bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pyrimidine motif triple helix in the
Kluyveromyces lactis
telomerase RNA pseudoknot is essential for function in vivo
Authors: Cash Darian D. , Cohen-Zontag Osnat , Kim Nak-Kyoon , Shefer Kinneret , Brown Yogev , Ulyanov Nikolai B. , Tzfati Yehuda , Feigon Juli
Published: June 2013

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex that extends the 3′ ends of linear chromosomes. The specialized telomerase reverse transcriptase requires a multidomain RNA (telomerase RNA, TER), which includes an integral RNA template and functionally important template-adjacent pseudoknot. The structure of the human TER pseudoknot revealed that the loops interact with the stems to form a triple helix shown to be important for activity in vitro. A similar triple helix has been predicted to form in diverse fungi TER pseudoknots. The solution NMR structure of the
Kluyveromyces lactis
pseudoknot, presented here, reveals that it contains a long pyrimidine motif triple helix with unexpected features that include three individual bulge nucleotides and a C
+
•G-C triple adjacent to a stem 2–loop 2 junction. Despite significant differences in sequence and base triples, the 3D shape of the human and
K. lactis
TER pseudoknots are remarkably similar. Analysis of the effects of nucleotide substitutions on cell growth and telomere lengths provides evidence that this conserved structure forms in endogenously assembled telomerase and is essential for telomerase function in vivo.
Missing the wood for the trees: systemic defects and the future of education for sustainable development
Authors: Webster Ken
Published: June 2013

The division in approaches to education for sustainable development (ESD) as described by Vare and Scott is revisited. A strong bias in ESD towards personal behaviour change and aspirations to ‘making a difference’ (ESD1) is contrasted with systems level or more creative and critial approaches (ESD2). The lack of balance is further revealed when a critical eye is cast on familiar ideas such as recycling, efficiency saving (energy), ‘small steps add up’, reducing consumption, etc. Some ideas/contexts identified as central are identified as not discussed at all until very recently, e.g. the role of money created as debt. The suggestion is made that although exploring values is said to be of importance in ESD this does not extend to the underlying values represented by linear/mechanistic worldviews in contrast to a more contemporary systems worldview. The evidence is that teaching of many of the most familiar topics or themes is resolutely based on a linear worldview and thus fails badly and continually on a simple intellectual level. ESD is a prime candidate if ever there was one for what is essentially a systems perspective and an ESD which hardly touches this base is incomplete – being heavily biased towards social and environmental contexts to the downplaying of the economic – and is badly in need of review. The author%s personal journey away from ESD as commonly understood – despite 20 years of work in the arena – towards the broader discussion now described as the circular economy, is summarised.
Hospital Policies, State Laws, and Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination Rates
Authors: Zimmerman Richard K. , Lin Chyongchiou Jeng , Raymund Mahlon , Bialor Jamie , Sweeney Patricia M. , Nowalk Mary Patricia
Published: June 2013

This study used hierarchical linear modeling to determine the relative contribution of hospital policies and state laws to healthcare worker (HCW) influenza vaccination rates. Hospital mandates with consequences for noncompliance and race were associated with 3%-12% increases in HCW vaccination; state laws were not significantly related to vaccination rates.
Quality Gaps in Documenting Urinary Catheter Use and Infectious Outcomes
Authors: Trautner Barbara W. , Patterson Jan E. , Petersen Nancy J. , Hysong Sylvia , Horwitz Deborah , Chen G. John , Grota Patti , Naik Aanand D.
Published: June 2013

Objective.

To describe the frequency of use of all types of urinary catheters, including but not limited to indwelling catheters, as well as positive cultures associated with the various types. We also determined the accuracy of catheter-days reporting at our institution.

Design.

Prospective, observational trial based on patient-level review of the electronic medical record. Chart review was compared with standard methods of catheter surveillance and reporting by infection control personnel.

Setting.

Ten internal medicine and 5 long-term care wards in 2 tertiary care Veterans Affairs hospitals in Texas from July 2010 through June 2011.

Participants.

The study included 7,866 inpatients.

Methods.

Measurements included patient bed-days; days of use of indwelling, external, suprapubic, and intermittent urinary catheters; number of urine cultures obtained and culture results; and infection control reports of indwelling catheter-days.

Results.

We observed 7,866 inpatients with 128,267 bed-days on acute medicine and extended care wards during the study. A urinary catheter was used on 36.9% of the total bed-days observed. Acute medicine wards collected more urine cultures per 1,000 bed-days than did the extended care wards (75.9 and 10.4 cultures per 1,000 bed-days, respectively; P < .0001 ). Catheter-days were divided among indwelling-catheter-days (47.8%), external-catheter-days (48.4%), and other (intermittent- and suprapubic-catheter-days, 3.8%). External catheters contributed to 376 (37.3%) of the 1,009 catheter-associated positive urine cultures. Urinary-catheter-days reported to the infection control department missed 20.1% of the actual days of indwelling catheter use, whereas 12.0% of their reported catheter-days were false.

Conclusions.

Urinary catheter use was extremely common. External catheters accounted for a large portion of catheter-associated bacteriuria, and standard practices for tracking urinary-catheter-days were unreliable.

Trial Registration.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01052545.
Codimensions of polynomial identities of representations of Lie algebras
Authors: Gordienko A.
Published: June 2013

Consider a representation

ρ
:
L
→

g
l

(
V
)

\rho \colon L \to \mathfrak {gl}(V)

where

L
L

is a Lie algebra and

V
V

is a finite dimensional vector space. We prove the analog of Amitsur’s conjecture on asymptotic behavior for codimensions of polynomial identities of

ρ
\rho

.
Conformal blocks and rational normal curves
Authors: Giansiracusa Noah
Published: June 2013

We prove that the Chow quotient parameterizing configurations of

n
n

points in

P

d

\mathbb {P}^d

which generically lie on a rational normal curve is isomorphic to

M

¯

0
,
n

\overline {\mathcal {M}}_{0,n}

, generalizing the well-known

d
=
1

d=1

result of Kapranov. In particular,

M

¯

0
,
n

\overline {\mathcal {M}}_{0,n}

admits birational morphisms to all the corresponding geometric invariant theory (GIT) quotients. For symmetric linearizations, the polarization on each GIT quotient pulls back to a divisor that spans the same extremal ray in the symmetric nef cone of

M

¯

0
,
n

\overline {\mathcal {M}}_{0,n}

as a conformal blocks line bundle. A symmetry in conformal blocks implies a duality of point-configurations that comes from Gale duality and generalizes a result of Goppa in algebraic coding theory. In a suitable sense,

M

¯

0
,
2
m

\overline {\mathcal {M}}_{0,2m}

is fixed pointwise by the Gale transform when

d
=
m
−
1

d=m-1

so stable curves correspond to self-associated configurations.
Blocking for Sequential Political Experiments
Authors: Moore Ryan T. , Moore Sally A.
Published: June 2013

In typical political experiments, researchers randomize a set of households, precincts, or individuals to treatments all at once, and characteristics of all units are known at the time of randomization. However, in many other experiments, subjects “trickle in” to be randomized to treatment conditions, usually via complete randomization. To take advantage of the rich background data that researchers often have (but underutilize) in these experiments, we develop methods that use continuous covariates to assign treatments sequentially. We build on biased coin and minimization procedures for discrete covariates and demonstrate that our methods outperform complete randomization, producing better covariate balance in simulated data. We then describe how we selected and deployed a sequential blocking method in a clinical trial and demonstrate the advantages of our having done so. Further, we show how that method would have performed in two larger sequential political trials. Finally, we compare causal effect estimates from differences in means, augmented inverse propensity weighted estimators, and randomization test inversion.
Molecular Characterization of the NADPH Oxidase Complex in the Ergot Fungus Claviceps purpurea: CpNox2 and CpPls1 Are Important for a Balanced Host-Pathogen Interaction
Authors: Schürmann Janine , Buttermann Dagmar , Herrmann Andrea , Giesbert Sabine , Tudzynski Paul
Published: June 2013

Reactive oxygen species producing NADPH oxidase (Nox) complexes are involved in defense reactions in animals and plants while they trigger infection-related processes in pathogenic fungi. Knowledge about the composition and localization of these complexes in fungi is limited; potential components identified thus far include two to three catalytical subunits, a regulatory subunit (NoxR), the GTPase Rac, the scaffold protein Bem1, and a tetraspanin-like membrane protein (Pls1). We showed that, in the biotrophic grass-pathogen Claviceps purpurea, the catalytical subunit CpNox1 is important for infection. Here, we present identification of major Nox complex partners and a functional analysis of CpNox2 and the tetraspanin CpPls1. We show that, as in other fungi, Nox complexes are important for formation of sclerotia; CpRac is, indeed, a complex partner because it interacts with CpNoxR, and CpNox1/2 and CpPls1 are associated with the endoplasmatic reticulum. However, unlike in all other fungi, Δcppls1 is more similar to Δcpnox1 than to Δcpnox2, and CpNox2 is not essential for infection. In contrast, Δcpnox2 shows even more pronounced disease symptoms, indicating that Cpnox2 controls the infection process and moderates damage to the host. These data confirm that fungal Nox complexes have acquired specific functions dependent of the lifestyle of the pathogen.
First Report of Iris yellow spot virus Infecting Onion in Pakistan
Authors: Iftikhar R. , Bag S. , Ashfaq M. , Pappu H. R.
Published: June 2013

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is an important vegetable crop in Pakistan. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Pakistan is the world's fifth largest onion producer. The area and production is 127.8 thousand hectares and 1.7 million tons, respectively, with a yield of 13.8 tons per hectare during 2012. The agro-ecological diversity in the country enables onion production almost year round. Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV; family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus), transmitted principally by Thrips tabaci, is an economically important viral pathogen of bulb and seed onion crops in many onion-growing areas of the world (1,3). In Asia, IYSV has been reported in India and Sri Lanka (2,4). During March to May 2012, as part of a survey for tospoviruses in vegetables, symptoms suspected to be caused by IYSV were observed on bulb and seed onions grown in farmers' fields in Faisalabad, Nankana, Sheikhupura, and Sialkot districts of Punjab. Symptoms consisted of spindle-shaped, straw colored, irregular chlorotic lesions with occasional green islands on the leaves. Approximately 60% of the fields surveyed had about 30% of the plants with these symptoms. The presence of the virus was confirmed with an IYSV-specific ELISA kit (Bioreba). IYSV infection was verified by RT-PCR with primers IYSV-F (TAAAACAAACATTCAAACAA) and IYSV-R (CTCTTAAACACATTTAACAAGCA) as forward and reverse primers, respectively. Amplicons of approximately 1,100 bp were obtained from the symptomatic samples, but not from healthy and water controls. The amplicons were cloned and sequenced. The IYSV-Pakistan isolates (GenBank Accession Nos. KF171103, KF171104, and KF171105) had the highest nucleotide sequence identity of 99% with the corresponding region of an IYSV isolate from Chile (DQ150107). To our knowledge, this is the first report of IYSV infecting onion in Pakistan. The relatively widespread occurrence of IYSV underscores the need for systematic surveys to assess its incidence and impact on onion bulb and seed crops so that appropriate management tactics can be developed.

References: (1) D. H. Gent et al. Plant Dis. 88:446, 2004. (2) B. Mandal et al. Plant Dis. 94:468, 2012. (3) H. R. Pappu et al. Virus Res. 141:219, 2009. (4) K. S. Ravi et al. Plant Pathol. 55:288, 2006.
First Report of Konjac mosaic virus in Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Authors: Alexandre M. A. V. , Duarte L. M. L. , Rivas E. B. , Kitajima E. W. , Harakava R.
Published: June 2013

Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Lodd.) Engl. (“Zanzibar Gem,” “ZZ plant”) is the monotypic species of the genus belonging to the family Araceae. It is a stemless perennial plant native to Africa, from Kenya to South Africa, that produces succulent rhizomes at the base of its attractive dark green and glossy foliage. Symptoms of mosaic and foliar distortion were observed on a plant purchased at an ornamental plants shop in São Paulo state, Brazil. In order to identify the causal agent, transmission and serological tests, as well as electron microscopy (EM) observations, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, and sequencing were carried out. EM observations revealed the presence of elongated, flexuous viral particles in foliar extracts and cytoplasmic lamellar aggregates of type II lamellar inclusions (Edwardson's classification), in thin sections. No symptoms were induced following mechanical inoculation on Chenopodium amaranticolor, C. murale, Gomphrena globosa, Nicotiana megalosiphon, N. debneyii, nor on the aroids Philodendron scandens, P. selloum, Dieffenbachia amoena, Colocasia esculenta, and Z. zamiifolia. Up to 2 months after inoculation, plants were still symptomless, and the virus was not detected by RT-PCR. The indirect ELISA tests were negative with antisera against Dasheen mosaic virus (gift from F. W. Zettler, University of Florida) and Turnip mosaic virus (gift from P. Roggero, IFA, Turin, Italy). RT-PCR performed on the original purchased ornamental plant with potyvirus-specific primers (CI-R = ACICCRTTYTCDATDATRTTIGTIGC and CI-F = GGIVVIGTIGGIWSIGGIAARTCIAC) targeting the cytoplasmic inclusion protein cistron of the potyvirus genome produced a fragment of approximately 650 bp (GenBank Accession No. KC990386). The sequence was similar to those of potyvirus species with nucleotide identity, determined by PAUP v.4.0b10 for Macintosh, ranging from 64% for Pokeweed mosaic virus (JQ609065) to 93% for Konjac mosaic virus KoMV-F (NC007913). KoMV has been detected in aroid species in Taiwan, India, Korea, Japan (1,2), Germany, and The Netherlands (3,4). This is the first report of a viral disease on Z. zamiifolia and of KoMV in the Americas. Such information along with the vegetative propagation of ZZ plants strongly suggests that KoMV is spread worldwide.

References: (1) P. Manikonda et al. J. Phytopathol. 159:133, 2011. (2) M. Nishiguchi et al. Arch Virol. 151:1643, 2006. (3) D.-E. Lesemann and S. Winter. Acta Hort. 568:135, 2002. (4) K. Pham et al. Acta Hort. 568:143, 2002.
Genetic Relationships in an International Collection of Puccinia horiana Isolates Based on Newly Identified Molecular Markers and Demonstration of Recombination
Authors: De Backer M. , Bonants P. , Pedley K. F. , Maes M. , Roldan-Ruiz I. , Van Bockstaele E. , Heungens K. , van der Lee T.
Published: June 2013

The obligate biotrophic pathogen Puccinia horiana is the causal agent of chrysanthemum white rust. Although P. horiana is a quarantine organism, it has been able to spread to most chrysanthemum-producing regions in the world since the 1960s; however, the transfer routes are largely obscure. An extremely low level of allelic diversity was observed in a geographically diverse set of eight isolates using complexity reduction of polymorphic sequences (CRoPS) technology. Only 184 of the 16,196 contigs (1.1%) showed one or more single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Thirty-two SNPs and one simple-sequence repeat were translated into molecular markers and used to genotype 45 isolates originating from North and South America, Asia, and Europe. In most cases, phylogenetic clustering was related to geographic origin, indicating local establishment. The European isolates mostly grouped in two major populations that may relate to the two historic introductions previously reported. However, evidence of recent geographic transfer was also observed, including transfer events between Europe and South America and between Southeast Asia and Europe. In contrast with the presumed clonal propagation of this microcyclic rust, strong indications of marker recombination were observed, presumably as a result of anastomosis, karyogamy, and somatic meiosis. Recombination and transfer also explain the geographic dispersal of specific markers. A near-to-significant correlation between the genotypic data and previously obtained pathotype data was observed and one marker was associated with the most virulent pathotype group. In combination with a fast SNP detection method, the markers presented here will be helpful tools to further elucidate the transfer pathways and local survival of this pathogen.
Assessment and Introduction of Quantitative Resistance to Fusarium Head Blight in Elite Spring Barley
Authors: Linkmeyer A. , Götz M. , Hu L. , Asam S. , Rychlik M. , Hausladen H. , Hess M. , Hückelhoven R.
Published: June 2013

Breeding for resistance is a key task to control Fusarium head blight (FHB), a devastating disease of small cereals leading to economic losses and grain contamination with mycotoxins harmful for humans and animals. In the present work, FHB resistance of the six-rowed spring barley ‘Chevron’ to FHB in Germany was compared with those of adapted German spring barley cultivars. Both under natural infection conditions and after spray inoculation with conidia of Fusarium culmorum, F. sporotrichioides, and F. avenaceum under field conditions, Chevron showed a high level of quantitative resistance to the infection and contamination of grain with diverse mycotoxins. This indicates that Chevron is not only a little susceptible to deoxynivalenol-producing Fusarium spp. but also to Fusarium spp. producing type A trichothecenes and enniatins. Monitoring the initial infection course of F. culmorum on barley lemma tissue by confocal laser-scanning microscopy provided evidence that FHB resistance of Chevron is partially mediated by a preformed penetration resistance, because direct penetration of floral tissue by F. culmorum was observed rarely on Chevron but was common on susceptible genotypes. Alternatively, F. culmorum penetrated Chevron lemma tissue via stomata, which was unusual for susceptible genotypes. We generated double-haploid barley populations segregating for the major FHB resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) Qrgz-2H-8 of Chevron. Subsequently, we characterized these populations by spray inoculation with conidia of F. culmorum and F. sporotrichioides. This suggested that Qrgz-2H-8 was functional in the genetic background of European elite barley cultivars. However, the degree of achieved resistance was very low when compared with quantitative resistance of the QTL donor Chevron, and the introgression of Qrgz-2H-8 was not sufficient to mediate the cellular resistance phenotype of Chevron in the European backgrounds.
Ru–TAP complexes and DNA: from photo-induced electron transfer to gene photo-silencing in living cells
Authors: Marcélis Lionel , Moucheron Cécile , Kirsch-De Mesmaeker Andrée
Published: June 2013

In this review, examples of applications of the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process between photo-oxidizing Ru–TAP (TAP = 1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene) complexes and DNA or oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are discussed. Applications using a free Ru–TAP complex (not chemically anchored to an ODN) are first considered. In this case, the PET gives rise to the production of an irreversible adduct of the Ru complex on a guanine (G) base, with formation of a covalent bond. After absorption of a second photon, this adduct can generate a bi-adduct, whereby the same complex binds to a second G moiety. These bi-adduct formations are responsible for photo-cross-linking between two strands of a duplex, each containing a G base, or between two G moieties of a single strand such as a telomeric sequence, as demonstrated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analyses or mass spectrometry. Scanning force microscopy also allows the detection of such photobridgings with plasmid DNA. Other applications, for example with Ru–ODN, i.e. ODN with chemically anchored Ru–TAP complexes, are also discussed. It is shown that such Ru–ODN probes containing a G base in their own sequences are capable of photo-cross-linking selectively with their targeted complementary sequences, and, in the absence of such targets, they self-photo-inhibit. Such processes are applied successfully in gene photo-silencing of human papillomavirus cancer cells.
Cytotoxicity of cyclometallated ruthenium complexes: the role of ligand exchange on the activity
Authors: Palmer Alycia M. , Peña Bruno , Sears R. Bryan , Chen Olivia , El Ojaimi Maya , Thummel Randolph P. , Dunbar Kim R. , Turro Claudia
Published: June 2013

The cyclometallated Ru(II) complexes
cis
-[Ru(phpy)(phen)(CH
3
CN)
2
](PF
6
) (
1
; phpy
−
=deprotonated 2-phenylpyridine, phen=1,10-phenanthroline) and
cis
-[Ru(phpy)(bpy)(CH
3
CN)
2
](PF
6
) (
2
; bpy=2,2′-bipyridine) were investigated as potential agents for photodynamic therapy. The presence of phpy
−
in the coordination sphere results in a red-shift of the Ru→phen and Ru→bpy metal-to-ligand charge transfer of
1
and
2
, respectively, thus improving the tissue penetration of light while maintaining the efficient photo-induced ligand exchange required for DNA binding. The 14-fold enhancement of OVCAR-5 cell death that occurs upon irradiation with 690 nm light can be attributed to photo-aquation. The role of glutathione (GSH) on the toxicity of the complex was also explored. Complexes
1
and
2
undergo ligand substitution in the presence of GSH in the dark, such that the metal may covalently bind to biomolecules. The combination of photo-induced ligand exchange and GSH-facilitated ligand exchange may explain the observed cytotoxicity.
Providing power for miniaturized medical implants: triplet sensitization of semiconductor surfaces
Authors: Benniston Andrew C. , Harriman Anthony , Yang Songjie
Published: June 2013

Here, we recognize the growing significance of miniaturized devices as medical diagnostic tools and highlight the need to provide a convenient means of powering such instruments when implanted into the body. One of the most promising approaches to this end involves using a light-collection facility to absorb incident white light and transfer the photonic energy to a tiny semiconductor embedded on the device. Although fluorescent organic molecules offer strong potential as modules for such solar collectors, we emphasize the promise offered by transition metal complexes. Thus, an extended series of binuclear Ru(II)/Os(II) poly(pyridine) complexes has been shown to be highly promising sensitizers for amorphous silicon solar cells. These materials absorb a high fraction of visible light while the Ru(II)-based units possess triplet energies that are comparable to those of the naphthalene-based bridge. The metal complex injects a triplet exciton into the bridge and this, in turn, is trapped by the Os(II)-based terminal. The result is extremely efficacious triplet-energy transfer; at room temperature the rate of energy transfer is independent of distance over some 6 nm and only weakly dependent on temperature.
Hippocampal contribution to vector model hypothesis during cue-dependent navigation
Authors: Diviney Mairead , Fey Dirk , Commins Sean
Published: June 2013

Learning to navigate toward a goal is an essential skill. Place learning is thought to rely on the ability of animals to associate the location of a goal with surrounding environmental cues. Using the Morris water maze, a task popularly used to examine place learning, we demonstrate that distal cues provide animals with distance and directional information. We show how animals use the cues in a visually dependent guidance manner to find the goal. Further, we demonstrate how hippocampal lesions disrupt this learning mechanism. Our results can be explained through the vector model of navigation built on associative learning principles rather than evoking a cognitive map.
Visual object pattern separation varies in older adults
Authors: Holden Heather M. , Toner Chelsea , Pirogovsky Eva , Kirwan C. Brock , Gilbert Paul E.
Published: June 2013

Young and nondemented older adults completed a visual object continuous recognition memory task in which some stimuli (lures) were similar but not identical to previously presented objects. The lures were hypothesized to result in increased interference and increased pattern separation demand. To examine variability in object pattern separation deficits, older adults were divided into impaired and unimpaired groups based on performance on a standardized serial list-learning task. Impaired older adults showed intact recognition memory, but were impaired relative to young and unimpaired older adults when identifying similar lure stimuli, demonstrating that object pattern separation varies in older adults.
Scale‐dependent foraging ecology of a marine top predator modelled using passive acoustic data
Authors: Pirotta Enrico , Thompson Paul M. , Miller Peter I. , Brookes Kate L. , Cheney Barbara , Barton Tim R. , Graham Isla M. , Lusseau David
Published: June 2013

Understanding which environmental factors drive foraging preferences is critical for the development of effective management measures, but resource use patterns may emerge from processes that occur at different spatial and temporal scales. Direct observations of foraging are also especially challenging in marine predators, but passive acoustic techniques provide opportunities to study the behaviour of echolocating species over a range of scales.

We used an extensive passive acoustic data set to investigate the distribution and temporal dynamics of foraging in bottlenose dolphins using the Moray Firth (Scotland, UK). Echolocation buzzes were identified with a mixture model of detected echolocation inter‐click intervals and used as a proxy of foraging activity. A robust modelling approach accounting for autocorrelation in the data was then used to evaluate which environmental factors were associated with the observed dynamics at two different spatial and temporal scales.

At a broad scale, foraging varied seasonally and was also affected by seabed slope and shelf‐sea fronts. At a finer scale, we identified variation in seasonal use and local interactions with tidal processes. Foraging was best predicted at a daily scale, accounting for site specificity in the shape of the estimated relationships.

This study demonstrates how passive acoustic data can be used to understand foraging ecology in echolocating species and provides a robust analytical procedure for describing spatio‐temporal patterns. Associations between foraging and environmental characteristics varied according to spatial and temporal scale, highlighting the need for a multi‐scale approach. Our results indicate that dolphins respond to coarser scale temporal dynamics, but have a detailed understanding of finer‐scale spatial distribution of resources.
Expectations of parents on low incomes and therapists who work with parents on low incomes of the first therapy session
Authors: Andrews Fiona , Griffiths Natasha , Harrison Lorinda , Stagnitti Karen
Published: June 2013

Background/aim

Family‐centred practice involves allowing families' needs to direct therapy. Parents and therapists often come from different socio‐economic positions, yet little is known about how this impacts family‐centred practice. This study aimed to explore expectations of care among parents on low incomes and among occupational therapists who work with these families.

Method

Ten parents who were holders of a low‐income Health Care Card and had a child on a waiting list for publicly funded occupational therapy services, and nine paediatric occupational therapists were asked about perceptions of therapy using semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews. Interview transcripts were analysed using a qualitative descriptive approach.

Results

While therapists recognised families' expectations that therapy would ‘fix’ their child, some of the concerns of parents such as how their child's behaviour reflected on their parenting skills went largely unrecognised. In addition, no therapists recognised parents' primary concerns about their child's physical health, their desires for a structured approach to therapy or the somewhat fatalistic approach some parents were taking to therapy. Some therapists recognised the complexities they encountered in engaging with parents from low socio‐economic positions and tried to adapt their practice with some taking less of a family‐centred approach and focussing on the needs of either the parent or the child while others continued to practice with a focus on the family as a whole.

Conclusion

These findings have implications for therapists seeking to work within a framework of family‐centred practice with clients from low socio‐economic positions.
Using computers to enable self‐management of aphasia therapy exercises for word finding: the patient and carer perspective
Authors: Palmer Rebecca , Enderby Pam , Paterson Gail
Published: June 2013

Background

Speech and language therapy (SLT) for aphasia can be difficult to access in the later stages of stroke recovery, despite evidence of continued improvement with sufficient therapeutic intensity. Computerized aphasia therapy has been reported to be useful for independent language practice, providing new opportunities for continued rehabilitation. The success of this option depends on its acceptability to patients and carers.

Aims

To investigate factors that affect the acceptability of independent home computerized aphasia therapy practice.

Methods & Procedures

An acceptability study of computerized therapy was carried out alongside a pilot randomized controlled trial of computer aphasia therapy versus usual care for people more than 6 months post‐stroke. Following language assessment and computer exercise prescription by a speech and language therapist, participants practised three times a week for 5 months at home with monthly volunteer support. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 14 participants who received the intervention and ten carers (n = 24). Questions from a topic guide were presented and answered using picture, gesture and written support. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Three research SLTs identified and cross‐checked themes and subthemes emerging from the data.

Outcomes & Results

The key themes that emerged were benefits and disadvantages of computerized aphasia therapy, need for help and support, and comparisons with face‐to‐face therapy. The independence, flexibility and repetition afforded by the computer was viewed as beneficial and the personalized exercises motivated participants to practise. Participants and carers perceived improvements in word‐finding and confidence‐talking. Computer practice could cause fatigue and interference with other commitments. Support from carers or volunteers for motivation and technical assistance was seen as important. Although some participants preferred face‐to‐face therapy, using a computer for independent language practice was perceived to be an acceptable alternative.

Conclusions & Implications

Independent computerized aphasia therapy is acceptable to stroke survivors. Acceptability can be maximized by tailoring exercises to personal interests of the individual, ensuring access to support and giving consideration to fatigue and life style when recommending practice schedules.
The Australian Environmental Policy Agenda
Authors: Dovers Stephen
Published: June 2013

This paper seeks to identify major shifts in the Australian environmental policy agenda over the past fifty years, and discusses the possible causes of and variables affecting agenda change. The issue of what comprises ‘environment’ policy is discussed, with reference to overlaps and intersections with other policy sectors such as agriculture, public health, energy and regional affairs. While the diversity of the environment policy domain complicates any analysis of trends, there have been two persistent trends of (i) an expansion from a more narrowly to a more broadly defined suite of issue (from environment to sustainable development) and incorporation of environment into natural resource management, and (ii) an increasing diversity of policy instruments being used. Consistent with the wide variety of issues confronted, pragmatism and convenience are often as influential as political ideology or underlying trajectories. The drivers of policy change are diverse, including biophysical factors such as drought, political leaders and international policy developments, and punctuations are often better interpreted as intensification or redirections of past policy trajectories.
Immigration and Refugees: Punctuations in the Commonwealth Policy Agenda
Authors: Pietsch Juliet
Published: June 2013

In April 2013, Australia's population reached 23 million. Up to 60 percent of population growth in Australia comes from immigration and 40 percent of population growth comes from natural increase. It is therefore not too surprising that the issue of immigration receives a considerable amount of attention in the overall Commonwealth policy agenda. However, immigration policy is a complex policy area that is vulnerable to sudden increases in policy attention. Such increases in policy attention may be related to external shocks, wars or changing global economic conditions. This article charts some of the contextual factors, which result in high‐salience punctuations and intense policy activity in the area of immigration.
The Tax Reform Agenda in Australia
Authors: Eccleston Richard
Published: June 2013

This paper applies concepts developed in the Policy Agendas Project (PAP) literature to an analysis of Australian tax policy over the post war period. It argues that a major turning point in the Australian tax policy agenda occurred during the second term of the Hawke Government (1984‐87). Beyond this turning point, and despite the fierce partisan conflict concerning tax policy over the past two decades, there has been remarkaly little difference between Australia's two major parties at the level of substantive policy content. The Australian tax policy agenda over the post war period can be characterised by remarkable policy continuity punctuated by a period of change in the mid 1980s when structural change in the international political economy precipitated unprecedented domestic liberalisation.
Private Health Insurance Status and Utilisation of Dental Services in Australia*
Authors: Hopkins Sandra , Kidd Michael P. , Ulker Aydogan
Published: June 2013

This article focuses on the relationship between private insurance status and dental service utilisation in Australia using data between 1995 and 2001. This article employs joint maximum likelihood to estimate models of time since last dental visit treating private ancillary health insurance (PAHI) as endogenous. The sensitivity of results to the choice between two different but related types of instrumental variables is examined. We find robust evidence in both 1995 and 2001 that individuals with a PAHI policy make significantly more frequent dental consultations relative to those without such coverage. A comparison of the 1995 and 2001 results, however, suggests that there has been an increasing role of PAHI in terms of the frequency of dental consultations over time. This seems intuitive given the trends in the price of unsubsidised private dental consultations. In terms of policy, our results suggest that while government measures to increase private health insurance coverage in Australia have been successful to a significant degree, that success may have come at some cost in terms of socio‐economic inequality as the privately insured are provided much better access to care and financial protection.
Increased accuracy of species lists developed for alpine lakes using morphology and cytochrome oxidase I for identification of specimens
Authors: Deiner Kristy , Knapp Roland A. , Boiano Daniel M. , May Bernie
Published: June 2013

The first step in many community ecology studies is to produce a species list from a sample of individuals. Community ecologists now have two viable ways of producing a species list: morphological and barcode identification. In this study, we compared the taxonomic resolution gained by a combined use of both methods and tested whether a change in taxonomic resolution significantly impacted richness estimates for benthic macroinvertebrates sampled from ten lakes in Sequoia National Park, USA. Across all lakes, 77 unique taxa were identified and 42% (32) were reliably identified to species using both barcode and morphological identification. Of the 32 identified to species, 63% (20) were identified solely by comparing the barcode sequence from cytochrome oxidase I to the Barcode of Life reference library. The increased resolution using a combined identification approach compared to identifications based solely on morphology resulted in a significant increase in estimated richness within a lake at the order, family, genus and species levels of taxonomy (P < 0.05). Additionally, young or damaged individuals that could not be identified using morphology were identified using their COI sequences to the genus or species level on average 75% of the time. Our results demonstrate that a combined identification approach improves accuracy of benthic macroinvertebrate species lists in alpine lakes and subsequent estimates of richness. We encourage the use of barcodes for identification purposes and specifically when morphology is insufficient, as in the case of damaged and early life stage specimens of benthic macroinvertebrates.
Trading and enforcing patent rights
Authors: Galasso Alberto , Schankerman Mark , Serrano Carlos J.
Published: June 2013

We study how the market for innovation affects enforcement of patent rights. We show that patent transactions arising from comparative advantages in commercialization increase litigation, but trades driven by advantages in patent enforcement reduce it. Using data on trade and litigation of individually owned patents in the United States, we exploit variation in capital gains tax rates across states as an instrument to identify the causal effect of trade on litigation. We find that taxes strongly affect patent transactions, and that trade reduces litigation on average, but the impact is heterogeneous. Patents with larger potential gains from trade are more likely to change ownership, and the impact depends critically on transaction characteristics.
Days on market and home sales
Authors: Tucker Catherine , Zhang Juanjuan , Zhu Ting
Published: June 2013

In 2006, Massachusetts adopted a new policy that prohibits home sellers from resetting their properties’ days on market through relisting. Massachusetts homes exposed to the policy change experienced a $16,000 reduction in sale price relative to Rhode Island homes. Slow‐moving homes suffered a greater reduction, but newer listings only had a small increase in sale price. One reason is that some buyers were unaware of sellers’ manipulation of days on market and thus unable to recognize authentically new listings. Sellers reacted to the new policy by cutting listing prices, although in towns where listing price history was transparent, sellers raised listing prices to dampen the stigma of slow sales.
Designing observational biologging studies to assess the causal effect of instrumentation
Authors: Authier Matthieu , Péron Clara , Mante Alain , Vidal Patrick , Grémillet David
Published: June 2013

Biologging has improved ecological knowledge on an increasing number of species for more than 2 decades. Most studies looking at the incidence of tags on behavioural, physiological or demographic parameters rely on ‘control’ individuals chosen randomly within the population, assuming that they will be comparable with equipped individuals. This assumption is usually untestable and untenable since biologging studies are more observational than experimental, and often involve small sample sizes. Notably, background characteristics of wild animals are, most of the time, unknown. Consequently, investigating any causal effect of instrumentation is a difficult task, subjected to hidden biases.

We describe the counterfactual model to causal inference which was implicit in early biologging studies. We adopted methods developed in social and political sciences to construct a posteriori an appropriate control group. Using biologging data collected on Scopoli's shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea) from a small Mediterranean island, we used this method to achieve objective causal inference on the effect of instrumentation on breeding performance and divorce.

Our method revealed that the sample of instrumented birds was nonrandom. After identification of a relevant control group, we found no carry‐over effects of instrumentation on breeding performance (taking into account imperfect detection probability) or divorce rate in Scopoli's shearwaters.

Randomly chosen control groups can be both counterproductive and ethically dubious via unnecessary additional disturbance of populations. The counterfactual approach, which can correct for selection bias, has wide applicability to biologging within long‐term studies.
Prevalence of and associations between body dysmorphic concerns, obsessive beliefs and social anxiety
Authors: Barahmand Usha , Shahbazi Zeynab
Published: June 2013

Introduction

Physical attractiveness has been of concern in different cultures and at different times. Physical attractiveness can influence one's thoughts and actions, and concerns regarding body image can be destructive, giving rise to psychological problems. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of body dysmorphic concerns, related sex differences and comorbidity with social anxiety and obsessive beliefs.

Method

Using a stratified and cluster sampling procedure, 1,200 males and females were randomly selected. Self‐report measures on body image, social anxiety and obsessive beliefs were distributed of which 843 completed questionnaires (54.9% males and 45.1% females) were returned (return rate of 70.25%). Therefore, data pertaining to 463 males and 380 females ranging in age from 17 to 20 years with a mean age of 18.12 years (SD = 1.06) were analyzed.

Results

Findings suggest a prevalence rate of 19.1% for body dysmorphic disorder, 23.6% for social anxiety and 8.8% for obsessive beliefs. Both social anxiety and obsessive beliefs were found to be comorbid with body dysmorphic concerns. The percentage of individuals reporting comorbid social anxiety (12.9%) was greater than that of those reporting comorbid obsessive beliefs (6.4%). Males with body dysmorphic concerns reported more obsessive beliefs (8.2% versus 4.1%), while their female counterparts reported more social anxiety (23.4% versus 4.2%).

Discussion

In males, body image concerns appear to be more cognitive in quality, while in females, body image concerns seem more emotional in tone. As the measures used do not yield formal diagnoses, findings should be viewed with caution.
Characterization of peptides in ensiled alfalfa treated with different chemical additives
Authors: Ding Wurong , Guo Xusheng , Ataku Kazuo
Published: June 2013

Effects of different chemical additives on peptide composition in ensiled alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were investigated by using gel filtration and determination ofNcharacteristics. The alfalfa silages were prepared untreated (control) or with formic acid, formaldehyde or tannic acid as additives at ensiling. All additives reduced non‐proteinN(NPN), ammonia nitrogen (NH3‐N) and amino acidN(AA‐N) in the ensiled forage, and the most effective reduction ofNPNandAA‐Nwas observed in the formaldehyde‐treated silages. Peptides in the control silage were mainly dipeptides to peptides with five amino acid residues. Most peptides in the formic acid‐treated silage contained 4–12 amino acid residues. Although most peptides in the formaldehyde‐treated silages contained 4–6 amino acid residues, there was a considerable proportion of peptides with 7–11 amino acid residues. Tannic acid had little effect on peptide size of ensiled alfalfa extract in which most peptides contained 5–6 amino acid residues. Peptide size in formic acid‐treated alfalfa silage was greater than that in the other treatments. Addition of formic acid and formaldehyde not only increased the peptide concentration in alfalfa silage, but enlarged the peptide size.
Daidzein enhances immune function in late lactation cows under heat stress
Authors: Liu De‐Yi , He Shao‐Jun , Liu Shi‐Qing , Tang Yi‐Guo , Jin Er‐Hui , Chen Hui‐Liang , Li Sheng‐He , Zhong Liang‐Ting
Published: June 2013

Heat stress decreases natural immunity making cows more vulnerable to diseases. A previous study reported that daidzein can enhance animal resistance to heat stress and regulate animal immunocompetence. However, it is unclear whether daidzein regulates the immune performance of late lactation cows under heat stress. In this study, late lactation cows in four groups were raised in hot weather and fed with basic diet, basic diet plus 200, 300, 400 mg/day daidzein, respectively, and the experimental period was 60 days. Blood was collected to examine the changes of serum total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), immunoglobulin G (IgG), interferon alpha (IFN‐α), and interleukin‐2 (IL‐2). We found the levels of serum IgG and INF‐α were significantly higher in late lactation cows after 300 and 400 mg/day daidzein treatment compared to those in the control group and 200 mg/day daidzein treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, 300 and 400 mg/day daidzein treatment markedly increased serum IL‐2 (P < 0.01), while the levels of serum TP and ALB were not changed by any concentration of daidzein treatment (P > 0.05). Daidzein can enhance the immunocompetence of late lactation cows and strengthen cow resistance to heat stress.