bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repeated replacement of an intrabacterial symbiont in the tripartite nested mealybug symbiosis
Authors: Husnik Filip , McCutcheon John P.
Published: March 2016

Stable endosymbiosis of a bacterium into a host cell promotes cellular and genomic complexity. The mealybugPlanococcus citrihas two bacterial endosymbionts; remarkably, the gammaproteobacteriumMoranella endobialives in the cytoplasm of the betaproteobacteriumTremblaya princeps. These two bacteria, along with genes horizontally transferred from other bacteria to theP. citrigenome, encode complementary gene sets that form a complex metabolic patchwork. Here we test the stability of this three-way symbiosis by sequencing host-symbiont genome pairs for five diverse mealybug species. We find marked fluidity over evolutionary time: whileTremblayais the result of a single infection in the ancestor of mealybugs, the innermost gammaproteobacterial symbionts result from multiple replacements of inferred different ages from related but distinct bacterial lineages. Our data show that symbiont replacement can happen even in the most intricate symbiotic arrangements, and that pre-existing horizontally transferred genes can remain stable on genomes in the face of extensive symbiont turnover.
Mice deficient in poly(C)-binding protein 4 are susceptible to spontaneous tumors through increased expression of ZFP871 that targets p53 for degradation
Authors: Yan Wensheng , Scoumanne Ariane , Jung Yong-Sam , Xu Enshun , Zhang Jin , Zhang Yanhong , Ren Cong , Sun Pei , Chen Xinbin
Published: March 2016

Poly(C)-binding protein 4 (PCBP4), also called MCG10 and a target of p53, plays a role in the cell cycle and is implicated in lung tumor suppression. Here, we found that PCBP4-deficient mice are prone to lung adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, and kidney tumor and that PCBP4-deficient mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) exhibit enhanced cell proliferation but decreased cellular senescence. We also found that p53 expression is markedly reduced in PCBP4-deficient MEFs and mouse tissues, suggesting that PCBP4 in turn regulates p53 expression. To determine how PCBP4 regulates p53 expression, PCBP4 targets were identified by RNA immunoprecipitation followed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). We found that the transcript encoding ZFP871 (zinc finger protein 871; also called ZNF709 in humans) interacts with and is regulated by PCBP4 via mRNA stability. Additionally, we found that ZFP871 physically interacts with p53 and MDM2 proteins. Consistently, ectopic expression of ZFP871 decreases—whereas knockdown of ZFP871 increases—p53 protein stability through a proteasome-dependent degradation pathway. Moreover, loss of ZFP871 reverses the reduction of p53 expression by lack of PCBP4, and thus increased expression of ZFP871 is responsible for decreased expression of p53 in the PCBP4-deficient MEFs and mouse tissues. Interestingly, we found that, like PCBP4, ZFP871 is also regulated by DNA damage and p53. Finally, we showed that knockdown of ZFP871 markedly enhances p53 expression, leading to growth suppression and apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner. Thus, the p53–PCBP4–ZFP871 axis represents a novel feedback loop in the p53 pathway. Together, we hypothesize that PCBP4 is a potential tissue-specific tumor suppressor and that ZFP871 is part of MDM2 and possibly other ubiquitin E3 ligases that target p53 for degradation.
Cis–transisomerism in a square-planar platinum(II) complex bearing bulky fluorinated phosphane ligands
Authors: Bernès Sylvain , Meléndez Francisco J. , Torrens Hugo
Published: March 2016

Transition-metal complexes bearing fluorinated phosphane and thiolate ligands has been an area of study in recent years and the chemical context of the current work is related to the metal-assisted functionalization of fluorinated derivatives. Thecisandtransisomers of the square-planar complex bis[(pentafluorophenyl)diphenylphosphane-κP]bis(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzenethiolato-κS)platinum(II), [Pt(C6HF4S)2{P(C6H5)2(C6F5)}2], have been crystallized from a single chromatographic fraction and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The stabilization of thecisisomer results from weak intramolecular π-stacking interactions and possibly from the formation of a C—F...Pt contact, characterized by an F...Pt separation of 2.957 (6) Å. The natural bond orbital analysis (NBO) for this isomer confirms that the corresponding F → Pt charge transfer accounts for 6.92 kcal mol−1in the isomer stabilization. Such interactions are not present in the centrosymmetrictransisomer.
7-Hydroxy-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-chromen-2-one
Authors: Walki Shashikanth , Naveen S. , Kenchanna S. , Mahadevan K. M. , Kumara M. N. , Lokanath N. K.
Published: March 2016

In the title compound, C15H9NO5, the coumarin ring system is essentially planar, with a dihedral angle of 1.42 (10)° between the two fused rings. The mean plane of the coumarin ring system forms a dihedral angle of 36.10 (1)° with the nitro-substituted benzene ring. The nitro group is almost coplanar with the benzene ring to which it is bonded, with a maximum deviation of 0.014 (6) Å for all atoms in the nitrobenzene group. As in other reported coumarin compounds, there is asymmetry with respect to the O—C=O bond angles, with values of 113.6 (5) and 128.0 (5)°. In a similar way, the O—C—C and C—C—C angles at the junction of the two fused rings have values of 117.6 (5) and 123.7 (5)°, respectively. In the crystal, molecules are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along [010]. In addition, weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds link these chains, forming a three-dimensional network.
(1aR*,2R*,7S*,7aS*)-rel-3,6-Dimethoxy-2-methyl-1a,2,7,7a-tetrahydro-2,7-epoxy-1H-cyclopropa[b]naphthalene
Authors: Lough Alan J. , Carlson Emily , Tam William
Published: March 2016

In the racemic title compound, C14H16O3, the dihedral angle formed by the mean planes of the cyclopropane and benzene rings is 5.0 (2)°. In the crystal, a pair of weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds connect two molecules related by a twofold rotation axis, thus forming a dimer with anR22(10) motif.
Diversity management across borders: the role of the national context
Authors: Bešić Almina , Hirt Christian
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the question how context-specific diversity management (DM) is and whether it is transferable by organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors explore context specificity and transferability of DM with the example of an Austrian company in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on the relational framework for the transfer of DM practices the authors empirically examine differences between headquarters and subsidiaries.

Findings

– The empirical analysis reveals challenges for the transferability of DM and thus different approaches in the analysed company. The authors do not identify a significant transfer of DM practices. The findings are in line with the relational framework and suggest that headquarters must be treated separately from foreign subsidiaries, which theoretical models should take into account.

Research limitations/implications

– Future studies would benefit from a more holistic design not only based on the managements’ perceptions. A comparison with the situation in other companies in transition economies would further increase generalisability.

Practical implications

– The authors underscore the need for diversity as a strategic approach to management. Organisations benefit from considering context specificity and should be aware that DM practices in headquarters must not be transferable to subsidiaries. Although theoretical models are useful to identify diversity motives and strategies, their application in practice needs consideration of the context.

Originality/value

– The paper tackles the issue of context specificity and considers motives and strategies for DM. The case study sheds light on the link between headquarters’ diversity strategy and practice in a subsidiary and contributes to deficient research for transition economies.
Ethical aspects in eHealth – design of a privacy-friendly system
Authors: Milutinovic Milica , De Decker Bart
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The medical advances and historical fluctuations in the demographics are contributing to the rise of the average age. These changes are increasing the pressure to organize adequate care to a growing number of individuals. As a way to provide efficient and cost-effective care, eHealth systems are gaining importance. However, this trend is creating new ethical concerns. Major issues are privacy and patients’ control over their data. To deploy these systems on a large scale, they need to offer strict privacy protection. Even though many research proposals focus on eHealth systems and related ethical requirements, there is an evident lack of practical solutions for protecting users’ personal information. The purpose of this study is to explore the ethical considerations related to these systems and extract the privacy requirements. This paper also aims to put forth a system design which ensures appropriate privacy protection.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper investigates the existing work in the area of eHealth systems and the related ethical considerations, which establish privacy as one of the main requirements. It lists the ethical requirements and data protection standards that a system needs to fulfil and uses them as a guideline for creating the proposed design.

Findings

– Even though privacy is considered to be a paramount aspect of the eHealth systems, the existing proposals do not tackle this issue from the outset of the design. Consequently, introducing privacy at the final stages of the system deployment imposes significant limitations and the provided data protection is not always to the standards expected by the users.

Originality/value

– This paper motivates the need for addressing ethical concerns in the eHealth domain with special focus on establishing strict privacy protection. It lists the privacy requirements and offers practical solutions for developing a privacy-friendly system and takes the approach of privacy-by-design. Additionally, the proposed design is evaluated against ethical principles as proposed in the existing literature. The aim is to show that technological advances can be used to improve quality and efficiency of care, while the usually raised concerns can be avoided.
Clinicians’ perspectives on recruiting youth consumers for suicide research
Authors: Knox Susan , Collings Sunny C , Nelson Katherine
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss mental health clinicians’ perspectives on recruiting youth for research exploring the influences of social media on self-harm in young men. Following the low recruitment of a clinical sample of young men to a qualitative e-mail interview study the authors investigated the barriers among clinicians who were involved in recruitment.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a face-to-face, semi-structured interview, 13 clinicians were recruited and interviewed. Thematic analysis was undertaken to explore the issues which impeded a clinician-led approach to recruitment of young men.

Findings

– Online approaches to data collection hold promise as innovative ways to engage health consumers in research. However in this study the intention to e-mail interview young men increased clinicians’ perceptions of risk and contributed to the original study being abandoned. Inviting clinicians to recruit consumers to online research raised ethical and clinical dilemmas for clinicians because the potential risks of consumer participation in such research were unknown.

Research limitations/implications

– When involving clinicians as intermediaries in research, it is important to consider their perspectives on data collection methods and their perceptions of risk.

Practical implications

– Findings can be used to inform future recruitment strategies to ensure young men’s perspectives are present in the literature.

Social implications

– There is a need to balance increasing the presence of young men’s voices in the literature with clinical responsibilities for their best interests as mental health consumers.

Originality/value

– The study brings knowledge on perceptions of research risk into sharper focus in the research literature.
The effect of polyurethane-isophorone microcapsules on self-healing properties of an automotive clearcoat
Authors: Kardar Pooneh
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this work was to prepare a catalyst-free microcapsules as self-healing agent in an automotive clearcoat to improve the scratch resistance of coatings.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this research, microcapsule with isophorone diisocyanate (IDPI) core and polyurethane shell were prepared and used in self-healing coatings. Microcapsules synthesised were characterised by thermal gravimeter and infrared spectra. The microcapsules were dispersed in an acrylic-melamine clearcoat, and the scratch resistance was evaluated.

Findings

– The triplex product and the formed polyurethane bonds were confirmed by thermal gravimeter and infrared spectra. In addition, smooth spherical particles with a diameter of 1.5 to 1.7 micronmeters were observed by a scanning electron microscope. The microcapsules dispersed in an acrylic-melamine clearcoat increased the scratch resistance of coatings. Also, the self-healing feature of those coatings was proved.

Research limitations/implications

– The size of microcapsules can affect its dispersion in the clearcoat and consequently affect the properties of the cured films.

Practical implications

– The self-healing coatings are interested for many industries such as building and automotive industries. The reported data can be used by the formulators working in the R
&
D departments.

Social implications

– Self-healing systems are considered as one of the smart coatings. Therefore, the developing of its knowledge can help to extend its usage to different applications.

Originality/value

– The application of microcapsules in the coating as healing agents is a great challenge, which has been hardly investigated so far. In the current research, the effect of polyurethane-IDPI microcapsules in an automotive clearcoat as a self-healing coating was investigated.
First High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of
Pasteurella multocida
Sequence Type 128 Isolated from Infected Bone
Authors: Kavousi Niloofar , Eng Wilhelm Wei Han , Lee Yin Peng , Tan Lian Huat , Thuraisingham Ravindran , Yule Catherine M. , Gan Han Ming
Published: March 2016

We report here the first high-quality draft genome sequence of
Pasteurella multocida
sequence type 128, which was isolated from the infected finger bone of an adult female who was bitten by a domestic dog. The draft genome will be a valuable addition to the scarce genomic resources available for
P. multocida
.
Draft Genome Sequences of
Streptomyces scabiei
S58,
Streptomyces turgidiscabies
T45, and
Streptomyces acidiscabies
a10, the Pathogens of Potato Common Scab, Isolated in Japan
Authors: Tomihama Tsuyoshi , Nishi Yatsuka , Sakai Masao , Ikenaga Makoto , Okubo Takashi , Ikeda Seishi
Published: March 2016

The draft genome sequences of the three pathogens of potato common scab,
Streptomyces scabiei
S58,
Streptomyces turgidiscabies
T45, and
Streptomyces acidiscabies
a10, isolated in Japan, are presented here. The genome size of each strain is >10 Mb, and the three pathogenic strains share genes located in a pathogenicity island previously described in other pathogenic
Streptomyces
species.
Hypothesised mechanisms of swimming-related death: a systematic review
Authors: Asplund Chad A , Creswell Lawrence L
Published: March 2016

Background

Recent reports from triathlon and competitive open-water swimming indicate that these events have higher rates of death compared with other forms of endurance sport. The potential causal mechanism for swimming-related death is unclear.

Objective

To examine available studies on the hypothesised mechanisms of swimming-related death to determine the most likely aetiologies.

Material and methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1950 to present) were searched, yielding 1950 potential results, which after title and citation reviews were reduced to 83 possible reports. Studies included discussed mechanisms of death during swimming in humans, and were Level 4 evidence or higher.

Results

A total of 17 studies (366 total swimmers) were included for further analysis: 5 investigating hyperthermia/hypothermia, 7 examining cardiac mechanisms and responses, and 5 determining the presence of pulmonary edema. The studies provide inconsistent and limited-quality or disease-oriented evidence that make definitive conclusions difficult.

Conclusions

The available evidence is limited but may suggest that cardiac arrhythmias are the most likely aetiology of swimming-related death. While symptoms of pulmonary edema may occur during swimming, current evidence does not support swimming-induced pulmonary edema as a frequent cause of swimming-related death, nor is there evidence to link hypothermia or hyperthermia as a causal mechanism. Further higher level studies are needed.
Implementation of tuberculosis infection control measures in designated hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China: are we doing enough to prevent nosocomial tuberculosis infections?
Authors: Chen Bin , Liu Min , Gu Hua , Wang Xiaomeng , Qiu Wei , Shen Jian , Jiang Jianmin
Published: March 2016

Objectives

Tuberculosis (TB) infection control measures are very important to prevent nosocomial transmission and protect healthcare workers (HCWs) in hospitals. The TB infection control situation in TB treatment institutions in southeastern China has not been studied previously. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the implementation of TB infection control measures in TB-designated hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China.

Design

Cross-sectional survey using observation and interviews.

Setting

All TB-designated hospitals (n=88) in Zhejiang Province, China in 2014.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Managerial, administrative, environmental and personal infection control measures were assessed using descriptive analyses and univariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

The TB-designated hospitals treated a median of 3030 outpatients (IQR 764–7094) and 279 patients with confirmed TB (IQR 154–459) annually, and 160 patients with TB (IQR 79–426) were hospitalised in the TB wards. Most infection control measures were performed by the TB-designated hospitals. Measures including regular monitoring of TB infection control in high-risk areas (49%), shortening the wait times (42%), and providing a separate waiting area for patients with suspected TB (46%) were sometimes neglected. N95 respirators were available in 85 (97%) hospitals, although only 44 (50%) hospitals checked that they fit. Hospitals with more TB staff and higher admission rates of patients with TB were more likely to set a dedicated sputum collection area and to conduct annual respirator fit testing.

Conclusions

TB infection control measures were generally implemented by the TB-designated hospitals. Measures including separation of suspected patients, regular monitoring of infection control practices, and regular fit testing of respirators should be strengthened. Infection measures for sputum collection and respirator fit testing should be improved in hospitals with lower admission rates of patients with TB.
A Yield Criterion for Hybrid Asymmetric Metal Sandwich Structures and its Application
Authors: Yuan Chao , Qin Qinghua , Wang T. J.
Published: March 2016

In this paper, a yield criterion for hybrid asymmetric metal sandwich structure is proposed including the combined effects of geometrical and physical asymmetries. Taking account of the interaction of bending and axial stretching and using the yield criterion, we obtain an analytical solution for large deflections of fully clamped hybrid asymmetric sandwich beam transversely loaded by a flat punch at mid-span. Moreover, finite element analysis is performed and good agreement is achieved between numerical results and analytical predictions. It is shown that the well-designed hybrid asymmetric sandwich beam may have higher load-carrying capacity than the conventional geometrically or physically asymmetric counterpart in large deflections.
Mechanical Instability of Aorta due to Intraluminal Pressure
Authors: Rastgar-Agah Mobin , Laksari Kaveh , Assari Soroush , Darvish Kurosh
Published: March 2016

Dynamic mechanical instability in aorta due to intraluminal pressure may result in a buckling-type deformation and an increase in the pressure-induced tissue stresses and strains. The stability behavior of thoracic aorta was investigated with two boundary conditions that represented two extreme cases of in vivo constraints. The pinned–pinned boundary condition (PPBC) resulted in a decoupled system of equations while the equations for the clamped–clamped boundary condition (CCBC) were coupled. The stability regions around a physiological reference point were generated and the effects of variations in loading and geometric parameters were studied. In CCBC, the critical intraluminal pressures were higher by a factor of two to four compared to PPBC. The highest critical pressures remained below the peak aortic pressures that occur in motor vehicle accidents, which confirmed that mechanical instability can be a mechanism contributing to traumatic injury and rupture of aorta.
Assessing the Impact of Hand Motion on Virtual Character Personality
Authors: Wang Yingying , Tree Jean E. Fox , Walker Marilyn , Neff Michael
Published: March 2016

Designing virtual characters that are capable of conveying a sense of personality is important for generating realistic experiences, and thus a key goal in computer animation research. Though the influence of gesture and body motion on personality perception has been studied, little is known about which attributes of hand pose and motion convey particular personality traits. Using the “Big Five” model as a framework for evaluating personality traits, this work examines how variations in hand pose and motion impact the perception of a character's personality. As has been done with facial motion, we first study hand motion in isolation as a requirement for running controlled experiments that avoid the combinatorial explosion of multimodal communication (all combinations of facial expressions, arm movements, body movements, and hands) and allow us to understand the communicative content of hands. We determined a set of features likely to reflect personality, based on research in psychology and previous human motion perception work: shape, direction, amplitude, speed, and manipulation. Then we captured realistic hand motion varying these attributes and conducted three perceptual experiments to determine the contribution of these attributes to the character's personalities. Both hand poses and the amplitude of hand motion affected the perception of all five personality traits. Speed impacted all traits except openness. Direction impacted extraversion and openness. Manipulation was perceived as an indicator of introversion, disagreeableness, neuroticism, and less openness to experience. From these results, we generalize guidelines for designing detailed hand motion that can add to the expressiveness and personality of characters. We performed an evaluation study that combined hand motion with gesture and body motion. Even in the presence of body motion, hand motion still significantly impacted the perception of a character's personality and could even be the dominant factor in certain situations.
Advanced age decreases local calcium signaling in endothelium of mouse mesenteric arteries in vivo
Authors: Boerman Erika M. , Everhart Jesse E. , Segal Steven S.
Published: March 2016

Aging is associated with vascular dysfunction that impairs tissue perfusion, physical activity, and the quality of life. Calcium signaling in endothelial cells (ECs) is integral to vasomotor control, exemplified by localized Ca2+ signals within EC projections through holes in the internal elastic lamina (IEL). Within these microdomains, endothelium-derived hyperpolarization is integral to smooth muscle cell (SMC) relaxation via coupling through myoendothelial gap junctions. However, the effects of aging on local EC Ca2+ signals (and thereby signaling between ECs and SMCs) remain unclear, and these events have not been investigated in vivo. Furthermore, it is unknown whether aging affects either the number or the size of IEL holes. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that local EC Ca2+ signaling is impaired with advanced age along with a reduction in IEL holes. In anesthetized mice expressing a Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent protein (GCaMP2) selectively in ECs, our findings illustrate that for mesenteric arteries controlling splanchnic blood flow the frequency of spontaneous local Ca2+ signals in ECs was reduced by ∼85% in old (24–26 mo) vs. young (3–6 mo) animals. At the same time, the number (and total area) of holes per square millimeter of IEL was reduced by ∼40%. We suggest that diminished signaling between ECs and SMCs contributes to dysfunction of resistance arteries with advanced age.

Listen to this article's corresponding podcast at http://ajpheart.podbean.com/e/aging-impairs-endothelial-ca2-signaling/ .
A mathematical model of coronary blood flow control: simulation of patient-specific three-dimensional hemodynamics during exercise
Authors: Arthurs Christopher J. , Lau Kevin D. , Asrress Kaleab N. , Redwood Simon R. , Figueroa C. Alberto
Published: March 2016

This work presents a mathematical model of the metabolic feedback and adrenergic feedforward control of coronary blood flow that occur during variations in the cardiac workload. It is based on the physiological observations that coronary blood flow closely follows myocardial oxygen demand, that myocardial oxygen debts are repaid, and that control oscillations occur when the system is perturbed and so are phenomenological in nature. Using clinical data, we demonstrate that the model can provide patient-specific estimates of coronary blood flow changes between rest and exercise, requiring only the patient's heart rate and peak aortic pressure as input. The model can be used in zero-dimensional lumped parameter network studies or as a boundary condition for three-dimensional multidomain Navier-Stokes blood flow simulations. For the first time, this model provides feedback control of the coronary vascular resistance, which can be used to enhance the physiological accuracy of any hemodynamic simulation, which includes both a heart model and coronary arteries. This has particular relevance to patient-specific simulation for which heart rate and aortic pressure recordings are available. In addition to providing a simulation tool, under our assumptions, the derivation of our model shows that β-feedforward control of the coronary microvascular resistance is a mathematical necessity and that the metabolic feedback control must be dependent on two error signals: the historical myocardial oxygen debt, and the instantaneous myocardial oxygen deficit.
α-Smooth muscle actin is an inconsistent marker of fibroblasts responsible for force-dependent TGFβ activation or collagen production across multiple models of organ fibrosis
Authors: Sun Kai-Hui , Chang Yongen , Reed Nilgun I. , Sheppard Dean
Published: March 2016

Fibrosis is a common pathological sequela of tissue injury or inflammation, and is a major cause of organ failure. Subsets of fibroblasts contribute to tissue fibrosis in multiple ways, including generating contractile force to activate integrin-bound, latent TGFβ and secreting excess amounts of collagens and other extracellular matrix proteins (ECM) that make up pathologic scar. However, the precise fibroblast subsets that drive fibrosis have been poorly understood. In the absence of well-characterized markers, α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) is often used to identify pathologic fibroblasts, and some authors have equated αSMA+ cells with contractile myofibroblasts and proposed that these cells are the major source of ECM. Here, we investigated how well αSMA expression describes fibroblast subsets responsible for TGFβ activation and collagen production in three commonly used models of organ fibrosis that we previously reported could be inhibited by loss of αv integrins on all fibroblasts (using PDGFRβ-Cre). Interestingly, αSMA-directed deletion of αv integrins protected mice from CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis, but not bleomycin-induced pulmonary or unilateral ureteral obstruction–induced renal fibrosis. Using Col-EGFP/αSMA-RFP dual reporter mice, we found that only a minority of collagen-producing cells coexpress αSMA in the fibrotic lung and kidney. Notably, Col-EGFP+αSMA-RFP− cells isolated from the fibrotic lung and kidney were equally capable of activating TGFβ as were Col-EGFP+αSMA-RFP+ cells from the same organ, and this TGFβ activation was blocked by a TGFβ-blocking antibody and an inhibitor of nonmuscle myosin, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest that αSMA is an inconsistent marker of contractile and collagen-producing fibroblasts in murine experimental models of organ fibrosis.
Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, and Lung Cancer Risk in Non-Hispanic Whites
Authors: Melkonian Stephanie C. , Daniel Carrie R. , Ye Yuanqing , Pierzynski Jeanne A. , Roth Jack A. , Wu Xifeng
Published: March 2016

Background: Postprandial glucose (PPG) and insulin responses play a role in carcinogenesis. We evaluated the association between dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL), markers of carbohydrate intake and PPG, and lung cancer risk in non-Hispanic whites.

Methods: GL and GI were assessed among 1,905 newly diagnosed lung cancer cases recruited from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) and 2,413 healthy controls recruited at Kelsey-Seybold Clinics (Houston, TX). We assessed associations between quintiles of GI/GL and lung cancer risk and effect modification by various risk factors. ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using multivariable logistic regression.

Results: We observed a significant association between GI [5th vs. 1st quintile (Q) OR = 1.49; 95% CI, 1.21–1.83; Ptrend <0.001] and lung cancer risk and GIac (5th vs. 1st Q OR = 1.48; 95% CI, 1.20–1.81; Ptrend = 0.001) and lung cancer risk. We observed a more pronounced association between GI and lung cancer risk among never smokers (5th vs. 1st Q OR = 2.25; 95% CI, 1.42–3.57), squamous cell carcinomas (SCC; 5th vs. 1st Q OR = 1.92; 95% CI, 1.30–2.83), and those with less than 12 years of education (5th vs. 1st Q OR = 1.75; 95% CI, 1.19–2.58, Pinteraction = 0.02).

Conclusion: This study suggests that dietary GI and other lung cancer risk factors may jointly and independently influence lung cancer etiology.

Impact: Understanding the role of GI in lung cancer could inform prevention strategies and elucidate biologic pathways related to lung cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(3); 532–9. ©2016 AACR.
The Association Between Post-Diagnosis Health Behaviors and Quality of Life in Survivors of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Authors: Hart V , Berkman A , Ba Y , Fujii M , Veal CT , Hampton JM , Gangnon RE , Newcomb PA , Trentham-Dietz A , Sprague BL
Published: March 2016

Background: Survivors of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early stage breast cancer, tend to decrease physical activity, gain weight, and maintain alcohol use following treatment. However, the impact of these health behaviors on long-term quality of life (QoL) in DCIS survivors has not been investigated. Methods: We examined the association of post-diagnosis body mass index (BMI), physical activity and smoking with QoL among 1,448 DCIS survivors aged 20–74, who were diagnosed during 1995–2006 and enrolled in the population-based Wisconsin In Situ Cohort. Health behaviors and QoL were self-reported during biennial post- diagnosis interviews. Physical and mental QoL were measured using the validated SF-36 questionnaire (higher scores reflect more positive QoL). Generalized linear regression was used to establish QoL mean scores in cross-sectional analyses, with multivariable adjustment for age, comorbidity status, education, and income. Results: Women reported 3,444 QoL observations over an average 7.9 years of follow-up. Physical health summary scale measures of QoL were significantly higher among women with healthy BMI (46.5 for healthy weight versus 40.5 for obese, P = 0.02) and those who were physically active (45.9 for active women versus 42.6 for inactive, P = 0.03). Mental health summary scale scores were significantly higher among non-smokers (51.2 for non-smokers versus 47.1 for current smokers, P < 0.01). These associations were consistent over increasing time since treatment up to 15 years. Conclusion: Our preliminary analysis suggests that maintaining healthy behaviors following DCIS treatment is associated with improved long-term QoL. Longitudinal analysis using cross-lagged regression is underway to evaluate the temporal association between health behavior and QoL. Understanding factors that impact QoL in DCIS survivors may inform interventions aimed at preventing negative health behaviors and optimizing long term quality of life following a DCIS diagnosis.
Confirmation of the Intracoronary Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Threshold of Lipid-Rich Plaques That Underlie ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Madder Ryan D. , Puri Rishi , Muller James E. , Harnek Jan , Götberg Matthias , VanOosterhout Stacie , Chi Margaret , Wohns David , McNamara Richard , Wolski Kathy , Madden Sean , Sidharta Samuel , Andrews Jordan , Nicholls Stephen J. , Erlinge David
Published: March 2016

Objective—

In a previous exploratory analysis, intracoronary near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) found the majority of culprit lesions in ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to contain a maximum lipid core burden index in 4 mm (maxLCBI
4mm
) of >400. This initial study was limited by a small sample size, enrollment at a single center, and post hoc selection of the maxLCBI
4mm
≥400 threshold. This study was designed a priori to substantiate the ability of NIRS to discriminate STEMI culprit from nonculprit segments and to confirm the performance of the maxLCBI
4mm
≥400 threshold.

Approach and Results—

At 2 centers in the United States and Sweden, 75 STEMI patients underwent intracoronary NIRS imaging after establishing thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 3 flow, but before stenting. Blinded core laboratory analysis defined the culprit segment as the 10-mm segment distal to the proximal angiographic culprit margin. The remaining vessel was divided into contiguous 10-mm nonculprit segments. The maxLCBI
4mm
of culprit segments (median [interquartile range]: 543 [273–756]) was 4.4-fold greater than nonculprit segments (median [interquartile range]: 123 [0–307];
P
<0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that maxLCBI
4mm
differentiated culprit from nonculprit segments with high accuracy (c-statistic=0.83;
P
<0.001). A threshold maxLCBI
4mm
≥400 identified STEMI culprit segments with a sensitivity of 64% and specificity of 85%.

Conclusions—

This study substantiates the ability of NIRS to accurately differentiate STEMI culprit from nonculprit segments and confirms that a threshold maxLCBI
4mm
≥400 is detected by NIRS in the majority of STEMI culprits.
Bursaphelenchus saudi n. sp. (Tylenchina: Aphelenchoididae) found in packaging wood from Saudi Arabia
Authors: Gu Jianfeng , Maria Munawar , Fang Yiwu , He Jie , Braasch Helen , Li Hongmei
Published: March 2016

Bursaphelenchus saudi n. sp., isolated in Ningbo, P.R. China, from Pinus packaging wood imported from Saudi Arabia, is described. It is characterised by four lateral lines, excretory pore located between metacorpus and nerve ring (anterior to median bulb before cultured), presence of a thick vulval flap, post-uterine branch ca two-thirds of the vulva-anus distance long, female tail hook-like (slightly ventrally bent before cultured), long and conical, tapering to a bluntly rounded terminus, spicules transversely striated with weakly developed rostrum and condylus, a single precloacal papilla and three pairs of ventro-sublateral papillae (one pair precloacal, two pairs postcloacal just anterior to bursal flap and adjacent to each other). It belongs to the africanus-group of the genus Bursaphelenchus and is most close to B. paraburgeri, B. burgermeisteri and B. obeche. It is distinguished from other Bursaphelenchus species by morphology, ITS-RFLP patterns and partial 18S, ITS and 28S D2-D3 rDNA gene sequencing results.
The Caliphate of Adam: Theological Politics of the Qurʾānic Term Ḫalīfa
Authors: Liew Han Hsien
Published: March 2016

This paper studies how medieval Sunnite Muslim exegetes from al-Ṭabarī (d. 310/923) to Ibn Kaṯīr (d. 774/1373) understood the Qurʾānic term ḫalīfa and other Ḫ.L.F-derived terms. While previous scholarship has examined how exegetes generally understood the term, this paper scrutinizes the exegetical commentaries (tafsīr) chronologically in order to discern the semantic and terminological shifts accompanying different commentaries over time. It demonstrates the importance of an intertextual approach in placing tafsīr literature in dialogue with writings on the caliphate in works of theology (kalām) and law ( fiqh). Overall, the paper argues that the legal and theological development of the Sunnite theory of the caliphate provided exegetes with new clusters of terminology associated with the caliphate to enrich their commentaries on the Ḫ.L.F verses. This process was in turn catalyzed by the systematization of the caliphate discourse and the canonization of the four-caliphs thesis during the Sunnite Revival.
Советский режим и человеческий фактор на примере функционирования системы детских домов. 1917–1930-е годы
Authors: Smirnova Tatiana M. , Смирнова Татьяна М.
Published: March 2016

This article focuses on two pillars of the system of operation of children’s homes in post-revolutionary Russia—finance and personnel. On the basis of the detailed reconstruction of the characteristics established in the post-revolutionary Russian system of financing children’s institutions, including their human resources policy, the author reveals the role of personal factors in implementing the state’s official policy in the areas of mother and child protection. The author argues that, in practice, the availability of children’s homes, their level of funding, and the daily life of children living in these homes depended not so much on the relevant orders and instructions from Soviet authorities, but on the level of professionalism, integrity, initiative, and common decency of the people who implemented these regulations. This article is based on a wide range of sources, most of which were originally put into circulation among academics, and contains extensive statistical material, and tables based on archival documents.
Management of Hypoparathyroidism: Summary Statement and Guidelines
Authors: Brandi Maria Luisa , Bilezikian John P. , Shoback Dolores , Bouillon Roger , Clarke Bart L. , Thakker Rajesh V. , Khan Aliya A. , Potts John T.
Published: March 2016

Objective:

Hypoparathyroidism is a rare disorder characterized by hypocalcemia and absent or deficient PTH. This report presents a summary of current information about epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, clinical features, and management and proposes guidelines to help clinicians diagnose, evaluate, and manage this disorder.

Participants:

Participants in the First International Conference on the Management of Hypoparathyroidism represented a worldwide constituency with acknowledged interest and expertise in key basic, translational, and clinical aspects of hypoparathyroidism. Three Workshop Panels were constituted to address questions for presentation and discussion at the Conference held in Florence, Italy, May 7–9, 2015. At that time, a series of presentations were made, followed by in-depth discussions in an open forum. Each Workshop Panel also met in closed sessions to formulate the three evidence-based reports that accompany this summary statement. An Expert Panel then considered this information, developed summaries, guidelines, and a research agenda that constitutes this summary statement.

Evidence:

Preceding the conference, each Workshop Panel conducted an extensive literature search as noted in the individual manuscripts accompanying this report. All presentations were based upon the best peer-reviewed information taking into account the historical and current literature.

Consensus Process:

This report represents the Expert Panel's synthesis of the conference material placed in a context designed to be relevant to clinicians and those engaged in cutting-edge studies of hypoparathyroidism.

Conclusions:

This document not only provides a summary of our current knowledge but also places recent advances in its management into a context that should enhance future advances in our understanding of hypoparathyroidism.
The carboxyl terminal mutational hotspot of the ciliary disease protein RPGRORF15 (retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator) is glutamylated in vivo
Authors: Rao Kollu N. , Anand Manisha , Khanna Hemant
Published: March 2016

Mutations in RPGRORF15 (retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator) are a major cause of inherited retinal degenerative diseases. RPGRORF15 (1152 residues) is a ciliary protein involved in regulating the composition and function of photoreceptor cilia. The mutational hotspot in RPGRORF15 is an unusual C-terminal domain encoded by exon ORF15, which is rich in polyglutamates and glycine residues (Glu-Gly domain) followed by a short stretch of basic amino acid residues (RPGRC2 domain; residues 1072-1152). However, the properties of the ORF15-encoded domain and its involvement in the pathogenesis of the disease are unclear. Here we show that RPGRORF15 is glutamylated at the C-terminus, as determined by binding to GT335, which recognizes glutamylated substrates. This reactivity is lost in two mouse mutants of Rpgr, which do not express RPGRORF15 due to disease-causing mutations in exon ORF15. Our results indicate that RPGRORF15 is posttranslationally glutamylated in the Glu-Gly domain and that the GT335 antibody predominantly recognizes RPGRORF15 in photoreceptor cilia.
Synaptic roles for phosphomannomutase type 2 in a new Drosophila congenital disorder of glycosylation disease model
Authors: Parkinson William M. , Dookwah Michelle , Dear Mary Lynn , Gatto Cheryl L. , Aoki Kazuhiro , Tiemeyer Michael , Broadie Kendal
Published: March 2016

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) constitute a rapidly growing family of human diseases resulting from heritable mutations in genes driving the production and modification of glycoproteins. The resulting symptomatic hypoglycosylation causes multisystemic defects that include severe neurological impairments, revealing a particularly critical requirement for tightly regulated glycosylation in the nervous system. The most common CDG, CDG-Ia (PMM2-CDG), arises from phosphomannomutase type 2 (PMM2) mutations. Here, we report the generation and characterization of the first Drosophila CDG-Ia model. CRISPR-generated pmm2-null Drosophila mutants display severely disrupted glycosylation and early lethality, whereas RNAi-targeted knockdown of neuronal PMM2 results in a strong shift in the abundance of pauci-mannose glycan, progressive incoordination and later lethality, closely paralleling human CDG-Ia symptoms of shortened lifespan, movement impairments and defective neural development. Analyses of the well-characterized Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) reveal synaptic glycosylation loss accompanied by defects in both structural architecture and functional neurotransmission. NMJ synaptogenesis is driven by intercellular signals that traverse an extracellular synaptomatrix and are co-regulated by glycosylation and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Specifically, trans-synaptic signaling by the Wnt protein Wingless (Wg) depends on the heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) co-receptor Dally-like protein (Dlp), which is regulated by synaptic MMP activity. Loss of synaptic MMP2, Wg ligand, Dlp co-receptor and downstream trans-synaptic signaling occurs with PMM2 knockdown. Taken together, this Drosophila CDG disease model provides a new avenue for the dissection of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurological impairments and is a means by which to discover and test novel therapeutic treatment strategies.
Classical Least Squares Combined with Spectral Interval Selection Using Genetic Algorithm for Prediction of Constituents in Pharmaceutical Solid Dosage Forms from near Infrared Chemical Imaging Data
Authors: Alexandrino Guilherme L. , Breitkreitz Márcia C. , Poppi Ronei J.
Published: March 2016

A new algorithm that combines spectral interval selection using genetic algorithm and classical least squares (GA-iCLS) is presented for the prediction of the active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients in various pharmaceutical solid dosage forms from near infrared chemical imaging data. The algorithm is based on the CLS approach, selecting the best wavenumber intervals in the unfolded hyper-cube of each sample (D), and in pure-compound reference spectra (S), wherein the pixel-to-pixel prediction capability of the compounds, obtained by C = DST(SST)−1, is optimised for the samples. The wavelength intervals were selected (GA optimisation) while minimising the error between the mean concentrations of the ith compound predicted in the pixels and the nominal concentration in the corresponding sample (known a priori). The excluded wavenumber intervals from D (and S), for each sample, were interpreted based on systematic deviations from D = CST + E (CLS approach) due to the scattering effects and/or intermolecular interactions in mixtures of the pure compounds. The comparison of the chemical images generated from the predictions performed using the GA-iCLS algorithms with similar images obtained without spectral interval selection, using direct CLS and multivariate curve resolution–alternating least squares, revealed the potential applicability of the proposed algorithm for analytical purposes for pharmaceuticals using chemical imaging data.
Effects of Autonomy Supportive vs. Controlling Teachers’ Behavior on Students’ Achievement
Authors: Hofferber Natalia , Eckes Alexander , Wilde Matthias
Published: March 2016

Grolnick and Ryan assume that an autonomy supportive environment leads to higher learner engagement and thus to greater achievements and deeper understanding of content. In school, knowledge acquisition (rote learning as well as conceptual learning) are regarded as most important. In this study, we examined the effects of teachers’ autonomy supportive vs. controlling behavior on knowledge acquisition as measured by reproduction as well as at higher cognitive levels. The sample consisted of seventh graders (N=85; M=12.85 years; SD=1.6 years). One week in advance to the teaching unit, the students were tested for prior knowledge using two knowledge tests. Test 1 used multiple-choice items to address rote learning and Test 2 used an open response format to address conceptual learning. One week after the teaching unit, the same knowledge tests were used to assess the learning outcome. Analysis of the knowledge tests suggests that the students taught in an autonomy supportive environment develop greater conceptual knowledge than those taught in a controlling environment. Rote learning was not affected.