bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Religious fundamentalism: a conceptual critique
Authors: McDONOUGH RICHARD
Published: February 2013

The article argues that religious fundamentalism, understood, roughly, as the view that people must obey God's commands unconditionally, is conceptually incoherent because such religious fundamentalists inevitably must substitute human judgement for God's judgement. The article argues, first, that fundamentalism, founded upon the normal sort of indirect communications from God, is indefensible. Second, the article considers the crucial case in which God is said to communicate directly to human beings, and argues that the fundamentalist interpretation of such communications is also incoherent, and, on this basis, argues that religious fundamentalism is actually an extreme form of irreligiousness. Finally, the article considers Kierkegaard's prima facie defence of unconditional religious faith, and argues that, despite some similarity with the fundamentalists, Kierkegaard's appreciation of human finitude leads him to a profoundly anti-fundamentalist stance.
Local conical dimensions for measures
Authors: FENG DE–JUN , KÄENMÄKI ANTTI , SUOMALA VILLE
Published: February 2013

We study the decay of μ(B(x,r)∩C)/μ(B(x,r)) asr↓ 0 for different kinds of measures μ on ℝnand various conesCaroundx. As an application, we provide sufficient conditions that imply that the local dimensions can be calculated via cones almost everywhere.
Local identification of spherical buildings and finite simple groups of Lie type
Authors: MEIERFRANKENFELD ULRICH , STROTH GERNOT , WEISS RICHARD M.
Published: February 2013

We give a short proof of the uniqueness of finite spherical buildings of rank at least 3 in terms of the structure of the rank 2 residues and use this result to prove a result making it possible to identify an arbitrary finite group of Lie type from knowledge of its “parabolic structure” alone. Our proof also involves a connection between loops, “Latin chamber systems” and buildings.
EDITORIAL
Authors: Lees Christoph
Published: February 2013

I thank Steve Robson and his team of Editors for their very hard work over the previous years in establishing Fetal and Maternal Medicine Review (FMMR) as a reference point for authoritative reviews in the field of perinatology. I am delighted that Steve is staying on as an Associate Editor, and am very pleased to welcome Professor Neil Sebire (UK) and Professor Jimmy Espinoza (USA) as Associate Editors for 2013 issues onwards. Amanda Johns has taken over from Jean Birtles in the Editorial Office and can be contacted by email at fmr_editorial_office@cambridge.org.
Spinal surgery in the univentricular heart – is it viable?
Authors: Pérez-Caballero Macarrón C. , Sobrino Ruiz E. , Burgos Flores J. , Vázquez Martínez JL. , Coca Pérez A. , Álvarez Rojas E. , Sánchez Ruas JJ.
Published: February 2013

Introduction

The management of patients with Fontan physiology who undergo scoliosis surgery is difficult. The purpose of this article was to describe our experience in the management of patients with Fontan circulation undergoing spinal surgery for correction of scoliosis.

Materials and methods

This was a retrospective study including patients with Fontan physiology who underwent spinal orthopaedic surgery. Anaesthetic management, post-operative complications, paediatric intensive care unit and total hospital stay, and the need for blood transfusions were analysed.

Results

We identified eight children with Fontan physiology who had undergone spinal surgery from 2000 to 2010. All patients were receiving cardiac medications at the time of spinal surgery. The mean age at surgery was 14.8 years (range 12–21). In all, three patients needed inotropic support with dopamine (3, 5, and 8 μg/kg/min), which was started during surgery. During the immediate post-operative period, one patient died because of hypovolaemic shock caused by massive bleeding and dysrythmia. Mean blood loss during the post-operative period was 22.2 cc/kg (7.8–44.6). Surgical drainages were maintained for a mean time of 3 days (range 1–7). The mean hospital stay was 9.2 days (range 6–19). Pleural effusions developed in two patients. On follow-up, one patient presented with thoracic pseudarthrosis and another with a serohaematoma of the surgical wound.

Conclusions

Spinal surgery in patients with Fontan circulation is a high-risk operation. These patients must be managed by a specialised team.
Ambulance Need at Mass Gatherings
Authors: Meites Elissa , Brown John F.
Published: February 2013

Introduction:

Scant evidence exists to guide policy-making around public health needs during mass gatherings. In 2006, the City and County of San Francisco began requiring standby ambulances at all mass gatherings with attendance of >15,500 people. The objectives were to evaluate needs for ambulances at mass gatherings, and to make evidence-based recommendations for public health policy-makers. The hypothesis was that the needs for ambulances at mass gatherings can be estimated using community baseline data.

Methods:

Emergency medical services plans were reviewed for all public events with an anticipated attendance of >1,000 people in San Francisco County during the 12-month period 01 August 2006 through 31 July 2007. Ambulance transport data were confirmed by event coordinators and ambulance company records, and the rate was calculated by dividing ambulance transports by event attendance. Baseline ambulance transport rate was calculated by dividing the annual ambulance transports in the county's computer-aided dispatch system by the census population estimate. The risk ratio was calculated using the risk of transport from a mass gathering compared with the baseline risk of ambulance transport for the local community. Significance testing and confidence intervals were calculated.

Results:

Descriptive information was available for 100% of events and ambulance transport data available for 97% of events. The majority of the mass gatherings (47 unique events; 59 event days) were outdoor, weekend festivals, parades, or concerts, though a large proportion were athletic events. The ambulance transport rate from mass gatherings was 1 per 59,000 people every six hours. Baseline ambulance transport rate in San Francisco was 1 per 20,000 people every six hours. The transport rate from mass gatherings was significantly lower than the community baseline (risk ratio [RR] = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.10–0.22, p <0.001). At events reserving a standby ambulance, 46% of ambulances were unused.

Discussion:

San Francisco mass gatherings appear to present a lower risk of ambulance transports compared to the community baseline, suggesting that the community baseline sets an appropriate standard for requiring standby ambulances at mass gatherings. The initial ambulance requirement policy in San Francisco may have been overly conservative.

Conclusions:

Local baseline data is a recommended starting point when setting policy for public health needs at mass gatherings.
Nondestructive Analysis of Dragonfly Eye Beads from the Warring States Period, Excavated from a Chu Tomb at the Shenmingpu Site, Henan Province, China
Authors: Yang Yimin , Wang Lihua , Wei Shuya , Song Guoding , Kenoyer Jonathan Mark , Xiao Tiqiao , Zhu Jian , Wang Changsui
Published: February 2013

Dragonfly eye beads are considered to be the earliest types of glass objects in China, and in the past have been considered as evidence of culture interaction or trade between West and East Asia. In this article, synchrotron radiation microcomputed tomography and μ-probe energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence were used to determine the chemical composition, microstructure, and manufacturing technology of four dragonfly eye beads, excavated from a Chu tomb at the Shenmingpu site, Henan Province, China, dated stylistically to the Middle and Late Warring State Period (475 bc–221 bc). First, a nondestructive method was used to differentiate the material types including faience (glazed quartz), frit, glazed pottery (clay ceramic), and glass. Three beads were identified as faience and one bead as glazed pottery. The glaze recipe includes quartz, saltpeter, plant ash, and various copper, and is classified as belonging to the K2O-CaO-SiO2 glass system, which indicates that these beads were not imported from the West. Based on computed tomography slices, the manufacturing technology of the faience eye beads appears to include the use of an inner core, molding technology, and the direct application glazing method. These manufacturing features are consistent with the techniques used in China during this same time period for bronze mold-casting, proto-porcelain, and glass.
Synthesis of goethite in solutions of artificial seawater and amino acids: a prebiotic chemistry study
Authors: Carneiro Cristine E. A. , Ivashita Flávio F. , de Souza Ivan Granemann , de Souza Cláudio M. D. , Paesano Andrea , da Costa Antonio C. S. , di Mauro Eduardo , de Santana Henrique , Zaia Cássia T. B. V. , Zaia Dimas A. M.
Published: February 2013

This study investigated the synthesis of goethite under conditions resembling those of the prebiotic Earth. The artificial seawater used contains all the major elements as well as amino acids (α-Ala, β-Ala, Gly, Cys, AIB) that could be found on the prebiotic Earth. The spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, EPR, Raman), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction showed that in any condition Gly and Cys favoured the formation of goethite, artificial seawater plus β-Ala and distilled water plus AIB favoured the formation of hematite and for the other synthesis a mixture of goethite and hematite were obtained. Thus in general no protein amino acids (β-Ala, AIB) favoured the formation of hematite. As shown by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectra the interaction between Cys and Fe3+ of goethite is very complex, involving decomposition of Cys producing sulphur, as well as interaction of carboxylic group with Fe3+. SERS spectra also showed that amino/CN and C-CH3 groups of α-Ala are interacting with Fe3+ of goethite. For the other samples the shifting of several bands was observed. However, it was not possible to say which amino acid groups are interacting with Fe3+. The pH at point of zero charge of goethites increased with artificial seawater and decreased with amino acids. SEM images showed when only goethite was synthesized the images of the samples were acicular and when only hematite was synthesized the images of the samples were spherical. SEM images for the synthesis of goethite with Cys were spherical crystal aggregates with radiating acicular crystals. The highest resonance line intensities were obtained for the samples where only hematite was obtained. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Mössbauer spectra showed for the synthesis of goethite with artificial seawater an isomorphic substitution of iron by seawater cations. Mössbauer spectra also showed that for the synthesis goethite in distilled water plus Gly only goethite was synthesized and in artificial seawater plus Cys a doublet due to interaction of iron with artificial seawater/Cys was observed. It should be pointed out that EPR spectroscopy did not show the interaction of iron with artificial seawater/Cys.
The integration of a person-centered approach in palliative care
Authors: Lavoie Mireille , Blondeau Danielle , Martineau Isabelle
Published: February 2013

Objective:

The philosophy underlying palliative care places the respect of patients and their autonomy at the heart of clinical practice. A study was conducted at a palliative care facility to document changes that occurred after the integration of a person-centered approach focusing on human freedom (which is linked to autonomy): the humanbecoming school of thought. It aimed to describe changes observed in the beliefs and practices of healthcare providers, the concept and respect of autonomy by healthcare providers, care and respect of autonomy experienced by patients' relatives, and consideration of patients' wishes through their documentation.

Method:

The method adopted consisted of a pre-project – process – post-project descriptive qualitative design and was inspired by teaching-learning and mentoring models. Data were collected from 51 healthcare providers and 10 relatives through semistructured interviews and from the medical records of 30 patients during the pre- and post-project phases. They were analyzed and compared at the end of the study. The process phase consisted of offering training sessions and mentoring, encouraging the involvement of healthcare providers, and cocreating integration and care tools.

Results:

While the analysis exposed some discrepancies with the language of the approach and differences between nurses and other healthcare providers, it revealed, above all, similarities in the changes observed between the different sources of data. The focus moved from being task-centered to being person-centered; the affirmation of the priority of respecting patients' choices, desires, and needs; a presence shifting from being available to true listening; the affirmation of following the ever-changing rhythm of the patient; and a notion of respect of autonomy now including the other.

Significance of results:

In line with the philosophy of palliative care, the project demonstrated that the integration of the humanbecoming approach can result in changes that contribute to the development of a more person-centered practice.
The perspective of the nursing staff on terminal sedation in pediatric onco-hematology: A phenomenologic-hermeneutic study
Authors: Tringali Debora , Lauro-Grotto Rosapia , Papini Massimo
Published: February 2013

Objective:

The study was designed to explore the subjective perspective on end-of-life practices in three different groups of pediatric onco-hematologic nurses.

Method:

In 2004–2005 each member of the nursing staff of the Pediatric Onco-Hematology Ward of the University of Padua, Italy, and the Oncology Ward and Home Assistance Module of the Giannetta Gaslini Hospital, Genoa, Italy was interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire with open questions on end-of-life procedures. The results were returned to the interviewees through group meetings. Here, we examine replies given regarding terminal sedation.

Results:

With regard to the nurses from Padua, common features came together in a consolidated practice. The amount of suffering and physical pain was considered an element in determining the use of sedation: “when there is atrocious suffering.” Another aspect was “painful awareness,” the difficulty in being able to bear the fact that the child is aware that death is imminent. The nurses from Genoa stated that the procedure was adopted mainly for three reasons: to sedate the pain, to calm the hunger for air, and to control the anguish caused by the realization that death was imminent or unavoidable. It was noted that the nursing staff of the Home Assistance Unit, Genoa found themselves in a privileged position regarding this procedure both because of the strong relationship established among child, parents, and nurse, and because of being able to take shared decisions after in-depth discussion.

Significance of results:

The results enlighten the critical role of the nursing staff with respect to this procedure, given the involvement with the families and their ability to understand the child's demands and intimate expectations.
Last moments of life: Can telemedicine play a role?
Authors: Low James A , Beins Gillian , Lee Kok Keng , Koh Ethel
Published: February 2013

Background:

We describe the experience of managing the dying moments of a nursing home patient via telemedicine.

Case presentation:

Ms. C was a 92-year-old frail woman with multiple medical problems, living in a nursing home. She spent her final days in the nursing home, choosing not to be transferred to an acute hospital should she turn ill. On the last day of her life, she complained of acute-onset breathlessness and agreed to a teleconsultation with the hospital physicians involved in acute care.

Case management:

During the telemedicine consultations (tele-consultation) process, Ms. C's condition deteriorated rapidly as she entered the dying phase of life. She died peacefully soon after, in the presence of the nurse, the pastoral care worker, and the physician who was conducting the tele-consultation session 30 km away. The family was not present at the patient's bedside when she died. They were, however, relieved to know and were appreciative of the fact that a physician had been “present” during the patient's death.

Conclusions:

Telemedicine could act as an effective communication tool in end-of-life care, between the patient and carers, up to the last moment of life.
Targeting perennial vegetation in agricultural landscapes for enhancing ecosystem services
Authors: Asbjornsen H. , Hernandez-Santana V. , Liebman M. , Bayala J. , Chen J. , Helmers M. , Ong C.K. , Schulte L.A.
Published: February 2013

Over the past century, agricultural landscapes worldwide have increasingly been managed for the primary purpose of producing food, while other diverse ecosystem services potentially available from these landscapes have often been undervalued and diminished. The incorporation of relatively small amounts of perennial vegetation in strategic locations within agricultural landscapes dominated by annual crops—or perennialization—creates an opportunity for enhancing the provision of a wide range of goods and services to society, such as water purification, hydrologic regulation, pollination services, control of pest and pathogen populations, diverse food and fuel products, and greater resilience to climate change and extreme disturbances, while at the same time improving the sustainability of food production. This paper synthesizes the current scientific theory and evidence for the role of perennial plants in balancing conservation with agricultural production, focusing on the Midwestern USA as a model system, while also drawing comparisons with other climatically diverse regions of the world. Particular emphasis is given to identifying promising opportunities for advancement and critical gaps in our knowledge related to purposefully integrating perennial vegetation into agroecosystems as a management tool for maximizing multiple benefits to society.
Getting out the right-wing extremist vote: extreme right party support and campaign effects at a recent British general election
Authors: Cutts David , Goodwin Matthew J.
Published: February 2013

Despite strong evidence in the wider study of electoral behaviour that party campaigning can have important effects on performance, and a large pan-European literature on populist radical right and extreme right campaigns, we know very little about the impact of the latter on electoral performance. Drawing on a range of innovative campaign-related data at the aggregate and individual level, we examine the electoral impact of the British National Party (BNP) at the 2010 British general election. Our analysis reveals that whereas the extreme right polled strongest in working class manufacturing areas, support for the extreme right was significantly higher in areas where it ran intensive local campaigns, recruited larger numbers of members, has achieved local electoral success, and where local politics has historically been dominated by the centre-left. However, we find little evidence that the extreme right has benefited electorally in areas where the English Defence League social movement had previously demonstrated. Our aggregate level findings are also confirmed at the individual level after controlling for a battery of established attitudinal predictors of extreme right voting. Those contacted by the BNP campaign were significantly more likely to vote for the party, while campaigning by all other political parties was ineffective in reducing the probability of voting BNP.
Predictable bacterial composition and hydrocarbon degradation in Arctic soils following diesel and nutrient disturbance
Authors: Bell Terrence H , Yergeau Etienne , Maynard Christine , Juck David , Whyte Lyle G , Greer Charles W
Published: February 2013

Increased exploration and exploitation of resources in the Arctic is leading to a higher risk of petroleum contamination. A number of Arctic microorganisms can use petroleum for growth-supporting carbon and energy, but traditional approaches for stimulating these microorganisms (for example, nutrient addition) have varied in effectiveness between sites. Consistent environmental controls on microbial community response to disturbance from petroleum contaminants and nutrient amendments across Arctic soils have not been identified, nor is it known whether specific taxa are universally associated with efficient bioremediation. In this study, we contaminated 18 Arctic soils with diesel and treated subsamples of each with monoammonium phosphate (MAP), which has successfully stimulated degradation in some contaminated Arctic soils. Bacterial community composition of uncontaminated, diesel-contaminated and diesel+MAP soils was assessed through multiplexed 16S (ribosomal RNA) rRNA gene sequencing on an Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine, while hydrocarbon degradation was measured by gas chromatography analysis. Diversity of 16S rRNA gene sequences was reduced by diesel, and more so by the combination of diesel and MAP. Actinobacteria dominated uncontaminated soils with <10% organic matter, while Proteobacteria dominated higher-organic matter soils, and this pattern was exaggerated following disturbance. Degradation with and without MAP was predictable by initial bacterial diversity and the abundance of specific assemblages of Betaproteobacteria, respectively. High Betaproteobacteria abundance was positively correlated with high diesel degradation in MAP-treated soils, suggesting this may be an important group to stimulate. The predictability with which bacterial communities respond to these disturbances suggests that costly and time-consuming contaminated site assessments may not be necessary in the future.
Food Additives and Why They Are Used
Authors: Saltmarsh Mike , Insall Lynn
Published: February 2013

The introductory chapter establishes the context of the book. Food additives have a variety of different roles but in general terms they have two main functions: At the most basic level, they either make food safer, by preserving it from bacteria, preventing oxidation or other chemical changes; or they make food look and taste better or feel more pleasing in the mouth. Additives have been used for hundreds of years for these purposes and 26 different categories of additive are now recognised. The specific roles of the major classes of additive are outlined together with a brief description of the way in which the safety of food additives is managed worldwide. These subjects are developed in later chapters. One aspect of the safety of additives is consumer perception of intolerance, which is addressed briefly together with a consideration of the current industry trend of “clean label”.
The Development of Food Additive Legislation in Europe
Authors: Jukes David
Published: February 2013

Whilst it is possible to effectively use current EU legislation for food additives, a full appreciation and understanding of the system can only be achieved by considering it origins and some of the issues which were faced during the various stages of its development. This chapter takes a look at the different stages of the development of the controls and should provide answers to some of the ‘why?’ questions which might occur to the more inquisitive readers when using the current controls. The current system appears to provide a logical structured approach to the control of food additives – reaching this point has not been easy!

Viewed from an historical perspective, the development of EU food additive controls breaks down into 3 main stages and each of these will be described. However some more general fundamental issues will be mentioned first as these are relevant to all 3 stages.
European Legislative Framework Controlling the Use of Food Additives
Authors: Robin Annie-Laure , Sankhla Devina
Published: February 2013

In December 2008, the EU adopted a new approach to the regulatory framework of food additives, enzymes and flavourings, known as the Food Improvement Agents Package (FIAP). The FIAP comprises of four Regulations numbered 1331/2008 to 1334/2008, which covers the authorisation procedure for food additives, enzymes and flavourings (1331/2008), and individual Regulations on food additives (1333/2008), enzymes (1332/2008), and flavourings (1334/2008). This chapter provides guidance on the changes introduced by Regulations 1331/2008 and 1333/2008 as they apply to food additives, and the implications for manufacturers of food products and food additives. It considers food additives and processing aids, the carry-over principle and the labelling of food additives in food products.
Antioxidant treatment prevents the development of fructose-induced abdominal adipose tissue dysfunction
Authors: Fariña Juan Pablo , García María Elisa , Alzamendi Ana , Giovambattista Andrés , Marra Carlos Alberto , Spinedi Eduardo , Gagliardino Juan José
Published: February 2013

In the present study, we tested the effect of OS (oxidative stress) inhibition in rats fed on an FRD [fructose-rich diet; 10% (w/v) in drinking water] for 3 weeks. Normal adult male rats received a standard CD (commercial diet) or an FRD without or with an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, APO (apocynin; 5 mM in drinking water; CD-APO and FRD-APO). We thereafter measured plasma OS and metabolic-endocrine markers, AAT (abdominal adipose tissue) mass and cell size, FA (fatty acid) composition (content and release), OS status, LEP (leptin) and IRS (insulin receptor substrate)-1/IRS-2 mRNAs, ROS (reactive oxygen species) production, NADPH oxidase activity and LEP release by isolated AAT adipocytes. FRD-fed rats had larger AAT mass without changes in body weight, and higher plasma levels of TAG (triacylglycerol), FAs, TBARS (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance) and LEP. Although no significant changes in glucose and insulin plasma levels were observed in these animals, their HOMA-IR (homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance) values were significantly higher than those of CD. The AAT from FRD-fed rats had larger adipocytes, higher saturated FA content, higher NADPH oxidase activity, greater ROS production, a distorted FA content/release pattern, lower insulin sensitivity together with higher and lower mRNA content of LEP and IRS-1-/2 respectively, and released a larger amount of LEP. The development of all the clinical, OS, metabolic, endocrine and molecular changes induced by the FRD were significantly prevented by APO co-administration. The fact that APO treatment prevented both changes in NADPH oxidase activity and the development of all the FRD-induced AAT dysfunctions in normal rats strongly suggests that OS plays an important role in the FRD-induced MS (metabolic syndrome) phenotype.
Genetic parameters and phenotypic trends in the mean and variability of number of stillborn piglets and changes in their relationships with litter size and gestation length
Authors: Lewis Craig R. G. , Hermesch Susanne
Published: February 2013

This study examined changes in genetic and phenotypic factors affecting stillborn piglets (SB). Over 15 years, 76 851 litter records were available from Large White (LW), Landrace (LR) and Duroc (DU) sows to investigate SB. The analyses focussed on trends over time in SB and the changes in the number of SB per litter, in factors associated with SB and in genetic parameters for SB. Breed differences were identified with DU producing more SB than the white breeds (mean of 1.46 ± 0.02 vs 1.11 ± 0.01 and 1.07 ± 0.01). However, maximum differences between levels of each factor were 0.73 and 0.65 SB for parity and herd, respectively. Over the 15 years studied, SB had increased by 0.2 piglets accompanied by an increase in the total numbers of piglets born per litter (TB) of ~0.5 piglets. This increase in SB was driven by higher occurrence of more than two SB within a single litter. The effect of TB on SB changed over time with solutions of 0.127 ± 0.002 and 0.150 ± 0.002 SB/TB in 1996 and 2010, respectively. Heritability estimates for SB ranged from 0.06 ± 0.01 to 0.09 ± 0.01 for alternative models and time periods. The unfavourable genetic correlation between SB and TB of 0.46 ± 0.03 based on all data available was slightly lower using only data from the first 5 years (0.38 ± 0.07) versus using data from the last 5 years (0.46 ± 0.06). However, this increase in phenotypic and genetic associations between SB and TB over time may be larger in populations that have observed a larger increase in TB.
Genetic diversity in natural and introduced island populations of koalas in Queensland
Authors: Lee Kristen E. , Seddon Jennifer M. , Johnston Stephen , FitzGibbon Sean I. , Carrick Frank , Melzer Alistair , Bercovitch Fred , Ellis William
Published: February 2013

Island populations of animals are expected to show reduced genetic variation and increased incidence of inbreeding because of founder effects and the susceptibility of small populations to the effects of genetic drift. Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) occur naturally in a patchy distribution across much of the eastern Australian mainland and on a small number of islands near the Australian coast. We compared the genetic diversity of the naturally occurring population of koalas on North Stradbroke Island in south-east Queensland with other island populations including the introduced group on St Bees Island in central Queensland. The population on St Bees Island shows higher diversity (allelic richness 4.1, He = 0.67) than the North Stradbroke Island population (allelic richness 3.2, He = 0.55). Koalas on Brampton, Newry and Rabbit Islands possessed microsatellite alleles that were not identified from St Bees Island koalas, indicating that it is most unlikely that these populations were established by a sole secondary introduction from St Bees Island. Mitochondrial haplotypes on the central Queensland islands were more similar to a haplotype found at Springsure in central Queensland and the inland clades in south-east Queensland, rather than the coastal clade in south-east Queensland.
Association of functional nucleotide polymorphisms at
DTH2
with the northward expansion of rice cultivation in Asia
Authors: Wu Weixun , Zheng Xiao-Ming , Lu Guangwen , Zhong Zhengzheng , Gao He , Chen Liping , Wu Chuanyin , Wang Hong-Jun , Wang Qi , Zhou Kunneng , Wang Jiu-Lin , Wu Fuqing , Zhang Xin , Guo Xiuping , Cheng Zhijun , Lei Cailin , Lin Qibing , Jiang Ling , Wang Haiyang , Ge Song , Wan Jianmin
Published: February 2013

Flowering time (i.e., heading date in crops) is an important ecological trait that determines growing seasons and regional adaptability of plants to specific natural environments. Rice (
Oryza sativa
L.) is a short-day plant that originated in the tropics. Increasing evidence suggests that the northward expansion of cultivated rice was accompanied by human selection of the heading date under noninductive long-day (LD) conditions. We report here the molecular cloning and characterization of
DTH2
(for
Days to heading on chromosome 2
), a minor-effect quantitative trait locus that promotes heading under LD conditions. We show that
DTH2
encodes a CONSTANS-like protein that promotes heading by inducing the florigen genes
Heading date 3a
and
RICE FLOWERING LOCUS T 1
, and it acts independently of the known floral integrators
Heading date 1
and
Early heading date 1
. Moreover, association analysis and transgenic experiments identified two functional nucleotide polymorphisms in
DTH2
that correlated with early heading and increased reproductive fitness under natural LD conditions in northern Asia. Our combined population genetics and network analyses suggest that
DTH2
likely represents a target of human selection for adaptation to LD conditions during rice domestication and/or improvement, demonstrating an important role of minor-effect quantitative trait loci in crop adaptation and breeding.
DNA damage sensor MRE11 recognizes cytosolic double-stranded DNA and induces type I interferon by regulating STING trafficking
Authors: Kondo Takeshi , Kobayashi Junya , Saitoh Tatsuya , Maruyama Kenta , Ishii Ken J. , Barber Glen N. , Komatsu Kenshi , Akira Shizuo , Kawai Taro
Published: February 2013

Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) derived from pathogen- or host-damaged cells triggers innate immune responses when exposed to cytoplasm. However, the machinery underlying the primary recognition of intracellular dsDNA is obscure. Here we show that the DNA damage sensor, meiotic recombination 11 homolog A (MRE11), serves as a cytosolic sensor for dsDNA. Cells with a mutation of MRE11 gene derived from a patient with ataxia-telangiectasia–like disorder, and cells in which Mre11 was knocked down, had defects in dsDNA-induced type I IFN production. MRE11 physically interacted with dsDNA in the cytoplasm and was required for activation of stimulator of IFN genes (STING) and IRF3. RAD50, a binding protein to MRE11, was also required for dsDNA responses, whereas NBS1, another binding protein to MRE11, was dispensable. Collectively, our results suggest that the MRE11–RAD50 complex plays important roles in recognition of dsDNA and initiation of STING-dependent signaling, in addition to its role in DNA-damage responses.
Authoritarian reactions to terrorist threat: Who is being threatened, the Me or the We?
Authors: Asbrock Frank , Fritsche Immo
Published: February 2013

Endorsement of authoritarian attitudes has been observed to increase under conditions of terrorist threat. However, it is not clear whether this effect is a genuine response to perceptions of personal or collective threat. We investigated this question in two experiments using German samples. In the first experiment (N = 144), both general and specific authoritarian tendencies increased after asking people to imagine that they were personally affected by terrorism. No such effect occurred when they were made to think about Germany as a whole being affected by terrorism. This finding was replicated and extended in a second experiment (N = 99), in which personal and collective threat were manipulated orthogonally. Authoritarian and ethnocentric (ingroup bias) reactions occurred only for people highly identified with their national ingroup under personal threat, indicating that authoritarian responses may operate as a group‐level coping strategy for a threat to the personal self. Again, we found no effects for collective threat. In both studies, authoritarianism mediated the effects of personal threat on more specific authoritarian and ethnocentric reactions. These results suggest that the effects of terrorist threat on authoritarianism can, at least in part, be attributed to a sense of personal insecurity, raised under conditions of terrorist threat. We discuss the present findings with regard to basic sociomotivational processes (e.g., group‐based control restoration, terror management) and how these may relate to recent models of authoritarianism.
Cultural value orientation and authoritarian parenting as parameters of bullying and victimization at school
Authors: Georgiou Stelios N. , Fousiani Kyriaki , Michaelides Michalis , Stavrinides Panayiotis
Published: February 2013

The purpose of the present study was to examine the existing association between cultural value orientation, authoritarian parenting, and bullying and victimization at school. The participants (N = 231) were early adolescents, randomly selected from 11 different schools in urban and rural areas of Cyprus. Participants completed self reports measuring cultural value orientation, authoritarian parenting, bullying, and victimization. These instruments were the following: the Cultural Value Scale (CVS), the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), and the Revised Bullying and Victimization Questionnaire (BVQ‐R). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine mediation effects. It was found that vertical individualism acted as a mediator between authoritarian parenting and bullying. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between authoritarian parenting and the vertical dimensions of both cultural value orientations (individualism and collectivism), but not with the horizontal dimensions of either cultural orientation. Further, authoritarian parenting was also positively associated with bullying and victimization at school. The main contribution of the present study is the finding that vertical individualism significantly mediates the relationship between authoritarian parental style and bullying propensity.
Tetraspanin CD9 links junctional adhesion molecule-A to αvβ3 integrin to mediate basic fibroblast growth factor–specific angiogenic signaling
Authors: Peddibhotla Swetha S. D. , Brinkmann Benjamin F. , Kummer Daniel , Tuncay Hüseyin , Nakayama Masanori , Adams Ralf H. , Gerke Volker , Ebnet Klaus
Published: February 2013

Junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) is a member of the immunoglobulin family with diverse functions in epithelial cells, including cell migration, cell contact maturation, and tight junction formation. In endothelial cells, JAM-A has been implicated in basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-regulated angiogenesis through incompletely understood mechanisms. In this paper, we identify tetraspanin CD9 as novel binding partner for JAM-A in endothelial cells. CD9 acts as scaffold and assembles a ternary JAM-A-CD9-αvβ3 integrin complex from which JAM-A is released upon bFGF stimulation. CD9 interacts predominantly with monomeric JAM-A, which suggests that bFGF induces signaling by triggering JAM-A dimerization. Among the two vitronectin receptors, αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrin, which have been shown to cooperate during angiogenic signaling with bFGF and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), respectively, CD9 links JAM-A specifically to αvβ3 integrin. In line with this, knockdown of CD9 blocks bFGF- but not VEGF-induced ERK1/2 activation. JAM-A or CD9 knockdown impairs endothelial cell migration and tube formation. Our findings indicate that CD9 incorporates monomeric JAM-A into a complex with αvβ3 integrin, which responds to bFGF stimulation by JAM-A release to regulate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, endothelial cell migration, and angiogenesis. The data also provide new mechanistic insights into the cooperativity between bFGF and αvβ3 integrin during angiogenic signaling.
A Rab11a-Rab8a-Myo5B network promotes stretch-regulated exocytosis in bladder umbrella cells
Authors: Khandelwal Puneet , Prakasam H. Sandeep , Clayton Dennis R. , Ruiz Wily G. , Gallo Luciana I. , van Roekel Daniel , Lukianov Stefan , Peränen Johan , Goldenring James R. , Apodaca Gerard
Published: February 2013

Multiple Rabs are associated with secretory granules/vesicles, but how these GTPases are coordinated to promote regulated exocytosis is not well understood. In bladder umbrella cells a subapical pool of discoidal/fusiform-shaped vesicles (DFVs) undergoes Rab11a-dependent regulated exocytosis in response to bladder filling. We show that Rab11a-associated vesicles are enmeshed in an apical cytokeratin meshwork and that Rab11a likely acts upstream of Rab8a to promote exocytosis. Surprisingly, expression of Rabin8, a previously described Rab11a effector and guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rab8, stimulates stretch-induced exocytosis in a manner that is independent of its catalytic activity. Additional studies demonstrate that the unconventional motor protein myosin5B motor (Myo5B) works in association with the Rab8a–Rab11a module to promote exocytosis, possibly by ensuring transit of DFVs through a subapical, cortical actin cytoskeleton before fusion. Our results indicate that Rab11a, Rab8a, and Myo5B function as part of a network to promote stretch-induced exocytosis, and we predict that similarly organized Rab networks will be common to other regulated secretory pathways.
Investigating lasp-2 in cell adhesion: new binding partners and roles in motility
Authors: Bliss Katherine T. , Chu Miensheng , Jones-Weinert Colin M. , Gregorio Carol C.
Published: February 2013

Focal adhesions are intricate protein complexes that facilitate cell attachment, migration, and cellular communication. Lasp-2 (LIM-nebulette), a member of the nebulin family of actin-binding proteins, is a newly identified component of these complexes. To gain further insights into the functional role of lasp-2, we identified two additional binding partners of lasp-2: the integral focal adhesion proteins vinculin and paxillin. Of interest, the interaction of lasp-2 with its binding partners vinculin and paxillin is significantly reduced in the presence of lasp-1, another nebulin family member. The presence of lasp-2 appears to enhance the interaction of vinculin and paxillin with each other; however, as with the interaction of lasp-2 with vinculin or paxillin, this effect is greatly diminished in the presence of excess lasp-1. This suggests that the interplay between lasp-2 and lasp-1 could be an adhesion regulatory mechanism. Lasp-2’s potential role in metastasis is revealed, as overexpression of lasp-2 in either SW620 or PC-3B1 cells—metastatic cancer cell lines—increases cell migration but impedes cell invasion, suggesting that the enhanced interaction of vinculin and paxillin may functionally destabilize focal adhesion composition. Taken together, these data suggest that lasp-2 has an important role in coordinating and regulating the composition and dynamics of focal adhesions.
Response regulator–mediated MAPKKK heteromer promotes stress signaling to the Spc1 MAPK in fission yeast
Authors: Morigasaki Susumu , Ikner Aminah , Tatebe Hisashi , Shiozaki Kazuhiro
Published: February 2013

The Spc1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade in fission yeast is activated by two MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK) paralogues, Wis4 and Win1, in response to multiple forms of environmental stress. Previous studies identified Mcs4, a “response regulator” protein that associates with the MAPKKKs and receives peroxide stress signals by phosphorelay from the Mak2/Mak3 sensor histidine kinases. Here we show that Mcs4 has an unexpected, phosphorelay-independent function in promoting heteromer association between the Wis4 and Win1 MAPKKKs. Only one of the MAPKKKs in the heteromer complex needs to be catalytically active, but disturbing the integrity of the complex by mutations to Mcs4, Wis4, or Win1 results in reduced MAPKKK–MAPKK interaction and, consequently, compromised MAPK activation. The physical interaction among Mcs4, Wis4, and Win1 is constitutive and not responsive to stress stimuli. Therefore the Mcs4–MAPKKK heteromer complex might serve as a stable platform/scaffold for signaling proteins that convey input and output of different stress signals. The Wis4–Win1 complex discovered in fission yeast demonstrates that heteromer-mediated mechanisms are not limited to mammalian MAPKKKs.
Feedback control of Swe1p degradation in the yeast morphogenesis checkpoint
Authors: King Kindra , Kang Hui , Jin Michelle , Lew Daniel J.
Published: February 2013

Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells exposed to a variety of physiological stresses transiently delay bud emergence or bud growth. To maintain coordination between bud formation and the cell cycle in such circumstances, the morphogenesis checkpoint delays nuclear division via the mitosis-inhibitory Wee1-family kinase, Swe1p. Swe1p is degraded during G2 in unstressed cells but is stabilized and accumulates following stress. Degradation of Swe1p is preceded by its recruitment to the septin scaffold at the mother-bud neck, mediated by the Swe1p-binding protein Hsl7p. Following osmotic shock or actin depolymerization, Swe1p is stabilized, and previous studies suggested that this was because Hsl7p was no longer recruited to the septin scaffold following stress. However, we now show that Hsl7p is in fact recruited to the septin scaffold in stressed cells. Using a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) mutant that is immune to checkpoint-mediated inhibition, we show that Swe1p stabilization following stress is an indirect effect of CDK inhibition. These findings demonstrate the physiological importance of a positive-feedback loop in which Swe1p activity inhibits the CDK, which then ceases to target Swe1p for degradation. They also highlight the difficulty in disentangling direct checkpoint pathways from the effects of positive-feedback loops active at the G2/M transition.
ELECANS—an integrated model development environment for multiscale cancer systems biology
Authors: Chaudhary Safee Ullah , Shin Sung-Young , Lee Daewon , Song Je-Hoon , Cho Kwang-Hyun
Published: February 2013

Motivation: Computational multiscale models help cancer biologists to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of complex biological systems and to reveal the underlying mechanism of emergent properties. Results: To facilitate the construction of such models, we have developed a next generation modelling platform for cancer systems biology, termed ‘ELECANS’ (electronic cancer system). It is equipped with a graphical user interface-based development environment for multiscale modelling along with a software development kit such that hierarchically complex biological systems can be conveniently modelled and simulated by using the graphical user interface/software development kit combination. Associated software accessories can also help users to perform post-processing of the simulation data for visualization and further analysis. In summary, ELECANS is a new modelling platform for cancer systems biology and provides a convenient and flexible modelling and simulation environment that is particularly useful for those without an intensive programming background.

Availability and implementation: ELECANS, its associated software accessories, demo examples, documentation and issues database are freely available at http://sbie.kaist.ac.kr/sub_0204.php

Contact: ckh@kaist.ac.kr

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Schizophrenia and the Fate of the Self
Authors: Lysaker Paul , Lysaker John
Published: February 2013

With ever more detailed models of the neurobiological and social systems out of which schizophrenia is born, it is possible to overlook how suffering persons actually experience their symptoms.This resource examines the experiences of persons who suffer from schizophrenia, providing a highly readable and humane examination of this common condition.
Dialogical impairment and self-diminishment
Authors: Lysaker Paul H. , Lysaker John T.
Published: February 2013

This chapter has attempted to demonstrate that significantly compromised intra- and interpersonal dialogues can help explain the experience of self-diminishment that often accompanies the appearance of schizophrenia. Such an account is useful because it both clarifies and helps explain a neglected facet of schizophrenia, and in a manner that preserves the first-person dimensions of the illness. Moreover, it does so in a way that helps synthesize observations from diverse theoretical perspectives. Second, we have presented three models of dialogical compromise that lead to experiences of self-diminishment. These are gathered in Table 4.1.

We consider these models useful additions to the literature because they refine our feel for what it is like to undergo schizophrenia, and they help us distinguish some markedly different ways in which someone’s sense of self can be undermined over the course of the illness.