bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relation of serum γ-glutamyl transferase activity with copper in an adult population
Authors: Peng You-Fan , Wang Chun-Fang , Pan Guo-Gang
Published: March 2017

Background:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GGT) activity and serum copper in an adult population.

Methods:

We analyzed 281 adult subjects who regularly attended the physical examination center at the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities.

Results:

The demographic and laboratory data of the participants were divided into two groups according to the median of serum γ-GGT activity. Serum copper concentrations in individuals with higher γ-GGT levels were significantly increased compared with those with lower γ-GGT concentrations (9.9±2.41 vs. 11.2±3.36 μmol/L, p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between serum γ-GGT activity and copper in all eligible subjects (r=0.198, p=0.001). Further, serum γ-GGT maintained a positive correlation with serum copper in both males and females (r=0.322, p<0.001; r=0.230, p=0.010). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum γ-GGT maintained a significantly positive correlation with copper after adjusting for multiple potential confounders (b=0.464, p=0.001).

Conclusions:

This study suggests that serum γ-GGT activity is correlated with copper in the study population, indicating that serum γ-GGT may be a biomarker to evaluate serum copper levels in an adult population.
Multidisciplinary training activities for decreasing preanalytical mistakes in samples from primary care
Authors: Romero Adolfo , Gómez-Salgado Juan , Gómez-Fernández José Antonio , Cobos Andrés , Ruiz-Frutos Carlos
Published: March 2017

Background:

The presence of preanalytical mistakes (PM) in samples from primary care centres (PCC) is a widely studied topic. Different correcting strategies have been proposed, with variable success. We planned a series of multidisciplinary sessions for clinical update, with the aim to decrease PM rates in samples from PCC.

Methods:

The incidence of PM in samples from PCC processed at the laboratories of University Hospital Virgen de la Victoria (LAB1) and University Hospital Juan Ramon Jimenez (LAB2) was assessed during two time periods (October to November 2013 and January to May 2014). Clinical update sessions were conducted between periods (2014). Differences in PM rates between observation periods were evaluated.

Results:

With respect to 2014, we observed a significant reduction of PM rates in blood samples processed at LAB1 during 2015, whereas those in LAB2 were slightly increased. The most common PMs were haemolysed sample at LAB1 and missed sample at LAB2.

Conclusions:

Although the presence of PM remains slightly high, there was a significant reduction after the clinical update sessions in LAB1, where the most frequent PM was haemolysed sample. In contrast, the PM rates were slightly increased at LAB2, and the main source was missed sample. This might be explained, at least in part, by different problems associated with sample transportation, and by the delay in transferring acquired knowledge into clinical practice. Implementation of regular programme of update sessions and improvements in sample transportation might help to reduce the PM presence in our area.
Determinants Of Productivity Of Ukrainian Firms
Authors: Cieślik Andrzej , Gaugner Iryna , Michałek Jan Jakub
Published: March 2017

This paper examines the determinants of total factor productivity (TFP) of Ukrainian firms in manufacturing and services, using micro-level data for the years 2005 and 2013. We first estimate regressions for the pooled dataset for the manufacturing and service sectors jointly, and then separately for each sector. Our empirical results show a positive link between the total factor productivity, intangible assets, capital intensity, firm size, competition in the industry, ownership status, and firm internationalization (exports and imports). In addition, we find that the determinants of productivity differ among the sectors and years of our sample.
Returns To Education During And After The Economic Crisis: Evidence From Latvia 2006–2012
Authors: Vilerts Karlis , Krasnopjorovs Olegs , Brekis Edgars
Published: March 2017

We employ EU-SILC micro data for Latvia to study how returns to education changed during the economic crisis of 2008–2009 and afterwards. We found that returns to education increased significantly during the crisis and decreased slightly during the subsequent economic recovery. The counter-cyclical effect was evident in nearly all population groups. After the crisis, education became more associated than before with a longer working week and a higher employment probability. Furthermore, we show that returns to education in Latvia are generally higher in the capital city and its suburbs than outside the capital city region, as well as for citizens of Latvia than for resident non-citizens and citizens of other countries, but lower for males and young people. Wage differential models reveal a relatively large wage premium for higher education and a rather small one for secondary education. Estimates obtained with instrumental variable (IV) models significantly exceed the OLS estimates.
Effect of Foliar Application with Salicylic Acid on Some Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Under Drought Stress
Authors: Khatiby A. , Vazin F. , Hassanzadeh M. , Ahmadi Shadmehri A.
Published: March 2017

Drought is an important factor that could restrict plants growth and productivity through several biological and physiological processes. Salicylic acid (SA) has a key role in many physiological processes of plants and stimulate specific responses against various stresses biotic and abiotic, in some of plants. In order to evaluate the effect of foliar application by salicylic acid (SA) under drought stress on some morphological characteristics sesame, a split-plot experiment with a completely random design with three replications was performed. There were three levels of irrigation: control (normal irrigations), water stress at flowering stage and water stress at seed production stage, as main plot and sub plot consisting of four levels of the foliar application of salicylic acid: 0 (control), 1, 1.5 and 2.25 mM. Results indicated that the effects of water stress on traits, such as plant height, height of first capsule from soil surface, number of branches, number of capsules per plant showed significant difference at a level of 1%, while on the number of seeds per capsule, seed weight, leaf area index, biological yield, grain yield sesame, without significant difference indicated. Foliar application with salicylic acid was not so significant (P< 0.05) at different concentrations on measured traits, as well as interactive effects between drought stress and different amounts of salicylic acid, without significant difference observed.
Biology and Use of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Insect Pests Biocontrol, A Generic View
Authors: Mahmoud M. F.
Published: March 2017

The development of resistance to synthetic insecticides is one of the driving forces for changes in insect pest management. Governments regulatory bodies are in favour of environmentally safe chemicals with low toxicity, short-term persistence, and limited effects on non-target organisms as predominantly requirements for pesticides registration. Biological control can be considered as a powerful tool and one of the most important alternative control measure providing environmentally safe and sustainable plant protection. The success of biological control will depend on understanding the adaptation and establishment of applied biological control agents in agricultural ecosystems. Microbial pathogens and arthropod biocontrol agents, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have been successfully used in agricultural systems. They are highly virulent, killing their hosts quickly and can be cultured easilyin vivoorin vitro.They are safe for non-target vertebrates and for the environment, and production costs have been significantly reduced in recent times as they are mass produced in liquid media. Moreover, no difficulties to apply EPNs as they are easily sprayed using standard equipment and can be combined with almost all chemical control compounds. EPNs are widely used to control economically important insect pests in different farming systems: from fruit orchards, cranberry bogs and turf grass to nurseries and greenhouses. The use of EPNs for biocontrol began only in early 1980s and involved a step-by-step scientific and technical development. Mass production of the nematodes played a key role in the commercially development of insect pests control with nematodes.
The role of film production policy in stimulating a Flemish identity (1964–2002)
Authors: Willems Gertjan
Published: March 2017

The role of the official film production policy in stimulating a Flemish identity forms the central research question of this study. This research project examines the period that starts in 1964, when a selective and culturally inspired support mechanism for feature films was introduced in Flanders. Subsequently, the support system ran until 2002, when it was structurally renewed. This study makes use of original archival research, policy documents analysis, expert interviews, qualitative press documents analysis, and a quantitative content and qualitative textual analysis of films. The research shows that throughout the course of the second half of the 20
Research on Soft Reduction Amount Distribution to Eliminate Typical Inter-dendritic Crack in Continuous Casting Slab of X70 Pipeline Steel by Numerical Model
Authors: Liu Ke , Wang Chang , Liu Guo-liang , Ding Ning , Sun Qi-song , Tian Zhi-hong
Published: March 2017

To investigate the formation of one kind of typical inter-dendritic crack around triple point region in continuous casting(CC) slab during the operation of soft reduction, fully coupled 3D thermo-mechanical finite element models was developed, also plant trials were carried out in a domestic continuous casting machine. Three possible types of soft reduction amount distribution (SRAD) in the soft reduction region were analyzed. The relationship between the typical inter-dendritic cracks and soft reduction conditions is presented and demonstrated in production practice. Considering the critical strain of internal crack formation, a critical tolerance for the soft reduction amount distribution and related casing parameters have been proposed for better contribution of soft reduction to the internal quality of slabs. The typical inter-dendritic crack around the triple point region had been eliminated effectively through the application of proposed suggestions for continuous casting of X70 pipeline steel in industrial practice.
Intrinsic random functions for mitigation of atmospheric effects in terrestrial radar interferometry
Authors: Butt Jemil , Wieser Andreas , Conzett Stefan
Published: March 2017

The benefits of terrestrial radar interferometry (TRI) for deformation monitoring are restricted by the influence of changing meteorological conditions contaminating the potentially highly precise measurements with spurious deformations. This is especially the case when the measurement setup includes long distances between instrument and objects of interest and the topography affecting atmospheric refraction is complex. These situations are typically encountered with geo-monitoring in mountainous regions, e.g. with glaciers, landslides or volcanoes.

We propose and explain an approach for the mitigation of atmospheric influences based on the theory of intrinsic random functions of order k (IRF-k) generalizing existing approaches based on ordinary least squares estimation of trend functions. This class of random functions retains convenient computational properties allowing for rigorous statistical inference while still permitting to model stochastic spatial phenomena which are non-stationary in mean and variance. We explore the correspondence between the properties of the IRF-k and the properties of the measurement process. In an exemplary case study, we find that our method reduces the time needed to obtain reliable estimates of glacial movements from 12 h down to 0.5 h compared to simple temporal averaging procedures.
Herbal and dietary supplements related to diarrhea and acute kidney injury: a case report
Authors: Wanitsriphinyo Suphamat , Tangkiatkumjai Mayuree
Published: March 2017

Background

There is very little evidence relating to the association of herbal medicine with diarrhea and the development of acute kidney injury (AKI). This study reports a case of diarrhea-induced AKI, possibly related to an individual ingesting copious amounts of homemade mixed fruit and herb puree.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old Thai man with diabetes had diarrhea for 2 days, as a result of taking high amounts of a puree made up of eight mixed fruits and herbs over a 3-day period. He developed dehydration and stage 2 AKI, with a doubling of his serum creatinine. He had been receiving enalapril, as a prescribed medication, over one year. After he stopped taking both the puree and enalapril, and received fluid replacement therapy, within a week his serum creatinine had gradually decreased. The combination of puree, enalapril and AKI may also have induced hyperkalemia in this patient. Furthermore, the patient developed hyperphosphatemia due to his worsening kidney function, exacerbated by regularly taking some dietary supplements containing high levels of phosphate. His serum levels of potassium and phosphate returned to normal within a week, once the patient stopped both the puree and all dietary supplements, and had begun receiving treatment for hyperkalemia.

Results

The mixed fruit and herb puree taken by this man may have led to his diarrhea due to its effect; particularly if the patient was taking a high concentration of such a drink. Both the puree and enalapril are likely to attenuate the progression of kidney function. The causal relationship between the puree and AKI was probable (5 scores) assessed by the modified Naranjo algorithm. This is the first case report, as far as the authors are aware, relating the drinking of a mixed fruit and herbal puree to diarrhea and AKI in a patient with diabetes.

Conclusions

This case can alert health care providers to the possibility that herbal medicine could induce diarrhea and develop acute kidney injury.
Kants Konzeption der geometrischen Darstellung
Authors: Schubbach Arno
Published: March 2017

The crucial role played by intuition in Kant’s theory of geometry has been widely discussed. Largely unacknowledged, however, is the fact that Kant here introduces a far-reaching concept: the construction (or
The hybrid power mean of quartic Gauss sums and Kloosterman sums
Authors: Xiaoxue Li , Jiayuan Hu
Published: March 2017

The main purpose of this paper is using the analytic method and the properties of the classical Gauss sums to study the computational problem of one kind fourth hybrid power mean of the quartic Gauss sums and Kloosterman sums, and give an exact computational formula for it.
Relationship between dissolved organic carbon and bacterial community in the coastal waters of Incheon, Korea
Authors: Wang Pengbin , Joo Jae-Hyoung , Park Bum Soo , Kim Joo-Hwan , Kim Jin Ho , Han Myung-Soo
Published: March 2017

Bacteria constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms present in marine ecosystems and play a significant role in energy flow and nutrient cycling. Bacterial community changes may affect organisms of higher trophic levels. We conducted field monitoring to study the relationship between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the bacterial community in the coastal waters of Incheon, Korea. Results showed that abiotic factors, such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and dissolved inorganic nutrients, were not significantly different among the sampling sites during the study period. On the other hand, nutrient conditions were significantly different among the sites between 2012-2013 and 2014. Nitrogen was the limiting factor from 2012 to 2013, and phosphate in 2014. Biotic data showed that DOC affected both bacterial abundance and bacterial composition. A similar fluctuation pattern was observed for phytoplankton and Chlorophyll a. However, a close correlation was not observed between phytoplankton and other variables. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and Pearson correlation analysis of abiotic and biotic factors also showed that DOC concentration and bacterial abundance were correlated. Therefore, DOC appears to be an important factor affecting bacterial abundance and composition in the coastal waters of Incheon, Korea.
First record of the North American amphipod Melita nitida Smith, 1873 in Polish coastal waters
Authors: Normant-Saremba Monika , Marszewska Lena , Kerckhof Francis
Published: March 2017

The present paper reports the first observation of the North American amphipod Melita nitida Smith, 1873 in the Gulf of Gdańsk (the southern Baltic Sea, Poland). In 2014, 13 adult specimens, including 3 males, were collected in the Port of Gdynia, which is located in the western part of this waterbody.
Light-controlled spin-state-switching rearrangements of transition metal complexes with photochromic ligands
Authors: Minkin Vladimir I. , Starikov Andrey G. , Starikova Alyona A.
Published: March 2017

New families of the transition metal complexes with photochromic ligands manifesting photoswitchable magnetic properties determined by the light-induced spin-crossover and configurational isomerization rearrangements are theoretically designed by means of DFT calculations of electromeric forms of the complexes.
Antistatic surface properties of plastics using donor-accepter molecular compounding antistatic agent
Authors: Watanabe Takuro , Hamanaka Hiroyoshi , Sano Tomomi , Ito Hiroshi
Published: March 2017

In order to obtain transparent plastic material with antistatic property for optical communication application, cyclo olefin polymer (COP)/BN105 composite materials prepared by using injection molding have been evaluated. Surface resistance of the molded product decreased to 2×1011 Ω/sq along with an increase in BN105 content range up to 2 wt%. The samples showed excellent property to prevent the surface from dust adhesion. In addition, the samples containing BN105 less than 5 wt% did not show any decrease in transmittance without any significant change of tensile strength. The results indicate COP/BN105 as a promising plastic composite material with sufficient antistatic property as well as high transparency.
Bemerkungen zu Ostrakon Clermont-Ganneau J8 (175+185) aus Elephantine
Authors: Grassi Giulia Francesca
Published: March 2017

Dieser Aufsatz beschäftigt sich mit einem aramäischen Text der Perserzeit (5. Jh. v. Chr.), der bei den französischen Grabungen auf der Nilinsel Elephantine im Jahr 1908 gefunden wurde. In diesem Ostrakon, das leider unvollständig ist, erscheint der Gottesname Jahweh Ṣaba ʾôt (
The Cruel Theology of Ezekiel 20
Authors: Kugler Gili
Published: March 2017

Readers and commentators throughout the generations engaged with the disturbing statement in the book of Ezekiel, claiming that God gave Israel »statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live« (20:25). Since this statement might have undervalued, as argued in early Christian commentaries, the worth of Jewish rituals, Ezekiel’s words were obscured or narrowed down in later Jewish interpretations. Modern commentators brought the verse back into consideration, indicating the intentions of God to hurt the people as understood from the verse within its context. Nevertheless some of the commentators kept reducing the radical implications of the statement by minimizing it into one specific law or assigning it to a speaker other than God. This article suggests a way to read the statement literarily in view of the historical retrospective in which it is embedded. This historical retrospective involves two contradictory approaches regarding the divine retribution paradigm, making God’s imposition of evil laws upon his people not only plausible but necessary.
Neuronify: An Educational Simulator for Neural Circuits
Authors: Dragly Svenn-Arne , Hobbi Mobarhan Milad , Våvang Solbrå Andreas , Tennøe Simen , Hafreager Anders , Malthe-Sørenssen Anders , Fyhn Marianne , Hafting Torkel , Einevoll Gaute T.
Published: March 2017

Educational software (apps) can improve science education by providing an interactive way of learning about complicated topics that are hard to explain with text and static illustrations. However, few educational apps are available for simulation of neural networks. Here, we describe an educational app, Neuronify, allowing the user to easily create and explore neural networks in a plug-and-play simulation environment. The user can pick network elements with adjustable parameters from a menu, i.e., synaptically connected neurons modelled as integrate-and-fire neurons and various stimulators (current sources, spike generators, visual, and touch) and recording devices (voltmeter, spike detector, and loudspeaker). We aim to provide a low entry point to simulation-based neuroscience by allowing students with no programming experience to create and simulate neural networks. To facilitate the use of Neuronify in teaching, a set of premade common network motifs is provided, performing functions such as input summation, gain control by inhibition, and detection of direction of stimulus movement. Neuronify is developed in C++ and QML using the cross-platform application framework Qt and runs on smart phones (Android, iOS) and tablet computers as well personal computers (Windows, Mac, Linux).
Static Magnetic Field Stimulation over Parietal Cortex Enhances Somatosensory Detection in Humans
Authors: Carrasco-López Carmen , Soto-León Vanesa , Céspedes Virginia , Profice Paolo , Strange Bryan A. , Foffani Guglielmo , Oliviero Antonio
Published: March 2017

The role of neuronal oscillations in human somatosensory perception is currently unclear. To address this, here we use noninvasive brain stimulation to artificially modulate cortical network dynamics in the context of neurophysiological and behavioral recordings. We demonstrate that transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS) over the somatosensory parietal cortex increases oscillatory power specifically in the alpha range, without significantly affecting bottom-up thalamocortical inputs indexed by the early cortical component of somatosensory evoked potentials. Critically, we next show that parietal tSMS enhances the detection of near-threshold somatosensory stimuli. Interestingly, this behavioral improvement reflects a decrease of habituation to somatosensation. Our data therefore provide causal evidence that somatosensory perception depends on parietal alpha activity.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTArtificially increasing alpha power by placing a powerful magnetic field over the somatosensory cortex overcomes the natural decline in detection probability of a repeated near-threshold sensory stimulus.
AKT‐phosphorylated FOXO1 suppresses ERK activation and chemoresistance by disrupting IQGAP1‐MAPK interaction
Authors: Pan Chun‐Wu , Jin Xin , Zhao Yu , Pan Yunqian , Yang Jing , Karnes R Jeffrey , Zhang Jun , Wang Liguo , Huang Haojie
Published: March 2017

Nuclear FOXO proteins act as tumor suppressors by transcriptionally activating genes involved in apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, and these anticancer functions are inhibited by AKT‐induced phosphorylation and cytoplasmic sequestration of FOXOs. We found that, after AKT‐mediated phosphorylation at serine 319, FOXO1 binds to IQGAP1, a hub for activation of the MAPK pathway, and impedes IQGAP1‐dependent phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (pERK1/2). Conversely, decreased FOXO1 expression increases pERK1/2 in cancer cell lines and correlates with increased pERK1/2 levels in patient specimens and disease progression. Treatment of cancer cells with PI3K inhibitors or taxane causes FOXO1 localization in the nucleus, increased expression of pERK1/2, and drug resistance. These effects are reversed by administering a small FOXO1‐derived phospho‐mimicking peptide inhibitor in vitro and in mice. Our results show a tumor suppressor role of AKT‐phosphorylated FOXO1 in the cytoplasm and suggest that this function of FOXO1 can be harnessed to overcome chemoresistance in cancer.
Persistency of Prediction Accuracy and Genetic Gain in Synthetic Populations Under Recurrent Genomic Selection
Authors: Müller Dominik , Schopp Pascal , Melchinger Albrecht E
Published: March 2017

Recurrent selection (RS) has been used in plant breeding to successively improve synthetic and other multiparental populations. Synthetics are generated from a limited number of parents (Np), but little is known about how Np affects genomic selection (GS) in RS, especially the persistency of prediction accuracy (rg,g^) and genetic gain. Synthetics were simulated by intermating Np= 2–32 parent lines from an ancestral population with short- or long-range linkage disequilibrium (LDA) and subjected to multiple cycles of GS. We determined rg,g^ and genetic gain across 30 cycles for different training set (TS) sizes, marker densities, and generations of recombination before model training. Contributions to rg,g^ and genetic gain from pedigree relationships, as well as from cosegregation and LDA between QTL and markers, were analyzed via four scenarios differing in (i) the relatedness between TS and selection candidates and (ii) whether selection was based on markers or pedigree records. Persistency of rg,g^ was high for small Np, where predominantly cosegregation contributed to rg,g^, but also for large Np, where LDA replaced cosegregation as the dominant information source. Together with increasing genetic variance, this compensation resulted in relatively constant long- and short-term genetic gain for increasing Np > 4, given long-range LDA in the ancestral population. Although our scenarios suggest that information from pedigree relationships contributed to rg,g^ for only very few generations in GS, we expect a longer contribution than in pedigree BLUP, because capturing Mendelian sampling by markers reduces selective pressure on pedigree relationships. Larger TS size (NTS) and higher marker density improved persistency of rg,g^ and hence genetic gain, but additional recombinations could not increase genetic gain.
Cytoplasmic–Nuclear Incompatibility Between Wild Isolates ofCaenorhabditis nouraguensis
Authors: Lamelza Piero , Ailion Michael
Published: March 2017

How species arise is a fundamental question in biology. Species can be defined as populations of interbreeding individuals that are reproductively isolated from other such populations. Therefore, understanding how reproductive barriers evolve between populations is essential for understanding the process of speciation. Hybrid incompatibility (for example, hybrid sterility or lethality) is a common and strong reproductive barrier in nature. Here we report a lethal incompatibility between two wild isolates of the nematode Caenorhabditis nouraguensis. Hybrid inviability results from the incompatibility between a maternally inherited cytoplasmic factor from each strain and a recessive nuclear locus from the other. We have excluded the possibility that maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacteria cause the incompatibility by treating both strains with tetracycline and show that hybrid death is unaffected. Furthermore, cytoplasmic–nuclear incompatibility commonly occurs between other wild isolates, indicating that this is a significant reproductive barrier within C. nouraguensis. We hypothesize that the maternally inherited cytoplasmic factor is the mitochondrial genome and that mitochondrial dysfunction underlies hybrid death. This system has the potential to shed light on the dynamics of divergent mitochondrial–nuclear coevolution and its role in promoting speciation.
Reliable CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Engineering inCaenorhabditis elegansUsing a Single Efficient sgRNA and an Easily Recognizable Phenotype
Authors: El Mouridi Sonia , Lecroisey Claire , Tardy Philippe , Mercier Marine , Leclercq-Blondel Alice , Zariohi Nora , Boulin Thomas
Published: March 2017

CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering strategies allow the directed modification of the Caenorhabditis elegans genome to introduce point mutations, generate knock-out mutants, and insert coding sequences for epitope or fluorescent tags. Three practical aspects, however, complicate such experiments. First, the efficiency and specificity of single-guide RNAs (sgRNA) cannot be reliably predicted. Second, the detection of animals carrying genome edits can be challenging in the absence of clearly visible or selectable phenotypes. Third, the sgRNA target site must be inactivated after editing to avoid further double-strand break events. We describe here a strategy that addresses these complications by transplanting the protospacer of a highly efficient sgRNA into a gene of interest to render it amenable to genome engineering. This sgRNA targeting the dpy-10 gene generates genome edits at comparatively high frequency. We demonstrate that the transplanted protospacer is cleaved at the same time as the dpy-10 gene. Our strategy generates scarless genome edits because it no longer requires the introduction of mutations in endogenous sgRNA target sites. Modified progeny can be easily identified in the F1 generation, which drastically reduces the number of animals to be tested by PCR or phenotypic analysis. Using this strategy, we reliably generated precise deletion mutants, transcriptional reporters, and translational fusions with epitope tags and fluorescent reporter genes. In particular, we report here the first use of the new red fluorescent protein mScarlet in a multicellular organism. wrmScarlet, a C. elegans-optimized version, dramatically surpassed TagRFP-T by showing an eightfold increase in fluorescence in a direct comparison.
Comparative Analyses of Selection Operating on Nontranslated Intergenic Regions of Diverse Bacterial Species
Authors: Thorpe Harry A , Bayliss Sion C , Hurst Laurence D , Feil Edward J
Published: March 2017

To date, the existing very large genome sequence datasets of many bacterial species have not been exploited to quantify the strength and direction of...

Nontranslated intergenic regions (IGRs) compose 10–15% of bacterial genomes, and contain many regulatory elements with key functions. Despite this, there are few systematic studies on the strength and direction of selection operating on IGRs in bacteria using whole-genome sequence data sets. Here we exploit representative whole-genome data sets from six diverse bacterial species: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salmonella enterica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. We compare patterns of selection operating on IGRs using two independent methods: the proportion of singleton mutations and the dI/dS ratio, where dI is the number of intergenic SNPs per intergenic site. We find that the strength of purifying selection operating over all intergenic sites is consistently intermediate between that operating on synonymous and nonsynonymous sites. Ribosome binding sites and noncoding RNAs tend to be under stronger selective constraint than promoters and Rho-independent terminators. Strikingly, a clear signal of purifying selection remains even when all these major categories of regulatory elements are excluded, and this constraint is highest immediately upstream of genes. While a paucity of variation means that the data for M. tuberculosis are more equivocal than for the other species, we find strong evidence for positive selection within promoters of this species. This points to a key adaptive role for regulatory changes in this important pathogen. Our study underlines the feasibility and utility of gauging the selective forces operating on bacterial IGRs from whole-genome sequence data, and suggests that our current understanding of the functionality of these sequences is far from complete.
Isolasi Bakteri Pendegradasi Xilan dan Manan dari Perairan Indonesia
Authors: Tasia Winda , Zuraida Rina , Yopi Yopi
Published: March 2017

Bakteri laut penghasil enzim xilanase dan mananase menyimpan banyak potensi bagi bioteknologi kelautan. Informasi sebarannya juga dapat digunakan untuk memetakan keragaman bakteri laut serta analisis lingkungan perairan Indonesia sehingga pemanfaatannya dapat tepat sasaran. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengisolasi bakteri laut pendegradasi xilan dan manan dari Indonesia. Penapisan kemampuan xilanolitik dan manolitik menggunakan metode Congo red dilakukan pada isolat bakteri yang diisolasi dari Laut Jawa, Selat Makassar, Laut Flores, dan Laut Sawu pada kedalaman 5 dan 20 m. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa isolat X7517, X1654, dan XM26511 diketahui menghasilkan xilanase dengan kondisi optimal reaksi enzim masing-masing adalah pH 9, T 90 °C (2,253±2,075 U/ml), pH 6, T 70 °C (0,633±0,082 U/ml), dan pH 6, T 70 °C (2,293±0,066 U/ml). Ketiganya diketahui memiliki kesamaan genetis dengan Halomonas aquamarina DSM 30161, Alteromonas macleodii NBRC 102226, dan H. meridiana NBRC 15608. Isolat bakteri manolitik L15203 dan L16571 memiliki kesamaan dengan Idiomarina zobellii KMM231, sedangkan isolat L2207 memiliki kesamaan dengan Bacillus sp. MB 71. Ketiga bakteri tersebut memiliki aktivitas mananase optimal pada kondisi alkali, masing-masing pada pH 8, T 80 °C  (0,477±0,024 U/ml) untuk L 15203, pH 9,T 90 °C (0,476±0,009U/ml) untuk L16571 dan pH 9, T 80 °C (0,528±0,057 U/ml) untuk L2207. Bakteri laut xilanolitik dan manolitik yang berpotensi dalam produksi xilanase dan mananase melimpah di sebagian perairan Indonesia, terutama di perairan yang semakin dekat permukaan laut atau perairan dangkal.
Japanese Graduate School Students’ Writing in English
Authors: Toh Glenn
Published: March 2017

In this article, I seek to reflexively examine my practice as an EAP teacher given the task of teaching academic writing to a group of Japanese graduate school students studying for a Master of Arts in English Language Education at a private university in Tokyo. Drawing on Lillis’ (2003) notions of ‘critique’ and ‘design’, my article covers the following areas: (1) student conceptualizations of ‘good’ academic writing; (2) the need for a socially-situated approach to academic writing that takes into account writers’ identities and subjectivities; (3) the manner in which such identities and subjectivities are not static or pre-existent, but are discursively constructed and subject to individual negotiation and agency; (4) student insights into how such negotiated identities and subjectivities can be reified and enacted in written work; (5) the way students can move into a ‘design’ mode through imagining and asserting new possibilities for meaning making. Throughout, I am concerned with how teachers can best help students appreciate the value of discovering the discursive and dynamic nature of their identity-borne narratives. I also argue that such a realization can provide students with a richer understanding of their ontological positioning as writers vis-à-vis writing as a socially-situated meaning making activity.
The teaching and learning of L2 writing in Asia
Authors: Lee Icy
Published: March 2017

Icy Lee introduces Writing and Pedagogy 8.3 (2016)
Proposta de Mapa de Processos de Logística Reversa de Pós-Consumo sob a ótica da Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos
Authors: Da Fonseca Emmily Caroline Cabral , Barreiros Eriton Carlos Martins , Gonçalves Paulo Vitor dos Santos , Melo André Cristiano Silva , Nunes Denilson Ricardo de Lucena
Published: March 2017

A Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS) aponta a Logística Reversa (LR) como um instrumento que viabiliza ações e estratégias capazes de adequar a gestão dos Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos (RSU) às suas diretrizes. Passados mais de cinco anos de sua publicação, os estudos sobre LR no Brasil não acompanharam as demandas por definição de processos necessários à gestão de RSU em conformidade com a PNRS. Esse grupo de resíduos é fruto do pós-consumo e torna-se relevante esclarecer a relação entre seus processos reversos, para auxiliar a estruturação e gestão de canais reversos que os conduzam a destinos orientados pela Lei. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi formalizar, por meio de estudo teórico, os processos, segundo a literatura e as diretrizes legais, necessários à estruturação dos canais reversos por meio da proposta de um mapa de processos de LR. Para tanto, foi efetuado o levantamento bibliográfico relacionado, a leitura detalhada da Lei nº 12.305 (PNRS) e entrevistas com profissionais atuantes nos canais reversos de RSU. Os resultados convergiram à proposição de um mapa dos macroprocessos de LR, no qual os processos direcionadores de fluxos foram: coleta, processamento e entrega.
Reforma gerencial e legitimação do estado social
Authors: Bresser-Pereira Luiz Carlos
Published: March 2017

Resumo Este artigo relaciona três fatos históricos novos após a Segunda Guerra Mundial: o surgimento do estado social ainda nos anos 1940, sua contestação por uma ideologia neoliberal rentista e financista que se torna dominante a partir dos anos 1980, e a formulação e adoção da reforma gerencial como uma forma de legitimar o estado social ante o ataque que estava sofrendo, tornando a provisão dos seus grandes serviços sociais universais mais eficientes. A Reforma Gerencial do Estado de 1995 no Brasil foi formulada e vem sendo implementada de acordo com essa lógica.
Burden of cancer mortality and differences attributable to demographic aging and risk factors in Argentina, 1986-2011
Authors: Pou Sonia Alejandra , Tumas Natalia , Coquet Julia Becaria , Niclis Camila , Román María Dolores , Díaz María del Pilar
Published: March 2017

Abstract: The world faces an aging population that implies a large number of people affected with chronic diseases. Argentina has reached an advanced stage of demographic transition and presents a comparatively high rate of cancer mortality within Latin America. The objectives of this study were to examine cancer mortality trends in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, between 1986 and 2011, and to analyze the differences attributable to risk variations and demographic changes. Longitudinal series of age-standardized mortality rates for overall, breast and prostate cancers were modeled by Joinpoint regression to estimate the annual percent change. The Bashir & Estève method was used to split crude mortality rate variation into three components: mortality risk, population age structure and population size. A decreasing cancer age-standardized mortality rates trend was observed (1986-2011 annual percent change: -1.4, 95%CI: -1.6, -1.2 in men; -0.8, 95%CI: -1.0, -0.6 in women), with a significant shift in 1996. There were positive crude mortality rate net changes for overall female cancer, breast and prostate cancers, which were primarily attributable to demographic changes. Inversely, overall male cancer crude mortality rate showed a 9.15% decrease, mostly due to mortality risk. Despite favorable age-standardized mortality rates trends, the influence of population aging reinforces the challenge to control cancer in populations with an increasingly aged demographic structure.
Utilização de medicamentos antes e durante a gestação: prevalência e fatores associados
Authors: Costa Débora Bomfim , Coelho Helena Lutescia Luna , Santos Djanilson Barbosa dos
Published: March 2017

Resumo: Estudo transversal aninhado à coorte prospectiva com o objetivo de avaliar a prevalência e os fatores associados à utilização de medicamentos em gestantes antes e durante a gravidez em município do interior da Bahia, Brasil. As informações foram coletadas mediante um questionário estruturado aplicado às gestantes no momento do acompanhamento pré-natal em unidades de saúde do município. A prevalência para consumo de medicamentos antes e durante a gestação foi 52,1% e 84,7%, respectivamente. Após análise, os seguintes fatores estavam associados à utilização de medicamentos antes da gestação: ≥ 30 anos de idade, as não pretas, as que iniciaram o pré-natal depois do 1º trimestre e as que fazem parte da classe econômica C/D/E. Há um aumento de prevalência de utilização de medicamentos durante a gestação entre as gestantes com escolaridade ≥ 11 anos de estudo, ter feito mais de três consultas pré-natais e ter algum problema de saúde. As gestantes estão expostas ao uso de medicamentos antes e durante a gestação apesar da carência de informações seguras que fundamentem o uso de medicamentos nessa fase, e esse uso está associado a fatores relativos ao acompanhamento pré-natal, sugerindo-se a inclusão mais ativa do farmacêutico na equipe para orientação e apoio ao uso racional de medicamentos.
Acidentes por quedas, cortes e queimaduras em crianças de 0-4 anos: coorte de nascimentos de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, 2004
Authors: Barcelos Raquel Siqueira , Santos Iná S. , Matijasevich Alicia , Barros Aluísio J. D. , Barros Fernando C. , França Giovanny Vinicius Araújo , Silva Vera Lúcia Schmidt da
Published: March 2017

Resumo: O conhecimento da incidência de acidentes na infância, de acordo com o estágio de desenvolvimento da criança, é importante para a formulação de programas de prevenção dirigidos para cada faixa etária. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a incidência de quedas, cortes e queimaduras, até os quatro anos de idade, conforme nível econômico da família e idade e escolaridade maternas, entre as crianças da coorte de nascimentos de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, 2004. Foram calculadas as taxas de incidências e razões de taxas de incidências entre 0-12, 12-24 e 24-48 meses. As quedas foram os acidentes mais relatados em todos os períodos, seguidas dos cortes e queimaduras. Os meninos sofreram mais quedas e cortes do que as meninas nos dois primeiros anos de vida. No segundo ano de vida, a incidência de quedas e queimaduras praticamente triplicou e a de cortes dobrou, em comparação ao primeiro ano, dentre ambos os sexos. As queimaduras ocorreram com igual frequência entre meninas e meninos nos três períodos de idade analisados. Em suma, a incidência de quedas e cortes foi maior entre os meninos. Em ambos os sexos, ter mãe adolescente foi associado a quedas e cortes nos três períodos analisados; ter mãe com baixa escolaridade esteve associado a queimaduras e cortes aos 48 meses; e ser de família de baixo nível socioeconômico, a quedas e cortes aos 48 meses.
Revisão dos aplicativos de smartphones para cessação do tabagismo disponíveis em língua portuguesa
Authors: Formagini Taynara Dutra Batista , Ervilha Rafaela Russi , Machado Nathália Munck , Andrade Bárbara Any Bianchi Bottaro de , Gomide Henrique Pinto , Ronzani Telmo Mota
Published: March 2017

Resumo: Aplicativos de smartphones estão sendo desenvolvidos como uma forma complementar ao tratamento do tabagismo. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar o conteúdo de aplicativos disponíveis na língua portuguesa em dois sistemas operacionais: Android e iOS. Cinquenta e um aplicativos foram encontrados no iTunes e 600 no Google Play. Foram incluídos na avaliação do conteúdo aqueles aplicativos que tivessem como foco a cessação do tabagismo, com um total de 12 no iOS e 3 no Android. Cada aplicativo foi categorizado por meio da sua abordagem na cessação de tabagismo e pontuado de acordo com o seu nível de aderência às diretrizes de tratamento de tabagismo do Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Em relação às categorias, 9 foram classificados como calendário, 8 como informativo, 6 como calculadora, 3 como medidor de cigarros fumados e 1 como hipnose. Os aplicativos apresentaram baixo nível de aderência às diretrizes, com uma média de 12,8. Recomenda-se que os aplicativos disponíveis sejam revisados e que futuros aplicativos sejam desenvolvidos utilizando práticas baseadas em evidência para a cessação do tabagismo.
Rat infestation associated with environmental deficiencies in an urban slum community with high risk of leptospirosis transmission
Authors: Santos Norlan de Jesus ,   Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil, Sousa Erica , Reis Mitermayer G. , Ko Albert I. , Costa Federico ,   Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil,   Yale University, USA,   Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil
Published: March 2017

Abstract: We analyzed environmental factors that provide food, water and harborage to rodents and the risk of household rodent infestation in a slum community with a high risk of leptospirosis transmission. Detailed environmental surveys were performed in 221 households. Multivariate regression models evaluated the association between rodent infestation and socioeconomic status and environmental attributes obtained from Geographical Information System surveys. The general household infestation rate was 45.9%. Rattus norvegicus signs were the most prevalent, present in 74% of the infested households. The risk for rodent infestation was associated with environmental factors supporting harborage for rats, such as dilapidated fences/walls (OR: 8.95; 95%CI: 2.42-33.12) and households built on an earthen slope (OR: 4.68; 95%CI: 2.23-9.81). An increase of 1 meter from the nearest sewer was associated with a 3% (95%CI: 1%-5%) decrease in the risk of rodent infestation. A lack of sanitation where poor people live provides factors for rat infestation and could the target of educational interventions.
Cytotoxicity of New Calcium Aluminate Cement (EndoBinder) Containing Different Radiopacifiers
Authors: Huck Claudia , Barud Hernane da Silva , Basso Fernanda Gonçalves , Costa Carlos Alberto de Souza , Hebling Josimeri , Garcia Lucas da Fonseca Roberti
Published: March 2017

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of a calcium aluminate cement (EndoBinder) containing different radiopacifiers, Bi2O3, ZnO or ZrO2, compared with Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA). According to ISO 10993-12:2012 (E) recommendations, 0.2 g of each cement were applied in transwell inserts and placed in 24-well culture plates containing 1 mL of culture medium (DMEM). After 24 h of incubation, the extracts (DMEM containing components released from the cements) were applied to immortalized odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells. Cell viability (MTT test), alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), total protein production and cell morphology (Scanning Electron Microscopy - SEM) were evaluated. The volume of 50 µL of extract was used to determine the chemical elements released by the cements using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). The following groups were established (n=6): NC - negative control (without treatment); EB - EndoBinder without radiopacifier; EBBO - EndoBinder+Bi2O3; EBZnO - EndoBinder+ZnO; EBZrO - EndoBinder+ZrO2 and WMTA - White MTA. Data were subjected to statistical analysis (Kruskal-Wallis test, level of significance=5%). Cells exposed to the different versions of EndoBinder presented small reduction in viability, total protein production and ALP activity, with values similar to the NC and WMTA groups (p>0.05). Different elements (C, O, Na, Al, P, Si, Cl, Bi, K) released by the cements were detected in the extracts. However, the cells had no significant changes in their morphology. EndoBinder and MTA did not affect negatively the metabolism of the odontoblastic-like cells, showing it to be cytocompatible, irrespective of the used radiopacifier.
Optimizing Fixation Protocols to Improve Molecular Analysis from FFPE Tissues
Authors: Maraschin Bruna Jalfim , Silva Viviane Palmeira da , Rock Leigha , Sun Huichen , Visioli Fernanda , Rados Pantelis Varvaki , Rosin Miriam P.
Published: March 2017

Abstract Most Departments of Pathology around the world have a considerable archive of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue suitable for molecular assessment. This article points out the potential DNA damage that may occur if basic steps are not followed during processing and storage of these samples. Furthermore, it hopes to establish parameters to optimize quality and quantity of DNA extracted from FFPE tissues.