bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interrogating the activities of conformational deformed enzyme by single-molecule fluorescence-magnetic tweezers microscopy
Authors: Guo Qing , He Yufan , Lu H. Peter
Published: October 2015

Significance

It is highly informative to actively manipulate the conformations of an enzyme molecule by an external force and simultaneously observing the responses of the enzymatic activity changes. However, one of the challenges for a conventional approach is that an enzyme cannot be denatured under an enzymatic reaction condition, which prevents a simultaneous conformational manipulation and activity measurements. Using our single-molecule total internal reflection (TIRF)-magnetic tweezers microscopic approach to manipulate the conformations of enzymes and simultaneously probing the enzymatic reactivity changes under enzymatic reaction conditions, we identified that enzymatic activity can be manipulated by external pulling force and that enzyme molecules with deformed conformation are still capable of showing significant activities, involving the enzymatic active site conformational fluctuations and substrate binding-induced folding-binding conformational changes.
Crohn's disease-derived monocytes fail to induce Paneth cell defensins
Authors: Courth Lioba F. , Ostaff Maureen J. , Mailänder-Sánchez Daniela , Malek Nisar P. , Stange Eduard F. , Wehkamp Jan
Published: October 2015

Significance

Paneth cell defensins (human α-defensins 5 and 6) are central players in the regulation of the human microbiome in the small intestine, but their regulation remains unclear. Here, we show that healthy monocytes can induce the expression of these defensins via Wnt ligands, especially in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), who normally display reduced levels of human α-defensin 5 (HD5) and HD6, resulting in impaired host defense and, consequently, mucosal inflammation. However, monocytes from these patients are lacking this defensin-inducing capability, which seems to be based on compromised expression of Wnt ligands. This translational human study demonstrates defective cross-talk between monocytes and Paneth cells in CD with implications for gastrointestinal infections and bone marrow transplantation.
Dynamic membrane protein topological switching upon changes in phospholipid environment
Authors: Vitrac Heidi , MacLean David M. , Jayaraman Vasanthi , Bogdanov Mikhail , Dowhan William
Published: October 2015

Significance

Understanding how a protein sequence folds and orients in a lipid bilayer is central to establishing the molecular basis for membrane protein organization. How lipid environment affects membrane protein organization is understudied. We established that membrane protein orientation is dynamic during and after assembly, dependent on membrane lipid composition, and independent of other cellular factors. We developed a proteoliposome system in which lipid composition can be controlled before and after membrane protein reconstitution and used it to assess the kinetics of changes in transmembrane domain (TMD) orientation and phospholipid flipping within the lipid bilayer triggered by a change in lipid composition. We demonstrate that membrane proteins can undergo rapid postassembly TMD flipping in response to changes in the lipid environment.
LSD1/KDM1A promotes hematopoietic commitment of hemangioblasts through downregulation of Etv2
Authors: Takeuchi Miki , Fuse Yuji , Watanabe Mana , Andrea Christina-Sylvia , Takeuchi Miho , Nakajima Hitomi , Ohashi Ken , Kaneko Hiroshi , Kobayashi-Osaki Maki , Yamamoto Masayuki , Kobayashi Makoto
Published: October 2015

Significance

Epigenetic regulation of cell fate determination is one of the hottest topics today. In this study, we isolated and characterized a zebrafish mutant in histone Lys-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1/KDM1A), and found that LSD1 plays a role in the initiation of hematopoietic differentiation in the hemangioblast, a bipotent cell that can give rise to hematopoietic or endothelial progenitors. In addition, we identified the major function of LSD1 in hemangioblasts to be the down-regulation of Ets variant 2 (Etv2), a critical regulator of hemangioblast development. Our results suggest that the LSD1-dependent shutdown of the Etv2 gene is the significant event required for hemangioblasts to initiate hematopoietic differentiation.
Library preparation methodology can influence genomic and functional predictions in human microbiome research
Authors: Jones Marcus B. , Highlander Sarah K. , Anderson Ericka L. , Li Weizhong , Dayrit Mark , Klitgord Niels , Fabani Martin M. , Seguritan Victor , Green Jessica , Pride David T. , Yooseph Shibu , Biggs William , Nelson Karen E. , Venter J. Craig
Published: October 2015

Significance

The field of microbiome research is moving from 16S rDNA gene sequencing to metagenomic sequencing of complete communities, which clearly gives a more comprehensive genomic and functional representation of the organisms present. Here we describe, quantify, and compare biases associated with four currently available next-generation sequencing library preparation methods using a synthetic DNA mock community and an extraction spike-in control of microbial cells. Our study highlights a critical need for consistency in protocols and data analysis procedures, especially when attempting to interpret human microbiome data for human health.
Basal autophagy maintains pancreatic acinar cell homeostasis and protein synthesis and prevents ER stress
Authors: Antonucci Laura , Fagman Johan B. , Kim Ju Youn , Todoric Jelena , Gukovsky Ilya , Mackey Mason , Ellisman Mark H. , Karin Michael
Published: October 2015

Significance

This work identifies autophagy as an essential homeostatic process that maintains pancreatic acinar cell function. By preventing endoplasmic reticulum stress, reactive oxygen species accumulation, and DNA damage, basal autophagy preserves the high rates of protein synthesis that characterize the exocrine pancreas. Conversely, loss of autophagy can result in progressive loss of pancreatic function, which leads to development of pancreatitis as well as regenerative responses that may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Transient conformers of LacY are trapped by nanobodies
Authors: Smirnova Irina , Kasho Vladimir , Jiang Xiaoxu , Pardon Els , Steyaert Jan , Kaback H. Ronald
Published: October 2015

Significance

To obtain stable conformers of multiple intermediates in the transport cycle of lactose permease of
Escherichia coli
(LacY), we use camelid single-chain nanobodies (Nbs) that are ∼15 kDa in size and have a unique structure with flexible antigen-binding loops that can insert into clefts and cavities. Site-directed, distance-dependent quenching/unquenching of fluorescent probes on opposite surfaces of LacY are used in a unique fashion to assess LacY conformers trapped by Nbs that bind exclusively to the periplasmic side and block transport with increased accessibility of the sugar-binding site. The studies conclusively document an alternating access mechanism for transport and provide evidence that the Nbs stabilize several different periplasmic-open conformations of LacY, thereby providing a novel general approach for structure-function studies of membrane proteins.
HIF-1 regulates CD47 expression in breast cancer cells to promote evasion of phagocytosis and maintenance of cancer stem cells
Authors: Zhang Huimin , Lu Haiquan , Xiang Lisha , Bullen John W. , Zhang Chuanzhao , Samanta Debangshu , Gilkes Daniele M. , He Jianjun , Semenza Gregg L.
Published: October 2015

Increased expression of CD47 has been reported to enable cancer cells to evade phagocytosis by macrophages and to promote the cancer stem cell phenotype, but the molecular mechanisms regulating CD47 expression have not been determined. Here we report that hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) directly activates transcription of the
CD47
gene in hypoxic breast cancer cells. Knockdown of HIF activity or CD47 expression increased the phagocytosis of breast cancer cells by bone marrow-derived macrophages. CD47 expression was increased in mammosphere cultures, which are enriched for cancer stem cells, and CD47 deficiency led to cancer stem cell depletion. Analysis of datasets derived from thousands of patients with breast cancer revealed that CD47 expression was correlated with HIF target gene expression and with patient mortality. Thus, CD47 expression contributes to the lethal breast cancer phenotype that is mediated by HIF-1.
Comparison of Two Length‐Based Estimators of Total Mortality: A Simulation Approach
Authors: Then Amy Y. , Hoenig John M. , Gedamke Todd , S. Ault Jerald
Published: October 2015

Length‐based methods for estimating the total mortality rate, Z, are appealing due to their potential application in data‐poor situations, particularly when assessing tropical and invertebrate fisheries where age composition data are lacking. We evaluated two length‐based estimators attributed to Beverton and Holt (1956) and to Ehrhardt and Ault (1992) for precision and accuracy when applied to simulated length data generated under varying combinations of Z rates, growth rates, variability in length at age, and the degree of length truncation imposed by the data analyst. The Beverton–Holt method generally overestimated Z, with bias ranging from −5% to +40%, when the abundance of the oldest age‐groups is less than that associated with a constant mortality rate. The bias in the Ehrhardt–Ault method ranged from −80% to +140%, depending on the combinations of Z and the von Bertalanffy growth coefficient K, the degree of imposed length truncation, and the method for mean length calculation. In general, the Ehrhardt–Ault estimator exhibited complex behavior, which made it difficult to summarize the direction and magnitude of the bias and the mean square error. The best length truncation to impose on the length samples to apply the Ehrhardt–Ault method often did not coincide with the “true” length of truncation especially with more realistic scenarios of variability in length at age. The Beverton–Holt method has the advantage of having known directional biases and predictable behavior. Use of the Ehrhardt–Ault estimator should be accompanied by a case‐specific evaluation of its likely performance.
Complementary gender stereotypes and system justification: the moderating role of essentialist lay theories for group differences / Estereotipos de género complementarios y justificación del sistema: el papel moderador de las teorías populares esencialistas sobre las diferencias grupales
Authors: Iatridis Tilemachos , Stergiou Nektaria
Published: October 2015

Past research has established that complementary stereotypes of men and women serve to justify the gendered division of labour as well as the division of labour in society at large. This paper is concerned with the essentialist lay theories for the origin of group differences (i.e. belief in genetic determinism vs. belief in social determinism) which may moderate the justificatory effect of complementary gender stereotypes. We present data from an experimental study conducted in Greece, in which genetic vs. social deterministic lay theories for group differences and complementary vs. non-complementary accounts of gender differences were crossed. In these data, complementary accounts of gender increased participants’ justificatory responses only when a genetic deterministic context was made salient; on the contrary, the social deterministic context appeared to buffer the justificatory function of complementary accounts of gender. The results extend the literatures on the justificatory effects of complementary stereotypes as well as on essentialism, and point to the importance of the historical context in which particular ideas and lay theories for intergroup differences are embedded.
Advice to a young scientist (by someone who doesn’t know how to give it)
Authors: Denic Vladimir
Published: October 2015

While trying to extract original and general advice from the details of my career, I realized this might not be possible. My path, like those of so many others, had too many idiosyncratic twists and turns that had to work out just the way they did to be mined for generally useful strategies. So I abandon the conceit of advice and simply give you my story. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Take what you wish from it.
LASSBio-579, a prototype antipsychotic drug, and clozapine are effective in novel object recognition task, a recognition memory model
Authors: Antonio Camila B. , Betti Andresa H. , Herzfeldt Vivian , Barreiro Eliezer J. , Fraga Carlos A.M. , Rates Stela M.K.
Published: October 2015

Previous studies on the N-phenylpiperazine derivative LASSBio-579 have suggested that LASSBio-579 has an atypical antipsychotic profile. It binds to D2, D4 and 5-HT1A receptors and is effective in animal models of schizophrenia symptoms (prepulse inhibition disruption, apomorphine-induced climbing and amphetamine-induced stereotypy). In the current study, we evaluated the effect of LASSBio-579, clozapine (atypical antipsychotic) and haloperidol (typical antipsychotic) in the novel object recognition task, a recognition memory model with translational value. Haloperidol (0.01 mg/kg, orally) impaired the ability of the animals (CF1 mice) to recognize the novel object on short-term and long-term memory tasks, whereas LASSBio-579 (5 mg/kg, orally) and clozapine (1 mg/kg, orally) did not. In another set of experiments, animals previously treated with ketamine (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) or vehicle (saline 1 ml/100 g, intraperitoneally) received LASSBio-579, clozapine or haloperidol at different time-points: 1 h before training (encoding/consolidation); immediately after training (consolidation); or 1 h before long-term memory testing (retrieval). LASSBio-579 and clozapine protected against the long-term memory impairment induced by ketamine when administered at the stages of encoding, consolidation and retrieval of memory. These findings point to the potential of LASSBio-579 for treating cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia and other disorders.
Anti‐Glypican 3, a Novel Ancillary Maker in the Histological Assessment of Hirschsprung's Disease
Authors: Ludwig Kathrin , Volpe Andrea , Guzzardo Vincenza , Santoro Luisa , Midrio Paola , Gamba Piergiorgio , Alaggio Rita
Published: October 2015

Objectives:

Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) results from a malformation of the enteric nervous system. A congenital absence of intrinsic ganglion cells from the distal rectum and a variable length of the contiguous bowel is the required diagnostic feature of Hirschsprung's disease and total colonic aganglionosis (TCA). We evaluated the utility of a monoclonal antibody directed against glypican 3 (GPC‐3), a membrane bound protein involved in regulation of the signaling of Wingless‐types (WNTs), Hedgehogs (Hh), Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs), and Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs), in the detection of ganglion cells in formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue sections.

Methods:

The presence/absence of ganglion cells was evaluated retrospectively by immunohistochemical staining for calretinin and GPC‐3 in tissue specimens; a total of 15 patients who underwent colectomy (total or sub‐total) for histologically proven aganglionosis (14 HSCR, 1 TCA) and 5 rectal suction biopsies (4HSCR‐B, 1 TCA‐B) were considered. Of the 20 considered cases, a total of 60 tissue specimens (3 for each patient) were selected. A total of 30 additional normal (N) colonic mucosa biopsy samples were also included.

Results:

GPC‐3 constantly identified ganglion cell bodies in all but 2 normal biopsies (with normal presentation of ganglion cells on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain), and was negative in all 60 aganglionotic biopsies; these results were reflective of calretinin staining pattern.

Conclusions:

The present study indicates that monoclonal anti‐GPC‐3 might prove to be useful immunohistochemical marker in the identification of ganglion cells in paraffin‐embedded rectal tissue specimens and suction biopsies. Further studies in larger series will contribute to demonstrate its utility as an ancillary marker in the histological assessment of HSCR aganglionosis.
Augmentation of nonsense mediated decay by rapamycin
Authors: Martinez-Nunez Rocio Teresa , Coyne Doyle , Jansson Linnea , Rush Miles , Ennajdaoui Hanane , Sanchez-Elsner Tilman , Sanford Jeremy R.
Published: October 2015

RNA surveillance by the Nonsense Mediated Decay (NMD) pathway eliminates potentially deleterious transcripts containing Premature Termination Codons (PTCs). The transition from a pioneering round of translation to steady state translation is hypothesized to be a major checkpoint in this process. One hallmark of mRNAs licensed for translation is the exchange of 7-methylguanosine cap binding proteins. However, mRNAs undergoing steady state translation are also NMD substrates, raising mechanistic questions about the NMD checkpoint. To test the role of cap binding proteins in NMD, we modulated the protein composition of cytoplasmic messenger ribonucleoprotein particles (mRNPs) with the naturally occurring macrolide rapamycin. We demonstrate that despite well-documented attenuation of cap-dependent mRNA translation, rapamycin can augment NMD. Rapamycin-treatment significantly reduces the levels of endogenous and exogenous PTC-containing mRNA isoforms in a dose- and UPF1- dependent manner. PTC-containing transcripts exhibit a shorter half-life upon rapamacyin-treatment as compared to non-PTC isoforms. Rapamycin also causes depletion of PTC-containing mRNA isoforms from polyribosomes, suggesting that actively translating ribosomes can transition between low and high NMD states. Importantly, mRNPs show depletion of eIF4E and retention of the nuclear Cap Binding Complex (CBC) in rapamycin-treated cells. Our data demonstrate that rapamycin potentiates pioneer-like mRNP context thereby decreasing NMD evasion.
Hydraulic conductance and the maintenance of water balance in flowers
Authors: Roddy Adam B. , Brodersen Craig R. , Dawson Todd E.
Published: October 2015

Flowers face desiccating conditions, yet little is known about their ability to transport water. We quantified variability in floral hydraulic conductance (Kflower) for 20 species from 10 families and related it to traits hypothesized to be associated with liquid and vapor phase water transport. Basal angiosperm flowers had trait values associated with higher water and carbon costs than monocot and eudicot flowers.Kflowerwas coordinated with water supply (vein length per area,VLA) and loss (minimum epidermal conductance,gmin) traits among the magnoliids, but was insensitive to variation in these traits among the monocots and eudicots. Phylogenetic independent contrast (PIC) correlations revealed that few traits had undergone coordinated evolution. However,VLAand the desiccation time (Tdes), the quotient of water content andgmin, had significant trait and PIC correlations. The near absence of stomata from monocot and eudicot flowers may have been critical in minimizing water loss rates among these clades. Early-divergent, basal angiosperm flowers maintain higherKflowerdue to traits associated with high rates water loss and water supply, while monocot and eudicot flowers employ a more conservative strategy of limiting water loss and may rely on stored water to maintain turgor and delay desiccation.
Residual stress determination in a shot-peened nickel-based single-crystal superalloy using X-ray diffraction
Authors: Morançais Amélie , Fèvre Mathieu , François Manuel , Guel Nicolas , Kruch Serge , Kanouté Pascale , Longuet Arnaud
Published: October 2015

A residual stress depth profile up to 1 mm is determined with the Ortner method in a single crystal of a nickel-based superalloy which has been subjected to shot-peening. An optimization procedure is assessed to minimize uncertainties connected to Bragg angle, mosaic spread and numerical stability. The theoretical background is reviewed to highlight the connections between Bragg angle positions and the stress tensor components in different coordinate systems and also to obtain a mathematically consistent formulation. Transformation matrices required to express the strain components with respect to the initial state are provided for the general case. It is shown that, when a stress gradient occurs beneath the sample surface plane, the value of the σ33component of the stress tensor determined from measurements is twice its true value. For a sample surface oriented along a 〈100〉 crystallographic direction, the data analysis shows that the compressive stresses which develop in the 150 µm-thick surface layer are compensated for by small tensile stresses developing at long scale rather than a specific layer of finite size featuring high tensile stresses. At least 17 Bragg angles are required to have stable solutions with standard deviations close to 30 MPa. Maximum compressive stresses of 1000 or 1400 MPa depending on the assumption used to describe the initial state occur at a 30 µm depth.
Expression and crystallographic studies of the ligand-binding region of the human endocytic collagen receptor uPARAP
Authors: Yuan Cai , Huang Joy He , Liu Min , Huang Mingdong
Published: October 2015

Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor-associated protein (uPARAP) is an endocytic receptor that internalizes collagen for lysosomal degradation and plays an important role in matrix remodelling. Previous recombinant protein production of uPARAP inPichia pastorisgenerated protein with highly heterogeneous glycans that was prone to proteolytic degradation, resulting in highly twinned crystals. In this study, the uPARAP ligand-binding region was expressed in stably transfectedDrosophilaS2 insect cells. The recombinant protein was homogeneous after purification by metal-affinity and anion-exchange chromatography. Crystals were obtained at two different pH values (5.3 and 7.4) and diffracted to 2.44 and 3.13 Å resolution, respectively. A model of the ligand-binding region of uPARAP was obtained by molecular replacement combined with autobuilding. As the first multidomain crystal structure of the mannose receptor family, structural characterization of the uPARAP ligand-binding region will provide insight into the pH-induced conformational rearrangements of the mannose receptor family.
Removing “invisible” barriers: opening paths towards the future of accessible tourism
Authors: Portales Rafael Cruces
Published: October 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the analysis and grasp of accessible tourism, from its present into a medium-term future. It provides a socio-anthropological approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the scenarios-planning analysis framework proposing four scenarios arising from the interaction of aforementioned driving forces. The author also use a trilemma to both form and evaluate scenarios. The criteria for the trilemma were (stakeholders, cooperation and prejudice).

Findings

The strength of combining a new set of driving forces, namely, empathy, apathy, certainty in economic profits and fear of economic losses, which would enable to draw four plausible scenarios into the future of accessible tourism within a scenarios-planning framework. The significance is to provide “food for thought” to address the future through a range of different concepts.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation is the difficulty to obtain honest answers about why the lack of development of accessible tourism.

Practical implications

Participant observation on both groups and individuals in vacation atmosphere. Also, in-depth interviews to different stakeholder representatives.

Social implications

To try to explain to the stakeholders their wasted economic benefits and, at the same time, the opportunity of getting social prestige.

Originality/value

The main value is about considering the interplay of social concepts as empathy, apathy, “aesthetic prejudice” and fear of losses or faith in profits.
Information reliability for academic research: review and recommendations
Authors: Colepicolo Eliane
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide to scientific researchers and academic students some subsidies related to information reliability that may be used during information search and retrieval for academic research based on the author’s experience as a university librarian and interdisciplinary researcher.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is composed of a brief conceptualization of the term information reliability, followed by a practical guide containing three processes for obtaining reliable information: knowledge of bibliometric indicators, evaluation of sources of information and analysis of the content of recovered publications.

Findings

– Currently, there are few publications about information reliability that target the practical and effective learning of academic researchers and students, based on the experience of librarians who work directly with bibliographic search and training based on scientific literature.

Social implications

– The great demand of questions submitted by academic users on how to obtain reliable information shows the need for a paper like this to clarify them.

Originality/value

– This paper shares best practices for search and discovery of information reliability, which are based on experiences that are not commonly addressed in the literature, and presents processes covering the bibliometric indicators, information sources and publication contents.
Art outreach toward STEAM and academic libraries
Authors: Arrieta Diane , Kern Jacqueline
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) efforts at Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) John D. MacArthur Campus Library (JDM) to share methodologies and ideas with other academic libraries. Recently, there has been an emphasis on and push for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in colleges and universities across the USA as a means for training future work forces and for remaining competitive in global job markets (Land, 2013). FAU in South Florida is a big proponent of STEM and STEAM education (Florida Atlantic University, 2012; Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, 2013).

Design/methodology/approach

– As many librarians and outreach staff strive to remain relevant to their faculty and students with changing technologies (Drewes and Hoffman, 2010), the FAU JDM outreach staff have developed several novel programs that are geared toward the STEAM initiative.

Findings

– The Library Outreach Committee at FAU was committed to investigating how they could advance student success through visual arts programming. How can the library help contribute to STEAM education for the students and learning community as a whole? How can the library engage art students? Can the library promote dialogue in arts to the faculty and staff, regardless of their disciplines? This article will describe and discuss the various art outreach programs that the JDM has tested and their outcomes addressing goals toward STEAM education and academic libraries.

Originality/value

– The objective in sharing the experiences at the JDM is to spark new and successful program ideas at other academic libraries across the country and abroad and create knowledge in this relatively new area.
Multiple‐stressor effects on leaf litter decomposition and fungal decomposers in agricultural streams contrast between litter species
Authors: Bruder Andreas , Salis Romana K. , McHugh Nicola J. , Matthaei Christoph D.
Published: October 2015

Agricultural land use commonly exerts multiple stressors on the functioning of stream ecosystems, including leaf litter decomposition and the utilization of this resource in stream food webs. If stressors interact, their cumulative effects on biotic responses cannot be predicted from knowledge of individual stressor effects, posing challenges for management and restoration of ecosystems.

We examined the individual and interactive effects of four common agricultural stressors and the role of litter quality on leaf litter decomposition and fungal decomposers. In 128 outdoor, flow‐through mesocosms, we manipulated levels of nutrients, a nitrification inhibitor (dicyandiamide), deposited fine sediment and flow velocity. Interactions among these stressors can ensue because, for instance, they jointly affect physicochemical conditions around leaf litter colonized by fungi such as concentrations of dissolved oxygen and nutrients.

The two litter species used, deciduous birch and evergreen mahoe, showed contrasting decomposition dynamics, and these differences influenced their response to stressors. Fungi were important for birch litter decomposition but played a minor role for mahoe. Overall, flow velocity reduction and deposited fine sediment had the strongest, mainly negative effects on fungi and litter decomposition, probably as a consequence of reductions in dissolved oxygen available to fungi. However, fine sediment substantially increased mahoe litter mass loss, pointing at fungi‐independent processes being relevant for its decomposition.

Although interactions among stressors were uncommon, they showed effects of the same magnitude as stressor main effects. Potential mechanisms underlying interactions included reductions in dissolved oxygen and changes in microbial community composition.

Knowledge of the effects of multiple agricultural stressors and of litter quality on litter decomposition and litter‐associated fungi is crucial for management of forested riparian corridors, which have been shown to efficiently mitigate impacts of agricultural stressors on streams. The contrasting responses of the litter species used in our study warrant consideration of species composition of the riparian vegetation.
Invasive cutleaf coneflower seeds cached in nest boxes: possibility of dispersal by a native rodent
Authors: Suzuki Kei , Yamane Yutaka , Yanagawa Hisashi
Published: October 2015

Invasive species present serious problems for ecosystems and economies. One such species, the invasive cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata L.), has several modes of seed dispersal, namely autochory, anemochory, epizoochory, myrmecochory and anthropochory. Because we found caches of this invasive plant's seeds in two nest boxes, suggesting the possibility of synzoochory, we report here the details of the caches. In one of the boxes, many of the seeds were cached in autumn and eaten during the winter. Automatic sensor cameras directed at the boxes revealed that three rodent species and two avian species visited the boxes. The characteristics of the caches and the nest‐box visitors suggested that the small Japanese field mouse (Apodemus argenteus Temm.) was the animal most likely to have cached the seeds in the boxes.
John Paul Jones: An Overlooked Autopsy Finding that May Explain His Terminal Illness
Authors: Hamrell Burt B.
Published: October 2015

A finding in the autopsy of John Paul Jones, the American Revolutionary War naval hero, may explain his terminal illness. During his last 2 years, he had a persistent productive cough and dyspnea. Ten days before death, he developed rapidly progressive dependent edema and ascites. He died in France in 1792. His body, preserved in alcohol in a lead coffin, was, in 1905, removed to the United States. Glomerulonephritis was noted on an autopsy, performed in France, but there was no comment then or since about ventricular wall thickness being the same in both ventricles at 5–6 mm. Hypertrophy and dilatation with biventricular failure followed by tissue shrinkage during 113 years in alcohol could have resulted in these ventricular wall findings. Systemic hypertension and left ventricular failure are consistent with his respiratory symptoms complicated perhaps by pulmonary emboli, right ventricular failure with tricuspid regurgitation, peripheral congestion, and jaundice.
Coffee nation: an analysis of jobs in Australia's café industry
Authors: Knox Angela
Published: October 2015

Using qualitative research this paper examines the characteristics of jobs in Australia's bourgeoning café industry. Contrary to overwhelmingly negative ‘McJob’ characterisations, the results indicate that substantial variation in jobs exists. Significant beneficial changes within the industry are producing ‘Maestro Jobs’ that offer superior pay and benefits, advanced skills and training and expanding progression opportunities. Greater industry‐level vocational training is needed to support the expansion of Maestro Jobs and the growth of Australia's ‘ground‐breaking’ café industry.
Analysis of Scientific Production in Food Science from 2003 to 2013
Authors: Guerrero‐Bote Vicente P. , Moya‐Anegón Félix
Published: October 2015

Food Science is an active discipline in scientific research. The improvements in Food Technology constitute a challenge for society to eradicate hunger, while achieving food safety. This work analyses the scientific production in Food Science of the 25 countries with the greatest output in this subject area in the period 2003 to 2013. The growth of China's production was striking, with the country becoming top‐ranked by the end of the period. Some developing countries (such as Nigeria) achieved a major increase in production but reducing their proportion of scientific collaboration and their works' impact. There appear to be 2 international collaboration networks that get good results—one European and the other Pacific.
Reasons for Thiomicrospira crunogena's recalcitrance towards previous attempts to detect its hydrogen consumption ability
Authors: Hansen Moritz , Perner Mirjam
Published: October 2015

The first Thiomicrospira species was isolated in 1972 and was described as a sulfur‐oxidizing chemolithoautotroph. Since then, several other Thiomicrospira species have been recovered from around the globe and have been classified as common sulfur oxidizers. In the past, attempts to demonstrate hydrogen consumption of a Thiomicrospira species have failed. However, recently, we showed that some Thiomicrospira strains can indeed consume hydrogen. Here, we discuss why Thiomicrospira species have likely resisted efforts to consume hydrogen under the offered conditions. It appears that their hydrogen consumption ability is closely tied to the concentration of nickel in the medium. Investigated carbonate and thiosulfate concentrations did not appear to be critical for hydrogen utilization under the tested conditions.
Non‐interest Income, Profit, and Risk Efficiencies: Evidence from Commercial Banks in China
Authors: Bian Wen‐Long , Wang Xiang‐Nan , Sun Qi‐Xiang
Published: October 2015

Chinese commercial banks are transforming their activities into more non‐interest income businesses under a highly regulated financial system. This paper investigates the effects of this transformation on profit and risk efficiencies. We find that commission and fee income significantly reduce risk efficiency due to the circumvention of the regulation on deposit interest rate and the assumption of risk that should have been borne by customers. In terms of trading income, it significantly reduces profit efficiency due to the upper limit of the loan‐deposit ratio, the lack of investment channels and low returns of bond markets. The regulatory authorities are supposed to further liberalize the banking industry and grant banks more rights.
Prevalence of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment in surgery in Australasia
Authors: Crebbin Wendy , Campbell Graeme , Hillis David A. , Watters David A.
Published: October 2015

Background

The topic of discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment in surgery was raised in the Australian media earlier in 2015. This led the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) to commission an Expert Advisory Group to investigate and advise the College on their prevalence in surgery in Australia and New Zealand. This paper reports the findings with respect to prevalence of these inappropriate behaviours.

Methods

The data in this paper were drawn from the published results of two quantitative surveys. One was an online survey sent to all RACS members. The other was an invited survey of hospitals, medical institutions and other related professional organizations including surgical societies.

Results

The prevalence survey achieved a 47.8% response rate, representing 3516 individuals. Almost half of the respondents 1516 (49.2%) indicated that they had experienced one or more of the behaviours. This proportion was consistent across every specialty. Male surgical consultants were identified as the most likely perpetrators. More than 70% of the hospitals reported that they had instances in their organization of discrimination, bullying or sexual harassment by a surgeon within the last 5 years. Surgical directors or surgical consultants were by far the most frequently reported perpetrators (in 50% of hospitals).

Conclusions

Discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment are common in surgical practice and training in Australia and New Zealand. RACS needs to urgently address these behaviours in surgery. This will involve a change in culture, more education for fellows and trainees, and better processes around complaints including support for those who have suffered.
In‐Series Versus In‐Parallel Mechanical Circulatory Support for the Right Heart: A Simulation Study
Authors: Hsu Po‐Lin , McIntyre Madeleine , Boehning Fiete , Dang Weiguo , Parker Jack , Autschbach Rüdiger , Schmitz‐Rode Thomas , Steinseifer Ulrich
Published: October 2015

Right heart failure (RHF) is a serious health issue with increasing incidence and high mortality. Right ventricular assist devices (RVADs) have been used to support the end‐stage failing right ventricle (RV). Current RVADs operate in parallel with native RV, which alter blood flow pattern and increase RV afterload, associated with high tension in cardiac muscles and long‐term valve complications. We are developing an in‐series RVAD for better RV unloading. This article presents a mathematical model to compare the effects of RV unloading and hemodynamic restoration on an overloaded or failing RV. The model was used to simulate both in‐series (sRVAD) and in‐parallel (pRVAD) (right atrium‐pulmonary artery cannulation) support for severe RHF. The results demonstrated that sRVAD more effectively unloads the RV and restores the balance between RV oxygen supply and demand in RHF patients. In comparison to simulated pRVAD and published clinical and in silico studies, the sRVAD was able to provide comparable restoration of key hemodynamic parameters and demonstrated superior afterload and volume reduction. This study concluded that in‐series support was able to produce effective afterload reduction and preserve the valve functionality and native blood flow pattern, eliminating complications associated with in‐parallel support.
Entecavir safety and effectiveness in a national cohort of treatment‐naïve chronic hepatitis B patients in the US – the ENUMERATE study
Authors: Ahn J. , Lee H. M. , Lim J. K. , Pan C. Q. , Nguyen M. H. , Ray Kim W. , Mannalithara A. , Trinh H. , Chu D. , Tran T. , Min A. , Do S. , Te H. , Reddy K. R. , Lok A. S.
Published: October 2015

Background

Entecavir (ETV) has been shown to be safe and efficacious in randomised controlled trials in highly selected patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Aim

To determine the safety and effectiveness of ETV in ‘real‐world’ HBV patients in the United States (US).

Methods

Treatment‐naïve HBV patients ≥18 years old who received ETV for ≥12 months between 2005 and 2013 were included in a retrospective, cohort study. Rates of ALT normalisation, undetectable HBV DNA, HBeAg and HBsAg loss/seroconversion, adverse events (AE) and clinical outcomes were evaluated.

Results

Of 841 patients, 658 [65% male, 83% Asian; median age 47 years] met the inclusion criteria. 36% were HBeAg+ and 9.3% cirrhotic. 89% had abnormal ALT. Baseline median HBV DNA was 5.8 log 10 IU/mL. Median duration of ETV treatment was 4 years. Rates of ALT normalisation at 1, 3 and 5 years were 37.2%, 48.7% and 56.2% in HBeAg+ and 39.6%, 46.8% and 55.6% in HBeAg‐ patients. HBV DNA was undetectable at 1, 3 and 5 years in 34.6%, 64.7% and 84.6% in HBeAg+ patients, and 81.9%, 90.3% and 96.2% in HBeAg patients. Five‐year cumulative probability of HBeAg loss and seroconversion was 46% and 33.7% and HBsAg loss was 4.6%. ETV was discontinued due to adverse events in 1.2% of patients. Hepatic decompensation occurred in 0.8%, liver cancer in 2.7% and death in 0.6%.

Conclusion

Entecavir treatment was safe in a large cohort of US patients, but ALT normalisation and hepatitis B virus DNA suppression rates were lower than previously reported in clinical trials.
DO MINIMUM LEGAL TOBACCO PURCHASE AGE LAWS WORK?
Authors: Ertan Yörük Ceren , Yörük Barş K.
Published: October 2015

This paper uses a regression discontinuity design to estimate the impact of the minimum legal tobacco purchase age (MLTPA) laws on smoking behavior among young adults. Using data from the confidential version of National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1997 Cohort), which contains information on the exact birth date of the respondents, we find that the impact of the MLTPA on several indicators of smoking among youth is moderate but often statistically insignificant. However, for those who reported to have smoked before, we show that granting legal access to cigarettes and tobacco products at the MLTPA leads to an increase in several indicators of smoking participation, including up to a 5 percentage point increase in the probability of smoking. These results imply that policies that are designed to restrict youth access to tobacco may only be effective in reducing smoking behavior among certain groups of young adults. (JEL I10, I18, I19)
Comparing the Visitor Experience at Immersive and Tabletop Exhibits
Authors: Dancstep (née Dancu) Toni , Gutwill Joshua P. , Sindorf Lisa
Published: October 2015

Many museum professionals believe that immersive exhibits—those that surround visitors—provide more attractive, engaging and effective learning experiences than tabletop exhibits. We investigated this claim by comparing visitors’ experiences of the two exhibit types, using pairs of exhibits that differed in scale (immersive vs. tabletop), but shared the same content and similar visitor activity. We randomly selected, videotaped, interviewed, and sent follow‐up surveys to sixty families who experienced immersive exhibits and sixty families who experienced tabletop exhibits. We found that each design type had strengths. Learners at immersive exhibits more often returned to the exhibits mentioned the exhibits’ positive aspects, and saw themselves as part of the exhibits. Conversely, learners spent longer periods of time at tabletop exhibits, and engaged in more content‐related reasoning. Study results partially support the view that immersive exhibits may be more fun and engaging than tabletops. However, results also counter the expectations that being immersed in exhibit experiences will lead to greater physical and intellectual engagement.
Contact dermatitis: relevant differential diagnoses, simulators, and variants
Authors: Kränke Birger , Schuster Christian
Published: October 2015

Similar to all eczematous disorders, irritant and allergic contact dermatitis are primarily defined by their morphology. In addition, the diagnosis of this specific reaction pattern on the skin (and mucous membranes) also requires prior exposure (direct or indirect) to an allergen or irritant. While it is quite easy to give a textbook description of the typical features of eczema, its clinical manifestations in daily practice are diverse and frequently uncharacteristic. Contact reactions may present as lichenoid, lymphomatoid, granulomatous, pigmented, purpuric, and erythema multiforme‐like lesions, thus lacking the typical eczematous appearance and broadening the spectrum of differential diagnoses to be considered. Moreover, a considerable number of agents, acting by mechanisms other than contact, may trigger adverse reactions mimicking the eczematic morphology and distribution pattern of contact dermatitis. Increasingly used in oncology, this is especially true for drugs such as kinase inhibitors. Knowledge of these associations is crucial for the adequate diagnostic and therapeutic care of patients with supposed or actual contact dermatitis.
Vasculitic wheel – an algorithmic approach to cutaneous vasculitides
Authors: Ratzinger Gudrun , Zelger Bettina Gudrun , Carlson J. Andrew , Burgdorf Walter , Zelger Bernhard
Published: October 2015

Background

Previous classifications of vasculitides suffer from several defects. First, classifications may follow different principles including clinicopathologic findings, etiology, pathogenesis, prognosis, or therapeutic options. Second, authors fail to distinguish between vasculitis and coagulopathy. Third, vasculitides are systemic diseases. Organ‐specific variations make morphologic findings difficult to compare. Fourth, subtle changes are recognized in the skin, but may be asymptomatic in other organs. Our aim was to use the skin and subcutis as a model and the clinicopathologic correlation as the basic process for classification.

Methods and Results

We use an algorithmic approach with pattern analysis, which allows for consistent reporting of microscopic findings. We first differentiate between small and medium vessel vasculitis. In the second step, we differentiate the subtypes of small (capillaries versus postcapillary venules) and medium‐sized (arterioles/arteries versus veins) vessels. In the final step, we differentiate, according to the predominant cell type, into leukocytoclastic and/or granulomatous vasculitis.

Conclusions

Starting from leukocytoclastic vasculitis as a central reaction pattern of cutaneous small/medium vessel vasculitides, its relations or variations may be arranged around it like spokes of a wheel around the hub. This may help establish some basic order in this rather complex realm of cutaneous vasculitides, leading to a better understanding in a complicated field.
Expansion of the neck reconstituted the shoulder–diaphragm in amniote evolution
Authors: Hirasawa Tatsuya , Fujimoto Satoko , Kuratani Shigeru
Published: October 2015

The neck acquired flexibility through modifications of the head–trunk interface in vertebrate evolution. Although developmental programs for the neck musculoskeletal system have attracted the attention of evolutionary developmental biologists, how the heart, shoulder and surrounding tissues are modified during development has remained unclear. Here we show, through observation of the lateral plate mesoderm at cranial somite levels in chicken–quail chimeras, that the deep part of the lateral body wall is moved concomitant with the caudal transposition of the heart, resulting in the infolding of the expanded cervical lateral body wall into the thorax. Judging from the brachial plexus pattern, an equivalent infolding also appears to take place in mammalian and turtle embryos. In mammals, this infolding process is particularly important because it separates the diaphragm from the shoulder muscle mass. In turtles, the expansion of the cervical lateral body wall affects morphogenesis of the shoulder. Our findings highlight the cellular expansion in developing amniote necks that incidentally brought about the novel adaptive traits.