bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing the biogeographical congruence of palaeofloras using molecular phylogenetics: snapdragons and the Madrean–Tethyan flora
Authors: Vargas Pablo , Valente Luis M. , Blanco‐Pastor José Luis , Liberal Isabel , Guzmán Beatriz , Cano Emilio , Forrest Alan , Fernández‐Mazuecos Mario
Published: December 2013

Aim

The biogeographical congruence hypothesis, that similar spatiotemporal patterns of geographical distribution exist across lineages, is revisited in this study, and biogeographical processes in presumed Madrean–Tethyan plants are investigated by employing phylogenetic analyses.

Location

Mediterranean and Californian floristic regions.

Methods

The snapdragons (tribe Antirrhineae, Plantaginaceae) are one of the plant groups that best illustrate disjunctions between the New World (14 genera) and the Old World (15 genera). A time‐calibrated phylogeny (ndhF sequences) and ancestral‐area reconstructions were used to test the hypothesis of biogeographical congruence. We estimated support for sister‐group relationships together with the probability of temporal congruence of snapdragons and five additional angiosperm groups using a biogeographical approach based on Bayesian inference, parsimony and maximum‐likelihood methods.

Results

Synchronous divergences of four phylogenetically independent Mediterranean/Californian lineages within Antirrhineae were inferred for the Miocene. This result constitutes the first example of high biogeographical congruence within the same plant group. Analyses of five additional angiosperm groups previously considered exemplars of Madrean–Tethyan disjunctions revealed a total of 10 Mediterranean/Californian sister‐group lineages, mostly with Miocene divergence times. In particular, our contrasting biogeographical analysis favoured a prevalent colonization process post‐dating the separation of America and Eurasia (Eocene) for at least eight angiosperm lineages.

Main conclusions

Explicit testing of the Madrean–Tethyan hypothesis did not support predominant vicariance for Mediterranean/Californian sister groups as previously proposed. Instead, eight Mediterranean/Californian sister‐group lineages displayed a Miocene divergence, including considerable biogeographical congruence within Antirrhineae (four independent lineages) and Cistaceae (two lineages).
Regional Powers as Leaders or Rambos? The Ambivalent Behaviour of Brazil and South Africa in Regional Economic Integration
Authors: Krapohl Sebastian , Meissner Katharina L. , Muntschick Johannes
Published: December 2013

The behaviour of regional powers towards their own regions is often volatile in the developing world, which leads to unstable integration processes. This article argues that this volatility is due to limited intra‐regional gains from regional integration in developing regions, which implies that the behaviour of regional powers is constrained by extra‐regional economic interests. When regional integration is not in conflict with extra‐regional interests, regional powers provide regional leadership. However, when extra‐regional interests are in conflict with regional integration, regional powers become regional Rambos. This argument is illustrated with the two examples of Brazil's behaviour in Mercosur and South Africa's behaviour in SADC. Both regional powers provided leadership during some periods of the regional integration processes, but became Rambos when important extra‐regional interests were at stake. This damaged regional integration processes in South America and Southern Africa considerably.
The Effect on Immigration of Changes in Regulations and Policies: A Case Study
Authors: Cappelen Ådne , Skjerpen Terje
Published: December 2013

Net migration has become the main factor driving Norwegian population growth. This article explores how changes in regulations and immigration policies have affected gross immigration to Norway. As in previous econometric studies, it finds that income differences and income distribution have a bearing on immigration, as well as aspects of the labour market. Various immigration policies have largely had the expected effects, and Norway's membership of the European economic area since 1994 and inclusion in the Schengen area in 2001 have resulted in higher immigration. The enlargement of the EU in 2004 and 2007 substantially increased immigration to Norway. By 2010, the EU‐related changes in regulations increased total immigration by some 20 per cent compared to a counterfactual situation where Norway did not become party to either of these agreements. The partial and accumulated effect on the total population in Norway in 2010 is estimated to be about 2 per cent.
One hundred and five Kaposi sarcoma patients: a clinical study in Xinjiang, Northwest of China
Authors: Wu X.‐J. , Pu X.‐M. , Kang X.‐J. , Halifu Y. , An C.‐X. , Zhang D.‐Z. , Yakeya B. , Mijit J.
Published: December 2013

Background

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an unusual illness that may be associated with human herpes virus 8 (HHV‐8) infections, and appears mainly in Jews, Italians and Greeks. There is a lack of patient data in Xinjiang regarding the clinical characteristics of KS.

Objectives

To review the clinical characteristics of a series of patients with KS in Xinjiang, Northwest China, over 16‐year period.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of patients referred to a Xinjiang hospital in Northwest China with classic KS (CKS) and AIDS‐associated KS (AIDS‐KS) between January 1997 and April 2013 was performed. Reviewed information included demographics, clinical features, histopathological traits, treatment and presence of HHV‐8 infection.

Results

During the study period, 105 patients with a diagnosis of KS, including 77 CKS and 28 AIDS‐KS, were referred to our hospital. Mean age at diagnosis was 55.8 ± 16.8 years (range: 25–85 years). There were 70 (90.9%) males and 7 (9.1%) females (male‐to‐female ratio: 10 : 1) having CKS and 21 (75.0%) males and 7 (25.0%) females (male‐to‐female ratio: 3 : 1) with AIDS‐KS. Most of the patients were Uyghur, including 67 CKS and 24 AIDS‐KS. The rate of multifocal lesions at diagnosis was 98.1% (103/105). The most common area of lesions was between 1% and 5% of CKS and AIDS‐KS. The main types of lesions were nodules, patches and plaques. The lower extremity and foot were the most common locations for CKS and AIDS‐KS. In addition to skin damage, the penis, mouth, lymph nodes and interstitial lung tissues were involved in some cases. No second primary malignancy was diagnosed. Systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy were effective treatments for CKS. The HHV‐8 positivity rate was 98.98% in 98 KS cases.

Conclusions

In Xinjiang, most CKS and AIDS‐KS patients were older Uyghur men. AIDS‐KS was found predominantly among 30‐year‐old Uyghur patients, compared with 60 years for those having CKS. The latter exhibited certain characteristics such as disseminated skin disease; in some patients, the condition was accompanied by lymphedema, visceral or lymph node involvement, but no secondary malignancies. In addition, the HHV‐8 positivity rate associated with KS was very high.
Local adaptation to salinity in the three‐spined stickleback?
Authors: DeFaveri J. , Merilä J.
Published: December 2013

Different lines of evidence suggest that the occurrence and extent of local adaptation in high gene flow marine environments – even in mobile and long‐lived vertebrates with complex life cycles – may be more widespread than earlier thought. We conducted a common garden experiment to test for local adaptation to salinity in Baltic Sea sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Fish from three different native salinity regimes (high, mid and low) were subjected to three salinity treatments (high, mid and low) in a full‐factorial experimental design. Irrespective of their origin, fish subjected to low (and mid) salinity treatments exhibited higher juvenile survival, grew to largest sizes and were in better condition than fish subjected to the high salinity treatment. However, a significant interaction between native and treatment salinities – resulting mainly from the poor performance of fish native to low salinity in the high salinity treatment – provided clear cut evidence for adaptation to local variation in salinity. Additional support for this inference was provided by the fact that the results concur with an earlier demonstration of significant differentiation in a number of genes with osmoregulatory functions across the same populations and that the population‐specific responses to salinity treatments exceeded that to be expected by random genetic drift.
Volatiles from green‐lipped mussel as a lead to vespid wasp attractants
Authors: Unelius C. R. , El‐Sayed A. M. , Twidle A. M. , Stringer L. D. , Manning L. M. , Sullivan T. E. S. , Brown R. L. , Noble A. D. L.
Published: December 2013

Vespid wasps (Vespula vulgaris L. and V. germanica Fab. Hymenoptera; Vespidae) are highly abundant in 1 million ha of New Zealand's indigenous beech forests (Nothofagus spp.) and have had detrimental effects on the New Zealand native fauna. This hyperabundance is due in part to the vast supply of carbohydrate‐rich honeydew produced by scale insects Ultracoelostoma spp. native to New Zealand. Current control methods include the use of wet cat food as a protein source with insecticide as a lure‐and‐kill‐based system, but there are problems with fresh baits degrading rapidly, and a more durable formulation would enable the expansion and longevity of wasp control. Four crude protein baits were tested for vespid attraction. Green‐lipped mussels had the highest vespid catch of the crude baits tested, and aged and fresh mussels were equally attractive. From headspace analysis of the green‐lipped mussel volatiles, a series of butanoate esters, 3‐octanone and 1‐octen‐3‐ol were identified as possible attractants. These compounds were tested individually and in various blend combinations for the attraction of Vespula wasps in matagouri vegetation at the edge of beech forests. We found synergistic effects between single attractive compounds when tested in various combinations, and the multicomponent lures were more attractive to these wasps than heptyl and octyl butanoate, previously identified attractants for vespid species. The new multicomponent lures could form the basis for a new generation of attractants for social wasps that can provide sustained control methods for invasive vespid wasps.
Effect of light colours and weather conditions on captures of Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) and Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)
Authors: Yang H. B. , Hu G. , Zhang G. , Chen X. , Zhu Z. R. , Liu S. , Liang Z. L. , Zhang X. X. , Cheng X. N. , Zhai B. P.
Published: December 2013

To study the phototactic responses of white‐backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) and brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) to different wavelengths, four colours of light traps (blue, green, yellow and red light‐emitting diodes) were placed in the same rice field along with a traditional black light trap. This study revealed that S. furcifera and N. lugens are more attracted to blue and green lights than that to yellow and red lights. During the 24 nights, compared with the black light trap, the blue LED trap could catch more rice planthoppers at 17 nights. Furthermore, catches of other species (moths and beetles) were substantially reduced in blue LED light traps. Multiple regression models were developed to assess the effect of weather factors on light trap catches of rice planthoppers. Rainfall and mean air temperature at a night mainly affected light trap catches of S. furcifera. Higher rainfall and lower temperature increased light trap catches of S. furcifera. However, wind speed was the main factor affecting the catches of N. lugens, and the lower incidence of catches was found in the night when wind speed exceeded 3.08 m/s. S. furcifera may be flying against wind at light wind nights by 0.3–1.5 m/s, whereas N. lugens may be flying down at strong wind nights by 1.5–3.08 m/s. Relative humidity did not significantly influence on trap catches. Consequently, light wavelengths, precipitation, average temperature and wind should be considered when monitoring rice planthoppers by light traps. Therefore, the blue LED light traps are worth using for monitoring planthoppers.
Defining and Incorporating Basic Nursing Care Actions Into the Electronic Health Record
Authors: Englebright Jane , Aldrich Kelly , Taylor Cathy R.
Published: December 2013

Purpose

To develop a definition of basic nursing care for the hospitalized adult patient and drive uptake of that definition through the implementation of an electronic health record.

Design and Methods

A team of direct care nurses, assisted by subject matter experts, analyzed nursing theory and regulatory requirements related to basic nursing care. The resulting list of activities was coded using the Clinical Care Classification (CCC) system and incorporated into the electronic health record system of a 170‐bed community hospital.

Results

Nine basic nursing care activities were identified as a result of analyzing nursing theory and regulatory requirements in the framework of a hypothetical “well” patient. One additional basic nursing care activity was identified following the pilot implementation in the electronic health record. The pilot hospital has successfully passed a post‐implementation regulatory review with no recommendations related to the documentation of basic patient care.

Conclusions

This project demonstrated that it is possible to define the concept of basic nursing care and to distinguish it from the interdisciplinary, problem‐focused plan of care. The use of the electronic health record can help clarify, document, and communicate basic care elements and improve uptake among nurses.

Clinical Relevance

This project to define basic nursing care activities and incorporate into the electronic health record represents a first step in capturing meaningful data elements. When fully implemented, these data could be translated into knowledge for improving care outcomes and collaborative processes.
Concurrent Incidence of Adverse Events in Hospitals and Nursing Homes
Authors: Van Gaal Betsie G.I. , Schoonhoven Lisette , Mintjes‐de Groot Joke A.J. , Defloor Tom , Habets Herbert , Voss Andreas , van Achterberg Theo , Koopmans Raymond T.C.M.
Published: December 2013

Purpose

To describe the concurrent incidence of pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, and falls in hospitals and nursing homes, and the preventive care given. Additionally, the correlation between the occurrence of these adverse events and preventive care was explored.

Design and Settings

A prospective, 3‐month, cohort study at 10 hospitals and 10 nursing homes in the Netherlands.

Participants

687 hospital patients and 241 nursing home patients.

Main Outcome Measures

The incidence of three adverse events and preventive care given to patients at risk. During weekly visits, the patients and their files were assessed. Additionally, observations were performed.

Results

Seventy‐seven hospital patients (11%) and 111 nursing home patients (46%) developed one or more adverse events. The incidence rate for both types of patients, and for the three adverse events combined, was 9% adverse events per patient week.

In hospitals, 34% of the patients received adequate pressure ulcer preventive care, while 47% of the patients received adequate urinary tract infection preventive care, and none of the patients received adequate falls preventive care. In nursing homes, 18% of the patients received adequate pressure ulcer preventive care, 42% of the patients received adequate urinary tract infection preventive care, and less than 1% of the patients received adequate falls prevention care.

Negative or no correlations were found between the incidence rates for the three adverse events. In nursing homes the incidence of pressure ulcers and preventive care were positively correlated.

Conclusions

There is a high incidence of adverse events in hospitals and nursing homes. Many patients at risk do not receive adequate preventive care.
Digital dissection – using contrast‐enhanced computed tomography scanning to elucidate hard‐ and soft‐tissue anatomy in the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Authors: Lautenschlager Stephan , Bright Jen A. , Rayfield Emily J.
Published: December 2013

Gross dissection has a long history as a tool for the study of human or animal soft‐ and hard‐tissue anatomy. However, apart from being a time‐consuming and invasive method, dissection is often unsuitable for very small specimens and often cannot capture spatial relationships of the individual soft‐tissue structures. The handful of comprehensive studies on avian anatomy using traditional dissection techniques focus nearly exclusively on domestic birds, whereas raptorial birds, and in particular their cranial soft tissues, are essentially absent from the literature. Here, we digitally dissect, identify, and document the soft‐tissue anatomy of the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) in detail, using the new approach of contrast‐enhanced computed tomography using Lugol's iodine. The architecture of different muscle systems (adductor, depressor, ocular, hyoid, neck musculature), neurovascular, and other soft‐tissue structures is three‐dimensionally visualised and described in unprecedented detail. The three‐dimensional model is further presented as an interactive PDF to facilitate the dissemination and accessibility of anatomical data. Due to the digital nature of the data derived from the computed tomography scanning and segmentation processes, these methods hold the potential for further computational analyses beyond descriptive and illustrative proposes.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Mitracarpus frigidus in established animal models
Authors: Fabri Rodrigo Luiz , Garcia Roberta Alvim , Florêncio Jônatas Rodrigues , de Castro Campos Pinto Nícolas , de Oliveira Luiz Gustavo , Aguiar Jair Adriano Kopke , Ribeiro Antônia , Scio Elita
Published: December 2013

Objectives

This study reports the in vivo anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Mitracarpus frigidus (MFM) and its chemical fingerprint.

Methods

The acute anti-inflammatory activity was performed using the carrageenan-induced paw oedema and peritonitis, ear oedema induced by croton oil and ethyl phenylpropiolate methods. Total COX, COX-1 and COX-2 expression was also evaluated. Chronic activity was determined by cotton pellet granuloma model. The antioxidative activity was assessed using liver tissue malondialdehyde, catalase and myeloperoxidase activities.

Key findings

M . frigidus showed an intense acute anti-inflammatory action (100 and 300 mg/kg) in a nondose-dependent manner with selective inhibition of COX-2 expression. This activity may be also related to the strong antioxidative effect observed. By the other side, the chronic anti-inflammatory activity of MFM was not expressive. Kaempferol, kaempferol-O-rutenoside, rutin, ursolic acid and psychorubrin were identified in MFM.

Conclusions

The anti-inflammatory activity of MFM was probably due to inhibition of COX expression in a selective manner for COX-2. Other mechanisms, such as inhibition of inflammatory mediators and of the oxidative stress were possibly involved in the effects observed. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time those activities are reported for M. frigidus.
Multi‐organ injuries caused by lipopolysaccharide‐induced periodontal inflammation in rats: role of melatonin
Authors: Gulle K. , Akpolat M. , Kurcer Z. , Cengiz M. I. , Baba F. , Acikgoz S.
Published: December 2013

Background and Objective

Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease caused by oral bacterial infection, is considered to be a risk factor for systemic diseases including diabetes mellitus, bacterial pneumonia, hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of melatonin against periodontal inflammation‐induced multiple organ injury in rats.

Material and Methods

Eighteen female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups of six rats each: control; lipopolysaccharide (LPS); and LPS + melatonin. During the experimental period (10 d) all rats in the LPS and LPS + melatonin groups were given 10 μL of LPS (from a 10 mg/mL standard solution of LPS dissolved in saline) on days 1, 3 and 5. The rats in the LPS + melatonin group were given 50 mg/kg of melatonin, daily for 10 d, starting on day 1 after the administration of LPS. All rats were killed at the end of the experimental period. Liver, kidney and lung tissues were removed for investigation by light microscopy.

Results

The levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly increased in the LPS group compared with the LPS + melatonin group (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in the serum creatinine levels in the groups. However, the changes in serum AST, ALT and BUN levels in the experimental groups did not correlate with changes in histological data. Both LPS and LPS + melatonin groups displayed structural features similar to those of the control group.

Conclusion

The results revealed that increased serum AST, ALT and BUN levels following periodontitis are ameliorated with melatonin treatment.
Telbivudine protects renal function in patients with chronic hepatitisBinfection in conjunction with adefovir‐based combination therapy
Authors: Lee M. , Oh S. , Lee H. J. , Yeum T.‐S. , Lee J.‐H. , Yu S. J. , Kim H. Y. , Yoon J.‐H. , Lee H.‐S. , Kim Y. J.
Published: December 2013

Previous studies have demonstrated that the treatment of chronic hepatitisB(CHB) infection with adefovir (ADV) can impair renal function. In contrast, treatment with telbivudine (LdT) improves renal function inCHBpatients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the renoprotective effect of LdT inCHBpatients receivingADV‐based combination therapy. The effects of treatment withADV+ LdT on renal function were compared to those resulting from treatment with ADV + entecavir (ETV),ADV+ lamivudine (LAM),ADValone and ETV alone. The consecutive cohort analysis included 831 CHB patients who receivedADV+ LdT,ADV+LAM,ADV+ETV,ADValone or ETV alone for 96 weeks. Alterations in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were compared between the five groups using a linear mixed‐effects model.HBV DNAlevels were also compared between the five groups during the 96‐week period. Among the five treatment groups, significant improvements in eGFRwere observed in theADV+ LdT andADV+LAMgroups over time (P < 0.001 for each group compared with baseline eGFR). In patients with a baseline eGFRbetween 50 and 90 mL/min, the change in eGFRwas the most significant in theADV+ LdT group (+0.641 mL/min;P < 0.001). Age, gender, baseline eGFRand treatment option were significant predictive factors for eGFRchanges. In conclusion, our results suggest that the combination therapy of LdT andADVis significantly associated with renoprotective effects inCHBpatients when compared with otherADV‐based combination or single therapies.
Identification of functionally important conserved trans‐membrane residues of bacterial PIB‐type ATPases
Authors: Zhitnitsky Daniel , Lewinson Oded
Published: December 2013

Powered by ATP hydrolysis, PIB‐ATPases drive the energetically uphill transport of transition metals. These high affinity pumps are essential for heavy metal detoxification and delivery of metal cofactors to specific cellular compartments. Amino acid sequence alignment of the trans‐membrane (TM) helices of PIB‐ATPases reveals a high degree of conservation, with ∼60–70 fully conserved positions. Of these conserved positions, 6–7 were previously identified to be important for transport. However, the functional importance of the majority of the conserved TM residues remains unclear. To investigate the role of conserved TM residues of PIB‐ATPases we conducted an extensive mutagenesis study of a Zn2+/Cd2+ PIB‐ATPase from Rhizobium radiobacter (rrZntA) and seven other PIB‐ATPases. Of the 38 conserved positions tested, 24 had small effects on metal tolerance. Fourteen mutations compromised in vivo metal tolerance and in vitro metal‐stimulated ATPase activity. Based on structural modelling, the functionally important residues line a constricted ‘channel’, tightly surrounded by the residues that were found to be inconsequential for function. We tentatively propose that the distribution of the mutable and immutable residues marks a possible trans‐membrane metal translocation pathway. In addition, by substituting six trans‐membrane amino acids of rrZntA we changed the in vivo metal specificity of this pump from Zn2+/Cd2+ to Ag+.
Cinacalcet for hypercalcaemic secondary hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation: a multicentre, retrospective, 3‐year study
Authors: Torregrosa Jose‐Vicente , Morales Enrique , Díaz Juan Manuel , Crespo Josep , Bravo Juan , Gómez Gonzalo , Gentil Miguel Ángel , Rodríguez Benot Alberto , García Minerva Rodríguez , Jiménez Verónica López , Gutiérrez Dalmau Alex , Jimeno Luisa , Sáez María José Pérez , Romero Rafael , Gómez Alamillo Carlos ,   CINAREN Study Group
Published: December 2013

Aims

Our aim was to evaluate the long‐term effect of cinacalcet in patients with hypercalcaemic secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) after renal transplantation (RT) in order to expand real‐world data in this population.

Methods

We performed a multicentre, observational, retrospective study in 17 renal transplant units from Spain. We collected data from renal recipients with hypercalcaemic (calcium >10.2 mg/dL) SHPT (intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) > 120 pg/mL) who initiated cinacalcet in the clinical practice.

Results

We included 193 patients with a mean (standard deviation (SD)) age of 52 (12) years, 58% men. Cinacalcet treatment was initiated at a median of 20 months after RT (median dose 30 mg/day). Mean calcium levels decreased from a mean (SD) of 11.1 (0.6) at baseline to 10.1 (0.8) at 6 months (9.0% reduction, P < 0.0001). Median iPTH was reduced by 23.0% at 6 months (P = 0.0005) and mean phosphorus levels increased by 11.1% (P < 0.0001). The effects were maintained up to 3‐years. No changes were observed in renal function or anticalcineurin drug levels. Only 4.1% of patients discontinued cinacalcet due to intolerance and 1.0% due to lack of efficacy.

Conclusions

In renal transplant patients with hypercalcaemic SHPT, cinacalcet controlled serum calcium, iPTH and phosphorus levels up to 3 years. Tolerability was good.
Nitrogen dioxide regulates organ growth by controlling cell proliferation and enlargement in Arabidopsis
Authors: Takahashi Misa , Furuhashi Takamasa , Ishikawa Naoko , Horiguchi Gorou , Sakamoto Atsushi , Tsukaya Hirokazu , Morikawa Hiromichi
Published: December 2013

To gain more insight into the physiological function of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), we investigated the effects of exogenous NO2 on growth in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Plants were grown in air without NO2 for 1 wk after sowing and then grown for 1–4 wk in air with (designated treated plants) or without (control plants) NO2. Plants were irrigated semiweekly with a nutrient solution containing 19.7 mM nitrate and 10.3 mM ammonium.

Five‐week‐old plants treated with 50 ppb NO2 showed a ≤ 2.8‐fold increase in biomass relative to controls. Treated plants also showed early flowering. The magnitude of the effects of NO2 on leaf expansion, cell proliferation and enlargement was greater in developing than in maturing leaves. Leaf areas were 1.3–8.4 times larger on treated plants than corresponding leaves on control plants. The NO2‐induced increase in leaf size was largely attributable to cell proliferation in developing leaves, but was attributable to both cell proliferation and enlargement in maturing leaves. The expression of different sets of genes for cell proliferation and/or enlargement was induced by NO2, but depended on the leaf developmental stage.

Collectively, these results indicated that NO2 regulates organ growth by controlling cell proliferation and enlargement.
Overexpression of a proton‐coupled vacuolar glucose exporter impairs freezing tolerance and seed germination
Authors: Klemens Patrick A. W. , Patzke Kathrin , Trentmann Oliver , Poschet Gernot , Büttner Michael , Schulz Alexander , Marten Irene , Hedrich Rainer , Neuhaus H. Ekkehard
Published: December 2013

Arabidopsis vacuoles harbor, besides sugar transporter of the TMT‐type, an early response to dehydration like 6 (ERDL6) protein involved in glucose export into the cytosol. However, the mode of transport of ERDL6 and the plant's feedback to overexpression of its activity on essential properties such as, for example, seed germination or freezing tolerance, remain unexplored.

Using patch‐clamp studies on vacuoles expressing AtERDL6 we demonstrated directly that this carrier operates as a proton‐driven glucose exporter.

Overexpression of BvIMP, the closest sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) homolog to AtERDL6, in Arabidopsis leads surprisingly to impaired seed germination under both conditions, sugar application and low environmental temperatures, but not under standard conditions.

Upon cold treatment, BvIMP overexpressor plants accumulated lower quantities of monosaccharides than the wild‐type, a response in line with the reduced frost tolerance of the transgenic Arabidopsis plants, and the fact that cold temperatures inhibits BvIMP transcription in sugar beet leaves. With these findings we show that the tight control of vacuolar sugar import and export is a key requisite for cold tolerance and seed germination of plants.
Pollen and stomata morphometrics and polyploidy in Eriotheca (Malvaceae‐Bombacoideae)
Authors: Marinho R. C. , Mendes‐Rodrigues C. , Bonetti A. M. , Oliveira P. E.
Published: December 2013

Approximately 70% of the angiosperm species are polyploid, an important phenomenon in the evolution of those plants. But ploidy estimates have often been hindered because of the small size and large number of chromosomes in many tropical groups. Since polyploidy affects cell size, morphometric analyses of pollen grains and stomata have been used to infer ploidy level. Polyploidy is present in many species of the Cerrado, the Neotropical savanna region in Central Brazil, and has been linked to apomixis in some taxa. Eriotheca gracilipes and Eriotheca pubescens are common tree species in this region, and present cytotypes that form reproductive mosaics. Hexaploid individuals (2n = 6x = 276) are polyembryonic and apomictic, while tetraploid and diploid individuals (2n = 2x = 92, 2n = 4x = 184) are sexual and monoembryonic. We tested whether morphometric analysis can be used to estimate ploidy levels in E. gracilipes and E. pubescens individuals. Pollen material from diploid and hexaploid individuals of E. gracilipes, and tetraploid and hexaploid individuals of E. pubescens, were fixed in 50% FAA, and expanded leaves were dried in silica gel. Pollen grains and stomata of at least five individuals from each population were measured. The results demonstrate that all measures were significantly different among cytotypes. Individuals with higher levels of ploidy (hexaploid) all presented measurements that were higher than those with lower levels (diploid and tetraploid). There was no overlap between ploidy levels in each species at 95% confidence interval. Thus, the size of the pollen grains and stomata are effective parameters for analysis of ploidy levels in E. gracilipes and E. pubescens.
Heuristic and analytic processes in reasoning: An event‐related potential study of belief bias
Authors: Banks Adrian P. , Hope Christopher
Published: December 2013

Human reasoning involves both heuristic and analytic processes. This study of belief bias in relational reasoning investigated whether the two processes occur serially or in parallel. Participants evaluated the validity of problems in which the conclusions were either logically valid or invalid and either believable or unbelievable. Problems in which the conclusions presented a conflict between the logically valid response and the believable response elicited a more positive P3 than problems in which there was no conflict. This shows that P3 is influenced by the interaction of belief and logic rather than either of these factors on its own. These findings indicate that belief and logic influence reasoning at the same time, supporting models in which belief‐based and logical evaluations occur in parallel but not theories in which belief‐based heuristic evaluations precede logical analysis.
Concomitant changes in cross‐sectional area and water content in skeletal muscle after resistance exercise
Authors: Kristiansen M. S. , Uhrbrand A. , Hansen M. , Shiguetomi‐Medina J. M. , Vissing K. , Stødkilde‐Jørgensen H. , Langberg H.
Published: December 2013

This study investigated how one bout (1EX) and three bouts (3EX) of strenuous resistance exercise affected the cross‐sectional area (CSA) and water content (WC) of the quadriceps muscle and patella tendon (PT), 4 h and 52 h after the last exercise bout. Ten healthy untrained male subjects performed 1EX with one leg and 3EX with the other leg. CSA and WC were measured with magnetic resonance imaging 10, 20 and 30 cm proximal to the tibia plateau (TP) for the muscle, and at the proximal, central and distal site for the PT prior to exercise, and 4 h and 52 h after the last exercise bout. Ten centimeter above the TP, muscle CSA was significantly increased at 4 h (1EX: 13 ± 5%; 3EX: 13 ± 4%) and 52 h (1EX: 16 ± 5%; 3EX: 16 ± 5%) compared with baseline. Muscle WC was significantly increased at 4 h (1EX: 7 ± 1%; 3EX: 6 ± 2%) and 52 h (1EX: 8 ± 2%; 3EX: 8 ± 3%) compared to baseline. PT central CSA was significantly reduced at 52 h (3EX: 14 ± 2%) compared with baseline and (3EX: 13 ± 1%) compared with 4 h. Present data demonstrate that strenuous resistance exercise results in an acute increase in muscle WC and underlines the importance of ensuring sufficient time between the last exercise bout and the determination of anatomical dimensions in muscles.
Identification of a novel HLA‐C*08 allele, HLA‐C*08:78, by sequence‐based typing in a Korean individual
Authors: Han S.‐H. , Heo Y.‐A. , Kwon O.‐J. , Kim Y.‐J. , Lee K.‐R.
Published: December 2013

HLA‐C*08:78 differs from C*08:01:01 by a nonsynonymous mutation at codon 239 (GGA to AGA) in exon 4.
Risk factors for nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in solid organ transplant recipients: a case–control study
Authors: Longworth S.A. , Vinnard C. , Lee I. , Sims K.D. , Barton T.D. , Blumberg E.A.
Published: December 2013

Background

The epidemiology of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease in solid organ transplant recipients is poorly defined.

Methods

We identified all solid organ transplant recipients with NTM disease at a single center over a 7.5‐year period, and collected data on patient demographics, co‐morbidities, immunosuppressive medications, and rejection. We conducted a case–control study to identify risk factors for disease, matching 3 control patients to each case patient by date of transplantation.

Results

A total of 34 cases of NTM disease occurred during the study period, involving 6 single lung, 13 bilateral lung, 8 heart, 4 liver, 2 kidney, and 1 pancreas‐kidney recipients. Cases were predominantly male (24/34), with a median age of 55 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 46–61 years), and developed after a median of 8 months post transplantation (IQR: 2–87 months). Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium avium complex were the most common pathogens, and the lung (including pleura) was the most common site of disease. In the adjusted case–control analysis, lung transplant recipients had the highest risk of NTM disease.

Conclusions

Additional studies are needed to evaluate the role of targeted surveillance measures for NTM disease in high‐risk patients, particularly lung transplant recipients, and to characterize the mechanisms of disease acquisition.
Determination of thromboelastographic responsiveness in stored single‐donor platelet concentrates
Authors: Bontekoe Ido J. , van der Meer Pieter F. , de Korte Dirk
Published: December 2013

Background

Thromboelastography (TEG) is widely used in hospitals but less commonly in blood banks for evaluation of platelet (PLT) concentrates (PCs). A TEG‐PC assay for testing fresh or stored PLTs must reflect the quality of the PLTs. The added value could be measurement of donor‐dependent PLT quality.

Study Design and Methods

Whole blood (WB) normal values were generated from 100 donors, using standard tests. Nineteen single‐donor PCs were evaluated with a TEG‐PC assay, using Octaplas as microparticle‐free diluent and kaolin or collagen as activator, stored up to 12 days, and also sampled for additional in vitro tests.

Results

WB values showed larger reaction rates (R‐ and K‐times, angle) compared to the reference values and almost similar maximum amplitude (MA). PCs showed usual storage lesion and TEG‐PC results showed significant decreasing R‐ and K‐times and increasing angle. Mean MA values remained constant but individual measurements were affected by clot retraction. TEG tracings of two PCs with good quality on Day 12 showed weak to strong clot retraction, while two PCs with poor quality showed moderate clot retraction on Day 1, no clot retraction on Days 5 to 12, and a decreased MA on Day 12. Clot strength (MA) and especially clot retraction represent possibly donor‐specific effects.

Conclusion

A TEG‐PC assay has been developed that is sensitive to storage effects. The assay has the potential to be helpful in selection of PLT donors but needs improvement to be more sensitive, reproducible, and distinctive to determine whose PLTs store poorly and whose store well.
Systematic Optimization of the Design of Steam Cycles Using MINLP and Differential Evolution
Authors: Wang Ligang , Yang Yongping , Dong Changqing , Morosuk Tatiana , Tsatsaronis George
Published: December 2013

The process synthesis and design optimization of energy conversion systems can be modeled as a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem. The nonconvexity potential and the combinatorial nature of the objective functions and constraints largely suggest the application of heuristic search methods for global optimization. In this paper, a modified differential evolutionary algorithm is applied to a MINLP problem for optimizing the design of steam cycles based on a complex superstructure, containing a variable number and varying positions of reheatings, varying layouts of the feedwater preheating train, and a boiler feedpump turbine with steam extractions. The energy-savings potential from the existing system design was studied. The optimization of a 262 bar/600 °C/ 605 °C unit with a single reheat shows that an efficiency improvement between 0.55 percentage points (PP) and 1.28 PP can be achieved. The optimal design of steam cycles over 650 °C was found to be different from those of the designs under current steam conditions: a transition throttle pressure, above which the benefits of steam temperature elevation can be completely realized, is critical and, accordingly, three design zones associated with the match of throttle pressure and the steam temperature level are clearly identified with recommended ranges of reheat pressures.
Edge Fracture Prediction of Traditional and Advanced Trimming Processes for AA6111-T4 Sheets
Authors: Hu X. H. , Choi K. S. , Sun X. , Golovashchenko S. F.
Published: December 2013

This work examines the traditional and advanced trimming of AA6111-T4 aluminum sheets with finite element simulations. The Rice-Tracy damage model is used for the simulation with damage parameters estimated from experimental observation of grain aspect ratio near the fracture surface of trimmed parts. Fine meshes at the shearing zone, adaptive meshing, and adaptive contact techniques are used to accurately capture the contact interactions between the sharp corner of the trimming tools and the blank to be trimmed. To the knowledge of the authors, these are the first trimming simulations that can predict the effects of shearing clearance on burr heights with quantitative accuracy for AA6111-T4 aluminum sheets. In addition, the models have also accurately reproduced the crack initiation site as well as burr and sliver formation mechanisms observed experimentally.
Comparative System Performance Analysis of Direct Steam Generation Central Receiver Solar Thermal Power Plants in Megawatt Range
Authors: Sanz-Bermejo Javier , Gallardo-Natividad Víctor , Gonzalez-Aguilar José , Romero Manuel
Published: December 2013

This work proposes and analyses several integration schemes specially conceived for direct steam generation (DSG) in megawatt (MW) range central receiver solar thermal power plants. It is focused on the optical performance related to the heliostat field and the arrangement of receiver absorbers, and the management of steam within a Rankine cycle in the range between 40–160 bar and 400–550 °C at design point. The solar receiver is composed of one single element for saturated steam systems or two vertically aligned separated units, which correspond to the boiler and the superheater (dual-receiver concept), for superheated steam solar thermal power plants. From a fixed heliostat field obtained after layout optimization for the saturated steam solar plant the heliostat field is divided in two concentric circular trapezoids where each of them independently supplies the solar energy required by the boiler and the superheater for the different steam conditions. It has been observed that the arrangement locating the boiler above the superheater provides a slightly higher optical efficiency of the collector system, formed by the solar field and the receiver, compared with the reverse option with superheater above boiler. Besides, two-zone solar fields provide lower performances than the entire heliostat layout aiming at one absorber (saturation systems). Optical efficiency of two-zone solar fields decreases almost linearly with the increment of superheater heat demand. Concerning the whole solar collector, heliostat field plus receiver, the performance decreases with temperature and almost linearly with the steam pressure. For the intervals of steam pressure and temperature under analysis, solar collector of saturated steam plant achieves an optical efficiency 3.2% points higher than the superheated steam system at 40 bar and 400 °C, and the difference increases up to 9.3% points when compared with superheated system at 160 bar and 550 °C. On the other hand, superheated steam systems at 550 °C and pressure between 60 and 80 bar provide the highest overall efficiency, and it is 2.3% points higher than performance of a saturated steam solar plant at 69 bar. However, if saturated steam cycle integrates an intermediate reheat process, both would provide similar performances. Finally, it has been observed that central receiver systems (CRS) producing saturated steam and superheated steam at 500 °C operating at 40 bar provide similar performances.
Analysis of Collagen Organization in Mouse Achilles Tendon Using High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging
Authors: Riggin Corinne N. , Sarver Joseph J. , Freedman Benjamin R. , Thomas Stephen J. , Soslowsky Louis J.
Published: December 2013

Achilles tendon ruptures are traumatic injuries, and techniques for assessing repair outcomes rely on patient-based measures of pain and function, which do not directly assess tendon healing. Consequently, there is a need for a quantitative, in vivo measure of tendon properties. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to validate ultrasound imaging for evaluating collagen organization in tendons. In this study, we compared our novel, high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) imaging and analysis method to a standard measure of collagen organization, crossed polarizer (CP) imaging. Eighteen mouse Achilles tendons were harvested and placed into a testing fixture where HFUS and CP imaging could be performed simultaneously in a controlled loading environment. Two experiments were conducted: (1) effect of loading on collagen alignment and (2) effect of an excisional injury on collagen alignment. As expected, it was found that both the HFUS and CP methods could reliably detect an increase in alignment with increasing load, as well as a decrease in alignment with injury. This HFUS method demonstrates that structural measures of collagen organization in tendon can be determined through ultrasound imaging. This experiment also provides a mechanistic evaluation of tissue structure that could potentially be used to develop a targeted approach to aid in rehabilitation or monitor return to activity after tendon injury.
Biomechanics of the Posterior Eye: A Critical Role in Health and Disease
Authors: Campbell Ian C. , Coudrillier Baptiste , Ross Ethier C.
Published: December 2013

The posterior eye is a complex biomechanical structure. Delicate neural and vascular tissues of the retina, choroid, and optic nerve head that are critical for visual function are subjected to mechanical loading from intraocular pressure, intraocular and extraorbital muscles, and external forces on the eye. The surrounding sclera serves to counteract excessive deformation from these forces and thus to create a stable biomechanical environment for the ocular tissues. Additionally, the eye is a dynamic structure with connective tissue remodeling occurring as a result of aging and pathologies such as glaucoma and myopia. The material properties of these tissues and the distribution of stresses and strains in the posterior eye is an area of active research, relying on a combination of computational modeling, imaging, and biomechanical measurement approaches. Investigators are recognizing the increasing importance of the role of the collagen microstructure in these material properties and are undertaking microstructural measurements to drive microstructurally-informed models of ocular biomechanics. Here, we review notable findings and the consensus understanding on the biomechanics and microstructure of the posterior eye. Results from computational and numerical modeling studies and mechanical testing of ocular tissue are discussed. We conclude with some speculation as to future trends in this field.
Controlled ambient and temperature treatment of InGaZnO thin film transistors for improved bias-illumination stress reliability
Authors: Vemuri Rajitha N. P. , Hasin Muhammad R. , Alford T. L.
Published: December 2013

The failure mechanisms arising from the instability in operation of indium gallium zinc oxide based thin film transistors (TFTs) upon prolonged real application stresses (bias and illumination) have been extensively studied and reported. Positive and negative gate bias conditions, along with high photonic energy wavelengths within visible light spectrum are used as stress conditions. The increased carrier concentration due to photonic excitation of defects within bandgap and ionization of deep level vacancies is compensated by the reduction in off currents under illumination due to the trapping of carriers in the intermetal dielectric. Band lowering at the source-channel junction due to accumulation of negative carriers repelled due to negative gate bias stress further causes high carrier flow into the channel and drives the devices into failure. The defect identification during failure and degradation assisted in proposing suitable low temperature post processing in specific ambients. Reliability tests after specific anneals in oxygen, vacuum, and forming gas ambients confirm the correlation of the defect type with anneal ambient. Annealed TFTs demonstrate high stabilities under illumination stresses and do not fail when subjected to combined stresses that cause failure in as-fabricated TFTs. Oxygen and forming gas anneals are impactful on the reliability and opens an area of study on donor and vacancy behavior in amorphous mixed oxide based TFTs. The subthreshold swing, field-effect mobilities, and off currents provide knowledge on best anneal practices by understanding role of hydrogen and oxygen in vacancy annihilation and transistor switching properties.