bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metallothionein, a marker of antiapoptosis, is associated with clinical forms of oral lichen planus
Authors: Allon Irit , Ofir Merav , Vered Hanna , Hirshberg Abraham
Published: June 2014

Objectives

To investigate the expression of anti‐ and proapoptosis markers, metallothionein (MT), and caspase‐2, in the epithelial and inflammatory cells of oral lichen planus (OLP) patients, and to investigate the association with clinical parameters.

Materials and Methods

Included were biopsies of 70 OLP patients. The clinical data were collected from patients' charts. The expression of MT and caspase‐2 was immunomorphometrically analyzed in the epithelial and inflammatory cells, and the results were correlated with the clinical presentation.

Results

The epithelial and inflammatory cells expressed MT (10.2 ± 5.75 and 0.68 ± 0.86) and caspase‐2 (1.54 ± 2.6 and 0.98 ± 1.15) which show a trend toward an inverse expression. The expression of MT in the epithelium was significantly higher in patients presenting with keratotic lichen planus than in patients with the atrophic and erosive forms (P = 0.0008). In the inflammatory cells, the expression of MT was inversely correlated with increasing age (R = 0.34, P = 0.0069).

Conclusions

The pattern of expression of MT and caspase‐2 in OLP suggests an extensive antiapoptotic response in the keratotic form of the disease. Symptomatic patients may benefit from therapy targeted to apoptosis in the future.
Systemic toxic effects during early phases of topical 4‐NQO‐induced oral carcinogenesis in rats
Authors: Barcessat Ana Rita Ribeiro , Huang Isaac , Rabelo Gustavo Davi , Rosin Flávia Cristina Perillo , Ferreira Luciana Gonçalves Valente , de Cerqueira Luz João Gualberto , Corrêa Luciana
Published: June 2014

Background

Most studies have demonstrated 4‐NQO toxicity to oral epithelium during oral carcinogenesis induction, but systemic toxicity has been poorly addressed. The aim of this study was to describe the systemic effect of 4‐NQO topical application during early phases of oral cancer induction.

Methods

A 4‐NQO propylene glycol ointment was topically applied on the rat tongue three times a week for 16 weeks. Local and systemic 4‐NQO toxicity was evaluated by body weight gain, hematology, and serum chemistry analyses, histopathology, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry.

Results

Significant reduction in body weight gain and in white blood cell count as well as significant increase in serum ALT and AST was observed after 16 weeks of 4‐NQO topical application. Focal hepatic lobular necrosis, renal tubular degeneration, and decreased cellularity in the splenic white pulp were also detected.

Conclusions

4‐NQO topical application on the tongue of rats for 16 weeks seems to have caused hepatic, renal, and splenic toxicity. Potential systemic toxicity should be considered to monitor for variables that could interfere in topical oral carcinogenesis experiments.
Relational motivation and well‐being: A cross‐cultural comparison
Authors: Yi Lyna , Gore Jonathan S. , Kanagawa Chie
Published: June 2014

Culture plays a crucial role in motivation. Personally autonomous reasons (PARs) for goals reflect the needs, desires, and commitment for oneself, whereas relationally autonomous reasons (RARs) for goals reflect the needs within close relationships. It was hypothesized thatPARs are the better predictor of well‐being forAmericans, whileRARs are the better predictor of well‐being for Japanese. One‐hundred and seventyAmerican and 219Japanese university students completed well‐being questionnaires and rated seven goals on several attributes. The results confirmed thatRARs were a better predictor of well‐being forJapanese than forAmericans, butPARs predicted well‐being for both groups. Implications for theories of goal motivation are discussed.
Variation in elemental stoichiometry of the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii (Bacillariophyceae) in response to combined nutrient stress and changes in carbonate chemistry
Authors: Clark Darren R. , Flynn Kevin J. , Fabian Heiner
Published: June 2014

The combined consequences of the multi‐stressors of pH and nutrient availability upon the growth of a marine diatom were investigated. Thalassiosira weissflogii was grown in N‐ or P‐limited batch culture in sealed systems, with pH commencing at 8.2 (“extant” conditions) or 7.6 (“ocean acidification” [OA] conditions), and then pH was allowed to either drift with growth, or was held fixed. Results indicated that within the pH range tested, the stability of environmental pH rather than its value (i.e., OA vs. extant) fundamentally influenced biomass accumul‐ation and C:N:P stoichiometry. Despite large changes in total alkalinity in the fixed pH systems, final biomass production was consistently greater in these systems than that in drifting pH systems. In drift systems, pH increased to exceed pH 9.5, a level of alkalinity that was inhibitory to growth. No statis‐tically significant differences between pH treatments were measured for N:C, P:C or N:P ratios during nutrient‐replete growth, although the diatom expre‐ssed greater plasticity in P:C and N:P ratios than in N:C during this growth phase. During nutrient‐deplete conditions, the capacity for uncoupled carbon fixa‐tion at fixed pH was considerably greater than that measured in drift pH systems, leading to strong contrasts in C:N:P stoichiometry between these treatments. Whether environmental pH was stable or drifted directly influenced the extent of physiological stress. In contrast, few distinctions could be drawn between “extant” versus “OA” conditions for cell physiology.
16S and 23S plastid rDNA phylogenies of Prototheca species and their auxanographic phenotypes
Authors: Ewing Aren , Brubaker Shane , Somanchi Aravind , Yu Esther , Rudenko George , Reyes Nina , Espina Karen , Grossman Arthur , Franklin Scott
Published: June 2014

Because algae have become more accepted as sources of human nutrition, phylogenetic analysis can help resolve the taxonomy of taxa that have not been well studied. This can help establish algal evolutionary relationships. Here, we compare Auxenochlorella protothecoides and 23 strains of Prototheca based on their complete 16S and partial 23S plastid rDNA sequences along with nutrient utilization (auxanographic) profiles. These data demonstrate that some of the species groupings are not in agreement with the molecular phylogenetic analyses and that auxanographic profiles are poor predictors of phylogenetic relationships.
Dehydration, temperature, and light tolerance in members of the aeroterrestrial green algal genus Interfilum (Streptophyta) from biogeographically different temperate soils
Authors: Karsten Ulf , Herburger Klaus , Holzinger Andreas
Published: June 2014

Unicellular green algae of the genus Interfilum (Klebsormidiales, Streptophyta) are typical components of biological soil crusts. Four different aeroterrestrial Interfilum strains that have previously been molecular‐taxonomically characterized and isolated from temperate soils in Belgium, Czech Republic, New Zealand, and Ukraine were investigated. Photosynthetic performance was evaluated under different controlled abiotic conditions, including dehydration, as well as under a light and temperature gradient. For standardized desiccation experiments, a new methodological approach with silica gel filled polystyrol boxes and effective quantum yield measurements from the outside were successfully applied. All Interfilum isolates showed a decrease and inhibition of the effective quantum yield under this treatment, however with different kinetics. While the single cell strains exhibited relatively fast inhibition, the cell packet forming isolates dried slower. Most strains fully recovered effective quantum yield after rehydration. All Interfilum isolates exhibited optimum photosynthesis at low photon fluence rates, but with no indication of photoinhibition under high light conditions suggesting flexible acclimation mechanisms of the photosynthetic machinery. Photosynthesis under lower temperatures was generally more active than respiration, while the opposite was true for higher temperatures. The presented data provide an explanation for the regular occurrence of Interfilum species in soil habitats where environmental factors can be particularly harsh.
Obstructive Uropathy and Vesicovaginal Fistula Secondary to a Retained Sex Toy in the Vagina
Authors: Donaldson James Fergus , Tait Campbell , Rad Marcel , Walker Shonagh , Lam Thomas B.L. , Abdel-Fattah Mohammed , Swami Satchi Kuchibhotla
Published: June 2014

Introduction

Vaginal foreign bodies (FBs) are a rare cause of vesicovaginal, rectovaginal, or urethrovaginal fistulae.

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe a rare case of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) and obstructive uropathy and to review the literature.

Methods

A case is presented. A comprehensive review of the literature was performed (1948–2013).

Results

A 38-year-old woman presenting with sepsis, obstructive uropathy, and severe emaciation was found to have a sex toy retained in her vagina for 10 years. This had caused a VVF and bilateral hydroureteronephrosis. Bilateral nephrostomies were inserted and she underwent cystoscopy and examination under anesthesia (EUA) with retrieval of FB. A left ureteric stricture was demonstrated. Transabdominal VVF repair with omental flap and left ureteric re-implantation was performed. The VVF recurred, which was successfully re-repaired transvaginally. Seventy-six full text articles were reviewed. There were no previously published cases of VVF following vaginal sex toy insertion. There are four cases of obstructive uropathy secondary to a vaginal FB in the literature: three pessaries and one plastic cap. There are 44 cases of VVF secondary to FB: 22 plastic caps (typically from aerosol bottles, inserted for masturbation or contraception) and 5 pessaries. At least nine were in girls aged ≤18 years. Average presentation is 15 months (range 2 months to 35 years) after FB insertion. Most cases were managed with surgical repair; predominantly transvaginal.

Conclusions

This case describes an extremely rare but potentially life-threatening case of obstructive uropathy caused by a chronically retained sex toy, and adds to the list of potentially rare causes of a VVF and obstructive uropathy. We advocate urinary diversion, staged removal of FB, upper urinary tract imaging, and EUA with VVF repair and/or ureteric reimplantation if required. Transvaginal is the preferred access for FB-associated VVF repair without concomitant ureteric reimplantation.
Revisiting 26Al‐26Mg systematics of plagioclase in H4 chondrites
Authors: Telus M. , Huss G. R. , Nagashima K. , Ogliore R. C.
Published: June 2014

Zinner and Göpel (, ) found clear evidence for the former presence of 26Al in the H4 chondrites Ste. Marguerite and Forest Vale. They assumed that the 26Al‐26Mg systematics of these chondrites date “metamorphic cooling of the H4 parent body.” Plagioclase in these chondrites can have very high Al/Mg ratios and low Mg concentrations, making these ion probe analyses susceptible to ratio bias, which is inversely proportional to the number of counts of the denominator isotope (Ogliore et al. ). Zinner and Göpel () used the mean of the ratios to calculate the isotope ratios, which exacerbates this problem. We analyzed the Al/Mg ratios and Mg isotopic compositions of plagioclase grains in thin sections of Ste. Marguerite, Forest Vale, Beaver Creek, and Sena to evaluate the possible influence of ratio bias on the published initial 26Al/27Al ratios for these meteorites. We calculated the isotope ratios using total counts, a less biased method of calculating isotope ratios. The results from our analyses are consistent with those from Zinner and Göpel (), indicating that ratio bias does not significantly affect 26Al‐26Mg results for plagioclase in these chondrites. Ste. Marguerite has a clear isochron with an initial 26Al/27Al ratio indicating that it cooled to below 450 °C 5.2 ± 0.2 Myr after CAIs. The isochrons for Forest Vale and Beaver Creek also show clear evidence that 26Al was alive when they cooled, but the initial 26Al/27Al ratios are not well constrained. Sena does not show evidence that 26Al was alive when it cooled to below the Al‐Mg closure temperature. Given that metallographic cooling rates for Ste. Marguerite, Forest Vale, and Beaver Creek are atypical (>5000 °C/Myr at 500 °C) compared with most H4s, including Sena, which have cooling rates of 10–50 °C/Myr at 500 °C (Scott et al. ), we conclude that the Al‐Mg systematics for Ste. Marguerite, Forest Vale, and Beaver Creek are the result of impact excavation of these chondrites and cooling at the surface of the parent body, instead of undisturbed cooling at depth in the H chondrite parent body, like many have assumed.
The Immaculate World: Predestination and Passibility in Contemporary Scotism
Authors: Pomplun Trent
Published: June 2014

The Franciscan theologian Duns Scotus (ca.1266–1308) taught the puzzling doctrine that had Adam not sinned, the totus Christus would have been immediately glorified. While the Scotist commentarial tradition developed this idea in several surprising ways, most twentieth‐century Scotists rejected it. This article uses a modern philosophy of counterfactual statements to evaluate the interpretive claims of F. X. Pancheri and Juniper Carol, two prominent twentieth‐century Scotists, and presents a new understanding of the traditional Scotist notion that had Adam not sinned, the Word would have become incarnate in impassible flesh.
Markers for visceral hypersensitivity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Ludidi S. , Mujagic Z. , Jonkers D. , Keszthelyi D. , Hesselink M. , Kruimel J. , Conchillo J. , Masclee A.
Published: June 2014

Background

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a heterogenous disorder with visceral hypersensitivity as important hallmark. It is not known whether IBS patients with visceral hypersensitivity have different epidemiological and clinical characteristics compared with IBS patients without visceral hypersensitivity. Aim of our study was to compare in detail a large group of hyper‐ vs normosensitive IBS patients with respect to epidemiological and clinical characteristics.

Methods

IBS patients (Rome III criteria) have been recruited for a large‐scale cohort study. All patients from this cohort who underwent a rectal barostat procedure were included and allocated based on those with and without visceral hypersensitivity. Patient demographics, and symptoms were collected using questionnaires (GSRS, HADS, SF‐36) and a 14‐day symptom diary for IBS‐related symptoms. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify risk markers for having visceral hypersensitivity.

Key Results

Ninety‐five normosensitive and 93 hypersensitive IBS patients participated in this study. Hypersensitive patients had significantly higher scores for GSRS abdominal pain (p < 0.05), indigestion, reflux and constipation syndrome (all p < 0.01), and IBS symptom intensity, discomfort (both p < 0.05) and mean symptom composite score (p < 0.01). Age, female sex, and the use of SSRI medication were significantly different between the normo‐ and the hypersensitive IBS patients. However, after adjustment for other risk markers, only increasing age was found to be significantly associated with lower odds for having hypersensitivity (OR 0.97 [95% CI: 0.94; 0.99]).

Conclusions & Inferences

Apart from more severe symptomatology, hypersensitive IBS patients are characterized by significantly younger age compared with normosensitive IBS patients.

The study has been registered in the US National Library of Medicine (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00702026).
Expression of bone markers and micro‐CT analysis of alveolar bone during orthodontic relapse
Authors: Franzen T. J. , Monjo M. , Rubert M. , Vandevska‐Radunovic V.
Published: June 2014

Structured Abstract

Objectives

To investigate biological changes in alveolar bone occurring during orthodontic relapse.

Materials and Methods

Rat maxillary first molars were moved mesially for 10 days. After orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), appliances were removed, and the molars were allowed to relapse for one, three, five, seven, 14 or 21 days. Changes in 3D morphometric parameters of bone located mesial to the first molars were evaluated by micro‐CT. Total RNA was isolated from the same bone site, and real‐time RT‐PCR was used to measure the expression of bone formation and resorption markers.

Results

One day after appliance removal, the molars relapsed to a mean 73% of the achieved OTM and then steadily relapsed to 93% at 21 days. Tissue mineral density and per cent bone volume increased over the experimental period. Inversely, there was a decrease in total porosity. Gene expression of OCN, Coll‐I and ALP decreased during OTM, whilst as the molars relapsed showed tended to increase. Gene expression of RANKL and TRAP increased during OTM. Changes in mRNA expression of H+‐ATPase were minor. By 21 days post‐appliance removal, the remodelling process in rats appeared to have returned to control levels.

Conclusions

Bone tissue reactions on a molecular level are similar during OTM and orthodontic relapse. These findings validate the importance of immediate retention following active OTM.
Unravelling the complex structure of forest soil food webs: higher omnivory and more trophic levels
Authors: Digel Christoph , Curtsdotter Alva , Riede Jens , Klarner Bernhard , Brose Ulrich
Published: June 2014

Food web topologies depict the community structure as distributions of feeding interactions across populations. Although the soil ecosystem provides important functions for aboveground ecosystems, data on complex soil food webs is notoriously scarce, most likely due to the difficulty of sampling and characterizing the system. To fill this gap we assembled the complex food webs of 48 forest soil communities. The food webs comprise 89 to 168 taxa and 729 to 3344 feeding interactions. The feeding links were established by combining several molecular methods (stable isotope, fatty acid and molecular gut content analyses) with feeding trials and literature data. First, we addressed whether soil food webs (n = 48) differ significantly from those of other ecosystem types (aquatic and terrestrial aboveground, n = 77) by comparing 22 food web parameters. We found that our soil food webs are characterized by many omnivorous and cannibalistic species, more trophic chains and intraguild‐predation motifs than other food webs and high average and maximum trophic levels. Despite this, we also found that soil food webs have a similar connectance as other ecosystems, but interestingly a higher link density and clustering coefficient. These differences in network structure to other ecosystem types may be a result of ecosystem specific constraints on hunting and feeding characteristics of the species that emerge as network parameters at the food‐web level. In a second analysis of land‐use effects, we found significant but only small differences of soil food web structure between different beech and coniferous forest types, which may be explained by generally strong selection effects of the soil that are independent of human land use. Overall, our study has unravelled some systematic structures of soil food‐webs, which extends our mechanistic understanding how environmental characteristics of the soil ecosystem determine patterns at the community level.
Fire severity alters plant regeneration patterns and defense against herbivores in mixed aspen forests
Authors: Wan Ho Yi , Rhodes Aaron C. , St. Clair Samuel B.
Published: June 2014

Fire and herbivory are primary disturbances that often overlap and strongly influence plant community development, but it is unclear how herbivory changes in relation to variability in burn severity. With climate change expected to alter fire regimes globally there is a critical need to understand how heterogeneity in post‐fire habitat conditions modifies plant–herbivore interactions. We examined herbivory patterns, growth responses and defense chemistry expression (phenolic glycoside, condensed tannins) of regenerating aspen Populus tremuloides that experienced variable burn severity in the 2010 Twitchell Canyon Fire, Utah, USA. Browse damage was approximately 60% lower in moderate and high burn severity plots compared to low severity and unburned plots. Aspen regeneration density was 2.3 and 3.1 fold greater in high and moderate severity burn plots than in low severity and unburned plots. High burn severity stimulated photosynthesis, vertical growth and biomass accumulation. Defense chemistry expression responded dynamically over time depending on burn severity. From June to August, phenolic glycoside concentrations showed no significant change in unburned and low severity fire conditions but increased 79% and 139% in moderate and high severity burn environments. By the end of summer, condensed tannins increased six‐fold in high severity burn plots, with increases of 50% or less in the lower burn severity plots. Deer activity, as defined by pellet counts, was inversely related to fire severity and positively related to browse damage. Elk and cattle activity showed no significant relationship with browse activity. Greater light availability in higher severity burn environments appears to enhance tolerance and resistance of aspen against herbivory by increasing growth potential and defense chemistry expression of aspen. These results suggest that burn severity influences plant–herbivore interactions through bottom–up and top–down mechanisms, and that higher fire severity increases post‐disturbance vegetation recruitment potential by increasing resilience to herbivory.
REGULATORY RED TAPE AND PRIVATE FIRM PERFORMANCE
Authors: DE JONG GJALT , VAN WITTELOOSTUIJN ARJEN
Published: June 2014

Regulation may obstruct dynamic adaptation, innovative power, and entrepreneurial activity. On the other hand, regulation could be interpreted as a phenomenon which society just has to learn to live with, and which otherwise does no real economic harm. This article explores both of these hypotheses. We study the impact of three dimensions of regulatory red tape on the performance of private companies: regulation cost, regulation change, and regulation inconsistency. We analyse unique survey data from 530 Dutch private companies. The results show that regulation cost, inconsistency, and change limit sales turnover growth, and that regulation change hampers market competition performance.
Use of tranexamic acid in infants undergoing choroid plexus papilloma surgery: a report of two cases
Authors: Phi Ji H. , Goobie Susan M. , Hong Ki H. , Dholakia Ayesha , Smith Edward R.
Published: June 2014

Choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) is a highly vascular tumor of infancy. Reducing blood loss is the key to successful surgical removal of CPPs. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is efficacious in reducing bleeding in craniofacial surgery for infants. This report demonstrates the potential utility of TXA for decreasing blood loss in the removal of vascular tumors in infants. We administered tranexamic acid to two infants with CPP during surgical removal to potentially aid hemostasis and therefore lessen intra‐operative bleeding. Gross total surgical resection was accomplished; the patients were hemodynamically stable perioperatively, and the total calculated blood loss was minimal at <20% of the patients’ total circulating blood volume. This is the first report of tranexamic acid administration for CPP surgery in children. TXA is an easily administered hemostatic agent and may merit further study as an agent to help reduce intra‐operative blood loss in this vulnerable population.
Imatinib Mesylate–Induced Pseudoporphyria in Two Children
Authors: Mahon Caroline , Purvis Diana , Laughton Stephen , Bradbeer Peter , Teague Lochie
Published: June 2014

Imatinib mesylate was the first of several tyrosine kinase inhibitors approved for use in the treatment of a number of human cancers. Adverse cutaneous reactions to imatinib are common. Pseudoporphyria has been infrequently reported in adults undergoing imatinib therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia. We present two children with pseudoporphyria induced by imatinib therapy for hematologic malignancies. In view of the burgeoning use of imatinib in children, physicians should be aware that pseudoporphyria may develop as a consequence of imatinib therapy.
Restriction and dependence to autonomy and freedom: Transformation in adolescent heart transplant recipients
Authors: Adams Joanna , Evangeli Michael , Lunnon‐Wood Tracy , Burch Michael
Published: June 2014

The process of heart transplantation poses numerous challenges and adaptive tasks for paediatric patients and their families. Few studies have examined how the experience of transplant interacts with developmental transitions such as adolescence, a period of significant change, and adjustment in itself. We explored adolescent heart transplant recipients' and their parents' experience of transplant from the point at which their heart condition was diagnosed to several months after transplantation. We adopted a developmental focus, to consider how participants negotiated the tasks of adolescence in the context of their transplant experiences. A qualitative approach was used to interview five adolescent–parent dyads, who reported few post‐transplant complications, and the data were analysed according to the principles of IPA. Our findings revealed transplant to be a transformative experience, with two themes marking a contrast between pre‐ and post‐transplant states: “Restriction and Dependence” and “Autonomy and Freedom.” The themes are considered in relation to adolescent development. We propose that clinicians working with paediatric heart transplant recipients and their families need to consider the particular developmental challenges faced by adolescent patients and view the attainment of developmental milestones alongside physical and psychological markers of successful adjustment.
Registration And Visualisation Of Deformation Maps From Terrestrial Radar Interferometry Using Photogrammetry And Structure From Motion
Authors: Caduff Rafael , Rieke‐Zapp Dirk
Published: June 2014

This paper describes a general workflow for the registration of terrestrial radar interferometric data with 3D point clouds derived from terrestrial photogrammetry and structure from motion. After the determination of intrinsic and extrinsic orientation parameters, data obtained by terrestrial radar interferometry were projected on point clouds and then on the initial photographs. Visualisation of slope deformation measurements on photographs provides an easily understandable and distributable information product, especially of inaccessible target areas such as steep rock walls or in rockfall run‐out zones. The suitability and error propagation of the referencing steps and final visualisation of four approaches are compared: (a) the classic approach using a metric camera and stereo‐image photogrammetry; (b) images acquired with a metric camera, automatically processed using structure from motion; (c) images acquired with a digital compact camera, processed with structure from motion; and (d) a markerless approach, using images acquired with a digital compact camera using structure from motion without artificial ground control points. The usability of the completely markerless approach for the visualisation of high‐resolution radar interferometry assists the production of visualisation products for interpretation.
State of the art in high density image matching
Authors: Remondino Fabio , Spera Maria Grazia , Nocerino Erica , Menna Fabio , Nex Francesco
Published: June 2014

Image matching has a history of more than 50 years, with the first experiments performed with analogue procedures for cartographic and mapping purposes. The recent integration of computer vision algorithms and photogrammetric methods is leading to interesting procedures which have increasingly automated the entire image‐based 3D modelling process. Image matching is one of the key steps in 3D modelling and mapping. This paper presents a critical review and analysis of four dense image‐matching algorithms, available as open‐source and commercial software, for the generation of dense point clouds. The eight datasets employed include scenes recorded from terrestrial and aerial blocks, acquired with convergent and normal (parallel axes) images, and with different scales. Geometric analyses are reported in which the point clouds produced with each of the different algorithms are compared with one another and also to ground‐truth data.
Habermas in Environmental Thought
Authors: Gunderson Ryan
Published: June 2014

A number of environmental scholars have argued Jürgen Habermas' communicative theories contain important insights for developing discourse‐based models for making decisions about environmental risks and problems. Others have criticized Habermas for his anthropocentrism and split with the first‐generation Frankfurt School's social ecology. By repositioning these assessments into Habermas' theories and their development, I argue the dissimilar interpretations and applications of Habermasian theory in the environmental social sciences and humanities can be explained by the theme of Habermas' work highlighted by both groups. Environmental critics of Habermas tend to emphasize his substantive claims about human‐nature relations, whereas his environmental supporters tend to emphasize how his procedural theories of fair and inclusive discourse provide democratic alternatives to technocratic environmental decision‐making. Environmental scholars and sociologists can continue this fruitful “greening” of Habermasian theory by (1) merging the social ecology of the first‐generation Frankfurt School with Habermas' communicative theories and (2) continuing the development of discourse‐based environmental decision‐making models while attending to the concerns raised by Habermas' environmental critics.
Comparative Phenotypic and Genotypic Analyses of Salmonella Rissen that Originated from Food Animals in Thailand and United States
Authors: Pornsukarom S. , Patchanee P. , Erdman M. , Cray P. F. , Wittum T. , Lee J. , Gebreyes W. A.
Published: June 2014

Salmonella enterica serovar Rissen has been recognized as one of the most common serovar among humans and pork production systems in different parts of the world, especially Asia. In the United States, this serovar caused outbreaks but its epidemiologic significance remains unknown. The objectives of this study were to compare the phenotypic (antimicrobial susceptibility) and genotypic attributes of Salmonella Rissen isolated in Thailand (Thai) and the United States (US). All the Thai isolates (n = 30) were recovered from swine faecal samples. The US isolates (n = 35) were recovered from swine faecal samples (n = 29), cattle (n = 2), chicken (n = 2), dog (n = 1) and a ready‐to‐eat product (n = 1). The antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates was determined using the Kirby‐Bauer disk diffusion method with a panel of 12 antimicrobials. Pulse‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to determine the genotypic diversity of isolates. All Thai isolates showed multidrug resistance (MDR) with the most frequent antibiotic resistance shown against ampicillin (100%), sulfisoxazole (96.7%), tetracycline (93.3%), streptomycin (90%) and chloramphenicol (30%). About half of the isolates of USA origin were pan‐susceptible and roughly 30% were resistant to only tetracycline (R‐type: Te). Salmonella Rissen isolated from Thailand and the USA in this study were found to be clonally unrelated. Genotypic analyses indicated that isolates were clustered primarily based on the geographic origin implying the limited clonality among the strains. Clonal relatedness among different host species within the same geography (USA) was found. We found genotypic similarity in Thai and US isolates in few instances but with no epidemiological link. Further studies to assess propensity for increased inter‐regional transmission and dissemination is warranted.
Tonic arterial chemoreceptor activity contributes to cardiac sympathetic activation in mild ovine heart failure
Authors: Xing Daniel T. , May Clive N. , Booth Lindsea C. , Ramchandra Rohit
Published: June 2014

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

What is the role of the peripheral chemoreflex in driving the increased levels of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in heart failure?

What is the main finding and its importance?

We show that chemoreceptor deactivation by hyperoxia significantly decreased the elevated levels of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate in mild ovine heart failure. Our findings suggest that interventional strategies that reduce chemoreceptor afferent activity in heart failure will reduce the elevated level of cardiac sympathetic drive and its associated detrimental effects.

Heart failure (HF) is associated with a large increase in cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (CSNA), which has detrimental effects on the heart and promotes arrhythmias and sudden death. There is increasing evidence that arterial chemoreceptor activation plays an important role in stimulating renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and muscle sympathetic nerve activity in HF. Given that sympathetic nerve activity to individual organs is differentially controlled, we investigated whether tonic arterial chemoreceptor activation contributes to the increased CSNA in HF. We recorded CSNA and RSNA in conscious normal sheep and in sheep with mild HF induced by rapid ventricular pacing (ejection fraction <40%). Tonic arterial chemoreceptor function was evaluated by supplementing room air with 100% intranasal oxygen (2–3 l min−1) for 20 min, thereby deactivating chemoreceptors. The effects of hyperoxia on resting levels and baroreflex control of heart rate, CSNA and RSNA were determined. In HF, chemoreceptor deactivation induced by hyperoxia significantly reduced CSNA [90 ± 2 versus 75 ± 5 bursts (100 heart beats)−1, P < 0.05, n = 10; room air versus hyperoxia] and heart rate (96 ± 4 versus 85 ± 4 beats min−1, P < 0.001, n = 12). There was no change in RSNA burst incidence [93 ± 4 versus 92 ± 4 bursts (100 heart beats)−1, n = 7], although due to the bradycardia the RSNA burst frequency was decreased (90 ± 8 versus 77 ± 7 bursts min−1, P < 0.001). In normal sheep, chemoreceptor deactivation reduced heart rate without a significant effect on CSNA or RSNA. In summary, deactivation of peripheral chemoreceptors during HF reduced the elevated levels of CSNA, indicating that tonic arterial chemoreceptor activation plays a critical role in stimulating the elevated CSNA in HF.
One-Pot Shear Synthesis of Gallium, Indium, and Indium–Bismuth Nanofluids: An Experimental and Computational Study
Authors: Starace Anne K. , Kang Joongoo , Zhu Junyi , Gomez Judith C. , Glatzmaier Greg C.
Published: June 2014

Nanofluids are often proposed as advanced heat transfer fluids. In this work, using a one-step nanoemulsification method, we synthesize gallium, indium, and indium–bismuth nanofluids in poly-alpha-olefin (PAO). The size distributions of the resulting nanoparticles are analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the alloy nanoparticles indicates that their composition is the same as that of the bulk alloy. It was found that oleylamine stabilizes both gallium and indium particles in PAO, while oleic acid is effective for gallium particles only. The microscopic adsorption mechanism of surfactants on gallium and indium surfaces is investigated using density functional theory (DFT) to understand why oleylamine is effective for both metals while oleic acid is effective for gallium only.
Molecular basis of transcription pausing
Authors: Roberts Jeffrey W.
Published: June 2014

RNA polymerase progression is regulated by a ubiquitous DNA consensus sequence to mediate RNA utilization

[Also see Report by

Vvedenskaya
et al.

]
Science Translational Medicine
Podcast: 11 June 2014
Authors: Kuo John S. , Frisk Megan
Published: June 2014

John S. Kuo describes a new class of small-molecule, cancer-selective imaging and therapeutic agents.
Sporadic Distribution and Distinctive Variations of Cylindrospermopsin Genes in Cyanobacterial Strains and Environmental Samples from Chinese Freshwater Bodies
Authors: Jiang Yongguang , Xiao Peng , Yu Gongliang , Shao Jihai , Liu Deming , Azevedo Sandra M. F. O. , Li Renhui
Published: June 2014

Increasing reports of cylindrospermopsins (CYNs) in freshwater ecosystems have promoted the demand for identifying all of the potential CYN-producing cyanobacterial species. The present study explored the phylogenetic distribution and evolution of
cyr
genes in cyanobacterial strains and water samples from China. Four
Cylindrospermopsis
strains and two
Raphidiopsis
strains were confirmed to produce CYNs. Mutant
cyrI
and
cyrK
genes were observed in these strains. Cloned
cyr
gene sequences from eight water bodies were clustered with
cyr
genes from
Cylindrospermopsis
and
Raphidiopsis
(C/R group) in the phylogenetic trees with high similarities (99%). Four
cyrI
sequence types and three
cyrJ
sequence types were observed to have different sequence insertions and repeats. Phylogenetic analysis of the
rpoC1
sequences of the C/R group revealed four conserved clades, namely, clade I, clade II, clade III, and clade V. High sequence similarities (>97%) in each clade and a divergent clade IV were observed. Therefore, CYN producers were sporadically distributed in congeneric and paraphyletic C/R group species in Chinese freshwater ecosystems. In the evolution of
cyr
genes, intragenomic translocations and intergenomic transfer between local
Cylindrospermopsis
and
Raphidiopsis
were emphasized and probably mediated by transposases. This research confirms the existence of CYN-producing
Cylindrospermopsis
in China and reveals the distinctive variations of
cyr
genes.
Novel Three-Component Rieske Non-Heme Iron Oxygenase System Catalyzing the
N
-Dealkylation of Chloroacetanilide Herbicides in Sphingomonads DC-6 and DC-2
Authors: Chen Qing , Wang Cheng-Hong , Deng Shi-Kai , Wu Ya-Dong , Li Yi , Yao Li , Jiang Jian-Dong , Yan Xin , He Jian , Li Shun-Peng
Published: June 2014

Sphingomonads DC-6 and DC-2 degrade the chloroacetanilide herbicides alachlor, acetochlor, and butachlor via
N
-dealkylation. In this study, we report a three-component Rieske non-heme iron oxygenase (RHO) system catalyzing the
N
-dealkylation of these herbicides. The oxygenase component gene
cndA
is located in a transposable element that is highly conserved in the two strains. CndA shares 24 to 42% amino acid sequence identities with the oxygenase components of some RHOs that catalyze
N
- or
O
-demethylation. Two putative [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin genes and one glutathione reductase (GR)-type reductase gene were retrieved from the genome of each strain. These genes were not located in the immediate vicinity of
cndA
. The four ferredoxins share 64 to 72% amino acid sequence identities to the ferredoxin component of dicamba
O
-demethylase (DMO), and the two reductases share 62 to 65% amino acid sequence identities to the reductase component of DMO.
cndA
, the four ferredoxin genes, and the two reductases genes were expressed in
Escherichia coli
, and the recombinant proteins were purified using Ni-affinity chromatography. The individual components or the components in pairs displayed no activity; the enzyme mixture showed
N
-dealkylase activities toward alachlor, acetochlor, and butachlor only when CndA-His
6
was combined with one of the four ferredoxins and one of the two reductases, suggesting that the enzyme consists of three components, a homo-oligomer oxygenase, a [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin, and a GR-type reductase, and CndA has a low specificity for the electron transport component (ETC). The
N
-dealkylase utilizes NADH, but not NADPH, as the electron donor.
Metaproteomic Identification of Diazotrophic Methanotrophs and Their Localization in Root Tissues of Field-Grown Rice Plants
Authors: Bao Zhihua , Okubo Takashi , Kubota Kengo , Kasahara Yasuhiro , Tsurumaru Hirohito , Anda Mizue , Ikeda Seishi , Minamisawa Kiwamu
Published: June 2014

In a previous study by our group, CH
4
oxidation and N
2
fixation were simultaneously activated in the roots of wild-type rice plants in a paddy field with no N input; both processes are likely controlled by a rice gene for microbial symbiosis. The present study examined which microorganisms in rice roots were responsible for CH
4
oxidation and N
2
fixation under the field conditions. Metaproteomic analysis of root-associated bacteria from field-grown rice (
Oryza sativa
Nipponbare) revealed that nitrogenase complex-containing nitrogenase reductase (NifH) and the alpha subunit (NifD) and beta subunit (NifK) of dinitrogenase were mainly derived from type II methanotrophic bacteria of the family
Methylocystaceae
, including
Methylosinus
spp. Minor nitrogenase proteins such as
Methylocella
,
Bradyrhizobium
,
Rhodopseudomonas
, and
Anaeromyxobacter
were also detected. Methane monooxygenase proteins (PmoCBA and MmoXYZCBG) were detected in the same bacterial group of the
Methylocystaceae
. Because these results indicated that
Methylocystaceae
members mediate both CH
4
oxidation and N
2
fixation, we examined their localization in rice tissues by using catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence
in situ
hybridization (CARD-FISH). The methanotrophs were localized around the epidermal cells and vascular cylinder in the root tissues of the field-grown rice plants. Our metaproteomics and CARD-FISH results suggest that CH
4
oxidation and N
2
fixation are performed mainly by type II methanotrophs of the
Methylocystaceae
, including
Methylosinus
spp., inhabiting the vascular bundles and epidermal cells of rice roots.
Alternative Sigma Factors SigF, SigE, and SigG Are Essential for Sporulation in Clostridium botulinum ATCC 3502
Authors: Kirk David G. , Zhang Zhen , Korkeala Hannu , Lindström Miia
Published: June 2014

Clostridium botulinum
produces heat-resistant endospores that may germinate and outgrow into neurotoxic cultures in foods. Sporulation is regulated by the transcription factor Spo0A and the alternative sigma factors SigF, SigE, SigG, and SigK in most spore formers studied to date. We constructed mutants of
sigF
,
sigE
, and
sigG
in
C. botulinum
ATCC 3502 and used quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and electron microscopy to assess their expression of the sporulation pathway on transcriptional and morphological levels. In all three mutants the expression of
spo0A
was disrupted. The
sigF
and
sigE
mutants failed to induce
sigG
and
sigK
beyond exponential-phase levels and halted sporulation during asymmetric cell division. In the
sigG
mutant, peak transcription of
sigE
was delayed and
sigK
levels remained lower than that in the parent strain. The
sigG
mutant forespore was engulfed by the mother cell and possessed a spore coat but no peptidoglycan cortex. The findings suggest that SigF and SigE of
C. botulinum
ATCC 3502 are essential for early sporulation and late-stage induction of
sigK
, whereas SigG is essential for spore cortex formation but not for coat formation, as opposed to previous observations in
B. subtilis sigG
mutants. Our findings add to a growing body of evidence that regulation of sporulation in
C. botulinum
ATCC 3502, and among the clostridia, differs from the
B. subtilis
model.
Latex Clearing Protein—an Oxygenase Cleaving Poly(
cis
-1,4-Isoprene) Rubber at the
cis
Double Bonds
Authors: Hiessl Sebastian , Böse Dietrich , Oetermann Sylvia , Eggers Jessica , Pietruszka Jörg , Steinbüchel Alexander
Published: June 2014

Gordonia polyisoprenivorans
strain VH2, a potent rubber-degrading actinomycete, harbors two latex clearing proteins (Lcps), which are known to be essential for the microbial degradation of rubber. However, biochemical information on the exact role of this protein in the degradation of polyisoprene was lacking. In this study, the gene encoding Lcp1
VH2
was heterologously expressed in strains of
Escherichia coli
, the corresponding protein was purified, and its role in rubber degradation was examined by measurement of oxygen consumption as well as by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. It turned out that active Lcp1
VH2
is a monomer and is responsible for the oxidative cleavage of poly(
cis
-1,4-isoprene) in synthetic as well as in natural rubber by the addition of oxygen (O
2
) to the
cis
double bonds. The resulting oligomers possess repetitive isoprene units with aldehyde (CHO-CH
2
—) and ketone (—CH
2
-CO-CH
3
) functional groups at the termini. Two fractions with average isoprene contents of 18 and 10, respectively, were isolated, thus indicating an endocleavage mechanism. The activity of Lcp1
VH2
was determined by applying a polarographic assay. Alkenes, acyclic terpenes, or other rubber-like polymers, such as poly(
cis
-1,4-butadiene) or poly(
trans
-1,4-isoprene), are not oxidatively cleaved by Lcp1
VH2
. The pH and temperature optima of the enzyme are at pH 7 and 30°C, respectively. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that active Lcp1
VH2
is a Cu(II)-containing oxygenase that exhibits a conserved domain of unknown function which cannot be detected in any other hitherto-characterized enzyme. The results presented here indicate that this domain might represent a new protein family of oxygenases.
Binding Site Concentration Explains the Differential Susceptibility of Chilo suppressalis and Sesamia inferens to Cry1A-Producing Rice
Authors: Han Lanzhi , Han Chao , Liu Zewen , Chen Fajun , Jurat-Fuentes Juan Luis , Hou Maolin , Peng Yufa
Published: June 2014

Chilo suppressalis
and
Sesamia inferens
are two important lepidopteran rice pests that occur concurrently during outbreaks in paddy fields in the main rice-growing areas of China. Previous and current field tests demonstrate that the transgenic rice line Huahui 1 (HH1) producing a Cry1Ab-Cry1Ac hybrid toxin from the bacterium
Bacillus thuringiensis
reduces egg and larval densities of
C. suppressalis
but not of
S. inferens
. This differential susceptibility to HH1 rice correlates with the reduced susceptibility to Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac toxins in
S. inferens
larvae compared to
C. suppressalis
larvae. The goal of this study was to identify the mechanism responsible for this differential susceptibility. In saturation binding assays, both Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac toxins bound with high affinity and in a saturable manner to midgut brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from
C. suppressalis
and
S. inferens
larvae. While binding affinities were similar, a dramatically lower concentration of Cry1A toxin binding sites was detected for
S. inferens
BBMV than for
C. suppressalis
BBMV. In contrast, no significant differences between species were detected for Cry1Ca toxin binding to BBMV. Ligand blotting detected BBMV proteins binding Cry1Ac or Cry1Ca toxins, some of them unique to
C. suppressalis
or
S. inferens
. These data support that reduced Cry1A binding site concentration is associated with a lower susceptibility to Cry1A toxins and HH1 rice in
S. inferens
larvae than in
C. suppressalis
larvae. Moreover, our data support Cry1Ca as a candidate for pyramiding efforts with Cry1A-producing rice to extend the activity range and durability of this technology against rice stem borers.