bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transforming Coercive into Constructive Processes with Families of Children with Developmental Disabilities and Severe Problem Behavior
Authors: Lucyshyn Joseph , Fossett Brenda , Cheremshynski Christy , Miller Lynn , Lohrmann Sharon , Binnendyk Lauren , Khan Sophia , Chinn Stephen , Kwon Samantha , Irvin Larry
Published: October 2015

This chapter describes an ecological approach to behavioral intervention with families of children with developmental disabilities and severe problem behavior that is designed to promote survivable interventions in family contexts. The approach, ecological family centered positive behavior support, is based on an ecological unit of analysis, coercive processes in family routines. The unit of analysis represents a synthesis of behavioral theory, coercion theory, and ecocultural theory. The approach aims to transform coercive into constructive processes in family routines. The chapter discusses the challenges faced by families raising a child with a developmental disability. It describes the components of the ecological unit of analysis and their contributions to tertiary level behavioral intervention with families. Results of a longitudinal intervention study that investigated the efficacy of the approach are presented. Implications are offered for assessment and intervention with families of children with developmental disabilities who may need tertiary level behavioral intervention services.
Geographies of the Protestant Reformation
Authors: Murdock Graeme
Published: October 2015

This chapter considers the dynamic geography of Protestant Europe. It analyzes attempts to map the impact of Protestantism across the Continent, highlighting the difficulty of presenting any sort of reliable depiction of the complex ways in which Protestant and Catholic societies divided and shared space in Europe. It examines the relationship between Protestant confessional frontiers and state borders. It also considers key factors that help to explain the spread and extent of Protestantism focusing on the role of towns and of linguistic affinity. It concludes by referencing a text on traveling across Europe on the outbreak of the Thirty Years War to reflect on the spatial imagination of Protestants.
Calvin and Reformed Protestantism
Authors: Holt Mack P.
Published: October 2015

Reformed Protestantism originated in the 1520s in both Zurich under the direction of Ulrich Zwingli and in Strasbourg under the influence of Martin Bucer and several others. It was not until Guillaume Farel and John Calvin arrived in Geneva in the 1530s, however, that it became a major force of the Reformation. Although theologically very similar to Lutheranism, including Calvin’s views on predestination, theology was never the foundation of Reformed identity. An emphasis on independence from the secular state as well as enhanced moral discipline, specifically in the development of the institution of the consistory in Geneva, are what made Reformed Protestantism distinct. Although it spread quickly and significantly throughout Europe and the New World, it invariably was forced to adapt to differing political and cultural circumstances in every case. Thus, while Calvin’s Geneva was always the prototype for Reformed Protestantism, it never became a model to be copied elsewhere.
Emergence of the Provinces
Authors: Wolters Reinhard
Published: October 2015

This chapter examines how Germania Inferior and Germania Superior were established as provinces of Roman Germany, with particular emphasis on their link to the offensive military campaigns that took place in Augustan and early Tiberian times on the right bank of the Rhine. It first considers the arrival of the Romans on the Rhine and how the Germani became neighbours of the Roman Empire. It then discusses the Roman occupation of Germania and describes Germania under Roman rule. It also tackles the question of whether Germania east of the Rhine was already a province of the Roman Empire during this period; the annihilation of the Roman army headed by P. Quinctilius Varus in Germania; and the constitution of two Germanic provincesunder Domitian.
Religion, Politics, and Economic Development
Authors: Marshall Katherine
Published: October 2015

This article explores the interrelationships among religion, politics, and economic development, with emphasis on the transnational dimensions of religious interactions with development institutions and thinking. It highlights the disconnects and tensions between the worlds of development and faith, as well as their synergies. It shows how the political dimensions of religious and development politics take very different forms in different parts of the world by citing the experiences of a number of countries such as the Philippines, Guatemala, Kenya, Morocco, and Cambodia. The focus is on the role of religion in international relations and in the broader politics of development. Two major religious actors that are especially visible and have a major transnational influence are the Catholic Church and Islam. The article also considers events that have opened eyes and doors on how faith and development are intertwined, particularly the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
Organizing for Prosperity
Authors: Keefer Philip
Published: October 2015

The ability of citizens to act collectively plays a central role in major debates in the political economy of development, including the causes and consequences of democratization and clientelism. This article uses two lines of research to underscore the importance of explicitly introducing the organization of collective action into these debates. Exhaustive research on the management of open access resources demonstrates that citizens’ ability to act collectively depends on nontrivial organizational arrangements that allow leaders to sanction free-riding and allow members to replace leaders if they shirk. Other research demonstrates wide variability in the organization of political parties. In countries where political parties do not have these two organizational characteristics, public policies are less friendly to economic development. This evidence suggests that, in future research on democracy, state-building, and development, citizen organization should be an explicit object of analysis.
Early Modern Reformed Eschatology
Authors: Gribben Crawford
Published: October 2015

Reformed Christians developed their eschatological thinking in reaction to the claims of both Roman Catholic and Anabaptist theologians, both in rejecting the doctrine of purgatory and in rejecting the doctrine of a future millennium. The Reformed elaborated upon their eschatological convictions in a series of confessions of faith, which were frequently expanded upon, and sometimes entirely rejected—and especially in the seventeenth century, when the adoption by English Puritans of millennial expectations challenged the purpose and authority of a European creedal consensus. Time-bound and geared toward the historical moment, it is in discussions of eschatology that early modern Reformed theologians seem least likely to meet the expectations of their modern readers.
Screening Brassicaceous Plants as Biofumigants for Management of Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA
Authors: Handiseni Maxwell , Jo Young-Ki , Lee Kyung-Min , Zhou Xin-Gen
Published: October 2015

Brassicaceae plants rich in glucosinolates have been used as biofumigants for management of Rhizoctonia solani (teleomorph: Thanatephorus cucumeris) and other soilborne pathogens. Efficacy of brassica plant tissue has mainly been attributed to toxic isothiocyanates released upon hydrolysis of glucosinolates. Management of R. solani AG 1-IA, the causal agent of sheath blight in rice (Oryza sativa), using biofumigation, is promising but needs more validation. Biofumigation activity of nine Brassicaceae plants and two other related species were evaluated in vitro with soils from Texas, Arkansas, or Mississippi. All plants evaluated significantly suppressed the mycelium growth of R. solani AG 1-IA. Mustard (Brassica juncea) cultivars (‘Brand 199’, ‘Ruby Streak’, ‘Florida Broadleaf’, and ‘Green Wave’) consistently provided the greatest (>90%) mycelial inhibition, while sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and Chinese cabbage (B. rapa) had the least suppressive effect. B. juncea ‘Red Giant’ and ‘Sheali Hong’, turnip (B. rapa), kale (B. oleracea), and arugula (Eruca sativa) showed intermediate efficacy or were inconsistent. Effects of soil pasteurization and plant tissue amendment rates were examined with B. juncea Brand 199 and Texas soil. Inhibition of mycelial growth became greater with increasing plant amendment rates up to 3.2% (wt/wt) in the soil. Soil pasteurization almost completely suppressed the release of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC). The nonpasteurized soil amended with 0.5% (wt/wt) of the plant material released 96% more AITC than the soil amended with 0.25% (wt/wt) of the plant material. The highest levels of AITC release were observed at 12 and 24 h after soil amendment, with 0.25 and 0.5% (wt/wt) of the plant material, respectively. Antifungal effects of B. juncea are attributed to dose-dependent production of volatile AITC and could be used for managing rice sheath blight caused by R. solani AG 1-IA.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Treatment of Severe, Recurrent, and Refractory Clostridium difficile Infection in a Severely Immunocompromised Patient
Authors: Ramay Fariha H. , Amoroso Anthony , von Rosenvinge Erik C. , Saharia Kapil
Published: October 2015

Information on the safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) among immunocompromised patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is limited, and some have recommended avoiding FMT in this population. We report a case of severe, refractory CDI in an orthotopic heart transplant recipient with pre-existing CD4 lymphopenia. Our experience suggests that FMT can be safe and effective in treating CDI in immunocompromised patients with acute illness.
Growth and Tolerance of Preterm Infants Fed a New Extensively Hydrolyzed Liquid Human Milk Fortifier
Authors: Kim Jae H. , Chan Gary , Schanler Richard , Groh‐Wargo Sharon , Bloom Barry , Dimmit Reed , Williams Larry , Baggs Geraldine , Barrett‐Reis Bridget
Published: October 2015

Objectives:

This study was a comparison of growth and tolerance in premature infants fed either standard powdered human milk fortifier (HMF) or a newly formulated concentrated liquid that contained extensively hydrolyzed protein.

Methods:

This was an unblinded randomized controlled multicenter noninferiority study on preterm infants receiving human milk (HM) supplemented with 2 randomly assigned HMFs, either concentrated liquid HMF containing extensively hydrolyzed protein (LE‐HMF) or a powdered intact protein HMF (PI‐HMF) as the control. The study population consisted of preterm infants ≤33 weeks who were enterally fed HM. Infants were studied from the first day of HM fortification until day 29 or hospital discharge, whichever came first.

Results:

A total of 147 preterm infants were enrolled. Noninferiority was observed in weight gain reported in the intent‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis was 18.2 and 17.5 g · kg−1 · day−1 for the LE‐HMF and PI‐HMF groups, respectively. In an a priori defined subgroup of strict protocol followers (n = 75), the infants fed LE‐HMF achieved greater weight over time than those fed PI‐HMF (P = 0.036). The LE‐HMF group achieved greater linear growth over time compared to the PI‐HMF (P = 0.029). The protein intake from fortified HM was significantly higher in the LE‐HMF group compared with the PI‐HMF group (3.9 vs 3.3 g · kg−1 · day−1, P < 0.0001). Both fortifiers were well tolerated with no significant differences in overall morbidity.

Conclusions:

Both fortifiers showed excellent weight gain (grams per kilograms per day), tolerance, and low incidence of morbidity outcomes with the infants who were strict protocol followers fed LE‐HMF having improved growth during the study. These data point to the safety and suitability of this new concentrated liquid HMF (LE‐HMF) in preterm infants. Growth with this fortifier closely matches the recent recommendations for a weight gain of >18 g · kg−1 · day−1.
Value co-creation and stakeholder complexity: what strategy can learn from churches
Authors: Grandy Gina , Levit Tatiana
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to extend understandings of the demand-side view of strategy and how organizations co-create value with stakeholders. Through an iterative process of theory development, data collection, data analysis and writing, the authors propose a value co-creation perspective that more fully takes into account stakeholder complexity.

Design/methodology/approach

– The empirical data derives from a wider exploratory study on value creation and competitive advantage in Christian churches in Canada. Here the authors explore one case study from that wider study and analyze interviews with church members and leaders.

Findings

– The authors discuss two mutually constitutive processes of value co-creation, building a culture of community and enacting relational and shared leadership.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors propose a stakeholder-complex understanding of value creation where stakeholders can enact multiple roles, often simultaneously, in co-creation and where products/services are consumed for their symbolic, rather than material value. Further, co-creation may involve ongoing interactions and value creation can occur in non-monetary transactions.

Originality/value

– The authors offer, through an empirical exploration of a religious organization, an illustrative account of how value co-creation might be tied to stakeholder complexity. This study stretches the boundaries of mainstream strategy research by challenging two fundamental assumptions: that stakeholder roles must be distinct and that “value” must be clearly defined and explicitly linked to exchange value.
Assessment of myometrial invasion in endometrial cancer using three‐dimensional ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Christensen Julie W. , Dueholm Margit , Hansen Estrid S. , Marinovskij Edward , Lundorf Erik , Ørtoft Gitte
Published: October 2015

Introduction

Preoperative knowledge of myometrial invasion in endometrial cancer is important for surgical planning. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic efficiency of two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) with and without saline infusion (SIS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessment of myometrial invasion in endometrial cancer.

Material and methods

110 women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial adenocarcinoma underwent preoperative 2D‐ and 3D‐TVS with and without SIS and MRI. Offline 3D‐TVS measurement was performed of the minimal tumor‐free margin in relation to myometrial thickness expressed as deep (≥50%) myometrial invasion and subjective impression of cervix involvement. The quality of images was also evaluated. Diagnostic efficiencies were calculated for myometrial and cervical involvement for each method. The pathologist's final diagnosis served as the reference standard.

Results

For myometrial involvement, MRI showed greater accuracy than 3D‐TVS or 2D‐TVS (83, 71 and 75%, respectively). The efficiency of 3D‐TVS was not superior to 2D‐TVS and did not improve with SIS. The sensitivities of 2D‐TVS and 3D‐TVS were similar to that of MRI, and the efficiency of 3D‐TVS improved when volumes of inadequate quality (39%) were excluded. For evaluating cervical involvement, the accuracy of 3D‐TVS was 85%, comparable to the results of 2D‐TVS (80%) and MRI (85%). The results did not improve when saline was added.

Conclusion

3D‐TVS or 3D‐SIS was not more efficient than 2D‐TVS or MRI for assessment of myometrial invasion in endometrial cancer. 3D‐TVS assessment without 2D‐TVS was impeded by difficulties in obtaining 3D‐TVS volumes of sufficient quality.
Introduction of macarpine as a novel cell‐permeant DNA dye for live cell imaging and flow cytometry sorting
Authors: Slaninová Iva , López‐Sánchez Noelia , Šebrlová Kristýna , Vymazal Ondřej , Frade José María , Táborská Eva
Published: October 2015

Background Information

Macarpine (MA) is a quaternary benzophenanthridine plant alkaloid isolated from Macleaya microcarpa or Stylophorum lasiocarpum. Benzophenanthridine alkaloids are interesting natural products that display antiproliferative, antimicrobial, antifungal and anti‐inflammatory activities, and also fluorescence properties. In a previous study, we demonstrated that thanks to its ability to interact with DNA and its spectral properties MA could be used as a supravital DNA probe for fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry including analyses of the cell cycle. In this study, we evaluated the suitability of MA as a DNA dye for time‐lapse microscopy and flow‐cytometric cell sorting.

Results

Living A‐375 and MEF cells stained with MA were monitored by time‐lapse microscopy for 24 h. Mitoses were observed at MA concentrations up to 0.5 μg/ml during the first 2–3 h. After this period of time, cells treated with MA at concentrations of 0.75 and 0.5 μg/ml underwent apoptosis. Cells cultivated with MA at concentration of 0.25 μg/ml or lower survived throughout the 24 h period. Toxicity of MA was dependent on light wavelength and frequency of image capturing. The intensity of MA fluorescence decreased during the incubation. MA concentration of 0.1 μg/ml was identified as the most suitable for live cell imaging with respect to fluorescence intensity and toxicity. MA at the concentration 10 μg/ml was used for sorting of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)‐labelled neurons and fibroblasts yielding profiles similar to those obtained with DRAQ5. Contrary to DRAQ5, MA‐stained cells survived in culture, and the sorted cells lost the MA signal suggesting reversible binding of the dye to the DNA.

Conclusion

The results proved that MA may readily be used for chromosomes depicting and mitosis monitoring by time‐lapse microscopy. In addition, MA has shown to be a suitable probe for sorting of EGFP‐labelled cells, including neurons, that survived the labelling process.

Significance

In consideration of the results, we highly anticipate an onward use of MA in a broad range of applications based on live cell sorting and imaging, for example, cell synchronisation and monitoring of proliferation as an important experimental and/or diagnostic utility.
Does the severity of disability matter? The opinion of parents about professional support in residential facilities
Authors: Luijkx J. , Ten Brug A. , Vlaskamp C.
Published: October 2015

Background

Researchers have shown that the characteristics of a person with an intellectual disability (ID), in particular the severity of the disability, are related to the outcomes of professional support. Hardly any studies have asked parents and/or legal guardians for their own opinion about the quality of support given to their child/family member with ID. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between the severity of a person's disability and the opinions voiced by the parents and/or other legal guardians of that person concerning several aspects of the quality of support received in residential care.

Method

Questionnaires were completed by 1058 parents and/or legal guardians of people with ID living in residential facilities. A multiple covariance analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between the severity of the disability and the parents' and/or legal guardians' opinions.

Results

Only small differences in the opinions about the quality of support were observed between parents and/or legal guardians of people with mild to moderate ID and those of people with severe to profound ID.

Conclusion

This study showed that there are differences in parental opinions about the quality of support, but that most of these differences are not related to the severity of disability. The only significant difference related to the severity of disability is on the leisure activities domain. Parents and/or legal guardians of a person with severe/profound ID were less satisfied with leisure activities than parents and/or legal guardians of persons with mild/moderate ID. It is important to determine to what other factors parental opinions are related, as these opinions concerning the quality of support are important measures alongside client self‐reports and measures of the facility itself. The quality of support should be measured using a combination of methods for different stakeholders.
Blocking autophagy enhances meloxicam lethality to hepatocellular carcinoma by promotion of endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Zhong Jingtao , Dong Xiaofeng , Xiu Peng , Wang Fuhai , Liu Ju , Wei Honglong , Xu Zongzhen , Liu Feng , Li Tao , Li Jie
Published: October 2015

Objectives

Meloxicam, a selective cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitor, has been demonstrated to exert anti‐tumour effects against various malignancies. However, up to now, mechanisms involved in meloxicam anti‐hepatocellular carcinoma effects have remained unclear.

Materials and methods

Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed by CCK‐8 and flow cytometry. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy‐associated molecules were analysed by western blotting and immunofluorescence assay. GRP78 and Atg5 knock‐down by siRNA or chemical inhibition was used to investigate cytotoxic effects of meloxicam treatment on HCC cells.

Results

We found that meloxicam led to apoptosis and autophagy in HepG2 and Bel‐7402 cells via a mechanism that involved ER stress. Up‐regulation of GRP78 signalling pathway from meloxicam‐induced ER stress was critical for activation of autophagy. Furthermore, autophagy activation attenuated ER stress‐related cell death. Blocking autophagy by 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA) or Atg5 siRNA knock‐down enhanced meloxicam lethality for HCC by activation of ER stress‐related apoptosis. In addition, GRP78 seemed to lead to autophagic activation via the AMPK–mTOR signalling pathway. Blocking AMPK with a chemical inhibitor inhibited autophagy suggesting that meloxicam‐regulated autophagy requires activation of AMPK.

Conclusions

Our results revealed that both ER stress and autophagy were involved in cell death evoked by meloxicam in HCC cells. This inhibition of autophagy to enhance meloxicam lethality, suggests a novel therapeutic strategy against HCC.
A case of insulin allergy successfully managed using multihexamer‐forming insulin degludec combined with liraglutide
Authors: Fujishiro M. , Izumida Y. , Takemiya S. , Kuwano Y. , Takamoto I. , Suzuki R. , Yamauchi T. , Ueki K. , Kadowaki T.
Published: October 2015

Background

Insulin allergy, one of insulin's adverse effects, is rare, especially in patients with Type 2 diabetes, but management is difficult and no effective strategy has yet been established. We experienced an insulin allergy case successfully managed with a novel combination of insulins.

Case report

A 38‐year‐old woman started insulin therapy when diabetes was diagnosed at age 19 years. Despite poorly controlled diabetes because of poor adherence, she hoped to conceive a child and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion was introduced using insulin aspart at age 32 years. One month thereafter, she developed skin reactions at the subcutaneous insulin infusion catheter insertion site. The patient was then tested for all rapid‐acting insulin formulations, all of which triggered local reactions. She decided to continue the continuous subcutaneous infusion of human regular insulin, accompanied by oral cetirizine hydrochloride and betamethasone valerate ointment. The patient was admitted to our hospital at age 38 years with high HbA1c levels. She was tested for all long‐acting insulin analogues. All results, except for insulin degludec, were positive. She discontinued continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and switched to insulin degludec combined with liraglutide. The allergic reactions had completely disappeared and her blood glucose was well controlled by the time of discharge.

Conclusion

Our patient was allergic to all insulin formulations except insulin degludec. Her allergic reactions completely disappeared after switching to insulin degludec. The crystallized structure of this insulin might mask its skin allergen antigenicity. Furthermore, her postprandial hyperglycaemia was successfully controlled with liraglutide. We propose multihexamer‐forming ultra‐long‐acting insulin plus glucagon‐like peptide‐1 analogues as a therapeutic option for patients with insulin allergy.
The Relevance of Hans‐Georg Gadamer's Concept of Tradition to the Philosophy of Education
Authors: Leiviskä Anniina
Published: October 2015

In this article, Anniina Leiviskä argues that the educational relevance of Hans‐Georg Gadamer's concept of tradition has remained unacknowledged because of the conservatism that has been associated with Gadamer's hermeneutics, particularly his notion of tradition. Therefore, Leiviskä seeks to reveal the reflective, nonconservative nature of Gadamer's concept of tradition in order to illuminate its significance with respect to the philosophy of education. Utilizing Gadamer's reinterpretation of the Aristotelian notion of phronesis, she outlines a concept of situated rationality that rests upon the idea of the historicity of human existence, and she suggests that this concept may be used to define a central aim of education. Leiviskä argues that instead of disengaged objectivity, rationality as phronesis stands for the reflective reappropriation of one's tradition, which is enabled by one's situatedness in history and requires encountering other horizons — including the horizons of the past — through which one may be addressed and challenged.
Can genetically based clines in plant defence explain greater herbivory at higher latitudes?
Authors: Anstett Daniel N. , Ahern Jeffrey R. , Glinos Julia , Nawar Nabanita , Salminen Juha‐Pekka , Johnson Marc T. J.
Published: October 2015

Greater plant defence is predicted to evolve at lower latitudes in response to increased herbivore pressure. However, recent studies question the generality of this pattern. In this study, we tested for genetically based latitudinal clines in resistance to herbivores and underlying defence traits of Oenothera biennis. We grew plants from 137 populations from across the entire native range of O. biennis. Populations from lower latitudes showed greater resistance to multiple specialist and generalist herbivores. These patterns were associated with an increase in total phenolics at lower latitudes. A significant proportion of the phenolics were driven by the concentrations of two major ellagitannins, which exhibited opposing latitudinal clines. Our analyses suggest that these findings are unlikely to be explained by local adaptation of herbivore populations or genetic variation in phenology. Rather greater herbivory at high latitudes can be explained by latitudinal clines in the evolution of plant defences.
Development of a New Method of Extraction of Interstitial Water from Low‐Porosity Consolidated Sediments Recovered During Super‐Deep Drilling Projects
Authors: Toki Tomohiro , Masuda Harue , Rashid Harunur , Hammerschmidt Sebastian , Shinjo Ryuichi
Published: October 2015

During the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 338, several methods were tested for the extraction of interstitial water in consolidated, low‐porosity deep‐sea sediments from Site C0002 in the Kumano Basin. On the basis of those tests, we propose a modified ground rock interstitial normative determination (GRIND) method of extraction of interstitial water. In separate runs of the new method, sediment samples were ground in a ball mill with either ultrapure water or a solution of HNO3. The interstitial water was then extracted with a conventional squeezer. Sufficient solution was extracted by this method to analyse most major and a few minor components of interstitial water that were comparable to those previously reported for samples extracted by the conventional squeezing method. The new method requires much smaller amounts of sediment than that of the conventional method and will be useful for analysis of samples recovered during super‐deep drilling programmes.
The N‐acetylglucosamine catabolic gene cluster in Trichoderma reesei is controlled by the Ndt80‐like transcription factor RON1
Authors: Kappel Lisa , Gaderer Romana , Flipphi Michel , Seidl‐Seiboth Verena
Published: October 2015

Chitin is an important structural constituent of fungal cell walls composed of N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) monosaccharides, but catabolism of GlcNAc has not been studied in filamentous fungi so far. In the yeast Candida albicans, the genes encoding the three enzymes responsible for stepwise conversion of GlcNAc to fructose‐6‐phosphate are clustered. In this work, we analysed GlcNAc catabolism in ascomycete filamentous fungi and found that the respective genes are also clustered in these fungi. In contrast to C. albicans, the cluster often contains a gene for an Ndt80‐like transcription factor, which we named RON1 (regulator of N‐acetylglucosamine catabolism 1). Further, a gene for a glycoside hydrolase 3 protein related to bacterial N‐acetylglucosaminidases can be found in the GlcNAc gene cluster in filamentous fungi. Functional analysis in Trichoderma reesei showed that the transcription factor RON1 is a key activator of the GlcNAc gene cluster and essential for GlcNAc catabolism. Furthermore, we present an evolutionary analysis of Ndt80‐like proteins in Ascomycota. All GlcNAc cluster genes, as well as the GlcNAc transporter gene ngt1, and an additional transcriptional regulator gene, csp2, encoding the homolog of Neurospora crassa CSP2/GRHL, were functionally characterised by gene expression analysis and phenotypic characterisation of knockout strains in T. reesei.
Use of telbivudine in kidney transplant recipients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: A preliminary experience
Authors: Yap Desmond Y. H. , Chan Tak Mao
Published: October 2015

Telbivudine is a relatively novel oral nucleoside analogue with favourable efficacy and tolerability in treatment‐naïve chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but its data in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) was lacking. The efficacy and tolerability of telbivudine in four treatment‐naïve HBsAg‐positive KTRs were reviewed (treatment duration 54 (36–72) months) HBV DNA declined from 2.6 × 105(7.8 × 103–1.5 × 107) copies/mL at baseline to 170 (0.0–3.2 × 104) copies/mL at 12 months, and became undetectable at 24 and 36 months (P = 0.060, 0.118 and 0.005 compared with baseline). Alanine aminotransferase levels dropped from 46.5 (30–48) IU/mL at baseline to 28 (13–45) IU/mL, 34.5 (15–71) IU/mL and 26 (12–41) IU/mL at 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively (P = 0.109, 0.715 and 0.068 compared with baseline). Serum creatinine level and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) remained stable after 36 months of treatment (P all > 0.05 compared with baseline). No virological breakthrough, cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma occurred. Our pilot data suggests that telbivudine has favourable efficacy and renal safety profiles in HBsAg‐positive KTRs.
Domestication footprints anchor genomic regions of agronomic importance in soybeans
Authors: Han Yingpeng , Zhao Xue , Liu Dongyuan , Li Yinghui , Lightfoot David A. , Yang Zhijiang , Zhao Lin , Zhou Gang , Wang Zhikun , Huang Long , Zhang Zhiwu , Qiu Lijuan , Zheng Hongkun , Li Wenbin
Published: October 2015

Present‐day soybeans consist of elite cultivars and landraces (Glycine max, fully domesticated (FD)), annual wild type (Glycine soja, nondomesticated (ND)), and semi‐wild type (semi‐domesticated (SD)). FD soybean originated in China, although the details of its domestication history remain obscure.

More than 500 diverse soybean accessions were sequenced using specific‐locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF‐seq) to address fundamental questions regarding soybean domestication.

In total, 64 141 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with minor allele frequencies (MAFs) > 0.05 were found among the 512 tested accessions. The results indicated that the SD group is not a hybrid between the FD and ND groups. The initial domestication region was pinpointed to central China (demarcated by the Great Wall to the north and the Qinling Mountains to the south). A total of 800 highly differentiated genetic regions and > 140 selective sweeps were identified, and these were three‐ and twofold more likely, respectively, to encompass a known quantitative trait locus (QTL) than the rest of the soybean genome. Forty‐three potential quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs; including 15 distinct traits) were identified by genome‐wide association mapping.

The results of the present study should be beneficial for soybean improvement and provide insight into the genetic architecture of traits of agronomic importance.
Corneille et Molière convives ?
Authors: Tobin Ronald W.
Published: October 2015

Je me propose à étudier le lexique gastronomique de Corneille, puis de Molière. Mon but serait de voir si, en fait, Corneille emploie suffisamment de mots savoureux, comme le fait abondamment Molière, pour être l'auteur de quelques pièces de celui‐ci. C'est dire que j'entreprendrai de revoir le couple Corneille‐Molière sous l'angle de l'importance de la gastronomie dans leurs comédies, car, paraît‐il, si Molière se nourrit, Corneille se contente de rester curieusement à jeun. On verra que Molière nous ouvre une perspective sur les us et coutumes de son pays que l'on ne retrouve pas chez Corneille. En fait, le désir de Molière de réunir toute la gamme des classes de son époque dans une réflexion sur la civilisation et ses malaises ouvre une abîme non seulement entre Molière et Corneille mais aussi entre l’époque de Louis XIV de celle de Louis XIII. Nulle part chez Corneille ne s'aperçoit‐on l’équivalent de la tentative moliéresque de représenter l'impulsion de l’âge classique de transformer le cru en cuit.
The Science of Public Administration: Problems, Presumptions, Progress, and Possibilities
Authors: Wright Bradley E.
Published: October 2015

Nearly 70 years ago, Dahl noted the difficulty of constructing a science of public administration that was plagued by three interrelated problems: values, behavior, and culture. Underlying all three problems was the presumption that public administration could establish a set of universal principles independent of moral or political ends, individual human differences, or social influences. In discussing these three broad and easily accessible themes, Dahl did more than identify and critique the field's problems and presumptions. He also provided a road map to move the field forward and establish a science of public administration. Drawing on the framework provided by Dahl, this article argues that the field has made considerable progress in recognizing, if not addressing, each problem raised by Dahl. Even so, several current presumptions or omissions are also identified that, if challenged, can provide additional possibilities to advance the science of public administration.
Effect of Different Media and Protein Source on Equine Gametes: Potential Impact During In Vitro Fertilization
Authors: González‐Fernández L , Macedo S , Lopes JS , Rocha A , Macías‐García B
Published: October 2015

Contents

Equine in vitro fertilization (IVF) is still inconsistent. In the present work, we studied how modified Whitten's (MW) medium and Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM) added with Foetal Bovine Serum (FBS; 10% v/v) or Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA; 7 mg/ml) affected equine gametes to subsequently run IVF trials. Compact (Cp) and expanded (Ex) cumuli equine oocytes were matured and placed in TCM or MW supplemented with BSA or FBS for 18–20 h (no sperm added). In Ex oocytes, TCM‐199 added with FBS or BSA resulted in higher metaphase II (MII) rates (75.7% and 62.7%, respectively) than MW added with BSA (54%) or FBS (52.2%; p < 0.05); this was not observed for Cp oocytes. Equine sperm were capacitated in the same media at 10 × 106 sperm/ml for 4 h at 37°C; total motility and protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PY) were evaluated. While motility remained unchanged, TCM or MW added with FBS enhanced the number of sperm showing PY‐stained tails (25 ± 4.8% and 31 ± 6.6%; mean ± SEM, respectively) over BSA supplemented media (3 ± 1.2% and 11.7 ± 1.1%) for TCM and MW (p < 0.05). In view of the previous results, sperm were capacitated in TCM + FBS and MW + BSA (control); IVF trials were run in the same media supplemented with 200 ng/ml of progesterone, but no fertilization occurred. Our results show that TCM + FBS enhances Ex equine oocyte's meiotic competence over MW + BSA and TCM or MW added with FBS successfully induce equine PY over media supplemented with BSA.
Role of Mitral Annulus Diastolic Geometry on Intraventricular Filling Dynamics
Authors: Okafor Ikechukwu U. , Santhanakrishnan Arvind , Raghav Vrishank S. , Yoganathan Ajit P.
Published: October 2015

The mitral valve (MV) is a bileaflet valve positioned between the left atrium and ventricle of the heart. The annulus of the MV has been observed to undergo geometric changes during the cardiac cycle, transforming from a saddle D-shape during systole to a flat (and less eccentric) D-shape during diastole. Prosthetic MV devices, including heart valves and annuloplasty rings, are designed based on these two configurations, with the circular design of some prosthetic heart valves (PHVs) being an approximation of the less eccentric, flat D-shape. Characterizing the effects of these geometrical variations on the filling efficiency of the left ventricle (LV) is required to understand why the flat D-shaped annulus is observed in the native MV during diastole in addition to optimizing the design of prosthetic devices. We hypothesize that the D-shaped annulus reduces energy loss during ventricular filling. An experimental left heart simulator (LHS) consisting of a flexible-walled LV physical model was used to characterize the filling efficiency of the two mitral annular geometries. The strength of the dominant vortical structure formed and the energy dissipation rate (EDR) of the measured fields, during the diastolic period of the cardiac cycle, were used as metrics to quantify the filling efficiency. Our results indicated that the O-shaped annulus generates a stronger (25% relative to the D-shaped annulus) vortical structure than that of the D-shaped annulus. It was also found that the O-shaped annulus resulted in higher EDR values throughout the diastolic period of the cardiac cycle. The results support the hypothesis that a D-shaped mitral annulus reduces dissipative energy losses in ventricular filling during diastole and in turn suggests that a symmetric stent design does not provide lower filling efficiency than an equivalent asymmetric design.
Fracture Characterization of Human Cortical Bone Under Mode I Loading
Authors: Silva Filipe , de Moura Marcelo , Dourado Nuno , Xavier José , Pereira Fábio , Morais José , Dias Maria , Lourenço Paulo , Judas Fernando
Published: October 2015

A miniaturized version of the double cantilever beam (DCB) test is used to determine the fracture energy in human cortical bone under pure mode I loading. An equivalent crack length based data-reduction scheme is used with remarkable advantages relative to classical methods. Digital image correlation (DIC) technique is employed to determine crack opening displacement at the crack tip being correlated with the evolution of fracture energy. A method is presented to obtain the cohesive law (trapezoidal bilinear softening) mimicking the mechanical behavior observed in bone. Cohesive zone modeling (CZM) (finite-element method) was performed to validate the procedure showing excellent agreement.
Gender-Based Correlation Profiles Among the Release Factors and Distance Thrown in Paralympic Seated Shot Put
Authors: Lee Sangwoo , Davis Ronald , Judge Lawrence W. , Kwon Young-Hoo , Han Kihoon , Kim Jemin , Kim Jaewoong , Kim Jaehwa
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among release factors (speed, height, and angle) and distance thrown in Paralympic seated shot put. Fortyeight trials performed by 11 men and 5 women during the 2012 US Paralympic trials in track and field were analyzed. With both genders combined, release speed (r = .95, p < .01) and angle (r = .51, p < .01) showed significant correlations to distance thrown. Release speed (r = .94, p < .01) in men and all release factors (r = .60–.98, p < .02) in women showed significant correlations to distance. Release speed and angle were identified as important predictors of the distance, explaining over 89–96% of the variance in distance thrown. Unlike athletes without disability, seated shotputters exhibited significant positive speed–angle correlations (combined: r = .37, p < .01; women: r = .57, p = .03). Application of these results should address a focus in training on generating speed through the release point with a consistent release angle.
The A1 Subunit of Shiga Toxin 2 Has Higher Affinity for Ribosomes and Higher Catalytic Activity than the A1 Subunit of Shiga Toxin 1
Authors: Basu Debaleena , Li Xiao-Ping , Kahn Jennifer N. , May Kerrie L. , Kahn Peter C. , Tumer Nilgun E.
Published: October 2015

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) infections can lead to life-threatening complications, including hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which is the most common cause of acute renal failure in children in the United States. Stx1 and Stx2 are AB5 toxins consisting of an enzymatically active A subunit associated with a pentamer of receptor binding B subunits. Epidemiological evidence suggests that Stx2-producing
E. coli
strains are more frequently associated with HUS than Stx1-producing strains. Several studies suggest that the B subunit plays a role in mediating toxicity. However, the role of the A subunits in the increased potency of Stx2 has not been fully investigated. Here, using purified A1 subunits, we show that Stx2A1 has a higher affinity for yeast and mammalian ribosomes than Stx1A1. Biacore analysis indicated that Stx2A1 has faster association and dissociation with ribosomes than Stx1A1. Analysis of ribosome depurination kinetics demonstrated that Stx2A1 depurinates yeast and mammalian ribosomes and an RNA stem-loop mimic of the sarcin/ricin loop (SRL) at a higher catalytic rate and is a more efficient enzyme than Stx1A1. Stx2A1 depurinated ribosomes at a higher level
in vivo
and was more cytotoxic than Stx1A1 in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. Stx2A1 depurinated ribosomes and inhibited translation at a significantly higher level than Stx1A1 in human cells. These results provide the first direct evidence that the higher affinity for ribosomes in combination with higher catalytic activity toward the SRL allows Stx2A1 to depurinate ribosomes, inhibit translation, and exhibit cytotoxicity at a significantly higher level than Stx1A1.
Lysine
11
-Linked Polyubiquitination of the AnkB F-Box Effector of Legionella pneumophila
Authors: Bruckert William M. , Abu Kwaik Yousef
Published: October 2015

The fate of the polyubiquitinated protein is determined by the lysine linkages involved in the polymerization of the ubiquitin monomers, which has seven lysine residues (K
6
, K
11
, K
27
, K
29
, K
33
, K
48
, and K
63
). The translocated AnkB effector of the intravacuolar pathogen
Legionella pneumophila
is a bona fide F-box protein, which is localized to the cytosolic side of the
Legionella
-containing vacuole (LCV) and is essential for intravacuolar proliferation within macrophages and amoebae. The F-box domain of AnkB interacts with the host SCF1 E3 ubiquitin ligase that triggers the decoration of the LCV with K
48
-linked polyubiquitinated proteins that are targeted for proteasomal degradation. Here we report that AnkB becomes rapidly polyubiquitinated within the host cell, and this modification is independent of the F-box domain of AnkB, indicating host-mediated polyubiquitination. We show that the AnkB effector interacts specifically with the host E3 ubiquitin ligase Trim21. Mass spectrometry analyses have shown that AnkB is modified by K
11
-linked polyubiquitination, which has no effect on its stability. This work shows the first example of K
11
-linked polyubiquitination of a bacterial effector and its interaction with the host Trim21 ubiquitin ligase.
Treatment with Interleukin-7 Restores Host Defense against Pneumocystis in CD4+T-Lymphocyte-Depleted Mice
Authors: Ruan S. , Samuelson D. R. , Assouline B. , Morre M. , Shellito J. E.
Published: October 2015

Pneumocystispneumonia (PCP) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with HIV infection. CD4+T lymphocytes are critical for host defense against this infection, but in the absence of CD4+T lymphocytes, CD8+T lymphocytes may provide limited host defense. The cytokine interleukin-7 (IL-7) functions to enhance lymphocyte proliferation, survival, and recruitment of immune cells to sites of infection. However, there is little known about the role of IL-7 in PCP or its potential use as an immunotherapeutic agent. We hypothesized that treatment with recombinant human IL-7 (rhIL-7) would augment host defense againstPneumocystisand accelerate pathogen clearance in CD4-depleted mice. Control and CD4-depleted mice were infected withPneumocystis, and rhIL-7 was administered via intraperitoneal injection. Our studies indicate that endogenous murine IL-7 is part of the normal host response toPneumocystis murinaand that administration of rhIL-7 markedly enhanced clearance ofPneumocystisin CD4-depleted mice. Additionally, we observed increased recruitment of CD8+T lymphocytes to the lungs and decreased apoptosis of pulmonary CD8+T lymphocytes in rhIL-7-treated animals compared to those in untreated mice. The antiapoptotic effect of rhIL-7 was associated with increased levels of Bcl-2 protein in T lymphocytes. rhIL-7 immunotherapy in CD4-depleted mice also increased the number of gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-positive CD8+central memory T lymphocytes in the lungs. We conclude that rhIL-7 has a potent therapeutic effect in the treatment of murinePneumocystispneumonia in CD4-depleted mice. This therapeutic effect is mediated through enhanced recruitment of CD8+T cells and decreased apoptosis of lung T lymphocytes, with a preferential action on central memory CD8+T lymphocytes.
Water and Small-Molecule Permeation of Dormant Bacillus subtilis Spores
Authors: Knudsen Scott M. , Cermak Nathan , Feijó Delgado Francisco , Setlow Barbara , Setlow Peter , Manalis Scott R.
Published: October 2015

We use a suspended microchannel resonator to characterize the water and small-molecule permeability of
Bacillus subtilis
spores based on spores' buoyant mass in different solutions. Consistent with previous results, we found that the spore coat is not a significant barrier to small molecules, and the extent to which small molecules may enter the spore is size dependent. We have developed a method to directly observe the exchange kinetics of intraspore water with deuterium oxide, and we applied this method to wild-type spores and a panel of congenic mutants with deficiencies in the assembly or structure of the coat. Compared to wild-type spores, which exchange in approximately 1 s, several coat mutant spores were found to have relatively high water permeability with exchange times below the ∼200-ms temporal resolution of our assay. In addition, we found that the water permeability of the spore correlates with the ability of spores to germinate with dodecylamine and with the ability of TbCl
3
to inhibit germination with
l
-valine. These results suggest that the structure of the coat may be necessary for maintaining low water permeability.

IMPORTANCE
Spores of
Bacillus
species cause food spoilage and disease and are extremely resistant to standard decontamination methods. This hardiness is partly due to spores' extremely low permeability to chemicals, including water. We present a method to directly monitor the uptake of molecules into
B. subtilis
spores by weighing spores in fluid. The results demonstrate the exchange of core water with subsecond resolution and show a correlation between water permeability and the rate at which small molecules can initiate or inhibit germination in coat-damaged spores. The ability to directly measure the uptake of molecules in the context of spores with known structural or genetic deficiencies is expected to provide insight into the determinants of spores' extreme resistance.