AusDiagnostics MT CRE EU assay offered wide coverage for detection of acquired carbapenemase genes. It required minimal hands-on time and delivered results in less than 4 h from bacterial culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the promise of abundant renewable energy resources in the world, the poultry sector is still dominated by traditional energy sources. In this study, results of a field trial of an innovative and cost-effective HVAC system design applied to a poultry house have been presented. This system comprises of two integrated novel components; a polyethylene heat exchanger (PHE) based a photovoltaic thermal (PVt) array and an efficient and innovative ground pipe array coupled to a heat pump driven HVAC system. The analysis included the daily PV electrical output and heat pump performance. The results of the experimental study reveal that 3733 kWh and 2432 kWh heat energy have been supplied in the 7-week growth cycle of chickens condition, respectively. The COP of the HP has been calculated for the winter period and observed between 2.3 and 2.43. The PV system was able to generate 1876 kWh electrical energy with potential to meet HP's energy needs in the most energy needing period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to environmental problems related to using fossil fuels and limitations in the sources of these types of fuels, renewable energies have sharply developed in recent decades. Renewable energy systems are applicable in various fields to provide clean energy. In the current study, medical and dental applications of renewable energies are reviewed. Based on the literature review, technologies based on renewable energy sources can be utilized in medical buildings and instruments. For instance, solar-based technologies can be applied in heating and cooling of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. In addition, the thermal energy of the sun is applicable in autoclaves and medical dryers. Although utilizing renewable energy systems for these applications requires more investment cost and probably more complicated structures, it would result in lower carbon dioxide emission which leads to sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aurelia aurita (Linneaus, 1758) is a cosmopolitan scyphozoan, probably the most investigated jellyfish in temperate and highly productive coastal ecosystems. Despite a prominent top-down control in plankton food webs, a mechanistic understanding of A. aurita population dynamics and trophic interactions has been barely addressed. Here we develop a food web dynamic model to assess A. aurita role in the seasonal plankton dynamics of the Kiel Fjord, southwestern Baltic Sea. The model couples low trophic level dynamics, based on a classical Nutrient Phytoplankton Zooplankton Detritus (NPZD) model, to a stage-resolved copepod model (referencing Pseudocalanus sp.) and a jellyfish model (A. aurita ephyra and medusa) as consumers and predators, respectively. Simulations showed the relevance of high abundances of A. aurita, which appear related with warm winter temperatures, promoting a shift from a copepod-dominated food web to a ciliate and medusa dominated one. The model captured the intraspecific competition triggered by the medusae abundance and characterized by a negative relationship between population density and individual size/weight. Our results provide a mechanistic understanding of an emergent trait such as size shaping the food web functioning, driving predation rates and population dynamics of A. aurita, driving its sexual reproductive strategy at the end of the pelagic phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmful bloom-forming algae include some of the most prolific microbial producers of extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the taxonomic diversity of ROS production, the underlying physiological mechanisms and ecophysiological roles of ROS cycling are not completely characterized among phytoplankton taxa that form harmful algal blooms (HABs). This study examines the extracellular production of the ROS superoxide and hydrogen peroxide by five marine HAB species: Chattonella marina, Heterosigma akashiwo, Karenia brevis, Pseudo-nitzschia sp. and Aureococcus anophagefferens. All species produced extracellular superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Rates of ROS production per cell spanned several orders of magnitude and varied inversely with cell density, suggesting a potential signaling role for extracellular ROS. ROS production was also detected in the spent media of all cultures except K. brevis, indicating the presence of cell-free ROS-generating constituents, such as enzymes or metabolites, which could be further investigated as molecular targets for tracking ROS production in laboratory and field settings. Finally, ratios of superoxide to hydrogen peroxide production could not be accounted for by superoxide dismutation alone, except in the case of K. brevis, indicating a diversity of ROS production and degradation pathways that may ultimately help illuminate the functions of HAB-derived ROS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cervical screening strives to prevent cervical cancer (CxCa), minimizing morbidity and mortality. Most large US reports on cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) cotesting of women aged 30 years and older are from one laboratory, which used conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) smears from 2003 to 2009.Methods: We quantified detection of CxCa and precancer (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3/adenocarcinoma in situ [CIN3/AIS]) in 300,800 cotests at Magee Womens Hospital since 2005. Screening histories preceding CxCa and CIN3/AIS diagnoses were examined to assess the contribution of cytology and HPV testing. Cotesting utilized Food and Drug Administration-approved imaged liquid-based cytology (LBC) and from-the-vial HPV tests.Results: LBC identified more women subsequently diagnosed with CxCa and CIN3/AIS than HPV testing. HPV-negative/cytology-positive results preceded 13.1% of CxCa and 7.2% of CIN3/AIS diagnoses.Conclusions: LBC enhanced cotesting detection of CxCa and CIN3/AIS to a greater extent than previously reported with conventional Pap smear and HPV cotesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Viper envenomation contributes to nearly 50% of snake-bite deaths in India, chiefly due to circulatory shock. The mechanisms leading to circulatory shock include bleeding, capillary leak syndrome (CLS) and myocardial depression. Pituitary-adrenal axis involvement in circulatory shock, though described, has not been fully elucidated. Aim To identify predictors of circulatory shock and mortality in viper envenomation and explore the role of pituitary-adrenal axis in circulatory shock. Design Prospective hospital-based observational study. Methods Once a syndromic diagnosis of viper envenomation was made, relevant clinical and laboratory data were collected. Serum cortisol was estimated in those with circulatory shock. Post-mortem examination of pituitary, kidneys and adrenals was performed. Adjusted odds-ratios were calculated for respective risk-factors for shock and mortality using multivariable logistic regression with backward elimination strategy. Results Of 248 patients of viper envenomation treated at our hospital, circulatory shock was present in 19% and in-hospital mortality was 23%. CLS, circulatory shock, bleeding and requirement of > 20 vials of antivenom predicted mortality. Ischaemic and haemorrhagic necrosis of pituitary or adrenals was present in 51% of post-mortem specimens. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and CLS were strong predictors of pituitary haemorrhage. Conclusion Predictors of mortality - bleeding, CLS and requirement of high antivenom doses are warning signs which can alert clinicians to patients who may have poor outcomes. Our study points to a definite role of pituitary-adrenal axis in circulatory shock supports the hypothesis that pituitary involvement in viper envenomation closely resembles Sheehan syndrome. The mechanism of pituitary involvement appears to be a result of increased susceptibility of the swollen gland secondary to CLS and micro thrombi deposition in DIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Chronic Q fever is accompanied by high mortality and morbidity, and requires prolonged antibiotic treatment. Little is known on long-term quality of life (LQOL) in chronic Q fever patients treated with antibiotics. Aim To identify patient and treatment-related factors associated with impaired LQOL in chronic Q fever patients treated with antibiotics, and to assess patients' perception on treatment. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods LQOL was assessed with a validated questionnaire from the Nijmegen Clinical Screening Instrument. Patients' perception on treatment was measured with three newly developed questions. Results We included 64 patients: LQOL was impaired in 55% (n = 35) after a median follow-up of 5 years. Median treatment duration was 27 months. In multivariable analysis, treatment duration was significantly associated with impaired LQOL (OR 1.07; 95%CI 1.02–1.12, P < 0.01 per month increase). Age, gender, number of antibiotic regimens, surgical intervention, complications, diagnostic classification, focus of infection or registration of side effects during treatment were not associated with impaired LQOL. After start of treatment, 17 patients (27%) perceived improvement of their condition. Disadvantages of treatment were experienced on a daily basis by 24 patients (69%) with impaired LQOL and 13 patients (46%) without impaired LQOL (P = 0.04). Conclusions LQOL in chronic Q fever patients treated with antibiotics is impaired in more than half of patients 5 years after diagnosis. Antibiotic treatment duration was the only variable associated with impaired LQOL. The majority of patients experienced disadvantages on a daily basis, highlighting the high burden of disease and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a novel perceptual image hashing based on weighted discrete wavelet transform (DWT) statistical features. This hashing converts input image into a normalized image by bi-linear interpolation and color space conversion, extracts edge image of the normalized image via Canny operator, and divides the edge image into non-overlapping blocks. For each block, a three-level 2D DWT is applied to obtain different sub-bands and the weighted sum of the DWT statistics of these sub-bands is calculated. Finally, image hash is generated by concatenating and quantizing these weighted DWT features. Similarity of image hashes is measured by Euclidean distance. The Copydays dataset and the Uncompressed Color Image Database (UCID) are both used to evaluate classification between robustness and discrimination. Receiver operating characteristics curve comparisons illustrate that our hashing is superior to some state-of-the-art algorithms in classification performance with respect to robustness and discrimination. The LIVE Image Quality Assessment Database is used to validate our application in reduced-reference image quality assessment. Experimental results show that our hashing has better performance in image quality assessment than two popular measures, i.e. peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of reproductive isolation following hybridization is a major obstacle that may limit the prevalence of hybrid speciation among specific groups of organisms. Here, we use a flea beetle system to offer a behavioral hypothesis for why there are so few examples of homoploid hybrid speciation among insects. Specifically, we examined cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) mating signals and mate-choice decisions of Altica fragariae and A. viridicyanea to test whether the signals produced by hybrids cause prezygotic reproductive isolation. Although hybrids of A. fragariae and A. viridicyanea had unique CHC profiles as compared to the parental species, mate-choice trials indicated that these differences were insufficient to prevent gene flow between hybrids and parental species. We found that mate-choice decisions and CHC signals were not correlated. Considering the ubiquity of CHC signaling molecules in insects, we propose that decoupling of CHC signals and mate choice may be a general mechanism limiting hybrid speciation in insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban environments impose novel challenges on animals and, as a result, the behaviors of urban wildlife are changing. In particular, high exploratory tendencies and an ability to gather more information from the environment may facilitate adoption of novel ecological opportunities. As of yet, very few studies have examined if urbanization predicts the way in which animals explore novel environments, or the extent of among-individual variation within these habitats. Here, we assess exploration and its temporal plasticity in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus ; N = 169 individuals, 14 sites) caught along an urban gradient to examine individual differences in exploration and changes in exploration over time and assays under a reaction-norm framework. As predicted, urban birds were significantly faster explorers in a novel environment (contacted more features and moved more), however urbanization did not predict individual differences in the change in exploration over time. Exploration score was moderately repeatable; interestingly, urban chickadees were more repeatable in their initial exploration behaviors, but seemed less repeatable in how they explored over time between assays in comparison to forest birds. Our results support the importance of high exploratory tendencies for urban animals, and suggest, for the first time, that individuals from urban and non-urban habitats differ in the amount of among-individual variation in exploration, and thus urban individuals may benefit from diverging more from one another in their behavior. Future work should examine the extent to which this variation in exploration and plasticity of exploration behaviors represent differences in how individuals gather information from their environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many studies have investigated the occurrence of extra-pair paternity (EPP) and its adaptive significance in wild population of birds, we still know surprising little about the plasticity in mating behavior of females at the individual level and how it affects the patterns of paternity. To address this question, we focused on the direct fertility benefit hypothesis for the function of EPP and studied if female birds react in extra-pair mating behavior after reproductive failures using a wild population of the Japanese great tit, Parus minor, a socially monogamous passerine with a moderate frequency of EPP and a high-multiple brooding rate. We simulated hatching failure by replacing with artificial eggs during the egg laying period to investigate whether females subsequently altered their mating behavior and became more promiscuous to improve reproductive success in their following clutches. The proportion of extra-pair offspring per clutches of both experimental and control pairs increased in the second clutches (replacement and repeat), but compared with the control pairs, the increase in the experimental pairs was significantly greater. The present study suggests that individual females appear to be making decisions based on specific cues and flexibly altering mating behavior in adaptive ways. Also, our results are compatible with one of the long-debated hypotheses for the evolutionary maintenance of EPP which predicts that females gain direct fitness benefit through increased reproductive success from mating multiply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ineffective hunters in cooperative foraging groups may be shielded from natural selection by their more effective group mates, whereas those living solitarily would starve and thus be removed from the population. The problem may be exacerbated in large groups where it may be easier for individuals to withhold participation. Group foragers may thus be ineffective individual hunters or exhibit greater inter-individual variation in hunting abilities, in particular, when living in large groups. We test these hypotheses in spider species of the genus Anelosimus that differ in their level of sociality and, among social species, in colonies of different sizes. We found that individuals from the more social species, and those from larger groups, reacted more slowly to prey than those from solitary species or small groups. Individuals from these categories also had greater inter-individual variation in reaction times. Individuals from large social groups also had lower prey-capture success than those from small ones. These differences may have been driven by the size of the group from which the social individuals were taken, as those from small colonies behaved similarly to individuals of the 2 less social species. This finding suggests that hunting ability may develop as a phenotypically plastic trait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning associations between food-related stimuli and nutrients allows foragers to collect resources efficiently. In turn, the nutrients that foragers consume can themselves affect learning performance, through innate preferences for pre-ingestive stimuli, as well as post-ingestive reinforcement. Bees are insect models of learning and memory, yet the vast majority of this research concerns nectar (carbohydrate) rather than pollen (protein/lipid) rewards, despite the fact that many bees collect both simultaneously. We asked how one component of pollen surface chemistry, a free fatty acid (oleic acid), affected bees' performance in a nectar-learning task. We found that ingestion of oleic acid enhanced visual learning, likely through positive post-ingestive reinforcement. This was supported by our finding that although bees did not prefer to consume the oleic acid solution, its ingestion both decreased motor activity and increased survival. These results are a step towards understanding how nutritionally complex floral rewards may affect cognitive processes that underlie pollination mutualisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predation is one of the strongest selective forces in nature. Organisms characterized by a complex life cycle, undergoing an ontogenetic niche shift, can reduce predation risk on natal stages by metamorphosing earlier. Yet, this antipredatory response may incur numerous life-history–related costs. Interestingly, the consequence of larval predation risk on adult dispersal, a key trait dictating the persistence of spatially structured populations, is largely understudied. Here, we explored the effect of larval predation risk on the life-history and dispersal characteristics of female adults in the mosquito Culex pipiens. As predicted, mosquito larvae reared in the presence of a caged larvivorous-fish metamorphosed earlier, while also suffering from reduced survival. Despite this reduction in development time, the body size of emerging females was larger, implying that more resources were allocated to increase the growth rate, probably at the expense of reduced maintenance and storage. This shift in energy allocation translated into decreased pupa and adult survival. Remarkably, the respective dispersal distance of these larger bodied females was greater. We suggest that the increase in dispersal distance allows these females to cover larger areas, while searching for oviposition sites that are safer than their natal aquatic habitat. Exploring the effects of larval conditions on adult dispersal is central for understanding the distribution of organisms with a complex life cycle in spatially heterogeneous environments, and specifically for disease transmission by mosquitoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ST131 Escherichia coli clone is associated with the global dissemination of ESBLs. It has been hypothesized that ST131 could take advantage of better colonizing abilities. However, the data on colonization prevalence of ESBL-ST131 in European hospitals are scarce.Objectives: To assess the prevalence of the ST131 clone and its microbiological characteristics among colonizing ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL-Ec) from hospitalized patients in four European hospitals (Berlin, Geneva, Madrid and Utrecht) during the R-GNOSIS study.Methods: ESBL-Ec isolates (n = 688) were obtained from rectal swabs of hospitalized patients from March 2014 to February 2015 using selective media. The ST131 clone and its subclones were sought using PCR and positive isolates were further studied. blaESBL genes were characterized (PCR and sequencing), antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed, clonal relationships were studied by PFGE and fimH allele and O type (PCR) were assessed.Results: ST131 prevalence was 20.5% (141/688); C1/H30R1 isolates were significantly more prevalent in Geneva (49%) and C2/H30Rx in Madrid (67%). C1/H30R1 isolates showed less resistance to amikacin than C2/H30Rx (4% versus 35%) and all were susceptible to penicillin/inhibitor combinations. CTX-M-15 was the most common enzyme (49%) followed by CTX-M-27 (27%). C1/H30R1 isolates were significantly associated with CTX-M-27 (72%) and all of these isolates belonged to the C1-M27 clade. Moreover, C2/H30Rx isolates and CTX-M-15 were also significantly related (88%).Conclusions: The predominance of C2/H30Rx-CTX-M-15 in Madrid and C1/H30R1-CTX-M-27 in Geneva demonstrates a changing epidemiology of ESBLs in Europe caused by ST131 subclones; in particular, the emergence of the C1-M27 clade in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of localized high-temperature granulite-facies domains ('hot spots') are present within the regional (10–100 km2scale) amphibolite-facies rocks of the Central Maine Terrane in central New Hampshire (NH), USA. Based on the spatial coincidence of a thermal anomaly and contours of depressed δ18O values centered on networks of quartz–graphite and pegmatitic veins in the vicinity of Bristol, NH, it was proposed in an earlier study that large-scale ascending hot fluid focused through a vein network drove heating and introduced isotopically distinct fluids. The thermal anomaly could be preserved only if the timescales of heating were extremely short, otherwise conduction would smooth the field temperature gradient. Herein, we conduct a petrological test to estimate the peak temperatures and the durations of metamorphism across the Bristol region, using pseudosection analysis as well as forward modeling of garnet growth–diffusion–resorption profiles. This region attained granulite-facies conditions in the sillimanite–K-feldspar–cordierite zone over a larger area than previously mapped. Cordierite is variably present, which reflects bulk compositional controls on its stability as well as its destruction during retrogression. The forward modeling reveals protracted (5–8 Myr) granulite-facies conditions of 0·5–0·6 GPa and ∼750–820°C, and an overall counterclockwise P – T path. Furthermore, a short-lived thermal anomaly or 'spike' (>100°C, ∼0·15 Myr) is superimposed on the granulite-facies core, reaching ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) conditions >900°C, much higher than previously recognized in the area. The short timescale is fully consistent with the localized radius of the thermal anomaly of ∼1·5 km. Subsequently, the area underwent variably developed amphibolite-facies retrogression at ∼650°C and 0·4–0·5 GPa, accompanied by fluid infiltration, garnet breakdown, and muscovite growth. The transient thermal spike and the counterclockwise P – T path indicate that heat transfer could not have been solely the result of internal heating of overthickened crust. We posit that external heat fluxes driven by Acadian plutonism, in addition to heat generation in crust enriched in heat-producing elements, led to the granulite-facies metamorphism. Magmatic loading in the crust, potentially in response to an elevated basal heat flux during the Acadian orogeny, can account for the counterclockwise P – T path. Heat transported advectively by channelized flow of magma or magma evolving hydrothermal fluids is the most likely cause of the transient and local UHT thermal anomaly. The results show that UHT metamorphic events can be extremely brief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new unreliable failure detector, called the Impact failure detector (FD), that, contrarily to the majority of traditional FDs, outputs a trust level value which expresses the degree of confidence in the system. An impact factor is assigned to each process and the trust level is equal to the sum of the impact factors of the processes not suspected of failure. Moreover, a threshold parameter defines a lower bound value for the trust level, over which the confidence in the system is ensured. In particular, we defined a flexibility property that denotes the capacity of the Impact FD to tolerate a certain margin of failures or false suspicions, i.e. its capacity of considering different sets of responses that lead the system to trusted states. The Impact FD is suitable for systems that present node redundancy, heterogeneity of nodes, clustering feature and allow a margin of failures which does not degrade the confidence in the system. The paper also includes a timer-based distributed algorithm which implements an Impact FD, as well as its proof of correctness, for systems whose links are lossy asynchronous or for those whose all (or some) links are eventually timely. Performance evaluation results, based on PlanetLab (Planetlab. http://www.planet-lab.org. 'Online. Access date: 16 September 2016') traces, confirm the degree of flexible applicability of our FD and that, due to the accepted margin of failure, both failures and false suspicions are more tolerated when compared to traditional unreliable FDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biologists would be mistaken if they relegated living fossils to paleontological inquiry or assumed that the concept is dead. It is now used to describe entities ranging from viruses to higher taxa, despite recent warnings of misleading inferences. Current work on character evolution illustrates how analyzing living fossils and stasis in terms of parts (characters) and wholes (e.g. organisms and lineages) advances our understanding of prolonged stasis at many hierarchical levels. Instead of viewing the concept's task as categorizing living fossils, we show how its primary role is to mark out what is in need of explanation, accounting for the persistence of both molecular and morphological traits. Rethinking different conceptions of living fossils as specific hypotheses reveals novel avenues for research that integrate phylogenetics, ecological and evolutionary modeling, and evo-devo to produce a more unified theoretical outlook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As university–industry cooperation is associated with the transfer of knowledge and technology, this collaboration is an extremely important field of study for the world's economies that helps companies become more competitive. The present research, thus, sought to explore and analyse the literature related to university–industry cooperation, using a co-citation analysis. This study's objectives were to (1) identify the main co-cited references and the groups (i.e. clusters) they form and (2) discuss the challenges this literature presented in the study of university–industry cooperation. The articles reviewed were obtained with a search of the ISI's Web of Science and were submitted to a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer software. This systematic literature review revealed that companies are increasingly focused on cooperation with universities. The results include four clusters, namely, (1) Absorption Capacity, Knowledge and Competitiveness in University–Industry Relations, (2) Impact of Knowledge Spill-overs on University–Industry Relations, (3) Strategic Alliances for Industry Innovation, and (4) University–Industry Cooperation. This study thus contributes to a greater and more detailed understanding of the production flow, scientific practices, and trends in this new and stimulating field of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent paper, Wigglesworth claims that syntactic criteria of theoretical equivalence are not appropriate for settling questions of equivalence between logical theories, since such criteria judge classical and intuitionistic logic to be equivalent; he concludes that logicians should use semantic criteria instead. However, this is an artefact of the particular syntactic criterion chosen, which is an implausible criterion of theoretical equivalence (even in the non-logical case). Correspondingly, there is nothing to suggest that a more plausible syntactic criterion should not be used to settle questions of equivalence between different logical theories; such a criterion (which may already be found in the literature) is exhibited and shown to judge classical and intuitionistic logic to be inequivalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a fundamental disagreement about which norm regulates assertion. Proponents of factive accounts argue that only true propositions are assertable, whereas proponents of non-factive accounts insist that at least some false propositions are. Puzzlingly, both views are supported by equally plausible (but apparently incompatible) linguistic data. This paper delineates an alternative solution: to understand truth as the aim of assertion, and pair this view with a non-factive rule. The resulting account is able to explain all the relevant linguistic data, and finds independent support from general considerations about the differences between rules and aims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to Stefano Predelli's article finding in David Kaplan's "Demonstratives" (1977) a distinction between "context shifting" monsters and "operators on character," I argue that context shifters are operators on character. That conclusion conflicts with the claim (made by Kaplan and endorsed by Predelli) that operators on character must be covertly quotational. But that claim is itself unmotivated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is commonly thought that unconscious processes cannot produce actions deserving praise or blame. I present a thought experiment designed to generate a contradicting intuition: at least in this case, we do give credit for the product of an unconscious process. The target is creativity. Many instances of creative thought begin with a step that unconsciously generates a new idea by combining existing ideas. The resulting ideas are selected and developed by later processing. This first step could be replaced with a simple machine that randomly pairs concepts. Now, imagine a philosopher, Liberty, who gets all of his paper ideas from this machine. Compare him to another philosopher, Libertad, who comes up with all the same papers using her own mind. If you share the intuition that Liberty's work deserves less credit for creativity, you are giving credit for the product of an unconscious process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is commonly believed that human-centred design (HCD) approach is very beneficial to interactive systems development. However, not much is known about the state of HCD practice in developing countries, especially the sub-Saharan Africa. This paper explores the state of HCD practice in three Nigerian software companies. We used the interview technique to explore two key issues. First, the perception of humans as a component of sociotechnical systems, and second, how HCD process is being approached in software companies. A cross-case analysis of the three companies was performed and the usability maturity model-human-centredness scale was used to determine the state of maturity of the three companies. The outcomes of this study reveal that HCD practice is currently at the least stage of maturity in the three companies and user involvement is not practiced in the right manner. The outcomes of the study suggest the need for reflective HCD practice and localizing human–computer interaction approaches to contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most geochemically unique drill cores recovered within the Yellowstone–Snake River Plain (YSRP) province, the Sugar City geothermal test well was drilled into intra-caldera rhyolite lavas and tuffs erupted during the middle to late Pliocene and the resurgent basaltic volcanism erupted during the Pleistocene. This sequence parallels the two main stages proposed for YSRP hotspot calderas: i.e. the eruption of several large-volume, ash-flow tuff sheets followed by caldera collapse, then cessation of major rhyolitic activity and gradual subsidence accompanied by filling and eventual burial of the caldera by basalt lava flows. We employ stratigraphic relationships, paleomagnetism, and major, trace element, and Sr–Nd isotope geochemistry to develop models for the origin of the basaltic and rhyolitic magmas within a geographical and temporal context. The basalts are characterized by distinct groupings based on depth and geochemistry and reflect the dominant compositions observed on the surface, e.g. Snake River olivine tholeiite (SROT) and evolved type (e.g. Craters of the Moon). We also observe contaminated basalts that interacted with rhyolite/granite. The basaltic magma formed by shallow partial melting in the plume channel carved into the lithosphere. The older rhyolites preserve the classical characteristics of A-type granites and display major element and trace element concentrations typical for Eastern SRP caldera centres and minimal stratigraphic variation. Multiple lines of evidence document extensive magmatic differentiation and coupled basalt–rhyolite interactions. We find that the most plausible origin for the rhyolites is via partial melting of a hybrid source, comprising Archean crustal components and younger juvenile mafic intrusions. Assimilation of hydrothermally altered material is also required for some eruptive units. The rhyolites did not evolve from residual magma left over from the climactic Kilgore eruption (4·0 Ma), but instead represent discrete magma generation events in the course of a few hundred thousand years between 4·0 to 3·8 Ma. Beginning at approximately 3.3 Ma, basalts were able to erupt through the solidified composite pluton that formed below the caldera. The transition from rhyolite to basalt is tied to the declining flux of basaltic magma as North America moved away from the Yellowstone hotspot core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tumour suppressor p53, encoded by TP53, is a key player in a wide network of signalling pathways. We investigated its role in the bioactivation of the environmental carcinogen 3-nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA)found in diesel exhaust and its metabolites 3-aminobenzanthrone (3-ABA) and N -hydroxy-3-aminobenzanthrone (N -OH-3-ABA) in a panel of isogenic human colorectal HCT116 cells differing only with respect to their TP53 status [i.e. TP53(+/+), TP53(+/−), TP53(−/−), TP53(R248W/+) or TP53(R248W/−)]. As a measure of metabolic competence, DNA adduct formation was determined using 32P-postlabelling. Wild-type (WT) p53 did not affect the bioactivation of 3-NBA; no difference in DNA adduct formation was observed in TP53(+/+), TP53(+/−) and TP53(−/−) cells. Bioactivation of both metabolites 3-ABA and N -OH-3-ABA on the other hand was WT- TP53 dependent. Lower 3-ABA- and N -OH-3-ABA-DNA adduct levels were found in TP53(+/−) and TP53(−/−) cells compared to TP53(+/+) cells, and p53's impact was attributed to differences in cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 expression for 3-ABA whereas for N -OH-3-ABA, an impact of this tumour suppressor on sulphotransferase (SULT) 1A1/3 expression was detected. Mutant R248W-p53 protein function was similar to or exceeded the ability of WT-p53 in activating 3-NBA and its metabolites, measured as DNA adducts. However, identification of the xenobiotic-metabolising enzyme(s) (XMEs), through which mutant-p53 regulates these responses, proved difficult to decipher. For example, although both mutant cell lines exhibited higher CYP1A1 induction after 3-NBA treatment compared to TP53(+/+) cells, 3-NBA-derived DNA adduct levels were only higher in TP53(R248W/−) cells but not in TP53(R248W/+) cells. Our results show that p53's influence on carcinogen activation depends on the agent studied and thereby on the XMEs that mediate the bioactivation of that particular compound. The phenomenon of p53 regulating CYP1A1 expression in human cells is consistent with other recent findings; however, this is the first study highlighting the impact of p53 on sulphotransferase-mediated (i.e. SULT1A1) carcinogen metabolism in human cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foramen of Winslow hernias are one of the most uncommon types of internal hernias that a surgeon will encounter. They are often initially indolent with vague symptoms that present over an extended period of time. Unfortunately, these hernias are not often diagnosed prior to requiring emergent operative intervention. This case report describes a patient who had a long history of vague abdominal pain and radiographic evidence of a foramen of Winslow hernia 4 years prior to presenting with acute obstructive symptoms. This raises the question: Should foramen of Winslow hernias, if diagnosed early, be repaired on an elective basis? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]