bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Range and habitat associations of the native macroalga Caulerpa filiformis in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Glasby Tim M. , Gibson Peter. T. , West Gregory , Davies Peter , Voerman Sofietje
Published: April 2015

Caulerpa filiformis is a green seaweed found in New South Wales (NSW, Australia), South Africa, Mozambique and Peru. It has been suggested that the abundance of the species has increased in NSW over recent decades. Extensive aerial and diver surveys identified a 500-km northerly extension to the range of C. filiformis in NSW (to 28°21′S) compared with previous records. The alga has a disjunct distribution with small isolated populations around rocky headlands in far northern NSW, but then no apparent populations for 350km southwards. The far northern populations could be the result of recent human-mediated transport (a species introduction), or were simply not detected previously. The increased distribution around the previous northerly limit is likely a natural range expansion. The distribution of C. filiformis in NSW and globally seems confined to a temperature range of ~16–23°C. We found no relationship between abundance of C. filiformis and human population or oceanic chlorophyll-a (a surrogate for nutrient availability). We demonstrate that C. filiformis is predominately subtidal, being found along sections of coastline where there is a mixture of rocky reefs and beaches. It is argued that sand movement may have facilitated increases in abundance of C. filiformis.
Cadherin flexibility provides a key difference between desmosomes and adherens junctions
Authors: Tariq Humera , Bella Jordi , Jowitt Thomas A. , Holmes David F. , Rouhi Mansour , Nie Zhuxiang , Baldock Clair , Garrod David , Tabernero Lydia
Published: April 2015

Significance

We present here an entirely novel concept in the field of cell–cell adhesion, whereby the flexibility of the extracellular domains of cadherin molecules determines the characteristics and behavior of intercellular junctions. The structure of the ectodomain of the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein 2 shows it is flexible in its calcium-bound form. This flexibility of the desmosomal cadherin ectodomains may be key in facilitating a unique property of desmosomes: the ability to switch from strong calcium-independent hyperadhesion in adult tissues to weaker calcium-dependent adhesion in wounds.
The Need for Vengeance or the Need to Mourn? Atiq Rahimi’s Exploration of “Afghan” Self-Identity in Earth and Ashes
Authors: Kingsbury William
Published: April 2015

It has been said of Atiq Rahimi’s novel Earth and Ashes that the author intends it to convey a loss of any vision for a better future in Afghanistan. This essay neither disputes nor affirms this, but instead argues that this tone of disillusionment is sustained for a specific purpose—namely, to show how a belief in the Afghan requirement of vengeance helps sustain cycles of violence in Afghanistan. No critical work has explored this key motivation for the writing of the novel; this article does so using a method of close reading that enables an evaluation of the role the reader is afforded as part of this endeavor, be they natives or outsiders to this culture.
Using Electrofishing Catch Rates to Estimate the Density of Largemouth Bass
Authors: Schoenebeck Casey W. , Lundgren Seth A. , Koupal Keith D.
Published: April 2015

Catch rates are commonly used to indirectly index population density, e.g., nighttime electrofishing to survey Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides populations. However, the relationship between catch rate and population density must be known in order for catch rate to serve as an accurate index. We sought to determine if Largemouth Bass electrofishing catch rate was linearly or nonlinearly correlated to population density in high density populations using measurement-error models and Monte Carlo simulations. Previous studies of the relationship between Largemouth Bass electrofishing catch rate and density have occurred in low-density populations (<50/ha). We hypothesized that high-density Largemouth Bass populations may result in gear saturation during electrofishing sampling, i.e., too many fish for dipnetters to capture resulting in missed captures. This would therefore underrepresent the population's density. The nighttime electrofishing catch rate of 66–294 Largemouth Bass/h was linearly related to their population density (77–152/ha) over 15 experimental events. The linear relationship suggests electrofishing catch rate is an appropriate index of population density in similar high-density Largemouth Bass populations.

Received August 11, 2014; accepted December 3, 2014
Identification of a quorum sensing pheromone posttranslationally farnesylated at the internal tryptophan residue from Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto
Authors: Hayashi Shunsuke , Usami Syohei , Nakamura Yuta , Ozaki Koki , Okada Masahiro
Published: April 2015

Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto produces poly-γ-glutamic acid under the control of quorum sensing. We identified ComXnatto pheromone as the quorum-sensing pheromone with an amino acid sequence of Lys-Trp-Pro-Pro-Ile-Glu and the tryptophan residue posttranslationally modified by a farnesyl group. ComXnatto pheromone is unique in the sense that the 5th tryptophan residue from the C-terminal is farnesylated.
Almost global existence for 2-D incompressible isotropic elastodynamics
Authors: Lei Zhen , Sideris Thomas , Zhou Yi
Published: April 2015

We consider the Cauchy problem for 2-D incompressible isotropic elastodynamics. Standard energy methods yield local solutions on a time interval

[
0
,

T

/

ϵ

]

[0,{T}/{\epsilon }]

for initial data of the form

ϵ

U
0

\epsilon U_0

, where

T
T

depends only on some Sobolev norm of

U
0

U_0

. We show that for such data there exists a unique solution on a time interval

[
0
,
exp
⁡

T

/

ϵ

]

[0, \exp {T}/{\epsilon }]

, provided that

ϵ
\epsilon

is sufficiently small. This is achieved by careful consideration of the structure of the nonlinearity. The incompressible elasticity equation is inherently linearly degenerate in the isotropic case; in other words, the equation satisfies a null condition. This is essential for time decay estimates. The pressure, which arises as a Lagrange multiplier to enforce the incompressibility constraint, is estimated in a novel way as a nonlocal nonlinear term with null structure. The proof employs the generalized energy method of Klainerman, enhanced by weighted

L
2

L^2

estimates and the ghost weight introduced by Alinhac.
Highest weight 𝔰𝔩₂-categorifications II: Structure theory
Authors: Losev Ivan
Published: April 2015

This paper continues the study of highest weight categorical

s
l

2

\mathfrak {sl}_2

-actions initiated in part I. We start by refining the definition given there and showing that all examples considered in part I are also highest weight categorifications in the refined sense. Then we prove that any highest weight

s
l

2

\mathfrak {sl}_2

-categorification can be filtered in such a way that the successive quotients are so-called basic highest weight

s
l

2

\mathfrak {sl}_2

-categorifications. For a basic highest weight categorification we determine minimal projective resolutions of standard objects. We use this, in particular, to examine the structure of tilting objects in basic categorifications and to show that the Ringel duality is given by the Rickard complex. We apply some of these structural results to categories

O

\mathcal {O}

for cyclotomic Rational Cherednik algebras.
On uniform relationships between combinatorial problems
Authors: Dorais François , Dzhafarov Damir , Hirst Jeffry , Mileti Joseph , Shafer Paul
Published: April 2015

The enterprise of comparing mathematical theorems according to their logical strength is an active area in mathematical logic, with one of the most common frameworks for doing so being reverse mathematics. In this setting, one investigates which theorems provably imply which others in a weak formal theory roughly corresponding to computable mathematics. Since the proofs of such implications take place in classical logic, they may in principle involve appeals to multiple applications of a particular theorem, or to non-uniform decisions about how to proceed in a given construction. In practice, however, if a theorem

Q

\mathsf {Q}

implies a theorem

P

\mathsf {P}

, it is usually because there is a direct uniform translation of the problems represented by

P

\mathsf {P}

into the problems represented by

Q

\mathsf {Q}

, in a precise sense formalized by Weihrauch reducibility.

We study this notion of uniform reducibility in the context of several natural combinatorial problems, and compare and contrast it with the traditional notion of implication in reverse mathematics. We show, for instance, that for all

n
,
j
,
k
≥
1

n,j,k \geq 1

, if

j
>
k

j > k

, then Ramsey’s theorem for

n
n

-tuples and

k
k

many colors is not uniformly, or Weihrauch, reducible to Ramsey’s theorem for

n
n

-tuples and

j
j

many colors. The two theorems are classically equivalent, so our analysis gives a genuinely finer metric by which to gauge the relative strength of mathematical propositions.

We also study Weak König’s Lemma, the Thin Set Theorem, and the Rainbow Ramsey’s Theorem, along with a number of their variants investigated in the literature. Weihrauch reducibility turns out to be connected with sequential forms of mathematical principles, where one wishes to solve infinitely many instances of a particular problem simultaneously. We exploit this connection to uncover new points of difference between combinatorial problems previously thought to be more closely related.
Big Constraints or Small Returns? Explaining Nonadoption of Hybrid Maize in Tanzania
Authors: Kathage Jonas , Kassie Menale , Shiferaw Bekele , Qaim Matin
Published: April 2015

New technologies are often not widely adopted by farmers in Africa. Several adoption constraints have been discussed in the literature, including limited access to information. Using data from maize farmers in Tanzania, we challenge the hypothesis that limited information is an important constraint for hybrid seed adoption. While we find an adoption gap from lack of hybrid awareness, this gap is sizeable only in regions where productivity gains of hybrids are small. Hence, awareness of a new technology may be a function of expected returns. Other constraints related to assets and credit are not significant. We conclude that not adopting a technology is not always a sign of constraints but may also indicate low benefits from its use.
A study on the mid-infrared sources that dramatically brightened
Authors: Onozato Hiroki , Ita Yoshifusa , Ono Kenji , Fukagawa Misato , Yanagisawa Kenshi , Izumiura Hideyuki , Nakada Yoshikazu , Matsunaga Noriyuki
Published: April 2015

We present results of near-infrared (NIR) photometric and spectroscopic observations of mid-infrared (MIR) sources that brightened dramatically. Using Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), AKARI, and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) point source catalogs, we found that four sources (IRAS 19574+4941, V2494 Cyg, IRAS 22343+7501, and V583 Cas) significantly brightened at MIR wavelengths over a period of 20–30 yr, depending on an interval between two different observation epoch. Little is known about these sources except V2494 Cyg, which is considered as an FU Orionis star. Our observation clearly resolves IRAS 22343+7501 into four stars (2MASS  J22352345+7517076, 2MASS  J22352442+7517037, [RD95] C, and 2MASS  J22352497+7517113) and the first JHKs photometric data for all four sources are obtained. Two of these stars (2MASS  J22352442+7517037 and 2MASS  J22352497+7517113) are known as T Tau stars. Our spectroscopic observation reveals that IRAS 19574+4941 is an M-type evolved star and V583 Cas a carbon star. 2MASS  J22352345+7517076 is probably a young stellar object, judging from our observation showing that it has a featureless NIR spectrum and also showed dramatic brightening in NIR (about 4 mag in the Ks band). Likely reasons for dramatic brightening in MIR are discussed in this paper.
A species-specific nucleosomal signature defines a periodic distribution of amino acids in proteins
Authors: Quintales Luis , Soriano Ignacio , Vázquez Enrique , Segurado Mónica , Antequera Francisco
Published: April 2015

Nucleosomes are the basic structural units of chromatin. Most of the yeast genome is organized in a pattern of positioned nucleosomes that is stably maintained under a wide range of physiological conditions. In this work, we have searched for sequence determinants associated with positioned nucleosomes in four species of fission and budding yeasts. We show that mononucleosomal DNA follows a highly structured base composition pattern, which differs among species despite the high degree of histone conservation. These nucleosomal signatures are present in transcribed and non-transcribed regions across the genome. In the case of open reading frames, they correctly predict the relative distribution of codons on mononucleosomal DNA, and they also determine a periodicity in the average distribution of amino acids along the proteins. These results establish a direct and species-specific connection between the position of each codon around the histone octamer and protein composition.
Fine-scale dietary changes between the breeding and non-breeding diet of a resident seabird
Authors: Kowalczyk Nicole D. , Chiaradia André , Preston Tiana J. , Reina Richard D.
Published: April 2015

Unlike migratory seabirds with wide foraging ranges, resident seabirds forage in a relatively small range year-round and are thus particularly vulnerable to local shifts in prey availability. In order to manage their populations effectively, it is necessary to identify their key prey across and within years. Here, stomach content and stable isotope analyses were used to reconstruct the diet and isotopic niche of the little penguin (Eudyptula minor). Across years, the diet of penguins was dominated by anchovy (Engraulis australis). Within years, during winter, penguins were consistently enriched inδ15N andδ13C levels relative to pre-moult penguins. This was probably due to their increased reliance on juvenile anchovies, which dominate prey biomass in winter months. Following winter and during breeding, theδ13C values of penguins declined. We suggest this subtle shift was in response to the increased consumption of prey that enter the bay from offshore regions to spawn. Our findings highlight that penguins have access to both juvenile fish communities and spawning migrants across the year, enabling these seabirds to remain in close proximity to their colony. However, annual fluctuations in penguin isotopic niche suggest that the recruitment success and abundance of fish communities fluctuate dramatically between years. As such, the continued monitoring of penguin diet will be central to their ongoing management.
Nitrogen deposition and multi-dimensional plant diversity at the landscape scale
Authors: Roth Tobias , Kohli Lukas , Rihm Beat , Amrhein Valentin , Achermann Beat
Published: April 2015

Estimating effects of nitrogen (N) deposition is essential for understanding human impacts on biodiversity. However, studies relating atmospheric N deposition to plant diversity are usually restricted to small plots of high conservation value. Here, we used data on 381 randomly selected 1 km
2
plots covering most habitat types of Central Europe and an elevational range of 2900 m. We found that high atmospheric N deposition was associated with low values of six measures of plant diversity. The weakest negative relation to N deposition was found in the traditionally measured total species richness. The strongest relation to N deposition was in phylogenetic diversity, with an estimated loss of 19% due to atmospheric N deposition as compared with a homogeneously distributed historic N deposition without human influence, or of 11% as compared with a spatially varying N deposition for the year 1880, during industrialization in Europe. Because phylogenetic plant diversity is often related to ecosystem functioning, we suggest that atmospheric N deposition threatens functioning of ecosystems at the landscape scale.
MORF-RELATED GENE702, a Reader Protein of Trimethylated Histone H3 Lysine 4 and Histone H3 Lysine 36, Is Involved in Brassinosteroid-Regulated Growth and Flowering Time Control in Rice
Authors: Jin Jing , Shi Jinlei , Liu Bing , Liu Yanchao , Huang Ying , Yu Yu , Dong Aiwu
Published: April 2015

The methylation of histone H3 lysine 36 (H3K36) plays critical roles in brassinosteroid (BR)-related processes and is involved in controlling flowering time in rice (Oryza sativa). Although enzymes that catalyze this methylation reaction have been described, little is known about the recognition mechanisms to decipher H3K36 methylation information in rice. In this study, biochemical characterizations showed that MORF-RELATED GENE702 (MRG702) binds to trimethylated H3K4 and H3K36 (H3K4me3 and H3K36me3) in vitro. Similar to the loss-of-function mutants of the rice H3K36 methyltransferase gene SET DOMAIN GROUP725 (SDG725), the MRG702 knockdown mutants displayed typical BR-deficient mutant and late-flowering phenotypes. Gene transcription analyses showed that MRG702 knockdown resulted in the down-regulation of BR-related genes, including DWARF11, BRASSINOSTEROD INSENSITIVE1, and BRASSINOSTEROID UPREGULATED1, and several flowering genes, including Early heading date1 (Ehd1), Ehd2, Ehd3, OsMADS50, Heading date 3a, and RICE FLOWERING LOCUS T1. A binding analysis showed that MRG702 directly binds to the chromatin at target gene loci. This binding is dependent on the level of trimethylated H3K36, which is mediated by SDG725. Together, our results demonstrate that MRG702 acts as a reader protein of H3K4me3 and H3K36me3 and deciphers the H3K36 methylation information set by SDG725. Therefore, the role of MRG702 in the BR pathway and in controlling flowering time in rice is to function as a reader protein to decipher methylation information.
Global citizenship education and Hong Kong’s secondary school curriculum guidelines
Authors: Chong Eric K. M.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the major development of global citizenship education (GCE) as part of Hong Kong’s secondary school curriculum guidelines, which reveals how it has developed from, first, asking students to understand their responsibilities as citizens to now challenging injustice and inequality in the world. Hong Kong’s curriculum guidelines started to teach GCE as a result of the last civic education guideline issued just before the return of sovereignty to China in 1997. Through documentary analysis, this paper examines how GCE has developed against the backdrop of globalization in Hong Kong’s various secondary school curriculum guidelines.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study used documentary analysis to examine the developments in the teaching of GCE via Hong Kong’s official secondary school curriculum guidelines. It has studied the aims, knowledge and concepts that are related to GCE by coding the GCE literature and categorizing the findings from the curriculum guidelines.

Findings

– From the coding and categorizing processes employed, it has been found that GCE in Hong Kong’s official curriculum guidelines has evolved from learning about rights and responsibilities in the 1990s to challenging injustice, discrimination, exclusion and inequality since the late 1990s. Indeed, understanding the world and especially globalization, in terms of comprehending the processes and phenomena through which people around the globe become more connected, has presented challenges for the teaching of civic education. For example, categories of GCE have developed from the simpler expression of concerns about the world to encompass moral obligations and taking action. Similarly, the concerns for the maintenance of peace that were studied initially have since grown and now include work about challenging inequalities and taking action on human rights violations.

Originality/value

– This study would have implications for the understanding of GCE in Hong Kong as well as other fast-changing societies in this age of globalization, as civic education curricula need to respond to the impacts of globalization. GCE is an under-researched area, but topics concerning world/international/global affairs have been covered in Hong Kong secondary school curriculum guidelines for several decades.
Applying lean production principles to facilities design of ramp-up factories
Authors: Low Sui Pheng , Gao Shang , Tiong Kai Lin
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to examine how lean production principles (LPP) can be incorporated in the context of ramp-up factories to improve future ramp-up factory designs. The application of LPP to the facilities design of ramp-up factories can help to reduce waste and achieve higher-quality products. However, the traditional design philosophy of “design follows function” has not considered the application of LPP during the early design development stage to more effectively meet tenants’ operational needs at the occupation stage.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a review of past literature, a set of LPP-driven facilities design features is presented, which seek to integrate traditional design principles and LPP. A survey was subsequently carried out with tenants operating in ramp-up factories to determine the relevance of the proposed LPP-driven facilities design features from their perspectives.

Findings

– It is found that generally most of the proposed LPP-driven facilities design features can help to improve tenants’ operational needs after the building is occupied. The study found that the significant LPP-driven facilities design features for ramp-up factories include: large span, clear floor-to-ceiling height, rectangular bay, wide frontage area, mezzanine floor system, evenly distributed lighting, white or light colour surfaces, private parking spaces, private loading/unloading bay, clearly defined car park entrance, wide vehicular ramp, wide driveway, sheltered loading/unloading bay and multi-storey car park embedded in the complex. The reasons for their significance are explained in the study.

Practical implications

– The LPP design model for ramp-up factories provides a useful checklist of important tenants’ requirements for the designers of ramp-up factories. This research also suggests that it is desirable to apply LPP in the design stage to improve the facilities design of ramp-up factories that is beneficial to tenants at the occupation stage.

Originality/value

– This research formulated a design model integrated with LPP for ramp-up factories. It extends the traditional design approach of “design follows function” to encompass LPP to transform the approach to a new LPP-driven facilities design philosophy. This new approach serves to better meet tenants’ requirements at the occupation stage. It is recommended that architecture schools incorporate the LPP-driven facilities design approach as one of their educational outcomes.
Roles of dominant understory Sasa bamboo in carbon and nitrogen dynamics following canopy tree removal in a cool‐temperate forest in northern Japan
Authors: Fukuzawa Karibu , Shibata Hideaki , Takagi Kentaro , Satoh Fuyuki , Koike Takayoshi , Sasa Kaichiro
Published: April 2015

To clarify the role of dense understory vegetation in the stand structure, and in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics of forest ecosystems with various conditions of overstory trees, we: (i) quantified the above‐ and below‐ground biomasses of understory dwarf bamboo (Sasa senanensis) at the old canopy‐gap area and the closed‐canopy area and compared the stand‐level biomasses of S. senanensis with that of overstory trees; (ii) determined the N leaching, soil respiration rates, fine‐root dynamics, plant area index (PAI) of S. senanensis, and soil temperature and moisture at the tree‐cut patches (cut) and the intact closed‐canopy patches (control). The biomass of S. senanensis in the canopy‐gap area was twice that at the closed‐canopy area. It equated to 12% of total biomass above ground but 41% below ground in the stand. The concentrations of NO3− and NH4+ in the soil solution and soil respiration rates did not significantly change between cut and control plots, indicating that gap creation did not affect the C or N dynamics in the soil. Root‐length density and PAI of S. senanensis were significantly greater at the cut plots, suggesting the promotion of S. senanensis growth following tree cutting. The levels of soil temperature and soil moisture were not changed following tree cutting. These results show that S. senanensis is a key component species in this cool‐temperate forest ecosystem and plays significant roles in mitigating the loss of N and C from the soil following tree cutting by increasing its leaf and root biomass and stabilizing the soil environment.
The two‐component system CpxAR is essential for virulence in the phytopathogen bacteria Dickeya dadantii EC3937
Authors: Bontemps‐Gallo Sébastien , Madec Edwige , Lacroix Jean‐Marie
Published: April 2015

The CpxAR two‐component system is present in many Proteobacteria. It controls expression of genes required to maintain envelope integrity in response to environmental injury. Consequently, this two‐component system was shown to be required for virulence of several zoo‐pathogens, but it has never been investigated in phyto‐pathogens. In this paper, we investigate the role of the CpxAR two‐component system in vitro and in vivo in Dickeya dadantii, an enterobacterial phytopathogen that causes soft‐rot disease in a large variety of plant species. cpxA null mutant displays a constitutively phosphorylated CpxR phenotype as shown by direct analysis of phosphorylation of CpxR by a Phos‐Tag retardation gel approach. Virulence in plants is completely abolished in cpxA or cpxR mutants of D. dadantii. In planta, CpxAR is only activated at an early stage of the infection process as shown by Phos‐Tag and gene fusion analyses. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the timing of CpxAR phosphorelay activation has been investigated during the infection process by direct monitoring of response regulator phosphorylation.
Intrauterine device use and the risk of pre‐eclampsia: a case–control study
Authors: Parker SE , Jick SS , Werler MM
Published: April 2015

Objective

To determine the association between intrauterine device (IUD) use, timing of removal prior to pregnancy, and the risk of pre‐eclampsia.

Design

A case–control study within the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, UK.

Setting

Medical record database in the UK.

Sample

Cases of pre‐eclampsia (n = 2744) were identified among pregnancies resulting in singleton deliveries from 1993 to 2010. Four controls, or pregnancies unaffected by pre‐eclampsia, were matched to each case on maternal age, general practice, and year of delivery.

Methods

Data on IUD use were obtained from patient records. The odds ratios (ORs) for the association between IUD and pre‐eclampsia were adjusted for covariates identified a priori, and analyses were stratified by BMI and number of prior deliveries.

Main outcome measures

Odds ratios (95% confidence intervals, 95% CIs) of pre‐eclampsia in pregnancies among women with a history of IUD use, compared with women without a history of IUD use.

Results

Prior IUD use was associated with a reduced risk of pre‐eclampsia (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.58–0.98). The timing of removal in relation to the start of pregnancy showed an inverse association, with shorter intervals associated with a larger decrease in risk of pre‐eclampsia. IUD removal within a year prior to pregnancy had an OR of 0.68 (95% CI 0.46–1.00). Among women with a prior delivery, the association between IUD use and pre‐eclampsia was null.

Conclusions

Intrauterine device use is associated with a small decreased risk of pre‐eclampsia, specifically if removed within the year prior to conception.

Tweetable abstract

A case–control study of pregnancies in the UK suggests a reduced risk of pre‐eclampsia for former IUD users.
Accelerating Improvement and Narrowing Gaps: Trends in Patients' Experiences with Hospital Care Reflected in HCAHPS Public Reporting
Authors: Elliott Marc N. , Cohea Christopher W. , Lehrman William G. , Goldstein Elizabeth H. , Cleary Paul D. , Giordano Laura A. , Beckett Megan K. , Zaslavsky Alan M.
Published: April 2015

Objective

Measure HCAHPS improvement in hospitals participating in the second and fifth years of HCAHPS public reporting; determine whether change is greater for some hospital types.

Data

Surveys from 4,822,960 adult inpatients discharged July 2007–June 2008 or July 2010–June 2011 from 3,541 U.S. hospitals.

Study Design

Linear mixed‐effect regression models with fixed effects for time, patient mix, and hospital characteristics (bedsize, ownership, Census division, teaching status, Critical Access status); random effects for hospitals and hospital‐time interactions; fixed‐effect interactions of hospital characteristics and patient characteristics (gender, health, education) with time predicted HCAHPS measures correcting for regression‐to‐the‐mean biases.

Data Collection Methods

National probability sample of adult inpatients in any of four approved survey modes.

Principal Findings

HCAHPS scores increased by 2.8 percentage points from 2008 to 2011 in the most positive response category. Among the middle 95 percent of hospitals, changes ranged from a 5.1 percent decrease to a 10.2 percent gain overall. The greatest improvement was in for‐profit and larger (200 or more beds) hospitals.

Conclusions

Five years after HCAHPS public reporting began, meaningful improvement of patients' hospital care experiences continues, especially among initially low‐scoring hospitals, reducing some gaps among hospitals.
Fatty Acid Profiles for Differentiating Growth Medium Formulations Used to Culture Bacillus cereus T‐strain Spores
Authors: Ehrhardt Christopher J. , Murphy Devonie L. , Robertson James M. , Bannan Jason D.
Published: April 2015

Microbial biomarkers that indicate aspects of an organism's growth conditions are important targets of forensic research. In this study, we examined fatty acid composition as a signature for the types of complex nutrients in the culturing medium. Bacillus cereus T‐strain spores were grown in medium formulations supplemented with one of the following: peptone (meat protein), tryptone (casein protein), soy protein, and brain–heart infusion. Cellular biomass was profiled with fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis. Results showed peptone cultures produced spores enriched in straight‐chained lipids. Tryptone cultures produced spores enriched in branched‐odd lipids when compared with peptone, soy, and brain–heart formulations. The observed FAME variation was used to construct a set of discriminant functions that could help identify the nutrients in a culturing recipe for an unknown spore sample. Blinded classification tests were most successful for spores grown on media containing peptone and tryptone, showing 88% and 100% correct identification, respectively.
Genomic Resources Notes Accepted 1 December 2014 – 31 January 2015
Authors: Blanchet Simon , Bouchez Olivier , Chapman Colin A. , Etter Paul D. , Goldberg Tony L. , Johnson Eric A. , Jones James H. , Loot Géraldine , Omeja Patrick A. , Rey Olivier , Ruiz‐Lopez Maria Jose , Switzer William M. , Ting Nelson
Published: April 2015

This article documents the public availability of (i) transcriptome sequence data and assembly for the rostrum dace (Leuciscus burdigalensis) naturally infected by a copepod ectoparasite (Tracheliastes polycolpus) and (ii) SNPs identified and validated from RAD sequencing for the Ugandan red colobus (Procolobus rufomitratus tephrosceles) using RAD sequencing.
Antiphospholipid Antibodies Alter Cell‐Death‐Regulating Lipid Metabolites in First and Third Trimester Human Placentae
Authors: Pantham Priyadarshini , Heazell Alexander E.P. , Mullard Graham , Begley Paul , Chen Qi , Brown Maria , Dunn Warwick B. , Chamley Lawrence W.
Published: April 2015

Problem

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are maternal autoantibodies that increase the risk of a woman developing preeclampsia 10‐fold. aPL are internalized into the syncytiotrophoblast and increase extrusion of necrotic trophoblast debris into the maternal blood. This necrotic trophoblast debris may trigger endothelial cell dysfunction contributing to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. We hypothesize that aPL directly affect placental metabolism, leading to increased syncytiotrophoblast death.

Methods of study

First and third trimester human placental explants were cultured with aPL, a control antibody, or media only, and placental conditioned culture media was examined by mass spectroscopy. Molecular targets of interest were investigated using qRTPCR and immunohistochemistry.

Results

The levels of 79 and 132 metabolites, respectively, were altered due to the treatment of first and third trimester placental explants with aPL. These included ceramides and diacylglycerols, which play important roles in cell death regulatory pathways. Antiphospholipid antibodies also decreased the expression of protein kinase C‐epsilon (PRKCE) in placental explants, possibly due to the disrupted balance between ceramides and diacylglycerols caused by aPL.

Conclusion

One mechanism by which aPL cause aberrant cell death in the syncytiotrophoblast in the first and third trimester is by disruption of placental lipid signaling and decreased expression of PRKCE.
A phase I/II study of oral clofarabine plus low‐dose cytarabine in previously treated acute myeloid leukaemia and high‐risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients at least 60 years of age
Authors: Buckley Sarah A. , Mawad Raya , Gooley Ted A. , Becker Pamela S. , Sandhu Vicky , Hendrie Paul , Scott Bart L. , Wood Brent L. , Walter Roland B. , Smith Kelly , Dean Carol , Estey Elihu H. , Pagel John M.
Published: April 2015

Outcomes for older adults with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are generally poor, and new effective therapies are needed. We investigated oral clofarabine combined with low‐dose cytarabine (LDAC) in patients aged 60 years and above with relapsed or refractory AML or high‐risk MDS in a phase I/II trial. A 3 + 3 dose escalation of oral clofarabine was followed by a phase II expansion with the aim of obtaining a complete response (CR) rate ≥30%. We identified 20 mg/d for 5 d as the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of oral clofarabine. A total of 35 patients, with a median age of 72 years, were treated. Of 26 patients enrolled at the MTD, 4 had treatment‐related grade 3–4 non‐haematological toxicities, but none died within 28 d. The observed CR rate and median survival were 34% [95% confidence interval (CI), 18–50%] and 6·8 months overall and 38% [95% CI, 19–57%] and 7·2 months at the MTD. The median disease‐free survival was 7·4 months. Fifty‐two percent (23/44) of cycles administered at the MTD were done without hospital admission. This combination of oral clofarabine and LDAC demonstrated efficacy with a CR rate of >30% and acceptable toxicity in older patients.
Received social support and exercising: An intervention study to test the enabling hypothesis
Authors: Rackow Pamela , Scholz Urte , Hornung Rainer
Published: April 2015

Objectives

Received social support is considered important for health‐enhancing exercise participation. The enabling hypothesis of social support suggests an indirect association of social support and exercising via constructs of self‐regulation, such as self‐efficacy. This study aimed at examining an expanded enabling hypothesis by examining effects of different kinds of social support (i.e., emotional and instrumental) on exercising not only via self‐efficacy but also via self‐monitoring and action planning.

Design and methods

An 8‐week online study was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. The intervention comprised finding and then exercising regularly with a new exercise companion. Intervention and control group effects were compared by a manifest multigroup model.

Results

Received emotional social support predicted self‐efficacy, self‐monitoring, and action planning in the intervention group. Moreover, received emotional social support was indirectly connected with exercise via the examined mediators. The indirect effect from received emotional social support via self‐efficacy mainly contributed to the total effect. No direct or indirect effect of received instrumental social support on exercise emerged. In the control group, neither emotional nor instrumental social support was associated with any of the self‐regulation constructs nor with exercise.

Conclusion

Actively looking for a new exercise companion and exercising together seems to be beneficial for the promotion of received emotional and instrumental social support. Emotional support in turn promotes exercise by enabling better self‐regulation, in particular self‐efficacy.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

With the ‘enabling hypothesis’, Benight and Bandura (2004, Behav. Res. Ther., 42, 1129) claimed that social support indirectly affects behaviour via self‐efficacy. Research in the domain of physical exercise has provided evidence for this enabling hypothesis on a correlational basis only preventing causal inferences.

What does this study add?

We found evidence for the enabling hypothesis of received social support via self‐efficacy on physical exercise in an intervention study.

Moreover, this study demonstrated the distinct contribution of received emotional and instrumental social support in the context of the enabling hypothesis.
The Benefits of Myrmecochory: A Matter of Stature
Authors: Leal Inara R. , Leal Laura C. , Andersen Alan N.
Published: April 2015

Myrmecochory, or seed dispersal by ants, occurs widely in angiosperms, and particularly in temperate forest herbs in the northern Hemisphere and sclerophyll shrubs in Mediterranean‐climate landscapes. The lipid‐rich elaiosome on the seed provides nutrition to the ants; however, how the plant benefits from myrmecochory remains unclear. Here, we provide the first comprehensive analysis of the Euphorbiaceae species in the semi‐arid Caatinga vegetation region of northeastern Brazil, and show that myrmecochory strongly associates with small plant stature, even after controlling for seed size. The association of myrmecochory with small stature suggests that the primary benefit to plants concerns distance of dispersal, which reduces parental and sibling competition.
The Marketing of Nature
Authors: Wilcove David S. , Ghazoul Jaboury
Published: April 2015

According to its advocates, an ecosystem‐services‐based approach to conservation will engender greater public support and produce more durable victories. Here, we identify three potential opportunity costs associated with such an approach: (1) diminished attention to protecting rare, localized species (the night parrot effect); (2) diminished attention to protecting wild, remote areas (the proximity‐to‐people effect); and (3) an emphasis on restoration projects near urban areas rather than the protection of relatively intact ecosystems (the rise‐of‐restoration effect). We encourage scientists and conservation practitioners to undertake the necessary monitoring and research to determine the magnitude of these opportunity costs.
Time‐lapse imaging assay using the BioStation CT: A sensitive drug‐screening method for three‐dimensional cell culture
Authors: Sakamoto Ruriko , Rahman M. Mamunur , Shimomura Manami , Itoh Manabu , Nakatsura Tetsuya
Published: April 2015

Three‐dimensional (3D) cell culture is beneficial for physiological studies of tumor cells, due to its potential to deliver a high quantity of cell culture information that is representative of the cancer microenvironment and predictive of drug responses in vivo. Currently, gel‐associated or matrix‐associated 3D cell culture is comprised of intricate procedures that often result in experimental complexity. Therefore, we developed an innovative anti‐cancer drug sensitivity screening technique for 3D cell culture on NanoCulture Plates (NCP) by employing the imaging device BioStation CT. Here, we showed that the human breast cancer cell lines BT474 and T47D form multicellular spheroids on NCP plates and compared their sensitivity to the anti‐cancer drugs trastuzumab and paclitaxel using the BioStation CT. The anticancer drugs reduced spheroid migration velocity and suppressed spheroid fusion. In addition, primary cells derived from the human breast cancer tissues B58 and B61 grown on NCP plates also exhibited similar drug sensitivity. These results were in good agreement with the conventional assay method using ATP quantification. We confirmed the antitumor effects of the drugs on cells seeded in 96‐well plates using the BioStation CT imaging technique. We expect this method to be useful in research for new antitumor agents and for drug sensitivity tests in individually‐tailored cancer treatments.
Synthesis of 5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐benzo[d]isoxazol‐7‐one and 5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐isoxazolo[5,4‐c]pyridin‐7‐one Derivatives as Potential Hsp90 Inhibitors
Authors: Musso Loana , Cincinelli Raffaella , Giannini Giuseppe , Manetti Fabrizio , Dallavalle Sabrina
Published: April 2015

A novel class of 5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐benzo[d]isoxazol‐7‐ones and 5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐isoxazolo[5,4‐c]pyridin‐7‐ones was designed, synthesized, and assayed to investigate the affinity toward Hsp90 protein. The synthetic route was based on a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of nitriloxides, generated in situ from suitable benzaldoximes, with 2‐bromocyclohex‐2‐enones or 3‐bromo‐5,6‐dihydro‐1H‐pyridin‐2‐ones. Whereas all the compounds bearing a benzamide group on the bicyclic scaffold were devoid of activity, the derivatives carrying a resorcinol‐like fragment showed a remarkable inhibitory effect on Hsp90. Docking calculations were performed to investigate the orientation of the new compounds within the binding site of the enzyme.
Effect of background noise on neuronal coding of interaural level difference cues in rat inferior colliculus
Authors: Mokri Yasamin , Worland Kate , Ford Mark , Rajan Ramesh
Published: April 2015

Humans can accurately localize sounds even in unfavourable signal‐to‐noise conditions. To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying this, we studied the effect of background wide‐band noise on neural sensitivity to variations in interaural level difference (ILD), the predominant cue for sound localization in azimuth for high‐frequency sounds, at the characteristic frequency of cells in rat inferior colliculus (IC). Binaural noise at high levels generally resulted in suppression of responses (55.8%), but at lower levels resulted in enhancement (34.8%) as well as suppression (30.3%). When recording conditions permitted, we then examined if any binaural noise effects were related to selective noise effects at each of the two ears, which we interpreted in light of well‐known differences in input type (excitation and inhibition) from each ear shaping particular forms of ILD sensitivity in the IC. At high signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNR), in most ILD functions (41%), the effect of background noise appeared to be due to effects on inputs from both ears, while for a large percentage (35.8%) appeared to be accounted for by effects on excitatory input. However, as SNR decreased, change in excitation became the dominant contributor to the change due to binaural background noise (63.6%). These novel findings shed light on the IC neural mechanisms for sound localization in the presence of continuous background noise. They also suggest that some effects of background noise on encoding of sound location reported to be emergent in upstream auditory areas can also be observed at the level of the midbrain.
The relationship between the pre‐admission CHA2DS2‐VASc score and proximal artery occlusion in patients with acute stroke and atrial fibrillation
Authors: Sakamoto Y. , Sato S. , Hama Y. , Nagatsuka K. , Minematsu K. , Toyoda K.
Published: April 2015

Background and purpose

The CHA2DS2‐VASc score is associated with severity and outcome of ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). It was hypothesized that a high CHA2DS2‐VASc score was related to severity and outcome because of its association with proximal artery occlusion (PAO). This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the CHA2DS2‐VASc score and PAO and to determine whether the effect of the CHA2DS2‐VASc score on severity or outcome is independent of PAO.

Methods

Acute stroke patients with AF were retrospectively enrolled. PAO was defined as occlusion at the internal carotid artery or proximal middle cerebral artery on admission magnetic resonance angiography. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify independent factors associated with PAO and determine the associations of the CHA2DS2‐VASc score with the initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and poor functional outcome (discharge modified Rankin scale score 4–6).

Results

In all, 213 patients [102 women; median age 80 (interquartile range 71–86) years; NIHSS score 16 (9–22)] were enrolled. On multivariable analysis, the CHA2DS2‐VASc score (odds ratio 1.40, 95% confidence interval 1.12–1.76 per 1 point) was independently associated with PAO and correlated with the initial NIHSS score (standardized coefficient 0.198, P = 0.017). This association was not significant after further adjustment for PAO (0.080, P = 0.241). The CHA2DS2‐VASc score was independently related to poor outcome even adjusted for PAO (odds ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.88).

Conclusion

The CHA2DS2‐VASc score was associated with PAO in acute ischaemic stroke patients with AF. The CHA2DS2‐VASc score may be correlated with the NIHSS score through the presence of PAO and with poor functional outcome independently of PAO.
Biochar stability in soil: meta‐analysis of decomposition and priming effects
Authors: Wang Jinyang , Xiong Zhengqin , Kuzyakov Yakov
Published: April 2015

The stability and decomposition of biochar are fundamental to understand its persistence in soil, its contribution to carbon (C) sequestration, and thus its role in the global C cycle. Our current knowledge about the degradability of biochar, however, is limited. Using 128 observations of biochar‐derived CO2 from 24 studies with stable (13C) and radioactive (14C) carbon isotopes, we meta‐analyzed the biochar decomposition in soil and estimated its mean residence time (MRT). The decomposed amount of biochar increased logarithmically with experimental duration, and the decomposition rate decreased with time. The biochar decomposition rate varied significantly with experimental duration, feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, and soil clay content. The MRTs of labile and recalcitrant biochar C pools were estimated to be about 108 days and 556 years with pool sizes of 3% and 97%, respectively. These results show that only a small part of biochar is bioavailable and that the remaining 97% contribute directly to long‐term C sequestration in soil. The second database (116 observations from 21 studies) was used to evaluate the priming effects after biochar addition. Biochar slightly retarded the mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM; overall mean: −3.8%, 95% CI = −8.1–0.8%) compared to the soil without biochar addition. Significant negative priming was common for studies with a duration shorter than half a year (−8.6%), crop‐derived biochar (−20.3%), fast pyrolysis (−18.9%), the lowest pyrolysis temperature (−18.5%), and small application amounts (−11.9%). In contrast, biochar addition to sandy soils strongly stimulated SOM mineralization by 20.8%. This indicates that biochar stimulates microbial activities especially in soils with low fertility. Furthermore, abiotic and biotic processes, as well as the characteristics of biochar and soils, affecting biochar decomposition are discussed. We conclude that biochar can persist in soils on a centennial scale and that it has a positive effect on SOM dynamics and thus on C sequestration.