bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impression cytology as diagnostic tool in horses with and without ocular surface disease
Authors: Braus B. K. , Lehenauer B. , Tichy A. , Nell B. , Schwendenwein I.
Published: November 2016

Background

Cytology plays a major role in the diagnosis of ocular surface diseases.

Objective

To compare 2 cytological sampling methods for obtaining corneal and conjunctival cell samples regarding irritation for the patient, invasiveness, sample quality and diagnostic equivalence.

Study design

Observational prospective study.

Methods

In 5 healthy horses, conjunctival and corneal samples were taken bilaterally by impression cytology sampling (ICS) and cytobrush sampling (CBS). Irritation and invasiveness were assessed with an eye irritation and an epithelial damaging score system, respectively. Sample quality was evaluated via morphometric analysis and graded by a board certified clinical pathologist. For the assessment of diagnostic equivalence, 15 eyes of 14 client owned horses with ocular surface anomalies were sampled byICSandCBS. The methods were compared regarding the types of inflammatory cells and/or infectious agents detected and if the correct diagnosis could be achieved. Histopathology served as gold standard when available.

Results

ICSwas significantly less invasive and less irritating for the horses. Both methods retrieved cells of overall high quality; the cell quantity was significantly higher inICsamples.ICSpreserved the natural cellular layout. There was a fair, but no statistically significant agreement between the diagnostic outcomes between sampling methods althoughCBSresulted in a slightly greater variability of inflammatory cell types compared toICS.

Main limitations

None.

Conclusions

Because of its low irritability and invasivenessICScan be recommended for cell sampling in fragile corneas and for experimental studies.ICSis especially useful in cases where preservation of cellular layout is advantageous.CBSsamples are easier to obtain because of the small equine palpebral fissure. Additionally, the identification of inflammatory cells within conjunctival cell samples is easier. Overall,CBSis still an appropriate method in clinical settings.
Understanding Sodium Borate Glasses and Melts from Their Elastic Response to Temperature
Authors: Jaccani Siva Priya , Huang Liping
Published: November 2016

In‐situ Brillouin light scattering (BLS) experiments were carried out to measure both longitudinal and shear sound velocities of air‐cooled and annealed sodium borate glasses xNa2O–(100−x)B2O3 (x = 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 mol%) from room temperature to temperatures beyond the glass transition temperature (Tg) for each composition. This allows us to access the complete set of elastic moduli at high temperatures and to study the effect of thermal history on physical properties of this system. On heating air‐cooled glasses of lower Na2O content, elastic moduli increase anomalously with increasing temperature just below their Tg, whereas this behavior is absent in corresponding annealed glasses. This anomalous increase in elastic moduli with temperature was not observed in glasses of higher Na2O content. These differences were explained by different structural relaxation mechanisms in the glass transition range in sodium borate glasses of different compositions based on Raman spectroscopy studies in this work and in literature.
Consumer decision‐making styles and post purchase behaviour of poor for Fast Moving Consumer Goods
Authors: Kumar Arvind , Vohra Anupama , Dangi Hamendra Kumar
Published: November 2016

More than half of the world's population is poor. Certainly, their purchasing power cannot be compared with that of the riches, but it is their collective purchase potential which makes them a substantial market. The fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs), on the other hand, are the fourth largest industry in the world. FMCGs are relatively low cost products and the poor, by necessity, spend a significant amount of their income on FMCGs. So, by virtue of being a large consumer base for FMCGs, the poor are a promising market for the FMCG marketers. But little is known about their buying behaviour for FMCGs as only a few studies have been conducted on them in this regard. This study aims to explore their shopping orientations towards price, quality and brand for FMCGs in the context of one of the largest developing countries like India by exploring their consumer decision‐making styles (CDMSs), especially their price consciousness, quality consciousness, brand consciousness and brand loyalty. Besides it, it also explores their post purchase behaviour and testifies its mechanism with the above mentioned CDMSs in the present context through structured equation modelling.
Cultural competence and social relationships: a social network analysis
Authors: Dauvrin M. , Lorant V.
Published: November 2016

Aim

This study investigated the role of social relationships in the sharing of cultural competence by testing two hypotheses: cultural competence is a socially shared behaviour; and central healthcare professionals are more culturally competent than non‐central healthcare professionals.

Background

Sustaining cultural competence in healthcare services relies on the assumption that being culturally competent is a socially shared behaviour among health professionals. This assumption has never been tested.

Introduction

Organizational aspects surrounding cultural competence are poorly considered. This therefore leads to a heterogeneous implementation of cultural competence – especially in continental Europe.

Methods

We carried out a social network analysis in 24 Belgian inpatient and outpatient health services. All healthcare professionals (ego) were requested to fill in a questionnaire (Survey on social relationships of health care professionals) on their level of cultural competence and to identify their professional relationships (alter). We fitted regression models to assess whether (1) at the dyadic level, ego cultural competence was associated with alter cultural competence, and (2) health professionals of greater centrality had greater cultural competence.

Results

At the dyadic level, no significant associations were found between ego cultural competence and alter cultural competence, with the exception of subjective exposure to intercultural situations. No significant associations were found between centrality and cultural competence, except for subjective exposure to intercultural situations.

Discussion

Being culturally competent is not a shared behaviour among health professionals. The most central healthcare professionals are not more culturally competent than less central health professionals.

Conclusions and implications for health policies

Culturally competent health care is not yet a norm in health services. Health care and training authorities should either make cultural competent health care a licensing criteria or reward culturally competent health care.
Seed Shattering of Cañahua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen)
Authors: Rodríguez J. P. , Aro M. , Coarite M. , Jacobsen S.‐E. , Ørting B. , Sørensen M. , Andreasen C.
Published: November 2016

Cañahua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen) is a semi‐domesticated relative of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) with high nutritious quality. It is tolerant to frost, drought, saline soils and pests. One seed yield limitation is seed loss during the maturity stages. Two greenhouse experiments in Denmark and field experiments in Bolivia were carried out to determine seed shattering in landraces and cultivars with different growth habits. 15–21 % of the seed shattering in the fields took place whilst the plants still were flowering and 25–35 % during physiological maturity. Seed shattering varied between locations on the Bolivian Altiplano. Cañahua types with the semi‐prostrate growth (‘lasta’) had the highest seed shattering rate in the greenhouse experiments. The Umacutama landrace had lower seed shattering (1 %) than the cultivar Kullaca (7.2 %) both of the ‘lasta’ type. Under field conditions, the cultivar Illimani with the erect growth (‘saihua’) had the highest seed shattering rate (6.4–33.7 %) at both locations and at four different sowing dates. The Umacutama had the lowest rate (0.5–1.5 %). There were no significant differences between plants of the ‘lasta’ and the ‘saihua’ types. The landrace had significantly less seed loss than the cultivars. However, in the greenhouse, the landrace yield was approximately 25 % lower than the yields of the cultivars. In general, cañahua cultivars had higher yield compared to landraces, but also a higher seed shattering rate. Landraces may be used in breeding programmes to develop high‐yielding cultivars with reduced seed shattering.
Evaluation of the outcomes of care of nurse‐led continence care clinics for Chinese patients with lower urinary tract symptoms, a 2‐year prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Chin Weng Yee , Choi Edmond P.H. , Wan Eric Y.F. , Chan Anca K.C. , Chan Karina H.Y. , Lam Cindy L.K.
Published: November 2016

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the 24‐month outcomes of a nurse‐led continence care service for Chinese primary care patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Background

Most studies evaluating the outcomes of continence care services have had short follow‐up durations with limited knowledge on whether benefits are sustained beyond 12 months.

Design

Twenty‐four month cohort study.

Methods

Two comparison groups were recruited: (1) Patients with lower urinary tract symptoms attending a nurse‐led community‐based continence care programme; (2) Primary care patients with lower urinary tract symptoms identified by screening, receiving usual medical care. Self‐reported symptom severity, health‐related quality of life, patient enablement and general health perception were measured at baseline and 24 months. Data collection occurred from March 2013–August 2015.

Results

Baseline and 24‐month data were available for 170 continence care and 158 usual care subjects. After controlling for baseline characteristics, the continence care group was observed to have greater reductions in symptom severity and larger improvements in disease‐specific health‐related quality of life, patient enablement and general health perception than the usual care group. Deterioration in the mental components of generic health‐related quality of life was observed in the usual care group, but not in the continence care group.

Conclusion

Over 24 months, when compared with usual medical care, nurse‐led continence care services were effective in reducing symptom severity and improving health‐related quality of life, patient enablement and general health perception and provided protection against deterioration in the mental components of health‐related quality of life in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.
Artificial selection on ant female caste ratio uncovers a link between female‐biased sex ratios and infection by Wolbachia endosymbionts
Authors: Pontieri L. , Schmidt A. M. , Singh R. , Pedersen J. S. , Linksvayer T. A.
Published: November 2016

Social insect sex and caste ratios are well‐studied targets of evolutionary conflicts, but the heritable factors affecting these traits remain unknown. To elucidate these factors, we carried out a short‐term artificial selection study on female caste ratio in the ant Monomorium pharaonis. Across three generations of bidirectional selection, we observed no response for caste ratio, but sex ratios rapidly became more female‐biased in the two replicate high selection lines and less female‐biased in the two replicate low selection lines. We hypothesized that this rapid divergence for sex ratio was caused by changes in the frequency of infection by the heritable bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia, because the initial breeding stock varied for Wolbachia infection, and Wolbachia is known to cause female‐biased sex ratios in other insects. Consistent with this hypothesis, the proportions of Wolbachia‐infected colonies in the selection lines changed rapidly, mirroring the sex ratio changes. Moreover, the estimated effect of Wolbachia on sex ratio (~13% female bias) was similar in colonies before and during artificial selection, indicating that this Wolbachia effect is likely independent of the effects of artificial selection on other heritable factors. Our study provides evidence for the first case of endosymbiont sex ratio manipulation in a social insect.
Integration of DNA barcoding for the initial recordings of Lessepsian fishes: a case study of the Indo‐Pacific slender ponyfish Equulites elongatus
Authors: Sakinan S. , Karahan A. , Ok M.
Published: November 2016

In this study, the DNA barcode of a regional Lessepsian sighting of the slender ponyfish Equulites elongatus is integrated with morphometric and meristic descriptors as a case study to address further identification problems in the Mediterranean Sea. The study also aims to contribute to the regional mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I information pool, to support other potential uses. The initial sighting of E. elongatus from the north‐eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey is provided from a trawl survey on 3 June 2015, where 76 specimens were captured during a 15 min tow.
Developing a decision support framework for real‐time flood management using integrated models
Authors: Şensoy A. , Uysal G. , Şorman A.A.
Published: November 2016

Flood risk mitigation during real‐time flood events comprising snowmelt under hydrological uncertainty is particularly challenging. Giving this due consideration, the aim is to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) for the real‐time operation of a reservoir and the channel downstream. This was accomplished with continuous catchment monitoring, runoff forecasting, optimal reservoir decisions, river, and flood inundation analysis. The proposed DSS consists of four major components: (1) Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for real‐time monitoring; (2) Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) – Hydrological Modelling System (HMS) to simulate rainfall/snowmelt runoff process; (3) HEC – Reservoir Simulation System (ResSim) for operation of the controlled reservoir; and (4) HEC – River Analysis System (RAS) for two‐dimensional unsteady river analysis and flood inundation mapping. After the DSS is set up, a real‐time operation for an extreme case scenario was simulated to test the performance, and flood maps were generated. Yuvacık Dam Basin in Turkey has a robust gauge network but is rather limited in reservoir storage and downstream channel capacity. This is the basis for selection of the area in the study. Results show that the developed DSS is useful for forecasting and reservoir operations, in addition to serving as an early warning system.
Comparison of the Rome IV and Rome III criteria for IBS diagnosis: A cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Bai Tao , Xia Jing , Jiang Yudong , Cao Huan , Zhao Yong , Zhang Lei , Wang Huan , Song Jun , Hou Xiaohua
Published: November 2016

Background and Aims

The aims of this study were to investigate the proportion of clinical irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at a tertiary hospital in China, to compare the Rome III and Rome IV criteria with regard to IBS diagnosis, to describe the agreement between the Rome III and Rome IV criteria, and to identify differences between Rome IV‐positive and ‐negative IBS patients.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was performed among outpatients in the gastrointestinal (GI) department of a tertiary hospital. The patients were categorized as having IBS using Rome III and Rome IV criteria.

Results

In total, 1,376 (91.7%) patients completed a GI symptom questionnaire. Among them, 352 were suspected of having IBS and 175 were diagnosed with IBS using the Rome III or Rome IV criteria. In particular, 170 (12.4%) patients were diagnosed with IBS using the Rome III criteria, and 84 (6.1%) patients were diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria. Rome IV IBS patients experienced more pain symptoms (P<0.01) and showed higher IBS severity scores. In contrast, no significant differences were noted for demographic characteristics, stool frequency, IBS subtype, disease course, operation history or GI infection history between Rome IV IBS patients and IBS patients not diagnosed with the Rome IV criteria.

Conclusions

Rome IV‐positive IBS patients represented approximately half of Rome III‐positive IBS patients at a tertiary hospital in China. More specifically, Rome IV‐positive IBS was mainly a subgroup of Rome III‐positive IBS with more serious symptoms.
The association between gastroesophageal reflux disease with sleep quality, depression, and anxiety in a cohort study of Australian men
Authors: On Zhi Xiang , Grant Janet , Shi Zumin , Taylor Anne W , Wittert Gary A , Tully Phillip J , Hayley Amie C , Martin Sean
Published: November 2016

Background and Aim

Previous clinical studies have demonstrated a relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with anxiety and depression; however, few population‐based studies have controlled for sleep disorders. The current study aimed to assess the relationship between GERD and anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in a community‐based sample of Australian men.

Methods

Participants comprised a subset of 1612 men (mean age: 60.7 years, range: 35–80) who participated in the Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress Study during the years 2001–2012, who had complete GERD measures (Gastresophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire), and were not taking medications known to impact gastrointestinal function (excluding drugs taken for acid‐related disorders). Current depression and anxiety were defined by (i) physician diagnosis, (ii) symptoms of depression (Beck Depression Inventory and Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) or anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7), and/or current depressive or anxiolytic medication use. Previous depression was indicated by past depressive diagnoses/medication use. Data on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and obstructive sleep apnea were collected along with several health, lifestyle, and medical factors, and these were systematically evaluated in both univariate and multivariable analyses.

Results

Overall, 13.7% (n = 221) men had clinically significant GERD symptoms. In the adjusted models, an association between GERD and anxiety (odds ratio [OR] 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0–6.8) and poor sleep quality (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2–2.9) was observed; however, no effect was observed for current depression (OR 1.5; 95% CI 0.8–2.7). After removing poor sleep quality from the model, an independent association between current depression (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.7–3.8) and current anxiety (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.8–6.0) and GERD was observed, but not for previous depression (OR 1.4; 95% CI 0.7–2.8).

Conclusion

In this sample of urban‐dwelling men, we observed a strong independent association between GERD, anxiety, and current depression, the latter appearing to be partly mediated by poor sleep quality. Patients presenting with GERD should have concurrent mental health assessments in order to identify potential confounders to the successful management of their symptoms.
Symptom clusters in patients receiving haemodialysis: a systematic review of observational studies
Authors: Cao Xiaoyi , Tian Lang , Lin Chen
Published: November 2016

Aims and objectives

To systematically review the common composition and the analytical methods performed to derive symptom clusters in patients receiving haemodialysis, and to examine their common predictive and outcome variables.

Background

Patients receiving haemodialysis may suffer from multiple and interactive symptoms simultaneously, which may impact their mortality, morbidity and quality of life. The composition of these symptom clusters varies depending on the different assessment tools, the variant evaluation timing points and the various statistical methodologies. A detailed review of existing studies is needed.

Design

A systematic review of observational studies.

Methods

Medline from 1950, CINAHL from 1960, Embase from 1980 and PsycINFO from 1967 as well as additional sources were searched. Content analysis was conducted to identify articles assessing the interrelationships of multiple symptoms.

Results

Five studies were identified. Several symptom clusters were identified with five common groupings being uraemic cluster, neuromuscular cluster, skin cluster, gastrointestinal cluster and energy/fatigue cluster. Four studies performed the principal component analysis with varimax rotation to extract symptom clusters and one study used correlation analysis. Different symptom assessment tools were used and each involving different array of symptoms. The predictive and outcome variables of symptom clusters also varied considerably. No studies have examined the longitudinal course and patients’ subjective experiences of symptom clusters.

Conclusions

Inconsistencies in the composition of symptom clusters across studies were identified due to inconsistencies in symptom assessment tools and statistical methodologies. Future studies should focus on an agreement about a robust and clinically relevant definition on symptom clusters; a multidimensional, valid and reliable symptom assessment tool; and an optimal analytical method in patients receiving haemodialysis.

Relevance to clinical practice

Knowledge of symptom clusters may contribute to understanding the aetiology and pathophysiology of multiple concurrent and interactive symptoms in patients receiving haemodialysis and exploring the effects of these symptoms on clinical outcomes.
Randomized assessment of imatinib in patients with acute ischaemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis
Authors: Wahlgren N. , Thorén M. , Höjeberg B. , Käll T.‐B. , Laska A.‐C. , Sjöstrand C. , Höijer J. , Almqvist H. , Holmin S. , Lilja A. , Fredriksson L. , Lawrence D. , Eriksson U. , Ahmed N.
Published: November 2016

Background

Imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been shown to restore blood–brain barrier integrity and reduce infarct size, haemorrhagic transformation and cerebral oedema in stroke models treated with tissue plasminogen activator. We evaluated the safety of imatinib, based on clinical and neuroradiological data, and its potential influence on neurological and functional outcomes.

Methods

A phase II randomized trial was performed in patients with acute ischaemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis. A total of 60 patients were randomly assigned to four groups [3 (active): 1 (control)]; the active treatment groups received oral imatinib for 6 days at three dose levels (400, 600 and 800 mg). Primary outcome was any adverse event; secondary outcomes were haemorrhagic transformation, cerebral oedema, neurological severity on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at 7 days and at 3 months and functional outcomes on the modified Rankin scale (mRS).

Results

Four serious adverse events were reported, which resulted in three deaths (one in the control group and two in the 400‐mg dose group; one patient in the latter group did not receive active treatment and the other received two doses). Nonserious adverse events were mostly mild, resulting in full recovery. Imatinib ameliorated neurological outcomes with an improvement of 0.6 NIHSS points per 100 mg imatinib (P = 0.02). For the 800‐mg group, the mean unadjusted and adjusted NIHSS improvements were 4 (P = 0.037) and 5 points (P = 0.012), respectively, versus controls. Functional independence (mRS 0–2) increased by 18% versus controls (61 vs. 79; P = 0.296).

Conclusion

This phase II study showed that imatinib is safe and tolerable and may reduce neurological disability in patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis after ischaemic stroke. A confirmatory randomized trial is currently underway.
Spectral Estimation of the Multivariate Impulse Response
Authors: Tunnicliffe Wilson Granville
Published: November 2016

One of the applications of cross‐spectral estimation of stationary time series, developed some five decades ago, is the estimation of the lagged response of an output series causally dependent on an input series, in the absence of feedback from the output to the input. The direct application of cross‐spectral analysis for this purpose is no longer appropriate in the presence of feedback or more general inter‐dependence of the series. In that case, vector autoregressive modeling has been used, particularly in the econometric context, to estimate the response of one series to a shock or impulse in the innovations of another series. To achieve the same end, cross‐spectral analysis requires the application of spectral factorization, and in this article, we demonstrate this methodology, explaining how it may be used to construct impulse response function estimates and their statistical properties. Our presentation includes an information criterion for choosing the smoothing bandwidth to be used for cross‐spectral estimation.
Spatial ecology of jaguars, pumas, and ocelots: a review of the state of knowledge
Authors: Gonzalez‐Borrajo Noa , López‐Bao José Vicente , Palomares Francisco
Published: November 2016

Knowledge of the spatial ecology of mammalian carnivores is critical for understanding species’ biology and designing effective conservation and management interventions. We reviewed the available information about the spatial ecology of jaguarsPanthera onca, pumasPuma concolor, and ocelotsLeopardus pardalis,and we examined how sex and extrinsic variables affect their spatial behaviour.

Sixty‐one articles addressing home range, home range overlap, daily net displacement (straight‐line distance between two locations on consecutive days), and/or distance of dispersal of the three species were included. Meta‐analysis,ANOVA,ANCOVA, and beta regression tests were run to analyse differences among species and sexes and to elucidate the influence of other variables, such as latitude and ecoregion, on spatial behaviour.

Pumas had on average larger home ranges (mean ± SE: 281.87 ± 35.76 km2) than jaguars (128.61 ± 49.5 km2) and ocelots (12.46 ± 3.39 km2). Intersexual range overlap was higher than intrasexual range overlap in jaguars and pumas. Sex affected the home range size of all three species, but only influenced daily net displacement in ocelots. Ecoregion affected the home range size of all three species but did not significantly affect either the daily net displacement or the dispersal distance of pumas. Latitude affected the home range size of jaguars and pumas. It did not affect daily net displacement or dispersal distance in jaguars and pumas, but did affect daily net displacement in ocelots.

Although there was a lack of studies in most countries for the three species, information was particularly lacking in the Neotropics for jaguars and pumas and in North America for ocelots. Researchers usually presented low sample sizes and used different methods to examine the ecological issues considered here. Homogenisation of methods is needed to clarify the ecology of these species and to allow a better understanding of the threats to their populations.
Rapid postglacial diversification and long‐term stasis within the songbird genus Junco: phylogeographic and phylogenomic evidence
Authors: Friis Guillermo , Aleixandre Pau , Rodríguez‐Estrella Ricardo , Navarro‐Sigüenza Adolfo G. , Milá Borja
Published: November 2016

Natural systems composed of closely related taxa that vary in the degree of phenotypic divergence and geographic isolation provide an opportunity to investigate the rate of phenotypic diversification and the relative roles of selection and drift in driving lineage formation. The genus Junco (Aves: Emberizidae) of North America includes parapatric northern forms that are markedly divergent in plumage pattern and colour, in contrast to geographically isolated southern populations in remote areas that show moderate phenotypic divergence. Here, we quantify patterns of phenotypic divergence in morphology and plumage colour and use mitochondrial DNA genes, a nuclear intron, and genomewide SNPs to reconstruct the demographic and evolutionary history of the genus to infer relative rates of evolutionary divergence among lineages. We found that geographically isolated populations have evolved independently for hundreds of thousands of years despite little differentiation in phenotype, in sharp contrast to phenotypically diverse northern forms, which have diversified within the last few thousand years as a result of the rapid postglacial recolonization of North America. SNP data resolved young northern lineages into reciprocally monophyletic lineages, indicating low rates of gene flow even among closely related parapatric forms, and suggesting a role for strong genetic drift or multifarious selection acting on multiple loci in driving lineage divergence. Juncos represent a compelling example of speciation in action, where the combined effects of historical and selective factors have produced one of the fastest cases of speciation known in vertebrates.
Host diversity limits the evolution of parasite local adaptation
Authors: Morley Daniel , Broniewski Jenny M. , Westra Edze R. , Buckling Angus , van Houte Stineke
Published: November 2016

Specificity in the interactions between hosts and their parasites can lead to local adaptation. However, the degree of local adaptation is predicted to depend upon the diversity of resistance alleles within the host population; increasing host diversity should decrease mean parasite infectivity and hence reduce local adaptation. In this study, we empirically test this prediction using the highly specific interactions between bacteria with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR‐associated (CRISPR/Cas) immunity and their bacteriophage. Bacteria acquire immunity to phage by incorporating a phage‐derived spacer sequence into CRISPR loci on the host genome, and phage can escape the CRISPR‐mediated immunity of a specific clone by mutating the targeted sequence. We found that high levels of CRISPR allele diversity that naturally evolve in host populations exposed to phage (because each bacterial clone captures a unique phage‐derived sequence) prevents phage from becoming locally adapted. By manipulating the number of CRISPR alleles in the host population, we show that phage can become locally adapted to their bacterial hosts but only when CRISPR allele diversity is low.
Identification of the cAMP phosphodiesterase CpdA as novel key player in cAMP‐dependent regulation in Corynebacterium glutamicum
Authors: Schulte Julia , Baumgart Meike , Bott Michael
Published: November 2016

The second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) plays an important role in the metabolism of Corynebacterium glutamicum, as the global transcriptional regulator GlxR requires complex formation with cAMP to become active. Whereas a membrane‐bound adenylate cyclase, CyaB, was shown to be involved in cAMP synthesis, enzymes catalyzing cAMP degradation have not been described yet. In this study we identified a class II cAMP phosphodiesterase named CpdA (Cg2761), homologs of which are present in many Actinobacteria. The purified enzyme has a
value of 2.5 ± 0.3 mM for cAMP and a
of 33.6 ± 4.3 µmol min−1 mg−1. A ΔcpdA mutant showed a twofold increased cAMP level on glucose and reduced growth rates on all carbon sources tested. A transcriptome comparison revealed 247 genes with a more than twofold altered mRNA level in the ΔcpdA mutant, 82 of which are known GlxR targets. Expression of cpdA was positively regulated by GlxR, thereby creating a negative feedback loop allowing to counteract high cAMP levels. The results show that CpdA plays a key role in the control of the cellular cAMP concentration and GlxR activity and is crucial for optimal metabolism and growth of C. glutamicum.
Liberal intolerance in European education debates
Authors: Olsen Tore Vincents
Published: November 2016

The reaction against non‐western immigrants and especially Muslims has been analysed both in terms of an exclusionary civic nationalism and in terms of an assertive liberalism. Similar to exclusionary civic nationalism, assertive liberalism purports to defend liberal democratic principles and society against illiberal principles and forces predominantly represented by Muslims. This article argues that nationalism and liberalism are analytically distinguishable but difficult to disentangle empirically. It contends that a more detailed analysis of assertive liberalism can be obtained by subdividing it into four categories of liberal intolerance and demonstrates this by analysing six national debates on the accommodation of cultural and religious diversity in education. The analysis indicates that the nature of liberal intolerance understood as the combination of the four categories of liberal intolerance varies with the state tradition regarding religious neutrality of public institutions and the type of welfare state, but also that many liberal arguments for and against accommodation repeat themselves across national contexts.
Critical thinking and contemporary mental health care: Michel Foucault's “history of the present”
Authors: Roberts Marc
Published: November 2016

In order to be able to provide informed, effective and responsive mental health care and to do so in an evidence‐based, collaborative and recovery‐focused way with those who use mental health services, there is a recognition of the need for mental health professionals to possess sophisticated critical thinking capabilities. This article will therefore propose that such capabilities can be productively situated within the context of the work of the French philosopher Michel Foucault, one of the most challenging, innovative and influential thinkers of the 20th century. However, rather than focusing exclusively upon the content of Foucault's work, it will be suggested that it is possible to discern a general methodological approach across that work, a methodological approach that he refers to as “the history of the present.” In doing so, Foucault's history of the present can be understood as a productive, albeit provisional, framework in which to orientate the purpose and process of critical thinking for mental health professionals by emphasizing the need to both historicize and politicize the theoretical perspectives and therapeutic practices that characterize contemporary mental health care.
Unanimous Model for Describing the Fast Bioluminescence Kinetics of Ca2+‐regulated Photoproteins of Different Organisms
Authors: Eremeeva Elena V. , Bartsev Sergey I. , van Berkel Willem J. H. , Vysotski Eugene S.
Published: November 2016

Upon binding their metal ion cofactors, Ca2+‐regulated photoproteins display a rapid increase of light signal, which reaches its peak within milliseconds. In the present study, we investigate bioluminescence kinetics of the entire photoprotein family. All five recombinant hydromedusan Ca2+‐regulated photoproteins—aequorin from Aequorea victoria, clytin from Clytia gregaria, mitrocomin from Mitrocoma cellularia and obelins from Obelia longissima and Obelia geniculata—demonstrate the same bioluminescent kinetics pattern. Based on these findings, for the first time we propose a unanimous kinetic model describing the bioluminescence mechanism of Ca2+‐regulated photoproteins.
Both JrWRKY2 and JrWRKY7 of Juglans regia mediate responses to abiotic stresses and abscisic acid through formation of homodimers and interaction
Authors: Yang G. , Zhang W. , Liu Z. , Yi‐Maer A.‐Y. , Zhai M. , Xu Z.
Published: November 2016

WRKY transcription factors belong to a large protein family that is involved in diverse developmental processes and abiotic stress responses. Currently, there is little understanding of the role of WRKY transcription factors in regulatory mechanisms in plants, especially in the protein‐protein interactions that are essential for biological regulatory functions and networks.

In the present study, yeast one‐hybrid, yeast two‐hybrid, transient expression and quantitative RT‐PCR were applied to investigate the potential characteristics of two WRKY proteins from Juglans regia, JrWRKY2 (GenBank Accession No. KU057089) and JrWRKY7 (GenBank Accession No. KP784651).

JrWRKY2 and JrWRKY7 can form homodimers and interact with each other. JrWRKY2 and JrWRKY7 can bind to W‐box motifs. Similarly high levels of transcription were found for JrWRKY2 and JrWRKY7 under NaCl and polyethylene glycol (PEG) stresses, as well as at different developmental stages, e.g., the pistil or terminal leaf. JrWRKY2 and JrWRKY7 were transiently overexpressed in an independent manner in the terminal leaf. Analyses of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities, proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, and electrolyte leakage rate showed that JrWRKY2 and JrWRKY7 overexpression improved plant tolerance to NaCl, PEG, abscisic acid, and cold stress. Additionally, JrWRKY2 and JrWRKY7 overexpression elevated transcription of SOD, POD, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and MYB genes, but downregulated the expression of NAC.

Overall, the results demonstrate that JrWRKY2 and JrWRKY7 are dimeric proteins that can form functional homodimers and interact with each other and that they are involved in abiotic stress responses.
Policy of Delay: Evidence from a Bayesian Analysis of Metropolitan Land‐Use Choices
Authors: Deslatte Aaron , Tavares António , Feiock Richard C.
Published: November 2016

Do local policymakers strategically use delay in permitting development to forestall the growth machine? The mantras of smart growth and sustainable development assume local governments can balance the competing values of economic development, ecology, and equity interests in a community. We employ a political market framework to explain differences in local government land use decisions. This framework conceptualizes policy choices as resulting from the interplay between the aggregate policy demand by residents, developers, and environmental interests and the aggregate supply by government authorities. Delays can be imposed strategically through processes of development approval by city governments where industry strength and form of government vary within county‐level service‐delivery fragmentation. We utilize novel Bayesian multilevel modelling of data collected from 2007 and 2015 surveys of Florida city planners and find strong institutional effects and multilevel relationships.
The mutation nrpb1‐A325V in the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II suppresses compromised growth of Arabidopsis plants deficient in a function of the general transcription factor IIF
Authors: Babiychuk Elena , Hoang Khai Trinh , Vandepoele Klaas , Van De Slijke Eveline , Geelen Danny , De Jaeger Geert , Obokata Junichi , Kushnir Sergei
Published: November 2016

The evolutionarily conserved 12‐subunit RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a central catalytic component that drives RNA synthesis during the transcription cycle that consists of transcription initiation, elongation, and termination. A diverse set of general transcription factors, including a multifunctional TFIIF, govern Pol II selectivity, kinetic properties, and transcription coupling with posttranscriptional processes. Here, we show that TFIIF of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) resembles the metazoan complex that is composed of the TFIIFα and TFIIFβ polypeptides. Arabidopsis has two TFIIFβ subunits, of which TFIIFβ1/MAN1 is essential and TFIIFβ2/MAN2 is not. In the partial loss‐of‐function mutant allele man1‐1, the winged helix domain of Arabidopsis TFIIFβ1/MAN1 was dispensable for plant viability, whereas the cellular organization of the shoot and root apical meristems were abnormal. Forward genetic screening identified an epistatic interaction between the largest Pol II subunit nrpb1‐A325V variant and the man1‐1 mutation. The suppression of the man1‐1 mutant developmental defects by a mutation in Pol II suggests a link between TFIIF functions in Arabidopsis transcription cycle and the maintenance of cellular organization in the shoot and root apical meristems.
Source imperfection impacts on optical proximity correction
Authors: Melvin Lawrence S. , Isoyan Artak , Sawh Chander , Huang Jensheng
Published: November 2016

This study explores the impact of illumination source defects on photolithography image fidelity when optical proximity correction (OPC) is used on the pattern. The objective is to gain understanding of how the nonlinearities produced in OPC impact the final pattern fidelity when source defects are introduced. Two variations of the study are executed: the first variation is the mask defect case where a defect is introduced in the pixilated source, an OPC model is created, then the corrected pattern is imaged with an ideal source. The second variation is the exposure defect case where the OPC correction is performed with an ideal source, then exposed with a defect in the manufacturing source. In both cases, defect size and location on the source are varied. The mask defect case demonstrates that to a limited size, OPC can overcome a source defect. The exposure defect case is less conclusive showing pattern shifts and background illumination impacting pattern through focus performance.
Lateralization of interaural timing differences with multi-electrode stimulation in bilateral cochlear-implant users
Authors: Kan Alan , Jones Heath G. , Litovsky Ruth Y.
Published: November 2016

Bilateral cochlear implant (BiCI) users have shown variability in interaural time difference (ITD) sensitivity at different places along the cochlea. This paper investigates perception of multi-electrode binaural stimulation to determine if auditory object formation (AOF) and lateralization are affected by variability in ITD sensitivity when a complex sound is encoded with multi-channel processing. AOF and ITD lateralization were compared between single- and multi-electrode configurations. Most (7/8) BiCI users perceived a single auditory object with multi-electrode stimulation, and the range of lateralization was comparable to single-electrode stimulation, suggesting that variability in single-electrode ITD sensitivity does not compromise AOF with multi-electrode stimulation.
An upper bound for the directivity index of superdirective acoustic vector sensor arrays
Authors: Guo Xijing , Miron Sebastian , Yang Yixin , Yang Shi'e
Published: November 2016

Approximate analytical expressions of the white noise gain (WNG) for two superdirective acoustic vector sensor arrays are provided, which disclose the strong dependence of the tradeoff between the WNG and the directivity index (DI) on the highest order of the modes for the pattern synthesis. The considered arrays are a uniform linear array and a uniform circular array. A condition on the WNG that ensures a high array gain in the two-dimensional homogeneous and isotropic noise field is deduced. Using this condition, an upper bound on the highest order of the modes for the pattern synthesis can be derived, and hence the maximum DI can be determined. The presented results are not strictly limited to the two array geometries considered herein, and can be extended to other superdirective acoustic array designs.
Design of arbitrary shaped pentamode acoustic cloak based on quasi-symmetric mapping gradient algorithm
Authors: Chen Yi , Liu Xiaoning , Hu Gengkai
Published: November 2016

Due to solid and broadband nature, pentamode acoustic cloak is more promising for engineering applications. A simple algorithm based on an elasticity equation is proposed to obtain quasi-symmetric mapping gradient and in turn the characteristic stress for arbitrary shape cloaks. A high degree of symmetry of the obtained mapping gradient and nearly perfect cloaking effect of the designed pentamode cloaks are confirmed by numerical examples. The proposed method paves the way to design more complicated transformation devices with pentamode materials.
Genome Sequences of Malonate-Positive Cronobacter sakazakii Serogroup O:2, Sequence Type 64 Strains CDC 1121-73 and GK1025, Isolated from Human Bronchial Wash and a Powdered Infant Formula Manufacturing Plant
Authors: Chase H. R. , Gopinath G. R. , Gangiredla J. , Patel I. R. , Kothary M. H. , Carter L. , Sathyamoorthy V. , Lee B. , Park E. , Yoo Y. J. , Chung T. J. , Choi H. , Jun S. , Park J. , Jeong S. , Kim M. , Reich F. , Klein G. , Tall B. D.
Published: November 2016

We introduce draft genome sequences of strains CDC1121-73 (human bronchial wash isolate) and GK1025 (powdered infant formula manufacturing facility isolate), which are both malonate-positive
Cronobacter sakazakii
serogroup O:2, sequence type 64. Assemblies for these strains have sizes of 4,442,307 and 4,599,266 bp and % G+C contents of 56.9 and 56.7, respectively.
Complete Genome Sequence of Pediococcus pentosaceus Strain wikim 20, Isolated from Korean Kimchi
Authors: Lee Se Hee , Jung Min Young , Park Boyeon , Sung-Oh Sohn , Park Hae Woong , Choi Hak-Jong , Lee Jong-Hee
Published: November 2016

Pediococcus pentosaceus
strain wikim 20 is a lactic acid bacterium that was isolated from kimchi, a representative traditional Korean fermented food. Here, we announce the complete genome sequence of
P. pentosaceus
strain wikim 20 consisting of a 1,830,629-bp chromosome and provide a description of its annotation.
Draft Genome Sequence for the Type Strain Vulcanibacillus modesticaldus BR, a Strictly Anaerobic, Moderately Thermophilic, and Nitrate-Reducing Bacterium Isolated from Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Authors: Abin Christopher A. , Hollibaugh James T.
Published: November 2016

Vulcanibacillus modesticaldus
BR
T
was isolated from calcite-rich, metalliferous core samples collected at the Rainbow deep-sea hydrothermal vent field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Here, we report the 2.2-Mb draft genome sequence for this strain, consisting of 100 contigs with a G+C content of 33.6% and 2,227 protein-coding sequences.
Complete Genome Sequences of the Neethling-Like Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Strains Obtained Directly from Three Commercial Live Attenuated Vaccines
Authors: Mathijs Elisabeth , Vandenbussche Frank , Haegeman Andy , King Alasdair , Nthangeni Bethuel , Potgieter Christiaan , Maartens Louis , Van Borm Steven , De Clercq Kris
Published: November 2016

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) causes an economically important disease in cattle. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of three LSDV strains obtained directly from the live attenuated vaccines: Lumpyvax (MSD Animal Health), Herbivac LS (Deltamune) and Lumpy Skin Disease Vaccine (Onderstepoort Biological Products).
Draft Genome Sequences of Two Marinitoga camini Isolates Producing Bacterioviruses
Authors: Mercier Coraline , Lossouarn Julien , Haverkamp Thomas , Bienvenu Nadège , Godfroy Anne , Cueff-Gauchard Valérie , Geslin Claire , Nesbo Camilla
Published: November 2016

Here, we present the draft genome sequences of two thermophilic
Marinitoga
strain members of the
Thermotogales
order,
Marinitoga camini
DV1155 and
Marinitoga camini
DV1197. These strains were isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Finished Genome Sequences of Xanthomonas fragariae, the Cause of Bacterial Angular Leaf Spot of Strawberry
Authors: Henry Peter M. , Leveau Johan H. J.
Published: November 2016

Xanthomonas fragariae
is a foliar pathogen of strawberry that is of significant concern to nursery production of strawberry transplants and field production of strawberry fruit. Long-read sequencing was employed to generate finished genomes for two isolates (each with one chromosome and two plasmids) from symptomatic plants in northern California.
First Draft Genome Sequences of
Neisseria
sp. Strain 83E34 and
Neisseria
sp. Strain 74A18
,
Previously Identified as CDC Eugonic Fermenter 4b Species
Authors: Greninger Alexander L. , Streithorst Jessica , Chiu Charles Y. , Miller Steve
Published: November 2016

We report the first draft genome sequences of two isolates previously classified as CDC EF-4b species,
Neisseria
sp. 83E34 and
Neisseria
sp. 74A18. Both strains were isolated from patients with animal bites and likely constitute novel genomospecies with average nucleotide identities of <95% to other sequenced strains.