bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increasing carbohydrate availability in the hindgut promotes hypothalamic neurotransmitter synthesis: aromatic amino acids linking the microbiota–brain axis
Authors: Gao Kan , Pi Yu , Mu Chun‐Long , Farzi Aitak , Liu Zhuang , Zhu Wei‐Yun
Published: April 2019

The gut microbiota is increasingly recognized to modulate brain function by recent studies demonstrating the central effects of various gut microbial manipulation strategies. Our previous study demonstrated that antibiotic‐induced alterations of hindgut microbiota are associated with changes in aromatic amino acid (AAA) metabolism and hypothalamic neurochemistry, while the underlying mechanistic insight is limited. Given that the microbial AAA metabolism can be affected by luminal carbohydrate availability, here we hypothesize that increasing hindgut carbohydrate availability affects the expression of neurotransmitters in the porcine hypothalamus. A hindgut microbiota‐targeted strategy was adopted by increasing hindgut carbohydrate availability in a cecal‐cannulated piglet model. Mechanistic involvement of AAAs along the gut microbiota−brain axis was further investigated in mice and neuronal cells. Increasing carbohydrate availability by cecal starch infusion led to a decrease in hindgut AAA metabolism, and an increase in systemic AAA availability, central AAA‐derived neurotransmitters (5‐HT, dopamine), and neurotrophin BDNF in piglets, indicating that hindgut microbiota affect hypothalamic neurochemistry in an AAA‐dependent manner. Single AAA i.p. injection in mice revealed that an increase in circulating tryptophan and tyrosine elevated their concentrations in brain and finally promoted the expressions of 5‐HT, dopamine, and BDNF in a time‐dependent manner. Neuronal cells treated with single AAAs in vitro further demonstrated that tryptophan and tyrosine enhanced 5‐HT and dopamine synthesis, respectively, and promoted BDNF expression partly through the 5‐HT1A/DRD1‐CREB pathway. Our study reveals that increasing hindgut carbohydrate availability promotes hypothalamic neurotransmitter synthesis and that AAAs act as potential mediators between hindgut microbiota and brain neurochemistry.

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Defying convention: The female nude in Canadian painting and photography during the interwar period
Authors: Smither Devon
Published: April 2019

Often censored and much debated, the nude in Canadian art has held a contentious position since the early twentieth century. The historic focus within Canadian art history on the landscape painting of the Group of Seven has meant that themes concerning the figure and the nude have largely gone unexamined. I analyze a selection of nude paintings and photographs alongside their public reception for what the female nude reveals about the development of modern art in Canada.
‘Tuyaw’, a Reminder of the Dead or Another Way to Talk about the Weather in the Age of the Super‐Typhoon
Authors: Carter Christina Verano
Published: April 2019

In the wake of mass calamity, one can discern emergent specters of collective memory, trauma, and mourning over human death as well as the destruction of human dwellings. In the Philippines, a former Spanish and U.S. colony, recent history is resplendent with all manner of cataclysms ‐ from natural disasters (earthquakes, typhoons) to mass destruction during war (Spanish‐American War and World War II). This essay is concerned with the ways in which dreams and the dead are not just after‐effects of events in linear‐time nor exclusively human affects. Drawing on scholars of experimental ethnography and postcolonial film theory converging on Gilles Deleuze's “time‐image”, dreams authored by the dead here are engaged as agentive fabulators on decay, destruction, and loss – first on the local level of experiencing disaster but further connecting that more broadly to loss of heritage sites and the possible future prospect of serial calamity augured by neoliberal development and climate change in the Pacific.
Intergenerational Transmission of Family Violence and Depressive Symptoms in Urban Thailand
Authors: Xu Xiaohe , Sunil Thankam , Edelblute Heather , Madden Erin , Sirisunyaluck Bangon
Published: April 2019

Objective

This study examines linkages between childhood exposure to family violence (FV) and adulthood depressive symptoms, directly and indirectly, through adulthood experience of FV among ever‐married Thai women.

Background

A growing body of research has shown that childhood experience of FV is not only intergenerationally transmitted but also significantly associated with negative mental health outcomes in adulthood. However, prior research is limited to Western contexts, with little known about how intergenerational pathways of FV operate outside of the West.

Method

Data come from a probability sample of ever‐married women living in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2000 (N = 811). The dependent variable is self‐reported depressive symptoms measured by the 20‐item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the key independent variables are direct and indirect exposures to FV in childhood. The path models are estimated to incorporate the mediating variables of adulthood experience of FV via the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales.

Results

Our path analyses reveal that the intergenerational transfer of FV occurs, regardless of the form of violence experienced by ever‐married Thai women during childhood or adulthood. Moreover, although experiencing FV during childhood tends to exert direct effects on depressive symptoms in adulthood, witnessing FV during childhood affects depressive symptoms in adulthood only indirectly.

Conclusion

Taken together, our findings demonstrate that childhood exposure to FV elicits long‐term detrimental effects on women's adulthood experience of FV and mental health in urban Thailand.
The Who, Where, What, How and When of Market Entry
Authors: Markman Gideon D. , Gianiodis Peter , Tyge Payne G. , Tucci Christopher , Filatotchev Igor , Kotha Reddi , Gedajlovic Eric
Published: April 2019

This introductory, along with the eight articles contained within this Special Issue, highlights and brings greater clarity to entrant‐incumbent interactions and to firm movement – when entrants traverse market territories for the creation and/or delivery of offerings, where ‘markets’ include service or product categories, technology or resource spaces, industries, sectors and/or geographies. Collectively, this Special Issues explains that firm movement across market boundaries is highly consequential, influencing resource‐capability mixes inside firms, interfirm relations, market logic and industry value chains, and of course, people, communities and even nations. Specifically, we develop a field‐wide perspective of market entry by expanding on the framework of market entry that Zachary and his colleagues developed (Zachary et al., 2015) – i.e., the who (players such as incumbents, entrants, suppliers, etc.), when (the timing and sequence of entry), how (the strategy, resources, capabilities, etc.), where (the space of entry) and what (product, service, business model, etc.) – to include two additional categories: complements (networks, platforms, ecosystems) and non‐market elements (government, political, social and cultural arrangements). We also summarize the eight highly diverse and insightful articles that make this Special Issue, and conclude with a discussion to highlight foundational questions that point to new directions in future research in this field. In sum, we hope to inspire scholars to go beyond counting outcomes (e.g., entry/exit rates, or profiling successful versus unsuccessful entrants), to consider contexts, processes and contingencies (e.g., cost, time, collaboration, competition, interfirm relations, etc.) and to discover boundary conditions that inform a theory of market entry.
Oral premalignant lesions of smokers and non‐smokers show similar carcinogenic pathways and outcomes. A clinicopathological and molecular comparative analysis
Authors: de la Oliva Jorge , Larque Ana‐Belen , Marti Carles , Bodalo‐Torruella Marta , Nonell Lara , Nadal Alfons , Castillo Paola , Sieira Ramón , Ferrer Ada , Garcia‐Diez Eloy , Alos Llucia
Published: April 2019

Background

Oral premalignant lesions (OPML) are frequently extensive and multifocal leading high morbidity for patients. Although oral squamous carcinoma (OSCC) in non‐smoker patients is increasing, little is known about OPML and the carcinogenesis process in these patients. The aims of the study were to insight and compare the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of OPML of non‐smoker and smoker patients from which one or multiple OSCC have developed.

Methods

Eighty‐one patients showing extensive and/or multifocal OPML were included in the survey. HPV and EBV were investigated by PCR and in situ hybridization respectively. Cytogenetic studies were performed by microarray in sequential progressive 30 lesions; p53 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry.

Results

The patients were 41 males and 40 females, ages ranging from 32 to 93 years (median 64); 43 (53%) were smokers. Non‐smokers were more frequently female with a median age of 68, whereas smokers were men with a median age of 60 (P = 0.005). HPV and EBV were negative in all cases. The most consistent and earliest cytogenetic alterations in both non‐smokers and smokers were loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and losses of locus harboring tumor suppressor genes. Progression to high‐grade dysplasia and OSCC showed progressive addition of LOH, tumor suppressor losses, and oncogenic gains.

Conclusion

Non‐smoker patients are mostly elderly female and show oral carcinogenic pathways and outcomes similar to smoker patients.
Can government‐supported preventive fluoride varnish application service reduce pulp‐involved primary molars?
Authors: Chi Lin‐Yang , Lin Po‐Yen , Wang Jui , Chu Yu‐Roo , Chang Yung‐Ming
Published: April 2019

Objectives

Fluoride varnishes are reported to reduce 37–43% of dental caries; however, it remains unclear whether they can prevent severe decay. The study investigated the association between the government‐supported preventive fluoride varnish application service (FVAS) and the risk of undergoing treatments of pulp‐involved primary molars.

Methods

Children who were younger than 6 years and did not receive any dental treatment between the first and last services within 2 years were defined as the “preventive‐FVAS group.” After the matching process, 45,296 children were selected for further analysis until the end of 2013. The log‐rank test and Cox proportional hazard models were employed to estimate the effects of preventive‐FVAS on the treatments of pulp‐involved primary molars, including pulpectomy and early extraction before the age of 8 years.

Results

After adjusting for confounding factors, adjusted hazard ratios for the treatments of pulp‐involved primary molars for children who received preventive‐FVAS were 0.96 (95% CI = 0.92–1.00) for initiation of pulpectomy, 0.93 (95% CI = 0.86–1.00) for completion of pulpectomy, and 0.87 (95% CI = 0.82–0.92, P < 0.0001) for early extraction, especially for those who received three or more FVAS.

Conclusions

Although preventive‐FVASs were associated with a 4–13% decreased risk of undergoing treatments of pulp‐involved primary molars within a lower risk subset, we suggest the implementation the current Taiwan government‐supported FVAS program needs to be modified. Further studies are warranted to evaluate whether it would be a better strategy if the program focused only on the high‐risk group.
Music Theory on the Radio: Theme and Temporality in Hans Keller's First Functional Analysis
Authors: O'HARA WILLIAM
Published: April 2019

Hans Keller described his ‘functional analysis’ (FA) as ‘the musical analysis of music’. Heavily influenced by his studies in Freudian psychology, he believed that his method would reveal ‘the latent unity behind manifest contrasts’ without using any labels or descriptive prose. In an effort to make explicit to his listeners what he believed to have been the composer's own unified perception of the work, he composed sets of between‐movement interludes that extracted, juxtaposed and modified prominent themes; he also included intervals of silence during which listeners were to reflect on what they had just heard. This article explores Keller's first functional analysis, of Mozart's Quartet in D minor, K. 421, which reveals his interest in the relationships between the motives and themes of a given movement, and in the motivic connections and thematic transformations across movements. Through Keller's re‐arrangements of motives and themes, the listener is meant to hear one motive gradually transforming into another. The FA is thus revealed as a style of analysis whose form – a musical performance – mirrors its content: a mediation between the listening experience and the non‐linear temporality of compositional labour.
Rainfall exclusion and thinning can alter the relationships between forest functioning and drought
Authors: Gavinet Jordane , Ourcival Jean‐Marc , Limousin Jean‐Marc
Published: April 2019

Increasing drought caused by the ongoing climate change, and forest management by thinning that aims at mitigating its impact, may modify the current relationships between forest functions and drought intensity and preclude our ability to forecast future ecosystem responses.

We used 15 yr of data from an experimental rainfall exclusion (−27% of rainfall) combined with thinning (−30% stand basal area) to investigate differences in the drought–function relationships for each component of above‐ground net primary productivity (ANPP) and stand transpiration in a Mediterranean Quercus ilex stand.

Rainfall exclusion reduced stand ANPP by 10%, mainly because of lowered leaf and acorn production, whereas wood production remained unaffected. These responses were consistent with the temporal sensitivity to drought among tree organs but revealed an increased allocation to wood. Thinning increased wood and acorn production and reduced the sensitivity of standing wood biomass change to drought. Rainfall exclusion and thinning lowered the intercept of the transpiration–drought relationship as a result of the structural constraints exerted by lower leaf and sapwood area.

The results suggest that historical drought–function relationships can be used to infer future drought impacts on stand ANPP but not on water fluxes. Thinning can mitigate drought effects and reduce forest sensitivity to drought.
Osmotic adjustment and energy limitations to plant growth in saline soil
Authors: Munns Rana , Passioura John B. , Colmer Timothy D. , Byrt Caitlin S.
Published: April 2019

Plant roots must exclude almost all of the Na+ and Cl– in saline soil while taking up water, otherwise these ions would build up to high concentrations in leaves. Plants evaporate c. 50 times more water than they retain, so 98% exclusion would result in shoot NaCl concentrations equal to that of the external medium. Taking up just 2% of the NaCl allows a plant to osmotically adjust the Na+ and Cl– in vacuoles, while organic solutes provide the balancing osmotic pressure in the cytoplasm. We quantify the costs of this exclusion by roots, the regulation of Na+ and Cl– transport through the plant, and the costs of osmotic adjustment with organic solutes in roots.
Novel Oral Lichen Planus Symptom Severity Measure for assessing patients’ daily symptom experience
Authors: Burke Laurie B. , Brennan Michael T , Ni Riordain Richeal , Madsen Lars Siim
Published: April 2019

Objective

A novel Oral Lichen Planus Symptom Severity Measure was developed as a clinical outcome assessment of the daily symptom experience of patients with oral lichen planus.

Methods

A literature review and expert input were followed by open‐ended concept elicitation interviews with 17 adults with oral lichen planus in the United States and Ireland. Item content was generated, and the interviews continued until input saturation was reached. The final electronic version of the measure was cognitively debriefed in 6 US patients and subsequently translated and linguistically validated in Germany and Denmark.

Results

Concept elicitation interviews demonstrated content validity and saturation in identifying symptoms and daily activities that generate symptoms in patients with oral lichen planus. The content and electronic daily diary format demonstrated content validity during cognitive debriefing interviews. Linguistic validation of the 7‐item Oral Lichen Planus Symptom Severity Measure in Germany and Denmark confirmed the content validity of the German and Danish versions.

Conclusions

Qualitative research methods generated evidence that the 7‐item Oral Lichen Planus Symptom Severity Measure version 1.0 is a well‐defined assessment tool to characterize the severity, specificity and variations of symptoms in patients with oral lichen planus.
Case report: primary mediastinal germ cell tumour initially presenting as level IV cervical lymphadenopathy
Authors: Crane H. , Mustafa S. , Tahir F. , Brierley D.J.
Published: April 2019

This case report describes an unusual case of a primary mediastinal germ cell tumour presenting initially as lymphadenopathy in the neck. This case highlights the rare occurrence of germ cell tumours in an area common to the routine extra oral dental examination of lymph nodes.
China's Core Interests and Dilemma in Foreign Policy Practice
Authors: Zhou Jinghao
Published: April 2019

Although the term “China's core interests” appeared in Chinese media in the early 2000s, the notion of China's core interests has recently become the principle of Chinese foreign policy as part of the China Dream under the Xi Jinping administration. Guided by the principle of China's core interests, has China achieved expected results of the foreign policy practice? The recent development of China's relations with the international society, especially with the West, does not support a positive answer. Questions raised here are: If China continues to stick with the principle of China's core interests, how does China play it out in dealing with international relations? Is it necessary for China to reinterpret its core interests in its foreign policy practice in order to better serve the win–win cooperation within the liberal international order? This paper will address these questions by examining the relationship between the notion of China's core interests and its foreign policy practice, and argue that China could worsen its foreign relations if it were to overemphasize the principle of China's core interests in foreign policy practice. China should revisit the notion of its core interests and modify it in order to handle serious challenges from the international society.
A New Law Enforcement Cooperation Model in Southeast Asia and an Examination of Its Global Application: A Korean Desk
Authors: Jung Jeyong , Lee Chang‐Moo
Published: April 2019

This paper aims to assess the efficacy of the “Korean Desks” in the Philippines and Vietnam and to investigate whether this new law enforcement cooperation model could be replicated globally. As a research method, in‐depth semi‐structured interviews were conducted with a total of six Korean police officers at the Korean Desks. Three themes emerged from the interview data. First, this cooperation model has increased the sense of public safety among Korean communities and has provided higher efficiency in police cooperation. Second, factors such as no preceding model to consider, demanding workload, and high dependency on local officers have been found to be difficulties in the operations of the Korean Desks. Third, it was argued that the application of this model to a different nation would face great challenges primarily due to the high variability of sociocultural structures across nations. Findings revealed that the Korean Desk model was deeply embedded in the sociocultural environment in which it was established, and the implementation of the model was contingent upon the officers’ experiences rather than guidance from the police headquarters.
International Sanctions on North Korea: A Two‐Level Solution
Authors: Ko Sangtu
Published: April 2019

The North Korean nuclear problem has remained unsolved for 25 years. A variety of approaches can be used to resolve the problem, ranging from economic incentives to dialogues, sanctions, and military strikes, but sanctions appear to be the most plausible solution as a realistic method. Still, the question remains how to make sanctions against North Korea more effective. This article focuses on a regional approach to international cooperation and suggests that a regional security arrangement should be established in Northeast Asia to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. Today, the international order is undergoing change. Globalization is in retreat. Under these circumstances, international problems seem to be solved most effectively through regional cooperation. Northeast Asia has no significant regional cooperation arrangements. A successful regional cooperation requires two elements. First, the South Korean government needs to utilize the North Korean nuclear problem, redefining it as a threat to regional peace; such a shift in threat recognition would elevate the importance of a regional solution. Second, the process of building a regional arrangement needs institutionalization. The existing regional dialogues can hardly help solve the nuclear problem. In this sense, it is necessary to recalibrate the Six‐Party Talks as an institution implementing sanctions as resolutions adopted in the UN Security Council.
Conflict or Cooperation? India and Pakistan in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
Authors: Ahmed Zahid Shahab , Ahmed Sarfraz , Bhatnagar Stuti
Published: April 2019

South Asia is one of the least integrated regions in the world, with persistent India–Pakistan rivalry acting as a major stumbling block to regional cooperation through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Nonetheless, both India and Pakistan continue to experiment with multilateral arrangements and both became members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2017. While it is too early to predict the impact of the India–Pakistan rivalry on the SCO, dominant scholarship highlights the likelihood of a negative influence. This paper would like to present an alternative possibility – of the SCO providing opportunities for collaboration in the areas of security and counterterrorism, which in turn may positively influence Indo–Pak relations. Further, the likelihood of the Indo–Pak conflict negatively impacting the SCO is low primarily because, unlike SAARC, the SCO is led by China and Russia, who are actively invested in keeping the SCO influential to serve their key interest in challenging the dominant Western world order.
Can North Korea Follow China's Path? A Comparative Study of the Nexus Between National Security and Economic Reforms
Authors: Lee Inyeop
Published: April 2019

Why has North Korea been unable to implement serious economic reforms like those of China? By tracing the process of economic reform in China, this paper argues that the improvement of national security, especially as a result of diplomatic normalization with the United States, was an essential precondition for successful economic reform and growth. It reduced the fear of an open‐door policy and eased domestic control as well as reallocation of resources from the military to economic development. Furthermore, diplomatic normalization with the United States lifted economic sanctions, and allowed access to global markets, foreign direct investments, and membership in major international economic organizations. However, North Korea has technically been at war with the United States for the last 66 years. Therefore, it maintains very tight control of its population and spends a substantial portion of its GDP on the military. It has also been under severe economic sanctions and does not have access to the global economy. The possibility of any meaningful economic reforms in North Korea will depend on its success in improving national security by resolving the nuclear issue and normalizing diplomatic relations with the United States.
Is the Black Box Predictable? Finding a Way to Forecast North Korea's Nuclear Activity
Authors: Cao Wei , Liu Qian
Published: April 2019

This article challenges the stereotype that North Korea's foreign policy is difficult to predict and thus can only be subjected to ex post study. Based on the naive Bayesian method, we establish a short‐term prediction model for North Korea's nuclear and missile tests using international news reports from North Korean media between 2006 and 2018 as a dataset. The test results show that the overall accuracy rate of the model's predictions of North Korean historical activity is greater than 80%, and its robustness is strong. To solve the problem of relatively delayed data collection, we use the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) time series analysis method to simulate the values of feature sets. The estimated data are statistically reliable, and the prediction accuracy is high. This study proves that although the DPRK is extremely closed, it is possible to make relatively accurate predictions of its behavior using appropriate methods. The modeling approach in this paper can provide inspiration for developing general approaches to national behavior prediction.
Hydrochlorothiazide‐induced photosensitivity in a psoriasis patient following exposure to narrow‐band ultraviolet B excimer therapy
Authors: Rosenthal Amanda , Herrmann Jennifer
Published: April 2019

Drug‐induced photosensitivity develops when the use of oral or topical photosensitizing medications creates a rash after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Medications most commonly implicated in photosensitive drug reactions include amiodarone, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatories, thiazides, tetracycline antibiotics, chlorpromazine, and fluoroquinolones. It is generally believed that drug‐induced photosensitivity is an UVA phenomenon, caused by UV wavelengths between 315 and 400 nm. Here, we present a case of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)‐induced photosensitivity following exposure to 308‐nm narrow‐band (nb) UVB light emitted from an excimer laser in a patient undergoing treatment for plaque psoriasis. This patient had received biweekly treatments with the excimer laser for years prior without any history of adverse reactions. We believe that our patient suffered an acute photosensitivity to UVB due to new‐onset HCTZ. Because nb UVB–emitting lasers are used to treat many dermatologic conditions, physicians should be aware of potential photosensitivity reactions, review medication lists and counsel patients accordingly.
Dermoscopy of pagetoid reticulosis, with dermoscopic‐pathologic correlation
Authors: Manoli Sofia‐Magdalini , Lallas Aimilios , Ioannides Demetris , Nikolaidou Christina , Lazaridou Elizabeth , Sotiriou Eleni , Vakirlis Efstratios , Apalla Zoe
Published: April 2019

Pagetoid reticulosis (PR), also known as Woringer‐Kolopp disease, is a rare variant of mycosis fungoides with distinctive clinicopathologic features. It clinically manifests as a solitary, erythematous, gradually enlarging, scaly, or verrucous plaque on the lower extremities, and due to its indolent course and nonspecific clinical features, may remain undiagnosed for years. In the current study, we describe the clinical and dermoscopic characteristics of a rare case of PR disease and correlate them with the corresponding histopathologic findings. Dermoscopy may prove beneficial in early diagnosis of this rare entity.
Adherence to optical safety guidelines for laser‐assisted hair removal
Authors: AlTaleb Rawan M. , Alsharif Heba M. , Younis Afnan S. , Alsulaiman Sulaiman M. , Abouammoh Marwan A.
Published: April 2019

Background

In recent years, there was a rise in ocular injuries secondary to cosmetic laser‐assisted hair removal.

Purpose

To assess the level of adherence to optical safety guidelines during laser‐assisted hair removal performed by nurses or physicians in private practice.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted at thirty‐one private laser‐assisted hair removal clinics. An electronic random number generator using a cluster random sampling technique was used to select the clinics. The Alexlazr™ (Candela Corp.) device operator's manual checklist was modified to collect data from laser device operators and patients by surveying the laser rooms, interviewing the patients, and observing the treatments.

Results

Ninety‐four patients treated by different service providers were included from 31 private centers. All treatment sessions were delivered by trained nurses. Only 9.5% had acceptable adherence to optical safety guidelines during hair removal treatment, while the majority (90.5%) of service providers were poorly adherent. None of the providers achieved excellent adherence to optical safety guidelines. The item with the least adherence was the lack of non‐reflective floors inside laser rooms in 72.3% of centers. All service providers were familiar with the laser system controls and emergency shutdown (100% adherence).

Conclusion

There is a significant deficiency in the safety precautions at laser‐assisted hair removal centers that can result in devastating ophthalmic injuries. Companies providing laser‐assisted hair removal machines should be involved in aiding these centers to implement safety procedures.
Spectroscopic observations on human pigmentation
Authors: Sadiq Iqbal , Kollias Nikiforos , Baqer Ali
Published: April 2019

Background

The main chromophores of human skin are melanins and hemoglobins along with carotenoids, bilirubin, and other compounds. In an effort to study the spectral signatures of skin melanin, we measured absorption spectra in a variety of situations, including a method to show early signs of re‐pigmentation in vitiligo.

Methods

To measure skin in vivo, the essential component was a "Bifurcated Optical Fiber" with one end connected to the light source and the second end connected to the spectrometer while the common end was placed on the skin.

Results

In a typical in situ “melanin in skin” spectrum, the absorbance values first rise gradually, from 750 to 600 nm, then rise moderately from 600 to 450 nm, and rise sharply from 450 nm to a broad peak at 335 nm, below which it gradually rolls down to much lower values.

Conclusion

We successfully studied melanin spectroscopically in subjects with vitiligo lesions, obtaining the differential spectra. Higher melanin levels can be shown by steeper negative slopes of a straight line fitted between 620 and 720 nm. Also, absorption peak at 335 nm showed the presence of melanin.
Photodynamic inactivation to prevent and disrupt Staphylococcus aureus biofilm under different media conditions
Authors: Reynoso Eugenia , Ferreyra Darío D. , Durantini Edgardo N. , Spesia Mariana B.
Published: April 2019

Objective

The goal of this work was to investigate the photodynamic activity of 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis[4‐(3‐N,N‐dimethylaminopropoxy)phenyl]chlorin (TAPC) and zinc(II) 2,9,16,23‐tetrakis[4‐(N‐methylpyridyloxy)]phthalocyanine iodide (ZnPPc4+) as photosensitizers to inactivate Staphylococcus aureus biofilms and prevent their formations in different culture media.

Methods

We incubated S aureus biofilms in different culture media: tryptic soy (TS), nutrient (N), Müeller Hinton (MH) broth, TS with glucose 2 and 5% (w/v) with 5 μM ZnPPc4+ or TAPC and irradiated with visible light (350‐800 nm). Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) was determined by count of colony forming units (CFU) and crystal violet method. Furthermore, we studied PDI effect on biofilm development in TS broth. Finally, we examined the effects of PDI on the structure of S aureus biofilm.

Results

Greater inactivation was achieved, using TAPC or ZnPPc4+, when S aureus biofilm was grown in N or MH broths rather than in TS. Besides, glucose addition to the medium decreases the ability to develop biofilm and increase the photoinactivation capacity. Prevention of 3 log biofilm developments was obtained when S aureus cultures were treated with TAPC (10 μM) and 108 J/cm2 in TS broth and the number of CFU was counted after 24 hours. Moreover, microscopy studies demonstrated modifications in biofilm architecture.

Conclusions

These results indicate that TAPC and ZnPPc4+ may be promising photosensitizers for photodynamic inactivation of S aureus biofilms or to prevent their formation.
Morphological, molecular phylogenetic and pathogenic analyses of Erysiphe spp. causing powdery mildew on cashew plants in Brazil
Authors: Fonseca W. L. , Cardoso J. E. , Ootani M. A. , Brasil S. O. S. , Assunção F. S. , Lima C. S. , Viana F. M. P. , Muniz C. R. , Andrade I. L. , Martins M. V. V.
Published: April 2019

Cashew powdery mildew is presently the most important disease of cashew trees in all Brazilian growing regions. Although it was described over a century ago, it had never threatened the Brazilian cashew industry until the first decade of the 21st century. Morphological and pathogenic evidence indicated the possibility of different pathogen species being involved in early and late types of cashew powdery mildew. This study was designed to elucidate this issue by comparing two different powdery mildew fungi occurring on cashew plants in Brazil according to the morphological characteristics, phylogenetic relationships with closely related powdery mildew fungi and pathogenic relationships. Based on morphology, molecular phylogenetics and pathogenicity on cashew, it was shown that two species of powdery mildew specimens are without question associated with cashew trees. One species, which infects young immature tissues such as shiny leaves, flowers and young fruits, is Erysiphe quercicola, while Erysiphe necator is associated exclusively with mature leaves. This is the first report of both E. quercicola and E. necator causing cashew powdery mildew, and the first detection of E. necator on cashew.
The timeline development of female canine germ cells
Authors: de Souza Aline F. , de Ramos Eloise. C. , Cury Fabio S. , Pieri Naira Caroline G. , Martins Daniele S.
Published: April 2019

During the sex differentiation, the primordial germ cells (PGCs) pass through a differentiation, becoming spermatogonial cells in males and oocytes in females. In this phase, there is difference in gene expression and differentiation potency between males and females. Specific cell markers have been essential in the PGC meiosis beginning and become oocyte cells. However, there are few studies about germline in domestic animals. The domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is an interesting animal model to be used in the investigation about the mammal development because it has several biochemical and physiological similarities to humans. In addition, some additional investigations about dogs may contribute to a better understanding of the biology and genetic components, improving clinical veterinary and zoological sciences. Here, we elucidated by immunofluorescence and quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR), the dynamics of the expression of pluripotent (POU5F1 and NANOG) and germline (DDX4, DAZL and DPPA3) markers that are very important in the development of female canine germ cells during 35–50 days post‐fertilization (dpf). The female canine germ cells were positive for pluripotent markers during middle developmental period. The number of DDX4, DAZL and DPPA3 cells increased along the germ cell maturation from 45 to 50 dpf. We provided an expression analysis of the pluripotent and germline markers in paraffin sections using the middle and later periods in female canine germ cells. The results can contribute the understanding about the timeline of each marker along the maturation of female canine germ cells. These results have a great significance to demonstrate the germ cell profile changes because it may allow the development of protocols about in vitro germ cell derivation.
Organic or conventional dairy farming in northern Spain: Impacts on cow reproductive performance
Authors: Rodríguez‐Bermúdez Ruth , Fouz Ramiro , Miranda Marta , Orjales Inmaculada , Minervino Antonio Humberto Hamad , López‐Alonso Marta
Published: April 2019

Contents

Organic farming has traditionally given preference to indigenous breeds that are well adapted to local conditions; however, current trends towards increased yields may produce less robust animals with potentially low fertility. The Holstein‐Friesian breed dominates dairy sector, although there is a general concern that these cows may not be well adapted to organic systems. This study aims to evaluate the reproductive performance of organic dairy herds in northern Spain, by comparing organically reared Holstein‐Friesian with their counterparts reared on conventional farms and also with other organically reared breeds and crosses. Reproductive parameters were obtained for individual cows on organic, conventional pasture‐based and conventional zero‐grazing farms. The reproductive performance of Holstein‐Friesian cows was slightly better in organic systems than in pasture‐based conventional systems, but not than in zero‐grazing conventional systems. The comparison of reproductive performance of Holstein‐Friesian from organic and conventional systems and with other organically reared breeds and crosses enabled us to demonstrate that it is not the organic system that constrains the reproductive performance of Holstein‐Friesian, but that the manifestation of oestrus is less marked than in other breeds. Breeding selection considering reproductive traits and appropriate management of oestrous detection would improve the reproductive performance of Holstein‐Friesian cows.
MF59 adjuvant enhances the immunogenicity and protective immunity of the OmpK/Omp22 fusion protein from Acineterbacter baumannii through intratracheal inoculation in mice
Authors: Yang Ai‐qiong , Yang Hai‐yan , Guo San‐jun , Xie Yong‐en
Published: April 2019

Acinetobacter baumannii (A baumannii) is an emerging nosocomial pathogenic bacterium which leads to hospital infections. The increase in drug‐resistant A baumannii strains makes it difficult to control by using common antibiotics. The development of effective vaccines is an alternative means to avoid A baumannii infections. In the present study, Balb/c mice were inoculated intratracheally with 30 μg of OmpK/Omp22 fusion protein alone or OmpK/Omp22 formulated with MF59 adjuvant. After two times of boosting at day 14 and 21, the antigen‐specific antibody levels and the protective immunity against A baumannii challenge were evaluated. The results showed that the OmpK/Omp22 formulated with MF59 immunized mice produced much higher level of antigen‐specific antibodies compared to mice immunized with OmpK/Omp22 alone (P < 0.01). Mice immunized with 30 μg of OmpK/Omp22 formulated with MF59 also provided more potent protection post‐challenge, which showed lower bacterial loads in the blood and lung tissue, lower level of blood inflammatory cytokines and higher survival rate (83.3%) than mice immunized with OmpK/Omp22 alone (P < 0.001). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that OmpK/Omp22 fusion protein adjuvanted with MF59 induced superior immune response and better protection than OmpK/Omp22 alone through intratracheal inoculation in mice.
Large dyke intrusion and small eruption: The December 24, 2018 Mt. Etna eruption imaged by Sentinel‐1 data
Authors: Bonforte Alessandro , Guglielmino Francesco , Puglisi Giuseppe
Published: April 2019

On December 24th, Mt. Etna volcano underwent a seismic crisis beneath the summit and upper southern flank of the volcano, accompanied by significant ash emission. Eruptive fissures opened at the base of summit craters, propagating SE‐wards. This lateral eruption lasted until December 27th. Despite the small eruption, seismic swarm and ground deformation were very strong. Sentinel‐1 interferograms show a wide and intense ground deformation with some additional features related to volcano‐tectonic structures. We inverted DInSAR data to characterise the magma intrusion. The resulting model indicates that a large dyke intruded but aborted its upraise at about the sea level; however, this big intrusion stretched the edifice, promoting the opening of the eruptive fissures fed by a shallower small dyke, and activating also several faults. This model highlights that a big intrusion beneath a structurally complex volcano represents a main issue even if the eruption is aborted.
MaizeNet: a co‐functional network for network‐assisted systems genetics in Zea mays
Authors: Lee Tak , Lee Sungho , Yang Sunmo , Lee Insuk
Published: April 2019

Maize (Zea mays) has multiple uses in human food, animal fodder, starch and sweetener production and as a biofuel, and is accordingly the most extensively cultivated cereal worldwide. To enhance maize production, genetic factors underlying important agricultural traits, including stress tolerance and flowering, have been explored through forward and reverse genetics approaches. Co‐functional gene networks are systems biology resources useful in identifying trait‐associated genes in plants by prioritizing candidate genes. Here, we present MaizeNet (http://www.inetbio.org/maizenet/), a genome‐scale co‐functional network of Z. mays genes, and a companion web server for network‐assisted systems genetics. We describe the validation of MaizeNet network quality and its ability to functionally predict molecular pathways and complex traits in maize. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MaizeNet‐based prioritization of candidate genes can facilitate the identification of cell wall biosynthesis genes and detect network communities associated with flowering‐time candidate genes derived from genome‐wide association studies. The demonstrated gene prioritization and subnetwork analysis can be conducted by simply submitting maize gene models based on the commonly used B73 RefGen_v3 and the latest B73 RefGen_v4 reference genomes on the MaizeNet web server. MaizeNet‐based network‐assisted systems genetics will substantially accelerate the discovery of trait‐associated genes for crop improvement.
Convergent evolution of hetero‐oligomeric cellulose synthesis complexes in mosses and seed plants
Authors: Li Xingxing , Speicher Tori L. , Dees Dianka C. T. , Mansoori Nasim , McManus John B. , Tien Ming , Trindade Luisa M. , Wallace Ian S. , Roberts Alison W.
Published: April 2019

In seed plants, cellulose is synthesized by rosette‐shaped cellulose synthesis complexes (CSCs) that are obligate hetero‐oligomeric, comprising three non‐interchangeable cellulose synthase (CESA) isoforms. The moss Physcomitrella patens has rosette CSCs and seven CESAs, but its common ancestor with seed plants had rosette CSCs and a single CESA gene. Therefore, if P. patens CSCs are hetero‐oligomeric, then CSCs of this type evolved convergently in mosses and seed plants. Previous gene knockout and promoter swap experiments showed that PpCESAs from class A (PpCESA3 and PpCESA8) and class B (PpCESA6 and PpCESA7) have non‐redundant functions in secondary cell wall cellulose deposition in leaf midribs, whereas the two members of each class are redundant. Based on these observations, we proposed the hypothesis that the secondary class A and class B PpCESAs associate to form hetero‐oligomeric CSCs. Here we show that transcription of secondary class A PpCESAs is reduced when secondary class B PpCESAs are knocked out and vice versa, as expected for genes encoding isoforms that occupy distinct positions within the same CSC. The class A and class B isoforms co‐accumulate in developing gametophores and co‐immunoprecipitate, suggesting that they interact to form a complex in planta. Finally, secondary PpCESAs interact with each other, whereas three of four fail to self‐interact when expressed in two different heterologous systems. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that obligate hetero‐oligomeric CSCs evolved independently in mosses and seed plants and we propose the constructive neutral evolution hypothesis as a plausible explanation for convergent evolution of hetero‐oligomeric CSCs.
Dual-band Metamaterial Filtenna for WiMAX Application
Authors: Azman Nuradlina , Mohd Yusoff Mohd Fairus , Mohd Sobri Muhammad Akram
Published: April 2019

Filter and antenna are the most important components in transmission and receiving signal in wireless communication system. The combination of a filter and antenna was known as filtenna. In this paper, a metamaterial band-stop filter is combine with a multiband antenna to produce a dual-band metamaterial filtenna. The purpose of combining both components in one structure is to have a compact size with low transmission line losses. On the other hand, by implementing the metamaterial structure in the filter design, it has increases the overall filtenna performances. All the filtenna designs are been simulated using CST Microwave Studio software.  The performances of the dual-band metamaterial filtenna are then analysed based on the S-parameter response and radiation patterns. The simulation results show that the filtenna has operates at 3.6GHz and 5.2GHz, which is mostly suitable for WiMAX application.
The Impact of Government Intervention on Municipal Bond Liquidity Premium: Evidence from China
Authors: Jiang Xiao Wan
Published: April 2019

Government intervention is an important factor which restricts the development of municipal bond market in China. Based on the revenue bond innovation pilot policy implemented by the Ministry of Finance in 2017, this paper uses municipal bond trading data of Chinese inter-bank bond market from May 2017 to June 2018 and the two-stage least squares method to study the impact of government intervention on the liquidity premium of municipal bonds. The results of the empirical research show: (1) The liquidity risk of municipal bonds is a factor that affects the yield spread, and the marginal impact of liquidity risk on the yield spread is about 4.6 basis points. (2) After the implementation of the revenue bond innovation pilot policy, the reduction of local government intervention significantly reduced the liquidity premium level of municipal bonds. Based on the above conclusions, we propose policy recommendations for the development of the municipal bond market in the short and long term.
Reaction networks reveal new links between Gompertz and Verhulst growth functions
Authors: Markov Svetoslav Marinov
Published: April 2019

New reaction network realizations of the Gompertz and logisticВ growth models are proposed. The proposed reaction networks involve an additional species interpreted as environmental resource. SomeВ natural generalizations and modifications of the Gompertz and the logistic models,В induced by the proposed networks, are formulated and discussed.В In particular, it is shown that the induced dynamical systems can be reduced toВ one dimensional differential equations for the growth (resp. decay) species.В The reaction network formulation of the proposed models suggest hints forВ the intrinsic mechanism of the modeled growth process and can be used forВ analyzing evolutionary measured data when testing various appropriate models,В especially when studying growth processes in life sciences.