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Mental health stability among patients with cancer improves adherence to oncology treatment, contributing to better outcomes. In a comprehensive cancer center, the no-show rate for the psychiatric oncology clinic was higher than that of any other clinic at the center. A quality improvement project was designed to enhance patients' engagement in their mental health visits to emotionally equip them for their oncology treatments. Five months of data were reviewed, and strategies were implemented to remove barriers to attendance. These efforts markedly reduced the no-show rate. Addressing barriers to mental health care improved attendance at the mental health clinic.

Mitochondria membrane protein-associated neurodegeneration (MPAN) neurodegenerative disorder is typically associated with biallelic C19orf12 variants. Here we describe a new and review candidate previous monoallelic de novo C19orf12 variants to define loss of function mutations located in the putative non-membrane spanning C19orf12 isoform as the potential basis of monoallelic MPAN.

While molecular studies commonly show lipid abnormalities in monogenic motor neurone diseases, there is no clarity regarding the key functional pathways involved. Rickman et al. review the evidence to propose ‘subcellular lipidome imbalance’ in specific lipid pathways as a common pathological mechanism in these disorders., Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) encompass an extensive and heterogeneous group of upper and/or lower motor neuron degenerative disorders, in which the particular clinical outcomes stem from the specific neuronal component involved in each condition. While mutations in a large number of molecules associated with lipid metabolism are known to be implicated in MNDs, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the key functional pathways involved, and their inter-relationships. This review highlights evidence that defines defects within two specific lipid (cholesterol/oxysterol and phosphatidylethanolamine) biosynthetic cascades as being centrally involved in MND, particularly hereditary spastic paraplegia. We also identify how other MND-associated molecules may impact these cascades, in particular through impaired organellar interfacing, to propose ‘subcellular lipidome imbalance’ as a likely common pathomolecular theme in MND. Further exploration of this mechanism has the potential to identify new therapeutic targets and management strategies for modulation of disease progression in hereditary spastic paraplegias and other MNDs.

The raw datasets of oxysterol quantifications from whole cell and mitochondrial fractions of THP-1 monocytes and macrophages, neuronal-like SH-SH5Y cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells are presented. Oxysterols were quantified using a new liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and multiple reaction monitoring analysis published in the article "A quantitative LC-MS/MS method for analysis of mitochondrial-specific oxysterol metabolism" in Redox Biology [1]. This method showed improved extraction efficiency and recovery of mono and dihydroxycholesterols from cellular matrix. The datasets derived from the three cell lines are included in the appendix. These datasets provide new information about the oxysterol distribution in THP-1 monocytes and macrophages, SH-SY5Y cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These datasets can be used as a guide for oxysterol distribution in the three cell lines for future studies, and can used for future method optimization, and for comparison of oxysterol recovery with other analytical techniques.

Oxysterols are critical regulators of inflammation and cholesterol metabolism in cells. They are oxidation products of cholesterol and may be differentially metabolised in subcellular compartments and in biological fluids. New analytical methods are needed to improve our understanding of oxysterol trafficking and the molecular interplay between the cellular compartments required to maintain cholesterol/oxysterol homeostasis. Here we describe a method for isolation of oxysterols using solid phase extraction and quantification by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, applied to tissue, cells and mitochondria. We analysed five monohydroxysterols; 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 27-hydroxycholesterol, 7α-hydroxycholesterol, 7 ketocholesterol and three dihydroxysterols 7α-24(S)dihydroxycholesterol, 7α-25dihydroxycholesterol, 7α-27dihydroxycholesterol by LC-MS/MS following reverse phase chromatography. Our new method, using Triton and DMSO extraction, shows improved extraction efficiency and recovery of oxysterols from cellular matrix. We validated our method by reproducibly measuring oxysterols in mouse brain tissue and showed that mice fed a high fat diet had significantly lower levels of 24S/25diOHC, 27diOHC and 7ketoOHC. We measured oxysterols in mitochondria from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and highlight the importance of rapid cell isolation to minimise effects of handling and storage conditions on oxysterol composition in clinical samples. In addition, in vitro cell culture systems, of THP-1 monocytes and neuronal-like SH-SH5Y cells, showed mitochondrial-specific oxysterol metabolism and profiles were lineage specific. In summary, we describe a robust and reproducible method validated for improved recovery, quantitative linearity and detection, reproducibility and selectivity for cellular oxysterol analysis. This method enables subcellular oxysterol metabolism to be monitored and is versatile in its application to various biological and clinical samples., Highlights • New method for extraction and quantification of mono and dihydroxysterols from mitochondria. • Method offers high sensitivity and selectivity allowing quantification of oxysterols at ≥5pg.μl−1. • Successful application to tissue, primary cells and cell lines. • Common oxysterol metabolites are present in blood and brain cell mitochondria.

Nine xylanolytic bacterial strains were isolated from fen and heath soils in northern Iceland. They were found by 16S rRNA gene sequencing to belong to the genera Paenibacillus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Stenotrophomonas. Using a simple, plate-based semiquantitative assay with azo-crosslinked xylan as the substrate, it was determined that although isolated from cold environments, most of the strains displayed greater xylanolytic activity under mesophilic conditions, with only the paenibacilli displaying markedly cold-active xylanolytic activity. Indeed, for one isolate, Paenibacillus castaneae OV2122, xylanolytic activity was only detected at 15°C and below under the conditions tested. Of the nine strains, Paenibacillus amylolyticus OV2121 displayed the greatest activity at 5°C. Glycohydrolase family-specific PCR indicated that the paenibacilli produced multiple xylanases of families 10 and 11, whereas a family 8 xylanase was detected in Pseudomonas kilonensis AL1515, and a family 11 xylanase in Stenotrophomonas rhizophila AL1610., This work was in part conducted under an ERASMUS internship exchange programme and was funded by the University of Akureyri Research Fund.

Nine xylanolytic bacterial strains were isolated from fen and heath soils in northern Iceland. They were found by 16S rRNA gene sequencing to belong to the generaPaenibacillus,Bacillus,Pseudomonas, andStenotrophomonas. Using a simple, plate-based semiquantitative assay with azo-crosslinked xylan as the substrate, it was determined that although isolated from cold environments, most of the strains displayed greater xylanolytic activity under mesophilic conditions, with only the paenibacilli displaying markedly cold-active xylanolytic activity. Indeed, for one isolate,Paenibacillus castaneaeOV2122, xylanolytic activity was only detected at 15°C and below under the conditions tested. Of the nine strains,Paenibacillus amylolyticusOV2121 displayed the greatest activity at 5°C. Glycohydrolase family-specific PCR indicated that the paenibacilli produced multiple xylanases of families 10 and 11, whereas a family 8 xylanase was detected inPseudomonas kilonensisAL1515, and a family 11 xylanase inStenotrophomonas rhizophilaAL1610.

Many Asian farmers are shifting from rice transplanting to direct seeding because the latter requires less labour, time, drudgery, and cultivation cost. Direct seeding is usually practiced in either wet or dry land preparation depending on water availability. The present study aimed at evaluating the potential of single and paired rows drill seeding patterns and five N management strategies on crop productivity, N use-efficiency, and apparent N balance. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with two seeding patterns as main plots and five N treatments as subplots with three replications. Drill seeding did not affect grain yield, water, and N use-efficiencies and N balance. Grain yield increased with LCC-based N management with the lower N fertilizer input. Soil available N after 2 years of rice cropping was similar to the amount at the beginning indicating most of applied fertilizer N was lost. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v37i4.14374 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 37(4): 559-571, December 2012

Design of a sensor network system for maintaining safety in an industrial setting using energy harvesting interfaced with multiple antennas is given. The practical implementation, low interference, and high accuracy make this type of system ideal for industrial safety and automation applications. The sensor network system that operates at 5.8 GHz can be subject to modification based on communication bands in the area as well as accuracy needs.

Objectives To establish whether simplified adhesives (self-etch) are as clinically effective as conventional adhesives (etch-and-rinse) with multiple application steps for treatment of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs). Null hypothesis: there is no difference in the clinical effectiveness of the four different bonding strategies: Three-step etch-and-rinse; Two-step etch-and-rinse; Two-step self-etch; One-step self-etch for treatment of NCCLs. Sources Electronic databases were searched including: Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE and EMBASE. In addition, studies were identified by handsearching of selected journals. Study selection Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing at least two adhesives in non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs), with at least 18 months follow-up were selected. The primary outcome was loss of retention/restoration loss, with marginal adaptation and marginal discolouration as secondary outcomes. Criteria for quality assessment included: random sequence generation; allocation concealment; blinding of outcome assessment; and information on withdrawals. Twenty six studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. In general, studies were not of sufficient quality to fully address the objectives of this review. Conclusion There is not enough evidence to support one adhesive or bonding strategy over another for treatment of NCCLs. Consequently, the null hypothesis of no difference cannot be supported or rejected with the data currently available. There is a need for better standardisation and reporting of randomised controlled trials investigating adhesive performance. Clinical significance Studies with low overall risk of bias demonstrated good clinical performance for adhesives with all four bonding strategies. However, included studies showed wide variation between adhesives of the same category.

Provision of partial and complete dentures constructed from resin is commonplace and a satisfactory outcome requires the consideration of the properties of the resin, the oral tissues and prosthodontic principles. This second of a two-part series examines the advantages and disadvantages of flexible nylon denture base resins, which have found popularity for the provision of partial dentures. Adverse effects of denture base resins are examined and the benefits and shortcomings of softliners are explored. Chairside adjustment and polishing, and denture hygiene are also discussed. Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of contemporary denture base resin systems will help to achieve optimal outcomes in removable prosthodontics.

Information on the dynamics of nitrogen as influenced by crop establishment method and N management strategy is meager, but such information is necessary in optimizing nitrogen input for lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.). A field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines, during the wet and dry seasons of 2003 and 2004 to evaluate the effects of crop establishment and nitrogen management strategies for lowland rice on the dynamics of mineral N. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with four crop establishment methods as main plots and two N management techniques as subplots with three replications. Zero-N fertilizer (N-omission) micro-plots were embedded in each plot. Crop establishment method did not significantly influence uptake of indigenous mineral N during the wet (44-55 kg ha-1) and dry (43-50 kg ha-1) seasons. Apparently, NH4+-N and NO3∼-N accumulated in the top 20-cm layer of the soil during the wet seaso...

Shortage of labor and water are forcing farmers to explore the alternatives of transplanting. A field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines during the 2003 wet season and the 2004 dry season to (1) evaluate the effects of different crop-establishment methods and N management on yield and yield parameters of rice; (2) determine N-use efficiency and water-use efficiency under different methods of rice establishment; and (3) analyze the economics of different crop-establishment methods. Crop-establishment method did not influence grain yield during the wet or dry seasons, indicating the potential of the three variants of direct seeding as alternative methods of establishing lowland rice. Direct-seeded rice had shorter crop duration, required less water and therefore had higher water-use efficiency than the transplanting method. Crop establishment did not influence the various indices of nitrogen-utilization efficiency except pa...

An understanding of the processes that control recruitment variation is central to explaining the population dynamics of fishes and predicting their responses to exploitation. Theory predicts that interannual variation in recruitment should be positively correlated with the fecundity of fish species, but empirical studies have not supported this hypothesis. Here, we adopt a phylogenetic comparative approach, which accounts for evolutionary relatedness among stocks and species, to investigate this relationship. We calculated the mean fecundity of fishes from 52 stocks at the mean length of maturity and related this to interannual recruitment variation. We found that in 13 of 14 comparisons between stocks or closely related species, the stocks with higher fecundity have higher recruitment variation. This was true whether or not we controlled for spawning stock size. However, when the analyses were repeated using a traditional cross-species approach, which did not account for the evolutionary relatedness of stocks, the relationships were not significant. This is the first empirical study to link fecundity with recruitment variation and suggests that fecundity is an important component of fish stock dynamics.

Emissions of nitric oxide (NO) were determined from an intensively managed agricultural soil near Plymouth, in the coastal plain of North Carolina, using the dynamic chamber technique. The measurements were made over a soybean field from July 15 to August 15, 1996, as part of the project Natural Emissions of Oxidant Precursors: Validation of Techniques and Assessment (NOVA). A N-containing fertilizer was applied at the middle of the experiment in order to investigate the effect of N-fertilizers on NO emissions and to test the response of instruments. Soil water content was high during the experimental period, with water-filled pore space ranging from 49% to 67%. NO emission during this period ranged between 0.28 and 18.45 ng N m -2 s -1 , with an overall average of 5.01 ± 3.03 ng N m -2 s -1 . A normal diurnal pattern with low values at nighttime and high values during the day was observed during the prefertilization period, but a reverse diurnal pattern (high at nighttime, low in daytime) of NO emission variation was found during the postfertilization, closed-canopy period, implying that interaction among canopy development, application of fertilization, and soil parameters may affect the diurnal variation of NO emission from soils. The emissions of NO were related to soil temperature, water-filled pore space, and extractable nitrogen. Application of fertilizer at the middle of the experiment was found to disrupt the normal relations between NO emission and soil temperature and water content seen during the prefertilization period but to enhance the positive relation between NO emission and extractable N. An intercomparison of the dynamic chamber technique with the eddy-correlation technique in this experiment indicates that in spite of large differences in the magnitudes of soil NO emission and the NO flux at 5 m, the two fluxes show similar variations with time and are strongly correlated.

Alcohol and drug abuse among college students in the United States concerns both educators and health care providers. Morbidity and mortality from binge drinking, automobile accidents, sexually transmitted diseases, and suicides continue to impact students between 18 and 25 years of age. Those providing health care services to this population have a responsibility to screen for substance abuse. The purpose of this study was to identify college and university student health services currently screening for AODA in students. A survey questionnaire was mailed to 873 student health clinics listed in the directory of the American College Health Association to determine frequency, methods, and outcomes of screening for AODA. Among the 277 respondents, 37% routinely screened for AODA; of those, only 40% had received training in AODA screening. Additional training is needed by student health care personnel; 76% stated that they would attend such training if it were available.

Provision of partial and complete dentures constructed from resin is commonplace and a satisfactory outcome requires the consideration of the properties of the resin, the oral tissues and prosthodontic principles. Conventional acrylic resin has been widely adopted as a popular denture base material since the 1930s. In this first of a two-part series, the benefits and shortcomings of acrylic resin are discussed alongside contemporary ‘enhancements’ to the material which can improve its properties. In the second part of the series, flexible and other alternative denture base resins, soft-linings, adverse effects of denture base materials and maintenance will be discussed. Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of contemporary denture base resin systems will help to achieve optimal outcomes in removable prosthodontics.

Despite advances in the development of medications to treat alcohol dependence, few medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The use of certain anticonvulsant medications has demonstrated potential efficacy in treating alcohol dependence. Previous research suggests that the anticonvulsant levetiracetam may be beneficial in an alcohol-dependent population of very heavy drinkers.In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 130 alcohol-dependent patients who reported very heavy drinking were recruited across 5 clinical sites. Patients received either levetiracetam extended-release (XR) or placebo and a Brief Behavioral Compliance Enhancement Treatment intervention. Levetiracetam XR was titrated during the first 4 weeks to 2,000 mg/d. This target dose was maintained during weeks 5 through 14 and was tapered during weeks 15 and 16.No significant differences were detected between the levetiracetam XR and placebo groups in either the primary outcomes (percent heavy drinking days and percent subjects with no heavy drinking days) or in other secondary drinking outcomes. Treatment groups did not differ on a number of nondrinking outcomes, including depression, anxiety, mood, and quality of life. The only difference observed was in alcohol-related consequences. The levetiracetam XR treatment group showed significantly fewer consequences than did the placebo group during the maintenance period (p = 0.02). Levetiracetam XR was well tolerated, with fatigue being the only significantly elevated adverse event, compared with placebo (53% vs. 24%, respectively; p = 0.001).This multisite clinical trial showed no efficacy for levetiracetam XR compared with placebo in reducing alcohol consumption in heavy drinking alcohol-dependent patients.

This clinical article describes and discusses the use of preheated nanohybrid resin composite for the placement of direct restorations and luting of porcelain laminate veneers. Two clinical cases are presented. Preheating hybrid composite decreases its viscosity and film thickness offering the clinician improved handling. Preheating also facilitates the use of nanohybrid composite as a veneer luting material with relatively low polymerisation shrinkage and coefficient of thermal expansion compared to currently available resin luting cements.

This report describes the management of a loose cement-retained implant supported crown where the thread of the abutment screw had fractured away from the body of the screw and was retained within the implant. The importance of multi-disciplinary skills in the treatment of patients with implants is discussed.

Values for CD4+ lymphocytes are reported to vary by age. We evaluated an ethnically diverse population of healthy children at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection to establish normal ranges for age-adjusted CD4+ lymphocyte parameters. We identified a threshold of approximately 30% CD4+ lymphocytes which corresponded to a 5th percentile for all ages. It is important that no significant differences in absolute CD4+ lymphocyte counts on the basis of ethnic group were found.

Values for CD4+ lymphocytes are reported to vary by age. We evaluated an ethnically diverse population of healthy children at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection to establish normal ranges for age-adjusted CD4+ lymphocyte parameters. We identified a threshold of approximately 30% CD4+ lymphocytes which corresponded to a 5th percentile for all ages. It is important that no significant differences in absolute CD4+ lymphocyte counts on the basis of ethnic group were found.

A commercially available magnetic reluctance sensor is used to determine the angular velocity of turbocharger impeller blades from outside the aluminum housing. Eddy currents are induced in the aluminum blades by blade motion through the magnetic field projected by an externally mounted Samarium-Cobalt permanent magnet. Experiments show that secondary eddy currents and associated ac magnetic fields generated in the aluminum housing provide the prime excitation for a sensor coil located outside the housing. The coil output voltage spectrum shows a strongly peaked structure with peak locations at multiples of the blade passage frequency in the range 1-10 kHz. The sensor output signal decreases with increasing frequency above 2 kHz because of increasingly effective attenuation by the housing. Test results show that a circuit designed to track the blade signal gives an analog voltage output proportional to the frequency of blade passage over the operating range of the Cummins VT-903 and Detroit 8V-71T turbocharged diesel engines. Suggestions are made for the design of a sensor appropriate for both magnetic reluctance and eddy current sensing applications.

With the emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, lymphocyte immunophenotyping has become the single most important laboratory test for clinical management of HIV-infected subjects. To meet this challenge, the department of Army instituted a multicenter lymphocyte immunophenotyping quality assurance (QA) program in March 1986. An integral part of the QA program has been the development of a monthly proficiency testing program to survey the degree of precision and reproducibility of lymphocyte subset determinations within the Army. After 15 months of proficiency testing, the multicenter cumulative average standard deviation for the percentage of positive CD2 was 3.3, CD3 was 4.4, CD4 was 3.3, CD8 was 3.6, CD8*CD3 was 2.8, CD19/20 was 2.9, and 3.0 for natural killer (NK) cells. The cumulative average coefficient of variation for the percentage of positive CD2 was 3.9%, CD3 was 4.9%, CD4 was 6.6%, CD8 was 11.4%, CD8*CD3 was 9.4%, CD19/20 was 18.8%, and 26.5% for NK. Five survey shipments were also shipped to an additional 49 laboratories outside the Department of Army. The difference of the mean Army percentage positive values from the mean overall percentage positive values ranged from zero to 9.6, with an average difference of 1.6. The interlaboratory variability of flow cytometrically-derived percentage values presented in this report are almost half that cited by other multicenter lymphocyte comparative studies.