bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Azoarcus

olearius sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from oil-contaminated soil
Authors: Chen Ming-Hui , Sheu Shih-Yi , James Euan K. , Young Chiu-Chung , Chen Wen-Ming
Published: May 2013

A novel nitrogen-fixing strain, designated DQS-4T, was isolated from oil-contaminated soil in Taiwan and was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strain DQS-4T stained Gram-negative, contained poly-β-hydroxybutyrate granules and were motile rods, surrounded by a thin capsule. Cells displayed a strictly aerobic type of metabolism and fixed nitrogen microaerobically. Growth occurred at 10–45 °C (optimum, 35–40 °C), at pH 7.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0–2 % NaCl (optimum, 0.5–1 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain DQS-4T belonged to the genus

Azoarcus

, and its closest neighbours were

Azoarcus indigens

VB32T and

Azoarcus communis

SWub3T, with sequence similarities of 97.4 and 96.4 %, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids of strain DQS-4T were summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. The major cellular hydroxy fatty acid was C10 : 0 3-OH. The DNA G+C content was 64.5 mol%. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and several uncharacterized aminophospholipids and phospholipids. The mean level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain DQS-4T and

A. indigens

LMG 9092T was 27.4 %. On the basis of the genotypic and phenotypic data, strain DQS-4T represents a novel species in the genus

Azoarcus

, for which the name

Azoarcus

olearius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DQS-4T ( = BCRC 80407T = KCTC 23918T = LMG 26893T).
Taibaiella smilacinae gen. nov., sp. nov., an endophytic member of the family

Chitinophagaceae

isolated from the stem of Smilacina japonica, and emended description of

Flavihumibacter petaseus
Authors: Zhang Lei , Wang Yang , Wei Linfang , Wang Yao , Shen Xihui , Li Shiqing
Published: May 2013

A light-yellow-coloured bacterium, designated strain PTJT-5T, was isolated from the stem of Smilacina japonica A. Gray collected from Taibai Mountain in Shaanxi Province, north-west China, and was subjected to a taxonomic study by using a polyphasic approach. The novel isolate grew optimally at 25–28 °C and pH 6.0–7.0. Flexirubin-type pigments were produced. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain PTJT-5T was a member of the phylum

Bacteroidetes

, exhibiting the highest sequence similarity to

Lacibacter cauensis

NJ-8T (87.7 %). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The only polyamine was homospermidine and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The only respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the DNA G+C content was 40.3 mol%. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic data, strain PTJT-5T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus in the family

Chitinophagaceae

, for which the name Taibaiella smilacinae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Taibaiella smilacinae is PTJT-5T ( = CCTCC AB 2013017T = KCTC 32316T). An emended description of

Flavihumibacter petaseus

is also proposed.
Saccharothrix

saharensis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from Algerian Saharan soil
Authors: Boubetra Dalila , Zitouni Abdelghani , Bouras Noureddine , Mathieu Florence , Lebrihi Ahmed , Schumann Peter , Spröer Cathrin , Klenk Hans-Peter , Sabaou Nasserdine
Published: May 2013

The taxonomic position of a novel actinomycete, strain SA152T, isolated from a sample of Algerian Saharan soil, was determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain produced abundant aerial mycelium and fragmented substrate mycelium on most media tested. Chemotaxonomically and phylogenetically, the strain was related to the members of the genus

Saccharothrix

. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that strain SA152T shared the highest degree of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with

Saccharothrix xinjiangensis

NBRC 101911T (99.3 %) and

Saccharothrix texasensis

NRRL B-16134T (98.9 %). However, DNA–DNA hybridization studies showed only 16.2 % relatedness with

S. xinjiangensis

DSM 44896T and 33.9 % relatedness with

S. texasensis

DSM 44231T. Based upon genotypic and phenotypic differences from other members of the genus, a novel species,

Saccharothrix

saharensis sp. nov., is proposed, with SA152T ( = DSM 45456T = CCUG 60213T) as the type strain.
Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases UBP12 and UBP13 Act in Circadian Clock and Photoperiodic Flowering Regulation in Arabidopsis
Authors: Cui Xia , Lu Falong , Li Yue , Xue Yongming , Kang Yanyuan , Zhang Shuaibin , Qiu Qi , Cui Xiekui , Zheng Shuzhi , Liu Bin , Xu Xiaodong , Cao Xiaofeng
Published: May 2013

Protein ubiquitination is involved in most cellular processes. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation regulates the stability of key components of the circadian clock feedback loops and the photoperiodic flowering pathway. Here, we identified two ubiquitin-specific proteases, UBP12 and UBP13, involved in circadian clock and photoperiodic flowering regulation. Double mutants of ubp12 and ubp13 display pleiotropic phenotypes, including early flowering and short periodicity of circadian rhythms. In ubp12 ubp13 double mutants, CONSTANS (CO) transcript rises earlier than that of wild-type plants during the day, which leads to increased expression of FLOWERING LOCUS T. This, and analysis of ubp12 co mutants, indicates that UBP12 and UBP13 regulate photoperiodic flowering through a CO-dependent pathway. In addition, UBP12 and UBP13 regulate the circadian rhythm of clock genes, including LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL, CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED1, and TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION1. Furthermore, UBP12 and UBP13 are circadian controlled. Therefore, our work reveals a role for two deubiquitinases, UBP12 and UBP13, in the control of the circadian clock and photoperiodic flowering, which extends our understanding of ubiquitin in daylength measurement in higher plants.
Antagonistic Basic Helix-Loop-Helix/bZIP Transcription Factors Form Transcriptional Modules That Integrate Light and Reactive Oxygen Species Signaling inArabidopsis
Authors: Chen Dongqin , Xu Gang , Tang Weijiang , Jing Yanjun , Ji Qiang , Fei Zhangjun , Lin Rongcheng
Published: May 2013

The critical developmental switch from heterotrophic to autotrophic growth of plants involves light signaling transduction and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS function as signaling molecules that regulate multiple developmental processes, including cell death. However, the relationship between light and ROS signaling remains unclear. Here, we identify transcriptional modules composed of the basic helix-loop-helix and bZIP transcription factors PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR1 (PIF1), PIF3, ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5), and HY5 HOMOLOGY (HYH) that bridge light and ROS signaling to regulate cell death and photooxidative response. We show that pif mutants release more singlet oxygen and exhibit more extensive cell death than the wild type during Arabidopsis thaliana deetiolation. Genome-wide expression profiling indicates that PIF1 represses numerous ROS and stress-related genes. Molecular and biochemical analyses reveal that PIF1/PIF3 and HY5/HYH physically interact and coordinately regulate the expression of five ROS-responsive genes by directly binding to their promoters. Furthermore, PIF1/PIF3 and HY5/HYH function antagonistically during the seedling greening process. In addition, phytochromes, cryptochromes, and CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 act upstream to regulate ROS signaling. Together, this study reveals that the PIF1/PIF3-HY5/HYH transcriptional modules mediate crosstalk between light and ROS signaling and sheds light on a new mechanism by which plants adapt to the light environments.
Ventricular repolarization in a rat model of global heart failure
Authors: Krandycheva Valeria , Kharin Sergey , Strelkova Marina , Shumikhin Konstantin , Sobolev Aleksey , Shmakov Dmitry
Published: May 2013

Isoproterenol in high doses induces infarction‐like myocardial damage and structural and functional remodelling of the ventricular myocardium. The purpose of the present study was to investigate ventricular repolarization in a rat model of isoproterenol‐induced heart failure.

Isoproterenol was administered twice to female Wistar rats (170 mg/kg, s.c., 24 h apart). Four weeks after the injections, cardiac output was measured and unipolar epicardial ventricular electrograms were recorded in situ. Activation–recovery intervals were calculated to assess repolarization. Histological examination of the heart ventricles was also performed.

Heart failure in rats treated with isoproterenol was indicated by myocardial histopathological damage and reduced cardiac output. In rats with heart failure, the regional differences in activation–recovery interval prolongation over the ventricular epicardium resulted in increasing heterogeneity in the activation–recovery interval distribution and increasing repolarization heterogeneity of the ventricular subepicardium.

Myocardial damage and haemodynamic changes in heart failure induced by isoproterenol were accompanied by significant changes in ventricular repolarization, which were not associated with myocardial hypertrophy.
Rapid Heating of Alaska Pollock and Chicken Breast Myofibrillar Proteins as Affecting Gel Rheological Properties
Authors: Liu Wenjie , Stevenson Clint D. , Lanier Tyre C.
Published: May 2013

Surimi seafoods (fish/poikilotherm protein) in the U.S.A. are typically cooked rapidly to 90+°C, while comminuted products made from land animals (meat/homeotherm protein) are purposely cooked much more slowly, and to lower endpoint temperatures (near 70 °C). We studied heating rate (0.5, 25, or 90 °C/min) and endpoint temperature (45 to 90 °C) effects on rheological properties (fracture, small strain) of washed myofibril gels derived from fish (Alaska pollock) compared with chicken breast at a common pH (6.75). This was contrasted with published data on gelation kinetics of chicken myosin over the same temperature range. Heating rate had no effect on fracture properties of fish gels but slow heating did yield somewhat stronger, but not more deformable, chicken gels. Maximum gel strength by rapid heating could be achieved within 5 min holding after less than 1 min heating time. Dynamic testing by small strain revealed poor correspondence of the present data to that published for gelling response of chicken breast myosin in the same temperature range. The common practice of reporting small‐strain rheological parameters measured at the endpoint temperature was also shown to be misleading, since upon cooling, there was much less difference in rigidity between rapidly and slowly heated gels for either species.
Advances in sex determination in bats and its utility in wind‐wildlife studies
Authors: Korstian J. M. , Hale A. M. , Bennett V. J. , Williams D. A.
Published: May 2013

We developed a simple and reliable genetic method to determine sex in bats from the Vespertilionidae and Molossidae families. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify a portion of the introns within the zinc‐finger‐X (Zfx) and zinc‐finger‐Y (Zfy) genes. We designed primers to produce size variation between the Zfx and Zfy products that could be visualized using gel electrophoresis. Using an example from our wind‐wildlife research, we show how sex data generated using this method are superior to sex data based on external morphology. Our method allows for the generation of sex data across a wide range of bats that can be used to address key questions in wildlife forensics, behavioural ecology, conservation and evolutionary biology.
Information Precision and Long‐Run Performance of Initial Public Offerings
Authors: Ecker Frank
Published: May 2013

Due to a lack of an information history, IPO firms' information precision is not only generally low but also likely to be estimated initially with considerable error. I hypothesize and find that the deviation between expected and realized information precision is predictably associated with the magnitude and the persistence of long‐run abnormal returns after an IPO. Specifically, an upward (downward) revision of information precision results in positive (negative) abnormal returns over the period in which investors update their beliefs. In addition, the positive abnormal returns of firms with unexpectedly high realized information precision are less persistent than the negative abnormal returns of firms with unexpectedly low realized information precision, which can extend up to 18 months after the IPO. The findings imply that long‐term investors in IPO stocks do not necessarily behave irrationally, but that both positive and negative post‐IPO abnormal performance is also consistent with rational investors gradually updating the perceived information precision parameter of these stocks.
The Nominating Committee Process: A Qualitative Examination of Board Independence and Formalization
Authors: Clune Richard , Hermanson Dana R. , Tompkins James G. , Ye Zhongxia (Shelly)
Published: May 2013

The nominating committee (NC) of the board identifies and nominates individuals for board service, thus establishing the board's composition. Despite this important role, relatively little is known about the NC process, including NC members' actions and thought processes. Based on interviews of 20 U.S. public company NC members, including 16 chairs, we focus on two primary questions: (1) what is the extent of influence that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has over committee processes, and (2) to what extent are committee processes formalized (i.e., framed and acted upon in a mechanistic way)? We find that there is continuing recognition of CEO influence in the director nomination process, the level of which varies widely by company. Also, there is considerable variability in the formalization of the director nomination process (e.g., some NCs use search firms and a matrix/grid approach to assessing director skill sets across the board, while others do not). Finally, we find that many interviewees have professional or personal ties to the CEO and that nearly all of the NCs focus on “chemistry” and comfort in the director nomination process, where the often‐stated goal is to enhance the board's ability to function effectively and to reduce risk in the director nomination process. The overall message of the interviews perhaps is best captured by one interviewee, who described a “strange little dance.” Throughout the interviews, we find evidence that the NC must “dance” through a complex decision landscape.
Chief Financial Officers as Inside Directors
Authors: Bedard Jean C. , Hoitash Rani , Hoitash Udi
Published: May 2013

Considerable prior research investigates whether the extent of insider presence on corporate boards is detrimental. However, the majority of past research treats all inside directors as a homogenous group. This study considers that issue in the context of chief financial officers (CFO) serving on their own company's board. Our research is important because individuals in different executive roles bring different skills and knowledge to board interactions, highlighting the potential for differential contributions. As prior research does not specifically distinguish CFOs from other board insiders, the potential benefits of knowledge sharing due to increased communication with other board members may have been masked. Specifically, the CFO is directly responsible for the quality of the financial reporting process and can therefore be associated with specific outcome measures. Our results show that the percentage of CFOs serving on their own boards is not large, likely due to the perspective (consistent with agency theory and reflected in independence guidelines) that company insiders on boards could promote their own best interest at the expense of shareholders. Contrary to this perception, we find that companies whose CFO has a seat on the board are associated with higher financial reporting quality (i.e., a lower likelihood of reporting a material weaknesses in internal controls or having a financial restatement, and better accruals quality). Yet, we also find potential drawbacks in that CFOs with a board seat tend to have higher excess compensation and lower likelihood of termination following poor performance, signaling greater entrenchment. While our results provide information to companies considering appointing the CFO to the board, both costs and benefits are demonstrated, and thus we conclude that each board should consider this decision based on its own circumstances and composition.
Young and old genetically heterogeneous HET3 mice on a rapamycin diet are glucose intolerant but insulin sensitive
Authors: Lamming Dudley W. , Ye Lan , Astle Clinton M. , Baur Joseph A. , Sabatini David M. , Harrison David E.
Published: May 2013

Rapamycin, an inhibitor of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, extends the life span of yeast, worms, flies, and mice. Interventions that promote longevity are often correlated with increased insulin sensitivity, and it therefore is surprising that chronic rapamycin treatment of mice, rats, and humans is associated with insulin resistance (J Am Soc Nephrol., 19, 2008, 1411; Diabetes, 00, 2010, 00; Science, 335, 2012, 1638). We examined the effect of dietary rapamycin treatment on glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance in the genetically heterogeneous HET3 mouse strain, a strain in which dietary rapamycin robustly extends mean and maximum life span. We find that rapamycin treatment leads to glucose intolerance in both young and old HET3 mice, but in contrast to the previously reported effect of injected rapamycin in C57BL/6 mice, HET3 mice treated with dietary rapamycin responded normally in an insulin tolerance test. To gauge the overall consequences of rapamycin treatment on average blood glucose levels, we measured HBA1c. Dietary rapamycin increased HBA1c over the first 3 weeks of treatment in young animals, but the effect was lost by 3 months, and no effect was detected in older animals. Our results demonstrate that the extended life span of HET3 mice on a rapamycin diet occurs in the absence of major changes in insulin sensitivity and highlight the importance of strain background and delivery method in testing effects of longevity interventions.
Soluble interleukin‐6 receptor is a serum biomarker for the response of esophageal carcinoma to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Makuuchi Yosuke , Honda Kazufumi , Osaka Yoshiaki , Kato Ken , Kojima Takashi , Daiko Hiroyuki , Igaki Hiroyasu , Ito Yoshinori , Hoshino Sumito , Tachibana Shingo , Watanabe Takafumi , Furuta Koh , Sekine Shigeki , Umaki Tomoko , Watabe Yukio , Miura Nami , Ono Masaya , Tsuchida Akihiko , Yamada Tesshi
Published: May 2013

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy has been shown to improve the outcome of patients with esophageal cancer, but because response to this therapy varies, it is desirable to identify in advance individuals who would be unlikely to benefit, in order to avoid unnecessary adverse drug effects. The serum profiles of 84 cytokines and related proteins were determined in 37 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received identical neoadjuvant preoperative chemoradiotherapy regimens and underwent surgical resection. Histological response to this therapy was assessed in surgically resected specimens. The serum soluble interleukin‐6 receptor (sIL6R) level was significantly higher in 30 patients who failed to achieve a histological complete response (P = 0.005). Multivariate analysis revealed that the increased level of sIL6R was one of several significant independent predictors of an unfavorable outcome (hazard ratio, 2.87; P = 0.017). The increased level of this cytokine in patients who did not obtain a complete response was reproducibly observed in an independent cohort of 34 patients. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with an increased serum level of sIL6R are predicted to respond poorly to preoperative chemoradiotherapy, therefore, their exclusion from this treatment may be considered. Persistent systemic inflammation is implicated as a possible mechanism of resistance to this therapy.
Mechanistic / mammalian target protein of rapamycin signaling in hematopoietic stem cells and leukemia
Authors: Hirao Atsushi , Hoshii Takayuki
Published: May 2013

Mechanistic/mammalian target protein of rapamycin (mTOR) is an evolutionarily conserved kinase that plays a critical role in sensing and responding to environmental determinants such as nutrient availability, energy sufficiency, stress, and growth factor concentration. mTOR participates in two complexes, designated mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and 2 (mTORC2), both of which phosphorylate multiple substrates. Recent studies have revealed that the fine‐tuning activity of mTOR complexes contributes to both maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and suppression of leukemogenesis. Dysregulation of mTORC1 activity results in impaired HSC homeostasis. Abnormalities of mTOR signaling are observed in many patients with leukemia and genetic studies clearly show that the leukemogenesis associated with Pten deficiency involves both mTORC1 and mTORC2. Although the several mTOR inhibitors have been developed for cancer therapy, effectiveness of the inhibitors for eradication of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) is unknown. Advances in understanding of how mTOR signaling is involved in mechanisms of normal HSC and LSC homeostasis may lead to novel therapeutic approaches that can successfully eradicate leukemia.
Characterization of the EP receptor subtype that mediates the inhibitory effects of prostaglandin E2 on IgE‐dependent secretion from human lung mast cells
Authors: Kay L. J. , Gilbert M. , Pullen N. , Skerratt S. , Farrington J. , Seward E. P. , Peachell P. T.
Published: May 2013

Background

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has been shown to inhibit IgE‐dependent histamine release from human lung mast cells. This effect of PGE2 is believed to be mediated by EP2 receptors. However, definitive evidence that this is the case has been lacking in the absence of EP2‐selective antagonists. Moreover, recent evidence has suggested that PGE2 activates EP4 receptors to inhibit respiratory cell function.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the receptor by which PGE2 inhibits human lung mast cell responses by using recently developed potent and selective EP2 and EP4 receptor antagonists alongside other established EP receptor ligands.

Methods

The effects of non‐selective (PGE2, misoprostol), EP2‐selective (ONO‐AE1‐259, AH13205, butaprost‐free acid) and EP4‐selective (L‐902,688, TCS251) agonists on IgE‐dependent histamine release and cyclic‐AMP generation in mast cells were determined. The effects of EP2‐selective (PF‐04418948, PF‐04852946) and EP4‐selective (CJ‐042794, L‐161,982) antagonists on PGE2 responses of mast cells were studied. The expression of EP receptor subtypes was determined by RT‐PCR.

Results

Prostaglandin E2, EP2 agonists and EP4 agonists inhibited IgE‐dependent histamine release from mast cells. PGE2 and EP2 agonists, but not EP4 agonists, increased cyclic‐AMP levels in mast cells. EP4‐selective antagonists did not affect the PGE2 inhibition of histamine release, whereas EP2‐selective antagonists caused rightward shifts in the PGE2 concentration–response curves. RT‐PCR studies indicated that mast cells expressed EP2 and EP4 receptors.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Although human lung mast cells may express both EP2 and EP4 receptors, the principal mechanism by which PGE2 inhibits mediator release in mast cells is by activating EP2 receptors.
Apolipoprotein A1 potentiates lipoxin A4 synthesis and recovery of allergen‐induced disrupted tight junctions in the airway epithelium
Authors: Park S.‐W. , Lee E. H. , Lee E.‐J. , Kim H. J. , Bae D.‐J. , Han S. , Kim D. , Jang A. S. , Uh S.‐T. , Kim Y. H. , Erle D. J. , Park C.‐S.
Published: May 2013

Background

Asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation triggered by various allergens in the environment. Defects in the bronchial epithelial interface with the external environment are the hallmark of asthma. Apolipoprotein A‐1 (ApoA1) or ApoA1 mimetics have demonstrated anti‐inflammatory activity and preventive effects in mouse models.

Objective

We investigated airway levels of ApoA1 in asthmatics and the possible role of ApoA1 in protection of the bronchial epithelium and in resolution of inflammation in cellular and animal models of asthma.

Methods

ApoA1 levels were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from asthmatics and healthy controls. With treatment of ApoA1, mouse model of house dust mite (HDM)‐driven asthma and cultured primary bronchial epithelial cells obtained from asthmatics were examined. Tight junction (TJ) expression in the bronchial epithelial cells was assessed by using confocal microscopy and immunoblot.

Results

Asthmatics showed significantly lower ApoA1 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid than did healthy controls. Local ApoA1 treatment significantly decreased lung IL‐25, IL‐33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin levels in HDM‐challenged mice and inhibited allergen‐induced production of these cytokines in cultured primary bronchial epithelial cells. ApoA1 promoted recovery of disrupted TJ proteins zonula occludens‐1 and occludin in cultured primary bronchial epithelium obtained from asthmatics. ApoA1‐induced increases in the TJ proteins were dependent on increased production of lipoxin A4 (LX A4).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

ApoA1 enhances resolution of allergen‐induced airway inflammation through promoting recovery of damaged TJs in the bronchial epithelium. ApoA1 could be a therapeutic strategy in chronic airway inflammatory diseases that are associated with a defective epithelial barrier, including asthma.
Age‐dependent sting recurrence and outcome in immunotherapy‐treated children with anaphylaxis to Hymenoptera venom
Authors: Stritzke A. I. , Eng P. A.
Published: May 2013

Background

Data on outcome of insect venom immunotherapy in children are rare.

Objective

We investigated the rate of sting recurrence and outcome of Hymenoptera venom anaphylaxis in children of different age groups treated with immunotherapy.

Methods

Data from children consecutively referred for anaphylaxis to Hymenoptera venom were collected using a standardized questionnaire.

Results

During mean follow‐up of 7.7 years after commencement of immunotherapy, 45 of 83 children (56%) were re‐stung 108 times by the insect they were allergic to. This corresponds to a rate of 0.23 stings per child and year of follow‐up. The younger the subject, the higher was the prevalence of re‐stings, with rates of 0.41 in children < 6 years, 0.21 at school age and 0.15 in adolescents (P = 0.001). In contrast, prevalence of systemic allergic reactions to field stings was significantly lower in pre‐school (3.4%) and school‐age children (4.3%) compared with adolescents (15.6%; P < 0.05). Overall, prevalence of systemic allergic reactions at re‐sting was 15.6% in the honey bee venom and 5.9% in the Vespula venom allergic group (P = ns). Younger boys with anaphylaxis to honey bee venom predominated in our cohort (P = 0.019).

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

A majority of children with anaphylaxis to Hymenoptera venom (56%) in our cohort were re‐stung, equally by honey bees or Vespula species. Younger children were more likely to be re‐stung, but less likely to have a systemic reaction. Venom immunotherapy induces long‐term protection in most children: 84.4% of subjects with anaphylaxis to honey bee and 94.1% of those to Vespula venom were completely protected at re‐stings.
Scalable Music: Automatic Music Retargeting and Synthesis
Authors: Wenner Simon , Bazin Jean‐Charles , Sorkine‐Hornung Alexander , Kim Changil , Gross Markus
Published: May 2013

In this paper we propose a method for dynamic rescaling of music, inspired by recent works on image retargeting, video reshuffling and character animation in the computer graphics community. Given the desired target length of a piece of music and optional additional constraints such as position and importance of certain parts, we build on concepts from seam carving, video textures and motion graphs and extend them to allow for a global optimization of jumps in an audio signal. Based on an automatic feature extraction and spectral clustering for segmentation, we employ length‐constrained least‐costly path search via dynamic programming to synthesize a novel piece of music that best fulfills all desired constraints, with imperceptible transitions between reshuffled parts. We show various applications of music retargeting such as part removal, decreasing or increasing music duration, and in particular consistent joint video and audio editing.
Trophic Flexibility and the Persistence of Understory Birds in Intensively Logged Rainforest
Authors: EDWARDS DAVID P. , WOODCOCK PAUL , NEWTON ROB J. , EDWARDS FELICITY A. , ANDREWS DAVID J. R. , DOCHERTY TEEGAN D. S. , MITCHELL SIMON L. , OTA TAKAHIRO , BENEDICK SUZAN , BOTTRELL SIMON H. , HAMER KEITH C.
Published: May 2013

Effects of logging on species composition in tropical rainforests are well known but may fail to reveal key changes in species interactions. We used nitrogen stable‐isotope analysis of 73 species of understory birds to quantify trophic responses to repeated intensive logging of rainforest in northern Borneo and to test 4 hypotheses: logging has significant effects on trophic positions and trophic‐niche widths of species, and the persistence of species in degraded forest is related to their trophic positions and trophic‐niche widths in primary forest. Species fed from higher up the food chain and had narrower trophic‐niche widths in degraded forest. Species with narrow trophic‐niche widths in primary forest were less likely to persist after logging, a result that indicates a higher vulnerability of dietary specialists to local extinction following habitat disturbance. Persistence of species in degraded forest was not related to a species’ trophic position. These results indicate changes in trophic organization that were not apparent from changes in species composition and highlight the importance of focusing on trophic flexibility over the prevailing emphasis on membership of static feeding guilds. Our results thus support the notion that alterations to trophic organization and interactions within tropical forests may be a pervasive and functionally important hidden effect of forest degradation.

Flexibilidad Trófica y la Persistencia de Aves de Sotobosque en un Bosque Lluvioso Talado Intensivamente
Restorative proctocolectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis: a cross‐sectional Danish population study on function and quality of life
Authors: Brandsborg S. , Tøttrup A. , Nicholls J. , Laurberg S.
Published: May 2013

Aim

The study evaluated function and quality of life (QoL) in all patients having restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) in Denmark for ulcerative colitis (UC) from 1980 to 2010. Inclusion of all patients in one country has never previously been achieved.

Method

All patients who had had a RPC in Denmark, from the first case in 1980 to the last case in 2010, were studied. A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was performed, and function and QoL were assessed using a standardized questionnaire – the Short‐Form 36 (SF36) – and the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ).

Results

The median duration of follow up was 11 (range, 1–30) years. Apart from deaths, pouch failures and research protection, data on function and QoL were obtained from 1047 (85%) of 1229 patients who had a functioning pouch at the time of the investigation. More female patients than male patients experienced urgency (56% vs 44%, P = 0.0021). The median number of bowel movements per 24 h was 7 (range, 1–23) in female patients and 6 (range, 1–20) in male patients (P < 0.001). Pad usage was more frequent among female patients than among male patients (62% vs 38%, P < 0.001). A higher incidence of major incontinence (P = 0.009) and use of pads (P = 0.01) was found among patients who had been operated on 21–30 years previously compared with those operated on 11–20 years previously. The prevalence of urgency was higher in patients who received surgery 0–10 years previously compared with 11–20 years previously (P = 0.009). The total IBDQ score was higher in male patients than in female patients (P < 0.001). Male patients scored higher in five of eight SF36 domains (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Female patients had more urgency, a higher frequency of defaecation and higher pad usage. This was associated with a reduced QoL. Nevertheless, RPC resulted in good function and a high degree of satisfaction in most patients.
Dyes based on a 1,4‐naphthoquinone skeleton as new type II photoinitiators for radical polymerisation
Authors: Szymczak Agnieszka M , Podsiadły Radosław , Podemska Karolina , Sokołowska Jolanta
Published: May 2013

Photoredox pairs consisting of 1,4‐naphthoquinone dyes and commercially available hydrogen donors (2‐mercaptobenzoxazole, 2‐mercaptobenzothiazole, 2‐mercaptobenzimidazole and 2,5‐dimercapto‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole) are found to be effective initiator systems for the radical polymerisation of trimethylolpropane triacrylate under visible light. The efficiency of these initiator systems is discussed in terms of the free energy change for the electron transfer process from the dye to the hydrogen donor. The results show that the photoinitiation ability of tested photoredox pairs depends on the structure of both the dye and the hydrogen donor.
Evaluation of plasma treatment effects on improving adhesive–dentin bonding by using the same tooth controls and varying cross‐sectional surface areas
Authors: Dong Xiaoqing , Ritts Andrew C. , Staller Corey , Yu Qingsong , Chen Meng , Wang Yong
Published: May 2013

The objective of this study was to evaluate and verify the effectiveness of plasma treatment for improving adhesive–dentin interfacial bonding by performing microtensile bond‐strength (μTBS) testing using the same‐tooth controls and varying cross‐sectional surface areas. Extracted unerupted human third molars were used after removal of the crowns to expose the dentin surface. One half of each dentin surface was treated with a non‐thermal argon plasma brush, whilst the other was shielded with glass slide and used as an untreated control. Adper Single Bond Plus adhesive and Filtek Z250 dental composite were then applied as directed. The teeth thus prepared were further cut into micro‐bar specimens, with cross‐sectional sizes of 1 × 1 mm2, 1 × 2 mm2, and 1 × 3 mm2, for μTBS testing. The test results showed that plasma‐treated specimens gave substantially stronger adhesive–dentin bonding than their corresponding same‐tooth controls. Compared with their untreated controls, plasma treatment gave statistically significant higher bonding strength for specimens with a cross‐sectional area of 1 × 1 mm2 and 1 × 2 mm2, with mean increases of 30.8% and 45.1%, respectively. Interface examination using optical and electron microscopy verified that plasma treatment improved the quality of the adhesive–dentin interface by reducing defects/voids and increasing the resin tag length in dentin tubules.
Patterns of tooth agenesis in patients with orofacial clefts
Authors: Hermus Ruurd R. , van Wijk Arjen J. , Tan Stephan P. K. , Kramer Gem J. C. , Ongkosuwito Edwin M.
Published: May 2013

Orofacial clefts are a common oral disorder associated with tooth agenesis. As information on the simultaneous absence of teeth can be an aid in treatment planning, a large sample of orofacial cleft patients was examined. The sample consisted of 910 patients with cleft lip and palate. Tooth agenesis was assessed on the basis of at least two panoramic radiographs and patient records. Third‐molar agenesis was determined in 474 patients. Patterns of tooth agenesis were analysed using Tooth Agenesis Code (TAC) values, according to van Wijk & Tan. Per quadrant, at least 90% of patients could be described according to three different patterns. In the maxilla, 85% of patients with tooth agenesis had a TAC‐value of 2, 16, or 18 on either the left side, right side or bilaterally. In the mandible, 90% of patients with tooth agenesis had a TAC‐value of 16, 1 or 2 on either the left side, right side or bilaterally. In patients with tooth agenesis, patterns were symmetrical in the maxilla in 18.8% and in the mandible in 51%. More extended cleft types were associated with a higher prevalence of tooth agenesis. Third‐molar agenesis (prevalence = 22.4%) was significantly related to the prevalence of other absent teeth. These results show which patterns of tooth agenesis can be expected to occur in most orofacial cleft patients.
Mitigating role of baicalein on lysosomal enzymes and xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme status during lung carcinogenesis of Swiss albino mice induced by benzo(a)pyrene
Authors: Naveenkumar Chandrashekar , Raghunandakumar Subramanian , Asokkumar Selvamani , Binuclara John , Rajan Balan , Premkumar Thandavamoorthy , Devaki Thiruvengadam
Published: May 2013

The lungs mainly serve as a primary site for xenobiotic metabolism and constitute an important defense mechanism against inhalation of carcinogens. Our current study aimed to evaluate the chemotherapeutic efficacy of baicalein (BE) in Swiss albino mice exposed to tobacco‐specific carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] for its ability to mitigate pulmonary carcinogenesis. Here, we report that altered activities/levels of lysosomal enzymes (cathepsin‐D, cathepsin‐B, acid phosphatase, β‐D‐galactosidase, β‐D‐glucuronidase, and β‐D‐N‐acetyl glucosaminidase), phase I biotransformation enzymes (cytochrome P450, cytochrome b5, NADPH‐cytochrome P450 reductase, and NADH‐cytochrome b5 reductase), and phase II enzymes (glutathione S‐transferase, UDP‐glucuronyl transferase, and DT‐diaphorase) were observed in the B(a)P‐induced mice. Treatment with BE significantly restored back the activities/levels of lysosomal enzymes, phase I and phase II biotransformation enzymes. Moreover, assessment of lysosomal abnormalities by transmission electron microscopic examination revealed that BE treatment effectively counteract B(a)P‐induced oxidative damages. Protein expression levels studied by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and immunoblot analysis of CYP1A1 revealed that BE treatment effectively negate B(a)P‐induced upregulated expression of CYP1A1. Further analysis of scanning electron microscopic studies in lung was carried out to substantiate the anticarcinogenic effect of BE. The overall data suggest that BE treatment significantly inhibits lysosomal and microsomal dysfunction, thus revealing its potent anticarcinogenic effect.
Zinc‐induced modulation of SRSF6 activity alters Bim splicing to promote generation of the most potent apoptotic isoform BimS
Authors: Hara Hirokazu , Takeda Tatsuya , Yamamoto Nozomi , Furuya Keisuke , Hirose Kazuya , Kamiya Tetsuro , Adachi Tetsuo
Published: May 2013

Bim is a member of the pro‐apoptotic BH3‐only Bcl‐2 family of proteins. Bim gene undergoes alternative splicing to produce three predominant splicing variants (BimEL, BimL and BimS). The smallest variant BimS is the most potent inducer of apoptosis. Zinc (Zn2+) has been reported to stimulate apoptosis in various cell types. In this study, we examined whether Zn2+ affects the expression of Bim in human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells. Zn2+ triggered alterations in Bim splicing and induced preferential generation of BimS, but not BimEL and BimL, in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. Other metals (cadmium, cobalt and copper) and stresses (oxidative, endoplasmic reticulum and genotoxic stresses) had little or no effect on the expression of BimS. To address the mechanism of Zn2+‐induced preferential generation of BimS, which lacks exon 4, we developed a Bim mini‐gene construct. Deletion analysis using the Bim mini‐gene revealed that predicted binding sites of the SR protein SRSF6, also known as SRp55, are located in the intronic region adjacent to exon 4. We also found that mutations in the predicted SRSF6‐binding sites abolished generation of BimS mRNA from the mutated Bim mini‐gene. In addition, a UV cross‐linking assay followed by Western blotting showed that SRSF6 directly bound to the predicted binding site and Zn2+ suppressed this binding. Moreover, Zn2+ stimulated SRSF6 hyper‐phosphorylation. TG003, a cdc2‐like kinase inhibitor, partially prevented Zn2+‐induced generation of BimS and SRSF6 hyper‐phosphorylation. Taken together, our findings suggest that Zn2+ inhibits the activity of SRSF6 and promotes elimination of exon 4, leading to preferential generation of BimS.
Erbium‐Ion‐Doped Tellurite Glass Fibers and Waveguides—Devices and Future Prospective: Part II
Authors: Irannejad Mehrdad , Fernandez Toney , Joshi Purushottam , Zhao Zhanxiang , Lousteau Joris , Richards Billy , Jose Gin , Jha Animesh
Published: May 2013

Following on from Part I of this review article that focuses on the suitability of Er3+‐doped tellurium oxide glass for optical amplification in fiber, this Part II article describes how the fiber gain data were then employed to engineer amplification in waveguides, which can be integrated with semiconductor pump sources. The gain characteristics and bandwidth of a phosphate modified tellurite waveguide formed on a GaAs substrate are discussed. The limiting structural compatibility of Er3+‐doped tellurite glass with polydimethylsiloxane polymer for active–passive integration is overcome by adopting a nanoscale super‐lattice approach for waveguide engineering.
Different prognosis in hospitalized patients with influenza one season after the pandemic H1N1 influenza of 2009–2010 in Spain
Authors: Delgado‐Rodríguez Miguel , Castilla Jesús , Godoy Pere , Martín Vicente , Soldevila Nuria , Alonso Jordi , Astray Jenaro , Baricot Maretva , Galán Juan C. , Castro Ady , Gónzález‐Candelas Fernando , Mayoral José M. , Quintana José M. , Pumarola Tomás , Tamames Sonia , Sáez Marc , Domínguez Angela ,   the CIBERESP Cases and Controls in Pandemic Influenza Working Group, Spain
Published: May 2013

Background

The present report compares prognosis in hospitalized cases with the H1N1 pandemic virus in two seasons.

Methods

Two series of hospitalized patients with laboratory‐confirmed H1N1 pandemic influenza have been compared: 813 in the season 2009–2010 and 707 in the season 2010–2011. A detailed history of variables preceding hospital admission and during hospitalization was obtained by interview and clinical charts. A combined endpoint of death admission to intensive care was used as outcome due to the low number of deaths. Logistic regression was applied in the analysis for adverse outcome.

Results

Patients of the second season had different characteristics than in the first one (older, more underlying conditions, more malfunctioning organs and more symptoms). Patients with H1N1 pandemic virus when hospitalized were more frequently directly admitted to ICU during the 2010–2011 season than in the previous season (RR = 2·10; 95% confidence intervals CI, 1·55–2·85), as a consequence of a higher presence of sepsis and respiratory distress. These patients also showed during hospitalization a higher risk of ICU admission or death (RR = 3·22, 95% CI, 2·15–4·83). After adjusting for the differences in risk factors of adverse outcome, patients in the second season showed a higher risk of ICU admission and/or in‐hospital death odds ratio (OR = 3·77, 95% CI, 2·30–6·18).

Conclusion

Hospitalized patients with H1N1 pandemic influenza during the second season were more severely affected at hospital admission and showed a worse prognosis than in previous season, independently of the differences found at hospital admission.
Cleavage of GSK‐3β by calpain counteracts the inhibitory effect of Ser9 phosphorylation on GSK‐3β activity induced by H2O2
Authors: Feng Ye , Xia Yiyuan , Yu Guang , Shu Xiji , Ge Haoliang , Zeng Kuan , Wang Jianzhi , Wang Xiaochuan
Published: May 2013

Glycogen synthase kinase‐3 beta (GSK‐3β) dysfunction may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric, metabolic, neurodegenerative diseases, in which oxidative stress exists concurrently. Some studies have shown that GSK‐3β activity is up‐regulated under oxidative stress. This study evaluated how oxidative stress regulates GSK‐3β activity in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293)/Tau cells treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Here, we show that H2O2 induced an obvious increase of GSK‐3β activity. Surprisingly, H2O2 dramatically increased phosphorylation of GSK‐3β at Ser9, an inactive form of GSK‐3β,while there were no changes of phosphorylation of GSK‐3β at Tyr216. Moreover, H2O2 led to a transient [Ca2+]i elevation, and simultaneously increased the truncation of GSK‐3β into two fragments of 40 kDa and 30 kDa, whereas inhibition of calpain decreased the truncation and recovered the activity of GSK‐3β. Furthermore, tau was hyperphosphorylated at Ser396, Ser404, and Thr231, three most common GSK‐3β targeted sites after 100 μM H2O2 administration in HEK293/Tau cells, whereas inhibition of calpain blocked the tau phosphorylation. In addition, we found that there were no obvious changes of Cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) expression (responsible for tau phosphorylation) and of p35 cleavage, the regulatory subunit of CDK5 in H2O2‐treated HEK293/Tau cells. In conclusion, Ca2+‐dependent calpain activation leads to GSK‐3β truncation, which counteracts the inhibitory effect of Ser9 phosphorylation, up‐regulates GSK‐3β activity, and phosphorylates tau in H2O2‐treated HEK293/Tau cells.
P2X7 receptor‐induced death of motor neurons by a peroxynitrite/FAS‐dependent pathway
Authors: Gandelman Mandi , Levy Mark , Cassina Patricia , Barbeito Luis , Beckman Joseph S.
Published: May 2013

The P2X7 receptor/channel responds to extracellular ATP and is associated with neuronal death and neuroinflammation in spinal cord injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Whether activation of P2X7 directly causes motor neuron death is unknown. We found that cultured motor neurons isolated from embryonic rat spinal cord express P2X7 and underwent caspase‐dependent apoptosis when exposed to exceptionally low concentrations of the P2X7 agonist 2′(3′)‐O‐(4‐Benzoylbenzoyl)‐ATP. The P2X7 inhibitors BBG, oATP, and KN‐62 prevented 2′(3′)‐O‐(4‐Benzoylbenzoyl)‐ATP‐induced motor neuron death. The endogenous P2X7 agonist ATP induced motor neuron death at low concentrations (1‐100 μM). High concentrations of ATP (1 mM) paradoxically became protective due to degradation in the culture media to produce adenosine and activate adenosine receptors. P2X7‐induced motor neuron death was dependent on neuronal nitric oxide synthase‐mediated production of peroxynitrite, p38 activation, and autocrine FAS signaling. Taken together, our results indicate that motor neurons are highly sensitive to P2X7 activation, which triggers apoptosis by activation of the well‐established peroxynitrite/FAS death pathway in motor neurons.