bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fructans, water‐soluble fibre and fermentable sugars in bread and pasta made with ancient and modern wheat
Authors: Gélinas Pierre , McKinnon Carole , Gagnon Fleur
Published: December 2015

The aim of this study was to determine wheat constituents in bread and pasta that might result in intestinal gas production. Fructans, water‐soluble arabinoxylans, arabinogalactan proteins and fermentable sugars were followed in bread and pasta made with ancient (Khorasan wheat; emmer) and modern wheats (common wheat; durum). After fermentation for 180 min, 80% of fructans were eliminated and higher levels of fructose than glucose accumulated in bread dough supplemented with sucrose. Whole‐grain Khorasan wheat and emmer flours inhibited yeast fermentative activity. Half of fructans, arabinogalactan proteins and sugars were washed out in cooking water for pasta. Water‐soluble wheat arabinoxylans increased in bread and cooked pasta. With very low levels (0.3–0.8%, dry basis), fructans in cooked pasta and, in particular, long‐fermentation bread prepared with modern or ancient wheat would unlikely act as major gas‐forming triggers of gastrointestinal discomfort associated with noncoeliac gluten sensitivity.
Molecular characterization of classical and nonclassicalMHCclassIgenes from the golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
Authors: Zeng Q.‐Q. , Zhong G.‐H. , He K. , Sun D.‐D. , Wan Q.‐H.
Published: December 2015

Classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I allelic polymorphism is essential for competent antigen presentation. To improve the genotyping efforts in the golden pheasant, it is necessary to differentiate more accurately between classical and nonclassical class I molecules. In our study, allMHCclass I genes were isolated from one golden pheasant based on two overlappingPCRamplifications. In total, six full‐length class I nucleotide sequences (A–F) were identified, and four were novel. Two (A and C) belonged to theIA1 gene, two (B and D) were alleles derived from theIA2 gene through transgene amplification, and two (E and F) comprised a third novel locus,IA3 that was excluded from the core region of the golden pheasantMHC‐B.IA1 andIA2 exhibited the broad expression profiles characteristic of classical loci, whileIA3 showed no expression in multiple tissues and was therefore defined as a nonclassical gene. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the threeIAgenes in the golden pheasant share a much closer evolutionary relationship than the corresponding sequences in other galliform species. This observation was consistent with high sequence similarity among them, which likely arises from the homogenizing effect of recombination. Our careful distinction between the classical and nonclassicalMHCclass I genes in the golden pheasant lays the foundation for developing locus‐specific genotyping and establishing a good molecular marker system of classicalMHCI loci.
Timing of influenza epidemics and vaccines in the American tropics, 2002–2008, 2011–2014
Authors: Durand Lizette Olga , Cheng Po‐Yung , Palekar Rakhee , Clara Wilfrido , Jara Jorge , Cerpa Mauricio , El Omeiri Nathalie , Ropero‐Alvarez Alba Maria , Ramirez Juliana Barbosa , Araya Jenny Lara , Acosta Belsy , Bruno Alfredo , Calderon de Lozano Celina , Castillo Signor Leticia del Carmen , Matute Maria Luisa , Jackson‐Betty Sandra , Mung Kam Suan , Díaz‐Quiñonez José Alberto , López‐Martinez Irma , Balmaseda Angel , Arévalo Brechla Morneo , Vazquez Cynthia , Gutierrez Victoria , Garten Rebecca , Widdowson Marc‐Alain , Azziz‐Baumgartner Eduardo
Published: December 2015

Background

Influenza‐associated illness results in increased morbidity and mortality in the Americas. These effects can be mitigated with an appropriately chosen and timed influenza vaccination campaign. To provide guidance in choosing the most suitable vaccine formulation and timing of administration, it is necessary to understand the timing of influenza seasonal epidemics.

Objectives

Our main objective was to determine whether influenza occurs in seasonal patterns in the American tropics and when these patterns occurred.

Methods

Publicly available, monthly seasonal influenza data from the Pan American Health Organization and WHO, from countries in the American tropics, were obtained during 2002–2008 and 2011–2014 (excluding unseasonal pandemic activity during 2009–2010). For each country, we calculated the monthly proportion of samples that tested positive for influenza. We applied the monthly proportion data to a logistic regression model for each country.

Results

We analyzed 2002–2008 and 2011–2014 influenza surveillance data from the American tropics and identified 13 (81%) of 16 countries with influenza epidemics that, on average, started during May and lasted 4 months.

Conclusions

The majority of countries in the American tropics have seasonal epidemics that start in May. Officials in these countries should consider the impact of vaccinating persons during April with the Southern Hemisphere formulation.
Multiscale Modeling for Predicting the Mechanical Properties of Silicon Carbide Ceramics
Authors: Dong Xiangyang , Shin Yung C.
Published: December 2015

Silicon carbide (SiC) is one of the advanced ceramics, which is widely used in industries due to its excellent mechanical properties. Understanding the relations between its microstructure and the mechanical properties is critical to adopting SiC ceramics in different applications. In this paper, a multiscale model incorporating a cohesive zone model is proposed to predict the mechanical properties of SiC ceramics. Interatomic potentials are developed usingab initiocalculation to more accurately calculate the SiC behaviors in molecular dynamics modeling. The proposed multiscale model is used to predict the mechanical properties of SiC ceramics and their relations with the grain size distribution in the finite element framework. A good agreement is found between prediction results and experimental measurements. Successfully predicting its mechanical behaviors could help selection of parameters during processing of SiC ceramics under different conditions.
HLA‐A*33‐DR3 and A*33‐DR9 haplotypes enhance the risk of type 1 diabetes in Han Chinese
Authors: Zhang Juanjuan , Zhao Liebin , Wang Bokai , Gao Jie , Wang Li , Li Li , Cui Bin , Hu Min , Hong Jie , Gu Weiqiong , Wang Weiqing , Ning Guang
Published: December 2015

Aims/Introduction

To investigate the typing for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I in Chinese patients with type 1 diabetes as a complement screening for HLA class II.

Materials and Methods

A total of 212 type 1 diabetic patients and 200 healthy controls were enrolled. The genetic polymorphisms of HLA class I and II were examined with a high‐resolution polymerase chain reaction sequence‐based typing method.

Results

The haplotype, A*33:03‐B*58:01‐C*03:02(A33), was associated with type 1 diabetes (P = 1.0 × 10−4, odds ratio 3.2 [1.738–5.843]). The A33‐DR3 and A33‐DR9 haplotypes significantly enhanced the risk of type 1 diabetes (A33‐DR3, odds ratio 5.1 [2.40–10.78], P = 4.0 × 10−6; A33‐DR9, odds ratio 13.0 [1.69–100.32], P = 0.004). In type 1 diabetic patients, compared with A33‐DR3‐negative carriers, A33‐DR3‐positive carriers had significantly lower percentages of CD3+CD4+ T cells (42.5 ± 7.72 vs 37.0 ± 8.35%, P = 0.023), higher percentages of CD3+CD8+ T cells (27.4 ± 7.09 vs 32.8 ± 5.98%, P = 0.005) and T‐cell receptor α/β T cells (70.0 ± 7.00 vs 73.6 ± 6.25%, P = 0.031), and lower CD4/CD8 ratios (1.71 ± 0.75 vs 1.16 ± 0.35, P = 0.003).

Conclusions

It is the first time that the haplotypes A33‐DR3 and A33‐DR9 were found with an enhanced predisposition to type 1 diabetes in Han Chinese. A33‐DR3 was associated with a reduction in the helper‐to‐cytotoxic cell ratio and preferential increase of T‐cell receptor α/β T cell. The typing for HLA class I and its immunogenetic effects are important for more accurate HLA class II haplotype risk prediction and etiology research in type 1 diabetic patients.
AtTMEM18 plays important roles in pollen tube and vegetative growth in Arabidopsis
Authors: Dou Xiao‐Ying , Yang Ke‐Zhen , Ma Zhao‐Xia , Chen Li‐Qun , Zhang Xue‐Qin , Bai Jin‐Rong , Ye De
Published: December 2015

In flowering plants, pollen tube growth is essential for delivery of male gametes into the female gametophyte or embryo sac for double fertilization. Although many genes have been identified as being involved in the process, the molecular mechanisms of pollen tube growth remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified that the Arabidopsis Transmembrane Protein 18 (AtTMEM18) gene played important roles in pollen tube growth. The AtTMEM18 shares a high similarity with the Transmembrane 18 proteins (TMEM18s) that are conserved in most eukaryotes and may play important roles in obesity in humans. Mutation in the AtTMEM18 by a Ds insertion caused abnormal callose deposition in the pollen grains and had a significant impact on pollen germination and pollen tube growth. AtTMEM18 is expressed in pollen grains, pollen tubes, root tips and other vegetative tissues. The pollen‐rescued assays showed that the mutation in AtTMEM18 also caused defects in roots, stems, leaves and transmitting tracts. AtTMEM18‐GFP was located around the nuclei. Genetic assays demonstrated that the localization of AtTMEM18 around the nuclei in the generative cells of pollen grains was essential for the male fertility. Furthermore, expression of the rice TMEM18‐homologous protein (OsTMEM18) driven by LAT52 promoter could recover the fertility of the Arabidopsis attmem18 mutant. These results suggested that the TMEM18 is important for plant growth in Arabidopsis.
Socioeconomic and health factors associated with kindergarten retention in Australian children
Authors: Wong Evelyn , Steele Emily , Johnson Shae , Proimos Jenny , Batterham Angela , Nolan Terry , Waters Elizabeth
Published: December 2015

Aim

We aimed to identify key socioeconomic and health factors that are associated with a child's likelihood of being retained in kindergarten prior to commencing first year of school in Australian children.

Methods

We used data linked from the School Entrant Health Questionnaire administered to children commencing school in 2012 (N = 42 002). Kindergarten retention here is defined by children accessing a second year of funded kindergarten prior to commencing school. We used logistic regression analysis to estimate the strength of associations between a range of socioeconomic and health factors to the likelihood of kindergarten retention.

Results

Of the 25 289 children included in our analysis, 903 (3.6%) had a second year of funded kindergarten prior to commencing school. In comparison, 1680 children out of 42 002 in the Kinder‐School Entrant Health Questionnaire dataset had a second year of funded kindergarten (4.0%). From our final regression model, the highest association was found in children whose parents reported a history of speech and language difficulties (odds ratio 2.25, 95% confidence interval (1.91–2.66)) (adjusting for a range of demographic, health and developmental factors). Similarly, children from an indigenous background were twice as likely to be retained in kindergarten compared with those with a non‐indigenous background (odds ratio 2.06 (1.17–3.64)).

Conclusion

This analysis adds to the evidence base that children who are more socially disadvantaged as well as children with health difficulties, particularly speech and language difficulties, are more likely to be retained in kindergarten.
Parotidectomy for the treatment of parotid sialocoele in 14 dogs
Authors: Proot J. L. J. , Nelissen P. , Ladlow J. F. , Bowlt Blacklock K. , Kulendra N. , de la Puerta B. , Sheahan D. E.
Published: December 2015

OBJECTIVES

To describe the presentation, diagnosis, cause, complications and outcome in 14 dogs that presented with a parotid sialocoele and that were treated by complete parotidectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Multi‐institutional retrospective study.

RESULTS

Each dog presented with a non‐painful, fluctuant, soft tissue mass over the lateral aspect of the face in the region of the parotid salivary gland. Diagnosis was made by sialoradiography (3/14),CT(3/14), ultrasound (11/14) andMRI(2/14). The cause of the sialocoele could be determined in 8 of 14 patients and included: foreign body (2/14), sialolithiasis (1/14), neoplasia (3/14), salivary gland lipomatosis (1/14) and trauma (1/14). Treatment incurred one anaesthetic complication (regurgitation) and seven postoperative surgical complications [self‐limiting seroma formation (2/14), haemorrhage (1/14), wound dehiscence (1/14), abscessation 7 months postoperatively (1/14) and facial nerve paralysis (2/14)]. Sialocoele did not recur in any dog during a median follow‐up time of 14 months.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Parotidectomy has been considered a technically challenging procedure but can have a good success rate with long‐term resolution of the clinical symptoms. Intra‐ and postoperative complications are reasonably common.
Radiographic evaluation of elbow incongruity in Skye terriers
Authors: Lappalainen A. K. , Hyvärinen T. , Junnila J. , Laitinen‐Vapaavuori O.
Published: December 2015

OBJECTIVES

Aims of this study were to radiographically evaluate elbow congruity and to explore associations between elbow incongruity and lameness in Skye terriers.

METHODS

Mediolateral, 90°‐flexed, elbow joint radiographs were obtained for 45 Skye terriers. Elbow joint incongruity was graded mild, moderate or severe by measuring the width of the humeroulnar joint space. A questionnaire provided information on lameness history for each dog.

RESULTS

In total, 49% (22/45) of the dogs had moderate or severe elbow joint incongruity which associated with lameness. Owner‐reported lameness was common: 15/45 (33%) dogs had been lame when less than one year old, and 6 (14%) had been lame at an older age. All dogs presenting with lameness when older than one year had also been lame in adolescence.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Lameness and moderate‐to‐severe elbow joint incongruity were common in Skye terriers and the two were associated. A novel protocol for radiographic screening of elbow joint incongruity of chondrodystrophic breeds is suggested.
Evaluation of urinary biomarkers for azotaemic chronic kidney disease in cats
Authors: Williams T. L. , Archer J.
Published: December 2015

OBJECTIVES

Evaluation of urine albumin:creatinine ratio, urine cystatin C:creatinine ratio, urine protein:creatinine ratio and urine specific gravity as screening tests for azotaemic chronic kidney disease in cats.

METHODS

A group of cats over eight years old were defined as either (i) healthy non‐azotaemic (n=40) if they had serum creatinine concentration <153 µmol/L and no history of apparent disease or (2) having azotaemic chronic kidney disease (n=12) if they had serum creatinine concentration >153 µmol/L with urine specific gravity <1·035. Urine albumin:creatinine ratio, urine cystatin C:creatinine ratio, urine protein:creatinine ratio and urine specific gravity were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Urine cystatin C:creatinine ratio was significantly lower in cats with azotaemic chronic kidney disease than that in healthy cats [3·7 (1·4, 4·3)×10−6 versus 13·9 (6·3, 24·7)×10−6; P=0·011]. Urine specific gravity was also significantly lower in the azotaemic chronic kidney disease group than that in the healthy group [1·022 (1·017, 1·028) versus 1·043 (1·034, >1·050); P<0·001]. Urine albumin:creatinine ratio and urine protein:creatinine ratio were not significantly different between the groups (P=0·075 and P=0·965, respectively).

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Urine cystatin C:creatinine ratio and urine specific gravity were significantly lower in cats with azotaemic chronic kidney disease than that in healthy cats; however, neither biomarker was an adequate sole screening test for azotaemic chronic kidney disease.
Texture Evaluation of Cooked Rice Prepared from Japanese Cultivars Using Two‐Bite Instrumental Test and Electromyography
Authors: Kohyama Kaoru , Sodhi Navdeep Singh , Suzuki Keitaro , Sasaki Tomoko
Published: December 2015

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of texture of cooked rice on the natural chewing behavior of people who habitually consume rice. Eight Japanese cultivars varying in amylose content and protein content were selected and cooked rice samples with various texture were prepared. Instrumentally measured textural parameters were highly correlated with the amylose content but not with protein content. Electromyography (EMG) from both masseter muscles was recorded during natural eating for 10 men. The number of chews, mastication time and sum of muscle activities were significantly higher in the harder rice samples from high amylose cultivars. The burst duration and muscle activities per chew were also high; however, the interburst duration was low in rice with a high amylose content. EMG variables per chew were compared in the early, middle and late stages of mastication. The amplitude and muscle activities decreased in the late stage, whereas the interburst duration and cycle time increased for all cultivars and the burst duration was similar. No significant correlations between EMG variables and protein content were found. Amylose content influences the texture of cooked rice and also chewing behavior, but the effects of amylose content were diminished at the late stage of mastication. EMG was useful for analyzing natural eating behavior as well as dynamic changes in texture during mastication of cooked rice.

Practical Applications

The texture of cooked rice is due to the amylose content in starch contained in rice grains. Many parameters obtained from instrumental and electromyography (EMG) measurements were significantly correlated with the amylose content. EMG is useful for analyzing eating behavior and dynamic changes in texture during mastication. Raw EMG variables analyzed through repeated‐measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) and standardized EMG variables using a control sample followed by ANOVA provided similar results for different cultivars. Both raw and standardized EMG variables correlated with instrumentally measured parameters. Standardization of EMGs is not necessary if the number of chews, time for oral processing, chewing cycle are of interest. These absolute values are useful for designing the texture of foods and optimizing the cooking method if there is not a good control material. The standardized EMGs clearly indicate degree of texture effects on each variable.
Effect of the Glucagon‐like Peptide‐1 Analogue Exenatide Extended Release in Cats with Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Riederer A. , Zini E. , Salesov E. , Fracassi F. , Padrutt I. , Macha K. , Stöckle T.M. , Lutz T.A. , Reusch C.E.
Published: December 2015

Background

Exenatide extended release (ER) is a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 analogue that increases insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon secretion and induces satiation in humans with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The use of exenatide ER is safe and stimulates insulin secretion in healthy cats.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to assess the safety of exenatide ER and its effect on body weight, remission and metabolic control in newly diagnosed diabetic cats receiving insulin and a low‐carbohydrate diet.

Animals

Thirty client‐owned cats.

Methods

Prospective placebo‐controlled clinical trial. Cats were treated with exenatide ER or 0.9% saline, administered SC, once weekly. Both groups received insulin glargine and a low‐carbohydrate diet. Exenatide ER was administered for 16 weeks, or in cats that achieved remission it was given for 4 weeks after discontinuing insulin treatment. Nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Cats in the exenatide ER and placebo groups had transient adverse signs including decreased appetite (60% vs. 20%, respectively, P = .06) and vomiting (53% vs. 40%, respectively, P = .715). Body weight increased significantly in the placebo group (P = .002), but not in cats receiving exenatide ER. Cats on exenatide ER achieved remission or good metabolic control in 40% or 89%, respectively, whereas in control cats percentages were 20% or 58% (P = .427 and P = .178, respectively).

Conclusion and clinical importance

Exenatide ER is safe in diabetic cats and does not result in weight gain. Our pilot study suggests that, should there be an additional clinically relevant beneficial effect of exenatide ER in insulin‐treated cats on rate of remission and good metabolic control, it would likely approximate 20% and 30%, respectively.
Toward an Anthropology of Insurance and Health Reform: An Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Dao Amy , Mulligan Jessica
Published: December 2015

This article introduces a special issue of Medical Anthropology Quarterly on health insurance and health reform. We begin by reviewing anthropological contributions to the study of financial models for health care and then discuss the unique contributions offered by the articles of this collection. The contributors demonstrate how insurance accentuates—but does not resolve tensions between granting universal access to care and rationing limited resources, between social solidarity and individual responsibility, and between private markets and public goods. Insurance does not have a single meaning, logic, or effect but needs to be viewed in practice, in context, and from multiple vantage points. As the field of insurance studies in the social sciences grows and as health reforms across the globe continue to use insurance to restructure the organization of health care, it is incumbent on medical anthropologists to undertake a renewed and concerted study of health insurance and health systems.
Twenty‐eight‐year review of childhood renal diseases from renal biopsy data: A single centre in China
Authors: Jiang Mengjie , Xiao Zizheng , Rong Liping , Xu Yuanyuan , Chen Lizhi , Mo Ying , Sun Liangzhong , Sun Wei , Jiang Xiaoyun
Published: December 2015

Aim

The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics of biopsy‐proven childhood renal diseases and to compare the trends and changes during two different time intervals between 1984 and 2011 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University in China.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed kidney biopsy data from children with renal diseases and compared the data during two time intervals, namely 1984–1997 and 1998–2011.

Results

A total of 1313 children were enrolled in the present study. There were 921 children with primary glomerular disease (PGD) and 312 children with secondary glomerular disease (SGD), accounting for 70.1% and 23.8% of participants, respectively. The major clinical manifestation of PGD was nephrotic syndrome (NS), which accounted for 31.2% of cases, while the main aetiology of SGD was lupus nephritis (40.7%). The main biopsy patterns of PGD were IgA nephritis (27.6%), minimal change disease (24.0%), and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (16.9%). PGD was the major class of disease in both time intervals, but the ratio of PGD decreased over time, while the ratio of SGD and other glomerular diseases increased. PGD was also the major class of disease in each age group; however, the incidence of PGD decreased with increasing age.

Conclusion

The incidence patterns of paediatric renal diseases changed over the 28‐year period of this study. Our results show that different renal diseases characterize different age intervals. Furthermore, there are several associations between clinical presentation and biopsy features in childhood renal disease.
Global burden of oral diseases: emerging concepts, management and interplay with systemic health
Authors: Jin LJ , Lamster IB , Greenspan JS , Pitts NB , Scully C , Warnakulasuriya S
Published: December 2015

Objectives

This study presents the global burden of major oral diseases with an exegetical commentary on their current profiles, the critical issues in oral healthcare and future perspectives.

Methods

A narrative overview of current literature was undertaken to synthesise the contexts with critical elaboration and commentary.

Results

Oral disease is one of the most common public health issues worldwide with significant socio‐economic impacts, and yet it is frequently neglected in public health policy. The oral data extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study in 2010 (Murray et al, 2012) show that caries, periodontal disease, edentulism, oral cancer and cleft lip/palate collectively accounted for 18 814 000 disability‐adjusted life‐years; and the global burden of periodontal disease, oral cancer and caries increased markedly by an average of 45.6% from 1990 to 2010 in parallel with the major non‐communicable diseases like diabetes by 69.0%. Oral diseases and non‐communicable diseases are closely interlinked through sharing common risk factors (e.g. excess sugar consumption and tobacco use) and underlying infection/inflammatory pathways.

Conclusions

Oral disease remains a major public health burden worldwide. It is of great importance to integrate oral health into global health agenda via the common risk factor approach. The long‐term sustainable strategy for global oral health should focus on health promotion and disease prevention through effective multidisciplinary teamwork.
Commonness and rarity of alien and native plant species – the relative roles of intraspecific competition and plant–soil feedback
Authors: Müller Gregor , van Kleunen Mark , Dawson Wayne
Published: December 2015

The success of invasive alien and common native species may be explained by the same underlying mechanisms. Differences in intraspecific competition as well as differences in plant–soil feedback have been put forward as potential determinants of plant success. We teased apart the relative roles of competition and plant–soil feedback in a greenhouse experiment with 30 common and rare alien and native species from nine plant families. We tested whether plant biomass decreased less for common than rare species, regardless of origin, when grown at higher relative frequencies (1, 3 or 6 out of 9 plants per pot) in a community and in soil previously conditioned by the same species at different frequencies (0, 1, 3 or 6 out of 9 plants per pot) in an orthogonal design for these two factors. Plant survival decreased slightly, but non‐significantly, for all species when grown in soil previously occupied by conspecifics. Among surviving plants, we found a decrease in biomass with increasing intraspecific competition across all species (regardless of origin or commonness), and alien species were more negatively affected by previous high plant frequency than native species, but only marginally significantly so. Our findings suggest that, while intraspecific competition limits individual biomass in a density‐dependent manner, these effects do not depend on species origin or commonness. Notably, alien species but not natives showed a decrease in performance when grown in soil pre‐conditioned with a higher frequency of conspecifics. In conclusion, soil‐borne pathogen accumulation might be weak in its effects on plant performance compared to intraspecific competition, with neither being clearly linked to species commonness.
Genetic evolution of nevus of Ota reveals clonal heterogeneity acquiring BAP1 and TP53 mutations
Authors: Vivancos Ana , Caratú Ginevra , Matito Judit , Muñoz Eva , Ferrer Berta , Hernández‐Losa Javier , Bodet Domingo , Pérez‐Alea Mileidys , Cortés Javier , Garcia‐Patos Vicente , Recio Juan A.
Published: December 2015

Melanoma presents molecular alterations based on its anatomical location and exposure to environmental factors. Due to its intrinsic genetic heterogeneity, a simple snapshot of a tumor's genetic alterations does not reflect the tumor clonal complexity or specific gene–gene cooperation. Here, we studied the genetic alterations and clonal evolution of a unique patient with a Nevus of Ota that developed into a recurring uveal‐like dermal melanoma. The Nevus of Ota and ulterior lesions contained GNAQ mutations were c‐KIT positive, and tumors showed an increased RAS pathway activity during progression. Whole‐exome sequencing of these lesions revealed the acquisition of BAP1 and TP53 mutations during tumor evolution, thereby unmasking clonal heterogeneity and allowing the identification of cooperating genes within the same tumor. Our results highlight the importance of studying tumor genetic evolution to identify cooperating mechanisms and delineate effective therapies.
Powdery mildew resistance in the Japanese domestic tobacco cultivar Kokubu is associated with aberrant splicing of MLO orthologues
Authors: Fujimura T. , Sato S. , Tajima T. , Arai M.
Published: December 2015

The Japanese domestic tobacco cultivar Kokubu (syn. Kou‐fan) is highly resistant to powdery mildew, and this trait is controlled by recessive alleles at two loci. To show the molecular mechanism of powdery mildew resistance of Kokubu, the transcripts and genomic sequences of tobacco Mildew resistance locus O (MLO) orthologues were compared between powdery mildew‐resistant and ‐susceptible cultivars. Two MLO orthologues (NtMLO1 and NtMLO2) corresponding to powdery mildew susceptibility were expressed in tobacco leaves. However, the transcripts of both NtMLO genes in the powdery mildew‐resistant cultivars harboured partial deletions or insertions. In a genomic DNA sequence alignment analysis, mutations in intron regions were detected in both NtMLO genes of powdery mildew‐resistant cultivars, and these mutations were linked to the powdery mildew‐resistant phenotype. Transgenic Kokubu expressing wildtype NtMLO1 or NtMLO2 exhibited severe disease symptoms, the same as those in susceptible cultivars. These results indicate that mutations of intron regions of two NtMLO genes in powdery mildew resistant cultivar Kokubu trigger the aberrant splicing of MLO transcripts and the subsequent inhibition of functional MLO protein synthesis, and that NtMLO1 and NtMLO2 are functionally redundant.
Effect of exercise on night periodic breathing and loop gain during hypoxic confinement
Authors: Morrison Shawnda A. , Pangerc Andrej , Eiken Ola , Mekjavic Igor B. , Dolenc‐Groselj Leja
Published: December 2015

Background and objective

Hypoxic exercise exacerbates periodic breathing in otherwise healthy, awake humans. Interactions between sleep, exercise and hypoxic exposure have not been fully elucidated.

Methods

Fourteen men were confined 10 days to a simulated altitude of 4175 m (FIO2 = 0.139; PIO2 = 88 mm Hg). They were randomly assigned to an exercise intervention of 2 × 60‐min cycle exercise/day at 50% of their hypoxia‐specific peak power output (exercise, n = 8), or they completed no exercise (control, n = 6, random order). Sleep and breathing were objectively assessed via full polysomnography on night 1, after 14‐h acute exposure (N1), and again on night 10 (N10).

Results

The exercise group spent more time in light sleep than control on N10 (95% confidence interval (CI): 8.5–15.0%; P = 0.013) and experienced more stage shifts (CI: 13–44; P = 0.023) on both nights compared with control. The exercise group experienced more apnoea–hypopnoea (AH) events per hour compared with control (CI: 1–110; P = 0.046); AH events that were associated with night desaturations were also higher on N1 (exercise: 397 ± 320, control: 124 ± 205, P = 0.047) and N10 (exercise: 375 ± 229, control: 110 ± 138, P = 0.028, CI: 49–489 total events; P = 0.020). The length of hyperpnoea was increased from 12.8 ± 2.2 s on N1 to 14.6 ± 2.7 s on N10 (P = 0.008), and thus, total cycle length also increased (P = 0.002) in both cohorts. Mean pooled duty ratios were 0.68 ± 0.02 on N1 and 0.69 ± 0.02 on N10 (group effect P = 0.617).

Conclusion

Daily, moderate‐intensity exercise in normobaric hypoxia equivalent to 4175 m exacerbated AH events, and negatively affected sleep architecture in exercisers compared with matched controls.
Effect of Muc5b promoter polymorphism on disease predisposition and survival in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias
Authors: van der Vis Joanne J. , Snetselaar Reinier , Kazemier Karin M. , ten Klooster Liesbeth , Grutters Jan C. , van Moorsel Coline H.M.
Published: December 2015

Background and objective

A common polymorphism in the MUC5B gene (rs35705950) is associated with susceptibility to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and familial interstitial pneumonia (FIP). We investigated predisposition of the MUC5B polymorphism to fibrotic interstitial pneumonias in Dutch Caucasian patient cohorts. Furthermore, we investigated the correlation between MUC5B genotype and survival in these cohorts.

Methods

Sporadic IPF (spIPF, n = 115), FIP (n = 55), idiopathic non‐specific interstitial pneumonia (iNSIP, n = 43), connective tissue disease associated interstitial pneumonia (CTD_IP, n = 35) and a control cohort (n = 249) were genotyped for rs35705950.

Results

Rs35705950 minor allele frequency (MAF) in controls was 0.09. Case‐control analysis showed significant allelic association with spIPF (MAF = 0.27; P = 5.0 × 10−10), FIP (MAF = 0.30; P = 2.7 × 10−9) and iNSIP (MAF = 0.22; P = 3.4 × 10−4). No association was observed in CTD_IP (MAF = 0.07). FIP subgroup analysis revealed an association between MUC5B and telomerase mutated FIP (P = 0.003), and between MUC5B and FIP with unknown genetic cause (P = 1.2 × 10−8). In spIPF carriership of MUC5B minor allele did not influence survival. In FIP MUC5B minor allele carriers had better survival (non‐carriers 37 vs carriers 53 months, P = 0.01). In iNSIP survival analysis showed an opposite effect. Worse survival was found in iNSIP patients that carried the MUC5B minor allele (non‐carriers 118 vs carriers 46 months, P = 0.027)

Conclusion

 This study showed that MUC5B minor allele predisposes to spIPF, FIP and iNSIP. In spIPF, survival is not influenced by MUC5B alleles. In FIP, MUC5B minor allele predicts better survival, pointing towards a subgroup of FIP patients with a milder, MUC5B‐driven form of pulmonary fibrosis.
Healing the Hidden Injuries of Class? Redemption Narratives, Aspirational Proxies, and Parents of Low‐Income, First‐Generation College Students
Authors: Rondini Ashley C.
Published: December 2015

Existing scholarship has examined how low‐income individuals conceptualize their socioeconomically constrained positions in relation to the meritocratic ideologies and stratified mobility structures of the United States, but little is specifically known about how these individuals' ideas regarding their own status may be impacted by raising children who surpass their educational and occupational achievement levels. Drawing on interview data from both low‐income first‐generation (LIFG) college students and the parents of those students, this article examines how parents framed the achievements of their upwardly mobile, college‐going children in relation to their own experiences of socioeconomic, educational, and occupational constraint. Engaging qualitative understandings of the “hidden injuries of class,” the analysis demonstrates how parents ofLIFGcollege students reconciled their own experiences of limited mobility despite hard work with their steadfast beliefs in meritocratic ideals by (1) invoking narratives of personal “redemption” from past “mistakes” or “failures” in relation to their children's educational accomplishments, and (2) conceptualizing their upwardly mobile children as “aspirational proxies” through whose accomplishments they measured their own success.
The initiation of pull‐apart basins and transform continental margins: results from numerical experiments of kinematic partitioning in divergent settings
Authors: Basile Christophe , Braun Jean
Published: December 2015

We present a set of numerical models to investigate how transform faults initiate in pull‐apart basins or transform continental margins. The model represents an elastic plate with three aligned weak spots. Applying strain on the edge of the model firstly propagates extensional cracks from the pre‐existing damaged spots. The subsequent evolution depends on the angle (obliquity) between the applied strain and the alignment of the damaged spots. For obliquity <50°, transform faults form to connect en‐échelon divergent cracks; for obliquity >60°, transtensional transfer zones connect the divergent cracks and no transform fault forms. These experiments suggest that pull‐apart basins do not form as previously assumed by connection of overlapping transform faults, but that transform faults form as connections of extensional areas.
Can gossip change nutrition behaviour? Results of a mass media and community‐based intervention trial in East Java, Indonesia
Authors: White Sian , Schmidt Wolf , Sahanggamu Daniel , Fatmaningrum Dewi , van Liere Marti , Curtis Val
Published: December 2015

Objective

It is unclear how best to go about improving child feeding practices. We studied the effect of a novel behaviour change intervention, Gerakan Rumpi Sehat (the Healthy Gossip Movement), on infant and young child feeding practices in peri‐urban Indonesia.

Methods

The pilot intervention was designed based on the principles of a new behaviour change theory, Behaviour Centred Design (BCD). It avoided educational messaging in favour of employing emotional drivers of behaviour change, such as affiliation, nurture and disgust and used television commercials, community activations and house‐to‐house visits as delivery channels. The evaluation took the form of a 2‐arm cluster randomised trial with a non‐randomised control arm. One intervention arm received TV only, while the other received TV plus community activations. The intervention components were delivered over a 3‐month period in 12 villages in each arm, each containing an average of 1300 households. There were two primary outcomes: dietary diversity of complementary food and the provision of unhealthy snacks to children aged 6–24 months.

Results

Dietary diversity scores increased by 0.8 points in the arm exposed to TV adverts only (95% CI: 0.4–1.2) and a further 0.2 points in the arm that received both intervention components (95% CI: 0.6–1.4). In both intervention arms, there were increases in the frequency of vegetable and fruit intake. We found inconsistent evidence of an effect on unhealthy snacking.

Conclusion

The study suggests that novel theory‐driven approaches which employ emotional motivators are capable of having an effect on improving dietary diversity and the regularity of vegetable and fruit intake among children aged 6–24 months. Mass media can have a measurable effect on nutrition‐related behaviour, but these effects are likely to be enhanced through complementary community activations. Changing several behaviours at once remains a challenge.
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) isoforms in wound healing and fibrosis
Authors: Lichtman Michael K. , Otero‐Vinas Marta , Falanga Vincent
Published: December 2015

Scar formation, with persistent alteration of the normal tissue structure, is an undesirable and significant result of both wound healing and fibrosing disorders. There are few strategies to prevent or to treat scarring. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) superfamily is an important mediator of tissue repair. Each TGF‐β isoform may exert a different effect on wound healing, which may be context‐dependent. In particular, TGF‐β1 may mediate fibrosis in adults’ wounds, while TGF‐β3 may promote scarless healing in the fetus and reduced scarring in adults. Thus, TGF‐β3 may offer a scar‐reducing therapy for acute and chronic wounds and fibrosing disorders.
Ventral hippocampus modulates bradycardic response to peripheral chemoreflex activation in awake rats
Authors: Kuntze Luciana Bärg , Ferreira‐Junior Nilson Carlos , Lagatta Davi Campos , Resstel Leonardo Barbosa Moraes
Published: December 2015

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Does reversible synaptic inactivation by CoCl2 in the dorsal (DH) or ventral (VH) portions of the hippocampus have a modulatory effect on cardiovascular and respiratory responses evoked by chemoreflex activation in awake rats?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Using i.v. infusion of KCN to activate the peripheral chemoreflex before and after microinjection of CoCl2 into VH, we showed that the bradycardic response was increased, but not the pressor and tachypnoeic responses even if the tidal volume had been increased. Thus, VH but not DH may be involved in the modulation of the parasympathoexcitatory component of the peripheral chemoreflex.

In rats, peripheral chemoreflex activation evokes pressor and bradycardic responses as well as a tachypnoeic response. Studies have shown that limbic structures, such as the hippocampus, can modulate autonomic reflexes. Evidence suggests that the dorsal (DH) and the ventral (VH) portions of the hippocampus are structurally and functionally distinct; therefore, in the present study we tested the hypothesis that local neurotransmission of the DH and VH are involved in the neural pathways of the cardiovascular and ventilatory responses to chemoreflex activation. Thus, the goal of the present study was to compare the chemoreflex responses elicited by i.v. injection of KCN (40 μg per rat) in awake rats before and after DH and VH synaptic transmission was temporarily inhibited by bilateral microinjections of 500 nl of the unspecific synapse blocker, CoCl2 (1 mm). Bilateral inhibition of VH, but not DH, 10 min before KCN infusion was able to enhance the bradycardic response (P < 0.05), with no changes in the typical pressor and tachypnoeic responses evoked by chemoreflex activation (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the tidal volume was significantly increased (P < 0.05) even though no other respiratory parameter had been significantly changed (P > 0.05), suggesting that VH can exert a tonic modulatory action on tidal volume. Therefore, the present study reports, for the first time, that DH neurotransmission did not exert an influence on chemoreflex responses, whereas VH mediates, at least in part, the parasympathoexcitatory component of the peripheral chemoreflex.
Thermoresponsive amperometric glucose biosensor
Authors: Pinyou Piyanut , Ruff Adrian , Pöller Sascha , Barwe Stefan , Nebel Michaela , Alburquerque Natalia Guerrero , Wischerhoff Erik , Laschewsky André , Schmaderer Sebastian , Szeponik Jan , Plumeré Nicolas , Schuhmann Wolfgang
Published: December 2015

The authors report on the fabrication of a thermoresponsive biosensor for the amperometric detection of glucose. Screen printed electrodes with heatable gold working electrodes were modified by a thermoresponsive statistical copolymer [polymer I: poly(ω-ethoxytriethylenglycol methacrylate-co-3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-2-methacryloyloxyethyl ammonio) propanesulfonate-co-ω-butoxydiethylenglycol methacrylate-co-2-(4-benzoyl-phenoxy)ethyl methacrylate)] with a lower critical solution temperature of around 28 °C in aqueous solution via electrochemically induced codeposition with a pH-responsive redox-polymer [polymer II: poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-allyl methacrylate-co-poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate-co-butyl acrylate-co-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-[Os(bpy)2(4-(((2-(2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)amino)methyl)-N,N-dimethylpicolinamide)]2+] and pyrroloquinoline quinone-soluble glucose dehydrogenase acting as biological recognition element. Polymer II bears covalently bound Os-complexes that act as redox mediators for shuttling electrons between the enzyme and the electrode surface. Polymer I acts as a temperature triggered immobilization matrix. Probing the catalytic current as a function of the working electrode temperature shows that the activity of the biosensor is dramatically reduced above the phase transition temperature of polymer I. Thus, the local modulation of the temperature at the interphase between the electrode and the bioactive layer allows switching the biosensor from an on- to an off-state without heating of the surrounding analyte solution.
Simulating environmental and psychological acoustic factors of the operating room
Authors: Bennett Christopher L. , Dudaryk Roman , Ayers Andrew L. , McNeer Richard R.
Published: December 2015

In this study, an operating room simulation environment was adapted to include quadraphonic speakers, which were used to recreate a composed clinical soundscape. To assess validity of the composed soundscape, several acoustic parameters of this simulated environment were acquired in the presence of alarms only, background noise only, or both. These parameters were also measured for comparison from size-matched operating rooms at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The parameters examined included sound level, reverberation time, and predictive metrics of speech intelligibility in quiet and noise. It was found that the sound levels and acoustic parameters were comparable between the simulated environment and the actual operating rooms. The impact of the background noise on the perception of medical alarms was then examined, and was found to have little impact on the audibility of the alarms. This study is a first in kind report of a comparison between the environmental and psychological acoustical parameters of a hospital simulation environment and actual operating rooms.
The mapping between phonological categories and acoustic cues in the production of English obstruents
Authors: Silbert Noah , de Jong Kenneth , Regier Kirsten , Albin Aaron
Published: December 2015

Phonological feature structure is inherently multidimensional, and decades' worth of research in acoustic phonetics has documented both the complex mappings between features and associated acoustic cues as well as the prosodic modulation of these mappings. Most previous studies have focused on how the mean values of acoustic cues vary in complex ways across multiple phonological dimensions, relying on strong assumptions of statistical independence and/or homogeneity of variance across acoustic measures. The present study probes these assumptions by exploring the mapping between phonological voicing, place, and manner features and 8 acoustic cues from tokens of 14 English consonants produced in onset and coda position. Multivariate linear models exhibiting a variety of feature-cue mappings and between-cue statistical relationships were fit to this corpus of acoustic data. Model comparisons indicate that the best statistical description of the data requires pervasive interactions between features with respect to both the locations and the shapes of phonological categories. The implications of these results for work on the production and perception of phonological contrasts is discussed.
The psychophysics of roughness applied to dysphonic voice
Authors: Eddins David A. , Kopf Lisa M. , Shrivastav Rahul
Published: December 2015

Roughness is a sound quality that has been related to the amplitude modulation characteristics of the acoustic stimulus. Roughness also is considered one of the primary elements of voice quality associated with natural variations across normal voices and is a salient feature of many dysphonic voices. It is known that the roughness of tonal stimuli is dependent on the frequency and depth of amplitude modulation and on the carrier frequency. Here, it is determined if similar dependencies exist for voiced speech stimuli. Knowledge of such dependencies can lead to a better understanding of the acoustic characteristics of vocal roughness along the continuum of normal to dysphonic and may facilitate computational estimates of vocal roughness. Synthetic vowel stimuli were modeled after talkers selected from the Satloff/Heman-Ackah disordered voice database. To parametrically control amplitude modulation frequency and depth, synthesized stimuli had minimal amplitude fluctuations, and amplitude modulation was superimposed with the desired frequency and depth. Perceptual roughness judgments depended on amplitude modulation frequency and depth in a manner that closely matched data from tonal carriers. The dependence of perceived roughness on amplitude modulation frequency and depth closely matched the roughness of sinusoidal carriers as reported by Fastl and Zwicker [(2007) Psychoacoustics: Facts and Models, 3rd ed. (Springer, New York)].