bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possible effect of lysophosphatidic acid on cell proliferation and involvement of lysophosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidic acid receptors in mechanical stretch‐induced mitogen‐activated protein kinase
Authors: Kawashima Yohei , Kushida Nobuhiro , Kokubun Shuko , Ogawa Soichiro , Shiomi Homare , Ishibashi Kei , Aikawa Ken , Ikegami Kentaro , Nomiya Masanori , Yamaguchi Osamu
Published: June 2015

Objectives

To determine whether lysophosphatidic acid activates the mitogen‐activated protein kinase and increases DNA synthesis in human bladder smooth muscle cells, and to examine the involvement of lysophosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidic acid receptor in mechanical stretch‐induced mitogen‐activated protein kinase activation in cultured human bladder smooth muscle cells.

Methods

TaqMan reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of six lysophosphatidic acid receptor subtypes. Mitogen‐activated protein kinase activity enhanced by either lysophosphatidic acid or mechanical stretch was measured by western blotting. The effect of lysophosphatidic acid on DNA synthesis was assessed by 5‐bromo‐2’‐deoxy‐uridine incorporation assay.

Results

Lysophosphatidic acid 1 subtype mRNA was predominantly expressed (96%). Lysophosphatidic acid activated the mitogen‐activated protein kinase in a concentration‐dependent manner. C‐jun NH2‐terminal kinase showed the highest activity among the three subsets of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase family members (c‐jun NH2‐terminal kinase, extracellular signal‐regulated kinases, p38). Lysophosphatidic acid also increased incorporation of 5‐bromo‐2’‐deoxy‐uridine. These responses were suppressed by Ki16425 (lysophosphatidic acid receptor antagonist). Mechanical stretch mainly induced c‐jun NH2‐terminal kinase activation. This activation was partially inhibited by Ki16425.

Conclusions

Lysophosphatidic acid might activate the c‐jun NH2‐terminal kinase component of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase family and DNA synthesis through lysophosphatidic acid receptors (presumably, through lysophosphatidic acid 1) in human bladder smooth muscle cells. The present study also implicates the involvement of lysophosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidic acid receptors in mechanical stretch‐induced c‐jun NH2‐terminal kinase activation. Lysophosphatidic acid receptor can be partially activated by mechanical stretching through lysophosphatidic acid‐dependent or independent mechanism.
Linking zebra mussel growth and survival with two cellular stress indicators during chronic temperature stress
Authors: Jost Jennifer A. , Soltis Emily N. , Moyer Marshall R. , Keshwani Sarah S.
Published: June 2015

Sessile aquatic invertebrates are at great risk for temperature stress. Changes in ambient temperature affect metabolic demands, thus altering energy budgets, and often reducing performance or survival of these species. Zebra mussels are highly invasive, yet little is known about their physiology under biologically relevant conditions, especially with regard to cellular parameters. This study examined the effect of temperature on zebra mussel physiology and investigated whether the levels of two cellular markers,HSP70 andAMPKactivity, could serve as indicators of chronic thermal stress. Mussels were collected from a site in central Illinois, slowly acclimated to either 10, 20, or 30°C, and held at these temperatures for four weeks. Size, mortality, and the cellular markers were measured. Size and mortality data indicate heat stress at 30°C. Elevation inHSP70 levels confirmed this temperature elicits a stress response. Elevation inAMPKactivity was not detected at 30°C, most likely indicating this temperature is beyond the scope for this marker, and therefore at or near the lethal limit. These data suggest this zebra mussel population experiences reduced performance and potential mortality in the field during summer months. Interestingly, cold acclimation resulted in a temporary elevation inAMPKactivity, a result that has not been reported previously in ectotherms and is likely attributable to the metabolic demands of thermal acclimation.
Compaction and rotovation effects on soil pore characteristics of a loamy sand soil with contrasting organic matter content
Authors: Eden M. , Schjønning P. , Moldrup P. , De Jonge L. W.
Published: June 2015

The high input of mechanical energy in common agricultural practice can negatively affect soil structure. The impact of compaction (P) and rotovation (R) on soil pore characteristics was compared with those in soil from untreated reference (U) plots of a loamy sand soil receiving for 14 yr, either only mineral fertilizer (MF) or, in addition, animal manure (OF). Undisturbed soil cores were taken from two separate fields in consecutive years at an identical stage in the crop rotation. We measured soil organic carbon (OC), soil microbial biomass carbon (BC), and hot‐water extractable carbon (Chot). Water retention, air permeability and gas diffusivity were determined at −100 hPa in both years and for a range of water potentials in one of the years. The continued addition of animal manure had increased OC, BC, and Chot compared with the soil receiving only mineral fertilizer. Soil under treatment OF had larger porosity than that from treatment MF. Treatment P eliminated this difference and significantly reduced the volume of macropores. This interaction between soil organic matter content and mechanical impact was also reflected in the gas diffusion data. Specific air permeability was mainly influenced by mechanical treatment. Modelling the diffusion data normalized to the inter‐aggregate pore space showed no significant treatment effects on pore‐connectivity, although there was a tendency of more water blockage in soil under treatment MF. More studies are needed to confirm this interpretation. Our studies indicate that organic manure increases soil porosity, but compaction reduces the related gas exchange effects to the level of compacted soils receiving mineral fertilizer.
Determination of Platinum‐Group Elements in Geological Samples by Isotope Dilution‐Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometry Combined with Sulfide Fire Assay Preconcentration
Authors: Ren Minghao , Sun Yali , Wang Christina Yan , Sun Shengling
Published: June 2015

A method was developed for the determination of platinum‐group elements (PGE) in geological samples by isotope dilution‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry combined with sulfide fire assay preconcentration. Samples were fused and PGE analytes were concentrated in sulfide buttons. The buttons were dissolved using HCl leaving PGE analytes in insoluble residues, which were digested in HNO3 and simultaneously processed for the distillation of Os. The remaining solutions were further prepared for the purification of Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt using a tandem assembly of cation and Ln resin columns. The eluents were directly analysed by membrane desolvation‐ICP‐MS. Ruthenium, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt were determined by isotope dilution, whereas Rh was determined by conventional reference material calibration combined with 193Ir as the internal standard element. The method was validated using a series of PGE reference materials, and the measurement data were consistent with the recommended and the literature values. The measurement precision was better than 10% RSD. The procedural blanks were 0.121 ng for Ru, 0.204 for Rh, 0.960 ng for Pd, 0.111 ng for Os, 0.045 ng for Ir and 0.661 ng for Pt, and the limits of detection (3s) were 0.011 ng g−1 for Ru, 0.008 ng g−1 for Rh, 0.045 ng g−1 for Pd, 0.009 ng g−1 for Os, 0.006 ng g−1 for Ir and 0.016 ng g−1 for Pt when a test portion mass of 10 g was used. This indicates that the proposed method can be used for the determination of trace amounts of PGE in geological samples.
Trauma‐informed Day Services for Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities: Exploring Staff Understanding and Perception within an Innovative Programme
Authors: Keesler John M.
Published: June 2015

Background

Trauma‐informed care (TIC) is a systems‐level philosophy of service delivery which integrates choice, collaboration, empowerment, safety and trust to create an organizational culture sensitive to trauma. This study explores staff understandings and perceptions within an innovative trauma‐informed day program for individuals with Intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews queried staff members (n = 20) regarding trauma and TIC, the integration of the five principles of TIC, associated challenges and recommendations for improvement.

Results

Inductive analyses revealed reasonable understandings of trauma and TIC, highlighting factors critical to the five principles of TIC. Differences were associated with duration of employment and the presence of specialized training. Challenges with TIC emerged at different system levels: individuals, staff, management and interorganizational.

Conclusions

This study presents preliminary insight for the innovative and formative process of integrating TIC with intellectual/developmental disabilities services.
Chronic urticaria: tools to aid the diagnosis and assessment of disease status in daily practice
Authors: Weller K. , Zuberbier T. , Maurer M.
Published: June 2015

This article focuses on practical considerations for the optimal management of chronic urticaria (CU) with regard to the tools and instruments that are currently available to assist in the diagnosis and assessment of this condition before and during treatment.
Single base substitution inOsCDC48is responsible for premature senescence and death phenotype in rice
Authors: Huang Qi‐Na , Shi Yong‐Feng , Zhang Xiao‐Bo , Song Li‐Xin , Feng Bao‐Hua , Wang Hui‐Mei , Xu Xia , Li Xiao‐Hong , Guo Dan , Wu Jian‐Li
Published: June 2015

Apremature senescenceand death 128(psd128) mutant was isolated from an ethyl methane sulfonate‐induced rice IR64 mutant bank. The premature senescence phenotype appeared at the six‐leaf stage and the plant died at the early heading stage.psd128exhibited impaired chloroplast development with significantly reduced photosynthetic ability, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, root vigor, soluble protein content and increased malonaldehyde content. Furthermore, the expression of senescence‐related genes was significantly altered inpsd128. The mutant trait was controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene. Using map‐based strategy, the mutationOryza sativa cell division cycle 48(OsCDC48) was isolated and predicted to encode a putative AAA‐type ATPase with 809 amino‐acid residuals. A single base substitution at position C2347T inpsd128resulted in a premature stop codon. Functional complementation could rescue the mutant phenotype. In addition, RNA interference resulted in the premature senescence and death phenotype.OsCDC48was expressed constitutively in the root, stem, leaf and panicle. Subcellular analysis indicated that OsCDC48:YFP fusion proteins were located both in the cytoplasm and nucleus. OsCDC48 was highly conserved with more than 90% identity in the protein levels among plant species. Our results indicated that the impaired function of OsCDC48 was responsible for the premature senescence and death phenotype.
Sex on show. Issues of privacy and dignity in a Forensic mental health hospital: Nurse and patient views
Authors: Quinn Chris , Happell Brenda
Published: June 2015

Aims and objectives

To explore perceptions of privacy and dignity for sexual relationships in a Forensic mental health hospital.

Background

The role of nurses in forensic mental health hospitals is frequently complicated by opposing expectations of therapeutic relationships and maintaining security. What can result is an over‐emphasis on risk reduction by controlling patient behaviour, which can extend to patient intimacy and sexual relationships.

Design

An exploratory, qualitative approach.

Methods

Individual interviews were conducted with 12 nurses and 10 patients in a forensic mental health hospital. Thematic data analysis was undertaken to identify the main themes.

Results

The need for a private and dignified place for patient intimacy was one major theme to emerge from this research from both nurse and patient participants and is the focus of this article. A disparity is reported between the level of support reported by nurse participants with the experience of the patient participants.

Conclusions

Sexual intimacy and sexual relationships are important components of normal human behaviour. Institutional rules and rule adherence create barriers for patients, forcing their intimacy and sexual relationships into secrecy. There is a need for further research to consider the benefits and risks of patient intimacy and sexual relationships for long‐term patients in forensic mental health settings.

Relevance to clinical practice

Patients in forensic hospitals are sexually active and seek support from nurses. Nurses are in an ideal role to recognise the important part they can play in supporting the intimacy and sexual relationship needs of patients. Strategies to assist in developing confidence in responding to normal human behaviour is a matter of priority.
Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES‐NL) in dental patients with and without self‐reported tooth wear
Authors: Wetselaar P. , Koutris M. , Visscher C. M. , Larsson P. , John M. T. , Lobbezoo F.
Published: June 2015

The aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES) in dental patients with and without self‐reported tooth wear. The English version of the OES was translated into Dutch, following established guidelines for cross‐cultural adaptation of health‐related quality of life measures. The reliability of the resulting OES‐NL was tested in a test–retest study on 343 subjects; its validity was tested with the use of convergent validity on 582 subjects. The test–retest reliability of the OES‐NL showed intra‐class correlation coefficients (ICC) that ranged from 0·76 to 0·82, which can be qualified as excellent. The Cronbach's alpha revealed that the overall internal consistency of the scale was good (α = 0·89). Convergent validity was confirmed by the association between the OES‐NL summary scores and three questions of the Dutch version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐NL). The calculated Spearman's rank correlation coefficients ranged from −0·43 to −0·54 and were all significant (P < 0·001). The Dutch version of the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES‐NL) showed good psychometric properties, making it suitable for the assessment of self‐perceived aesthetics in Dutch dental patients with and without self‐reported tooth wear.
Temporal changes in molar wear rate of a sika deer population under density‐dependent food limitation
Authors: Takeshita K. , Ishizaki M. , Mitsuya R. , Takahashi H. , Yoshida T. , Igota H. , Ikeda T. , Kubo M. O. , Kaji K.
Published: June 2015

Negative effects of density‐dependent food limitation on molar wear rate in ungulate populations, as well as unworn molar size and its sex differences in ruminants, have been studied for a long time. However, these studies were based on comparisons of populations from different districts or habitats. If drastic changes in food habits and life history occurred under density‐dependent resource limitation, it is of great interest whether this change caused temporal changes in molar wear rate, and whether the degree of hypsodonty changed under this short but intensive selective pressure. We examined the temporal change in molar wear rate using long‐term monitoring data of a sika deer (Cervus nipon) population on Nakanoshima Island, Hokkaido, Japan. Corresponding to the change in food habits, the molar wear rate changed mainly because of the amount of soil that was secondarily ingested when deer fed on fallen leaves. Molar wear rate was the fastest level after the first population crash on Nakanoshima Island among extant sika deer populations. Nevertheless, we did not find any evidence of increased hypsodonty in Nakanoshima deer. It is possible that natural selection for increased molar durability (hypsodonty) has been working on Nakanoshima deer, but the adaptive change has not yet appeared at a statistically significant level.
Shakespeare and Social Media
Authors: O'Neill Stephen
Published: June 2015

The field of Shakespeare studies is becoming increasingly interested in the circulation of Shakespeares across social media platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. An emerging body of scholarship offers important insights into the implications of social media and digital technologies for Shakespearean pedagogy and research. This essay provides a review of the literature and suggests some future directions that theorizations of Shakespeare in/as social media might take. This essay encourages Shakespeare studies to interpret social media Shakespeares as an object of critical analysis, as well as understanding it as a teaching tool and research resource, while recognizing that these categories overlap. More specifically, the essay argues that social media Shakespeares denote a complex network of specific platforms, technologies, cultural signifiers, and the agentive human users that make meaning through these. As users share Shakespeare content and connect with it via social media, they are simultaneously shaping Shakespeare's current formations and being shaped by distinct yet interlinked technologies.
Consequences of a demographic bottleneck on genetic structure and variation in the Scandinavian brown bear
Authors: Xenikoudakis G. , Ersmark E. , Tison J.‐L. , Waits L. , Kindberg J. , Swenson J. E. , Dalén L.
Published: June 2015

The Scandinavian brown bear went through a major decline in population size approximately 100 years ago, due to intense hunting. After being protected, the population subsequently recovered and today numbers in the thousands. The genetic diversity in the contemporary population has been investigated in considerable detail, and it has been shown that the population consists of several subpopulations that display relatively high levels of genetic variation. However, previous studies have been unable to resolve the degree to which the demographic bottleneck impacted the contemporary genetic structure and diversity. In this study, we used mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers from pre‐ and postbottleneck Scandinavian brown bear samples to investigate the effect of the bottleneck. Simulation and multivariate analysis suggested the same genetic structure for the historical and modern samples, which are clustered into three subpopulations in southern, central and northern Scandinavia. However, the southern subpopulation appears to have gone through a marked change in allele frequencies. When comparing the mitochondrial DNA diversity in the whole population, we found a major decline in haplotype numbers across the bottleneck. However, the loss of autosomal genetic diversity was less pronounced, although a significant decline in allelic richness was observed in the southern subpopulation. Approximate Bayesian computations provided clear support for a decline in effective population size during the bottleneck, in both the southern and northern subpopulations. These results have implications for the future management of the Scandinavian brown bear because they indicate a recent loss in genetic diversity and also that the current genetic structure may have been caused by historical ecological processes rather than recent anthropogenic persecution.
A mutation in Escherichia coli ftsZ bypasses the requirement for the essential division gene zipA and confers resistance to FtsZ assembly inhibitors by stabilizing protofilament bundling
Authors: Haeusser Daniel P. , Rowlett Veronica W. , Margolin William
Published: June 2015

The earliest step in Escherichia coli cell division consists of the assembly of FtsZ protein into a proto‐ring structure, tethered to the cytoplasmic membrane by FtsA and ZipA. The proto‐ring then recruits additional cell division proteins to form the divisome. Previously we described an ftsZ allele, ftsZL169R, which maps to the side of the FtsZ subunit and confers resistance to FtsZ assembly inhibitory factors including Kil of bacteriophage λ. Here we further characterize this allele and its mechanism of resistance. We found that FtsZL169R permits the bypass of the normally essential ZipA, a property previously observed for FtsA gain‐of‐function mutants such as FtsA* or increased levels of the FtsA‐interacting protein FtsN. Similar to FtsA*, FtsZL169R also can partially suppress thermosensitive mutants of ftsQ or ftsK, which encode additional divisome proteins, and confers strong resistance to excess levels of FtsA, which normally inhibit FtsZ ring function. Additional genetic and biochemical assays provide further evidence that FtsZL169R enhances FtsZ protofilament bundling, thereby conferring resistance to assembly inhibitors and bypassing the normal requirement for ZipA. This work highlights the importance of FtsZ protofilament bundling during cell division and its likely role in regulating additional divisome activities.
The impact of Polycomb group (PcG) and Trithorax group (TrxG) epigenetic factors in plant plasticity
Authors: de la Paz Sanchez Maria , Aceves‐García Pamela , Petrone Emilio , Steckenborn Stefan , Vega‐León Rosario , Álvarez‐Buylla Elena R. , Garay‐Arroyo Adriana , García‐Ponce Berenice
Published: June 2015

Current advances indicate that epigenetic mechanisms play important roles in the regulatory networks involved in plant developmental responses to environmental conditions. Hence, understanding the role of such components becomes crucial to understanding the mechanisms underlying the plasticity and variability of plant traits, and thus the ecology and evolution of plant development. We now know that important components of phenotypic variation may result from heritable and reversible epigenetic mechanisms without genetic alterations. The epigenetic factors Polycomb group (PcG) and Trithorax group (TrxG) are involved in developmental processes that respond to environmental signals, playing important roles in plant plasticity. In this review, we discuss current knowledge of TrxG and PcG functions in different developmental processes in response to internal and environmental cues and we also integrate the emerging evidence concerning their function in plant plasticity. Many such plastic responses rely on meristematic cell behavior, including stem cell niche maintenance, cellular reprogramming, flowering and dormancy as well as stress memory. This information will help to determine how to integrate the role of epigenetic regulation into models of gene regulatory networks, which have mostly included transcriptional interactions underlying various aspects of plant development and its plastic response to environmental conditions.
Above‐ and below‐ground effects of plant diversity depend on species origin: an experimental test with multiple invaders
Authors: Kuebbing Sara E. , Classen Aimée T. , Sanders Nathan J. , Simberloff Daniel
Published: June 2015

Although many plant communities are invaded by multiple nonnative species, we have limited information on how a species' origin affects ecosystem function. We tested how differences in species richness and origin affect productivity and seedling establishment.

We created phylogenetically paired native and nonnative plant communities in a glasshouse experiment to test diversity–productivity relationships and responsible mechanisms (i.e. selection or complementarity effects). Additionally, we tested how productivity and associated mechanisms influenced seedling establishment. We used diversity‐interaction models to describe how species' interactions influenced diversity–productivity relationships.

Communities with more species had higher total biomass than did monoculture communities, but native and nonnative communities diverged in root : shoot ratios and the mechanism responsible for increased productivity: positive selection effect in nonnative communities and positive complementarity effect in native communities. Seedling establishment was 46% lower in nonnative than in native communities and was correlated with the average selection effect. Interspecific interactions contributed to productivity patterns, but the specific types of interactions differed between native and nonnative communities.

These results reinforce findings that the diversity–productivity mechanisms in native and nonnative communities differ and are the first to show that these mechanisms can influence seedling establishment and that different types of interactions influence diversity–productivity relationships.
Leibniz on Causation – Part 2
Authors: Jorati Julia
Published: June 2015

Leibniz is almost unique among early modern philosophers in giving final causation a central place in his metaphysical system. All changes in created substances, according to Leibniz, have final causes, that is, occur for the sake of some end. There is, however, no consensus among commentators about the details of Leibniz's views on final causation. The least perfect types of changes that created substances undergo are especially puzzling because those changes seem radically different from paradigmatic instances of final causation. Building on my more general discussion of efficient and final causation in ‘Leibniz on Causation – Part 1,’ I will examine and assess some of the rival interpretations of Leibniz's account of final causation.
Mass Administrative Reorganization, Media Attention, and the Paradox of Information
Authors: Bertelli Anthony M. , Sinclair J. Andrew
Published: June 2015

How does media attention influence government decisions about whether to terminate independent administrative agencies? The authors argue that an agency's salience with partisan audiences has a direct effect, but a high media profile can disrupt normal government monitoring processes and obfuscate termination decisions. This argument is evaluated in the context of a recent mass administrative reorganization by the British coalition government using probit and heteroscedastic probit regression models. The evidence suggests that termination is less likely for agencies salient in newspapers popular with the government's core supporters but not those read by its minority coalition partner. We also find that agencies with greater overall newspaper salience as well as younger agencies have a higher error variance.
The Legacy of the 1968 Fair Housing Act
Authors: Massey Douglas S.
Published: June 2015

Civil rights activists in 1968 hoped that the passage of the Fair Housing Act would lead to the residential desegregation of American society. In this article, I assess the degree to which this hope has been fulfilled. I begin by reviewing how the black ghetto came to be a universal feature of American cities during the twentieth century and the means by which high levels of black segregation were achieved. I then describe the legislative maneuvers required to pass the Fair Housing Act and review its enforcement provisions to assess its potential for achieving desegregation. After examining trends in residential segregation since 1970, I conclude with an appraisal of the prospects for integration as we move toward the fiftieth anniversary of the Act's passage.
Weighed Down by Stigma: How Weight‐Based Social Identity Threat Contributes to Weight Gain and Poor Health
Authors: Hunger Jeffrey M. , Major Brenda , Blodorn Alison , Miller Carol T.
Published: June 2015

Weight stigma is pervasive, and a number of scholars argue that this profound stigma contributes to the negative effects of weight on psychological and physical health. Some lay individuals and health professionals assume that stigmatizing weight can actually motivate healthier behaviors and promote weight loss. However, as we review, weight stigma is consistently associated with poorer mental and physical health outcomes. In this article, we propose a social identity threat model elucidating how weight stigma contributes to weight gain and poorer mental and physical health among overweight individuals. We propose that weight‐based social identity threat increases physiological stress, undermines self‐regulation, compromises psychological health, and increases the motivation to avoid stigmatizing domains (e.g., the gym) and escape the stigma by engaging in unhealthy weight loss behaviors. Given the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the US, weight stigma thus has the potential to undermine the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans.
Group‐based Differences in Perceptions of Racism: What Counts, to Whom, and Why?
Authors: Carter Evelyn R. , Murphy Mary C.
Published: June 2015

Belonging to a group fundamentally shapes the way we interpret and attribute the behavior of others. Similarly, perceptions of racism can be influenced by group membership. Experimental and survey research reveal disagreement between Whites and Blacks about the prevalence of racism in America. Several social cognitive factors contribute to this disagreement: discrepancies in Whites' and Blacks' lay intuitions about the attitudes and behaviors that count as racism, comparison standards when determining racial progress, and the salience of and meaning drawn from successful Black individuals in society. These perceptual discrepancies have consequences for policy attitudes, decisions about how best to combat racial inequality, and beliefs about whether inequality persists. Successful interventions that increase Whites' knowledge of structural racism and that attenuate self‐image threat suggest that it is possible to converge Blacks' and Whites' perceptions of racism by expanding Whites' definition of racism.
In which direction does skin move during joint movement?
Authors: Fukui T. , Otake Y. , Kondo T.
Published: June 2015

Background/ Purpose

A skin movement artifact is a major problem in three‐dimensional motion analysis. Furthermore, skin tension lines are important in plastic surgery. Skin tension depends upon the body area and the direction of resistance. From the perspective of skin continuity and clinical observation, we hypothesized that the contralateral side of the skin of the extremities moves in the opposite direction. This study aimed to examine kinematics of thigh skin including movement direction during pelvic sway.

Methods

Fifteen healthy men participated in this study. Kinematic data were obtained using a three‐dimensional motion analysis system. To detect opposite skin movement, 42 markers were attached to the front, back, lateral, and medial sides of the thigh and pelvis. Front and back markers in the sagittal plane and lateral and medial markers in the frontal plane were arranged in a line connecting the hip and ankle joint centers, respectively. Subjects performed maximal pelvic movements in the anterior‐posterior and rightward‐leftward directions.

Results

The results showed that the front skin of the thigh was transferred upward and that the back skin was transferred downward during pelvic anterior sway. Opposite skin movements were observed during posterior pelvic sway. We also found that the lateral skin was transferred upward and that the medial skin was transferred downward during hip adduction and vice‐versa during hip abduction.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that the skin moves according to certain physiological rules.
Moral Frames and Climate Change Policy Attitudes*
Authors: Severson Alexander W. , Coleman Eric A.
Published: June 2015

Objective

This article compares the effects of various climate change issue frames (deontological‐moral, empirical‐scientific, and economic) on support for climate change mitigation policies.

Methods

Using an issue‐framing survey experiment conducted on Amazon Mechanical Turk, we assess framing effects on climate change policy support using ordinary least squares regression.

Results

We find mixed evidence regarding frame effectiveness. Religious moral frames and economic efficiency frames are ineffective, whereas scientific frames, secular moral frames, and economic equity frames are effective at increasing overall policy support. Additionally, the positive science frame and economic equity frame reduce the ideological divide in climate policy support.

Conclusion

The effects of issue framing on climate policy support are mixed. Frames that we expected conservatives to be responsive to (religious morality; economic efficiency) fail to change support for climate policy. Frames that emphasize science, secular morality, and economy equity have the potential to increase public support for climate change policies.
Can Easing Concealed Carry Deter Crime?*
Authors: Fortunato David
Published: June 2015

Objective

Laws reducing hurdles to legally carrying concealed firearms are argued to have a deterrent effect on crime by increasing its perceived costs. This argument rests on the assumption that these policies will either directly or indirectly increase the perceived distribution of firearm carriers, an assumption that is as yet untested. This article tests this assumption and, in so doing, suggests testing the necessary conditions of policy can be useful when assessing outcomes is difficult.

Methods

I collect survey data on the perceived number of firearm carriers across the United States and then use a hierarchical regression model to assess the impact of concealed carry policies on these perceptions, controlling for several contextual and individual‐level factors.

Results

The data suggest that there is no statistically discernible relationship between concealed carry policies and the public's perceptions of the number of firearm carriers. Indeed, the data suggest that the perceived density of firearm carriers is similarly uncorrelated to the number of active concealed carriers.

Conclusion

The link between concealed carry policy and people's beliefs about the number of firearm carriers in their community is unidentifiable in the data. The rationale for concealed carry deterrence, however, depends on such a link existing: it assumes that potential assailants are aware of the distribution of firearm carriers in the potential victim population, but the empirical evidence presented here suggests that that assumption simply does not hold. Because beliefs over the distribution of firearm carriers are impervious to permitting policies and do not respond positively to the true distribution of carriers, the data suggest easing concealed carry cannot deter crime.
Frequency of human platelet antigens (HPA)‐1, ‐2, ‐5 and ‐15 in Brazilian blood donors and establishment of a panel of HPA‐typed donors
Authors: Mangerona C. M. B. , Garcia F. B. , Moraes‐Souza H.
Published: June 2015

Objectives

The aim of this study is to keep a record of regular human platelet antigens (HPA)‐typed blood donors and to compare their allele frequencies with those reported in other populations.

Background

HPA are polymorphisms expressed on platelet membrane glycoproteins. They can generate an immune response leading to platelet alloimmunisation that may show clinical manifestations, such as neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, post‐transfusion purpura and platelet refractoriness. Platelet alloimmunisation is not uncommon, therefore, for an optimum management, it is advantageous to establish a panel of typed platelets to help matched platelets selection in HPA‐alloimmunised patients transfusion.

Methods

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐allele‐specific primers and PCR‐restriction fragment length polymorphism methods were used to determine the genotypes of HPA‐1, ‐2, ‐5 and ‐15 systems of 337 blood donors.

Results

The three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were found in all HPA systems analysed, and the most frequent genotypes were AA for HPA‐1, ‐2 and ‐5 systems (mean: 0·732) and AB for HPA‐15 system (mean: 0·523). Allele frequencies were 0·148, 0·155, 0·140 and 0·430 for HPA‐1b, ‐2b, ‐5b and ‐15b, respectively, and they were similar to those found in Caucasian populations, especially for HPA‐1. However, the B allele was more frequent in all HPA systems when compared with Amazon Indians, and the frequency of the B allele in our study was higher in HPA‐1 and ‐15 systems and lower in HPA‐2 and ‐5 systems in comparison with sub‐Saharan African populations.

Conclusions

A record of HPA‐typed donors would enable rapid identification and selection of donors when HPA‐compatible platelets are required for transfusion.
Activation of miR165b represses AtHB15 expression and induces pith secondary wall development in Arabidopsis
Authors: Du Qian , Avci Utku , Li Shengben , Gallego‐Giraldo Lina , Pattathil Sivakumar , Qi Liying , Hahn Michael G. , Wang Huanzhong
Published: June 2015

Secondary cell‐wall thickening takes place in sclerenchyma cells, but not in surrounding parenchyma cells. The molecular mechanism of switching on and off secondary wall synthesis in various cell types is still elusive. Here, we report the identification of a dominant mutant stp–2d showing secondary wall thickening in pith cells (STP). Immunohistochemistry assays confirmed accumulation of secondary cell walls in the pith cells of the stp–2d mutant. Activation of microRNA 165b (miR165b) expression is responsible for the STP phenotype, as demonstrated by transgenic over‐expression experiments. The expression of three class III HD–ZIP transcription factor genes, including AtHB15, was repressed in the stp–2d mutant. Transgenic over‐expression of a mutant form of AtHB15 that is resistant to miR165‐mediated cleavage reversed the stp–2d mutant phenotype to wild‐type, indicating that AtHB15 represses secondary wall development in pith. Characterization of two athb15 mutant alleles further confirmed that functional AtHB15 is necessary for retaining primary walls in parenchyma pith cells. Expression analyses of cell‐wall synthetic genes and wall‐related transcription factors indicated that a transcriptional pathway is involved in AtHB15 function. These results provide insight into the molecular mechanism of secondary cell‐wall development.
Canine small clear cell/T‐zone lymphoma: clinical presentation and outcome in a retrospective case series
Authors: Martini V. , Marconato L. , Poggi A. , Riondato F. , Aresu L. , Cozzi M. , Comazzi S.
Published: June 2015

Published studies, taken together, suggest the existence of a single canine lymphoma entity, with a small clear cell appearance by cytological evaluation, a histopathological T‐zone pattern and an aberrant CD45‐negative T‐cell phenotype, mostly characterized by long‐term survival. We describe clinical presentation and outcome in a retrospective case series of canine small clear cell/T‐zone lymphoma. Despite the reported predisposition of Golden retriever, this breed was not represented in our case series. Most dogs presented with stage V disease, whereas only few had clinical signs or peripheral cytopenias. Blood was almost always more infiltrated than bone marrow. Median survival confirmed the favourable prognosis described in literature, but a few dogs died within a short time. Also, a subgroup of dogs developed second malignancies, eventually leading to death. We did not investigate possible prognostic factors because of the wide variety in treatments, and further studies are needed to identify high‐risk animals.
Comparison of two high‐throughput platforms for red blood cell and platelet antigens genotyping
Authors: Bianchi J. V. S. , Dinardo C. L. , Niewiadonski V. , Mota M. , Mendrone‐Junior A. , Sabino E. C.
Published: June 2015

Background

Red blood cells (RBC) and platelet (PLT) antigens genotyping is a useful tool applied to solve complex immunohaematologic cases, perform alloimmunization prophylaxis and search for rare blood donors. There are different high‐throughput platforms available for RBC and PLT genotyping, which differ in terms of comprised antigens, length of reaction, result interpretation and cost. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of two high‐throughput platforms designed for RBC and PLT genotyping: OpenArray (customized Real‐time platform) and BLOODchip (Luminex technology).

Materials and Methods

Blood samples of 242 blood donors were simultaneously tested using OpenArray and BLOODchip (ID‐Core XT and ID‐HPA XT) platforms. The methodologies were compared in terms of accuracy, duration of reaction, percentage of no‐calls, number of samples processed per reaction and interpretation software. The designed OpenArray assay comprised 37 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) encoding 31 RBC antigens and six PLT antigens, while the BLOODchip comprised 29 SNPs encoding erythrocyte antigens (ID ‐Core XT) and 12 SNPs encoding PLT antigens (ID‐HPA XT).

Results

The OpenArray accuracy was 99·93%, and BLOODchip accuracy, 100%. The percentage of no‐calls did not differ between the methodologies. OpenArray was less time‐consuming when performing both RBC and PLT genotyping, whereas BLOODchip presented proper software for results interpretation and allowed the evaluation of individuals samples per reaction.

Conclusion

Both OpenArray and BLOODchip methodologies are accurate and suitable for RBC and PLT genotyping. The choice between the platforms relies on the service genotyping goals.
Dynamics of the sensory response to urethral flow over multiple time scales in rat
Authors: Danziger Zachary C. , Grill Warren M.
Published: June 2015

Key points

Sensory information from the urethra is essential to maintain continence and to achieve efficient micturition and when compromised by disease or injury can lead to substantial loss of function.

Despite the key role urethral sensory information plays in the lower urinary tract, the relationship between physiological urethral stimuli, such as fluid flow, and the neural sensory response is poorly understood.

This work systematically quantifies pudendal afferent responses to a range of fluid flows in the urethra in vivo and describes a previously unknown long‐term neural accommodation phenomenon in these afferents. We present a compact mechanistic mathematical model that reproduces the pudendal sensory activity in response to urethral flow.

These results have implications for understanding urinary tract dysfunction caused by neuropathy or nerve damage, such as urinary retention or incontinence, as well as for the development of strategies to mitigate the symptoms of these conditions.

The pudendal nerve carries sensory information from the urethra that controls spinal reflexes necessary to maintain continence and achieve efficient micturition. Despite the key role urethral sensory feedback plays in regulation of the lower urinary tract, there is little information about the characteristics of urethral sensory responses to physiological stimuli, and the quantitative relationship between physiological stimuli and the evoked sensory activation is unknown. Such a relation is critical to understanding the neural control of the lower urinary tract and how dysfunction arises in disease states. We systematically quantified pudendal afferent responses to fluid flow in the urethra in vivo in the rat. We characterized the sensory response across a range of stimuli, and describe a previously unreported long‐term neural accommodation phenomenon. We developed and validated a compact mechanistic mathematical model capable of reproducing the pudendal sensory activity in response to arbitrary profiles of urethral flows. These results describe the properties and function of urethral afferents that are necessary to understand how sensory disruption manifests in lower urinary tract pathophysiology.
Dynamic Flowgraph Methodology Assessment of an FPGA-Based Postaccident Monitoring System for Westinghouse AP1000 Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: McNelles Phillip , Lu Lixuan , Abi-Jaoude Marc-James
Published: June 2015

A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is a type of integrated circuit that is programmed after being manufactured. These FPGA-based systems are considered to be viable alternatives to replace many obsolete instrumentation and control (I&C) systems that are used in nuclear plants. This paper describes an FPGA-based lab-scale implementation of a postaccident monitoring system (PAMS), for a Westinghouse AP1000 reactor. This system will monitor vital parameters in the event of a serious reactor accident. The system reliability was analyzed using the dynamic flowgraph methodology (DFM). DFM was applied to fine-tune the design parameters by determining the potential causes of faults in the design.
Nonlinear Large Deflection of Thin Film Overhung on Compliant Substrate Using Shaft-Loaded Blister Test
Authors: Feng Luyi , Li Xiwen , Shi Tielin
Published: June 2015

This paper presents the nonlinear large deflection of the thin film and the effect of substrate deformation on the thin film deflection through the shaft-loaded blister test. The blister of thin film can be divided into two parts, namely, the annular contact brim and the central noncontact bulge. A two-coupled line spring model is developed to describe the deformation of the contact part, and Föppl–Hencky equations are employed to study the constitutive relation between the applied load and the central deflection. The analytical and numerical solutions for the constitutive relation between the applied load and the deflection of thin film with considering the deformation of substrate are derived.
Hybrid Transformation to a Generalized Reissner–Mindlin Theory for Composite Plates
Authors: Lee Chang-Yong , Hodges Dewey H.
Published: June 2015

An asymptotic theory of composite plates is constructed using the variational asymptotic method. To maximize simplicity and promote efficiency of the developed model, a transformation procedure is required to establish a mathematical link between an asymptotically correct energy functional derived herein and a simpler engineering model, such as a generalized Reissner–Mindlin model. Without relaxing the warping constraints and performing “smart minimization” or optimization procedures introduced in previous work, a different approach is suggested in this paper. To eliminate all partial derivatives of the 2D generalized strains in the asymptotically correct energy functional, a hybrid transformation procedure is systematically carried out by involving modified equilibrium and compatibility equations, and solving a system of linear algebraic equations via the pseudo-inverse method. Equivalent constitutive laws for the generalized Reissner–Mindlin plate model are then estimated. Several examples as a preliminary validation are used to demonstrate the capability and accuracy of this new model.