bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustained exposure to abscisic acid enhances the colonization potential of the mutualist fungus Piriformospora indica on Arabidopsis thaliana roots
Authors: Peskan‐Berghöfer Tatjana , Vilches‐Barro Amaya , Müller Teresa M. , Glawischnig Erich , Reichelt Michael , Gershenzon Jonathan , Rausch Thomas
Published: June 2015

Root colonization by the beneficial fungus Piriformospora indica is controlled by plant innate immunity, but factors that channel this interaction into a mutualistic relationship are not known. We have explored the impact of abscisic acid (ABA) and osmotic stress on the P. indica interaction with Arabidopsis thaliana.

The activation of plant innate immunity in roots was determined by measuring the concentration of the phytoalexin camalexin and expression of transcription factors regulating the biosynthesis of tryptophan‐related defence metabolites. Furthermore, the impact of the fungus on the content of ABA, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid (JA) and JA‐related metabolites was examined.

We demonstrated that treatment with exogenous ABA or the ABA analogue pyrabactin increased fungal colonization efficiency without impairment of plant fitness. Concomitantly, ABA‐deficient mutants of A. thaliana (aba1‐6 and aba2‐1) were less colonized, while plants exposed to moderate stress were more colonized than corresponding controls. Sustained exposure to ABA attenuated expression of transcription factors MYB51, MYB122 and WRKY33 in roots upon P. indica challenge or chitin treatment, and prevented an increase in camalexin content.

The results indicate that ABA can strengthen the interaction with P. indica as a consequence of its impact on plant innate immunity. Consequently, ABA will be relevant for the establishment and outcome of the symbiosis under stress conditions.
The use of information and communication technologies to support working carers of older people – a qualitative secondary analysis
Authors: Andersson Stefan , Magnusson Lennart , Hanson Elizabeth
Published: June 2015

Background

Family care support services have mainly focused on older spousal carers of older people and have largely overlooked working carers, whom combine paid work with informal/family care responsibilities. Recently, however, information and communication technology (ICT) systems have been identified as a potentially flexible way of supporting working carers.

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe nursing and support staff's experiences of using ICT for information, e‐learning and support of working carers of older people.

Design

The study employed a descriptive, qualitative approach conducting a qualitative secondary analysis of two original data sets. In total, seventeen professional staff members from two municipal family carer support units in Sweden that had implemented ICTs were interviewed using a semi‐structured interview guide consisting of open‐ended questions.

Method

Two data sets were merged using latent qualitative content analysis.

Findings

Secondary analysis produced three subthemes and an overall theme, a virtual road as a carriageway for the support of working carers, consisting of both enabling and hindering aspects in family support. This theme provides access points in both directions and is based on caring instruments that enable nursing staff's support role. The staff's sustainability and ability to support is influenced by caring opportunities and barriers.

Conclusions

The findings suggest the ICTs to be flexible structures that provided nursing staff with a means and method to support working carers of older people. To overcome barriers to its use, measures to optimise support for working carers and the older person are needed.

Implications for practice

The use of ICTs provides nurses with a means to offer support to working carers of older people and enables carers to be informed, to learn and to share their burdens with others when caring for an older family member.
The false negative rate and the role for virtual review in a nationally evaluated glaucoma referral refinement scheme
Authors: Ratnarajan Gokulan , Kean Jane , French Karen , Parker Mike , Bourne Rupert
Published: June 2015

Purpose

To establish the safety of the CHANGES glaucoma referral refinement scheme (GRRS).

Methods

The CHANGES scheme risk stratifies glaucoma referrals, with low risk referrals seen by a community based specialist optometrist (OSI) while high risk referrals are referred directly to the hospital. In this study, those patients discharged by the OSI were reviewed by the consultant ophthalmologist to establish a ‘false negative’ rate (Study 1). Virtual review of optic disc photographs was carried out both by a hospital‐based specialist optometrist as well as the consultant ophthalmologist (Study 2).

Results

None of these 34 discharged patients seen by the consultant were found to have glaucoma or started on treatment to lower the intra‐ocular pressure. Five of the 34 (15%) were classified as ‘glaucoma suspect’ based on the appearance of the optic disc and offered a follow‐up appointment. Virtual review by both the consultant and optometrist had a sensitivity of 80%, whilst the false positive rate for the optometrist was 3.4%, and 32% for the consultant (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The false negative rate of the OSIs in the CHANGES scheme was 15%, however there were no patients where glaucoma was missed. Virtual review in experienced hands can be as effective as clinical review by a consultant, and is a valid method to ensure glaucoma is not missed in GRRS. The CHANGES scheme, which includes virtual review, is effective at reducing referrals to the hospital whilst not compromising patient safety.
Mechanisms and diversity of resistance to sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata
Authors: Riyazaddin Mohammed , Kavi Kishor Polavarapu B. , Ashok Kumar Are , Reddy Belum V. S. , Munghate Rajendra S. , Sharma Hari C.
Published: June 2015

Sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata, is one of the important pests of postrainy season sorghums. Of the 90 sorghum genotypes evaluated for resistance to this pest, RHRB 12, ICSV 713, 25026, 93046 and 25027, IS 33844‐5, Giddi Maldandi and RVRT 3 exhibited resistance in postrainy season, while ICSB 463, Phule Anuradha, RHRB 19, Parbhani Moti, ICSV 705, PS 35805, IS 5480, 5622, 17726, 18368 and 34722, RVRT 1, ICSR 93031 and Dagidi Solapur showed resistance in rainy season, suggesting season‐specific expression of resistance to A. soccata. ICSB 461, ICSB 463, Phule Yasodha, M 35‐1, ICSV 700, 711, 25010, 25019 and 93089, IS 18662, Phule Vasudha, IS 18551 and 33844‐5 and Barsizoot had fewer deadhearts than plants with eggs across seasons, suggesting antibiosis as one of the resistance mechanism. Five genotypes exhibited resistance with high grain yield across seasons. Correlation, path and stepwise regression analyses indicated that leaf glossiness, seedling vigour, trichome density, oviposition and leaf sheath pigmentation were associated with the expression of resistance/susceptibility to shoot fly, and these can be used as marker traits to select and develop shoot fly‐resistant sorghums.
Clinical impact of 11C‐Pittsburgh compound‐B positron emission tomography carried out in addition to magnetic resonance imaging and single‐photon emission computed tomography on the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Omachi Yoshie , Ito Kimiteru , Arima Kunimasa , Matsuda Hiroshi , Nakata Yasuhiro , Sakata Masuhiro , Sato Noriko , Nakagome Kazuyuki , Motohashi Nobutaka
Published: June 2015

Aims

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of addition of [11C]Pittsburgh compound‐B positron emission tomography (11C‐PiB PET) on routine clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to assess diagnostic agreement between clinical criteria and research criteria of the National Institute on Aging–Alzheimer's Association.

Methods

The diagnosis in 85 patients was made according to clinical criteria. Imaging examinations, including both magnetic resonance imaging and single‐photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography to identify neuronal injury (NI), and 11C‐PiB PET to identify amyloid were performed, and all subjects were re‐categorized according to the research criteria.

Results

Among 40 patients with probable AD dementia (ProAD), 37 were NI‐positive, 29 were 11C‐PiB‐positive, and 27 who were both NI‐ and 11C‐PiB‐positive were categorized as having ‘ProAD dementia with a high level of evidence of the AD pathophysiological process’. Among 20 patients with possible AD dementia (PosAD), 17 were NI‐positive, and six who were both NI‐ and 11C‐PiB‐positive were categorized as having ‘PosAD with evidence of the AD pathophysiological process’. Among 25 patients with MCI, 18 were NI‐positive, 13 were 11C‐PiB‐positive, and 10 who were both NI‐ and 11C‐PiB‐positive were categorized as having ‘MCI due to AD‐high likelihood’.

Conclusions

Diagnostic concordance between clinical criteria and research criteria may not be high in this study. 11C‐PiB PET may be of value in making the diagnosis of dementia and MCI in cases with high diagnostic uncertainty.
Favorable four‐yr outcome after renal transplantation in a patient with complement factor H antibody and CFHR1/CFHR3 gene mutation‐associated HUS
Authors: Grenda Ryszard , Jarmużek Wioletta , Rubik Jacek , Prokurat Sylwester , Miklaszewska Monika , Drozdz Dorota , Zachwieja Katarzyna , Ardissino Gianluigi , Hofer Johannes
Published: June 2015

aHUS is a clinical challenge for successful renal transplantation. Case report: A 14‐yr‐old girl lost her kidneys at the age of 7, due to CFH antibodies and CFH‐related protein (CFHR1/CFHR3) homozygous deletion‐associated aHUS. CFH, CFI, and MCP gene mutations were excluded. The patient was a candidate for renal transplantation despite persistent presence of CFH antibodies (up to 539 AU/mL). Treatment with MMF, IVIG, and repeated PF (n = 8) was introduced while being placed on urgent waiting list. Three years after aHUS onset, the patient underwent the deceased donor renal transplantation “under cover” of PF, as PF was performed directly prior to surgery and, then, PFs were repeated up to overall 14 sessions. Quadruple immunosuppression (basiliximab + tacrolimus + MMF + prednisolone) was used. Moderate symptoms of aHUS (hemolysis, low platelets, and low C3) were present within first seven days post‐transplant and then normalized with PF therapy. The patient remained stable during four yr of further follow‐up after transplantation. Conclusion: Specific pre‐ and post‐transplant management allowed successful renal transplantation in a CFH antibody‐positive patient.
TaMDAR6 acts as a negative regulator of plant cell death and participates indirectly in stomatal regulation during the wheat stripe rust–fungus interaction
Authors: Abou‐Attia Mohamed Awaad , Wang Xiaojie , Nashaat Al‐Attala Mohamed , Xu Qiang , Zhan Gangming , Kang Zhensheng
Published: June 2015

We identified a new monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR) gene from wheat, designated TaMDAR6, which is differentially affected by wheat–Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) interactions. TaMDAR6 is a negative regulator of plant cell death (PCD) triggered by the Bax gene and Pst. Transcript levels of TaMDAR6 are significantly upregulated during a compatible wheat–Pst interaction, indicating that TaMDAR6 may contribute to plant susceptibility. In addition, H2O2 production and PCD are significantly induced and initial pathogen development is significantly reduced in the TaMDAR6 knocked‐down plants upon Pst infection. Thus, the suppression of TaMDAR6 enhances wheat resistance to Pst. Besides, the suppression of TaMDAR6 during an incompatible interaction induces a change in the morphology of stomata, which leads to poor stoma recognition and as a consequence to reduced infection efficiency. The percentage of infection sites that develop substomatal vesicles decreases in the TaMDAR6 knocked‐down plants during the incompatible interaction presumably due to the increase in ROS accumulation, which is likely to activate other resistance mechanisms that have a negative effect on substomatal vesicle formation. TaMDAR6 can therefore be considered a negative regulator of PCD and of wheat defense to Pst.
Anger is associated with reward‐related electrocortical activity: Evidence from the reward positivity
Authors: Angus Douglas J. , Kemkes Kevin , Schutter Dennis J. L. G. , Harmon‐Jones Eddie
Published: June 2015

Previous research indicates that the reward positivity (RewP), an electrophysiological correlate of sensitivity and biases towards rewarding stimuli, is modulated by affective and motivational variables. Studies have provided evidence that states and traits associated with negative affect and reduced approach motivation are correlated with smaller RewP amplitudes. However, the possible confound of affective valence and motivational direction was not addressed in these studies. In the present study, we examined if anger, an emotion associated with negative affect and increased approach motivation, would affect RewP amplitude. We also investigated if RewP amplitude was related to the motivational properties of reward stimuli. One hundred male participants completed two emotion inductions intended to elicit feelings of either neutrality or anger. Each was followed by a simple gambling task, in which correct choices were followed by images of women in lingerie or swimwear. Although the RewP was elicited following each induction, there was no difference in amplitude between the neutral and anger induction. However, RewP amplitude was positively correlated with how much participants liked the reward stimuli, and this correlation was statistically larger following the anger induction. These results support a motivational interpretation for the differences in RewP amplitude reported in previous studies, suggesting that motivational direction and intensity, rather than affective valence, underlie differences in RewP amplitude. Moreover, the RewP appears to be affected by interactions between motivational state and the motivational value of reward stimuli.
Effect of CPAP therapy on endothelial function in obstructive sleep apnoea: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Schwarz Esther I , Puhan Milo A , Schlatzer Christian , Stradling John R , Kohler Malcolm
Published: June 2015

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep‐related breathing disorder associated with adverse cardiovascular outcome. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the proposed mechanistic links between OSA and the increased cardiovascular risk. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may reverse this detrimental pathophysiological consequence of OSA. Most studies on the effect of CPAP on endothelial function in OSA are limited by their low sample size. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effect CPAP therapy on endothelial function in patients with OSA. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis searching literature databases up to August 2013 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of CPAP on endothelial function in OSA, assessed by flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD) and other validated techniques. The primary outcome for the meta‐analysis (DerSimonian/Laird random‐effects method) was the treatment effect on FMD. Eight RCTs comparing the effects of therapeutic CPAP versus subtherapeutic CPAP (or no intervention) on endothelial function involving 245 OSA patients were included in the systematic review. The studies are consistent in effect direction, showing an improvement of endothelial function by CPAP. Four RCTs involving 150 patients could be used for the meta‐analysis. Compared to the control group, CPAP therapy (range 2–24 weeks) significantly increased absolute % FMD by 3.87% (95% confidence interval: 1.93–5.80, P < 0.001). In patients with OSA, CPAP therapy improves endothelial function significantly and to a clinically important extent.
An Agent‐Based Simulation of Residential Location Choice of Tenants in Tehran, Iran
Authors: Shirzadi Babakan Ali , Alimohammadi Abbas
Published: June 2015

Residential location choice modeling is one of the substantial components of land use and transportation models. While numerous aggregated mathematical and statistical approaches have been developed to model the residence choice behavior of households, disaggregated approaches such as the agent‐based modeling have shown interesting capabilities. In this article, a novel agent‐based approach is developed to simulate the residential location choice of tenants in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Tenants are considered as agents who select their desired residential alternatives according to their characteristics and preferences for various criteria such as the rent, accessibility to different services and facilities, environmental pollution, and distance from their workplace and former residence. The choice set of agents is limited to their desired residential alternatives by applying a constrained NSGA‐II algorithm. Then, agents compete with each other to select their final residence among their alternatives. Results of the proposed approach are validated by comparing simulated and actual residences of a sample of tenants. Results show that the proposed approach is able to accurately simulate the residence of 59.3% of tenants at the traffic analysis zone level.
Evaluation and Monitoring of Service Quality: Discussing Ways to Meet INSPIRE Requirements
Authors: Seip Christian , Bill Ralf
Published: June 2015

Service oriented architectures (SOA) are widely used nowadays. As the name implies such architectures rely on services. Germany developed a marine‐specific service oriented data infrastructure (MDI‐DE – Marine Dateninfrastruktur Deutschland) from 2010 to 2013. The services in MDI‐DE can contribute to fulfilling reporting commitments for various European and national legislation. The services of MDI‐DE (just like other services affected, for instance, by INSPIRE) have to meet specific requirements regarding performance, availability and conformity (quality of service, QoS). Although SOA is an important field in scientific research there are very few publications and studies available on QoS, especially regarding INSPIRE requirements. The services of MDI‐DE were analyzed using various existing tools. Their usefulness to reflect where either the aspect's performance, availability or conformity needs improvement was partly verified. Due to varying results and the neglect of some services for various reasons it can be stated that the more tools are used, the more conclusive the outcome. Furthermore, service quality was not coherent when measured with different tools. This means that measuring QoS in terms of INSPIRE will be very difficult to do in the future and there is the danger that people will choose the tools with which their services perform best.
Feature‐Driven Generalization of Isobaths on Nautical Charts: A Multi‐Agent System Approach
Authors: Guilbert Eric
Published: June 2015

A nautical chart provides a schematic view of the seafloor where isobaths (contour lines joining points of same depth) and depth soundings are generalized to highlight undersea features that form navigational hazards and routes. Considering that the process is ultimately driven by features and their significance to navigation, this article proposes a generalization strategy where isobath generalization is controlled by undersea features directly. The seafloor is not perceived as a continuous depth field but as a set of discrete features composed by groups of isobaths. In this article, generalization constraints and operators are defined at feature level and composed of constraints and operators applying to isobaths. In order to automate the process, a multi‐agent system is designed where features are autonomous agents evaluating their environment in order to trigger operations. Interactions between agents are described and an example on a bathymetric database excerpt illustrates the feasibility of the approach.
Plasma lactate concentrations and comparison of two point‐of‐care lactate analyzers to a laboratory analyzer in a population of healthy cats
Authors: Tynan Beth , Kerl Marie E. , Jackson Mary L. , Mann F. A.
Published: June 2015

Objective

To establish a reference interval for plasma lactate in a population of healthy adult cats on a laboratory analyzer (Nova Biomedical Critical Care Xpress [CCX]) and 2 commercially available point‐of‐care (POC) analyzers (Abbott i‐STAT [i‐STAT] and Nova Biomedical Lactate Plus [LP]), and to compare the level of agreement of lactate measurement between the laboratory analyzer and POC analyzers.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

University veterinary teaching hospital.

Animals

Forty‐seven healthy adult cats.

Interventions

Jugular phlebotomy.

Measurements and Main Results

In this population, plasma lactate reference interval was 0.67–5.44 mmol/L for the CCX, 0.65–5.16 mmol/L for the i‐STAT, and 0.68–4.39 mmol/L for the LP. Comparisons were made between lactate measurements on 2 point‐of‐care analyzers and the laboratory analyzer using the Bland–Altman method. For the comparison of CCX and i‐STAT, the bias was −0.10 mmol/L; for the CCX and LP, the bias was −0.24 mmol/L.

Conclusions

Measurements of plasma lactate in cats using the i‐STAT showed acceptable agreement with the CCX. The LP showed weaker agreement. However, both POC analyzers are suitable for measurement of lactate in cats, provided results from different POC analyzers are not directly compared. This study identified a larger reference interval for plasma lactate concentration in cats than what has been previously reported.
RELAP5/MOD3.3 Analyses for Prevention Strategy of Extended Station Blackout
Authors: Prošek Andrej , Volkanovski Andrija
Published: June 2015

The purpose of the study was to investigate the application of deterministic safety analysis for a prevention strategy of the extended station blackout (SBO). A method for the assessment of portable pump flow rates for a steam generator (SG) makeup is proposed. The RELAP5/MOD3.3 computer code and input model of a two-loop pressurized water reactor (PWR) is used for analyses, assuming different injection start times, flow rates, and reactor coolant system (RCS) losses. The calculated results show the effectiveness of the proposed extended SBO prevention strategy. The results demonstrate the need for mitigation of the common cause failure (CCF) potential of the on-site and off-site power sources.
Heat Transfer Enhancement Due to Coolant Extraction on the Cold Side of Effusion Cooling Plates
Authors: Da Soghe Riccardo , Andreini Antonio , Facchini Bruno , Mazzei Lorenzo
Published: June 2015

Effusion cooling represents one of the most innovative techniques to limit and control the metal temperature of combustors liner, and recently, attention has been paid by the scientific community on the characterization and the definition of design practices of such devices. Most of these studies were focused on the heat transfer on the hot side of effusion cooling plates, while just few contributions deal with the effusion plates cold side convective cooling. This paper reports a numerical survey aimed at the characterization of the convective cooling at the effusion plates cold side. Several effusion holes spacing is accounted for in conjunction with representative operating conditions. The study led to the development of an empirical correlation for the prediction of the cold side heat transfer coefficient enhancement factor, EF: it expresses the EF related to each extraction hole as a function of the pressure ratio β and the effusion plate porosity factor σ.
A test of reproductive advantage in two competitive mole salamanders (Caudata: Ambystomatidae) from a single site in South-Central Pennsylvania
Authors: Delis Pablo R. , Meshaka Walter , Wingert Eugene , Bartle Sarah
Published: June 2015

Eleven female Jeﬀerson Salamanders (Ambystoma jeﬀersonianum) and ﬁve female Spotted Salamanders (A. maculatum) were collected during 28 February-17 March 2011 from the same vernal pool in south-central Pennsylvania for comparison of reproductive characteristics. Mean clutch size (169.5 eggs) and relative clutch mass (12.9%) of A. jeﬀersonianum was larger than those values of A. maculatum (130.8 eggs and 9.4%, respectively) despite an 8.9% smaller body size of the former. However, mean egg diameter was larger in A. maculatum. Greater fecundity, even if at the cost of egg size, could provide A. jeﬀersonianum with an added reproductive advantage in areas of syntopy with A. maculatum, where it is known to be a superior competitor and predator of A. maculatum at the larval stage.
The Effect of Work Boots on Knee Mechanics and the Center of Pressure at the Knee During Static Kneeling
Authors: Tennant Liana , Kingston David , Chong Helen , Acker Stacey
Published: June 2015

Occupational kneeling is associated with an increased risk for the development of knee osteoarthritis. Previous work studying occupational kneeling has neglected to account for the fact that in many industrial settings, workers are required to wear steeltoe work boots. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of work boot wear on the center of pressure location of the ground reaction force, knee joint angle, and magnitude of the ground reaction force in a kneeling posture. Fifteen healthy males were fit with 3D motion capture markers and knelt statically over a force plate embedded in the floor. Using the tibial tuberosity as the point of reference, the center of pressure in shod condition was shifted significantly medially (on average 0.009 m [P = .005]) compared with the barefoot condition. The knee was significantly less internally rotated (shod: –12.5° vs. barefoot: –17.4° [P = .009]) and the anterior/posterior shear force was significantly greater in the shod condition (shod: 6.0% body weight vs. barefoot: 1.5% body weight [P = .002]). Therefore, wearing work boots alters the kneeling posture compared with barefoot kneeling, potentially loading different surfaces of the knee, as well as altering knee joint moments.
Physical Fitness in Older People with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Authors: Hesseberg Karin , Bentzen Hege , Ranhoff Anette Hylen , Engedal Knut , Bergland Astrid
Published: June 2015

Maintenance of physical activity and good physical fitness is important for functional independence. This study had two aims: examine the physical fitness level in older persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, and examine the relationship between the components of physical fitness and cognitive domains in this group. The cross-sectional study included community-living older people ≥ 65 years of age with MCI or dementia. Physical fitness and cognition were assessed using the Senior Fitness Test and five cognitive tests. Most of the participants scored below the criteria for maintaining physical independence in later years. There were significant associations between the components of physical fitness and cognition, except flexibility. Declines in executive function were most related to declines in physical fitness. These factors should receive more attention in people with MCI and dementia because they risk losing independence.
Evaluation of Tai Chi Program Effectiveness for People with Arthritis in the Community: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Callahan Leigh F. , Cleveland Rebecca J. , Altpeter Mary , Hackney Betsy
Published: June 2015

Objective:

Evaluate effectiveness of the Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi Program for community participants with arthritis.

Methods:

343 individuals were randomized to either the intervention or wait-list control group. Performance and self-reported outcome (SRO) measures were assessed at baseline and eight weeks. At one year, SROs only were assessed. Adjusted means were determined using regression models adjusting for covariates, and effect sizes (ES) were calculated.

Results:

Average participant age was 66 years, 87% were female, and 87% were Caucasian. Among 284 (83%) participants who returned at eight weeks, balance by reach (ES = 0.30) and helplessness, sleep, and role participation satisfaction (ES = 0.24–0.54) improved significantly; pain, fatigue, and stiffness improvement (ES = 0.15–0.23) approached significance. No change was noted in mobility, lower extremity strength, or single-leg stance balance. At one year, improvements in pain, fatigue, stiffness, helplessness, and role participation satisfaction at eight weeks were maintained; 30% continued tai chi practice.

Conclusion:

Moderate effectiveness of the Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi Program was confirmed.
Sage grouse war tests limits of partnership in West
Authors: Lavelle Marianne
Published: June 2015

The prairie chicken could provide a blueprint for settling the sage grouse war.
Comment on “Missing gas-phase source of HONO inferred from Zeppelin measurements in the troposphere”
Authors: Ye Chunxiang , Zhou Xianliang , Pu Dennis , Stutz Jochen , Festa James , Spolaor Max , Cantrell Christopher , Mauldin Roy L. , Weinheimer Andrew , Haggerty Julie
Published: June 2015

Li
et al
. (Reports, 18 April 2014, p. 292) proposed a unity nitrous acid (HONO) yield for reaction between nitrogen dioxide and the hydroperoxyl-water complex and suggested a substantial overestimation in HONO photolysis contribution to hydroxyl radical budget. Based on airborne observations of all parameters in this chemical system, we have determined an upper-limit HONO yield of 0.03 for the reaction.
Shared decision-making drives collective movement in wild baboons
Authors: Strandburg-Peshkin Ariana , Farine Damien R. , Couzin Iain D. , Crofoot Margaret C.
Published: June 2015

Baboons follow the pack, not the leader

How do groups of animals, including humans, make decisions that affect the entire group? Evidence collected from schooling animals suggests that the process is somewhat democratic, with nearest neighbors and the majority shaping overall collective behavior. In animals with hierarchical social structures such as primates or wolves, however, such democracy may be complicated by dominance. Strandburg-Peshkin
et al.
monitored all the individuals within a baboon troop continuously over the course of their daily activities. Even within this highly socially structured species, movement decisions emerged via a shared process. Thus, democracy may be an inherent trait of collective behavior.

Science
, this issue p.
1358
Recruitment of RNA polymerase II by the pioneer transcription factor PHA-4
Authors: Hsu H.‐T. , Chen H.‐M. , Yang Z. , Wang J. , Lee N. K. , Burger A. , Zaret K. , Liu T. , Levine E. , Mango S. E.
Published: June 2015

Multifunctional pioneers

Proteins surround cellular DNA to silence gene expression. Early in development, proteins such as pioneer transcription factors facilitate the opening of this silenced chromatin structure. Hsu
et al.
describe an additional role for the PHA-4 pioneer transcription factor in nematode worms. PHA-4 recruited RNA polymerase II to target promoters before transcriptional onset, and this activity preceded its chromatin-opening duty. The multifunctional role identified for PHA-4 may be shared by other pioneer factors.

Science
, this issue p.
1372
A
Chlamydia
vaccine on the horizon
Authors: Brunham Robert C.
Published: June 2015

Results of a new
Chlamydia
vaccine in mice should spur human clinical trials

[Also see Research Article by

Stary
et al.

]
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus spa Type t002 Outbreak in Horses and Staff at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital after Its Presumed Introduction by a Veterinarian
Authors: Steinman Amir , Masarwa Samira , Tirosh-Levy Sharon , Gleser Dan , Kelmer Gal , Adler Amos , Carmeli Yehuda , Schwaber Mitchell J.
Published: June 2015

Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) infection and colonization, involving MRSA strains which differ from common human health care-associated clones, have become serious emerging conditions in equine veterinary hospitals. In 2010, MRSA
spa
type t535 caused an outbreak involving both horses and personnel in a veterinary teaching hospital in Israel. Since then, surveillance continued, and occasional MRSA isolation occurred. Two years later, MRSA of another
spa
type, t002, was isolated from a veterinarian and, 3 weeks later, from a horse. The appearance of
spa
type t002, a common clone in human medicine in Israel, among both personnel and horses, prompted a point-prevalence survey of hospital personnel and hospitalized horses. Fifty-nine staff members (
n
= 16 equine;
n
= 43, other) and 14 horses were screened. Ten of 59 staff members (16.9%) and 7 of 14 horses (50%) were MRSA carriers. Among the staff, 44% of large animal department (LAD) personnel, compared with only 7% of non-LAD personnel, were carriers. Isolates from all horses and from 9 of 10 personnel were found to be of MRSA
spa
type t002. This clone was later isolated from an infected postoperative wound in a hospitalized horse. Measures were taken to contain transmission between horses and personnel, as was done in the previous outbreak, resulting in reduction of transmission and, finally, cessation of cross-transmission between horses and personnel.
Evaluation of Remel Spectra CRE Agar for Detection of Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteria from Rectal Swabs Obtained from Residents of a Long-Term-Care Facility
Authors: LaBombardi Vincent J. , Urban Carl M. , Kreiswirth Barry N. , Chen Liang , Osorio Giuliana , Kopacz Joanna , Labaze Georges , Segal-Maurer Sorana
Published: June 2015

We compared the Remel Spectra CRE agar plate to CDC standard methodology for the isolation of carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
(CRE) from 300 rectal swab specimens obtained from patients residing in a long-term-care facility (LTCF). Multiplex PCR experiments were performed on isolates to identify specific
Klebsiella pneumoniae
carbapenemases (KPC) and additional β-lactamases. Of the 300 patients, 72 (24%) harbored CRE and were PCR positive for KPC enzymes. The Remel Spectra CRE plates detected KPC-type CRE in isolates from 70 of 72 patients (97.2%), while the CDC method detected CRE in 56 of 72 (77.8%). CRE identification results were available in 18 h compared to 36 h for the CDC method. Remel Spectra CRE agar plates can provide useful means for a fast and reliable method for detecting KPC-type CRE and for accelerated institution of appropriate infection control precautions.
Clinical Performance of Aspergillus PCR for Testing Serum and Plasma: a Study by the European Aspergillus PCR Initiative
Authors: White P. Lewis , Barnes Rosemary A. , Springer Jan , Klingspor Lena , Cuenca-Estrella Manuel , Morton C. Oliver , Lagrou Katrien , Bretagne Stéphane , Melchers Willem J. G. , Mengoli Carlo , Donnelly J. Peter , Heinz Werner J. , Loeffler Juergen
Published: June 2015

Aspergillus
PCR testing of serum provides technical simplicity but with potentially reduced sensitivity compared to whole-blood testing. With diseases for which screening to exclude disease represents an optimal strategy, sensitivity is paramount. The associated analytical study confirmed that DNA concentrations were greater in plasma than those in serum. The aim of the current investigation was to confirm analytical findings by comparing the performance of
Aspergillus
PCR testing of plasma and serum in the clinical setting. Standardized
Aspergillus
PCR was performed on plasma and serum samples concurrently obtained from hematology patients in a multicenter retrospective anonymous case-control study, with cases diagnosed according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) consensus definitions (19 proven/probable cases and 42 controls). Clinical performance and clinical utility (time to positivity) were calculated for both kinds of samples. The sensitivity and specificity for
Aspergillus
PCR when testing serum were 68.4% and 76.2%, respectively, and for plasma, they were 94.7% and 83.3%, respectively. Eighty-five percent of serum and plasma PCR results were concordant. On average, plasma PCR was positive 16.8 days before diagnosis and was the earliest indicator of infection in 13 cases, combined with other biomarkers in five cases. On average, serum PCR was positive 10.8 days before diagnosis and was the earliest indicator of infection in six cases, combined with other biomarkers in three cases. These results confirm the analytical finding that the sensitivity of
Aspergillus
PCR using plasma is superior to that using serum. PCR positivity occurs earlier when testing plasma and provides sufficient sensitivity for the screening of invasive aspergillosis while maintaining methodological simplicity.
Lentiviral Protein Transfer Vectors Are an Efficient Vaccine Platform and Induce a Strong Antigen-Specific Cytotoxic T Cell Response
Authors: Uhlig Katharina M. , Schülke Stefan , Scheuplein Vivian A. M. , Malczyk Anna H. , Reusch Johannes , Kugelmann Stefanie , Muth Anke , Koch Vivian , Hutzler Stefan , Bodmer Bianca S. , Schambach Axel , Buchholz Christian J. , Waibler Zoe , Scheurer Stephan , Mühlebach Michael D.
Published: June 2015

To induce and trigger innate and adaptive immune responses, antigen-presenting cells (APCs) take up and process antigens. Retroviral particles are capable of transferring not only genetic information but also foreign cargo proteins when they are genetically fused to viral structural proteins. Here, we demonstrate the capacity of lentiviral protein transfer vectors (PTVs) for targeted antigen transfer directly into APCs and thereby induction of cytotoxic T cell responses. Targeting of lentiviral PTVs to APCs can be achieved analogously to gene transfer vectors by pseudotyping the particles with truncated wild-type measles virus (MV) glycoproteins (GPs), which use human SLAM (signaling lymphocyte activation molecule) as a main entry receptor. SLAM is expressed on stimulated lymphocytes and APCs, including dendritic cells. SLAM-targeted PTVs transferred the reporter protein green fluorescent protein (GFP) or Cre recombinase with strict receptor specificity into SLAM-expressing CHO and B cell lines, in contrast to broadly transducing vesicular stomatitis virus G protein (VSV-G) pseudotyped PTVs. Primary myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) incubated with targeted or nontargeted ovalbumin (Ova)-transferring PTVs stimulated Ova-specific T lymphocytes, especially CD8+T cells. Administration of Ova-PTVs into SLAM-transgenic and control mice confirmed the observed predominant induction of antigen-specific CD8+T cells and demonstrated the capacity of protein transfer vectors as suitable vaccines for the induction of antigen-specific immune responses.

IMPORTANCEThis study demonstrates the specificity and efficacy of antigen transfer by SLAM-targeted and nontargeted lentiviral protein transfer vectors into antigen-presenting cells to trigger antigen-specific immune responsesin vitroandin vivo. The observed predominant activation of antigen-specific CD8+T cells indicates the suitability of SLAM-targeted and also nontargeted PTVs as a vaccine for the induction of cytotoxic immune responses. Since cytotoxic CD8+T lymphocytes are a mainstay of antitumoral immune responses, PTVs could be engineered for the transfer of specific tumor antigens provoking tailored antitumoral immunity. Therefore, PTVs can be used as safe and efficient alternatives to gene transfer vectors or live attenuated replicating vector platforms, avoiding genotoxicity or general toxicity in highly immunocompromised patients, respectively. Thereby, the potential for easy envelope exchange allows the circumventing of neutralizing antibodies, e.g., during repeated boost immunizations.
Hepatitis B Virus Covalently Closed Circular DNA Formation in Immortalized Mouse Hepatocytes Associated with Nucleocapsid Destabilization
Authors: Cui Xiuji , Guo Ju-Tao , Hu Jianming
Published: June 2015

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and causes acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV is an enveloped virus with a relaxed circular (RC) DNA genome. In the nuclei of infected human hepatocytes, conversion of RC DNA from the incoming virion or cytoplasmic mature nucleocapsid (NC) to the covalently closed circular (CCC) DNA, which serves as the template for producing all viral transcripts, is essential to establish and sustain viral replication. For reasons yet to be understood, HBV is apparently unable to make CCC DNA in normal mouse hepatocytes in the liver. We report here that HBV CCC DNA was formed efficiently in an immortalized mouse hepatocyte cell line, AML12HBV10, and this is associated with destabilization of mature NCs in these cells. These results suggest that destabilization of mature HBV NCs in AML12HBV10 cells facilitates efficient NC uncoating and subsequent CCC DNA formation. They further implicate NC uncoating as an important step in CCC DNA formation that is subject to host regulation and potentially a critical determinant of host range and/or cell tropism of HBV.

IMPORTANCE
Persistent infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV), afflicting hundreds of millions worldwide, is sustained by the episomal viral covalently closed circular (CCC) DNA in the nuclei of infected hepatocytes. CCC DNA is converted from the viral genomic (precursor) DNA contained in cytoplasmic viral nucleocapsids. The conversion process remains ill defined, but host cell factors are thought to play an essential role. In particular, HBV fails to make CCC DNA in normal mouse hepatocytes despite the presence of large amounts of nucleocapsids containing the precursor viral DNA. We have found that in an immortalized mouse hepatocyte cell line, HBV is able to make abundant amounts of CCC DNA. This ability correlates with increased instability of viral nucleocapsids in these cells, which likely facilitates nucleocapsid disassembly (uncoating) to release the genomic DNA for conversion to CCC DNA. Our studies have thus revealed a novel mechanism of controlling viral persistence via regulating nucleocapsid disassembly.
Harlequin ichthyosis: a case report of prolonged survival
Authors: Mithwani Anwar A , Hashmi Asif , Shahnawaz Shahid , Al Ghamdi Yasser
Published: June 2015

Harlequin ichthyosis (HI) is a rare type of congenital ichthyosis associated with poor survival. We report, with photographic record, a male baby born with HI. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of HI in Saudi Arabia, where the child has survived beyond 7 years. The baby was born at 37 weeks of gestation from consanguineous parents with no inherited skin disorder in the family. The mother was 28 years old with three normal previous pregnancies and healthy babies. At birth, the baby's skin had thick scales separated by deep fissuring. He was managed in intensive care with supportive treatment and frequent application of lubricants, emollients and urea cream. The skin gradually became softened, and began to shed after 6 weeks. After 8 months of inpatient management, he was discharged. He is currently 7 years old and is still being treated for non-bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma.
Monitoring of physical health parameters for inpatients on a child and adolescent mental health unit receiving regular antipsychotic therapy
Authors: Pasha Nida , Saeed Shoaib , Drewek Katherine
Published: June 2015

Physical health monitoring of patients receiving antipsychotics is vital. Overall it is estimated that individuals suffering with conditions like schizophrenia have a 20% shorter life expectancy than the average population, moreover antipsychotic use has been linked to a number of conditions including diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.[1-4]

The severity of possible adverse effects to antipsychotics in adults has raised awareness of the importance of monitoring physical health in this population. However, there is little literature available as to the adverse effects of these medications in the child and adolescent community, which make physical health monitoring in this predominantly antipsychotic naïve population even more important.

An expert group meeting in the UK has laid down recommendations in regards to screening and management of adult patients receiving antipsychotics, however no specific guidelines have been put in place for the child and adolescent age group.[5]

The aim of this audit was to establish whether in-patients receiving antipsychotics had the following investigations pre-treatment and 12 weeks after treatment initiation: body mass index, hip-waist circumference, blood pressure, ECG, urea and electrolytes, full blood count, lipid profile, random glucose level, liver function test, and prolactin. This is in addition to a pre-treatment VTE risk assessment. These standards were derived from local trust guidelines, NICE guidelines on schizophrenia [6] and The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines.[7]

We retrospectively reviewed 39 electronic case notes in total, of which 24 cases were post intervention. Intervention included the use of a prompting tool. This tool was filed in the physical health files of all patients receiving antipsychotics which was intended as a reminder to doctors regarding their patient’s need for physical health monitoring. Professionals involved in the monitoring of such parameters were educated in the importance and purpose of its use. Following this intervention re-audit occurred after 6 and 16 months of the initial audit to establish whether the use of the prompting tool caused any significant change in clinical practice.

Overall performance in monitoring physical health parameters was initially poor, however we were able to demonstrate that with the help of a single prompt sheet there was a significant improvement following post intervention audit for the majority of parameters being monitored.
Capsaicin may have important potential for promoting vascular and metabolic health
Authors: McCarty Mark F , DiNicolantonio James J , O'Keefe James H
Published: June 2015

Capsaicin, the phytochemical responsible for the spiciness of peppers, has the potential to modulate metabolism via activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptors, which are found not only on nociceptive sensory neurons, but also in a range of other tissues. TRPV1 activation induces calcium influx, and in certain tissues this is associated with increased activation or expression of key proteins such as endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), KLF2, PPARdelta, PPARgamma, and LXRα. The calcium influx triggered by TRPV1 activation in endothelial cells mimics the impact of shear stress in this regard, activating and increasing the expression of eNOS—but also increasing expression of cox-2, thrombomodulin, and nrf2-responsive antioxidant enzymes, while decreasing expression of proinflammatory proteins. Hence, dietary capsaicin has favourably impacted endothelium-dependent vasodilation in rodents. TRPV1-mediated induction of LXRα in foam cells promotes cholesterol export, antagonising plaque formation. Capsaicin-mediated activation of TRPV1-expressing neurons in the gastrointestinal tract promotes sympathetically mediated stimulation of brown fat, raising metabolic rate. The increased expression of UCP2 induced by TRPV1 activation exerts a protective antioxidant effect on the liver in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and on vascular endothelium in the context of hyperglycaemia. In rodent studies, capsaicin-rich diets have shown favourable effects on atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver, cardiac hypertrophy, hypertension and stroke risk. Clinically, ingestion of capsaicin—or its less stable non-pungent analogue capsiate—has been shown to boost metabolic rate modestly. Topical application of capsaicin via patch was found to increase exercise time to ischaemic threshold in patients with angina. Further clinical studies with capsaicin administered in food, capsules, or via patch, are needed to establish protocols that are tolerable for most patients, and to evaluate the potential of capsaicin for promoting vascular and metabolic health.