bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth Mechanism and Photoluminescence Investigation of Double‐Broccoli‐Like CaWO4:Eu3+ Superstructures via Hydrothermal Synthesis
Authors: Chen Yeqing , Moon Byung K. , Choi Byung C. , Jeong Jung H. , Yang Hyun K.
Published: August 2013

In this article, the synthesis and growth mechanism of CaWO4:Eu3+ hierarchical dumbbell‐like and double‐broccoli‐like microstructures via a surfactant‐free hydrothermal process are studied. Results show that morphology of the product is time‐dependent under proper pH = 7. The formation of double‐broccoli‐like microstructures experience pathway from nanoparticles to hierarchical configuration. We propose that nuclei aggregated nanorods fused into spindles in seek of less surface energy, and then aligned by reorientation forming the building blocks of hierarchical dumbbell‐like and double‐broccoli‐like morphologies by the “Orientation Attachment (OA) process.” The hierarchical double‐broccoli‐like microcrystals are grown at the cost of nanoflakes experiencing the “Ostwald Ripening (OR) Process”. Interestingly, the cooperation of “OA process” and “OR Process” is observed in the growth of alkali metal tungstate for the first time. Also, the morphology dependent photoluminescent (PL) properties are also discussed. It may bring us a new insight into the growth of CaWO4 crystals and raise a new way for the fine controlling and designing of other crystals.
Resource need and use of multiethnic caregivers of elders in their homes
Authors: Friedemann Marie‐Luise , Newman Frederick L. , Buckwalter Kathleen C. , Montgomery Rhonda J.V.
Published: August 2013

Aims

The aim of this study was to predict South Florida family caregivers' need for and use of informal help or formal services, specifically, to explore the predictive power of variables suggested by the Caregiver Identity Theory and the literature and develop and test a structural model.

Background

In the USA, most of the care to older adults is given by family members. Caregivers make economic and social sacrifices that endanger their health. They feel burdened, if they receive no assistance with their tasks; however, services available are not sufficiently used.

Design

This cross‐sectional correlational study was a survey of family caregivers in their home, using standardized and/or pre‐tested scales and a cognitive status test of their patients.

Methods

A random sample of 613 multiethnic caregivers of frail elders were recruited in home care and community agencies. The interviews were held between 2006–2009. Analyses involved correlation and regression analyses and structural equation modelling. Outcome measures were need and use of family help and formal services.

Results/Findings

The model yielded excellent fit indices replicated on three random samples of 370. The patients' functional limitations yielded the strongest predictive coefficients followed by caregiver stress. Cultural indicators played a minor role.

Conclusion

The lack of a link between resource need and use suggested access barriers. Important for policy makers and service providers are the delivery of high‐quality services and the use of a personal and individualized approach with all ethnicities. Quality service includes understanding the caregiving situations and requires a trusting relationship with family caregivers.
Better Living Through Chemistry? A Reply to Savulescu and Persson on ‘Moral Enhancement’
Authors: Sparrow Robert
Published: August 2013

In ‘Moral Enhancement, Freedom, and the God Machine’, Savulescu and Persson argue that recent scientific findings suggest that there is a realistic prospect of achieving ‘moral enhancement’ and respond to Harris's criticism that this would threaten individual freedom and autonomy. I argue that although some pharmaceutical and neuro‐scientific interventions may influence behaviour and emotions in ways that we may be inclined to evaluate positively, describing this as ‘moral enhancement’ presupposes a particular, contested account, of what it is to act morally and implies that entirely familiar drugs such as alcohol, ecstasy, and marijuana are also capable of making people ‘more moral’. Moreover, while Savulescu and Persson establish the theoretical possibility of using drugs to promote autonomy, the real threat posed to freedom by ‘moral bioenhancement’ is that the ‘enhancers’ will be wielding power over the ‘enhanced’. Drawing on Pettit's notion of ‘freedom as non‐domination’, I argue that individuals may be rendered unfree even by a hypothetical technology such as Savulescu and Persson's ‘God machine’, which would only intervene if they chose to act immorally. While it is impossible to rule out the theoretical possibility that moral enhancement might be all‐things‐considered justified even where it did threaten freedom and autonomy, I argue that any technology for biomedical shaping of behaviour and dispositions is much more likely to be used for ill rather than good.
Genomewide association for a dominant pigmentation gene in sheep
Authors: Kijas J.W. , Serrano M. , McCulloch R. , Li Y. , Salces Ortiz J. , Calvo J.H. , Pérez‐Guzmán M.D. ,   The International Sheep Genomics Consortium
Published: August 2013

Most published genomewide association studies (GWAS) in sheep have investigated recessively inherited monogenic traits. The objective here was to assess the feasibility of performing GWAS for a dominant trait for which the genetic basis was already known. A total of 42 Manchega and Rasa Aragonesa sheep that segregate solid black or white coat pigmentation were genotyped using the SNP50 BeadChip. Previous analysis in Manchegas demonstrated a complete association between the pigmentation trait and alleles of the MC1R gene, setting an a priori expectation for GWAS. Multiple methods were used to identify and quantify the strength of population substructure between black and white animals, before allelic association testing was performed for 49 034 SNPs. Following correction for substructure, GWAS identified the most strongly associated SNP (s26449) was also the closest to the MC1R gene. The finding was strongly supported by the permutation tree‐based random forest (RF) analysis. Importantly, GWAS identified unlinked SNP with only slightly lower p‐values than for s26449. Random forest analysis indicated these were false positives, suggesting interpretation based on both approaches was beneficial. The results indicate that a combined analytical approach can be successful in studies where a modest number of animals are available and substantial population stratification exists.
Genetic parameters for linear type traits in the Rendena dual‐purpose breed
Authors: Mazza S. , Guzzo N. , Sartori C. , Berry D.P. , Mantovani R.
Published: August 2013

The aim of the study was to estimate the genetic parameters for five composite traits and 20 individual type traits on 10 735 first‐parity Rendena dual‐purpose cows. Fixed effects included in the linear animal mixed models were herd‐year‐classifier, days in milk and age at first calving; the additive genetic effect of the animal was included as a random effect. Heritability estimates varied from 0.12 (feet) to 0.52 (stature). Genetic correlations between the individual body size traits were all ≥0.69; similar strong genetic correlations existed between traits describing similar morphological characteristics (e.g. mammary system, fleshiness). Many of the body size traits were negatively genetically correlated with animal fleshiness. Genetic trends showed that genetic merit for body size increased consistently over the last 10 years, while genetic merit for fleshiness declined. These results suggest that the characteristics of the dual‐purpose Rendena cattle are becoming more like specialized milk‐producing animals. Nonetheless, sufficient genetic variation exists to halt or reverse the deterioration in fleshiness.
Persistence temperament associated with children playing math games between touch panel and embodied interaction
Authors: Jong J‐T. , Hong J‐C. , Yen C‐Y.
Published: August 2013

The different designs of various interactive gaming controllers affect posture and muscle loading of the body. It is assumed that prolonged exposure to the interactive gaming controllers can affect the effectiveness in using the game for the purposes of learning. This study explores the differences in behavioural responses among students with different temperaments regarding mathematic gameplay by comparing the touch‐based and gesture‐based interactive devices. The experiment was designed for 119 5‐year‐old kindergarten children, and valid data from 99 individuals were analysed for this study. The results indicated that participants in the touch‐based interaction (TBI) groups performed better than the participants in the gesture‐based interaction (GBI) groups with respect to numerical counting in both games. The results also showed that among all dimensions of temperaments, only persistence had a positive correlation to TBI. This implied that TBI was preferred over GBI for kindergarten children. Accordingly, e‐learning designers should place more emphasis on TBI.
Cognitive Function and Oral Health–Related Quality of Life in Older Adults
Authors: Lee Kyung Hee , Wu Bei , Plassman Brenda L.
Published: August 2013

Objectives

To examine the relationship between cognitive function and self‐reported oral health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in community‐dwelling older adults.

Design

Cross‐sectional.

Setting

Community in West Virginia.

Participants

Two hundred twenty‐six community‐dwelling older adults.

Measurements

Oral HRQoL was measured using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) (range 12–60), and cognitive function was assessed using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Dental professionals performed oral health examinations.

Results

Participants with normal cognitive function had higher GOHAI total scores (mean 55.1), indicating better oral HRQoL, than participants with cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND) (mean 52.3) and mild dementia (mean 51.0). The difference remained significant after controlling for sociodemographic, health status, comorbidity, and clinical dental status covariates.

Conclusion

Oral HRQoL, as measured using the GOHAI, was better in participants with normal cognitive function than in those with CIND of mild dementia in the population studied.
Effects of Medication Reviews Performed by a Physician on Treatment with Fracture‐Preventing and Fall‐Risk‐Increasing Drugs in Older Adults with Hip Fracture—A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Sjöberg Christina , Wallerstedt Susanna M.
Published: August 2013

Objectives

To investigate whether medication reviews increase treatment with fracture‐preventing drugs and decrease treatment with fall‐risk‐increasing drugs.

Design

Randomized controlled trial (1:1).

Setting

Departments of orthopedics, geriatrics, and medicine at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Participants

One hundred ninety‐nine consecutive individuals with hip fracture aged 65 and older.

Intervention

Medication reviews, based on assessments of risks of falls and fractures, regarding fracture‐preventing and fall‐risk‐increasing drugs, performed by a physician, conveyed orally and in written form to hospital physicians during the hospital stay, and to general practitioners after discharge.

Measurements

Primary outcomes were changes in treatment with fracture‐preventing and fall‐risk‐increasing drugs 12 months after discharge. Secondary outcomes were falls, fractures, deaths, and physicians' attitudes toward the intervention.

Results

At admission, 26% of intervention and 29% of control participants were taking fracture‐preventing drugs, and 12% and 11%, respectively, were taking bone‐active drugs, predominantly bisphosphonates. After 12 months, 77% of intervention and 58% of control participants were taking fracture‐preventing drugs (P = .01), and 29% and 15%, respectively, were taking bone‐active drugs (P = .04). Mean number of fall‐risk‐increasing drugs per participants was 3.1 (intervention) and 3.1 (control) at admission and 2.9 (intervention) and 3.1 (control) at 12 months (P = .62). No significant differences in hard endpoints were found. The responding physicians (n = 65) appreciated the intervention; on a scale from 1 (very bad) to 6 (very good), the median rating was 5 (interquartile range (IQR) 4–6) for the oral part and 5 (IQR 4–5.5) for the text part.

Conclusion

Medication reviews performed and conveyed by a physician increased treatment with fracture‐preventing drugs but did not significantly decrease treatment with fall‐risk‐increasing drugs in older adults with hip fracture. Prescribing physicians appreciated this intervention.
Involvement of Histone Modifications in Plant Abiotic Stress Responses
Authors: Yuan Lianyu , Liu Xuncheng , Luo Ming , Yang Songguang , Wu Keqiang
Published: August 2013

As sessile organisms, plants encounter various environmental stimuli including abiotic stresses during their lifecycle. To survive under adverse conditions, plants have evolved intricate mechanisms to perceive external signals and respond accordingly. Responses to various stresses largely depend on the plant capacity to modulate the transcriptome rapidly and specifically. A number of studies have shown that the molecular mechanisms driving the responses of plants to environmental stresses often depend on nucleosome histone post‐translational modifications including histone acetylation, methylation, ubiquitination, and phosphorylation. The combined effects of these modifications play an essential role in the regulation of stress responsive gene expression. In this review, we highlight our current understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms of histone modifications and their roles in plant abiotic stress response.

image

Keqiang Wu

(Corresponding author)
Differentiation and Healthy Family Functioning of Koreans in South Korea, South Koreans in the United States, and White Americans
Authors: Kim Hyejin , Prouty Anne M. , Smith Douglas B. , Ko Mei‐ju , Wetchler Joseph L. , Oh Jea‐Eun
Published: August 2013

Inconsistent results have been found in prior research on the Bowen Family Systems Theory concept of differentiation of self and its application to individuals, couples, and families of different cultural backgrounds. In this regard, this study examined the impact of differentiation of self on healthy family functioning, family communication, and family satisfaction with 277 participants including South Koreans living in South Korea, South Korean‐born citizens living in the United States, and White Americans living in the United States. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis identified the measurement invariance of a differentiation scale (DSI‐R) used for the three study groups. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) found significant differences between White Americans and South Koreans with regard to the level of differentiation. Results of multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses found a significant association between differentiation of self and healthy family functioning across the three groups with the American group having significantly higher differentiation than the two South Korean groups.” Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.
The interactive effects of abusive supervision and entitlement on emotional exhaustion and co‐worker abuse
Authors: Wheeler Anthony R. , Halbesleben Jonathon R. B. , Whitman Marilyn V.
Published: August 2013

In this study, we examine the relationship between employee perceptions of supervisor abuse, emotional exhaustion, psychological entitlement, and subsequent co‐worker abuse. We hypothesize that higher levels of employee psychological entitlement moderate the abusive supervisor – emotional exhaustion relationship – and this interaction mediates the abusive supervision – co‐worker abuse relationship. Using multilevel‐moderated mediation analysis to analyse day‐level survey data from a lagged panel design across five working days from 132 working adults and their co‐workers across multiple industries, we found support for our hypothesized model. We discuss implications for theory, future research, and management practice that result from our study.

Practitioner points

Psychologically entitled employees who perceive more abusive supervision are more emotionally exhausted and more likely to abuse their co‐workers; therefore, organizations need to identify patterns indicative of these types of employees.

Stressed environments likely exacerbate these relationships, and organizations might consider regular workforce surveys assessing employee emotional exhaustion, which is a trigger for harmful employee work behaviours.
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AND THE WELFARE STATE: THE CASE OF REGIONAL MIGRATION AND U.S. AGRICULTURAL LABOR
Authors: Pena Anita Alves
Published: August 2013

A common perception is that immigrants, including illegal immigrants, use disproportionate public aid and select locations based on characteristics of services offered. This paper asks to what extent geographic clustering of undocumented immigrant agricultural laborers in the U.S. is correlated with take‐up of public aid broadly defined. Evidence from a nationally representative farmworker survey does not support welfare migration for undocumented immigrants, who have been previously unidentifiable in the literature. The paper, therefore, challenges existing notions of welfare migration by illegal immigrants that have inspired state‐level public policy initiatives.
Soybean Resistance to Phakopsora pachyrhizi as Affected by Acibenzolar‐S‐Methyl, Jasmonic Acid and Silicon
Authors: Cruz Maria Fernanda Antunes , Rodrigues Fabrício Ávila , Diniz Ana Paula Cardoso , Alves Moreira Maurilio , Barros Everaldo Gonçalves
Published: August 2013

Asian soybean rust (ASR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is one of the most important diseases on soybean. At the moment, ASR is managed mainly with fungicides due to the absence of commercial cultivars with resistance to this disease. This study evaluated the effects of acibenzolar‐Smethyl (ASM), jasmonic acid (JA), potassium silicate (PS) and calcium silicate (CS) on soybean resistance to ASR. The ASM, JA and PS were sprayed to leaves 24 h prior to inoculation with P. pachyrhizi. The CS was amended to the soil. The incubation period (time from the inoculation until symptoms development) was longer for plants growing in soil amended with CS or sprayed with ASM in comparison with plants sprayed with water (control). Plants sprayed with ASM had longer latent period (time from the inoculation until signs appearance) in comparison with the control plants. Plants sprayed with PS showed fewer uredia per cm² of leaf in relation to the control plants. The ASM and PS were the most effective treatments in reducing the ASR symptoms in contrast to the JA and CS treatments. The JA served as an inducer of susceptibility to ASR.
Unravelling the ultrastructure of ascending colon fluids from patients with ulcerative colitis by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Müllertz Anette , Fatouros Dimitrios G , Vertzoni Maria , Reppas Christos
Published: August 2013

Objectives

Studies on the characterization of ascending colonic fluids are scarce, limited to physicochemical characterization of their composition, and little is known for the morphology of the produced colloidal phases. In an attempt to gain insights for their structure at the ultrastructural level, samples from the lumen of ascending colon were collected from patients with ulcerative colitis in remission.

Methods

After ultracentrifugation, the supernatants of two samples (one with high and one with low cholesterol level) were visualized by means of cryogenic transmission electron microscopy.

Key findings

In the supernatants with high cholesterol content, micellar-like structures, bilayer fragments, open vesicles, and uni-, bi- and trilamellar vesicles were abundant. In addition, crystals of cholesterol were frequently observed. In contrast, in the sample with low cholesterol content, oily solids, plates of cholesterol monohydrate and elongated structures were present. Few unilamellar vesicles were occasionally visualized.

Conclusions

The current study gives direct evidence, for the first time, of the existence of ‘remnants’ of lipolytic products in the fasted ascending colon. The impact of these structures to colonic absorption of drugs is an open question.
Exploring QSAR and pharmacophore mapping of structurally diverse selective matrix metalloproteinase-2 inhibitors
Authors: Halder Amit Kumar , Saha Achintya , Jha Tarun
Published: August 2013

Objectives and Methods

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is a potential target in metastases. Regression (conventional 2D QSAR) and classification (recursive partitioning (RP), Bayesian modelling) QSAR, pharmacophore mapping and 3D QSAR (comparative molecular field analysis and comparative molecular similarity analysis) were performed on 202 MMP-2 inhibitors.

Key findings

Quality of the regression models was justified by internal (Q2) and external (R2Pred) cross-validation parameters. Stepwise regression was used to develop linear model (Q2 = 0.822, R2Pred = 0.667). Genetic algorithm developed linear (Q2 = 0.845, R2Pred = 0.638) and spline model (Q2  = 0.882, R2Pred = 0.644). The RP and Bayesian models showed cross-validated area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCROC_CV) of 0.805 and 0.979 respectively. QSAR models depicted importance of descriptors like five-membered rings, fractional positively charged surface area, lipophilocity and so on. Higher molecular volume was found to be detrimental. Pharmacophore mapping was performed with two tools – Hypogen and PHASE. Both models indicated that one hydrophobic and three hydrogen bond acceptor features are essential. The Pharmacophore-aligned structures were used for CoMFA (Q2 of 0.586 and R2Pred of 0.689) and CoMSIA (Q2 of 0.673 and R2Pred of 0.758), results of which complied with the other analyses.

Conclusions

All modelling techniques were compared to each other. The current study may help in designing novel MMP-2 inhibitors.
Melatonin and the theories of aging: a critical appraisal of melatonin's role in antiaging mechanisms
Authors: Hardeland Rüdiger
Published: August 2013

The classic theories of aging such as the free radical theory, including its mitochondria‐related versions, have largely focused on a few specific processes of senescence. Meanwhile, numerous interconnections have become apparent between age‐dependent changes previously thought to proceed more or less independently. Increased damage by free radicals is not only linked to impairments of mitochondrial function, but also to inflammaging as it occurs during immune remodeling and by release of proinflammatory cytokines from mitotically arrested,DNA‐damaged cells that exhibit the senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Among other effects,SASPcan cause mutations in stem cells that reduce the capacity for tissue regeneration or, in worst case, lead to cancer stem cells. Oxidative stress has also been shown to promote telomere attrition. Moreover, damage by free radicals is connected to impaired circadian rhythmicity. Another nexus exists between cellular oscillators and metabolic sensing, in particular to the aging‐suppressorSIRT1, which acts as an accessory clock protein. Melatonin, being a highly pleiotropic regulator molecule, interacts directly or indirectly with all the processes mentioned. These influences are critically reviewed, with emphasis on data from aged organisms and senescence‐accelerated animals. The sometimes‐controversial findings obtained either in a nongerontological context or in comparisons of tumor with nontumor cells are discussed in light of evidence obtained in senescent organisms. Although, in mammals, lifetime extension by melatonin has been rarely documented in a fully conclusive way, a support of healthy aging has been observed in rodents and is highly likely in humans.
Delay in leaf senescence of Malus hupehensis by long‐term melatonin application is associated with its regulation of metabolic status and protein degradation
Authors: Wang Ping , Sun Xun , Chang Cong , Feng Fengjuan , Liang Dong , Cheng Lailiang , Ma Fengwang
Published: August 2013

Melatonin has an important anti‐aging role in plant physiology. We tested the effects of long‐term melatonin exposure on metabolic status and protein degradation during natural leaf senescence in trees of Malus hupehensis Rehd. The 2‐month regular supplement of 100 μm melatonin to the soil once every 6 days altered the metabolic status and delayed protein degradation. For example, leaves from treated plants had significantly higher photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll concentrations, and levels of three photosynthetic end products (sorbitol, sucrose, and starch) when compared with the control. The significant inhibition of hexose (fructose and glucose) accumulation possibly regulated the signaling of MdHXK1, a gene for which expression was also repressed by melatonin during senescence. The plants also exhibited better preservation of their nitrogen, total soluble protein, and Rubisco protein concentrations than the control. The slower process of protein degradation might be a result of melatonin‐linked inhibition on the expression of apple autophagy‐related genes (ATGs). Our results are the first to provide evidence for this delay in senescence based on the metabolic alteration and protein degradation.
ON MIXTURE MEMORY GARCH MODELS
Authors: Li Muyi , Li Wai Keung , Li Guodong
Published: August 2013

We propose a new volatility model, which is called the mixture memory generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (MM‐GARCH) model. The MM‐GARCH model has two mixture components, of which one is a short‐memory GARCH and the other is the long‐memory fractionally integrated GARCH. The new model, a special ARCH( ∞ ) process with random coefficients, possesses both the properties of long‐memory volatility and covariance stationarity. The existence of its stationary solution is discussed. A dynamic mixture of the proposed model is also introduced. Other issues, such as the expectation–maximization algorithm as a parameter estimation procedure, the observed information matrix, which is relevant in calculating the theoretical standard errors, and a model selection criterion, are also investigated. Monte Carlo experiments demonstrate our theoretical findings. Empirical application of the MM‐GARCH model to the daily S&P 500 index illustrates its capabilities.
Telaprevir impairs renal function and increases blood ribavirin concentration during telaprevir/pegylated interferon/ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Karino Y. , Ozeki I. , Hige S. , Kimura M. , Arakawa T. , Nakajima T. , Kuwata Y. , Sato T. , Ohmura T. , Toyota J.
Published: August 2013

We aimed to examine the relationship between renal dysfunction and anaemia that may develop during combination therapy involving pegylated interferon, ribavirin and telaprevir (PEG‐IFN/RBV/TVR) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Sixty‐eight patients with genotype 1b high viral loads were treated with PEG‐IFN/RBV/TVR. Peg‐IFN and RBV doses were administered according to body weight. TVR was prescribed at 2250 mg/day for 44 patients and at 1500 mg/day for 24 patients who had low haemoglobin level (<12 g/dL). When anaemia had developed, the RBV dose was decreased. The serum TVR concentration at day 8 was measured, and the serum RBV concentration was measured serially. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was estimated to assess renal function. At week 1, serum TVR concentration was not correlated with a decrease in eGFR; however, the TVR dose, on a weight basis (mg/kg), and eGFR were correlated (r = 0.2691; P = 0.0265). Moreover, there was a negative correlation between eGFR and RBV serum concentration (r = −0.3694; P = 0.0025), and the serum RBV concentration and decrease in the haemoglobin were significantly correlated from week 1 to week 8. In triple therapy, the TVR dose per weight is correlated with a decline in renal function. Thus, the serum concentration of RBV increases, with a concomitant decrease in haemoglobin. It is important to adjust the doses of TVR and RBV to avoid excessive serum RBV levels and the development of severe anaemia, to achieve a good clinical effect.
Accurate Antemortem Diagnosis of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) Based on Detecting Intrathecal Antibodies againstSarcocystis neuronaUsing the SnSAG2 and SnSAG4/3ELISAs
Authors: Reed S.M. , Howe D.K. , Morrow J.K. , Graves A. , Yeargan M.R. , Johnson A.L. , MacKay R.J. , Furr M. , Saville W.J.A. , Williams N.M.
Published: August 2013

Background

Recent work demonstrated the value of antigen‐specific antibody indices (AIand C‐value) to detect intrathecal antibody production againstSarcocystis neuronafor antemortem diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM).

Objectives

The study was conducted to assess whether the antigen‐specific antibody indices can be reduced to a simple serum : cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) titer ratio to achieve accurateEPMdiagnosis.

Animals

Paired serum andCSFsamples from 128 horses diagnosed by postmortem examination. The sample set included 44EPMcases, 35 cervical‐vertebral malformation (CVM) cases, 39 neurologic cases other thanEPMorCVM, and 10 non‐neurologic cases.

Methods

Antibodies againstS. neuronawere measured in serum andCSFpairs using the SnSAG2 and SnSAG4/3 (SnSAG2, 4/3)ELISAs, and the ratio of each respective serum titer toCSFtiter was determined. Likelihood ratios and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on serum titers,CSFtiters, and serum : CSFtiter ratios.

Results

Excellent diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was obtained from the SnSAG2, 4/3 serum : CSFtiter ratio. Sensitivity and specificity of 93.2 and 81.1%, respectively, were achieved using a ratio cutoff of ≤100, whereas sensitivity and specificity were 86.4 and 95.9%, respectively, if a more rigorous cutoff of ≤50 was used. Antibody titers inCSFalso provided good diagnostic accuracy. Serum antibody titers alone yielded much lower sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The study confirms the value of detecting intrathecal antibody production for antemortem diagnosis ofEPM, and they further show that the antigen‐specific antibody indices can be reduced in practice to a simple serum : CSFtiter ratio.
Expression of Leptin and iNOS in Oral Melanomas in Dogs
Authors: Greene V.R. , Wilson H. , Pfent C. , Roethele J. , Carwile J. , Qin Y. , Grimm E. , Ellerhorst J.A.
Published: August 2013

Background

Oral melanoma (OM) in dogs is an aggressive malignancy, with clinical behavior resembling cutaneous melanomas in humans. Melanoma in humans is promoted by an inflammatory environment that is contributed to by leptin and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).

Objective

To determine if the patterns of leptin and iNOS expression are similar in OM in dogs and cutaneous melanomas in humans.

Animals

Twenty client‐owned dogs.

Methods

Retrospective case study. Immunostaining of the OM tumors from each dog was scored for percentage and intensity of leptin and iNOS expression. Mitotic index was used as an indicator of tumor aggression.

Results

Leptin was detected in ≥75% of the tumor cells in specimens from 11 dogs. One tumor expressed leptin in ≤25% of the cells. The intensity of leptin expression was variable with 6, 9, and 5 cases exhibiting low‐, moderate‐, and high‐intensity staining, respectively. OM with the lowest percentage of iNOS positive cells displayed the highest mitotic indices (P = .006, ANOVA).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The expression of leptin is a common finding in melanomas in dogs. These data suggest that the possibility of future clinical applications, such as measuring the concentrations of plasma leptin as a screening tool or leptin as a target for therapy. The relevance of iNOS is not as clear in dogs with OM, for which other directed therapeutics might be more appropriate.
A spatially predictive baseline for monitoring multivariate species occurrences and phylogenetic shifts in mediterranean southern Australia
Authors: Guerin Greg R. , Biffin Ed , Jardine Duncan I. , Cross Hugh B. , Lowe Andrew J.
Published: August 2013

Question

Climate change is driving shifts in the composition of vegetation but the lack of controls and confounding spatial factors pose challenges for detecting the climate signal in observed changes through time and space. We tested whether climate can be isolated as a driver of spatial vegetation composition at the landscape scale in mediterranean southern Australia by considering landscape factors (e.g. soil gradients) and spatial structure (relative geographic isolation). The aim was to develop principles for selecting spatial analogues for climate change and provide a spatially predictive baseline for monitoring.

Methods

A landscape‐scale monitoring transect spanning 550 km was established. Whole community presence/absence of vascular plant species in plots was modelled as a multivariate response to environmental and spatial variables. Species and phylogenetic composition–environment relationships were also explored using indirect gradient approaches, partial correlations and distance decay models.

Results

A total of >2900 occurrences of >400 plant species were recorded. Relative vegetation composition was predicted by mean temperature and soil properties, such as electrical conductivity and texture. Spatial structure was critical, as decay in compositional similarity with geographic distance and spatial autocorrelation of nested plots were involved in turnover patterns. The rate of change in species composition with changes in temperature equated to complete species turnover within the habitats sampled.

Conclusions

The influence of climate on spatial variation in vegetation composition can be quantified, accounting for distance decay. Landscape gradients (particularly soil properties) tended to be orthogonal to climate and explained some turnover. Spatial analogues for climate change would need to be similar in soil properties and not too geographically distant. Composition resulting from more extreme climate change scenarios may have no spatial analogue due to the importance of neutral distance decay at larger spatial scales in determining compositional differences. We illustrate these principles with a sequence of warming, drying analogues. The spatial transect provides a framework for monitoring composition by directly incorporating temporal data and using spatial analysis to inform the expected direction of compositional shifts with climate change.
Ankyrin‐repeat proteins from sponge symbionts modulate amoebal phagocytosis
Authors: Nguyen Mary T. H. D. , Liu Michael , Thomas Torsten
Published: August 2013

Bacteria–eukaryote symbiosis occurs in all stages of evolution, from simple amoebae to mammals, and from facultative to obligate associations. Sponges are ancient metazoans that form intimate symbiotic interactions with complex communities of bacteria. The basic nutritional requirements of the sponge are in part satisfied by the phagocytosis of bacterial food particles from the surrounding water. How bacterial symbionts, which are permanently associated with the sponge, survive in the presence of phagocytic cells is largely unknown. Here, we present the discovery of a genomic fragment from an uncultured gamma‐proteobacterial sponge symbiont that encodes for four proteins, whose closest known relatives are found in a sponge genome. Through recombinant approaches, we show that these four eukaryotic‐like, ankyrin‐repeat proteins (ARP) when expressed in Eschericha coli can modulate phagocytosis of amoebal cells and lead to accumulation of bacteria in the phagosome. Mechanistically, two ARPs appear to interfere with phagosome development in a similar way to reduced vacuole acidification, by blocking the fusion of the early phagosome with the lysosome and its digestive enzymes. Our results show that ARP from sponge symbionts can function to interfere with phagocytosis, and we postulate that this might be one mechanism by which symbionts can escape digestion in a sponge host.
Phenotypic plasticity in the hepatic transcriptome of the European common frog (Rana temporaria): the interplay between environmental induction and geographical lineage on developmental response
Authors: Johansson Frank , Veldhoen Nik , Lind Martin I. , Helbing Caren C.
Published: August 2013

Phenotypic plasticity might facilitate adaptation to new environmental conditions through the enhancement of initial survival of organisms. Once a population is established, further adaptation and diversification may occur through adaptive trait evolution. While several studies have found evidence for this mechanism using phenotypic traits, much less is known at the level of gene expression. Here, we use an islands system of frog populations that show local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity to pool drying conditions in development time until metamorphoses. We examined gene expression differences in Rana temporaria tadpole livers with respect to pool drying at the source population and in response to simulated pool drying in the laboratory. Using a MAGEX cDNA microarray and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), we identified an increase in several gene transcripts in response to artificial pool drying including thyroid hormone receptor alpha and beta, carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1, ornithine transcarbamylase and catalase. In addition, these gene transcripts also showed greater abundance in island populations that developed faster. Hence, the gene transcripts were related to both constitutive response (higher levels in island populations that developed faster) and plastic response (increased abundance under decreasing water levels). This pattern is in accordance with genetic accommodation, which predicts similarities between plastic gene expression and constitutive expression in locally adapted populations.
Defect Detection in Reinforced Concrete Using Random Neural Architectures
Authors: Butcher J.B. , Day C.R. , Austin J.C. , Haycock P.W. , Verstraeten D. , Schrauwen B.
Published: August 2013

Detecting defects within reinforced concrete is vital to the safety and durability of our built infrastructure upon which we heavily rely. In this work a non‐invasive technique, ElectroMagnetic Anomaly Detection (EMAD), is used which provides information into the electromagnetic properties of the reinforcing steel and for which data analysis is currently performed visually: an undesirable process. This article investigates the first use of two neural network approaches to automate the analysis of this data: Echo State Networks (ESNs) and Extreme Learning Machines (ELMs) where fast and efficient training procedures allow networks to be trained and evaluated in less time than traditional neural network approaches. Data collected from real‐world concrete structures have been analyzed using these two approaches as well as using a simple threshold measure and a standard recurrent neural network. The ELM approach offers a significant improvement in performance for a single tendon‐reinforced structure, while two ESN architectures provided best performance for a mesh‐reinforced concrete structure.
Trypanosoma brucei (UMP synthase null mutants) are avirulent in mice, but recover virulence upon prolonged culture in vitro while retaining pyrimidine auxotrophy
Authors: Ong Han B. , Sienkiewicz Natasha , Wyllie Susan , Patterson Stephen , Fairlamb Alan H.
Published: August 2013

African trypanosomes are capable of both de novo synthesis and salvage of pyrimidines. The last two steps in de novo synthesis are catalysed by UMP synthase (UMPS) – a bifunctional enzyme comprising orotate phosphoribosyl transferase (OPRT) and orotidine monophosphate decarboxylase (OMPDC). To investigate the essentiality of pyrimidine biosynthesis in Trypanosoma brucei, we generated a umps double knockout (DKO) line by gene replacement. The DKO was unable to grow in pyrimidine‐depleted medium in vitro, unless supplemented with uracil, uridine, deoxyuridine or UMP. DKO parasites were completely resistant to 5‐fluoroorotate and hypersensitive to 5‐fluorouracil, consistent with loss of UMPS, but remained sensitive to pyrazofurin indicating that, unlike mammalian cells, the primary target of pyrazofurin is not OMPDC. The null mutant was unable to infect mice indicating that salvage of host pyrimidines is insufficient to support growth. However, following prolonged culture in vitro, parasites regained virulence in mice despite retaining pyrimidine auxotrophy. Unlike the wild‐type, both pyrimidine auxotrophs secreted substantial quantities of orotate, significantly higher in the virulent DKO line. We propose that this may be responsible for the recovery of virulence in mice, due to host metabolism converting orotate to uridine, thereby bypassing the loss of UMPS in the parasite.
Overexpression ofGmCaM4in soybean enhances resistance to pathogens and tolerance to salt stress
Authors: Rao Suryadevara S. , El‐Habbak Mohamed H. , Havens Wendy M. , Singh Ajay , Zheng Danman , Vaughn Laura , Haudenshield James S. , Hartman Glen L. , Korban Schuyler S. , Ghabrial Said A.
Published: August 2013

Plant diseases inflict heavy losses on soybean yield, necessitating an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying biotic/abiotic stress responses.Ca2+is an important universal messenger, and protein sensors, prominently calmodulins (CaMs), recognize cellular changes inCa2+in response to diverse signals. Because the development of stable transgenic soybeans is laborious and time consuming, we used theBean pod mottle virus(BPMV)‐based vector for rapid and efficient protein expression and gene silencing. The present study focuses on the functional roles of the gene encoding the soybean CaM isoformGmCaM4. Overexpression ofGmCaM4in soybean resulted in enhanced resistance to three plant pathogens and increased tolerance to high salt conditions. To gain an understanding of the underlying mechanisms, we examined the potential defence pathways involved. Our studies revealed activation/increased expression levels of pathogenesis‐related (PR) genes inGmCaM4‐overexpressing plants and the accumulation of jasmonic acid (JA). Silencing ofGmCaM4, however, markedly repressed the expression ofPRgenes. We confirmed thein vivointeraction betweenGmCaM4and theCaMbinding transcription factorMyb2, which regulates the expression of salt‐responsive genes, using the yeast two‐hybrid (Y2H) system and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays.GmCaM4andGlycine max CaMbinding receptor‐like kinase (GmCBRLK) did not interact in theY2Hassays, but the interaction betweenGmCaM2andGmCBRLKwas confirmed. Thus, aGmCaM2–GmCBRLK‐mediated salt tolerance mechanism, similar to that reported inGlycine soja, may also be functional in soybean. Confocal microscopy showed subcellular localization of the green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐GmCaM4fusion protein in the nucleus and cytoplasm.
Linking ecomechanics and ecophysiology to interspecific interactions and community dynamics
Authors: Harley Christopher D.G.
Published: August 2013

To predict community‐level responses to climate change, we must understand how variation in environmental conditions drives changes in an organism's ability to acquire resources and translate those resources into growth, reproduction, and survival. This challenge can be approached mechanistically by establishing linkages from biophysics to community ecology. For example, body temperature can be predicted from environmental conditions and species‐specific morphological and behavioral traits. Variation in body temperature within and among species dictates physiological performance, rates of resource acquisition, and growth. These ecological characteristics, along with population size, define the strength with which species interact. Finally, the direct (individual level) and indirect (community level) effects of temperature jointly determine community structure. This mechanistic framework can complement correlational approaches to better predict ecological responses to climate change and identify which characteristics of a species or community act as leverage points for change. Research priorities for further development of the mechanistic approach include documentation and prediction of relevant spatial and temporal variation in body temperature and the relationships between body temperature, individual performance, and interspecific interactions.
Temporal Stability in the Spectral Representation of Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrograms
Authors: CIACCIO EDWARD J. , BIVIANO ANGELO B. , GAMBHIR ALOK , JACOBSON JASON T. , GARAN HASAN
Published: August 2013

Background

Although local electrograms during atrial fibrillation (AF) are often spectrally analyzed over 8‐second (8s) intervals, changes may be common over intervals as short as 2s. We sought to determine whether averaged 2s measurements of electrogram spectral parameters were similar to 8s measurements, and whether the 2s intervals could provide an estimate of the temporal stability of the signal frequency content in paroxysmal versus persistent AF.

Methods

Complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) were acquired outside the pulmonary vein ostia and from free wall sites in nine paroxysmal and 10 longstanding persistent AF patients. Using a 2s sliding calculation window, a frequency spectrum was computed every 100 ms over an interval of 8.4 seconds (82 spectra in total). The dominant frequency (DF), the dominant amplitude (DA), and the mean spectral profile (MP) were measured. The 2s measurements were compared to single 8.4‐second interval measurements. Coefficients of variation (COV) were computed from the 82 spectra for each CFAE recording to determine temporal variability of parameters.

Results

Over the sliding 2s computation intervals, as for fixed 8.4‐second computation intervals, mean DA and DF were significantly higher in longstanding persistent AF while MP was significantly higher in paroxysmal AF (P ≤ 0.001). The COV was significantly higher for the DF parameter in paroxysmal AF (P < 0.001) and significantly higher for the MP parameter in persistent AF (P < 0.02).

Conclusions

For both paroxysmal and persistent AF data, the 2s sliding window averages provide similar results to single 8.4‐second intervals, and information regarding temporal stability was additionally obtained in the process.
BEYOND THE RULES: THE EFFECT OF OUTCOME FAVOURABILITY ON RED TAPE PERCEPTIONS
Authors: KAUFMANN WESLEY , FEENEY MARY K.
Published: August 2013

The underlying reasoning of much red tape research is that the level of rule burden, in terms of resources expended at implementing and complying with specific rules, is the main driver of red tape perceptions. In this study we challenge this claim and argue that stakeholder red tape perceptions are also affected by the favourability of the outcome. More specifically, if a certain rule or procedure has a positive outcome for a certain stakeholder, then this stakeholder will perceive lower levels of red tape, irrespective of rule burden. Using a survey experiment (n = 81), we show how variations in red tape perceptions are affected in equal measure by rule burden and outcome. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our findings for red tape scholars, in particular the need to further understand the relationships between red tape perceptions and rule procedures and outcomes.