bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neofunctionalization of DuplicatedTic40Genes Caused a Gain-of-Function Variation Related to Male Fertility inBrassica oleraceaLineages
Authors: Dun Xiaoling , Shen Wenhao , Hu Kaining , Zhou Zhengfu , Xia Shengqian , Wen Jing , Yi Bin , Shen Jinxiong , Ma Chaozhi , Tu Jinxing , Fu Tingdong , Lagercrantz Ulf
Published: September 2014

Gene duplication followed by functional divergence in the event of polyploidization is a major contributor to evolutionary novelties. The Brassica genus evolved from a common ancestor after whole-genome triplication. Here, we studied the evolutionary and functional features of Brassica spp. homologs to Tic40 (for translocon at the inner membrane of chloroplasts with 40 kDa). Four Tic40 loci were identified in allotetraploid Brassica napus and two loci in each of three basic diploid Brassica spp. Although these Tic40 homologs share high sequence identities and similar expression patterns, they exhibit altered functional features. Complementation assays conducted on Arabidopsis thaliana tic40 and the B. napus male-sterile line 7365A suggested that all Brassica spp. Tic40 homologs retain an ancestral function similar to that of AtTic40, whereas BolC9.Tic40 in Brassica oleracea and its ortholog in B. napus, BnaC9.Tic40, in addition, evolved a novel function that can rescue the fertility of 7365A. A homologous chromosomal rearrangement placed bnac9.tic40 originating from the A genome (BraA10.Tic40) as an allele of BnaC9.Tic40 in the C genome, resulting in phenotypic variation for male sterility in the B. napus near-isogenic two-type line 7365AB. Assessment of the complementation activity of chimeric B. napus Tic40 domain-swapping constructs in 7365A suggested that amino acid replacements in the carboxyl terminus of BnaC9.Tic40 cause this functional divergence. The distribution of these amino acid replacements in 59 diverse Brassica spp. accessions demonstrated that the neofunctionalization of Tic40 is restricted to B. oleracea and its derivatives and thus occurred after the divergence of the Brassica spp. A, B, and C genomes.
Arabidopsis Triphosphate Tunnel Metalloenzyme2 Is a Negative Regulator of the Salicylic Acid-Mediated Feedback Amplification Loop for Defense Responses
Authors: Ung Huoi , Moeder Wolfgang , Yoshioka Keiko
Published: September 2014

The triphosphate tunnel metalloenzyme (TTM) superfamily represents a group of enzymes that is characterized by their ability to hydrolyze a range of tripolyphosphate substrates. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) encodes three TTM genes, AtTTM1, AtTTM2, and AtTTM3. Although AtTTM3 has previously been reported to have tripolyphosphatase activity, recombinantly expressed AtTTM2 unexpectedly exhibited pyrophosphatase activity. AtTTM2 knockout mutant plants exhibit an enhanced hypersensitive response, elevated pathogen resistance against both virulent and avirulent pathogens, and elevated accumulation of salicylic acid (SA) upon infection. In addition, stronger systemic acquired resistance compared with wild-type plants was observed. These enhanced defense responses are dependent on SA, PHYTOALEXIN-DEFICIENT4, and NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENES1. Despite their enhanced pathogen resistance, ttm2 plants did not display constitutively active defense responses, suggesting that AtTTM2 is not a conventional negative regulator but a negative regulator of the amplification of defense responses. The transcriptional suppression of AtTTM2 by pathogen infection or treatment with SA or the systemic acquired resistance activator benzothiadiazole further supports this notion. Such transcriptional regulation is conserved among TTM2 orthologs in the crop plants soybean (Glycine max) and canola (Brassica napus), suggesting that TTM2 is involved in immunity in a wide variety of plant species. This indicates the possible usage of TTM2 knockout mutants for agricultural applications to generate pathogen-resistant crop plants.
Structural analysis of lignin-derived carbon composite anodes
Authors: McNutt Nicholas W. , Rios Orlando , Feygenson Mikhail , Proffen Thomas E. , Keffer David J.
Published: September 2014

The development of novel lignin-based carbon composite anodes consisting of nanocrystalline and amorphous domains motivates the understanding of the relationship of the structural properties characterizing these materials, such as crystallite size, intracrystallitedspacing, crystalline volume fraction and composite density, with their pair distribution functions (PDFs), obtained from both molecular dynamics simulation and neutron scattering. A model for these composite materials is developed as a function of experimentally measurable parameters and realized in 15 composite systems, three of which directly match all parameters of their experimental counterparts. The accurate reproduction of the experimental PDFs using the model systems validates the model. The decomposition of the simulated PDFs provides an understanding of each feature in the PDF and allows for the development of a mapping between the defining characteristics of the PDF and the material properties of interest.
Case of allergic contact dermatitis due to 1,3‐butylene glycol
Authors: Aizawa Atsuko , Ito Akiko , Masui Yukiko , Ito Masaaki
Published: September 2014

1,3‐Butylene glycol (1,3‐BG) is widely used in cosmetics, including low‐irritant skin care products and topical medicaments, as an excellent and low‐irritation humectant. We report a case of allergic contact dermatitis caused by 1,3‐BG. A 28‐year‐old woman suffered from an itchy erythematous eruption on her face. By 2 days of closed patch testing, her own cosmetics and many of the hypo‐irritant skin care products showed positive results. A second patch testing showed positive reaction to 1,3‐BG (1% and 5%). 1,3‐BG was a common component in most of the products that had elicited a positive reaction in the first patch testing. Although allergic contact dermatitis due to 1,3‐BG is not so common, we have to consider 1,3‐BG as a possible contact allergen in the patients presenting with allergic contact dermatitis due to various cosmetics.
Implementing the Employability Agenda: A Critical Review of Curriculum Developments in Political Science and International Relations in English Universities
Authors: Lee Donna , Foster Emma , Snaith Holly
Published: September 2014

This article draws on research commissioned by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and conducted during 2013. It interrogates the ways in which the employability agenda has been fed through to the level of individual politics departments. The project was particularly concerned with establishing whether, and how, colleagues in politics and international relations (IR) had taken ownership of student employability at the level of the curriculum. In the article, the key findings of the research are summarised. There is also discussion of the (sometimes troubling) professional implications of infusing concern for graduate outcomes within a pedagogic framework that emphasises critical engagement with the underpinning political structures of the labour market.
A first look at the Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencer
Authors: Mikheyev Alexander S. , Tin Mandy M. Y.
Published: September 2014

Oxford Nanopore's third‐generation single‐molecule sequencing platform promises to decrease costs for reagents and instrumentation. After a 2‐year hiatus following the initial announcement, the first devices have been released as part of an early access program. We explore the performance of this platform by resequencing the lambda phage genome, and amplicons from a snake venom gland transcriptome. Although the handheld MinION sequencer can generate more than 150 megabases of raw data in one run, at most a quarter of the resulting reads map to the reference, with less than average 10% identity. Much of the sequence consists of insertion/deletion errors, or is seemingly without similarity to the template. Using the lambda phage data as an example, although the reads are long, averaging 5 kb, at best 890 ± 1932 bases per mapped read could be matched to the reference without soft clipping. In the course of a 36 h run on the MinION, it was possible to resequence the 48 kb lambda phage reference at 16× coverage. Currently, substantially larger projects would not be feasible using the MinION. Without increases in accuracy, which would be required for applications such as genome scaffolding and phasing, the current utility of the MinION appears limited. Library preparation requires access to a molecular laboratory, and is of similar complexity and cost to that of other next‐generation sequencing platforms. The MinION is an exciting step in a new direction for single‐molecule sequencing, though it will require dramatic decreases in error rates before it lives up to its promise.
‘True’ null allele detection in microsatellite loci: a comparison of methods, assessment of difficulties and survey of possible improvements
Authors: Dąbrowski M. J. , Bornelöv S. , Kruczyk M. , Baltzer N. , Komorowski J.
Published: September 2014

Null alleles are alleles that for various reasons fail to amplify in a PCR assay. The presence of null alleles in microsatellite data is known to bias the genetic parameter estimates. Thus, efficient detection of null alleles is crucial, but the methods available for indirect null allele detection return inconsistent results. Here, our aim was to compare different methods for null allele detection, to explain their respective performance and to provide improvements. We applied several approaches to identify the ‘true’ null alleles based on the predictions made by five different methods, used either individually or in combination. First, we introduced simulated ‘true’ null alleles into 240 population data sets and applied the methods to measure their success in detecting the simulated null alleles. The single best‐performing method was ML‐NullFreq_frequency. Furthermore, we applied different noise reduction approaches to improve the results. For instance, by combining the results of several methods, we obtained more reliable results than using a single one. Rule‐based classification was applied to identify population properties linked to the false discovery rate. Rules obtained from the classifier described which population genetic estimates and loci characteristics were linked to the success of each method. We have shown that by simulating ‘true’ null alleles into a population data set, we may define a null allele frequency threshold, related to a desired true or false discovery rate. Moreover, using such simulated data sets, the expected null allele homozygote frequency may be estimated independently of the equilibrium state of the population.
Characteristics and outcome of unplanned out‐of‐institution births in Norway from 1999 to 2013: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Gunnarsson Björn , Smárason Alexander K. , Skogvoll Eirik , Fasting Sigurd
Published: September 2014

Objective

To study the incidence, maternal characteristics and outcome of unplanned out‐of‐institution births (= unplanned births) in Norway.

Design

Register‐based cross‐sectional study.

Population

All births in Norway (n = 892 137) from 1999 to 2013 with gestational age ≥22 weeks.

Methods

Analysis of data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway from 1999 to 2013. Unplanned births (n = 6062) were compared with all other births (reference group).

Results

The annual incidence rate of unplanned births was 6.8/1000 births and remained stable during the period of study. Young multiparous women residing in remote municipalities were at the highest risk of experiencing unplanned births. The unplanned birth group had higher perinatal mortality rate for the period, 11.4/1000 compared with 4.9/1000 for the reference group (incidence rate ratio 2.31, 95% confidence interval 1.82–2.93, p < 0.001). Annual perinatal mortality rate for unplanned births did not change significantly (p = 0.80) but declined on average by 3% per year in the reference group (p < 0.001). The unplanned birth group had a lower proportion of live births in all birthweight categories. Live born neonates with a birthweight of 750–999 g in the unplanned birth group had a more than five times higher mortality rate during the first week of life, compared with reference births in the same birthweight category.

Conclusions

Unplanned births are associated with adverse outcome. Excessive mortality is possibly caused by reduced availability of necessary medical interventions for vulnerable newborns out‐of‐hospital.
Blood pressure, heart rate and tubuloglomerular feedback in A1AR‐deficient mice with different genetic backgrounds
Authors: Kim S. M. , Mizel D. , Qin Y. , Huang Y. , Schnermann J.
Published: September 2014

Aim

Differences in genetic background between control mice and mice with targeted gene mutations have been recognized as a potential cause for phenotypic differences. In this study, we have used A1AR‐deficient mice in a C57Bl/6 and SWR/J congenic background to assess the influence of background on the effect of A1AR‐deficiency on cardiovascular and renal functional parameters.

Methods

In A1AR+/+ and A1AR−/− mice in C57Bl/6 and SWR/J congenic backgrounds, we assessed blood pressure and heart rate using radio‐telemetry, plasma renin concentrations and tubuloglomerular feedback.

Results

We did not detect significant differences in arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rates (HR) between A1AR+/+ and A1AR−/− mice in either C57Bl/6, SWR/J or mixed backgrounds. MAP and HR were significantly higher in SWR/J than in C57Bl/6 mice. A high NaCl intake increased MAP in A1AR−/− mice on C57Bl/6 background while there was less or no salt sensitivity in the SWR/J background. No significant differences in plasma renin concentration were detected between A1AR−/− and A1AR+/+ mice in any of the strains. Tubuloglomerular feedback was found to be absent in A1AR−/− mice with SWR/J genetic background.

Conclusions

While this study confirmed important differences between inbred mouse strains, we did not identify phenotypic modifications of A1AR‐related effects on blood pressure, heart rate and plasma renin by differences in genetic background.
The growth‐promoting activity of egg white proteins in the C2C12 myoblast cell line
Authors: Mizunoya Wataru , Tashima Ayumi , Sato Yusuke , Tatsumi Ryuichi , Ikeuchi Yoshihide
Published: September 2014

In this study, we examined the effects of several egg white proteins (ovalbumin, ovomucoid, ovotransferrin and lysozyme) on proliferation and myotube growth in C2C12 murine myoblast cells. Cell proliferation was measured using a water‐soluble tetrazolium salt (WST‐8)‐based assay and then validated using Giemsa staining. Significant proliferative activities of C2C12 cells were observed in response to the addition of 10−5–10−4 mol/L ovalbumin or ovomucoid. Ovotransferrin decreased C2C12 cell proliferation and lysozyme showed no significant effects on the proliferation of C2C12 cells. In contrast, the proliferative effects of ovalbumin and ovomucoid were not observed in 3T3‐L1 murine preadipocyte cells. We also measured the effects of ovalbumin and ovomucoid on C2C12 myotube diameters by using histological analysis. In comparison to control cells, myotube diameters were significantly increased in cells cultured in 10−6–10−4 mol/L ovalbumin or ovomucoid, suggesting that ovalbumin and ovomucoid stimulate the growth of myotubes. Thus, our results clearly demonstrated that ovalbumin or ovomucoid stimulated the proliferation of myoblasts and growth of myotubes.
Knockout of targeted gene in porcine somatic cells using zinc‐finger nuclease
Authors: Hisamatsu Shin , Sakaue Motoharu , Takizawa Akiko , Kato Tsubasa , Kamoshita Maki , Ito Junya , Kashiwazaki Naomi
Published: September 2014

Targeted genome editing is a widely applicable approach for efficiently modifying any sequence of interest in animals. It is very difficult to generate knock‐out and knock‐in animals except for mice up to now. Very recently, a method of genome editing using zinc‐finger nucleases (ZFNs) has been developed to produce knockout rats. Since only injection of ZFNs into the pronuclear (PN) embryo is required, it seems to be useful for generating gene‐targeted animals, including domestic species. However, no one has reported the successful production of knockout pigs by direct injection of ZFNs into PN embryos. We examined whether ZFN works on editing the genome of porcine growth hormone receptor in two kinds of cell lines (ST and PT‐K75) derived from the pig as a preliminary study. Our data showed that pZFN1/2 vectors were efficiently transfected into both ST and PT‐K75 cells. In both cell lines, results from Cel‐I assay showed that modification of the targeted gene was confirmed. We injected ZFN1/2 mRNAs into the nucleus of PN stage embryos and then they were transferred to the recipients. However, pups were not delivered. Taken together, ZFN can be an available technology of genome editing even in the pig but further improvement will be required for generating genome‐modified pigs.
Supplementary immunocytochemistry of hepatocyte growth factor production in activated macrophages early in muscle regeneration
Authors: Sawano Shoko , Suzuki Takahiro , Do Mai‐Khoi Q. , Ohtsubo Hideaki , Mizunoya Wataru , Ikeuchi Yoshihide , Tatsumi Ryuichi
Published: September 2014

Regenerative intramuscular motor‐innervation is thought to reside in the spatiotemporal expression of axon‐guidance molecules. Our previous studies showed that resident myogenic stem cells, satellite cells, up‐regulate a secreted neural‐chemorepellent semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) during the early‐differentiation period, in response to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) elevated in injured muscle. However, a paracrine source of the HGF release is still unknown. Very recently, we proposed a possible contribution of anti‐inflammatory macrophages (CD206‐positive M2) by showing that M2 cells infiltrate predominantly at the early‐differentiation phase (3–5 days post‐injury) and produce/secrete large amounts of HGF. However, in understanding this concept there still remains a critical need to examine if phagocytotic pro‐inflammatory macrophages (CD86‐positive M1), another activated‐phenotype still present at the early‐differentiation phase concerned, produce HGF upon muscle injury. The current immunocytochemical study demonstrated that the HGF expression is negative for M1 prepared from cardiotoxin‐injured Tibialis anterior muscle at day 5, in contrast to the intense fluorescent‐signal of M2 served as a positive control. This supplementary result advances our understanding of a spatiotemporal burst of HGF secretion from M2 populations (not M1) to impact Sema3A expression, which ensures a coordinated delay in attachment of motoneuron terminals onto damaged and generating fibers during the early phase of muscle regeneration.
Impact of Alternative Medical Device Approval Processes on Costs and Health
Authors: George Benjamin P. , Venkataraman Vinayak , Dorsey E. Ray , Johnston S. Claiborne
Published: September 2014

Background

Medical devices are often introduced prior to randomized‐trial evidence of efficacy and this slows completion of trials. Alternative regulatory approaches include restricting device use outside of trials prior to trial evidence of efficacy (like the drug approval process) or restricting out‐of‐trial use but permitting coverage within trials such as Medicare's Coverage with Study Participation (CSP).

Methods

We compared the financial impact to manufacturers and insurers of three regulatory alternatives: (1) limited regulation (current approach), (2) CSP, and (3) restrictive regulation (like the current drug approval process). Using data for patent foramen ovale closure devices, we modeled key parameters including recruitment time, probability of device efficacy, market adoption, and device cost/price to calculate profits to manufacturers, costs to insurers, and overall societal impact on health.

Results

For manufacturers, profits were greatest under CSP—driven by faster market adoption of effective devices—followed by restrictive regulation. Societal health benefit in total quality‐adjusted life years was greatest under CSP. Insurers’ expenditures for ineffective devices were greatest with limited regulation. Findings were robust over a reasonable range of probabilities of trial success.

Conclusions

Regulation restricting out‐of‐trial device use and extending limited insurance coverage to clinical trial participants may balance manufacturer and societal interests.
Evaluation of thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity in gestational diabetes mellitus and its relationship with postpartum thyroiditis
Authors: Maleki N. , Tavosi Z.
Published: September 2014

Aims

To evaluate thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity in women with gestational diabetes and to investigate the frequency of postpartum thyroiditis in women with gestational diabetes.

Materials and methods

A total of 350 women with gestational diabetes and 350 healthy pregnant women were enrolled in the study. We studied the thyroid hormone profiles of the women in each group during pregnancy (at 24–28 weeks' gestation) and after delivery (at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 9 months, and 1 year postpartum).

Results

A total of 342 women with gestational diabetes and 313 healthy pregnant women completed the follow‐up during pregnancy and 1 year after delivery. Of the women with gestational diabetes, 16.6% had thyroid dysfunction, while of the healthy pregnant women, 6.1% had thyroid dysfunction. The prevalence of postpartum thyroiditis was higher in the women with a history of gestational diabetes (19.6%) than in the healthy pregnant women (10.2%), and this difference was statistically significant.

Conclusion

According to the results of the present study, the prevalence of postpartum thyroiditis was higher in women with a history of gestational diabetes than in healthy women. We recommend that all women with gestational diabetes and women who have previous thyroid dysfunction should be screened for thyroid hormonal abnormalities during pregnancy and for 1 year after pregnancy.
In vivo corneal confocal microscopy as a novel non‐invasive tool to investigate cardiac autonomic neuropathy in Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Maddaloni E. , Sabatino F. , Del Toro R. , Crugliano S. , Grande S. , Lauria Pantano A. , Maurizi A. R. , Palermo A. , Bonini S. , Pozzilli P. , Manfrini S.
Published: September 2014

Aims

To investigate whether small nerve fibre degeneration detected using corneal confocal microscopy is associated with cardiac autonomic neuropathy in people with Type 1 diabetes.

Methods

Thirty‐six people with Type 1 diabetes and 20 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy control subjects were enrolled. Tests to determine heart rate response to deep‐breathing (expiratory‐to‐inspiratory ratio), heart rate response to lying‐to‐stand test (30:15 ratio) and blood pressure response to standing were performed to detect cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Corneal confocal microscopy was performed to assess: corneal nerve density and corneal nerve beadings; branching pattern; and nerve fibre tortuosity.

Results

Compared with control participants, participants with Type 1 diabetes had fewer (mean ± sd 45.4 ± 20.2 vs 92.0 ± 22.7 fibres/mm2; P < 0.001) and more tortuous corneal nerve fibres (20 participants with Type 1 diabetes vs four control participants had nerve tortuosity grade 2/3; P = 0.022) and fewer beadings (mean ± sd 15.1 ± 3.5 vs 20.6 ± 5.0; P < 0.001). Of the participants with Type 1 diabetes, 11 met the criteria for the diagnosis of cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Corneal nerve density was significantly lower in participants with cardiac autonomic neuropathy than in those without (mean ± sd 32.8 ± 16.4 vs 51.7 ± 18.9 fibres/mm2; P = 0.008). This difference remained significant after adjustment for age (P = 0.02), gender (P = 0.04), disease duration (P = 0.005), insulin requirement (P = 0.02) and neuropathy disability score (P = 0.04).

Conclusion

This study suggests that corneal confocal microscopy could represent a new and non‐invasive tool to investigate cardiac autonomic neuropathy in people with Type 1 diabetes. Larger studies are required to define the role of corneal confocal microscopy in the assessment of cardiac autonomic neuropathy.
DISCOUNTING, COGNITION, AND FINANCIAL AWARENESS: NEW EVIDENCE FROM A CHANGE IN THE MILITARY RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Authors: Simon Curtis J. , Warner John T. , Pleeter Saul
Published: September 2014

The choice given military personnel between an immediate cash payment of $30,000 or a more generous retirement pension permits us to estimate individuals' personal discount rates (PDRs). The resulting PDRs, about 7% for enlisted personnel and 2%–4.3% for officers, are precise and are correlated with a variety of other financial behaviors. The PDR is negatively related to educational attainment and the Armed Forces Qualification Test, but cognition seems to operate through channels other than being better informed; better‐informed individuals were not always measured to be more patient. (JEL D91, D14)
Excessive fluoride reduces Foxo1 expression in dental epithelial cells of the rat incisor
Authors: Gao Jianghong , Ruan Jianping , Gao Liping
Published: September 2014

Enamel fluorosis is characterized by hypomineralization, and forkhead box O1 (Foxo1) is essential for mouse enamel biomineralization. This study investigated the effect of fluoride on Foxo1 expression and its implications for enamel fluorosis. Mandibular incisors were extracted from Sprague Dawley rats treated for 3 months with water containing 0, 50, or 100 p.p.m. F−. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize and quantify FOXO1 expression in dental epithelial layer cells of the incisors. The effect of fluoride on expression of Foxo1, kallikrein‐4 (Klk4), and amelotin (Amtn) mRNAs was analyzed by real‐time RT‐PCR, and western blotting was used to measure total and nuclear FOXO1 protein levels in mature dental epithelial cells. The results revealed that nuclear FOXO1 was mainly localized in the transition and the mature ameloblasts and exhibited weaker expression in the rats exposed to fluoride. In addition to the reduced levels of Foxo1, Klk4, and AmtnmRNAs, the protein levels of total and nuclearFOXO1 were decreased in the mature dental epithelial cells exposed to fluoride. Thus, excessive fluoride may have an effect on the expression levels of Foxo1 in dental epithelial cells and thereby affect hypomineralization of the enamel during fluorosis.
Cellular damage suffered by equine embryos after exposure to cryoprotectants or cryopreservation by slow‐freezing or vitrification
Authors: Hendriks W. K. , Roelen B. A. J. , Colenbrander B. , Stout T. A. E.
Published: September 2014

Reasons for performing study

Equine embryos are cryopreserved by slow‐freezing or vitrification. While small embryos (<300 μm) survive cryopreservation reasonably well, larger embryos do not. It is not clear if slow‐freezing or vitrification is less damaging to horse embryos.

Objectives

To compare the type and extent of cellular damage suffered by small and large embryos during cryopreservation by slow‐freezing vs. vitrification.

Study design

Sixty‐three Day 6.5–7 embryos were subdivided by size and assigned to one of 5 treatments: control, exposure to slow‐freezing or vitrification cryoprotectants (CPs), and cryopreservation by either technique.

Methods

After thawing/CPremoval, embryos were stained with fluorescent stains for various parameters of cellular integrity, and assessed by multiphoton microscopy.

Results

Exposing large embryos to vitrificationCPsresulted in more dead cells (6.8 ± 1.3%: 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1–10.4%) than exposure to slow‐freezing media (0.3 ± 0.1%; 95%CI0.0–0.6%: P = 0.001). Cryopreservation by either technique induced cell death and cytoskeleton disruption. Vitrification of small embryos resulted in a higher proportion of cells with fragmented or condensed (apoptotic) nuclei (P=0.002) than slow‐freezing (6.7 ± 1.5%, 95%CI3.0–10.4% vs. 5.0 ± 2.1%, 95%CI4.0–14.0%). Slow‐freezing resulted in a higher incidence of disintegrated embryos (P=0.01) than vitrification. Mitochondrial activity was low in control embryos, and was not differentially affected by cryopreservation technique, whereas vitrification changed mitochondrial distribution from a homogenous crystalline pattern in control embryos to a heterogeneous granulated distribution in vitrified embryos (P=0.05).

Conclusions

Cryopreservation caused more cellular damage to large embryos than smaller ones. While vitrification is more practical, it is not advisable for large embryos due to a higher incidence of dead cells. The choice is less obvious for small embryos, as vitrification led to occasionally very high percentages of dead or damaged cells, but a lower incidence of embryo disintegration. Modifications that reduce the level of cellular damage induced by vitrification are required before it can be considered the method of choice for cryopreserving equine embryos.
Community Land Trust Homeowners: Past and Present Housing Experiences
Authors: Skobba Kimberly , Carswell Andrew T.
Published: September 2014

Recent developments in the United States housing market suggest that shared‐equity homeownership models, such as community land trusts (CLT), can provide a more sustainable path to homeownership for low‐income individuals. This study used a qualitative, biographical approach to examine the experiences of 20 CLT homeowners from CLT organizations in two metropolitan areas in the southeastern United States. CLT homeownership offered a path from successful renter into CLT homeownership for the low‐income participants in the study. The experiences include comments of the participants before and after becoming homeowners. Many of the participants entered homeownership later in life. Participants reported that they were able to make progress following financial setbacks from job loss, divorce, and health problems.
Do Saving Rules Influence Self‐Employed Households' Participation in Tax‐Deferred Retirement Plans?
Authors: Smith Hyrum L. , Griesdorn Tim
Published: September 2014

Tax‐deferred retirement (TDR) plans, including Simplified Employee Pensions, Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLEs), and solo 401(k) plans, are examples of the tax advantaged plans the federal government has developed to encourage retirement savings among the self‐employed. The Survey of Consumer Finances was used to determine if families with a self‐employed worker who uses savings rules are more likely to contribute to TDR saving accounts. The analysis reveals savings rules have a positive effect on the likelihood of making retirement contributions, even after controlling for other known associated factors. Use of a financial planner, higher marginal tax rates, retirement savings motives, financial assets, and age until retirement are positively related to tax‐deferred contributions. Greater liquidity constraints and future income uncertainty are negatively related to tax‐deferred contributions. Establishing specific savings rules could help families of self‐employed workers have the tools needed for retirement preparation.
RETRACTED: Insight for Writing a Qualitative Research Paper
Authors: Lee Young‐A
Published: September 2014

The purpose of this essay is to describe how to prepare a qualitative research paper. The essay discusses the crucial components for preparing a qualitative paper. The topics that are addressed are: sample size, sampling procedure, data collection procedure, reliability and trustworthiness, data quality, and integrity of qualitative findings.
A MODFLOW Infiltration Device Package for Simulating Storm Water Infiltration
Authors: Jeppesen Jan , Christensen Steen
Published: September 2014

This article describes a MODFLOW Infiltration Device (INFD) Package that can simulate infiltration devices and their two‐way interaction with groundwater. The INFD Package relies on a water balance including inflow of storm water, leakage‐like seepage through the device faces, overflow, and change in storage. The water balance for the device can be simulated in multiple INFD time steps within a single MODFLOW time step, and infiltration from the device can be routed through the unsaturated zone to the groundwater table. A benchmark test shows that the INFD Package's analytical solution for stage computes exact results for transient behavior. To achieve similar accuracy by the numerical solution of the MODFLOW Surface‐Water Routing (SWR1) Process requires many small time steps. Furthermore, the INFD Package includes an improved representation of flow through the INFD sides that results in lower infiltration rates than simulated by SWR1. The INFD Package is also demonstrated in a transient simulation of a hypothetical catchment where two devices interact differently with groundwater. This simulation demonstrates that device and groundwater interaction depends on the thickness of the unsaturated zone because a shallow groundwater table (a likely result from storm water infiltration itself) may occupy retention volume, whereas a thick unsaturated zone may cause a phase shift and a change of amplitude in groundwater table response to a change of infiltration. We thus find that the INFD Package accommodates the simulation of infiltration devices and groundwater in an integrated manner on small as well as large spatial and temporal scales.
Acute Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Lesion Patterns Predict Progressive Small Subcortical Infarct in the Perforator Territory of the Middle Cerebral Artery
Authors: Duan Zuowei , Sun Wen , Liu Wenhua , Xiao Lulu , Huang Zhixin , Cao Liping , Li Hua , Xiong Yunyun , Liu Dezhi , Xu Gelin , Liu Xinfeng
Published: September 2014

Background

Single small subcortical infarct (SSSI) is generally considered to have a fair outcome. However, early neurological deterioration (END), a relatively unfavorable clinical course occurring during the acute phase of infarction, is not uncommon.

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between lesion patterns detected by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the presence of END in patients with acute SSSI in the perforator territory of the middle cerebral artery (MCA).

Methods

Three hundred twelve patients with acute SSSI in the perforator territory of MCA were prospectively recruited from Jinling Hospital between January 2010 and May 2013. Acute DWI lesion patterns were classified as proximal SSSI (pSSSI) or distal SSSI (dSSSI) patterns, according to the relationship between lesion location and the parent artery. Neurological deficits were evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission and continued over the following 72 h 1–3 times a day. END was defined as an increase in NIHSS score ⩾2 points during the first 72 h after admission.

Results

Of the total 312 patients, the pSSSI pattern was found in 139 (44·55%) patients and the dSSSI pattern in 173 (55·45%) patients. Statistical analysis suggested that the indicators for small-artery disease (hypertension and leukoaraiosis) and atherosclerosis (diabetes mellitus and cerebral atherosclerosis) significantly differed according to lesion patterns ( P < 0·05). During hospitalization, 88 (28·21%) patients experienced END. Univariate analysis revealed that female sex ( P = 0·004), pSSSI pattern ( P < 0·001), initial NIHSS ( P = 0·001), lesion diameter ( P = 0·005), ipsilateral large-artery stenosis ( P = 0·008), and concomitant intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis ( P = 0·021) were significantly associated with END. After adjusting for confounding factors, pSSSI pattern was an independent predictor of END (OR 1·871, 95% CI 1·095–3·198, P = 0·022). In the further subgroup analysis of patients with different etiologies, pSSSI pattern was found to be independently associated with END in patients with large-artery atherosclerosis (OR 3·593, 95% CI 1·268–11·057, P = 0·026) and in patients with small-artery disease (OR 2·523, 95% CI 1·121–5·676, P = 0·025), but not in patients with cardioembolism (OR 0·854, 95% CI 0·147–4·953, P = 0·861).

Conclusions

pSSSI pattern was closely related to END in acute SSSI caused by large-artery atherosclerosis and small-artery disease in the perforator territory of the MCA.
Oral ethinylestradiol in castration‐resistant prostate cancer: A 10‐year experience
Authors: Sciarra Alessandro , Gentile Vincenzo , Cattarino Susanna , Gentilucci Alessandro , Alfarone Andrea , D'Eramo Giuseppe , Salciccia Stefano
Published: September 2014

Objectives

To describe our 10‐year experience with the use of oral ethinylestradiol in the treatment of metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer.

Methods

From February 2000 to April 2010, 116 patients with a metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer were prospectively submitted to oral ethinylestradiol monotherapy. Inclusion criteria were: diagnosis of castration‐resistant prostate cancer after failure of at least two lines of androgen deprivation therapy and radiological evidence of metastases. Exclusion criteria were: symptomatic cases with a European Cooperative Oncology Group score >2 and severe or uncontrolled cardiovascular diseases. At inclusion in the study, all patients discontinued the previous androgen deprivation therapy and started oral ethinylestradiol at the daily dose of 1 mg. Aspirin (100 mg/daily) was concomitantly given.

Results

The median ethinylestradiol therapy duration was 15.9 months (range 8–36 months), whereas the median follow up of patients was 28 months (range 13–36 months). During ethinylestradiol therapy, a confirmed prostate‐specific antigen response was found in 79 patients (70.5%). The median time to prostate‐specific antigen progression was 15.10 months (95% confidence interval 13.24–18.76 months). A toxicity requiring treatment cessation was observed in 26 patients (23.2%) at a median time of 16 months (mainly thromboembolism).

Conclusions

Our 10‐year experience shows that ethinylestradiol provides a prostate‐specific antigen response in a high percentage of patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer. Cardiovascular toxicity can be managed through accurate patient selection, close follow up and a concomitant anticoagulation therapy.
Cdc42 and p190RhoGAP activation by CCN2 regulates cell spreading and polarity and induces actin disassembly in migrating keratinocytes
Authors: Kiwanuka Elizabeth , Lee Cameron CY , Hackl Florian , Caterson Edward J , Junker Johan PE , Gerdin Bengt , Eriksson Elof
Published: September 2014

Cell migration requires spatiotemporal integration of signals that regulate cytoskeletal dynamics. In response to a migration‐promoting agent, cells begin to polarise and extend protrusions in the direction of migration. These cytoskeletal rearrangements are orchestrated by a variety of proteins, including focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and the Rho family of GTPases. CCN2, also known as connective tissue growth factor, has emerged as a regulator of cell migration but the mechanism by which CCN2 regulates keratinocyte function is not well understood. In this article, we sought to elucidate the basic mechanism of CCN2‐induced cell migration in human keratinocytes. Immunohistochemical staining was used to demonstrate that treatment with CCN2 induces a migratory phenotype through actin disassembly, spreading of lamellipodia and re‐orientation of the Golgi. In vitro assays were used to show that CCN2‐induced cell migration is dependent on FAK, RhoA and Cdc42, but independent of Rac1. CCN2‐treated keratinocytes displayed increased Cdc42 activity and decreased RhoA activity up to 12 hours post‐treatment, with upregulation of p190RhoGAP. An improved understanding of how CCN2 regulates cell migration may establish the foundation for future therapeutics in fibrotic and neoplastic diseases.
Expression of a mitochondrial progesterone receptor in human spermatozoa correlates with a progestin‐dependent increase in mitochondrial membrane potential
Authors: Tantibhedhyangkul J. , Hawkins K. C. , Dai Q. , Mu K. , Dunn C. N. , Miller S. E. , Price T. M.
Published: September 2014

The hyperactivation of human spermatozoa necessary for fertilization requires a substantial increase in cellular energy production. The factors responsible for increasing cellular energy remain poorly defined. This article proposes a role for a novel mitochondrial progesterone receptor (PR‐M) in modulation of mitochondrial activity. Basic science studies demonstrate a 38 kDa protein with western blot analysis, consistent with PR‐M; whereas imaging studies with confocal and immunoelectron microscopy demonstrate a PR on the mitochondria. Treatment with a PR‐specific progestin shows increased mitochondrial membrane potential, not related to induction of an acrosome reaction. The increase in mitochondrial membrane potential was inhibited by a specific PR antagonist, but not affected by an inhibitor to the progesterone‐dependent Catsper voltage‐activated channel. In conclusion, these studies suggest expression of a novel mitochondrial PR in human spermatozoa with a progestin‐dependent increase in mitochondrial activity. This mechanism may serve to enhance cellular energy production as the spermatozoa traverse the female genital tract being exposed to increasing concentrations of progesterone.
The Aging of America's Reservoirs: In‐Reservoir and Downstream Physical Changes and Habitat Implications
Authors: Juracek Kyle E.
Published: September 2014

Reservoirs are important for various purposes including flood control, water supply, power generation, and recreation. The aging of America's reservoirs and progressive loss of water storage capacity resulting from ongoing sedimentation, coupled with increasing societal needs, will cause the social, economic, environmental, and political importance of reservoirs to continually increase. The short‐ and medium‐term (<50 years) environmental consequences of reservoir construction and operation are well known and include an altered flow regime, lost connectivity (longitudinal, floodplain), an altered sediment regime, substrate compositional change, and downstream channel degradation. In general, reservoir‐related changes have had adverse consequences for the natural ecosystem. Longer term (>50 years) environmental changes as reservoirs enter “old” age are less understood. Additional research is needed to help guide the future management of aging reservoir systems and support the difficult decisions that will have to be made. Important research directions include assessment of climate change effects on aging and determination of ecosystem response to ongoing aging and various management actions that may be taken with the intent of minimizing or reversing the physical effects of aging.
Pre‐Development Groundwater Conditions Surrounding Memphis, Tennessee: Controversy and Unexpected Outcomes
Authors: Waldron Brian , Larsen Daniel
Published: September 2014

Reliance on groundwater resources by differing governing bodies can create transboundary disputes raising questions of ownership and apportionment as the resource becomes strained through overuse or threatened by contamination. Transboundary disputes exist at varying scales, from conflicts between countries to smaller disputes between intrastate jurisdictions. In 2005 within the United States, the State of Mississippi filed a lawsuit against its political neighbor and their utility, the City of Memphis and Memphis Light, Gas, and Water, for groundwater deemed owned by the State of Mississippi to be wrongfully diverted across the state line and into Tennessee by the defendants. The basis of the lawsuit was potentiometric maps of groundwater levels for the Memphis aquifer that showed under suggested pre‐development conditions no flow occurring across the Mississippi‐Tennessee state line, but subsequent historic potentiometric maps show a cone of depression under the City of Memphis with a clear northwesterly gradient from Mississippi into Tennessee. The suggested pre‐development conditions were derived from limited groundwater level observations between 41 and 74 years post‐development. A new pre‐development map is constructed using historic records that range 0‐17 years post‐development that shows the natural flow is northwesterly from Mississippi into Tennessee and transboundary groundwater quantities have actually decreased since pre‐development conditions.
The development of a measure of maternal cognitive sensitivity appropriate for use in primary care health settings
Authors: Prime Heather , Browne Dillon , Akbari Emis , Wade Mark , Madigan Sheri , Jenkins Jennifer M.
Published: September 2014

Background

Parental responsivity is important to children's cognitive and socioemotional development, yet is under‐represented in primary healthcare, because the measurement is specialized and time‐consuming.

Methods

The current study developed a measure of maternal cognitive sensitivity (CS), which uses impressionistic ratings based on brief observations of parent–child interaction when children are 3 years old.

Results

Using data from a longitudinal cohort (Time 1, N = 501), the CS measure had good psychometric properties, was significantly related to a gold‐standard maternal responsivity measure, and was predicted by the same socio‐demographic factors predictive of other measures of parental responsivity. Finally, a well‐established pathway from socioeconomic risk (child age 2 months) to compromised parenting (child age 3 years) to negative child outcome (child age 4.5 years) was demonstrated with CS as the mediator.

Conclusion

The maternal CS measure is brief, can be easily trained, and takes 8 min to administer and code, making it potentially useful in primary healthcare settings.
Avocado and soybean extracts as active principles in the treatment of mild‐to‐moderate vulvar lichen sclerosus: results of efficacy and tolerability
Authors: Borghi A. , Corazza M. , Minghetti S. , Toni G. , Virgili A.
Published: September 2014

Objective

Limited evidence is available on the effectiveness of treatments alternative to corticosteroids for vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS). The present study aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of avocado and soybean extracts (ASE) as active principles of both a topical product and a nutritional supplement in the treatment of active mild‐to‐moderate VLS.

Materials and methods

Twenty‐three patients were enrolled. Treatment consisted of a topical product containing ASE and other lenitive and anti‐oxidant principles administered twice daily for 24 weeks, in association with a dietary supplement containing ASE, vitamin E and para‐aminobenzoic acid for the first 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the rate of patients achieving an improvement from baseline in global subjective score (GSS) and global objective score (GOS) of ≥ 75%. Secondary efficacy endpoint was the rate of patients achieving GSS50 and GOS50. Tertiary efficacy endpoint was the mean reduction in subjective and objective scores throughout the treatment.

Results

By the end of the 24‐week treatment, 12 (70.5% of symptomatic patients) and 13 patients (72.2%) achieved an improvement of at least 75% in subjective and objective global scores, respectively; 100% and 88.9% reached GSS50 and GOS50, respectively. Mean symptom and sign scores decreased significantly after treatment. The treatment was well tolerated.

Conclusions

Our results provide evidence that the topical and dietary supplements used in the study, which contain active principles exerting anti‐inflammatory, anti‐fibrotic, emollient and lenitive actions, are effective alternatives in the treatment of symptoms and signs of mild‐to‐moderate VLS.