bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate Carbon and Financial Performance: A Meta‐analysis
Authors: Busch Timo , Lewandowski Stefan
Published: June 2017

We use meta‐analytical techniques to address the question“When does it pay to be green?” Existing meta‐studies in this research field cover a range of ecological issues and synthesize a variety of environmental performance measurements. This precludes a detailed examination of how differences in measurement approaches account for variations in empirical results. In order to conduct such an examination, we focus on only one ecological issue, climate change, and one particular operational performance dimension: corporate carbon performance as expressed by a firm's level of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission equivalents. Our sample comprises 68 estimations from 32 empirical studies, covering a total of 101,775 observations. In addition to our examination of the causal relationship, we analyze whether differences in operationalizations of carbon performance and financial performance predetermine empirical outcomes. The meta‐analytic findings indicate that carbon emissions vary inversely with financial performance, indicating that good carbon performance is generally positively related to superior financial performance. The results show that relative emissions are more likely to produce statistically significant results than absolute emissions. Furthermore, market‐based measures of financial performance are more positively related to carbon performance than accounting‐based measures. We conclude that measurement characteristics, which were not analyzed in detail by previous meta‐studies, may present a great source of cross‐study variability.
Mutation in a novel gene SMALL AND CORDATE LEAF 1 affects leaf morphology in cucumber
Authors: Gao Dongli , Zhang Chunzhi , Zhang Shu , Hu Bowen , Wang Shenhao , Zhang Zhonghua , Huang Sanwen
Published: June 2017

Plant species exhibit substantial variation in leaf morphology. We isolated a recessive mutant gene termed small and cordate leaf 1 (scl1) that causes alteration in both leaf size and shape of cucumber. Compared to wild type leaves, the scl1 mutant had fewer numbers of epidermal pavement cells. A single nucleotide polymorphism was associated with this leaf phenotype, which occurred in a putative nucleoside bisphosphate phosphatase. RNA‐seq analysis of the wild type and scl1 mutant leaves suggested that SCL1 regulation may not involve known hormonal pathways. Our work identified a candidate gene for SCL1 that may play a role in leaf development.
Perceptions of supervisor support: Resolving paradoxical patterns across gender and race
Authors: Paustian‐Underdahl Samantha C. , King Eden B. , Rogelberg Steven G. , Kulich Clara , Gentry William A.
Published: June 2017

This work reconciles previous discrepancies regarding when and how the demographic composition of supervisor–subordinate dyads relates to perceived supervisor support. We draw from social identity theory to argue that building relationships with higher‐status group members, while distancing oneself from the lower‐status group, is a contextually induced way female and racial minority employees may cope with identity threat in the workplace. Our results supported the hypotheses, indicating that this self‐distancing effect via reduced perceived supervisor support only emerges in settings where gender or racial identities may be considered threatened (in organizations with climates of higher perceived gender inequity, Study 1; or climates of higher perceived diversity inequity, Study 2). Such results are particularly important and timely given the recent ample attention in popular media and academic outlets regarding the ‘queen bee’ effect, the ‘crabs in the barrel’ mentality, and diversity‐valuing behaviour of leaders. The current research suggests that such behaviours are not generalizable to all female or minority employees; rather, this effect seems to be context‐driven.

Practitioner points

Organizational climates that are higher in gender and/or diversity inequity may bring about negative in‐group behaviours between supervisors and subordinates.

To increase perceptions of supervisor support, especially among traditionally low‐status employees, organizations should improve their diversity climates to be more inclusive for all employees.

Building active mentoring programmes for under‐represented groups and increasing the number of women and non‐White employees in senior positions, while emphasizing equal opportunity for all employees, are some ways organizations can reduce perceptions of gender and diversity inequity.

A career‐lattice approach to employee career development would allow employees to engage in more lateral transfers – enabling them to gain diverse skills, be exposed to multiple mentors, and to remove themselves from a potentially harmful supervisor–subordinate relationship.
Aspects of Malpractice in Prosthodontics
Authors: Nassani Mohammad Zakaria
Published: June 2017

Crowns, fixed partial dentures, and removable dentures are the popular prosthetic dental restorations in current dental practice. Prosthodontic rehabilitation of the mouth, particularly in advanced and complex cases, requires careful planning, adequate clinical skills, and exacting technical standards. While a successful outcome is the ultimate goal for any prosthodontic treatment, complications, injuries, dissatisfaction, and/or failure may occur. When such events develop as a result of negligence or violation of standards of care, they are considered under the term of malpractice and may incur ethical and medico‐legal implications. This paper reviews and highlights some aspects of malpractice in prosthodontics. The current state of prosthodontic malpractice on a global level will also be evaluated. Standards of prosthodontic care, current literature of prosthodontic malpractice, where and how prosthodontic malpractice occurs, and recommendations for the future are presented. A thorough understanding of what is quality prosthodontic care and what disrupts this care can be a useful guard against professional litigation and may protect patients from poor quality of dental prosthetic care.
Nicotine Upregulates Coaggregation of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Ashkanane Ali , Gomez Grace F. , Levon John , Windsor L. Jack , Eckert George J. , Gregory Richard L.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Denture stomatitis is a condition of painless inflammation of denture‐bearing mucosa. Reports indicate that nicotine, the major psychoactive ingredient in tobacco, increases growth of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans in denture biofilm. The purpose of this study was to determine the in vitro effects of nicotine on coaggregation of C. albicans with S. mutans.

Material and Methods

C. albicans strain ATCC 10231, S. mutans strain UA159 (ATTC 700610), and nicotine dilutions (ranging from 0 to 32 mg/ml) were used for this study. Both microorganisms were grown for 24 hours in dilutions of nicotine (0 to 32 mg/ml) made in tryptic soy broth (TSB) or TSB supplemented with 1% sucrose (TSBS; S. mutans) or yeast peptone dextrose broth (YPD; C. albicans). Suspensions of the nicotine‐treated cells were prepared, mixed together and incubated for up to 24 hours to determine if there was an increase in coaggregation of nicotine‐treated cells compared to the no nicotine control cells. Qualitative analysis of coaggregation was performed using a visual aggregation assay and light microscopic observation. A spectrophotometric assay was used to provide a quantitative analysis of the coaggregation.

Results

The visual aggregation assay indicated a significant increase in coaggregation between C. albicans and S. mutans with increasing incubation time (0 to 24 hours) and nicotine concentrations (0 to 4 mg/ml). Microbial growth in nicotine at 4 mg/ml demonstrated a significant increase in coaggregation after 24 hours of incubation. The numbers of coaggregated S. mutans/C. albicans cells exhibited a significant increase with incubation time and nicotine concentrations when the samples were examined microscopically. More coaggregation of S. mutans and C. albicans was observed with incubation time and increased nicotine compared to the 0 mg/ml nicotine group. There was a noticeable increase of coaggregation when cells were grown in TSBS compared to TSB. Absorbance of nicotine‐treated cells (0.25 to 4 mg/ml) exhibited a decrease in values compared to 0 mg/ml at 0 hours of incubation, confirming increased coaggregation.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated the effect of nicotine in increasing the coaggregation of S. mutans with C. albicans. Coaggregation increased with incubation time and nicotine concentration. Coaggregation was increased with S. mutans grown in TSBS compared to TSB, suggesting that growth in sucrose media leads to an increase in receptors responsible for coaggregation.
The sex chromosomes of bryophytes: Recent insights, open questions, and reinvestigations of Frullania dilatata and Plagiochila asplenioides
Authors: Renner Susanne S. , Heinrichs Jochen , Sousa Aretuza
Published: June 2017

The three bryophyte lineages have long‐lived gametophytes that are either bisexual, producing both male‐ and female gametes, or sexually specialized and then producing only one type of gamete. Phylogenies suggest repeated evolutionary switches between these systems, implying that bryophyte sex chromosomes may have been gained and lost repeatedly. How this occurred is poorly understood, even though plant sex chromosomes were first discovered in liverworts. We explain how the sex chromosomes of haploid‐dominant organisms are distinct from the better‐studied X‐Y and Z‐W systems in the tree of life, summarise what is known about their distribution and genetic composition, and present new cytogenetic data for Frullania dilatata and Plagiochila asplenioides, the former with two U chromosomes and one V chromosome, the latter with one U chromosome and two V chromosomes; male and female C‐values in F. dilatata are correspondingly asymmetric (the C‐value of P. asplenioides is only known for female nuclei). So far, there is a lack of high‐throughput sequencing, quantification, and in situ study of the repetitive DNA, organellar DNA, and transposable elements, and it is therefore not known what causes the size difference of U and V chromosomes from the autosomes or each other. Heterochromatin was also first discovered in bryophytes, but its function in their sex regulation has not been addressed. Studies of bryophyte sex chromosomes with combined cytogenetic and genomic approaches are fundamental for a fuller understanding of sex chromosome evolution across the tree of life.
The effects of ketoconazole and cimetidine on the pharmacokinetics of oral tramadol in greyhound dogs
Authors: KuKanich B. , KuKanich K. , Black J.
Published: June 2017

Tramadol is administered to dogs for analgesia but has variability in its extent of absorption, which may hinder its efficacy. Additionally, the active opioid metabolite (M1) occurs in low concentrations. The purpose of this study was to determine if administration of oral tramadol with suspected metabolism inhibitors (ketoconazole, cimetidine) would lead to improved bioavailability of tramadol and M1. Six healthy Greyhounds were included. They were administered tramadol orally and intravenously, M1 intravenously, oral tramadol with oral ketoconazole and oral tramadol with oral cimetidine. Oral tramadol bioavailability was low (2.6%). Ketoconazole and cimetidine significantly increased tramadol bioavailability to 18.2% and 20.3%, respectively. The mean maximum plasma concentration of tramadol alone was 22.9 ng/ml, and increased to 109.9 and 143.2 ng/ml with ketoconazole and cimetidine, respectively. However, measured tramadol plasma concentrations were below the minimum concentration considered effective in humans (228 μg/ml). In all treatment groups, measured M1 concentrations (<7 μg/ml) were below concentrations associated with efficacy in humans. To conclude, tramadol and M1 concentrations were low and variable in dogs after oral dosing of tramadol, even in combination with cimetidine or ketoconazole, but effective concentrations in dogs have not been defined.
Supplementation of Protein Hydrolysates to a Low‐fishmeal Diet Improves Growth and Health Status of Juvenile Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus
Authors: Khosravi Sanaz , Bui Hien Thi Dieu , Herault Mikaël , Fournier Vincent , Kim Kyoung‐Duck , Lee Bong‐Joo , Kim Kang‐Woong , Lee Kyeong‐Jun
Published: June 2017

An 11‐wk feeding trial was conducted to evaluate three different protein hydrolysates as feed ingredients in high‐plant‐protein diets for juvenile olive flounder. Five experimental diets were fed to juvenile olive flounder to examine the effect of three different protein hydrolysates on growth performance, innate immunity, and disease resistance against bacterial infection. A basal fishmeal (FM)‐based diet was regarded as a high‐FM diet (HFM) and a diet containing soy protein concentrate (SPC) as a substitute for 50% FM protein was considered as a low‐FM diet (LFM). Three other diets contained three different sources of protein hydrolysates, including shrimp, tilapia, and krill hydrolysates (designated as SH, TH, and KH), replacing 12% of FM protein. All diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Triplicate groups of fish (15.1 ± 0.1 g) were handfed one of the diets to apparent satiation twice daily for 11 wk and subsequently challenged against Edwardsiella tarda. Growth performance and feed utilization of fish fed hydrolysate‐supplemented diets were significantly improved compared to those of fish fed the LFM diet. Dietary inclusion of the protein hydrolysates significantly enhanced apparent digestibility of dry matter and protein of the diets. In the proximal intestine, histological alterations were observed in the fish fed the LFM diet. The fish fed the hydrolysate diets showed significantly longer mucosal fold and enterocytes and greater number of goblet cells compared to fish fed the LFM diet. Respiratory burst activity was significantly higher in fish fed the TH and KH diets than fish fed the LFM diet. Significantly higher immunoglobulin levels were found in fish fed SH and KH diets compared to those of fish fed the LFM diet. Dietary inclusion of the protein hydrolysates in SPC‐based diets exhibited the highest lysozyme activity. Significantly higher superoxide activity was observed in groups of fish fed the KH diet. Fish offered the protein hydrolysates were more resistant to bacterial infection caused by E. tarda. The results of this study suggest that the tested protein hydrolysates can be used as potential dietary supplements to improve growth performance and health status of juvenile olive flounder when they were fed a LFM diet.
Dynamic interaction between impact melt and fragmented basement at Manicouagan: The suevite connection
Authors: Thompson Lucy M. , Spray John G.
Published: June 2017

The interface between impact melt rocks and underlying footwall lithologies within the Manicouagan impact structure is defined by a zone of dynamic mixing (<20 m thick). This zone transitions as a continuum from clast‐free to clast‐bearing impact melt rocks, through melt‐bearing breccias to melt‐free breccias. Field observations; microscopy; and major, trace, and rare earth element analysis indicate that the breccias are derived by blending two endmembers during the impact process: impact melt and brecciated footwall. The product is a basal breccia sequence, which locally includes the rock type referred to as suevite. In this occurrence, the suevite is a submelt sheet variety, in contrast to similar lithologies that are developed atop impact melt sheets, or beyond crater rims. Dynamic mixing between impact melt and basal clastic material at Manicouagan is attributed to the initial high‐speed centrifugal outflow of superheated, low viscosity impact melt over underlying fractured and fragmented footwall, and its centripetal return during the earlier stages of the crater modification process. The interaction of two fluids (melt with a mobilized granular medium) possessing contrasting densities, and moving at different velocities, can facilitate shear instabilities and turbulent mixing that may be characteristic of Kelvin–Helmholtz behavior.
Timing of solid food introduction and association with later childhood overweight and obesity: The IDEFICS study
Authors: Papoutsou Stalo , Savva Savvas C. , Hunsberger Monica , Jilani Hannah , Michels Nathalie , Ahrens Wolfgang , Tornaritis Michael , Veidebaum Toomas , Molnár Dénes , Siani Alfonso , Moreno Luis A. , Hadjigeorgiou Charis ,   on behalf of the IDEFICS consortium
Published: June 2017

This study investigated associations between timing of solid food introduction and childhood obesity and explored maternal characteristics influencing early feeding practices. Cross‐sectional data from children 2–9 years (n = 10,808; 50.5% boys) residing in 8 European countries of the IDEFICS study (2007–2008) were included. Late solid food introduction (≥7 months of age) was associated with an increased prevalence of later childhood overweight/obesity among exclusively breastfed children (OR [odds ratio]: 1.38, 95% CI [confidence interval] [1.01, 1.88]). In contrast, early solid food introduction (<4 months of age) was associated with lower prevalence of overweight/obesity among children that ceased exclusive breastfeeding earlier than 4 months (OR: 0.63, 95% CI [0.47, 0.84]). Children that were introduced to solids right after 6 months exclusive breastfeeding and continued to receive breastmilk (≥12 months) were less likely to become overweight/obese (OR: 0.67, 95% CI [0.51, 0.88]) compared to children that discontinued to receive breastmilk. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, country, birth weight, parental education level, parental body mass index, tobacco use in pregnancy, gestational weight gain, and gestational diabetes. Underweight mothers, overweight mothers, mothers who reported daily smoking during pregnancy, and low‐educated mothers were less likely to follow recommendations on breastfeeding and timely solids introduction. Future studies should examine whether guidelines for solid food introduction timing have to distinguish between exclusively breastfed, formula fed, and too early exclusive breastfeeding‐ceased infants. There is also need for more prospective studies; recall bias was an important current limitation. In conclusion, health professionals should emphasize benefits of breastfeeding and appropriate solid food introduction, especially to mothers that are less likely to follow recommendations.
Whole‐genome patterns of linkage disequilibrium across flycatcher populations clarify the causes and consequences of fine‐scale recombination rate variation in birds
Authors: Kawakami Takeshi , Mugal Carina F. , Suh Alexander , Nater Alexander , Burri Reto , Smeds Linnéa , Ellegren Hans
Published: June 2017

Recombination rate is heterogeneous across the genome of various species and so are genetic diversity and differentiation as a consequence of linked selection. However, we still lack a clear picture of the underlying mechanisms for regulating recombination. Here we estimated fine‐scale population recombination rate based on the patterns of linkage disequilibrium across the genomes of multiple populations of two closely related flycatcher species (Ficedula albicollis and F. hypoleuca). This revealed an overall conservation of the recombination landscape between these species at the scale of 200 kb, but we also identified differences in the local rate of recombination despite their recent divergence (<1 million years). Genetic diversity and differentiation were associated with recombination rate in a lineage‐specific manner, indicating differences in the extent of linked selection between species. We detected 400–3,085 recombination hotspots per population. Location of hotspots was conserved between species, but the intensity of hotspot activity varied between species. Recombination hotspots were primarily associated with CpG islands (CGIs), regardless of whether CGIs were at promoter regions or away from genes. Recombination hotspots were also associated with specific transposable elements (TEs), but this association appears indirect due to shared preferences of the transposition machinery and the recombination machinery for accessible open chromatin regions. Our results suggest that CGIs are a major determinant of the localization of recombination hotspots, and we propose that both the distribution of TEs and fine‐scale variation in recombination rate may be associated with the evolution of the epigenetic landscape.
Complexity Reduction and Sensitivity Analysis in Road Probabilistic Safety Assessment Bayesian Network Models
Authors: Castillo Enrique , Grande Zacarías , Mora Elena , Lo Hong K. , Xu Xiangdong
Published: June 2017

This article is concerned with improving some existing methods for probabilistic safety analysis of roads and highways. After a quick review of a Bayesian network model, in which special attention is devoted to human error and all safety related items or elements existing along the road are considered, important problems are dealt with and some solutions provided. This includes: (1) a new and general method for a detailed description of the conditional probabilities of variables given their parents leading to closed‐form formulas, (2) a partitioning technique that allows us to reduce drastically the CPU time required for the calculations, based on dividing the Bayesian network into very small subnetworks using the conditional independence property and leading to a reduced complexity, which is linear in the number of variables or road length instead of the nonlinear character of alternative methods, and (3) a range sensitivity analysis method, which takes advantage of the partitioning technique and is superior to a local sensitivity analysis. Finally, some real examples are provided to show the usefulness of the proposed methodologies to assess the safety of highways or conventional roads.
Tensions in the personal world of the nurse family carer: A phenomenological approach
Authors: Quinney Loretto , Dwyer Trudy , Chapman Ysanne
Published: June 2017

The incidence of chronic illness is growing globally. As a result, there are fiscal and social implications for health delivery. Alongside the increased burden on health resources is the expectation that someone within the family will assume the responsibility of carer for those who are chronically ill. The expectation to assume the role of carer may be amplified for family members who are also nurses. Currently, there is little research that investigates the impact of nurses who are carers for family with a chronic illness. Consequently, this qualitative study, based on face‐to‐face and telephone dialogue, was conducted using unstructured interviews. A phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach utilizing the hermeneutic circle was employed to understand the meaning of the transcriptions. Hermeneutic phenomenology inspired by Heideggerian philosophy was used as a framework to clarify themes and build ways of understanding the phenomenon of ‘Being’ a nurse and a family carer. Themes identified in the analysis of the study included a personal world, a professional world and a practical world. This paper explicates the findings from examination of the personal world of ‘Being’ a nurse who is also a family carer. Analysis revealed there were three facets to this way of ‘Being’: a shared experience, a caring experience and a fraught experience. The findings of the study disclosed that participants were informed by experiences that were both enriching and conflicting. These insights can enlighten healthcare professionals to the tensions which exist for nurses who care for family so that these considerations are incorporated into individualized and effective family‐centred care.
Defensive tradeoffs are not prerequisites to plant diversity in a two species model
Authors: Mortensen Brent , Abbott Karen C. , Danielson Brent
Published: June 2017

Trait‐based theories of biodiversity consider interspecific tradeoffs among species‐specific traits as prerequisites to maintaining community evenness, a component of species diversity. Such tradeoffs are commonly observed in plant communities, particularly in relation to traits associated with resistance to herbivory. Indeed, global experiments show that interspecific tradeoffs are common between plant defense and growth or competitive ability; however, the positive effects of herbivory on plant diversity predicted by theories with trait‐based tradeoffs are far less commonly observed. Moreover, both the overall and relative importance of these tradeoffs in promoting plant diversity are not well known. To disentangle the relationships among growth, competition, and defense in relation to plant community evenness, we built a model that describes the effects of a shared herbivore on two plant species with the potential to differ in each of these traits. While tradeoffs between plant defense and growth or competitive ability can increase plant diversity via evenness, this is not always the case nor is it a requirement for increased diversity. Herbivores may increase plant diversity even in the absence of defensive tradeoffs, preferentially consuming apparently maladapted species, by limiting the negative effects of interspecific interactions. Therefore, the importance of defensive tradeoffs in increasing diversity may not be as important, or as straightforward, as previously hypothesized.
Outcomes of Intercalary Prosthetic Reconstruction for Pathological Diaphyseal Femoral Fractures Secondary to Metastatic Tumors
Authors: Huang Hong‐chao , Hu Yong‐cheng , Lun Deng‐xing , Miao Jun , Wang Feng , Yang Xiong‐gang , Ma Xin‐long
Published: June 2017

Objective

To evaluate the clinical outcomes and complications of segmental prosthetic reconstruction for pathological diaphyseal femoral fractures secondary to metastatic tumors.

Methods

Between 2011 and 2015, we retrospectively evaluated 16 patients (6 men and 10 women; 64.5 ± 11.4 years old at diagnosis) who underwent prosthetic reconstruction after segmental resection of diaphyseal femoral fractures due to metastatic lesions. Visual analog scale (VAS), functional outcomes, implant‐related complications, and Mean postoperative Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score for each patient were collected.

Results

The mean length of bone defect was 10.2 ± 2.6 cm (range, 8–16 cm); follow‐up was 9 ± 6.8 months (range, 2–25 months) for all patients, and 24 months (23 and 25 months) for the 2 patients still alive. At final follow‐up, 14 patients were dead, indicating a mean survival of 6.9 ± 3.6 months (range, 2–14 months). Mean preoperative VAS score was 8.5 ± 1.0, which decreased to 2.5 ± 1.3 at day 2 postoperatively, indicating significant pain relief (P < 0.05). The MSTS score for lower extremities was 84.6% (range, 73%–90%). The range of motion and function of adjacent joints was within the normal limits in all cases. Three patients (33%) developed complications, including aseptic loosening because of disease progression (1), infection (1), and peri‐prosthesis fracture (1).

Conclusion

These findings demonstrated that this approach greatly relieves pain, and yields satisfactory functional outcomes with fewer complications in patients with pathological femoral fractures secondary to metastatic tumors; however, survival was not significantly improved.
Effects of Unilateral Tourniquet Used in Patients Undergoing Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Liu Pei‐lai , Li De‐qiang , Zhang Yuan‐kai , Lu Qun‐shan , Ma Liang , Bao Xue‐zhi , Zhang Meng
Published: June 2017

Objective

To assess the benefits of use of a tourniquet in one limb in patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

A prospective randomized trial was designed to evaluate the outcomes of unilateral tourniquet use during simultaneous bilateral TKA. A total of 52 (36 women and 16 men) patients with osteoarthritis who underwent simultaneous bilateral primary TKA between January 2010 and January 2015 were assigned randomly to tourniquet (TG) or non‐tourniquet (NG) groups prior to surgery. Operating time, pain score, range of motion, first active straight‐leg raise time, swelling, wound healing, deep vein thrombosis, and Knee Society score were observed.

Results

Mean operating time in the TG group was shorter than that in the NG group (P < 0.05). Postoperative pain was measured by a visual analog scale (VAS) and straight‐leg raise time, which was lower and shorter in limbs operated without the use of a tourniquet (P < 0.05). In addition, this group had less postoperative swelling and lower incidence of wound complications in the early postoperative period (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the range of motion (ROM), deep venous thrombosis incidence, and Knee Society scores between the two groups.

Conclusions

Tourniquet use in bilateral TKA can reduce intraoperative time but was associated with a higher incidence of wound complications and larger postoperative knee swelling.
A Quantum‐mechanical Study of the Binding Pocket of Proteorhodopsin: Absorption and Vibrational Spectra Modulated by Analogue Chromophores
Authors: Buda Francesco , Keijer Tom , Ganapathy Srividya , de Grip Willem J.
Published: June 2017

Proteorhodopsin is a light‐driven proton pumping membrane protein related to bacteriorhodopsin. It contains an all‐trans retinal A1 chromophore covalently bound to a lysine residue via a protonated Schiff base. In this study, we exploited density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the retinal binding pocket in the dark state and after mimicking photoisomerization. The model of the binding pocket is constructed incrementally by adding the residues near the retinal that are necessary to ensure a stable protonated Schiff base. The presence of a few water molecules near the Schiff base turns out to be an essential feature of the model. The absorption properties are then studied using time‐dependent DFT (TDDFT) and compared to experimental data to further validate the structural model and to assess the accuracy of the computational setting. It is shown that TDDFT is able to reproduce the main absorption peak accurately and to quantitatively determine the spectral shift induced by substituting the native all‐trans retinal A1 chromophore with different retinal analogues. Moreover, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the vibrational spectra of our models before and after isomerization. Specific differences in the vibrational spectra are identified that provide further insight into experimental FTIR difference spectra.
Protective efficacy of recombinant Cryptosporidium parvum CpPRP1 sushi domain against C. tyzzeri infection in mice
Authors: Huang Y. , Cao W. , Shi K. , Mi R. , Lu K. , Han X. , Chen Z.
Published: June 2017

Until now, there are no completely effective parasite‐specific pharmaceuticals or immunotherapies for treatment against the zoonotic cryptosporidiosis. Sushi domain (CpSushi) is an important functional domain in Cryptosporidium parvum putative rhoptry protein‐1 (CpPRP1), which is the only reported C. parvum rhoptry protein and may play key role in the course of invasion. Here, a 708‐bp fragment encoding the CpSushi domain was amplified and expressed in E. coli. Immunofluorescence detection showed that CpSushi was located on the surface of C. parvum oocysts and the apical pole to the sporozoites that belonged to the position of rhoptry. Three‐week‐old female ICR mice were used for detecting the immunoreactions and immunoprotection of recombinant CpSushi (rCpSushi) to artificial C. tyzzeri infection. The results indicated that a significant increase of anti‐CpSushi antibody response was induced by the recombinant protein. Compared to blank, Tris‐EDTA (TE) buffer and adjuvant controls mice, rCpSushi‐immunized mice produced specific spleen cell proliferation as well as enhanced IL4, IL5, IL12p70 and TNF‐α production in vitro. The reduction rate of parasites shedding in stool in mice immunized with rCpSushi was 68.91% after challenging with C. tyzzeri. These results suggest that CpSushi could be a new promising cryptosporidiosis vaccine candidate antigen composition.
Making The Best Idea Better: The Role of Idea Pool Structure
Authors: Erat Sanjiv
Published: June 2017

In any pool of ideas that is developed in a multistage process, it is often the case that only a small fraction of top ideas are exceptional. This study formulates a model of multistage development of idea pools, and examines the impact of the “structure” of idea pools and of learning across stages on the extent to which the top ideas in the pool are exceptional. Our key descriptive results demonstrate that the dispersion of ideas in the pool (defined in terms of the dissimilarity between ideas) has a positive impact on the value derived from the top ideas, especially so when learning across stages is limited. Subsequently, the study examines the normative question of optimal design of idea pools, and managerial rules‐of‐thumb are derived for the optimal choice of the number and dispersion of ideas within the pool.
Festuca campestris density and defoliation regulate abundance of the rhizomatous grass Poa pratensis in a fallow field
Authors: Bork Edward W. , Hewins Daniel B. , Tannas Steven , Willms Walter D.
Published: June 2017

Invasion by the rhizomatous grass Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is a global phenomenon, including into foothills rough fescue (Festuca campestris) grasslands of southwestern Alberta, Canada. In order to better understand the competitive relationships between these species, we conducted a fallow field study where rough fescue bunchgrass tussocks were transplanted at one of three planting densities (15, 30, or 45 cm spacing), and then subject to various treatments in a factorial design, including one‐time intensive summer defoliation and seeding of bluegrass into adjacent bare soil. Rough fescue plants exhibited marked intraspecific competition, as high planting densities increased tussock mortality, while decreasing plant tiller counts and relative inflorescence production, together with plant and tiller‐specific mass. However, high densities of the bunchgrass also reduced the cover and biomass of encroaching bluegrass, coincidental with reduced resource (soil moisture and light) availability in mid‐summer. Although summer defoliation increased rough fescue tiller counts, this disturbance reduced plant and tiller mass, and also increased Kentucky bluegrass. We conclude that while high densities of nondefoliated stands of rough fescue may increase resistance to bluegrass encroachment, a reduction in either fescue plant density or vigor via defoliation can increase the risk of bluegrass invasion within northern temperate grassland.
Public Understanding of Ebola Risks: Mastering an Unfamiliar Threat
Authors: Fischhoff Baruch , Wong‐Parodi Gabrielle , Garfin Dana Rose , Holman E. Alison , Silver Roxane Cohen
Published: June 2017

Ebola was the most widely followed news story in the United States in October 2014. Here, we ask what members of the U.S. public learned about the disease, given the often chaotic media environment. Early in 2015, we surveyed a representative sample of 3,447 U.S. residents about their Ebola‐related beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Where possible, we elicited judgments in terms sufficiently precise to allow comparing them to scientific estimates (e.g., the death toll to date and the probability of dying once ill). Respondents’ judgments were generally consistent with one another, with scientific knowledge, and with their self‐reported behavioral responses and policy preferences. Thus, by the time the threat appeared to have subsided in the United States, members of the public, as a whole, had seemingly mastered its basic contours. Moreover, they could express their beliefs in quantitative terms. Judgments of personal risk were weakly and inconsistently related to reported gender, age, education, income, or political ideology. Better educated and wealthier respondents saw population risks as lower; females saw them as higher. More politically conservative respondents saw Ebola as more transmissible and expressed less support for public health policies. In general, respondents supported providing “honest, accurate information, even if that information worried people.” These results suggest the value of proactive communications designed to inform the lay public's decisions, thoughts, and emotions, and informed by concurrent surveys of their responses and needs.
Rational and Semirational Solutions of the Nonlocal Davey–Stewartson Equations
Authors: Rao J. , Cheng Y. , He J.
Published: June 2017

In this paper, the partially party‐time () symmetric nonlocal Davey–Stewartson (DS) equations with respect to x is called x‐nonlocal DS equations, while a fully symmetric nonlocal DSII equation is called nonlocal DSII equation. Three kinds of solutions, namely, breather, rational, and semirational solutions for these nonlocal DS equations are derived by employing the bilinear method. For the x‐nonlocal DS equations, the usual (2 + 1)‐dimensional breathers are periodic in x direction and localized in y direction. Nonsingular rational solutions are lumps, and semirational solutions are composed of lumps, breathers, and periodic line waves. For the nonlocal DSII equation, line breathers are periodic in both x and y directions with parallels in profile, but localized in time. Nonsingular rational solutions are (2 + 1)‐dimensional line rogue waves, which arise from a constant background and disappear into the same constant background, and this process only lasts for a short period of time. Semirational solutions describe interactions of line rogue waves and periodic line waves.
New Aspects of Exponential Asymptotics in Multiple‐Scale Nonlinear Wave Problems
Authors: Nixon Sean D. , Akylas T. R. , Yang Jianke
Published: June 2017

It is known that standard multiple‐scale perturbation techniques fail to pinpoint the soliton solution branches that bifurcate at edges of bandgaps in periodic media, owing to the appearance of exponentially small growing wave tails when the soliton's envelope is not properly positioned. When the bifurcation is from a single wave mode of a band edge, this difficulty has been handled in recent work by computing these tails via an exponential asymptotics technique in the wave number domain. However, the same approach is not directly applicable to the bifurcation of solitons near the opening of a bandgap, where wave modes from two nearby band edges interact with each other. Here, we discuss two nontrivial extensions of the exponential asymptotics technique that enable resolving this issue. For simplicity, the analysis focuses on two model problems, namely, a steady‐state forced Korteweg–de Vries equation and a steady‐state forced nonlinear Schrödinger equation, with the precise form of forcing and balance between nonlinear and dispersive terms chosen so as to mimic the situation encountered in the bifurcation of solitons near a bandgap opening. Our analysis exhibits a number of new features that are significantly different from previous exponential asymptotics procedures, such as the treatments when the nonlinearity dominates dispersion and when the decay rates of the Fourier‐transformed solution are asymmetric. In addition, the analysis reveals new, and in some cases rather unexpected, functional forms for exponentially small wave tails, which are also confirmed by numerical results.
The presence of minocycline in the tear film of normal horses following oral administration and its anticollagenase activity
Authors: Monk Caroline S. , Jeong Sun Young , Gibson Daniel James , Plummer Caryn E.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Tetracyclines have activity against matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Oral medications with effects on the ocular surface are of interest in patients where repeated topical dosing is limited. The aim of this study was to characterize the concentration of minocycline in the tears of normal horses after oral administration and to determine if this level directly inhibits MMP activity.

Methods

Five healthy adult ponies were administered oral minocycline (Wedgewood Pharmacy; Swedesboro, NJ) at 4 mg/kg every 12 h for 5 days. Tears were collected at T = 2, 26, 50, 56, 74, 80, and 98 h. Tear minocycline concentrations were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. The inhibition of recombinant human MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 by minocycline was investigated using fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Results

Minocycline was present in the tears of each pony at every measurement but with interpony variability. A mean concentration of 11.8 μg/mL was present 2 h after administration of the first dose. Minocycline did not directly inhibit MMP‐2 or MMP‐9 function at a concentration achieved in the pony tear film.

Conclusions

Minocycline was present in the tears of all ponies at each sampling point following oral administration. One pony of the five had consistently lower levels of minocycline secretion (P ≤ 0.05). The concentration secreted in the tears did not directly inhibit MMP‐2 or MMP‐9 when tested in vitro. The inconsistencies in the tear concentration and the inhibition activity suggest topical application may be necessary to attain direct inhibition of MMP with minocycline.
Failure rates of artificial dermis products in treatment of diabetic foot ulcer: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Tchero Huidi , Herlin Christian , Bekara Farid , Kangambega Pauline , Sergiu Fluieraru , Teot Luc
Published: June 2017

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a frequent complication in diabetic patients, occurring in up to 25% of those affected. Among the treatments available to clinicians, the use of bioengineered skin substitutes is an attractive alternative. Artificial dermis functions as a matrix, covering the wound and supporting healing and reconstruction of the lost tissue. This study was aimed at reviewing the use of five regeneration matrices (namely, Integra, Nevelia, Matriderm, Pelnac, and Renoskin) as reported by clinical trials. We searched Medline, Embase, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for relevant studies. Risk of failure rates was analysed by relative risk ratio method and complete ulcer healing was studied using network meta‐analysis. Thirteen studies (12 randomized clinical trials and one cohort study) were eligible for analysis. The network meta‐analysis based on a single study for Matriderm and 12 studies for other products showed that Matriderm was statistically inferior in achieving complete ulcer healing, as compared to all other products combined. In the second phase analysis, which was limited to three studies using artificial dermis products, there was a 57% reduction in the risk of reepithelialization failure for DFU patients who used Matriderm or Pelnac, compared to those who used Pelnac with basic fibroblast growth factor spray or skin grafting. The data showed an overall low failure rate suggesting that these bioengineered skin products provide a suitable support and microenvironment for healing of DFUs with low ulcer recurrence rates. This systematic review with meta‐analysis highlights the pressing need for more studies investigating the safety, efficacy and failure rates of regeneration matrices in the treatment of DFUs.
Hepatitis E in southern Vietnam: Seroepidemiology in humans and molecular epidemiology in pigs
Authors: Berto A. , Pham H. A. , Thao T. T. N. , Vy N. H. T. , Caddy S. L. , Hiraide R. , Tue N. T. , Goodfellow I. , Carrique‐Mas J. J. , Thwaites G. E. , Baker S. , Boni M. F. ,   the VIZIONS consortium
Published: June 2017

Viral pathogens account for a significant proportion of the burden of emerging infectious diseases in humans. The Wellcome Trust‐Vietnamese Initiative on Zoonotic Infections (WT‐VIZIONS) is aiming to understand the circulation of viral zoonotic pathogens in animals that pose a potential risk to human health. Evidence suggests that human exposure and infections with hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes (GT) 3 and 4 results from zoonotic transmission. Hypothesising that HEV GT3 and GT4 are circulating in the Vietnamese pig population and can be transmitted to humans, we aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of HEV exposure in a population of farmers and the general population. We additionally performed sequence analysis of HEV in pig populations in the same region to address knowledge gaps regarding HEV circulation and to evaluate if pigs were a potential source of HEV exposure. We found a high prevalence of HEV GT3 viral RNA in pigs (19.1% in faecal samples and 8.2% in rectal swabs) and a high HEV seroprevalence in pig farmers (16.0%) and a hospital‐attending population (31.7%) in southern Vietnam. The hospital population was recruited as a general‐population proxy even though this particular population subgroup may introduce bias. The detection of HEV RNA in pigs indicates that HEV may be a zoonotic disease risk in this location, although a larger sample size is required to infer an association between HEV positivity in pigs and seroprevalence in humans.
Epidemiology of campylobacteriosis in Denmark 2000–2015
Authors: Kuhn K. G. , Nielsen E. M. , Mølbak K. , Ethelberg S.
Published: June 2017

Campylobacter is the most frequently occurring cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in Europe. Unlike other zoonotic diseases, European‐wide incidences of Campylobacter infections have increased during the past decade, resulting in a significant disease burden. In Denmark, campylobacteriosis is notifiable by laboratory and a unique registration system of electronic transfer and storage of notified Campylobacter cases linked to the national person register of age, gender and geographical location allows collection of comprehensive case data. Using national surveillance data, we describe Campylobacter infections in Denmark from 2000 to 2015, focusing on age‐specific incidences, geography, seasonality and outbreaks. During the observed period, a total of 60,725 Campylobacter infections were registered with a mean annual incidence of 69.3 cases/100,000 population. From 2000 to 2014, the incidence of campylobacteriosis decreased by 20%, followed by an apparent increase of 20% from 2014 to 2015. Approximately one‐third of cases were travel‐related. Incidences were highest in males, young adults aged 20–29 years and children under 5 years of age. Generally, children under 10 years of age living in rural areas were at higher risk of infection. Infection patterns were seasonal with an increase from May to October, peaking in August. Outbreaks were identified each year, including four large waterborne outbreaks which all occurred following heavy rainfall events. For the most part, patterns of Campylobacter infection in Denmark during 2000 to 2015 remained remarkably constant and followed what is known about the disease with respect to demographic, temporal and spatial characteristics. To establish better targeted prevention and control measures, the current knowledge gaps regarding both Campylobacter microbiology (degree of clonal diversity and clustering) and the importance of different risk factors (food versus environment/climate) need to be filled.