bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of integrin α6 expression by cell-free varicella-zoster virus
Authors: Bowles Joshua B. , Steain Megan , Slobedman Barry , Abendroth Allison
Published: May 2012

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox and shingles. VZV is released from infected cells during natural infection, but remains highly cell-associated during experimental infection, and so most studies have utilized cell-associated infection models. We examined the impact of cell-free VZV infection of primary human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) on the receptor integrin α6 (ITGA6). qPCR and flow cytometry demonstrated that both cell-free VZV and cell-free UV-inactivated VZV downregulated transcription and cell-surface protein expression of ITGA6. To establish whether ITGA6 altered VZV infection, VZV transcripts and nuclear DNA levels were measured in HFFs treated with ITGA6 blocking antibody before infection. ITGA6 blocking did not impair virus entry but did negatively impact VZV transcription, and this effect was virus specific as transcription of the related herpes simplex virus type 1 was not similarly inhibited. This study identifies modulation of ITGA6 during cell-free VZV infection, and provides the first evidence linking ITGA6 with post-entry productive VZV gene expression.
Nuclear localization of actin requires AC102 in Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus-infected cells
Authors: Gandhi Kamal M. , Ohkawa Taro , Welch Matthew D. , Volkman Loy E.
Published: May 2012

Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus requires nuclear actin for progeny virus production and thereby encodes viral products that ensure actin’s translocation to and retention within the nucleus. Current evidence suggests that the ie0–ie1 gene complex along with five nuclear localization of actin (NLA) genes are sufficient for NLA in transient transfection experiments. Here we report that, during infection, only one of the five NLA genes, Ac102, was essential for NLA, and that AC102 had at least one other activity critical for budded virus (BV) production. Viral deletion mutants in the other four NLA genes were viable, with only two having replication phenotypes different from that of the wild type. Infection with AcΔpe38 revealed a delay in both BV production and NLA. Infection with AcΔ152 revealed a delay in BV production, but no corresponding delay in NLA. Infection with either AcΔpe38 or AcΔ152 resulted in slightly reduced BV titres. Deletion of Ac004 or he65 had no impact on actin translocation kinetics, timing of BV production or BV titres. These results implicate AC102 as a key player in baculovirus manipulation of actin.
Two suppressors of RNA silencing encoded by cereal-infecting members of the family Luteoviridae
Authors: Liu Yan , Zhai Hao , Zhao Kun , Wu Beilei , Wang Xifeng
Published: May 2012

Several members of the family Luteoviridae are important pathogens of cultivated plant species of the family Gramineae. In this study, we explored RNA-silencing suppressors (RSSs) encoded by two cereal-infecting luteoviruses: barley yellow dwarf virus and wheat yellow dwarf virus (BYDV and WYDV, respectively). The P0 protein of WYDV-GPV (P0GPV) and the P6 protein of BYDV-GAV (P6GAV) displayed RSS activities when expressed in agro-infiltrated leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana, by their local ability to inhibit post-transcriptional gene silencing of GFP. Analysis of GFP, mRNA and GFP-specific small interfering RNA indicated that both P0GPV and P6GAV are suppressors of silencing that can restrain not only local but also systemic gene silencing. This is the first report of RSS activity of the P6 protein in a member of the genus Luteovirus.
SIL index, comprising stage, soluble interleukin‐2 receptor, and lactate dehydrogenase, is a useful prognostic predictor in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Tomita Naoto , Sakai Rika , Fujisawa Shin , Fujimaki Katsumichi , Taguchi Jun , Hashimoto Chizuko , Ogawa Koji , Yamazaki Etsuko , Ishigatsubo Yoshiaki
Published: May 2012

Rituximab (R) plus doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) chemotherapy (R‐CHOP) is widely accepted as standard care for diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. The revised International Prognostic Index (R‐IPI) was established in 2007 after the addition of rituximab to standard DLBCL treatment. To reassess the utility of R‐IPI, we carried out a retrospective analysis of patients with DLBCL uniformly treated with standard R‐CHOP. Progression‐free survival (PFS) curves in “very good” and “good” risk groups as defined by the R‐IPI showed no statistical difference. We added soluble interleukin‐2 receptor (sIL‐2R) level to the factors comprising the R‐IPI. Five levels of sIL‐2R were weighed with respect to their impact on PFS. sIL‐2R of >2500 U/mL was determined as the most appropriate threshold. We developed a new prognostic SIL index, which includes three independent prognostic risk factors: clinical stage (S); sIL‐2R level over 2500 U/mL (I); and elevated lactate dehydrogenase level (L). This index indicates standard risk (0 or 1 risk factors, 4‐year PFS 83%, 4‐year overall survival 91%) and high risk (2 or 3 risk factors, 4‐year PFS 52%, 4‐year overall survival 67%) outcomes. The SIL index is a simple and objective prognostic index for DLBCL patients to identify candidates for experimental therapy other than R‐CHOP. (Cancer Sci, doi: 10.1111/j.1349‐7006.2012.02331.x, 2012)
Meta‐analysis: IL28B polymorphisms predict sustained viral response in HCV patients treated with pegylated interferon‐α and ribavirin
Authors: Chen Y. , Xu H.‐X. , Wang L.‐J. , Liu X.‐X. , Mahato R. I. , Zhao Y.‐R.
Published: May 2012

Background

Interleukin (IL) 28B single nucleotide polymorphisms can predict sustained virological response (SVR) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients following pegylated interferon‐alpha (PEG IFN‐α) and ribavirin treatment.

Aim

To design a meta‐analysis to determine IL28B genotypes', rs12979860 CC and rs8099917 TT, correlation with SVR in PEG IFN‐α/ribavirin‐treated HCV patients.

Methods

Meta‐analysis was performed in 17 studies of rs12979860 CC vs. CT/TT and 17 of rs8099917 TT vs. TG/GG. Odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by fixed‐ or random‐effects models. Heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis and publication bias were also assessed.

Results

Of 4252 Asian, Caucasian and African HCV patients analysed for rs12979860, SVR was more frequent in CC (vs. CT/TT; OR = 4.76, 95% CI: 3.15–7.20). Moreover, CC was associated with SVR for HCV genotype‐1 or ‐4 infections (ORgenotype 1 = 5.52, 95% CI: 3.74–8.15; ORgenotype 4 = 8.11, 95% CI: 4.13–15.93), regardless of ethnicity. Of 4549 Caucasian and Asian HCV patients analysed for rs8099917, SVR was more frequent in TT (vs. TG/GG; OR = 3.31, 95% CI: 2.39–4.59). Moreover, TT was associated with SVR for HCV‐1 (ORgenotype 1 = 4.28, 95% CI: 2.87–6.38). Rs8099917 TT predictive value was stronger in Asians (ORAsians = 8.09, 95% CI: 5.63–11.61; ORCaucasians = 3.00, 95% CI: 2.03–4.45). Ethnicity stratification revealed that rs8099917 TT had slight predictive value in Asian HCV‐2/3 patients (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.09–3.62).

Conclusions

IL28B rs12979860 CC and rs8099917 TT are strong SVR predictors for PEG IFN‐α/ribavirin‐treated HCV‐1 patients, regardless of ethnicity. In HCV‐2/3, rs12979860 CC has no SVR predictive value, but rs8099917 TT was slightly associated with SVR in Asians.
What is the best management strategy for a 20‐year‐old woman with premature ovarian failure?
Authors: Davies Melanie C. , Cartwright Beth
Published: May 2012

The diagnosis of premature ovarian failure (POF) for a 20‐year‐old woman is devastating and will impact on many areas of her life. She deserves prompt confirmation of the diagnosis and accurate, honest information about the condition including the chances of conception and long‐term health issues. She should be offered investigation of aetiology, although this may be hard to establish, and assessment of associated medical conditions. Oestrogen replacement should be advised for long‐term use until the normal age of menopause, and she should be fully counselled on the benefits and risks of hormone replacement and her options of which preparation to take. Long‐term follow‐up is needed, and this is likely to require multidisciplinary input, including that from a gynaecologist, clinical psychologist and fertility team. POF may not be the appropriate terminology for this condition. Ovarian function often fluctuates in young women with POF, who may continue to menstruate occasionally and even conceive spontaneously. In view of this unpredictability, ‘premature ovarian insufficiency’ is a better description of the condition and carries a less negative connotation than ‘ovarian failure’ which can cause great distress. We recommend that the condition is termed ‘premature ovarian insufficiency’ (Clinical Endocrinology 2008;68:499).
Bile duct expression of pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 in perihilar cholangiocarcinogenesis
Authors: Igarashi Saya , Matsubara Takashi , Harada Kenichi , Ikeda Hiroko , Sato Yasunori , Sasaki Motoko , Matsui Osamu , Nakanuma Yasuni
Published: May 2012

Igarashi S, Matsubara T, Harada K, Ikeda H, Sato Y, Sasaki M, Matsui O & Nakanuma Y  (2012) Histopathology 61, 266–276

Bile duct expression of pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 in perihilar cholangiocarcinogenesis

Aims:  Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1) is a transcription factor that is crucial in embryogenic development and differentiation of pancreas, and its overexpression is reportedly involved in the progression of many malignancies, including pancreatic carcinoma. In this study, the role of Pdx1 was examined in cholangiocarcinogenesis.

Methods and results:  Forty‐three cases of human cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and 66 cases of hepatolithiasis or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) with biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN) lesions and also eight fetal and 20 adult normal livers were examined immunohistochemically. Pdx1 was constantly expressed in the nuclei of fetal bile ducts, but was virtually absent in the large bile ducts of adults. By contrast, Hairy and enhancer of split 1 (Hes1), which represses pancreatic exocrine and endocrine differentiation, was expressed frequently in the adult bile ducts. Pdx1 was expressed in 67% of invasive CCs. In large bile ducts, expression of Pdx1 increased while that of Hes1 decreased during the progression of BilIN lesions to CC. Expression of Pdx1 correlated with proliferative activities in CCs. In an in vitro study, all three CC cell lines expressed Pdx1 mRNA and protein.

Conclusion:  Up‐regulation of Pdx1 is a feature of cholangiocarcinogenesis associated with chronic cholangitis. Furthermore, expression of Pdx1 in CC is related to increased proliferative activity in CCs.
Lymphatic vessel density in primary melanomas predicts sentinel lymph node status and risk of metastasis
Authors: Shayan Ramin , Karnezis Tara , Murali Rajmohan , Wilmott James S , Ashton Mark W , Taylor G Ian , Thompson John F , Hersey Peter , Achen Marc G , Scolyer Richard A , Stacker Steven A
Published: May 2012

Shayan R, Karnezis T, Murali R, Wilmott J S, Ashton M W, Taylor G I, Thompson J F, Hersey P, Achen M G, Scolyer R A & Stacker S A  (2012) Histopathology 61, 702–710

Lymphatic vessel density in primary melanomas predicts sentinel lymph node status and risk of metastasis

Aims:  Important prognostic factors in patients with cutaneous melanoma include primary tumour thickness/depth of invasion, ulceration and mitotic rate, and the presence of tumour cells in regional lymph nodes. More recently, features of stromal components, such as blood and lymphatic vessel density, have been suggested as additional indicators of metastatic potential. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between tumour lymphatic vessels and lymph node metastasis.

Methods and results:  Metastasizing (n = 11) and non‐metastasizing (n = 11) primary melanoma samples matched for depth/thickness, mitotic rate and ulceration were examined for lymphatic vessel density (LVD) in the primary tumour, using an antibody to podoplanin. Significant differences were found between LVD (vessels/unit area) in the peripheral (5.73 ± 0.67) versus central (1.72 ± 0.42) regions of the metastasizing tumour group (P < 0.001), and between LVD in the peripheral areas of metastasizing (5.73 ± 0.67) versus non‐metastasizing (4.21 ± 0.37) tumours (P < 0.01). No overall difference was found between total average LVD in the two tumour groups or between their vessel morphology.

Conclusions:  Our results show that LVD is associated with risk of lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, the ratio of peripheral LVD:central LVD is a useful marker of primary melanomas that are likely to metastasize to lymph nodes.
Technology‐driven dietary assessment: a software developer’s perspective
Authors: Buday R. , Tapia R. , Maze G. R.
Published: May 2012

Dietary researchers need new software to improve nutrition data collection and analysis, although the creation of information technology is difficult. Software development projects may be unsuccessful as a result of an inadequate understanding of needs, management problems, technology barriers or legal hurdles. Cost over‐runs and schedule delays are common. Barriers facing scientific researchers developing software include workflow, cost, schedule and team issues. Different methods of software development and the role that intellectual property rights play are discussed. A dietary researcher must carefully consider multiple issues to maximise the likelihood of success when creating new software.
Tales of tethers and tentacles: golgins in plants
Authors: OSTERRIEDER A.
Published: May 2012

As plant Golgi bodies move through the cell along the actin cytoskeleton, they face the need to maintain their polarized stack structure whilst receiving, processing and distributing protein cargo destined for secretion. Structural proteins, or Golgi matrix proteins, help to hold cisternae together and tethering factors direct cargo carriers to the correct target membranes. This review focuses on golgins, a protein family containing long coiled‐coil regions, summarizes their known functions in animal cells and highlights recent findings about plant golgins and their putative roles in the plant secretory pathway.
A service user‐initiated project investigating the attitudes of mental health staff towards clients and services in an acute mental health unit
Authors: TYSON P. J.
Published: May 2012

Accessible summary

Mental Health Service users should play an important part in research.

This study stemmed from the idea of a group of service users who wanted to understand the attitudes of mental health staff towards them.

A questionnaire was used to look at staff attitudes, and mainly positive opinions were found.

Research in mental health can benefit greatly from more inclusion of mental health service users.

Mental Health Service Users (MHSU) are becoming increasingly recognized as very valuable contributors to the research process. The current study originated from the idea of a group of MHSU within a service user and carer research group. They wanted to investigate the attitudes of mental health staff towards clients in an acute mental health setting, as well as their attitudes towards certain aspects of service. An amended version of the ‘Attitudes Towards Acute Mental Health Scale’ was sent to nursing and allied staff at an acute psychiatric unit within the Gloucestershire 2gether NHS Foundation Trust. Fifty‐seven of the 200 anonymous questionnaires were returned. Generally positive opinions of MHSU were obtained, but there were divided opinions on questions regarding the aetiology of mental health problems (e.g. social vs. genetic determinants). Opinions on aspects of the admissions process, therapeutic aspects of care, the use of medication and the use of control and restraint techniques were also obtained. Demographic variables of staff age, status and years of experience in mental health were found to be associated with attitudes and opinions. This MHSU‐initiated study has extended the literature on mental health staff attitudes towards clients and services in an acute mental health setting. This study is split into two parts, Part A is focused on the process of involving MHSU in this project, Part B is concerned with the empirical investigation.
Processing by rhomboid protease is required for Providencia stuartii TatA to interact with TatC and to form functional homo‐oligomeric complexes
Authors: Fritsch Maximilian J. , Krehenbrink Martin , Tarry Michael J. , Berks Ben C. , Palmer Tracy
Published: May 2012

The twin arginine transport (Tat) system transports folded proteins across the prokaryotic cytoplasmic membrane and the plant thylakoid membrane. In Escherichia coli three membrane proteins, TatA, TatB and TatC, are essential components of the machinery. TatA from Providencia stuartii is homologous to E. coli TatA but is synthesized as an inactive pre‐protein with an N‐terminal extension of eight amino acids. Removal of this extension by the rhomboid protease AarA is required to activate P. stuartii TatA. Here we show that P. stuartii TatA can functionally substitute for E. coli TatA provided that the E. coli homologue of AarA, GlpG, is present. The oligomerization state of the P. stuartii TatA pro‐protein was compared with that of the proteolytically activated protein and with E. coli TatA. The pro‐protein still formed small homo‐oligomers but cannot form large TatBC‐dependent assemblies. In the absence of TatB, E. coli TatA or the processed form of P. stuartii TatA form a complex with TatC. However, this complex is not observed with the pro‐form of P. stuartii TatA. Taken together our results suggest that the P. stuartii TatA pro‐protein is inactive because it is unable to interact with TatC and cannot form the large TatA complexes required for transport.
Nutritional Factors and Hypospadias Risks
Authors: Carmichael Suzan L. , Ma Chen , Feldkamp Marcia L. , Munger Ronald G. , Olney Richard S. , Botto Lorenzo D. , Shaw Gary M. , Correa Adolfo
Published: May 2012

Carmichael SL, Ma C, Feldkamp ML, Munger RG, Olney RS, Botto LD, Shaw GM, Correa A. Nutritional factors and hypospadias risks. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012; ••: ••–••.

Background:  We examined whether hypospadias was associated with several aspects of the diet, including intake of animal products, intake of several nutrients and food groups related to a vegetarian diet and oestrogen metabolism, and diet quality.

Methods:  The study included deliveries from 1997 to 2005 that were part of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Diet was assessed by food frequency questionnaire during maternal telephone interviews, and two diet quality indices were developed based on existing indices. Analyses included 1250 cases with second‐ or third‐degree hypospadias (urethra opened at the penile shaft, scrotum or perineum) and 3118 male, liveborn, non‐malformed controls. All odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals [CI] were estimated from logistic regression models that included several potential confounders, including energy intake.

Results:  Intake of animal products was not associated with hypospadias; for example, the adjusted OR for any vs. no intake of meat was 1.0 [95% CI 0.6, 1.6]. Frequency of intake of meat or other animal products was also not associated with hypospadias, nor was intake of iron or several nutrients that are potentially related to oestrogen metabolism. Diet quality was also not associated with hypospadias; the OR for diet quality in the highest vs. lowest quartile for the two diet quality indices were 1.0 [95% CI 0.6, 1.6] and 0.9 [95% CI 0.7, 1.1].

Conclusion:  This large study does not support an association of a vegetarian diet or worse diet quality with hypospadias.
Hrip1, a novel protein elicitor from necrotrophic fungus, Alternaria tenuissima, elicits cell death, expression of defence‐related genes and systemic acquired resistance in tobacco
Authors: KULYE MAHESH , LIU HUA , ZHANG YULIANG , ZENG HONGMEI , YANG XIUFEN , QIU DEWEN
Published: May 2012

Here, we report the identification, purification, characterization and gene cloning of a novel hypersensitive response inducing protein secreted by necrotrophic fungus, Alternaria tenuissima, designated as hypersensitive response inducing protein 1 (Hrip1). The protein caused the formation of necrotic lesions that mimic a typical hypersensitive response and apoptosis‐related events including DNA laddering. The protein‐encoding gene was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The sequence analysis revealed that the cDNA is 495 bp in length and the open reading frame (ORF) encodes for a polypeptide of 163 amino acids with theoretical pI of 5.50 and molecular weight of 17 562.5 Da. Hrip1 induced calcium influx, medium alkalinization, activation of salicylic acid‐induced protein kinase and several defence‐related genes after infiltration in tobacco leaves. Cellular damage, restricted to the infiltrated zone, occurred only several hours later, at a time when expression of defence‐related genes was activated. After several days, systemic acquired resistance was also induced. The tobacco plant cells that perceived the Hrip1 generated a cascade of signals acting at local, short, and long distances, and caused the coordinated expression of specific defence responses in a way similar to hypersensitivity to tobacco mosaic virus. Thus, Hrip1 represents a powerful tool to investigate further the signals and their transduction pathways involved in induced disease resistance in necrotrophic fungi.
MHC genotype predicts mate choice in the ring‐necked pheasantPhasianus colchicus
Authors: BARATTI M. , DESSÌ‐FULGHERI F. , AMBROSINI R. , BONISOLI‐ALQUATI A. , CAPRIOLI M. , GOTI E. , MATTEO A. , MONNANNI R. , RAGIONIERI L. , RISTORI E. , ROMANO M. , RUBOLINI D. , SCIALPI A. , SAINO N.
Published: May 2012

Females of several vertebrate species selectively mate with males on the basis of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. As androgen‐mediated maternal effects have long‐lasting consequences for the adult phenotype, both mating and reproductive success may depend on the combined effect of MHC genotype and exposure to androgens during early ontogeny. We studied how MHC‐based mate choice in ring‐necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) was influenced by an experimentalin ovotestosterone (T) increase. There was no conclusive evidence ofin ovoT treatment differentially affecting mate choice in relation to MHC genotype. However, females avoided mating with males with a wholly different MHC genotype compared with males sharing at least one MHC allele. Females also tended to avoid mating with MHC‐identical males, though not significantly so. These findings suggest that female pheasants preferred males with intermediate MHC dissimilarity. Male MHC heterozygosity or diversity did not predict the expression of ornaments or male dominance rank. Thus, MHC‐based mating preferences in the ring‐necked pheasant do not seem to be mediated by ornaments’ expression and may have evolved mainly to reduce the costs of high heterozygosity at MHC loci for the progeny, such as increased risk of autoimmune diseases or disruption of coadapted gene pools.
Stability in Activity and Boldness Across Time and Context in Captive Siberian Dwarf Hamsters
Authors: Kanda L. Leann , Louon Laura , Straley Katherine
Published: May 2012

Individual personality is an important source of variation in animal behavior. However, few studies have examined the reliability of individual behaviors across both time and context for even common temperament traits such as boldness, especially in mammals. We tested a laboratory colony of Siberian dwarf hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) in two similar assays, a tunnel maze and an open field, both provisioned with a home nestbox for shelter. Animals were tested in each assay at three ages, beginning at weaning. Principal components analysis on each assay identified an axis of activity level in both tests, boldness and reactivity in the tunnel maze, and nestbox orientation in the open field. All traits were moderately (7–18%) heritable. Individual activity level was the most reliably consistent trait, both within and between tests. Tunnel maze boldness, tunnel maze reactivity, and open field nestbox orientation did not correlate at any age. Correlation between boldness and activity changes from positive to negative as animals age, while reactivity was consistently negatively associated with activity. A negative correlation emerged in adults between open field activity and nestbox orientation. These results suggest that either development or habituation results in different personality trait associations in an individual over time. Individual temperament traits such as general activity level may be quite stable, but caution should be used in generalizing single assays to represent boldness across time and across contexts.
An Experimental Study of Chick Provisioning in the Cooperatively Breeding Acorn Woodpecker
Authors: Koenig Walter D. , Walters Eric L.
Published: May 2012

Acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) are cooperative breeders in which groups consist of a variable number of cobreeding males, joint‐nesting females, and non‐breeding helpers of both sexes that are offspring from prior nests. We temporarily manipulated brood size of nests to determine the feeding response of birds in relation to their status (breeder or non‐breeding helper) and sex. All categories of birds responded similarly to brood size increases, adjusting their feeding rate upwards so as to maintain approximately the same per‐nestling feeding rate. Breeders, however, exhibited more flexibility with respect to brood size reductions, decreasing their feeding rate while helpers did not. This suggests that the ‘feeding rules’ of helpers are less flexible than those of breeders, a result not previously detected in other cooperative breeders that have been studied to date. Particularly surprising was the finding that helpers maintain their feeding rates when brood demand is decreased rather than when it was increased, suggesting that the flexibility they exhibit is not a result of birds using the opportunity afforded by reduced brood demand to engage in other less cooperative activities.
Less Chlorophyll Does not Necessarily Restrain Light Capture Ability and Photosynthesis in a Chlorophyll‐Deficient Rice Mutant
Authors: Li Y. , Ren B. , Gao L. , Ding L. , Jiang D. , Xu X. , Shen Q. , Guo S.
Published: May 2012

A chlorophyll‐deficient rice mutant, yellow‐green leaf 1 (ygl1), with a photosynthetic rate similar to that of wild type (Oryza sativa L., cv. Zhenhui 249 China) is presented in this study. Forty percent of the chlorophyll in the mutant captured 70 % of the light in photosystem II (PSII) compared with wild type. The 30 % decreased light in the mutant was compensated for by a relatively higher quantum yield of PSII, which conferred a total electron transport rate (JT) equal to that in wild type. More photons were absorbed by wild type and exhausted through thermal dissipation. Gene expression analysis of the thylakoid membrane showed that the chlorophyll deficiency in the mutant did not impair the electron transport chain. To determine why the photosynthetic rate was similar between the chlorophyll‐deficient mutant and wild type, the leaf nitrogen (N) and Rubisco contents, stomatal and mesophyll CO2 conductance, and chloroplast development were investigated. Our results indicate that the chlorophyll deficiency in the mutant had no negative impact on the chloroplast development in terms of size and grana stacking; moreover, the chloroplastic CO2 concentration and Rubisco content were comparable to those in wild type. We conclude that the light‐capturing ability of normal rice plants is not fully utilized and that absorbed light in the chlorophyll‐deficient mutant is more efficient in participating photosynthesis.
Detection and Identification of 16SrII Group Phytoplasmas Infecting Stylosanthes in China
Authors: Che Haiyan , Li Zhengnan , Zhang Lei , Wu Yunfeng , Luo Daquan
Published: May 2012

In July 2008, Stylosanthes guianensis with witches’‐broom symptoms and Stylosanthes capitata with yellows symptoms were observed in Hainan Province, China. From the symptomatic S. guianensis, the phytoplasma‐specific 16S rRNA gene fragment of 1.4 kb was amplified by a direct PCR, and a fragment of 16S rRNA gene of 1.2 kb was obtained from the symptomatic Stylosanthes capitata by a nested PCR. Sequencing results and NCBI BLASTn analysis showed that the two phytoplasmas belonged to group 16SrII. Polygenetic analysis and virtual RFLP classified the two phytoplasmas into subgroup 16SrII‐A.
Configurations of power relations in the Brazilian emergency care system: analyzing a context of visible practices
Authors: Velloso Isabela , Ceci Christine , Alves Marilia
Published: May 2012

In this paper, we make explicit the changing configurations of power relations that currently characterize the Brazilian Emergency Care System (SAMU) team in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The SAMU is a recent innovation in Brazilian healthcare service delivery. A qualitative case study methodology was used to explore SAMU’s current organizational arrangements, specifically the power relations that have developed and that demonstrate internal team struggles over space and defense of particular occupational interests. The argument advanced in this paper is that these professionals are developing their work in conditions of exposure, that is, they are always being observed by someone, and that such observational exposure provides the conditions whereby everyday emergency care practices are enacted such that practice is shaped by, as well as shapes, particular, yet recognizable power relationships. Data were collected through the observation of the SAMU’s work processes and through semi‐structured interviews. Research materials were analyzed using discourse analysis. In the emergency care process of work, visibility is actually embedded in the disciplinary context and can thus be analyzed as a technique applied to produce disciplined individuals through the simple mechanisms elaborated by Foucault such as hierarchical surveillance, normalizing judgment, and the examination.
Nomograms to predict the pathological stage of clinically localized prostate cancer in Korean men: Comparison with Western predictive tools using decision curve analysis
Authors: Jeong Chang Wook , Jeong Seong Jin , Hong Sung Kyu , Lee Seung Bae , Ku Ja Hyeon , Byun Seok‐Soo , Jeong Hyeon , Kwak Cheol , Kim Hyeon Hoe , Lee Eunsik , Lee Sang Eun
Published: May 2012

Objectives:  To develop and evaluate nomograms to predict the pathological stage of clinically localized prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy in Korean men.

Methods:  We reviewed the medical records of 2041 patients who had clinical stages T1c–T3a prostate cancer and were treated solely with radical prostatectomy at two hospitals. Logistic regressions were carried out to predict organ‐confined disease, extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion, and lymph node metastasis using preoperative variables and resulting nomograms. Internal validations were assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration plot, and then external validations were carried out on 129 patients from another hospital. Head‐to‐head comparisons with 2007 Partin tables and Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment score were carried out using the area under the curve and decision curve analysis.

Results:  The significant predictors for organ‐confined disease and extraprostatic extension were clinical stage, prostate‐specific antigen, Gleason score and a percent positive core of biopsy. Significant predictors for seminal vesicle invasion were prostate‐specific antigen, Gleason score and percent positive core, and those for lymph node metastasis were prostate‐specific antigen and percent positive core. The area under the curve of established nomograms for organ‐confined disease, extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion and lymph node metastasis were 0.809, 0.804, 0.889 and 0.838, respectively. The nomograms were well calibrated and externally validated. These nomograms showed significantly higher accuracies and net benefits than two Western tools in Korean men.

Conclusion:  This is the first study to have developed and fully validated nomograms to predict the pathological stage of prostate cancer in an Asian population. These nomograms might be more accurate and useful for Korean men than other predictive models developed using Western populations.
Importance of matrix permeability and quantity of core habitat for persistence of a threatened saltmarsh bird
Authors: ASHCROFT MICHAEL B. , MAJOR RICHARD E.
Published: May 2012

Species habitat preferences can be obscured when individuals have been recorded in non‐core habitats because of dispersal, spillover effects or spatial errors in observation locations. Disentangling the direct effects of the habitats species are observed in from the effects of proximity to other nearby habitats is especially challenging in fragmented landscapes, as many fragmentation metrics are correlated and it is difficult to prove independent effects. In this paper we addressed this issue by comparing a number of models based on predefined ecological theories. We compared models based on quantity of core habitat surrounding observations, proximity to core habitat, or a combination of the two to explain the observed distribution of the saltmarsh inhabiting white‐fronted chat (Epthianura albifrons) in coastal New South Wales, Australia. Proximity to core habitat was considered as either Euclidean distance or cost distance, and models were assessed using Akaike's information criterion and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve on 10 random subsets of the data. We found that all models performed similarly, with the combination of cost distance and the quantity of saltmarsh performing better, but not significantly so. We compared the advantages and disadvantages of different models and also present a model averaged result. Our models suggested that the majority of saltmarshes in New South Wales were too small to have a large effect on probability of occurrence. As climate change is expected to further reduce the amount of available saltmarsh through continued mangrove incursion, coastal populations of the white‐fronted chat are expected to come under increasing threat. The conversion of grasslands to urban areas may also increase the effective distance between different populations of the species and reduce gene flow and rescue effects.
Sentence repetition in children with specific language impairment: an investigation of underlying mechanisms
Authors: Riches Nick G.
Published: May 2012

Background: Sentence repetition (SR) is a reliable clinical marker of specific language impairment (SLI). However, little is known about cognitive processes underpinning SR, or areas of breakdown in children with SLI.

Aims: The study investigated which cognitive mechanisms were most closely involved in SR performance: syntactic knowledge, phonological short‐term memory (STM) and working memory (WM).

Methods & Procedures: Twenty‐three children with SLI (mean age = 6;7), 18 age‐matched (mean age = 6;5) and 21 language‐matched children (mean age = 4;8) repeated 180 sentences of varying length and complexity. Total words omitted, added or substituted were counted. Assessments of syntactic knowledge using a structural priming task, and assessments of WM, and phonological STM, were conducted. Twenty sentences were presented in a delayed repetition condition to investigate the role of phonological STM.

Outcomes & Results: The children with SLI made more SR errors than controls and found delayed repetition especially difficult. Their SR errors were qualitatively similar to errors on other production tasks. In the SLI group, all assessments were good predictors, though the priming task was the strongest. In the control groups WM tasks were the best predictors, but the phonological STM task was a poor predictor.

Conclusions & Implications: The data support a multifaceted view of SR with a role for syntactic knowledge, WM and STM. ‘Redintegration’, whereby long‐term memory representations are used to maintain information in short‐term memory, is likely to be a key process. Specific errors in the SLI group are likely to reflect difficulties with underlying syntactic representations. Children with SLI may be more dependent on phonological STM than typically developing children.
Formerly known as inhibitory: effects of 1‐Hz rTMS on auditory cortex are state‐dependent
Authors: Weisz Nathan , Steidle Laura , Lorenz Isabel
Published: May 2012

The major repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) paradigm applied to the treatment of tinnitus has been the 1‐Hz variant due to its alleged inhibitory effects. Clinical effects have, however, been hampered by great interindividual variability as well as the fact that TMS includes no explicit mechanism to modulate excitability in circumscribed regions of tonotopically organised auditory fields. Following studies showing that the effect of TMS depends on the activational state preceding the stimulation, participants were exposed to 10 min of either notch‐ or bandpass‐filtered noise prior to 1‐Hz rTMS applied to the left auditory cortex. A control group was additionally assessed using bandpass noise – albeit with subsequent sham stimulation – to assess whether effects were due to the differential sounds alone or to a genuine interaction between sound and rTMS. Electroencephalogram was recorded from 128 electrodes before and after the experimental treatment while participants performed an auditory intensity discrimination task. While state‐dependency effects from the behavioural data are not conclusive, several condition × (sound) frequency effects (some specific to the stimulated side) could be observed. Importantly, many of these could not be explained by the use of rTMS or the filtered noise alone. The resulting patterns are, however, complex and temporally variable, which currently prohibits recommendations on how to design a clinically effective approach to treat tinnitus. Nevertheless, our study gives the first evidence that state‐dependency principles can induce sound frequency‐specific effects in the auditory cortex, providing a crucial proof‐of‐principle upon which future studies can build.
Inhibitory effects of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, tadalafil, on mechanosensitive bladder afferent nerve activities of the rat, and on acrolein‐induced hyperactivity of these nerves
Authors: Minagawa Tomonori , Aizawa Naoki , Igawa Yasuhiko , Wyndaele Jean‐Jacques
Published: May 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, might be effective for not only erectile dysfunction but also lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

One of the mechanisms of tadalafil on LUTS is added in the study.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, decreases afferent nerve activity from the bladder with and without chemical stimulation by intravesical acrolein instillation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Female Sprague‐Dawley rats were used. Under urethane anaesthesia, single afferent fibres of the nerve primarily originating from the bladder were identified by electrical stimulation of the pelvic nerve and by bladder distension, and classified by conduction velocity as Aδ‐ or C‐fibres. After measuring the baseline single afferent activities (SAA) during constant filling, two experiments were performed.

First, tadalafil was administrated intravenously (i.v.) at three doses, 0.01, 0.03 and 0.1 mg/kg cumulatively and SAA were repeatedly studied after each administration.

Second, in the presence of vehicle or tadalafil (0.1 mg/kg) i.v., the effect of intravesical instillation of acrolein (0.003%) was studied.

RESULTS

In all, 39 single units were isolated (Aδ‐fibres 21; C‐fibres, 18) in 25 rats.

Tadalafil dose‐dependently decreased SAA of both Aδ‐ and C‐fibres during saline instillation. Intravesical acrolein facilitated SAA of both fibres after vehicle administration.

Pretreatment with tadalafil significantly inhibited the acrolein‐induced hyperactivity of both fibres.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows, using selective unifibre potential measurement, that systemic administration of tadalafil reduces mechanosensitive afferent activities of both Aδ‐ and C‐fibres elicited by bladder distension in the rat, and also that tadalafil has an inhibitory effect on the increased activities of both fibres induced by intravesical acrolein instillation.
Fasting, Ramadan and Diabetes
Authors: Hitman G. A.
Published: May 2012

Diabet. Med. 29, 695 (2012)
Belief attribution in deaf and hearing infants
Authors: Meristo Marek , Morgan Gary , Geraci Alessandra , Iozzi Laura , Hjelmquist Erland , Surian Luca , Siegal Michael
Published: May 2012

Based on anticipatory looking and reactions to violations of expected events, infants have been credited with ‘theory of mind’ (ToM) knowledge that a person’s search behaviour for an object will be guided by true or false beliefs about the object’s location. However, little is known about the preconditions for looking patterns consistent with belief attribution in infants. In this study, we compared the performance of 17‐ to 26‐month‐olds on anticipatory looking in ToM tasks. The infants were either hearing or were deaf from hearing families and thus delayed in communicative experience gained from access to language and conversational input. Hearing infants significantly outperformed their deaf counterparts in anticipating the search actions of a cartoon character that held a false belief about a target‐object location. By contrast, the performance of the two groups in a true belief condition did not differ significantly. These findings suggest for the first time that access to language and conversational input contributes to early ToM reasoning.
Combining an Angle Criterion with Voxelization and the Flying Voxel Method in Reconstructing Building Models from LiDAR Data
Authors: Truong‐Hong Linh , Laefer Debra F. , Hinks Tommy , Carr Hamish
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  Traditional documentation capabilities of laser scanning technology can be further exploited for urban modeling through the transformation of resulting point clouds into solid models compatible for computational analysis. This article introduces such a technique through the combination of an angle criterion and voxelization. As part of that, a k‐nearest neighbor (kNN) searching algorithm is implemented using a predefined number of kNN points combined with a maximum radius of the neighborhood, something not previously implemented. From this sample, points are categorized as boundary or interior points based on an angle criterion. Façade features are determined based on underlying vertical and horizontal grid voxels of the feature boundaries by a grid clustering technique. The complete building model involving all full voxels is generated by employing the Flying Voxel method to relabel voxels that are inside openings or outside the façade as empty voxels. Experimental results on three different buildings, using four distinct sampling densities showed successful detection of all openings, reconstruction of all building façades, and automatic filling of all improper holes. The maximum nodal displacement divergence was 1.6% compared to manually generated meshes from measured drawings. This fully automated approach rivals processing times of other techniques with the distinct advantage of extracting more boundary points, especially in less dense data sets (<175 points/m2), which may enable its more rapid exploitation of aerial laser scanning data and ultimately preclude needing a priori knowledge.
Using orthogonal trend contrasts for testing ranked data with ordered alternatives
Authors: Thas O. , Best D. J. , Rayner J. C. W.
Published: May 2012

In the analysis of variance (Anova) the use of orthogonal contrasts is quite common and is a traditional topic in many basic Anova courses. Similar ideas apply to rank tests. In this paper we present a simple and general method that allows an orthogonal contrast decomposition of rank test statistics such as the Kruskal‐Wallis, Friedman and Durbin statistics. The components of the test statistics are informative, particularly when ordered alternatives are of interest. The method can handle ties, and null distributions are readily available. Most of the methods are not new, but the way we present them is. Moreover, our formulation makes it easier to better understand and interpret the tests when the traditional location‐shift assumption does not hold. The methods are illustrated using several data sets.
Responses to Dutch‐accented English
Authors: NEJJARI WARDA , GERRITSEN MARINEL , VAN DER HAAGEN MONIQUE , KORZILIUS HUBERT
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT:  This paper reports on a study into the reactions of ‘native’ speakers of British English to Dutch‐English pronunciations in the onset of a telephone sales talk. In an experiment 144 highly educated British professionals who were either familiar or not familiar with Dutch‐accented English responded to a slight Dutch English accent, a moderate Dutch English accent or a ‘Standard British English accent’ (BrE). These accents were rated on the personality traits status and affect, on their intelligibility (orthographic transcription), comprehensibility (identification of key words), and interpretability (paraphrasing the purpose of the message). Although British English was more intelligible and comprehensible than both Dutch English accents, all three accents were equally interpretable. The results indicated that a British English pronunciation evoked more status than both Dutch English accents, and both British English and the slight Dutch English accent commanded more affect than the moderate Dutch English accent.
AGGREGATE LABOUR MARKET DYNAMICS IN HONG KONG
Authors: LUBIK THOMAS A.
Published: May 2012

I specify a simple search and matching model of the labour market and estimate it on unemployment and vacancy data for Hong Kong over the period 2000–2010 using Bayesian methods. The model fits the data remarkably well. The estimation shows that productivity shocks are the main driver of fluctuations in the labour market, with cyclical movements in the separation rate playing only a subordinate role. The parameter estimates are broadly consistent with those found in the literature. To replicate the volatility of unemployment and vacancies, the model estimates require a high replacement ratio and a low bargaining power for workers, in addition to two extraneous sources of uncertainty. The estimates are robust to a relaxation of the prior information and small changes in the underlying model specification, which suggests that the data are informative and that the model is well specified. Overall, the Hong Kong labour market can be characterized by having a low degree of churning in normal times, but rapid firings and hirings in recessions and expansions.
MACROECONOMIC VOLATILITY AND COUNTERFACTUAL INFLATION‐TARGETING IN HONG KONG
Authors: LIM G. C. , MCNELIS PAUL D.
Published: May 2012

The present paper evaluates macroeconomic adjustment in Hong Kong with an estimated dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model under a fixed exchange rate regime. We find that exports and world inflation shocks are the dominant sources of GDP volatility, with the risk premium taking on importance during the Asian crisis after 1997. A counterfactual simulation, assuming a flexible exchange rate regime with inflation targeting, shows that inflation would have decreased slightly, but interest‐rate volatility would have increased significantly. The welfare gains from switching out of the currency board system appear to be marginal.