bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular signatures of mRNAs and miRNAs as prognostic biomarkers in pancreatobiliary and intestinal types of periampullary adenocarcinomas
Authors: Sandhu V. , Bowitz Lothe I.M. , Labori K.J. , Lingjærde O.C. , Buanes T. , Dalsgaard A.M. , Skrede M.L. , Hamfjord J. , Haaland T. , Eide T.J. , Børresen-Dale A.-L. , Ikdahl T. , Kure E.H.
Published: December 2014

Periampullary adenocarcinomas include four anatomical sites of origin (the pancreatic duct, bile duct, ampulla and duodenum) and most of them fall into two histological subgroups (pancreatobiliary and intestinal). Determining the exact origin of the tumor is sometimes difficult, due to overlapping histopathological characteristics. The prognosis depends on the histological subtype, as well as on the anatomical site of origin, the former being the more important. The molecular basis for these differences in prognosis is poorly understood. Whole‐genome analyses were used to investigate the association between molecular tumor profiles, pathogenesis and prognosis. A total of 85 periampullary adenocarcinomas were characterized by mRNA and miRNA expressions profiling. Molecular profiles of the tumors from the different anatomical sites of origin as well as of the different histological subtypes were compared. Differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs between the two histopathological subtypes were linked to specific molecular pathways. Six miRNA families were downregulated and four were upregulated in the pancreatobiliary type as compared to the intestinal type (P < 0.05). miRNAs and mRNAs associated with improved overall and recurrence free survival for the two histopathological subtypes were identified. For the pancreatobiliary type the genes ATM, PTEN, RB1 and the miRNAs miR‐592 and miR‐497, and for the intestinal type the genes PDPK1, PIK3R2, G6PC and the miRNAs miR‐127‐3p, miR‐377* were linked to enriched pathways and identified as prognostic markers. The molecular signatures identified may in the future guide the clinicians in the therapeutic decision making to an individualized treatment, if confirmed in other larger datasets.
Cancer chemoprevention: Much has been done, but there is still much to do. State of the art and possible new approaches
Authors: Serrano Davide , Lazzeroni Matteo , Bonanni Bernardo
Published: December 2014

Over the past three decades great efforts have been made in search of cancer chemoprevention strategies. The increase in knowledge of the long process from normal to cancer cell has enabled interventions in terms of lifestyle modifications, natural compounds or drugs to block or reverse the process. Great successes have been achieved, especially for breast and colorectal cancer. However, these strategies have yet to find clinical application on a large scale.

In this article we identify the achievements, the pitfalls and the next steps to be taken to improve the efficacy and applicability of chemoprevention strategies. Among the crucial key points to be implemented are educational activities for physicians to appropriately disseminate the aim and indeed the culture of chemoprevention. It is essential to improve the risk‐benefit balance, seeking the minimal active doses, intermittent schedules, a better characterization of the risk categories via a more personalized intervention based on individual characteristics, and ensure the containment of costs of public and private health prevention programs.
A New Version of the Impairment and Functioning Inventory for Patients With Chronic Pain (IFI‐R)
Authors: Ramírez‐Maestre Carmen , Esteve Rosa
Published: December 2014

Background

Few instruments are available that have adequate psychometric properties for assessing daily functioning in patients with musculoskeletal pain. In addition, none of these instruments assesses the perceived decrease in levels of daily activities after the onset of pain.

Objective

To review the psychometric qualities of the Impairment and Functioning Inventory (IFI) for patients with chronic pain.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Four public primary care centers and a public pain clinic.

Patients

A total of 483 patients with back pain who were treated at primary care centers and 137 patients with various pain conditions who were treated at a pain clinic.

Methods

To analyze factorial validity, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed via structural equation modeling. To measure internal consistency, Cronbach's α coefficients were calculated. To assess convergent validity, Pearson correlation coefficients were computed between the 2 scales of the IFI and the measures of the Roland Morris Questionnaire. Criterion validity and generalizability were analyzed by regression analysis via structural equation modeling using the LISREL 8.30 software package.

Main Outcome Measures

The IFI for patients with chronic pain.

Results

A revised version of the IFI (IFI‐R) is presented that consists of 30 items with 2 related subscales: Daily Functioning and Impairment (perceived current level of functioning compared with the level of functioning before pain onset). Both subscales were significantly correlated with disability. Depression, pain intensity, and pain anxiety had a negative association with functioning and a positive association with impairment. On the other hand, pain catastrophizing had a negative association with functioning and pain hypervigilance had a positive association with impairment due to pain.

Conclusions

The IFI‐R appears to be a valid and reliable measurement tool for the assessment of perceived daily functioning and impairment in people with chronic pain.
Correction: Synthesis, cytotoxic and hydrolytic studies of titanium complexes anchored by a tripodal diamine bis(phenolate) ligand
Authors: Barroso Sónia , Coelho Ana M. , Gómez-Ruiz Santiago , Calhorda Maria José , Žižak Željko , Kaluđerović Goran N. , Martins Ana M.
Published: December 2014

Correction for ‘Synthesis, cytotoxic and hydrolytic studies of titanium complexes anchored by a tripodal diamine bis(phenolate) ligand’ by Sónia Barroso et al., Dalton Trans., 2014, 43, 17422–17433.
A Mach-Zender digital holographic microscope with sub-micrometer resolution for imaging and tracking of marine micro-organisms
Authors: Kühn Jonas , Niraula Bimochan , Liewer Kurt , Kent Wallace J. , Serabyn Eugene , Graff Emilio , Lindensmith Christian , Nadeau Jay L.
Published: December 2014

Digital holographic microscopy is an ideal tool for investigation of microbial motility. However, most designs do not exhibit sufficient spatial resolution for imaging bacteria. In this study we present an off-axis Mach-Zehnder design of a holographic microscope with spatial resolution of better than 800 nm and the ability to resolve bacterial samples at varying densities over a 380 μm × 380 μm × 600 μm three-dimensional field of view. Larger organisms, such as protozoa, can be resolved in detail, including cilia and flagella. The instrument design and performance are presented, including images and tracks of bacterial and protozoal mixed samples and pure cultures of six selected species. Organisms as small as 1 μm (bacterial spores) and as large as 60 μm (Paramecium bursaria) may be resolved and tracked without changes in the instrument configuration. Finally, we present a dilution series investigating the maximum cell density that can be imaged, a type of analysis that has not been presented in previous holographic microscopy studies.
RORγt-specific transcriptional interactomic inhibition suppresses autoimmunity associated with T
H
17 cells
Authors: Park Tae-Yoon , Park Sung-Dong , Cho Jen-Young , Moon Jae-Seung , Kim Na-Yeon , Park Kyungsoo , Seong Rho Hyun , Lee Sang-Won , Morio Tomohiro , Bothwell Alfred L. M. , Lee Sang-Kyou
Published: December 2014

Significance

T
H
17 cells are a subset of CD4
+
T helper cells that secrete the cytokine IL-17 and play a role in autoimmunity. RORγt is identified as a key transcription factor driving the T
H
17 differentiation. Sequence analysis indicated that transcription factor contains several conserved DNA-binding domain and isotype-specific domain that we termed transcription modulation domain (TMD). We designed a novel therapeutics, tRORγt-TMD, to deliver RORγt-TMD efficiently into the nucleus of the cells that regulates T
H
17 cell functions and T
H
17-mediated autoimmune diseases. With the same concept, tTbet-TMD also can regulate T
H
1 functions. In conclusion, tRORγt-TMD/tTbet-TMD can be novel and highly specific therapeutics for the treatment of T
H
17/T
H
1-mediated inflammatory disease and further allows us to discover new function of RORγt/Tbet in animals without genetic alteration.
Muscular adaptations in low‐ versus high‐load resistance training: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Schoenfeld Brad J. , Wilson Jacob M. , Lowery Ryan P. , Krieger James W.
Published: December 2014

There has been much debate as to optimal loading strategies for maximising the adaptive response to resistance exercise. The purpose of this paper therefore was to conduct a meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials to compare the effects of low‐load (≤60% 1 repetition maximum [RM]) versus high‐load (≥65% 1 RM) training in enhancing post‐exercise muscular adaptations. The strength analysis comprised 251 subjects and 32 effect sizes (ESs), nested within 20 treatment groups and 9 studies. The hypertrophy analysis comprised 191 subjects and 34 ESs, nested with 17 treatment groups and 8 studies. There was a trend for strength outcomes to be greater with high loads compared to low loads (difference = 1.07 ± 0.60; CI: −0.18, 2.32; p = 0.09). The mean ES for low loads was 1.23 ± 0.43 (CI: 0.32, 2.13). The mean ES for high loads was 2.30 ± 0.43 (CI: 1.41, 3.19). There was a trend for hypertrophy outcomes to be greater with high loads compared to low loads (difference = 0.43 ± 0.24; CI: −0.05, 0.92; p = 0.076). The mean ES for low loads was 0.39 ± 0.17 (CI: 0.05, 0.73). The mean ES for high loads was 0.82 ± 0.17 (CI: 0.49, 1.16). In conclusion, training with loads ≤50% 1 RM was found to promote substantial increases in muscle strength and hypertrophy in untrained individuals, but a trend was noted for superiority of heavy loading with respect to these outcome measures with null findings likely attributed to a relatively small number of studies on the topic.
Journals, Preferences, and Publishing in Agricultural and Environmental Economics
Authors: Rigby Dan , Burton Michael , Lusk Jayson L.
Published: December 2014

Research quality is an increasingly important metric for determining funding allocations, promotion and tenure, and professional prestige. A key metric often used as a proxy for research quality is the ranking of the journal in which a manuscript appears. While citation‐based measures of journal quality are commonly used, less is known about other dimensions of journal quality and prestige. We report results from an international study using Best‐Worst Scaling to investigate researchers’ journal preferences. Respondents used two criteria to assess journals: the impact a paper in the journal would have on career progression, and the impact beyond academia of papers in the journal. Among the sample of journals studied, the American Journal of Agricultural Economics is ranked at the top for career progression for the aggregate sample, while Science was rated at the top for broader impact. We find no significant correlation between the journal scores based on the two criteria, nor between them and the journals’ impact factors. These results suggest that impact beyond academia is poorly aligned with career incentives and that citation measures reflect poorly, if at all, peers’ esteem of journals. Heteroscedastic scale‐adjusted latent class models reveal marked heterogeneity in journal preferences related to researchers’ institutional affiliation and geographic region. We find significant differences in error variance over people and choices: people were less consistent when choosing their least, as opposed to their most, preferred journal. This finding has broader implications given the burgeoning use of best‐worst surveys.
The Economics of Brazil's Ethanol‐Sugar Markets, Mandates, and Tax Exemptions
Authors: Drabik Dusan , de Gorter Harry , Just David R. , Timilsina Govinda R.
Published: December 2014

Sugarcane in Brazil is processed into sugar and/or ethanol, often in flex plants that can switch between the two products. We develop an economic model of flex plants, export demands, and two domestic fuel demand curves for a blend of ethanol with gasoline consumed by conventional cars, and ethanol consumed only by flex cars. We analyze the market impacts of the following policies: the blend mandate; fixing gasoline prices below world prices; the high gasoline tax; and a higher tax exemption for ethanol blended with gasoline. Because Brazilian and U.S. ethanol prices have become linked, a change in Brazilian ethanol policy or a shock in world sugar markets can now impact U.S. ethanol and corn prices. We show that in theory, each policy analyzed has an ambiguous impact on ethanol and sugar prices. Empirically, however, a low gasoline tax and a high tax exemption for ethanol used in the fuel blend reduce ethanol and sugar prices; this contradicts conventional wisdom. Overall, we find that policy reforms implemented in 2010 offset the ethanol price increase by about 27% due to outward shifts in fuel transportation and sugar export demand curves, and due to a reduced sugarcane supply caused by bad weather. Our model illustrates the importance of Brazil's ethanol policies on world commodity markets; it also provides insight into how the Brazilian government can adjust policies to better control domestic inflation while minimizing impacts on investment.
Hoover Seeds, inc.: A Period of Transition
Authors: Widmar David A. , Gray Allan W. , Gunderson Michael
Published: December 2014

Hoover Seeds is a fictional case study written to illustrate the challenges faced by food and agribusiness firms that are transitioning from small, entrepreneurial businesses to larger, more professionally managed enterprises. Though fictional, the competitive and financial situation of Hoover Seeds is based on realistic facts. The case introduces Dan Hoover, the Chief Executive Officer of Hoover Seeds, Inc., a small, family‐owned and operated seed company in Ohio. Founded by his grandfather, Dan has worked his way up the ranks of the company and, now leading the company, has worked to expand market share. The case study details the sales, production, administration, and finances of the firm. Exhibit A includes a full set of financial statements over four years. The case also has industry context with market, customer, and competitor details.
Capture of algae promotes growth and propagation in aquaticUtricularia
Authors: Koller-Peroutka Marianne , Lendl Thomas , Watzka Margarete , Adlassnig Wolfram
Published: December 2014

Background and Aims Some carnivorous plants trap not only small animals but also algae and pollen grains. However, it remains unclear if these trapped particles are useless bycatch or whether they provide nutrients for the plant. The present study examines this question in Utricularia, which forms the largest and most widely spread genus of carnivorous plants, and which captures prey by means of sophisticated suction traps.

Methods  Utricularia plants of three different species (U. australis, U. vulgaris and U. minor) were collected in eight different water bodies including peat bogs, lakes and artificial ponds in three regions of Austria. The prey spectrum of each population was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively, and correlated with data on growth and propagation, C/N ratio and δ15N.

Key Results More than 50 % of the prey of the Utricularia populations investigated consisted of algae and pollen, and U. vulgaris in particular was found to capture large amounts of gymnosperm pollen. The capture of algae and pollen grains was strongly correlated with most growth parameters, including weight, length, budding and elongation of internodes. The C/N ratio, however, was less well correlated. Other prey, such as moss leaflets, fungal hyphae and mineral particles, were negatively correlated with most growth parameters. δ15N was positively correlated with prey capture, but in situations where algae were the main prey objects it was found that the standard formula for calculation of prey-derived N was no longer applicable.

Conclusions The mass capture of immotile particles confirms the ecological importance of autonomous firing of the traps. Although the C/N ratio was little influenced by algae, they clearly provide other nutrients, possibly including phosphorus and trace elements. By contrast, mosses, fungi and mineral particles appear to be useless bycatch. Correlations with chemical parameters indicate that Utricularia benefits from nutrient-rich waters by uptake of inorganic nutrients from the water, by the production of more traps per unit of shoot length, and by the capture of more prey particles per trap, as nutrient-rich waters harbour more prey organisms.
MicroRNA modules prefer to bind weak and unconventional target sites
Authors: Ding Jun , Li Xiaoman , Hu Haiyan
Published: December 2014

Motivation: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in gene regulation. Although it is well known that multiple miRNAs may work as miRNA modules to synergistically regulate common target mRNAs, the understanding of miRNA modules is still in its infancy.

Results: We employed the recently generated high throughput experimental data to study miRNA modules. We predicted 181 miRNA modules and 306 potential miRNA modules. We observed that the target sites of these predicted modules were in general weaker compared with those not bound by miRNA modules. We also discovered that miRNAs in predicted modules preferred to bind unconventional target sites rather than canonical sites. Surprisingly, contrary to a previous study, we found that most adjacent miRNA target sites from the same miRNA modules were not within the range of 10–130 nucleotides. Interestingly, the distance of target sites bound by miRNAs in the same modules was shorter when miRNA modules bound unconventional instead of canonical sites. Our study shed new light on miRNA binding and miRNA target sites, which will likely advance our understanding of miRNA regulation.

Availability and implementation: The software miRModule can be freely downloaded at http://hulab.ucf.edu/research/projects/miRNA/miRModule.

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Contact:  haihu@cs.ucf.edu or xiaoman@mail.ucf.edu.
Empowering biologists with multi-omics data: colorectal cancer as a paradigm
Authors: Zhu Jing , Shi Zhiao , Wang Jing , Zhang Bing
Published: December 2014

Motivation: Recent completion of the global proteomic characterization of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) colorectal cancer (CRC) cohort resulted in the first tumor dataset with complete molecular measurements at DNA, RNA and protein levels. Using CRC as a paradigm, we describe the application of the NetGestalt framework to provide easy access and interpretation of multi-omics data.

Results: The NetGestalt CRC portal includes genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and clinical data for the TCGA CRC cohort, data from other CRC tumor cohorts and cell lines, and existing knowledge on pathways and networks, giving a total of more than 17 million data points. The portal provides features for data query, upload, visualization and integration. These features can be flexibly combined to serve various needs of the users, maximizing the synergy among omics data, human visualization and quantitative analysis. Using three case studies, we demonstrate that the portal not only provides user-friendly data query and visualization but also enables efficient data integration within a single omics data type, across multiple omics data types, and over biological networks.

Availability and implementation: The NetGestalt CRC portal can be freely accessed at http://www.netgestalt.org.

Contact:  bing.zhang@vanderbilt.edu

Supplementary Information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Genomic insights into the rapid emergence and evolution of MDR inStaphylococcus pseudintermedius
Authors: McCarthy Alex J. , Harrison Ewan M. , Stanczak-Mrozek Kinga , Leggett Bernadette , Waller Andrew , Holmes Mark A. , Lloyd David H. , Lindsay Jodi A. , Loeffler Anette
Published: December 2014

Objectives

MDR methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) strains have emerged rapidly as major canine pathogens and present serious treatment issues and concerns to public health due to their, albeit low, zoonotic potential. A further understanding of the genetics of resistance arising from a broadly susceptible background of S. pseudintermedius is needed.

Methods

We sequenced the genomes of 12 S. pseudintermedius isolates of varied STs and resistance phenotypes.

Results

Nine distinct clonal lineages had acquired either staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec elements and/or Tn5405-like elements carrying up to five resistance genes [aphA3, sat, aadE, erm(B), dfrG] to generate MRSP, MDR methicillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius and MDR MRSP populations. The most successful and clinically problematic MDR MRSP clones, ST68 SCCmecV(T) and ST71 SCCmecII-III, have further accumulated mutations in gyrA and grlA conferring resistance to fluoroquinolones. The carriage of additional mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was highly variable, suggesting that horizontal gene transfer is frequent in S. pseudintermedius populations.

Conclusions

Importantly, the data suggest that MDR MRSP evolved rapidly by the acquisition of a very limited number of MGEs and mutations, and that the use of many classes of antimicrobials may co-select for the spread and emergence of MDR and XDR strains. Antimicrobial stewardship will need to be comprehensive, encompassing human medicine and veterinary disciplines to successfully preserve antimicrobial efficacy.
VLBI astrometry of AGB variables with VERA: A Mira-type variable T Lepus
Authors: Nakagawa Akiharu , Omodaka Toshihiro , Handa Toshihiro , Honma Mareki , Kawaguchi Noriyuki , Kobayashi Hideyuki , Oyama Tomoaki , Sato Katsuhisa , Shibata Katsunori M. , Shizugami Makoto , Tamura Yoshiaki , Ueno Yuji
Published: December 2014

We conducted phase referencing VLBI observations of the Mira variable T Lepus (T Lep) using VERA, from 2003 to 2006. The distance to the source was determined from its annual parallax which was measured to be 3.06 ± 0.04 mas, corresponding to a distance of 327 ± 4 pc. Our observations revealed the distribution and internal kinematics of H2O masers in T Lep, and we derived source systemic motions of 14.60 ± 0.50 mas yr−1 and −35.43 ± 0.79 mas yr−1 in right ascension and declination, respectively. We also determined an LSR velocity of $V_\mathrm{LSR}^{\ast } = -$27.63 km s−1. Comparison of our result with an image recently obtained from the VLTI infrared interferometer reveals a linear scale picture of the circumstellar structure of T Lep. Analysis of the source systemic motion in the Galactocentric coordinate frame indicates a large peculiar motion, which is consistent with the general characteristics of AGB stars. This source makes a contribution to the calibration of the period–luminosity relation of Galactic Mira variables. From the compilation of data for nearby Mira variables found in the literature, whose distances were derived from astrometric VLBI observations, we have calibrated the Galactic Mira period–luminosity relation to a high degree of accuracy.
OT J075418.7+381225 and OT J230425.8+062546: Promising candidates for the period bouncer
Authors: Nakata Chikako , Kato Taichi , Nogami Daisaku , Pavlenko Elena P. , Ohshima Tomohito , de Miguel Enrique , Stein William , Siokawa Kazuhiko , Morelle Etienne , Itoh Hiroshi , Dubovsky Pavol A. , Kudzej Igor , Maehara Hiroyuki , Henden Arne , Goff William N. , Dvorak Shawn , Antonyuk Oksana I. , Muyllaert Eddy
Published: December 2014

We report on photometric observations of two dwarf novae, OT J075418.7+381225 and OT J230425.8+062546, which showed superoutbursts in 2013 (OT J075418) and in 2011 (OT J230425). Their mean periods of the superhump were 0.0722403(26) d (OT J075418) and 0.067317(35) d (OT J230425). These objects showed a very long growth stage of the superhump (stage A) and a large period decrease in the stage A–B transition. The long stage A suggests slow evolution of the superhump due to the very small mass ratio of these objects. The declining rates during the plateau phase in the superoutburst of these objects were lower than those of SU UMa-type dwarf novae (DNe) with a similar superhump period. These properties were similar to those of SSS J122221.7−311523, the most likely candidate for the period bouncer. Therefore, these two DNe are regarded as likely candidates for the period bouncer. We estimated the number density of period bouncers roughly from our observations for the last five years. There is a possibility that these WZ Sge-type DNe with unusual outburst properties might account for the missing population of the period bouncer suggested by the evolutionary scenario.
Treatments of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia: Meta-Analysis of 168 Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials
Authors: Fusar-Poli Paolo , Papanastasiou Evangelos , Stahl Daniel , Rocchetti Matteo , Carpenter William , Shergill Sukhwinder , McGuire Philip
Published: December 2014

Objectives

Existing treatments for schizophrenia can improve positive symptoms, but it is unclear if they have any impact on negative symptoms. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy of available treatments for negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

Methods

All randomized-controlled trials of interventions for negative symptoms in schizophrenia until December 2013 were retrieved; 168 unique and independent placebo-controlled trials were used. Negative symptom scores at baseline and follow-up, duration of illness, doses of medication, type of interventions, and sample demographics were extracted. Heterogeneity was addressed with the I2 and Q statistic. Standardized mean difference in values of the Negative Symptom Rating Scale used in each study was calculated as the main outcome measure.

Results

6503 patients in the treatment arm and 5815 patients in the placebo arm were included. No evidence of publication biases found. Most treatments reduced negative symptoms at follow-up relative to placebo: second-generation antipsychotics: −0.579 (−0.755 to −0.404); antidepressants: −0.349 (−0.551 to −0.146); combinations of pharmacological agents: −0.518 (−0.757 to −0.279); glutamatergic medications: −0.289 (−0.478 to −0.1); psychological interventions: −0.396 (−0.563 to −0.229). No significant effect was found for first-generation antipsychotics: −0.531 (−1.104 to 0.041) and brain stimulation: −0.228 (−0.775 to 0.319). Effects of most treatments were not clinically meaningful as measured on Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale.

Conclusions and Relevance

Although some statistically significant effects on negative symptoms were evident, none reached the threshold for clinically significant improvement.
Faciotopy—a face-feature map with face-like topology in the human occipital face area
Authors: Henriksson Linda , Mur Marieke , Kriegeskorte Nikolaus
Published: December 2014

The occipital face area (OFA) and fusiform face area (FFA) are brain regions thought to be specialized for face perception. However, their intrinsic functional organization and status as cortical areas with well-defined boundaries remains unclear. Here we test these regions for ?faciotopy?, a particular hypothesis about their intrinsic functional organisation. A faciotopic area would contain a face-feature map on the cortical surface, where cortical patches represent face features and neighbouring patches represent features that are physically neighbouring in a face. The faciotopy hypothesis is motivated by the idea that face regions might develop from a retinotopic protomap and acquire their selectivity for face features through natural visual experience. Faces have a prototypical configuration of features, are usually perceived in a canonical upright orientation, and are frequently fixated in particular locations. To test the faciotopy hypothesis, we presented images of isolated face features at fixation to subjects during functional magnetic resonance imaging. The responses in V1 were best explained by low-level image properties of the stimuli. OFA, and to a lesser degree FFA, showed evidence for faciotopic organization. When a single patch of cortex was estimated for each face feature, the cortical distances between the feature patches reflected the physical distance between the features in a face. Faciotopy would be the first example, to our knowledge, of a cortical map reflecting the topology, not of a part of the organism itself (its retina in retinotopy, its body in somatotopy), but of an external object of particular perceptual significance.
Imperfect drug penetration leads to spatial monotherapy and rapid evolution of multi-drug resistance
Authors: Moreno-Gamez Stefany , Hill Alison L. , Rosenbloom Daniel I. S. , Petrov Dmitri A. , Nowak Martin A. , Pennings Pleuni
Published: December 2014

Infections with rapidly evolving pathogens are often treated using combinations of drugs with different mechanisms of action. One of the major goals of combination therapy is to reduce the risk of drug resistance emerging during a patient’s treatment. While this strategy generally has significant benefits over monotherapy, it may also select for multi-drug resistant strains, which present an important clinical and public health problem. For many antimicrobial treatment regimes, individual drugs have imperfect penetration throughout the body, so there may be regions where only one drug reaches an effective concentration. Here we propose that mismatched drug coverage can greatly speed up the evolution of multi-drug resistance by allowing mutations to accumulate in a stepwise fashion. We develop a mathematical model of within-host pathogen evolution under spatially heterogeneous drug coverage and demonstrate that even very small single-drug compartments lead to dramatically higher resistance risk. We find that it is often better to use drug combinations with matched penetration profiles, although there may be a trade-off between preventing eventual treatment failure due to resistance in this way, and temporarily reducing pathogen levels systemically. Our results show that drugs with the most extensive distribution are likely to be the most vulnerable to resistance. We conclude that optimal combination treatments should be designed to prevent thisspatial effective monotherapy. These results are widely applicable to diverse microbial infections including viruses, bacteria and parasites.
E. coliOxyS non-coding RNA does not trigger RNAi inC. elegans
Authors: Akay Alper , Sarkies Peter , Miska Eric A.
Published: December 2014

The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) inC. eleganshas had a major impact on scientific research, led to the rapid development of RNAi tools and has inspired RNA-based therapeutics. Astonishingly, nematodes, planaria and many insects take up double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from their environment to elicit RNAi; the biological function of this mechanism is unclear. Recently, theE. coliOxyS non-coding RNA was shown to regulate gene expression inC. eleganswhenE. coliis offered as food. This was surprising given thatC. elegansis unlikely to encounterE. coliin nature. To directly test the hypothesis that theE. coliOxyS non-coding RNA triggers theC. elegansRNAi pathway, we sequenced small RNAs fromC. elegansafter feeding with bacteria. We clearly demonstrate that the OxyS non-coding RNA does not trigger an RNAi response inC. elegans. We conclude that the biology of environmental RNAi remains to be discovered.
OPEN ALL NIGHT LONG: The Dark Side of Stomatal Control
Authors: Costa J. Miguel , Monnet Fabien , Jannaud Dorothée , Leonhardt Nathalie , Ksas Brigitte , Reiter Ilja M. , Pantin Florent , Genty Bernard
Published: December 2014

Isolation of Arabidopsis mutants that maintain stomata open all night long credits the existence of dedicated regulators for stomatal closure in darkness.
Quality attracts parasites: host condition‐dependent chemo‐orientation of trematode larvae
Authors: Seppälä Otto , Leicht Katja
Published: December 2014

Environmental factors impairing physiological condition of organisms are assumed to predispose them to parasite infections. This is because host immune function is typically condition‐dependent. However, poor physiological condition has been reported to reduce host susceptibility to parasites in various systems.

We examined whether such an effect can be due to altered exposure of hosts to active parasite transmission stages by investigating chemo‐orientation of free‐swimming cercariae larvae of a parasite Echinoparyphium aconiatum towards its snail host Lymnaea stagnalis.

We used both long‐term and short‐term feeding treatments to manipulate the body condition and physiological traits related to food processing in experimental (i.e. target) snails and measured the preference of cercariae towards snail‐conditioned water (SCW) over clean water.

We found that chemo‐orientation of cercariae depended on the nutritional status of target snails. High physiological condition (long‐term feeding) attracted parasites, but cercariae did not show preference towards SCW from individuals in poor physiological condition (long‐term starvation). Food processing (short‐term feeding treatments) did not affect chemo‐orientation.

Our results suggest that host condition‐dependent chemo‐orientation of parasite larvae is a likely mechanism explaining the reduced susceptibility of snails to infection due to food limitation in our study system. In general, the use of condition‐dependent host cues can be highly beneficial for parasites as it increases their transmission to high‐quality hosts. Furthermore, evolving counter adaptations to such a transmission strategy can be very difficult for hosts.
Edaphic rather than climatic controls over 13C enrichment between soil and vegetation in alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Yang Yuanhe , Ji Chengjun , Chen Leiyi , Ding Jinzhi , Cheng Xiaoli , Robinson David
Published: December 2014

Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics is crucial for evaluating ecosystem carbon balance and its feedback to climate warming. However, it is difficult to detect statistically significant changes in SOC stock over short‐time period due to its large pool size, slow turnover time and huge spatial heterogeneity. Stable isotopic measurements, such as Δ δ13C (i.e. the difference of natural abundance of 13C and 12C (δ13C) between surface soils and source plants) and its variations along environmental gradients provide an alternative approach inferring soil carbon dynamics over broad geographical scale. However, current isotopic evidence is primarily derived from temperate and tropical regions, with very limited measurements available in alpine regions.

Here, we examined spatial variations of Δ δ13C in alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau, using large‐scale isotopic measurements obtained from consecutive field samplings. We aimed to test whether previously observed isotopic patterns in temperate and tropical regions still hold true in alpine regions and whether climatic or edaphic variables regulated large‐scale patterns of 13C enrichment between soil and vegetation in alpine ecosystems.

Our results showed that topsoil stable carbon isotope composition in alpine steppe and meadow ranged from −26·1‰ to −19·7‰ and from −25·7‰ to −22·2‰, with an average of −23·7‰ and −24·1‰, respectively. As previously observed in temperate forests, soil δ13C exhibited linear increases with plant δ13C in alpine grasslands.

In contrast to earlier findings, our results revealed that edaphic rather than climatic factors regulated spatial variability of the Δ δ13C in high‐altitude regions. Moreover, edaphic controls over Δ δ13C exhibited meaningful differences between alpine steppe and meadow. The Δ δ13C exhibited an initial increase and a subsequent decrease with soil carbon content in alpine steppe, but was negatively associated with silt content and carbon: nitrogen ratio in alpine meadow.

Our results confirmed the association between the δ13C of surface soils and vegetation across contrasting ecosystems, but revealed that edaphic rather than climatic variables were better explanations of 13C enrichment between soil and vegetation at high altitudes. Changes in soil texture and substrate quality could therefore induce soil carbon dynamics in alpine ecosystems.
Potential challenges facing distributed leadership in health care: evidence from the UK National Health Service
Authors: Martin Graeme , Beech Nic , MacIntosh Robert , Bushfield Stacey
Published: December 2014

The discourse of leaderism in health care has been a subject of much academic and practical debate. Recently, distributed leadership (DL) has been adopted as a key strand of policy in the UK National Health Service (NHS). However, there is some confusion over the meaning of DL and uncertainty over its application to clinical and non‐clinical staff. This article examines the potential for DL in the NHS by drawing on qualitative data from three co‐located health‐care organisations that embraced DL as part of their organisational strategy. Recent theorising positions DL as a hybrid model combining focused and dispersed leadership; however, our data raise important challenges for policymakers and senior managers who are implementing such a leadership policy. We show that there are three distinct forms of disconnect and that these pose a significant problem for DL. However, we argue that instead of these disconnects posing a significant problem for the discourse of leaderism, they enable a fantasy of leadership that draws on and supports the discourse.
Symbolic boundaries, subcultural capital and prescription drug misuse across youth cultures
Authors: Kelly Brian C. , Trimarco James , LeClair Amy , Pawson Mark , Parsons Jeffrey T. , Golub Sarit A.
Published: December 2014

Prescription drug misuse among young adults has surged over the past decade. Yet the contexts surrounding this misuse remain unclear, particularly the subcultural contexts. Many young urban adults participate in youth cultures. This article describes the subcultural contexts of prescription drug misuse in youth subcultures. Drawing on ethnographic data collected over 12 months from different youth cultural scenes, the authors describe the subcultural bases of prescription drug misuse. The symbolic boundaries and subcultural capital inherent in these scenes shape the ways youth think about drugs and behave accordingly. While young adults are often lumped together by theorists, ethnographic data show considerable variation across these subcultures with regard to what may enable or inhibit prescription drug misuse. The broader subcultural ethos in each scene, as well as attitudes towards other types of drugs, frame the ways that prescription drugs are perceived and used in each of these settings. The findings highlight the role of symbolic boundaries and subcultural capital in shaping routine practices of drug use among young adults. These data show that education campaigns about prescription drug misuse should take into account the variability in youth cultural scenes to maximise the efficacy of these messages aimed at young adults.
The role of employee HR attributions in the relationship between high‐performance work systems and employee outcomes
Authors: Van De Voorde Karina , Beijer Susanne
Published: December 2014

Although research has shown that the use of high‐performance work systems (HPWS) is associated with employee outcomes, our knowledge of the meanings employees attach to HPWS systems and how these shape employee outcomes is still limited. This study examines the signalling impact of enacted HPWS on HR well‐being and HR performance attributions, and how these influence happiness‐ and health‐related outcomes. Using multilevel data (1,065 employees nested within 150 work units) obtained from multiple sources (line managers and employees), our results show that coverage of HPWS was positively associated with the two HR attributions. In addition, HR well‐being attributions were associated with higher levels of commitment and lower levels of job strain. HR performance attributions were associated with higher levels of job strain. The findings of this study highlight the importance of taking into account how employees attach meaning to enacted HPWS in order to predict employee outcomes.
Characterization of Conventional, Biodynamic, and Organic Purple Grape Juices by Chemical Markers, Antioxidant Capacity, and Instrumental Taste Profile
Authors: Granato Daniel , Margraf Tiago , Brotzakis Ioannis , Capuano Edoardo , van Ruth Saskia M.
Published: December 2014

The objectives of this study were to characterize organic, biodynamic, and conventional purple grape juices (n = 31) produced in Europe based on instrumental taste profile, antioxidant activity, and some chemical markers and to propose a multivariate statistical model to analyze their quality and try to classify the samples from the 3 different crop systems. Results were subjected to ANOVA, correlation, and regression analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA), and partial least‐squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA). No statistical significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed among juices from the 3 crop systems. Using PCA and HCA, no clear separation among crop systems was observed, corroborating the ANOVA data. However, PCA showed that the producing region highly affects the chemical composition, electronic tongue parameters, and bioactivity of grape juices. In this sense, when organic and biodynamic were grouped as “nonconventional” juices, SIMCA model was able to discriminate 12 out of 13 organic/biodynamic juices and 17 out of 18 conventional juices, presenting an efficiency of 93.5%, while 11 out of 13 non‐conventional and 100% conventional grape juices were correctly classified using PLSDA. The use of electronic tongue and the determination of antioxidant properties and major phenolic compounds have shown to be a quick and accurate analytical approach to assess the quality of grape juices.
Lipopeptides as main ingredients for inhibition of fungal phytopathogens by Bacillus subtilis/amyloliquefaciens
Authors: Cawoy Hélène , Debois Delphine , Franzil Laurent , De Pauw Edwin , Thonart Philippe , Ongena Marc
Published: December 2014

Some isolates of the Bacillus subtilis/amyloliquefaciens species are known for their plant protective activity against fungal phytopathogens. It is notably due to their genetic potential to form an impressive array of antibiotics including non‐ribosomal lipopeptides (LPs). In the work presented here, we wanted to gain further insights into the relative role of these LPs in the global antifungal activity of B. subtilis/amyloliquefaciens. To that end, a comparative study was conducted involving multiple strains that were tested against four different phytopathogens. We combined various approaches to further exemplify that secretion of those LPs is a crucial trait in direct pathogen ward off and this can actually be generalized to all members of these species. Our data illustrate that for each LP family, the fungitoxic activity varies in function of the target species and that the production of iturins and fengycins is modulated by the presence of pathogens. Our data on the relative involvement of these LPs in the biocontrol activity and modulation of their production are discussed in the context of natural conditions in the rhizosphere.
Satisfaction with rural rheumatology telemedicine service
Authors: Poulsen Katherine A. , Millen Catherine M. , Lakshman Umayal I. , Buttner Petra G. , Roberts Lynden J.
Published: December 2014

Aim

To assess patient satisfaction with the rheumatology telemedicine service provided to a rural town in northern Australia.

Methods

A prospective, questionnaire‐based exploratory study of patients seen at the Mount Isa (rural town) rheumatology telemedicine clinics during 2012 was undertaken. Control groups included patients travelling over 3 h to be seen face‐to‐face in Townsville (tertiary referral centre), and patients seen at the infrequent face‐to‐face clinic in Mount Isa. A 5‐point Likert scale was used to explore themes of communication, confidentiality, physical examination, rapport, medication safety and access.

Results

This study evaluated 107 rheumatology outpatients (49 telemedicine, 46 face‐to‐face Townsville, 12 face‐to‐face Mount Isa). Patients seen in Mount Isa travelled a median of < 10 km for either the telemedicine or local face‐to‐face appointments. The patients attending the Townsville face‐to‐face clinic travelled a median of 354 km. New patients comprised 14% of consultations. Satisfaction with themes related to quality‐of‐care was high with over 90% selecting ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ to these questions. Comparing models of care, there were no statistically significant differences in the rates of those selecting ‘strongly agree’ across questions, apart from a single question related to rapport which favored the Mount Isa face‐to‐face model (P = 0.018). When asked whether they would rather travel to Townsville than participate in a telemedicine consultation, 63% of patients selected ‘disagree’ (17%) or ‘strongly disagree’ (46%).

Conclusions

These results suggest that patients are satisfied with a rheumatology telemedicine service, and may prefer this to extensive travelling. Evaluation in other settings is recommended before generalizing this finding.
Bone scintigraphy in axial seronegative spondyloarthritis patients: role in detection of subclinical peripheral arthritis and disease activity
Authors: Gheita Tamer A. , Azkalany Ghada S. , Kenawy Sanaa A. , Kandeel Ahmed A.
Published: December 2014

Aim

To detect subclinical peripheral arthritis and disease activity in axial seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients using bone scintigraphy.

Methods

Seronegative SpA patients with an established diagnosis and no clinically evident arthritis at the time of the study were included. After excluding symptomatic cases, 20 patients were recruited; 18 with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and another two with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Conventional bone scintigraphy was performed to detect the distribution of increased uptake, blood vascular pool (vascularity) and activity.

Results

The peripheral joints in all the patients were asymptomatic with no signs of arthritis on clinical examination. Disease activity was higher in those with hypervascularity and activity (75%) detected by scintigraphy. Scintigraphic activity of the sacroiliac joints was found in 10 patients (50%) with a mean sacroiliac joint index of 2.4 ± 0.6. Subclinical involvement of the hips, knees, shoulders, ankles, small joints of the hands, ankles and sternoclavicular joints, as well as the small joints of the feet were detected with descending frequencies (25%, 25%, 20%, 20%, 15%, 10% and 10%, respectively). Dorsal spine increased uptake was found in 35% and hypervascularity of the skull in two cases. Avascular necrosis of the hip was present in one case with hypovascularity.

Conclusion

The spectrum of joint involvement in seronegative SpAs should not be limited to sacroiliitis. Bone scintigraphy provides a cost‐effective method for detecting the extent of involvement in this group of autoimmune systemic diseases (axial SpA) without clinical evidence of peripheral arthritis.