bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postmodern EU? Integration between Alternative Horizons and Territorial Angst
Authors: Borg Stefan , Diez Thomas
Published: November 2015

In the early 1990s, John Ruggie famously referred to the European Community as an emerging ‘postmodern polity’. This article elaborates on the ‘postmodern promise’ of European integration that Ruggie invoked, and formulates such a promise of European integration as one of radically breaking with the violent practices characteristic of the modern state. We argue that such a promise is immanent albeit historically marginalized in the project of European integration itself, exemplified in the article with a tradition called integral federalism. The article then evaluates such a ‘postmodern promise’ in current practices of European integration against the background of a poststructuralist‐informed critique of the violent effects of desires for bordered entities and identities. Such a poststructuralist sensibility enables the article to point to the problems of ‘scaling up’ the state in a project of integration that also set out to challenge and subvert its organizing principles.
The Power of EU Masculinities: A Feminist Contribution to European Integration Theory
Authors: Kronsell Annica
Published: November 2015

This article advances feminist analysis in the study of European integration through a focus on gender power in relation to masculinity constructs. It takes issue with the fact that gender studies tend to equate gender with women. It sketches a feminist contribution to integration theory, where the EU is perceived as gender regimes at multiple levels. Gender identity constructs – masculinities and femininities – rely on difference and are shifting across time, levels and sectors. Yet the variations of identity constructs are limited by well‐established ideas – gender binaries – providing continuity and path dependences to maintain the gender system, for example through the ‘EU protector masculinity’ in the EU CSDP. European integration thus is a process whereby EU masculinities and femininities are constructed through EU relations to other states in the global context and in EU policy‐making and institution‐building.
The Clinical Learning Dyad Model: An Innovation in Midwifery Education
Authors: Cohen Susanna R. , Thomas Celeste R. , Gerard Claudia
Published: November 2015

There is a national shortage of women's health and primary care providers in the United States, including certified nurse‐midwives and certified midwives. This shortage is directly related to how many students can be trained within the existing system. The current model of midwifery clinical training is based on apprenticeship, with one‐on‐one interaction between a student and preceptor. Thus, the number of newly trained midwifery providers is limited by the number of available and willing preceptors. The clinical learning dyad model (CLDM), which pairs 2 beginning midwifery students with one preceptor in a busy practice, addresses this problem. In addition, this model brings in a senior midwife student as a near‐peer mentor when the students are first oriented into outpatient clinical practice. The model began as a pilot project to improve the quality of training and increase available student spots in clinical education. This article discusses the origins of the model, the specifics of its design, and the results of a midterm and one‐year postintervention survey. Students and preceptors involved in this model identified several advantages to the program, including increased student accountability, enhanced socialization into the profession, improved learning, and reduced teaching burden on preceptors. An additional benefit of the CLDM is that students form a learning community and collaborate with preceptors to care for women in busy clinical settings. Challenges of the model will also be discussed. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the CLDM. This article is part of a special series of articles that address midwifery innovations in clinical practice, education, interprofessional collaboration, health policy, and global health.
When “citizenship is indispensable to the practice of a profession”: Citizenship Requirements for Entry to Practise Professions in Canada
Authors: Adams Tracey L
Published: November 2015

This paper explores citizenship requirements for entry to practice regulated professions historically in four Canadian provinces. It reviews how common citizenship restrictions have been in Canadian professions, when and where they were implemented, and what rationales were provided for these restrictions. Findings provide support for both Weberian social closure theory which sees such restrictions as the product of professional lobbying, and state‐centred explanations which hold that states regulate professions to facilitate governance. Many citizenship restrictions were historically implemented by state actors. The decline of citizenship restrictions reflects not only changing social attitudes, but changes in state‐profession relations in Canada.
A New MRI Masking Technique Based on Multi‐Atlas Brain Segmentation in Controls and Schizophrenia: A Rapid and Viable Alternative to Manual Masking
Authors: del Re Elisabetta C. , Gao Yi , Eckbo Ryan , Petryshen Tracey L. , Blokland Gabriëlla A.M. , Seidman Larry J. , Konishi Jun , Goldstein Jill M. , McCarley Robert W. , Shenton Martha E. , Bouix Sylvain
Published: November 2015

Brain masking of MRI images separates brain from surrounding tissue and its accuracy is important for further imaging analyses. We implemented a new brain masking technique based on multi‐atlas brain segmentation (MABS) and compared MABS to masks generated using FreeSurfer (FS; version 5.3), Brain Extraction Tool (BET), and Brainwash, using manually defined masks (MM) as the gold standard. We further determined the effect of different masking techniques on cortical and subcortical volumes generated by FreeSurfer.

METHODS

Images were acquired on a 3‐Tesla MR Echospeed system General Electric scanner on five control and five schizophrenia subjects matched on age, sex, and IQ. Automated masks were generated from MABS, FS, BET, and Brainwash, and compared to MM using these metrics: a) volume difference from MM; b) Dice coefficients; and c) intraclass correlation coefficients.

RESULTS

Mean volume difference between MM and MABS masks was significantly less than the difference between MM and FS or BET masks. Dice coefficient between MM and MABS was significantly higher than Dice coefficients between MM and FS, BET, or Brainwash. For subcortical and left cortical regions, MABS volumes were closer to MM volumes than were BET or FS volumes. For right cortical regions, MABS volumes were closer to MM volumes than were BET volumes.

CONCLUSIONS

Brain masks generated using FreeSurfer, BET, and Brainwash are rapidly obtained, but are less accurate than manually defined masks. Masks generated using MABS, in contrast, resemble more closely the gold standard of manual masking, thereby offering a rapid and viable alternative.
Clinical Utility of Diagnostic Laboratory Tests in Dogs with Acute Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Investigation in a Primary Care Hospital
Authors: Yuki M. , Hirano T. , Nagata N. , Kitano S. , Imataka K. , Tawada R. , Shimada R. , Ogawa M.
Published: November 2015

Background

Acute pancreatitis (AP) occurs frequently in dogs, but most previous studies examining the diagnosis ofAPhave used data from secondary care hospitals.

Hypothesis/Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical utility of diagnostic laboratory tests in dogs withAPin a primary care hospital.

Animals

Sixty‐four dogs with clinical signs suggestive ofAPdiagnosed with nonpancreatic disease (NP) orAP.

Methods

Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, including diagnostic laboratory tests considered potentially useful in the diagnosis ofAP. The diagnostic accuracy of amylase andFUJI DRI‐CHEMlipase (FDClip) were investigated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC). In addition, we verified whether diagnostic laboratory tests were useful for evaluating duration of hospitalization and as biomarkers for monitoring recovery.

Results

Activities of amylase andFDClip were significantly higher in theAPgroup than in theNPgroup (P= .001,P< .001, respectively). The sensitivity ofFDPlip activity for diagnosingAPwas 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87.7–100%); the specificity was 89.5% (95%CI, 66.9–98.7%). Area under theROCcurve forFDClip activity was 0.98 (95%CI, 0.93–1). High alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was associated with extended duration of hospitalization (P= .04). A significant difference in C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentration before and 5 days after treatment was found (P= .001).

Conclusions and clinical importance

Measurement ofFDClip activity appears useful for diagnosingAP. HighALTactivity might be associated with prolonged duration of hospitalization, andCRPmight be useful as a biomarker for monitoring recovery fromAP.
The early thermal evolution of Mars
Authors: Bhatia G. K. , Sahijpal S.
Published: November 2015

Hf‐W isotopic systematics of Martian meteorites have provided evidence for the early accretion and rapid core formation of Mars. We present the results of numerical simulations performed to study the early thermal evolution and planetary scale differentiation of Mars. The simulations are confined to the initial 50 Myr (Ma) of the formation of solar system. The accretion energy produced during the growth of Mars and the decay energy due to the short‐lived radio‐nuclides 26Al, 60Fe, and the long‐lived nuclides, 40K, 235U, 238U, and 232Th are incorporated as the heat sources for the thermal evolution of Mars. During the core‐mantle differentiation of Mars, the molten metallic blobs were numerically moved using Stoke's law toward the center with descent velocity that depends on the local acceleration due to gravity. Apart from the accretion and the radioactive heat energies, the gravitational energy produced during the differentiation of Mars and the associated heat transfer is also parametrically incorporated in the present work to make an assessment of its contribution to the early thermal evolution of Mars. We conclude that the accretion energy alone cannot produce widespread melting and differentiation of Mars even with an efficient consumption of the accretion energy. This makes 26Al the prime source for the heating and planetary scale differentiation of Mars. We demonstrate a rapid accretion and core‐mantle differentiation of Mars within the initial ~1.5 Myr. This is consistent with the chronological records of Martian meteorites.
A benzamide‐dependent ftsZ mutant reveals residues crucial for Z‐ring assembly
Authors: Adams David William , Wu Ling Juan , Errington Jeff
Published: November 2015

In almost all bacteria, cell division is co‐ordinated by the essential tubulin homologue FtsZ and represents an attractive but as yet unexploited target for new antibiotics. The benzamides, e.g. PC190723, are potent FtsZ inhibitors that have the potential to yield an important new class of antibiotic. However, the evolution of resistance poses a challenge to their development. Here we show that a collection of PC190723‐resistant and ‐dependent strains of Staphylococcus aureus exhibit severe growth and morphological defects, questioning whether these ftsZ mutations would be clinically relevant. Importantly, we show that the most commonly isolated substitution remains sensitive to the simplest benzamide 3‐MBA and likely works by occluding compound binding. Extending this analysis to Bacillus subtilis, we isolated a novel benzamide‐dependent strain that divides using unusual helical division events. The ftsZ mutation responsible encodes the substitution of a highly conserved residue, which lies outside the benzamide‐binding site and forms part of an interface between the N‐ and C‐terminal domains that we show is necessary for normal FtsZ function. Together with an intragenic suppressor mutation that mimics benzamide binding, the results provide genetic evidence that benzamides restrict conformational changes in FtsZ and also highlights their utility as tools to probe bacterial division.
Problems with the electronic health record
Authors: de Ruiter Hans‐Peter , Liaschenko Joan , Angus Jan
Published: November 2015

One of the most significant changes in modern healthcare delivery has been the evolution of the paper record to the electronic health record (EHR). In this paper we argue that the primary change has been a shift in the focus of documentation from monitoring individual patient progress to recording data pertinent to Institutional Priorities (IPs). The specific IPs to which we refer include: finance/reimbursement; risk management/legal considerations; quality improvement/safety initiatives; meeting regulatory and accreditation standards; and patient care delivery/evidence based practice. Following a brief history of the transition from the paper record to the EHR, the authors discuss unintended or contested consequences resulting from this change. These changes primarily reflect changes in the organization and amount of clinician work and clinician‐patient relationships. The paper is not a research report but was informed by an institutional ethnography the aim of which was to understand how the EHR impacted clinicians and administrators in a large, urban hospital in the United States. The paper was also informed by other sources, including the philosophies of Jacques Ellul, Don Idhe, and Langdon Winner.
World Workshop on Oral MedicineVI: a systematic review of medication‐induced salivary gland dysfunction
Authors: Villa A , Wolff A , Narayana N , Dawes C , Aframian DJ , Lynge Pedersen AM , Vissink A , Aliko A , Sia YW , Joshi RK , McGowan R , Jensen SB , Kerr AR , Ekström J , Proctor G
Published: November 2015

The aim of this paper was to perform a systematic review of the pathogenesis of medication‐induced salivary gland dysfunction (MISGD). Review of the identified papers was based on the standards regarding the methodology for systematic reviews set forth by the World Workshop on Oral MedicineIVand thePRISMAstatement. Eligible papers were assessed for both the degree and strength of relevance to the pathogenesis ofMISGDas well as on the appropriateness of the study design and sample size. A total of 99 papers were retained for the final analysis.MISGDin human studies was generally reported as xerostomia (the sensation of oral dryness) without measurements of salivary secretion rate. Medications may act on the central nervous system (CNS) and/or at the neuroglandular junction on muscarinic,α‐andβ‐adrenergic receptors and certain peptidergic receptors. The types of medications that were most commonly implicated for inducing salivary gland dysfunction were those acting on the nervous, cardiovascular, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and alimentary systems. Although many medications may affect the salivary flow rate and composition, most of the studies considered only xerostomia. Thus, further human studies are necessary to improve our understanding of the association betweenMISGDand the underlying pathophysiology.
Giving taxonomic significance to morphological variability in the bivalve Ptychomya Agassiz
Authors: Milla Carmona Pablo S. , Lazo Darío G. , Soto Ignacio M.
Published: November 2015

The taxonomic significance of the morphological variability present in the genus Ptychomya Agassiz has remained obscure due to inadequacy of the traditional qualitative approach to account for complex patterns of variation. In this work, we focus on solving the distinction between intra‐ and interspecific variability in Ptychomya from Hauterivian marine beds of the Neuquén Basin (west‐central Argentina), a longstanding and unresolved palaeontological issue, using the quantitative framework provided by geometric morphometrics and multivariate statistics. The species Ptychomya koeneni Behrendsen and several subspecies had been recognized in the studied succession by former authors based on qualitative morphological descriptions. We tested two hypotheses: (1) that there exist morphological discontinuities between hypothesized species that mark their boundaries; and (2) that morphology follows a pattern of geographical variation, suitable for recognition of subspecies. We find two morphological groups in the studied sample, with a significant morphological gap between them, supporting the idea that there are at least two species in the studied succession, Ptychomya cf. koeneni and Ptychomya coihuicoensis Weaver. On the other hand, we found no correspondence between morphological and geographical distributions, leading to the conclusion that the named subspecies are invalid taxa. This study highlights the potential of this methodological approach for solving the taxonomy of this notorious genus of pandemic distribution during the Cretaceous.
Phrenic Nerve Injury After Radiofrequency Denervation of the Cervical Medial Branches
Authors: Van de Perck Frans , Soetens Filiep , Lebrun Christophe , Lataster Arno , Verhamme Amaury , Van Zundert Jan
Published: November 2015

Radiofrequency denervation of the cervical medial branches is a possible treatment for chronic cervical facet pain syndrome when conservative management has failed.

According to the literature, complications after radiofrequency denervation of the cervical medial branches are rare.

We report a case of possible phrenic nerve injury after ipsilateral radiofrequency denervation of the cervical medial branches following a posterolateral approach.
Dual‐Aspect Monism
Authors: Benovsky Jiri
Published: November 2015

In this article, I am interested in dual‐aspect monism as a solution to the mind‐body problem. This view is not new, but it is somewhat under‐represented in the contemporary debate, and I would like to help it make its way. Dual‐aspect monism is a parsimonious, elegant and simple view. It avoids problems with “mental causation”. It naturally explains how and why mental states are correlated (and interact) with physical states while avoiding any mysteries concerning the nature of this (cor)relation. It fits well with our ordinary picture of the world, as well as with the scientific picture. It gives its rightful place to the phenomenal, qualitative, subjective character of experience, instead of reducing it or eliminating it. It does not unnecessarily multiply ontological categories. It can come in many versions, and is compatible with other interesting views, such as panpsychism.
Connectivity Effects in Pseudoclefts in Child Language
Authors: Kiguchi Hirohisa , Thornton Rosalind
Published: November 2015

A prominent feature of specificational pseudoclefts is connectivity effects. Despite the absence of c‐command in the surface syntax, specificational pseudoclefts yield interpretations that are governed by c‐command in other constructions. The present study focused on two kinds of specificational pseudoclefts (SPCs). In one, a wh‐clause with a pronoun precedes the copula and then a phrase containing an R‐expression expression (e.g. What he said was the blue boy's wheelchair was the fastest). Principle C effects (noncoreference) are enforced despite the absence of surface c‐command. In the second type of SPC, a disjunctive phrase precedes the copula and a wh‐clause that contains a negative quantifier (e.g. A shell or a jewel is what nobody brought back). Here, despite lack of surface c‐command between negation and the disjunction, disjunction yields a conjunctive interpretation. Both kinds of SPCs pose a poverty‐of‐the‐stimulus problem; how do children come to assign adult‐like interpretations to SPCs, when the surface syntax does not provide relevant clues to semantic interpretation? A truth value judgment task revealed that 17 4–5 year‐old English‐speaking child participants (mean age 4;8) consistently interpreted both kinds of SPCs in the same way as adults, enforcing both Principle C and the conjunctive interpretation of disjunction.
Redox interventions to increase exercise performance
Authors: Reid Michael B.
Published: November 2015

Skeletal muscle continually produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) derivatives. Both oxidant cascades have complex effects on muscle contraction, metabolic function and tissue perfusion. Strenuous exercise increases oxidant production by muscle, limiting performance during endurance exercise tasks. Conversely, redox interventions that modulate ROS or NO activity have the potential to improve performance. Antioxidants have long been known to buffer ROS activity and lessen oxidative perturbations during exercise. The capacity to enhance human performance varies among antioxidant categories. Vitamins, provitamins and nutriceuticals often blunt oxidative changes at the biochemical level but do not enhance performance. In contrast, reduced thiol donors have been shown to delay fatigue or increase endurance under a variety of experimental conditions. Dietary nitrate supplementation has recently emerged as a second redox strategy for increasing endurance. Purified nitrate salts and nitrate‐rich foods, notably beetroot and beetroot juice, are reported to lessen the oxygen cost of exercise, increase efficiency, and enhance performance during endurance tasks. These findings are exciting but enigmatic since nitrate per se has little bioactivity and cannot be converted to NO by mammalian cells. Overall, the available data suggest exercise endurance can be augmented by redox‐active supplements, either reduced thiol donors or dietary nitrates. These findings have clear implications for athletes seeking a competitive edge. More importantly, interventions that increase endurance may benefit individuals whose physical activity is limited by illness, ageing, or frailty.

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Type 1 diabetes immunotherapy using polyclonal regulatory T cells
Authors: Bluestone Jeffrey A. , Buckner Jane H. , Fitch Mark , Gitelman Stephen E. , Gupta Shipra , Hellerstein Marc K. , Herold Kevan C. , Lares Angela , Lee Michael R. , Li Kelvin , Liu Weihong , Long S. Alice , Masiello Lisa M. , Nguyen Vinh , Putnam Amy L. , Rieck Mary , Sayre Peter H. , Tang Qizhi
Published: November 2015

Autologous regulatory T cells can be expanded and are well tolerated in patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes.
Is acute idiopathic pericarditis associated with recent upper respiratory tract infection or gastroenteritis? A case–control study
Authors: Rey Florian , Delhumeau-Cartier Cecile , Meyer Philippe , Genne Daniel
Published: November 2015

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the association of a clinical diagnosis of acute idiopathic pericarditis (AIP), and a reported upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) or gastroenteritis (GE) in the preceding month.

Design

Patients who were hospitalised with a first diagnosis of AIP were retrospectively compared with a control group of patients admitted with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), matched by gender and age.

Setting

Primary and secondary care level; one hospital serving a population of about 170 000.

Participants

A total of 51 patients with AIP were included, of whom 46 could be matched with 46 patients with control DVT. Only patients with a complete review of systems on the admission note were included in the study.

Main outcome measure

Conditional logistic regression was used to assess the association of a clinical diagnosis of AIP and an infectious episode (URTI or GE) in the month preceding AIP diagnosis.

Results

Patients with AIP had more often experienced a recent episode of URTI or GE than patients with DVT (39.1% vs 10.9%, p=0.002). The multivariate conditional regression showed that AIP was independently associated with URTI or GE in the last month preceding diagnosis (OR=37.18, 95% CI=1.91 to 724.98, p=0.017).

Conclusions

This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study demonstrating an association between a recent episode of URTI or GE and a clinical diagnosis of AIP.
Influence of the practice setting on diagnostic prediction rules using FENO measurement in combination with clinical signs and symptoms of asthma
Authors: Schneider Antonius , Wagenpfeil Gudrun , Jörres Rudolf A , Wagenpfeil Stefan
Published: November 2015

Objectives

To evaluate the influence of the practice setting on diagnostic accuracy of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) for diagnosing asthma; and to develop prediction rules for diagnostic decision-making including clinical signs and symptoms (CSS).

Setting

Patients from 10 general practices and 1 private practice of 5 pneumologists in ambulatory care.

Participants

553 patients, 57.9% female. Consecutive inclusion of diagnostic-naive patients suspected of suffering from obstructive airway disease. Exclusion criteria were respiratory tract infections within the last 6 weeks.

Interventions

The index test was FENO measurement. Reference standard was the Tiffeneau ratio (forced expiratory volume in 1 s/vital capacity) or airway resistance as assessed by whole body plethysmography, with additional bronchoprovocation or bronchodilator testing.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Asthma as determined by pneumologists, who were blind to FENO measurement results. Prediction rules were derived from multiple logistic regression analysis. A freely available calculator that allows computing all combinations was developed.

Results

The practice setting only had minor influence on sensitivities of FENO cut-off points. In the final model (n=472), allergic rhinitis, wheezing and previous medication were positively associated with asthma. Increasing age and recurrent respiratory tract infections were negatively associated. The area under the curve (AUC) of FENO (AUC=0.650; 95% CI 0.599 to 0.701) increased significantly (p<0.0001) when combined with CSS (AUC=0.753; 95% CI 0.707 to 0.798). Presence of wheezing and allergic rhinitis allowed ruling in asthma with FENO>30 ppb. Ruling out with FENO<16 ppb in patients <43 years was only possible without allergic symptoms when recurrent respiratory tract infections were present.

Conclusions

FENO results should be interpreted in the context of CSS to enhance their diagnostic value in primary care. The final diagnostic model appears as a sound algorithm fitting well to the established diagnostic rules related to CSS of asthma. FENO appears more effective for ruling in asthma than for ruling it out.
Incidence and lifetime costs of injuries in the United States
Authors: Corso P , Finkelstein E , Miller T , Fiebelkorn I , Zaloshnja E
Published: November 2015

Background

Standardized methodologies for assessing economic burden of injury at the national or international level do not exist.

Objective

To measure national incidence, medical costs, and productivity losses of medically treated injuries using the most recent data available in the United States, as a case study for similarly developed countries undertaking economic burden analyses.

Method

The authors combined several data sets to estimate the incidence of fatal and non-fatal injuries in 2000. They computed unit medical and productivity costs and multiplied these costs by corresponding incidence estimates to yield total lifetime costs of injuries occurring in 2000.

Main outcome measures

Incidence, medical costs, productivity losses, and total costs for injuries stratified by age group, sex, and mechanism.

Results

More than 50 million Americans experienced a medically treated injury in 2000, resulting in lifetime costs of $406 billion; $80 billion for medical treatment and $326 billion for lost productivity. Males had a 20% higher rate of injury than females. Injuries resulting from falls or being struck by/against an object accounted for more than 44% of injuries. The rate of medically treated injuries declined by 15% from 1985 to 2000 in the US. For those aged 0–44, the incidence rate of injuries declined by more than 20%; while persons aged 75 and older experienced a 20% increase.

Conclusions

These national burden estimates provide unequivocal evidence of the large health and financial burden of injuries. This study can serve as a template for other countries or be used in intercountry comparisons.
La Vigna benuensis, une nouvelle espèce de la section Vigna du genre Vigna (Fabaceae)
Authors: Pasquet Rémy S. , Maréchal Robert
Published: November 2015

Vigna benuensis sp. nov. from north Cameroon is described. It is closely related to Vigna ambacensis var. pubigera, but is amphicarpic and shows slight differences in floral morphology and size. Some important morphological features are compared with those of its allied species.
Embryogénèse somatique directe à partir de cultures d'anthères du Cichorium (Asteraceae)
Authors: Guedira Mouna , Dubois-Tylski Thérèse , Vasseur Jacques , Dubois Jean
Published: November 2015

Somatic embryoids and diploid plants have been obtained directly from anther cultures of an hybrid Cichorium intybus L. × Cichorium endivia L. maintained by micropropagation. Anthers at tetrad and microspore stages were the most reactive. Darkness and high temperature (35 °C) were necessary to obtain somatic embryo development on a medium with naphthylacetic acid (0.02 mg ∙ L−1) and 6-(dimethylallylamino)-purine (0.5 mg ∙ L−1). A combination of glutamine and ammonium nitrate was the most suitable nitrogen source. A short induction time (10 days) allowed the embryoids to grow into adult plants. Most plants from the somaclonal population derived from these embryoids showed a good phenotypic conformity, and some variants showed a large anthocyanic vein or narrow and incised leaves. Key words: somatic embryos, anthers, Cichorium, in vitro culture.
Chrysanthemum phloem necrosis: detection by epifluorescence microscopy
Authors: McGovern R. J. , Horst R. K. , Israel H. W.
Published: November 2015

In epifluorescence diagnostic procedures for chrysanthemum phloem necrosis, autofluorescence, aniline blue, and various nucleic acid "specific" fluorochromes such as 33258-Hoechst, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenyl-indole-dichloride, berberine sulfate, ethidium bromide, and acridine orange were utilized. Increased fluorescence in foliar phloem correlated precisely with gross symptoms of chrysanthemum phloem necrosis by all techniques and was used, in the case of berberine sulfate, to facilitate detection of mycoplasmalike organisms by transmission electron microscopy.
Vascular plant communities of a polar oasis at Alexandra Fiord (79° N), Ellesmere Island, Canada
Authors: Muc M. , Freedman B. , Svoboda J.
Published: November 2015

A cluster analysis was used to apportion 136 stands in a High Arctic lowland among six vascular plant community types. These communities are described on the basis of the average prominence values of vascular species and the total cover of macroalgae, bryophytes, lichens, and vascular plants within the designated clusters of stands. The relationships among the community types was explored by a detrended correspondence analysis. The ordination of stands showed considerable floristic overlap among the most widespread plant communities on the lowland. This largely reflects the microtopographic heterogeneity of the sites, the relatively depauperate flora of the High Arctic, and the considerable ecological amplitude of the most prominent vascular plant species.
Development and ultrastructure of the haustorium of Viscum minimum. I. The adhesive disk
Authors: Heide-Jørgensen H. S.
Published: November 2015

The adhesive disk of the haustorium of Viscum minimum Harvey develops an epithelium of uni- or bi-cellular secretory trichomes. Before contact with the host is obtained, the trichomes secrete adhesive cutinaceous material. This secretion contains fragments of the lamellar cuticle proper, the reticulate cuticular layer, and the noncutinized part of the cuticularized wall, in additions to pockets of granular material. The volume of the adhesive product per trichome may be several times the volume of the secretory cell itself except in front of the future intrusive organ where secretion is reduced. Formation of cutin cystoliths was observed in sections of wall of different ages within single trichomes. The trichomes are rich in mitochondria, plastids with starch, spherosomes, ribosomes, and ER that are associated with the strongly convoluted plasmalemma. A special type of tubular ER is described. Zones of collapsed cells are formed in the cortex as the apex of the wedge-shaped intrusive organ emerges. The cuticularized wall of the host then disintegrates, and the intrusive organ forms a fissure within the host. This becomes lined, to the depth of a few cells, partly with cuticularized and finally compressed cells originating from the adhesive epithelium, and partly with new cells produced by the intrusive organ. Key words: Viscum minimum, adhesive disk, adhesive epithelium, cuticle ultrastructure, cutin cystolith, haustorium, secretion.
Growth and net production of Sphagnum at five fen sites, subarctic eastern Canada
Authors: Moore T. R.
Published: November 2015

Growth in length and net primary production (NPP) were measured by the cranked wire method at five sites near Schefferville, northern Quebec, representing lawns of Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum warnstorfii, S. warnstorfii/S. angustifolium, and hummocks of Sphagnum fuscum and Sphagnum capillifolium. From June to September, growth and NPP ranged from 4 to 24 mm and 29 to 142 g m−2, respectively. In an average rainfall year (1984), growth at the three lawn sites was higher than in the hummocks. In a dry year (1985, with half the average rainfall), growth in two of the three lawn sites was lower than in the hummocks. Growth of Sphagnum was weakly correlated with macroclimatic variables, such as air temperature, precipitation, and sunshine. The literature for Sphagnum production from arctic to temperate regions showed that hummock NPP was less than that of adjacent lawn/hollow sites and that a significant (r2 = 0.307, P < 0.001) portion of the variation in NPP can be ascribed to mean annual temperature.
Cytoskeleton during pollen development in Tradescantia virginiana: a study employing chemical fixation, freeze-substitution, immunofluorescence, and colchicine administration
Authors: Tiwari Suresh C.
Published: November 2015

A correlated chemical fixation and freeze-substitution electron microscopic, immunofluorescence, and colchicine administration study of the structure and behavior of the cytoskeleton during pollen development in Tradescantia virginiana revealed a dynamic picture of the cytoskeleton. In contrast with chemical fixation, freeze-substitution consistently showed a higher number of microtubules, and preserved microfilaments. Higher populations of cortical microtubules occurred before and after the formation of exine pattern whereas lower populations occurred during the period of exine formation and in late bicelled pollen. Coincident with the reduced population of microtubules during the tetrad stages, immunofluorescence preparations showed a diffuse fluorescence, perhaps indicating the presence of unpolymerized tubulin. Cortical microfilaments occurred throughout the period of exine formation and in late bicelled pollen. Perinuclear and cytoplasmic bundles of microfilaments were also recorded in the late bicelled pollen. Pollen grains grown in colchicine during the period of exine formation developed normal exines, but failed to acquire their normal shape. It is suggested that during tetrad stages, the microfilament – plasma membrane interactions may be involved in exine-pattern formation, and that cortical microtubules are largely a determinant of pollen shape.
Conidia of Heterobasidion annosum from Tsuga heterophylla forests in western Washington
Authors: Hsiang Tom , Edmonds R. L. , Driver C. H.
Published: November 2015

Heterobasidion annosum produces conidia abundantly in culture; however, since conidiophores are rare in nature, conidia are usually considered to have little or no role in dispersal. Heterokaryotic mycelia of H. annosum produce both heterokaryotic and homokaryotic conidia, whereas basidiospores are homokaryotic. This difference was exploited to assess the relative prevalence of these spore types in western hemlock forests of western Washington state. Two out of 10 spores trapped on selective media were found to give rise to heterokaryotic mycelia identified by the presence of clamp connections. However, homokaryotic conidia could not be distinguished from basidiospores by this method, so two approaches were taken in the laboratory: examining conidia for number of nuclei and determining frequency of clamp connections in conidial cultures. Both methods indicated that from a single heterokaryotic mycelium, half of the conidial progeny were homokaryotic and the other half heterokaryotic. Thus the presence of two heterokaryotic conidia in 10 spores implied that conidia may make up a third to a half of the aerial spore load of H. annosum in western hemlock forests of western Washington state.
Population biology of Ammophila breviligulata and Calamovilfa longifolia on Lake Huron sand dunes. III. Dynamic changes in plant community structure
Authors: Maun M. A.
Published: November 2015

Changes in vegetation and physiography of Lake Huron shoreline were studied by recording total counts and by comparing photographs taken in 1977, 1985, and 1987. In 1977, a large number of annual and biennial plant species such as Cakile edentula, Corispermum hyssopifolium, Salsola kali, Euphorbia polygonifolia, Artemisia campestris, and Oenothera biennis were found growing in association with two perennial grasses, Calamovilfa longifolia and Andropogon scoparius. Ammophila breviligulata was absent at that time, but became abundant through establishment of ramets from rhizome fragments after the storms of 1979 and 1981. Two damaging storms, one in October 1986 and the second in April 1987, wiped out almost all of Ammophila breviligulata, leaving a few remnant shoots among clumps of Calamovilfa longifolia. Observations suggest that the low density (two shoots∙m−2) of Ammophila breviligulata tillers among Calamovilfa longifolia populations on the first dune ridge has resulted from landward extensions of plagiotropic rhizomes from the once abundant Ammophila breviligulata populations on the lakeward end of the beach.
CORRUPTION AND GROWTH: THE PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH NEXUS
Authors: OGUN OLUREMI
Published: November 2015

This paper modeled the effect of corruption on growth, using Nigerian data for testing. The productivity growth channel of corruption was explored. Cointegration and error correction methods were employed in the analysis. The national system of innovations and corruption exhibited long run relations with productivity growth and were found to be credible fundamentals. The productivity growth vector was considered to be the only plausible in the long run growth analysis. The parsimonious growth equation showed productivity growth and government expenditure as significant and conformed to a priori expectations. The course of policy to sustainable growth was suggestive.
Optimality of entropic uncertainty relations
Authors: Abdelkhalek Kais , Schwonnek René , Maassen Hans , Furrer Fabian , Duhme Jörg , Raynal Philippe , Englert Berthold-Georg , Werner Reinhard F.
Published: November 2015

The entropic uncertainty relation proven by Maassen and Uffink for arbitrary pairs of two observables is known to be nonoptimal. Here, we call an uncertainty relation optimal, if the lower bound can be attained for any value of either of the corresponding uncertainties. In this work, we establish optimal uncertainty relations by characterizing the optimal lower bound in scenarios similar to the Maassen–Uffink type. We disprove a conjecture by Englert et al. and generalize various previous results. However, we are still far from a complete understanding and, based on numerical investigation and analytical results in small dimension, we present a number of conjectures.
Some remarks on representations up to homotopy
Authors: Trentinaglia Giorgio , Zhu Chenchang
Published: November 2015

Motivated by the study of the interrelation between functorial and algebraic quantum field theory (AQFT), we point out that on any locally trivial bundle of compact groups, representations up to homotopy are enough to separate points by means of the associated representations in cohomology. Furthermore, we observe that the derived representation category of any compact group is equivalent to the category of ordinary (finite-dimensional) representations of the group.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV): Pathogenesis and Interaction with the Immune System
Authors: Lunney Joan K. , Fang Ying , Ladinig Andrea , Chen Nanhua , Li Yanhua , Rowland Bob , Renukaradhya Gourapura J.
Published: November 2015

This review addresses important issues of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection, immunity, pathogenesis, and control. Worldwide, PRRS is the most economically important infectious disease of pigs. We highlight the latest information on viral genome structure, pathogenic mechanisms, and host immunity, with a special focus on immune factors that modulate PRRSV infections during the acute and chronic/persistent disease phases. We address genetic control of host resistance and probe effects of PRRSV infection on reproductive traits. A major goal is to identify cellular/viral targets and pathways for designing more effective vaccines and therapeutics. Based on progress in viral reverse genetics, host transcriptomics and genomics, and vaccinology and adjuvant technologies, we have identified new areas for PRRS control and prevention. Finally, we highlight the gaps in our knowledge base and the need for advanced molecular and immune tools to stimulate PRRS research and field applications.
Role of Intestinal HIF-2α in Health and Disease
Authors: Ramakrishnan Sadeesh K. , Shah Yatrik M.
Published: November 2015

The intestine is supported by a complex vascular system that undergoes dynamic and transient daily shifts in blood perfusion, depending on the metabolic state. Moreover, the intestinal villi have a steep oxygen gradient from the hypoxic epithelium adjacent to the anoxic lumen to the relative higher tissue oxygenation at the base of villi. Due to the daily changes in tissue oxygen levels in the intestine, the hypoxic transcription factors hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and HIF-2α are essential in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. HIF-2α is essential in maintaining proper micronutrient balance, the inflammatory response, and the regenerative and proliferative capacity of the intestine following an acute injury. However, chronic activation of HIF-2α leads to enhanced proinflammatory response, intestinal injury, and colorectal cancer. In this review, we detail the major mechanisms by which HIF-2α contributes to health and disease of the intestine and the therapeutic implications of targeting HIF-2α in intestinal diseases.
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression in human airway correlates with lung function
Authors: Lam David Chi-Leung , Luo Susan Yang , Fu Kin-Hang , Lui Macy Mei-Sze , Chan Koon-Ho , Wistuba Ignacio Ivans , Gao Boning , Tsao Sai-Wah , Ip Mary Sau-Man , Minna John Dorrance
Published: November 2015

Nicotine and its derivatives, by binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors ( nAChRs) on bronchial epithelial cells, can regulate cellular signaling and inflammatory processes. Delineation of nAChR subtypes and their responses to nicotine stimulation in bronchial epithelium may provide information for therapeutic targeting in smoking-related inflammation in the airway. Expression of nAChR subunit genes in 60 bronchial epithelial biopsies and immunohistochemical staining for the subcellular locations of nAChR subunit expression were evaluated. Seven human bronchial epithelial cell lines (HBECs) were exposed to nicotine in vitro for their response in nAChR subunit gene expression to nicotine exposure and removal. The relative normalized amount of expression of nAChR α4, α5, and α7 and immunohistochemical staining intensity of nAChR α4, α5, and β3 expression showed significant correlation with lung function parameters. Nicotine stimulation in HBECs resulted in transient increase in the levels of nAChR α5 and α6 but more sustained increase in nAChR α7 expression. nAChR expression in bronchial epithelium was found to correlate with lung function. Nicotine exposure in HBECs resulted in both short and longer term responses in nAChR subunit gene expression. These results gave insight into the potential of targeting nAChRs for therapy in smoking-related inflammation in the airway.
Noninflammatory upregulation of nerve growth factor underlies gastric hypersensitivity induced by neonatal colon inflammation
Authors: Li Qingjie , Winston John H. , Sarna Sushil K.
Published: November 2015

Gastric hypersensitivity is one of the key contributors to the postprandial symptoms of epigastric pain/discomfort, satiety, and fullness in functional dyspepsia patients. Epidemiological studies found that adverse early-life experiences are risk factors for the development of gastric hypersensitivity. Preclinical studies found that neonatal colon inflammation elevates plasma norepinephrine (NE), which upregulates expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the muscularis externa of the gastric fundus. Our goal was to investigate the cellular mechanisms by which NE upregulates the expression of NGF in gastric hypersensitive (GHS) rats, which were subjected previously to neonatal colon inflammation. Neonatal colon inflammation upregulated NGF protein, but not mRNA, in the gastric fundus of GHS rats. Western blotting showed upregulation of p110γ of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1), pAKT(Ser473), and phosphorylated 4E-binding protein (p4E-BP1)(Thr70), suggesting AKT activation and enhanced NGF protein translation. AKT inhibitor MK-2206 blocked the upregulation of NGF in the fundus of GHS rats. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), the major NGF-degrading protease, was suppressed, indicating that NGF degradation was impeded. Incubation of fundus muscularis externa with NE upregulated NGF by modulating the protein translation and degradation pathways. Yohimbine, an α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist, upregulated plasma NE and NGF expression by activating the protein translation and degradation pathways in naive rats. In contrast, a cocktail of adrenergic receptor antagonists suppressed the upregulation of NGF by blocking the activation of the protein translation and degradation pathways. Our findings provide evidence that the elevation of plasma NE induces NGF expression in the gastric fundus.
Seasonal Affective Disorder: An Overview of Assessment and Treatment Approaches
Authors: Melrose Sherri
Published: November 2015

Seasonal affective disorder or SAD is a recurrent major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern usually beginning in fall and continuing into winter months. A subsyndromal type of SAD, or S-SAD, is commonly known as “winter blues.” Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer. Symptoms center on sad mood and low energy. Those most at risk are female, are younger, live far from the equator, and have family histories of depression, bipolar disorder, or SAD. Screening instruments include the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Typical treatment includes antidepressant medications, light therapy, Vitamin D, and counselling. This paper provides an overview of SAD.