bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Henri Bergson (1859–1941)
Authors: Linstead Steven
Published: October 2014

Born in Paris on 18 October 1859, Henri-Louis Bergson was the progenitor of modern process philosophy and the language of ‘becoming’. He would later challenge Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species and Karl Marx’s Critique of Political Economy. Bergson also influenced phenomenology, existentialism, and post-structuralism. This chapter presents a biography of Bergson and his intellectual background, his key philosophical ideas, and his views on creative evolution, ethics, free will, intuition, and time and reality. It also examines the relevance of Bergson’s philosophy to organization studies.
Pathways to the Present
Authors: Orren Karen , Skowronek Stephen
Published: October 2014

The literature on American political development has generated a rich array of tools and concepts for thinking about the dynamics of state formation. More often than not, however, these devices appear as alternatives, with analysts prompted to choose among them. Seldom are the dynamics described brought to bear on one another. This chapter examines three of these dynamics—displacement, path dependence, and creative syncretism—and considers how each informs state formation in America. It then introduces the concept of a “policy state,” a concept which, among other things, can bring these three dynamics more directly into alignment, pull forward their respective insights, and recast the analytic choices they offer. Proposing a “policy state” as the emergent form, identifies more precisely what has been “displaced” along the “path” of American state development and also the openings for “creative syncretism” which have proliferated along the way.
The State of Framing Research
Authors: Scheufele Dietram A. , Iyengar Shanto
Published: October 2014

This chapter provides an assessment of the state of research on framing, and examines how the concept of framing has been used across different disciplines. Using this overview, the authors explore two of the most common conceptual misunderstandings related to framing and their implications for political communication research. This includes an overview of the different approaches to framing in political communication research, more specifically, and of the relationship between framing and related effects models, such as priming and agenda setting. The authors conclude with a recommendation that framing research be redirected away from confounded “emphasis frames” toward “equivalence frames” in the original tradition by expanding the sample of potential frames to include nonverbal visual cues.
Nowhere to Go
Authors: Katz Elihu
Published: October 2014

This chapter raises three sorts of questions about the much-vaunted concept and practice of “deliberative democracy.” It asks, normatively, whether this form of governance is more desirable than, say “representative democracy.” Theoretically, it asks whether the small-group discussions that it implies are adequately theorized as part of a larger system of decision-making involving political parties, public opinion, parliaments, etc. Questioning the viability of some of the basic assumptions implicit in citizen deliberation, a partial review of relevant empirical research provides both positive and negative answers.
The Dance Factor
Authors: Robinson Laura
Published: October 2014

This chapter analyzes the street dance crew performances of Diversity and Flawless within the 2009 final of the televised talent show competition, Britain’s Got Talent, with the aim of providing the reader with the analytical tools required for discussing male street dance crew performances on the U.K. popular screen. Through an interdisciplinary approach, this chapter examines the importance of the connection between the street dance performances and the remote voting audience, through an influx of dynamic corporeal images and intertextual references to popular culture. Alongside the historical contextualization of these performances, this chapter also considers the use of hip-hop dance vocabulary, the relationship between soundtrack and dance, the construction of a black masculine identity, and the importance of competition and commercialization within the spectacularized context of the television show.
Finding Meaning During the Retirement Process
Authors: Wang Lan , Hall Douglas T. , Waters Lea
Published: October 2014

This chapter discusses “identity-based retirement,” a psychosocial process of identity transition and search for meaning. We see the career as a series of short learning cycles, mini versions of the lifelong career stage model of Super (1957). Retirement is a recursive process of intentions, actions, and outcomes, through which new behaviors generalize to involvement in new roles, and new subidentities associated with retirement (Hall, 1971, 2002). This process entails communicating internally with the self and externally with significant others. Factors in the individual (self-comparisons and protean career orientation) and relational factors (developmental networks and reference groups) influence the identity and goal-setting process, making the person both the agent and the target of the change process that is retirement. Thus the necessity to be self-anchored during retirement gives people the opportunity to find personal meaning in ways that step outside of their previous working lives.
Undergraduate Development of Coursework in Musicology
Authors: Granade S. Andrew
Published: October 2014

In 1960, W.W. Norton published Donald J. Grout’s first edition of A History of Western Music. It proved to be an epochal book, not only in sales but in influence over the field of musicology pedagogy as well as, since that time, it (and its subsequent revisions) has come to define what US undergraduate music students learn. In the 1990s, however, musicology pedagogy entered an evolutionary period as trends in higher education and American society buffeted its coursework. The result has been five areas of intense concentration and change that have defined musicological coursework since that time: canons and content, engagement, technology, information literacy, and contexts. This essay explores how those five areas have shifted the experience of music history for undergraduate music students as well as how pedagogues have responded to them in innovative ways.
Resistance to Plum pox virus Strain C in Arabidopsis thaliana and Chenopodium foetidum Involves Genome-Linked Viral Protein and Other Viral Determinants and Might Depend on Compatibility With Host Translation Initiation Factors
Authors: Calvo María , Martínez-Turiño Sandra , García Juan Antonio
Published: October 2014

Research performed on model herbaceous hosts has been useful to unravel the molecular mechanisms that control viral infections. The most common Plum pox virus (PPV) strains are able to infect Nicotiana species as well as Chenopodium and Arabidopsis species. However, isolates belonging to strain C (PPV-C) that have been adapted to Nicotiana spp. are not infectious either in Chenopodium foetidum or in Arabidopsis thaliana. In order to determine the mechanism underlying this interesting host-specific behavior, we have constructed chimerical clones derived from Nicotiana-adapted PPV isolates from the D and C strains, which differ in their capacity to infect A. thaliana and C. foetidum. With this approach, we have identified the nuclear inclusion a protein (VPg+Pro) as the major pathogenicity determinant that conditions resistance in the presence of additional secondary determinants, different for each host. Genome-linked viral protein (VPg) mutations similar to those involved in the breakdown of eIF4E-mediated resistance to other potyviruses allow some PPV chimeras to infect A. thaliana. These results point to defective interactions between a translation initiation factor and the viral VPg as the most probable cause of host-specific incompatibility, in which other viral factors also participate, and suggest that complex interactions between multiple viral proteins and translation initiation factors not only define resistance to potyviruses in particular varieties of susceptible hosts but also contribute to establish nonhost resistance.
49 Mathoura Road
Authors: Edwards Matthew L. , Waisel David B.
Published: October 2014

From 1930 to 1955, Geoffrey Kaye, M.B.B.S., was one of the most influential anesthetists in Australia. In 1951, he opened a center of excellence for Australian anesthesia at 49 Mathoura Road, Toorak, Melbourne, which Kaye affectionately called “The Anaesthestists’ Castle” and “49.” “49” was designed to foster the educational, research, and administrative activities that would allow Australian anesthesia to reach the level of practice and professionalism found in Europe and America. Kaye wholly financed the venture and lived on the second floor of the building.

During his world-wide travels, Kaye had developed a friendship with Paul M. Wood, M.D., the originator of the American Library-Museum now known eponymously as the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology. Through the letters Kaye sent to Wood, the authors see Kaye’s perception of the events surrounding the rise and fall of “49.” Kaye’s early letters were optimistic as he discussed the procurements and provisions he made for “49.” His later letters exhibit frustration at the lack of participation by members of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists. Kaye was truly a visionary for his time. He believed that the diffusion center which “49” was to become was not only realistic and achievable but also necessary if Australian anesthesia was to gain international prominence comparable to anesthesia in Europe and North America. In the end, the failure of “49” left Kaye estranged from Australian anesthesia for many years. How this estrangement affected Australian anesthesia is unknown.
p.L1612P, a Novel Voltage-gated Sodium Channel Nav1.7 Mutation Inducing a Cold Sensitive Paroxysmal Extreme Pain Disorder
Authors: Suter Marc R. , Bhuiyan Zahurul A. , Laedermann Cédric J. , Kuntzer Thierry , Schaller Muriel , Stauffacher Maurice W. , Roulet Eliane , Abriel Hugues , Decosterd Isabelle , Wider Christian
Published: October 2014

AbstractAbstract

A new mutation, p.L1612P, was found in four family members suffering from Paroxysmal Extreme Pain Disorder. The mutant ion channel possesses unique electrophysiological characteristics, and a pharmacological profile distinct from other known mutations.

Background:

Mutations in the SCN9A gene cause chronic pain and pain insensitivity syndromes. We aimed to study clinical, genetic, and electrophysiological features of paroxysmal extreme pain disorder (PEPD) caused by a novel SCN9A mutation.

Methods:

Description of a 4-generation family suffering from PEPD with clinical, genetic and electrophysiological studies including patch clamp experiments assessing response to drug and temperature.

Results:

The family was clinically comparable to those reported previously with the exception of a favorable effect of cold exposure and a lack of drug efficacy including with carbamazepine, a proposed treatment for PEPD. A novel p.L1612P mutation in the Nav1.7 voltage-gated sodium channel was found in the four affected family members tested. Electrophysiologically the mutation substantially depolarized the steady–state inactivation curve (V
1/2 from −61.8 ± 4.5 mV to −30.9 ± 2.2 mV, n = 4 and 7, P < 0.001), significantly increased ramp current (from 1.8% to 3.4%, n = 10 and 12) and shortened recovery from inactivation (from 7.2 ± 5.6 ms to 2.2 ± 1.5 ms, n = 11 and 10). However, there was no persistent current. Cold exposure reduced peak current and prolonged recovery from inactivation in wild-type and mutated channels. Amitriptyline only slightly corrected the steady–state inactivation shift of the mutated channel, which is consistent with the lack of clinical benefit.

Conclusions:

The novel p.L1612P Nav1.7 mutation expands the PEPD spectrum with a unique combination of clinical symptoms and electrophysiological properties. Symptoms are partially responsive to temperature but not to drug therapy. In vitro trials of sodium channel blockers or temperature dependence might help predict treatment efficacy in PEPD.
Clinical Outcome and Postoperative CT Measurements of Microendoscopic Decompression for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Authors: Zhou Xu , Zhang Lei , Zhang Hai-long , He Shi-Sheng , Gu Xin , Gu Guang-Fei , Fu Qing-Song
Published: October 2014

Study Design:

This was a retrospective case series.

Objective:

To retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcome of microendoscopic decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) including an evaluation of the extent of decompression using computed tomography.

Summary of Background Data:

Microendoscopic decompression has been a widely applied procedure to treat LSS with satisfactory outcomes and comparatively fewer complications and revision. However, few reports showed computed tomography (CT) measurements of the lumbar spine to assess the postoperative decompression.

Methods:

This study included 103 patients (55 males and 48 females; mean age, 69 y) who underwent microendoscopic decompression for treatment of LSS between January 2009 and January 2011. All patients underwent preoperative CT and postoperative CT at 6 months and 2 years of follow-up to measure the vertebral canal area and the sagittal diameter of the lateral recess at the outer rim. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and Visual Analogue Scale were used to evaluate clinical efficacy.

Results:

The mean vertebral canal area and sagittal diameter of the lateral recess were significantly larger at 6 months and 2 years after surgery compared with 1 day before surgery (P<0.001). The mean JOA scale scores were significantly higher at 6 and 24 months following surgery compared with before surgery (P<0.001). The mean Oswestry Disability Index scores and Visual Analogue Scale scores at 6 months and 2 years after surgery were significantly lower compared with before surgery (both P<0.001). The mean JOA recovery rates at 6 months and 2 years of follow-up were 61% and 64.3%, respectively.

Conclusions:

The results confirm that microendoscopic decompression for LSS is safe and effective. This study is one of the first to obtain CT measurements of the lumbar spine to assess the postoperative decompression of this procedure.
Artificial Cervical Disk Replacement for the Treatment of Adjacent Segment Disease After Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion
Authors: Bin Sheng , Xiangwang Huang , Sheng Xiao , Tiecheng Xiang , Xiangyang Liu , Yi Zhang , Bin Liu
Published: October 2014

Study Design:

Retrospective study.

Objective:

To evaluate the outcome of artificial cervical disk replacement (ACDR) for the treatment of adjacent segment disease (ASD) after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF).

Summary of Background Data:

ACDF is the useful procedure for degenerative cervical diseases. However, studies have reported accelerated degeneration of functional spinal units adjacent to the fusion site after ACDF.

Materials and Methods:

Between January 2004 and January 2011, 32 inpatients (18 male, 14 female; age, 38–61 y; mean, 48 y) underwent ACDR for the treatment of ASD after previous ACDF (single-level: n=12; 2-level: n=15; 3-level: n=5). In 22 patients, ASD occurred above the fusion site, and in 10 it occurred below the site. After ACDR, the patients were followed up for 30–62 months (mean, 49 mo). Before and after ACDR, patients were evaluated using the pain visual analog scale (VAS), the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, and neck disability index (NDI). In addition, the range of motion (ROM) of the replaced and adjacent unfused segments was measured by flexion/extension lateral radiography. Periprosthetic heterotopic ossification was detected using McAfee’s classification. Degeneration of the adjacent unfused segment was evaluated using Goffin scale.

Results:

All patients had successful surgery. Before ACDR, neck VAS, upper-limb VAS, JOA score, and NDI were 7.2±1.8, 6.9±1.1, 9.8±2.5, and 40.5±4.8, respectively. At the last follow-up, they were 1.2±0.3, 0.9±0.3, 14.5±1.1, and 9.0±2.5, respectively. Compared with presurgery, the improvements in VAS, JOA score, and NDI at the final follow-up were statistically significant (all P<0.05). During follow-up, prosthesis positioning was satisfactory without migration or downward movement. Preoperatively, the ROMs of the replaced and adjacent segments were 8.7±2.6 and 7.6±3.0, respectively. At the last follow-up, they were 8.5±2.2 and 7.2±2.6, respectively (both P>0.05). At the last follow-up, 2 patients had grade II heterotopic ossification; 3 patients had aggravated degeneration (vs. preoperative status) of the adjacent unfused segment. However, the reduction in Goffin grade was not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

Our follow-up shows that ACDR is an effective treatment for post-ACDF ASD. It can maintain the ROMs of the replaced segment as well as the adjacent unfused segment.
Acute Mastoiditis Before Pneumococcal Vaccination: The Experience of a Large Tertiary Care Pediatric Hospital
Authors: Glatstein Miguel , Morag Sharon , Scolnik Dennis , Alper Arik , Reif Shimon , Grisaru-Soen Galia
Published: October 2014

To report the experience of a large tertiary care pediatric center during a period of increasing Streptococcus pneumoniae antimicrobial resistance before the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine in Israel. Retrospective chart review of children diagnosed acute mastoiditis (AM) between January 1997 and December 2007. The children were divided into 4 age groups (6–11, 12–23, 24–35, and 36–40 months), and each group was compared with the others. A total of 198 AM episodes were recorded during the 10-year study period. The most prevalent pathogen was S. pneumonia, with a very low (15%) penicillin resistance rate (minimal inhibitory concentration ≥ 2). Complications were more prevalent in the 12- to 23-month age group. The number of AM cases increased during the study period. Penicillin resistance did not play an important role in determining the morbidity before the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
Near Fatal Asthma in an Inner City Population
Authors: Doshi Viral , Shenoy Sundeep , Ganesh Aarthi , Lankala Shilpa , Henkle Joseph
Published: October 2014

Near-fatal asthma (NFA) is highly prevalent in inner city population. Patients who present with NFA require timely intervention, which necessitates knowledge of appropriate associated risk factors. The purpose of the study was to look and identify the salient features of an asthma exacerbation that are more likely to be associated with NFA in inner city population. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who were discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of acute asthma exacerbation. Two hundred eighteen patients were included in the study. Patients who required intubation during the course of their hospitalization were defined as NFA and the rest were defined as non–near-fatal asthma (NNFA). Multiple patient parameters were compared between the 2 groups; 60 patients met the definition of NFA. There was no difference between NFA and NNFA groups with respect to sex, race, and history of smoking and asthma treatment modalities before presentation. NFA was seen more commonly in heroin (40% vs. 25.9%;P< 0.05) and cocaine users (28.3% vs. 16.5%;P< 0.05). A history of exacerbation requiring intensive care unit (ICU) care was more common among the NFA patients (55% vs. 40.5%;P= 0.05). A history of intubation for an exacerbation was more commonly seen in patients presenting with NFA (51.7% vs. 35.4%;P< 0.05). The NNFA group was more likely to have a primary care physician and to be discharged home (65.6% vs. 51.7%,P< 0.05; and 71.7 vs. 79.1%,P< 0.05). In a multi-logistic regression model, including age, sex, race, heroin and cocaine use, history of intubation and ICU admission, medications, use of noninvasive ventilation, primary care physician, and pH <7.35, Pco2>45 mm Hg, and FiO2>40% on initial blood gas, NFA was predicted only by Paco2>45 [odds ratio (OR = 6.7;P< 0.001)] and FiO2>40% (OR = 3.5;P= 0.002). Use of noninvasive ventilation was a negative predictor of NFA (OR = 0.2;P< 0.001). Asthmatic patients who carry a history of intubation with mechanical ventilation for an asthma exacerbation, admissions to the ICU, or those who indulge in recreational drugs like cocaine or heroin should be closely monitored for clinical deterioration.
Structural changes and biological responsiveness of an injectable and mouldable monetite bone graft generated by a facile synthetic method
Authors: Cama G. , Gharibi B. , Knowles J. C. , Romeed S. , DiSilvio L. , Deb S.
Published: October 2014

Brushite (dicalcium phosphate dihydrate) and monetite (dicalcium phosphate anhydrous) are of considerable interest in bone augmentation owing to their metastable nature in physiological fluids. The anhydrous form of brushite, namely monetite, has a finer microstructure with higher surface area, strength and bioresorbability, which does not transform to the poorly resorbable hydroxyapatite, thus making it a viable alternative for use as a scaffold for engineering of bone tissue. We recently reported the formation of monetite cements by a simple processing route without the need of hydrothermal treatment by using a high concentration of sodium chloride in the reaction mix of β-tricalcium phosphate and monocalcium phosphate monohydrate. In this paper, we report the biological responsiveness of monetite formed by this method. The
in vitro
behaviour of monetite after interaction and ageing both in an acellular and cellular environment showed that the crystalline phase of monetite was retained over three weeks as evidenced from X-ray diffraction measurements. The crystal size and morphology also remained unaltered after ageing in different media. Human osteoblast cells seeded on monetite showed the ability of the cells to proliferate and express genes associated with osteoblast maturation and mineralization. Furthermore, the results showed that monetite could stimulate osteoblasts to undergo osteogenesis and accelerate osteoblast maturation earlier than cells cultured on hydroxyapatite scaffolds of similar porosity. Osteoblasts cultured on monetite cement also showed higher expression of osteocalcin, which is an indicator of the maturation stages of osteoblastogenesis and is associated with matrix mineralization and bone forming activity of osteoblasts. Thus, this new method of fabricating porous monetite can be safely used for generating three-dimensional bone graft constructs.
Interest communities and flow roles in directed networks: the Twitter network of the UK riots
Authors: Beguerisse-Díaz Mariano , Garduño-Hernández Guillermo , Vangelov Borislav , Yaliraki Sophia N. , Barahona Mauricio
Published: October 2014

Directionality is a crucial ingredient in many complex networks in which information, energy or influence are transmitted. In such directed networks, analysing flows (and not only the strength of connections) is crucial to reveal important features of the network that might go undetected if the orientation of connections is ignored. We showcase here a flow-based approach for community detection through the study of the network of the most influential Twitter users during the 2011 riots in England. Firstly, we use directed Markov Stability to extract descriptions of the network at different levels of coarseness in terms of interest communities, i.e. groups of nodes within which flows of information are contained and reinforced. Such interest communities reveal user groupings according to location, profession, employer and topic. The study of flows also allows us to generate an interest distance, which affords a personalized view of the attention in the network as viewed from the vantage point of any given user. Secondly, we analyse the profiles of incoming and outgoing long-range flows with a combined approach of role-based similarity and the novel relaxed minimum spanning tree algorithm to reveal that the users in the network can be classified into five roles. These flow roles go beyond the standard leader/follower dichotomy and differ from classifications based on regular/structural equivalence. We then show that the interest communities fall into distinct informational organigrams characterized by a different mix of user roles reflecting the quality of dialogue within them. Our generic framework can be used to provide insight into how flows are generated, distributed, preserved and consumed in directed networks.
Gryllotalpicola reticulitermitis sp. nov., isolated from a termite gut
Authors: Fang Hao , Lv Wanyu , Huang Zhou , Liu Shuang-Jiang , Yang Hong
Published: October 2014

Strain TS-56T was isolated from the gut of a wood-feeding termite, Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the strain represented a member of the genus

Gryllotalpicola

of the family

Microbacteriaceae

, with sequence similarities to other species of the genus ranging from 96.6 % to 97.8 %. The isolate was Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, with light yellow colonies and irregular short rod-shaped cells (0.4–0.6 µm in diameter, 0.6–1.0 µm in length). Growth of TS-56T occurred at 20–35 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and at pH 4.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 5.0). The peptidoglycan of TS-56T contained ornithine, glutamic acid, alanine, homoserine and glycine. The acyl type was acetyl. The most abundant cellular fatty acid of TS-56T was cyclohexyl-C17 : 0 (88.79 %). The respiratory menaquinone was MK-11. The polar lipid profile contained disphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and two unknown glycolipids. DNA of the type strain had a G+C content of 67.4 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic properties and phenotypic distinctiveness, TS-56T represents a novel species of the genus

Gryllotalpicola

, for which the name Gryllotalpicola reticulitermitis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TS-56T ( = CGMCC 1.10363T = NBRC 109838T).
Fusibacter bizertensis sp. nov., isolated from a corroded kerosene storage tank
Authors: Smii Latifa , Ben Hania Wajdi , Cayol Jean-Luc , Joseph Manon , Hamdi Moktar , Ollivier Bernard , Fardeau Marie-Laure
Published: October 2014

Strain LTF Kr01T, a novel mesophilic, anaerobic, halotolerant, rod-shaped bacterium, was isolated from a drain at the bottom of a corroded kerosene storage tank of the Société Tunisienne des Industries de Raffinage (STIR), Bizerte, northern Tunisia. Cells were Gram-positive-staining rods, occurred singly or in pairs, and were motile by one lateral flagellum. Strain LTF Kr01T grew at temperatures between 15 and 40 °C (optimum 30 °C), between pH 5.5 and 8.2 (optimum pH 7.2) and at NaCl concentrations between 0 and 50 g l−1 (optimum 5 g l−1). It reduced thiosulfate and elemental sulfur into sulfide, but did not reduce sulfate or sulfite. It utilized a wide range of carbohydrates (cellobiose, d-glucose, d-fructose, d-mannitol, d-ribose, sucrose, d-xylose, maltose, d-galactose, starch and trehalose) and produced acetate, CO2 and H2 as end products from glucose fermentation. The DNA G+C content was 37.4 mol%. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C14 : 0 and C16 : 0. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence suggested that

Fusibacter tunisiensis

was the closest relative of strain LTF Kr01T (gene sequence similarity of 94.6 %). Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic taxonomic characteristics, strain LTF Kr01T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus

Fusibacter

, order

Clostridiales

, for which the name Fusibacter bizertensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LTF Kr01T ( = DSM 28034T = JCM 19376T).
Lactobacillus formosensis sp. nov., a lactic acid bacterium isolated from fermented soybean meal
Authors: Chang Chi-huan , Chen Yi-sheng , Lee Tzu-tai , Chang Yu-chung , Yu Bi
Published: October 2014

A Gram-reaction-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped lactic acid bacterium, designated strain S215T, was isolated from fermented soybean meal. The organism produced d-lactic acid from glucose without gas formation. 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that strain S215T had 98.74–99.60 % sequence similarity to the type strains of three species of the genus

Lactobacillus

(

Lactobacillus farciminis

BCRC 14043T,

Lactobacillus futsaii

BCRC 80278T and

Lactobacillus crustorum

JCM 15951T). A comparison of two housekeeping genes, rpoA and pheS, revealed that strain S215T was well separated from the reference strains of species of the genus

Lactobacillus

. DNA–DNA hybridization results indicated that strain S215T had DNA related to the three type strains of species of the genus

Lactobacillus

(33–66 % relatedness). The DNA G+C content of strain S215T was 36.2 mol%. The cell walls contained peptidoglycan of the d-meso-diaminopimelic acid type and the major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 0 and C19 : 0 cyclo ω10c/C19 : 1ω6c. Phenotypic and genotypic features demonstrated that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus

Lactobacillus

, for which the name Lactobacillus formosensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S215T ( = NBRC 109509T = BCRC 80582T).
Coordinated response of phospholipids and acyl components of membrane lipids in Pseudomonas putida A (ATCC 12633) under stress caused by cationic surfactants
Authors: Heredia Romina Marisa , Boeris Paola Sabrina , Biasutti María Alicia , López Gastón Alberto , Paulucci Natalia Soledad , Lucchesi Gloria Inés
Published: October 2014

The present study assessed the role of membrane components ofPseudomonas putidaA (ATCC 12633) under chemical stress conditions originated by treatment with tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB), a cationic surfactant. We examined changes in fatty acid composition and in the fluidity of the membranes of cells exposed to TTAB at a specific point of growth as well as of cells growing with TTAB. The addition of 10–50 mg TTAB l−1promoted an increase in the saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratio. By using fluorescence polarization techniques, we found that TTAB exerted a fluidizing effect onP. putidaA (ATCC 12633) membranes. However, a complete reversal of induced membrane fluidification was detected after 15 min of incubation with TTAB. Consistently, the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids was lower in TTAB-treated cells as compared with non-treated cells. In the presence of TTAB, the content of phosphatidylglycerol increased (120 %), whilst that of cardiolipin decreased (60 %). Analysis of the fatty acid composition ofP. putidaA (ATCC 12633) showed that phosphatidylglycerol carried the major proportion of saturated fatty acids (89 %), whilst cardiolipin carried an elevated proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (18 %). The increase in phosphatidylglycerol and consequently in saturated fatty acids, together with a decrease in cardiolipin content, enabled greater membrane resistance, reversing the fluidizing effect of TTAB. Therefore, results obtained in the present study point to changes in the fatty acid profile as an adaptive response ofP. putidaA (ATCC 12633) cells to stress caused by a cationic surfactant.
Crowdsourcing RNA structural alignments with an online computer game
Authors: Waldispühl Jérôme , Kam Arthur , Gardner Paul P.
Published: October 2014

The annotation and classification of ncRNAs is essential to decipher molecular mechanisms of gene regulation in normal and disease states. A database such asRfammaintains alignments, consensus secondary structures, and corresponding annotations for RNA families. Its primary purpose is the automated, accurate annotation of non-coding RNAs in genomic sequences. However, the alignment of RNAs is computationally challenging, and the data stored in this database are often subject to improvements. Here, we design and evaluateRibo, a human-computing game that aims to improve the accuracy of RNA alignments already stored inRfam. We demonstrate the potential of our techniques and discuss the feasibility of large scale collaborative annotation and classification of RNA families.
Fixed versus mixed RSA: Explaining visual representations by fixed and mixed feature sets from shallow and deep computational models
Authors: Khaligh-Razavi Seyed-Mahdi , Henriksson Linda , Kay Kendrick , Kriegeskorte Nikolaus
Published: October 2014

Studies of the primate visual system have begun to test a wide range of complex computational object-vision models. Realistic models have many parameters, which in practice cannot be fitted using the limited amounts of brain-activity data typically available. Task performance optimization (e.g. using backpropagation to train neural networks) provides major constraints for fitting parameters and discovering nonlinear representational features appropriate for the task (e.g. object classification). Model representations can be compared to brain representations in terms of the representational dissimilarities they predict for an image set. This method, called representational similarity analysis (RSA), enables us to test the representational feature space as is (fixed RSA) or to fit a linear transformation that mixes the nonlinear model features so as to best explain a cortical area’s representational space (mixed RSA). Like voxel/population-receptive-field modelling, mixed RSA uses a training set (different stimuli) to fit one weight per model feature and response channel (voxels here), so as to best predict the response profile across images for each response channel. We analysed response patterns elicited by natural images, which were measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We found that early visual areas were best accounted for by shallow models, such as a Gabor wavelet pyramid (GWP). The GWP model performed similarly with and without mixing, suggesting that the original features already approximated the representational space, obviating the need for mixing. However, a higher ventral-stream visual representation (lateral occipital region) was best explained by the higher layers of a deep convolutional network, and mixing of its feature set was essential for this model to explain the representation. We suspect that mixing was essential because the convolutional network had been trained to discriminate a set of 1000 categories, whose frequencies in the training set did not match their frequencies in natural experience or their behavioural importance. The latter factors might determine the representational prominence of semantic dimensions in higher-level ventral-stream areas. Our results demonstrate the benefits of testing both the specific representational hypothesis expressed by a model’s original feature space and the hypothesis space generated by linear transformations of that feature space.

Highlights

We tested computational models of representations in ventral-stream visual areas.

We compared representational dissimilarities with/without linear remixing of model features.

Early visual areas were best explained by shallow – and higher by deep – models.

Unsupervised shallow models performed better without linear remixing of their features.

A supervised deep convolutional net performed best with linear feature remixing.
HiFive: a tool suite for easy and efficient HiC and 5C data analysis
Authors: Sauria Michael EG , Phillips-Cremins Jennifer E , Corces Victor G , Taylor James
Published: October 2014

The chromatin interaction assays 5C and HiC have advanced our understanding of genomic spatial organization but analysis approaches for these data are limited by usability and flexibility. The HiFive tool suite provides efficient data handling and a variety of normalization approaches for easy, fast analysis and method comparison. Integration of MPI-based parallelization allows scalability and rapid processing time. In addition to single-command analysis of an entire experiment from mapped reads to interaction values, HiFive has been integrated into the open-source, web-based platform Galaxy to connect users with computational resources and a graphical interface. HiFive is open-source software available from http://taylorlab.org/software/hifive/ and https://github.com/bxlab/hifive.
Abscisic Acid Promotion of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization Requires a Component of the PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A Complex
Authors: Charpentier Myriam , Sun Jongho , Wen Jiangqi , Mysore Kirankumar S. , Oldroyd Giles E.D.
Published: October 2014

Legumes can establish intracellular interactions with symbiotic microbes to enhance their fitness, including the interaction with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. AM fungi colonize root epidermal cells to gain access to the root cortex, and this requires the recognition by the host plant of fungus-made mycorrhizal factors. Genetic dissection has revealed the symbiosis signaling pathway that allows the recognition of AM fungi, but the downstream processes that are required to promote fungal infection are poorly understood. Abscisic acid (ABA) has been shown to promote arbuscule formation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Here, we show that ABA modulates the establishment of the AM symbiosis in Medicago truncatula by promoting fungal colonization at low concentrations and impairing it at high concentrations. We show that the positive regulation of AM colonization via ABA requires a PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A (PP2A) holoenzyme subunit, PP2AB′1. Mutations in PP2AB′1 cause reduced levels of AM colonization that cannot be rescued with permissive ABA application. The action of PP2AB′1 in response to ABA is unlinked to the generation of calcium oscillations, as the pp2aB′1 mutant displays a normal calcium response. This contrasts with the application of high concentrations of ABA that impairs mycorrhizal factor-induced calcium oscillations, suggesting different modes of action of ABA on the AM symbiosis. Our work reveals that ABA functions at multiple levels to regulate the AM symbiosis and that a PP2A phosphatase is required for the ABA promotion of AM colonization.
Intergenic Sequence between Arabidopsis Caseinolytic Protease B-Cytoplasmic/Heat Shock Protein100 and Choline Kinase Genes Functions as a Heat-Inducible Bidirectional Promoter
Authors: Mishra Ratnesh Chandra , Grover Anil
Published: October 2014

In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the At1g74310 locus encodes for caseinolytic protease B-cytoplasmic (ClpB-C)/heat shock protein100 protein (AtClpB-C), which is critical for the acquisition of thermotolerance, and At1g74320 encodes for choline kinase (AtCK2) that catalyzes the first reaction in the Kennedy pathway for phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. Previous work has established that the knockout mutants of these genes display heat-sensitive phenotypes. While analyzing the AtClpB-C promoter and upstream genomic regions in this study, we noted that AtClpB-C and AtCK2 genes are head-to-head oriented on chromosome 1 of the Arabidopsis genome. Expression analysis showed that transcripts of these genes are rapidly induced in response to heat stress treatment. In stably transformed Arabidopsis plants harboring this intergenic sequence between head-to-head oriented green fluorescent protein and β-glucuronidase reporter genes, both transcripts and proteins of the two reporters were up-regulated upon heat stress. Four heat shock elements were noted in the intergenic region by in silico analysis. In the homozygous transfer DNA insertion mutant Salk_014505, 4,393-bp transfer DNA is inserted at position −517 upstream of ATG of the AtClpB-C gene. As a result, AtCk2 loses proximity to three of the four heat shock elements in the mutant line. Heat-inducible expression of the AtCK2 transcript was completely lost, whereas the expression of AtClpB-C was not affected in the mutant plants. Our results suggest that the 1,329-bp intergenic fragment functions as a heat-inducible bidirectional promoter and the region governing the heat inducibility is possibly shared between the two genes. We propose a model in which AtClpB-C shares its regulatory region with heat-induced choline kinase, which has a possible role in heat signaling.
CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE8 Differentially Regulates Plant Immunity to Fungal Pathogens through Kinase-Dependent and -Independent Functions in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhu Yingfang , Schluttenhoffer Craig M. , Wang Pengcheng , Fu Fuyou , Thimmapuram Jyothi , Zhu Jian-Kang , Lee Sang Yeol , Yun Dae-Jin , Mengiste Tesfaye
Published: October 2014

CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE8 (CDK8) is a widely studied component of eukaryotic Mediator complexes. However, the biological and molecular functions of plant CDK8 are not well understood. Here, we provide evidence for regulatory functions of Arabidopsis thaliana CDK8 in defense and demonstrate its functional and molecular interactions with other Mediator and non-Mediator subunits. The cdk8 mutant exhibits enhanced resistance to Botrytis cinerea but susceptibility to Alternaria brassicicola. The contributions of CDK8 to the transcriptional activation of defensin gene PDF1.2 and its interaction with MEDIATOR COMPLEX SUBUNIT25 (MED25) implicate CDK8 in jasmonate-mediated defense. Moreover, CDK8 associates with the promoter of AGMATINE COUMAROYLTRANSFERASE to promote its transcription and regulate the biosynthesis of the defense-active secondary metabolites hydroxycinnamic acid amides. CDK8 also interacts with the transcription factor WAX INDUCER1, implying its additional role in cuticle development. In addition, overlapping functions of CDK8 with MED12 and MED13 and interactions between CDK8 and C-type cyclins suggest the conserved configuration of the plant Mediator kinase module. In summary, while CDK8's positive transcriptional regulation of target genes and its phosphorylation activities underpin its defense functions, the impaired defense responses in the mutant are masked by its altered cuticle, resulting in specific resistance to B. cinerea.
Sustained human development as a psycho-social evolution from individuality to personality
Authors: Dutta Dilip
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse how Vivekananda, in his quest for sustained human development, explores a new generation of humanity by combining some of the active and heroic personality elements of the West with the meditative and yogic personality skills of the East.

Design/methodology/approach

– Because of Vivekananda’s pioneering efforts in the last decade of the 19th century, ancient India’s Vedânta philosophy of human life, along with the Yoga system, has now become a common heritage of all mankind. Vivekananda’s assertion that a human being is potentially divine – one of the major tenets of ancient India’s Vedânta philosophy – has been used as the philosophical foundation of sustained human development.

Findings

– A psycho-physical human being’s initial individuality could be developed towards a psycho-social personality with its manifold existence by manifesting the aesthetic, ethical, heroic and spiritual possibilities lying hidden in an individual person.

Originality/value

– Persons with different degrees of higher assimilative qualities create different personalities. A psycho-social personality could lead to the path of sustained human development essentially by controlling its mind.
Physico-chemical and sensory properties of cereal/legume-substituted cocoa-based beverage
Authors: Stephen Oladeji Babatunde , Omotoso Badmus Adeniran
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a cereal/legume-substituted cocoa-based beverage using cocoa powder, malted sorghum flour, soybean flour and defatted melon seed flour and to evaluate their physico-chemical, nutritional and sensory properties.

Design/methodology/approach

– Malted sorghum was prepared; flours of soybean and defatted melon were also prepared separately. Two samples were formulated, the first formulation tagged CPM1 contained 60, 10, 20 and 10 per cent of cocoa powder, malted sorghum, soybean flour and melon flour, respectively, and the second sample tagged CPM2 contained 65, 05, 20 and 10 per cent of cocoa powder, malted sorghum, soybean flour and melon flour, respectively. A commercial product (Noble Vita) was purchased from local market as reference sample.

Findings

– Protein contents of formulated samples (16.93 and10.58 per cent for samples CPM1 and CPM2, respectively) are higher than that of the Noble Vita (6.35 per cent). The vitamin C content of the formulated samples was found to be 13.38 and 13.50 mg/100 g, an improvement from that of the reference sample (6.13 mg/100 g). Significant difference exists in the overall acceptability between the formulated samples and the reference sample (p < 0.05), and the formulated samples were more acceptable.

Originality/value

– Formulated samples are nutritionally richer than the reference sample and that they are capable of supplying limiting nutrients in the diet of majority in the developing countries.
Impact of an educational intervention using e-mail on diet quality
Authors: Cristina Moura Bombem Kelly , Silva Canella Daniela , Henrique Bandoni Daniel , Constante Jaime Patricia
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of a worksite nutritional intervention on the dietary quality of adult workers from the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

– A 6-month controlled community trial was performed involving 236 workers from São Paulo, Brazil. The intervention was implemented through interactive software that sends recommendations about diet and physical activity by e-mail. Data were collected for all participants using a 24-hour dietary recall and also for a sub-sample containing 25.4 per cent of the participants. Diet quality was assessed by the diet quality index adjusted (DQIa) comprising 10 components (grains and tubers; vegetables; fruits; milk and dairy products; meat and eggs; beans and legumes; total fat; saturated fat; sodium; and variety), scored from 0 (inadequate consumption) to 10 (recommended consumption). Intragroup impact of the intervention was assessed according to variation in total DQIa, its components and energy consumption. Impact adjusted between groups was also determined.

Findings

– The intervention yielded improvements in DQIa and for the components cereals and tubers, vegetables, milk and dairy products and total fat. The workers who had a worst diet quality before the study were more susceptible to the intervention, which improved significantly the diet quality, with an adjusted impact of +6.4 points.

Originality/value

– Few behavioral interventions have been performed using technologies, like e-mail, to encourage a healthy lifestyle. This study shows the importance of the counseling to promote a higher-quality diet, which can result in control of the obesity.
Evaluation of the satiating properties of a fish protein hydrolysate among overweight women
Authors: Zaïr Yassine , Duclos Elisa , Housez Béatrice , Vergara Coralie , Cazaubiel Murielle , Soisson Florian
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the satiety properties of a fish protein hydrolysate (blue whiting muscle hydrolysate, BWMH). Protein consumption is associated with higher satiety, protein being considered as the more satiating macronutrient. This property is extensively investigated in regard to weight management.

Design/methodology/approach

– Fifteen overweight women were included in a crossover design study. Subjects consumed 1 g of BWMH or placebo twice daily and sensations associated with satiety were recorded every day.

Findings

– Significant differences, in favour of BWMH, were highlighted on the desire to eat something sweet at T90 min (p < 0.05) and on plasma glucose at T270 min (p < 0.05).

Research limitations/implications

– This study demonstrates effect of BWMH on appetite. Indeed promising data were reported in favour of the test product, in particular on the desire to eat something sweet and on glucose levels. Some additional investigations will be necessary to support these data and those observed in in vitro and in vivo models.

Originality/value

– After promising pre-clinical data, this study is a first investigation of health benefits of BWMH supplementation in humans.