bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantification of Urine Elimination Behaviors in Cats with a Video Recording System
Authors: R. Dulaney D. , Hopfensperger M. , Malinowski R. , Hauptman J. , Kruger J.M.
Published: March 2017

Background

Urinary disorders in cats often require subjective caregiver quantification of clinical signs to establish a diagnosis and monitor therapeutic outcomes.

Objective

To investigate use of a video recording system (VRS) to better assess and quantify urination behaviors in cats.

Animals

Eleven healthy cats and 8 cats with disorders potentially associated with abnormal urination patterns.

Methods

Prospective study design. Litter box urination behaviors were quantified with a VRS for 14 days and compared to daily caregiver observations. Video recordings were analyzed by a behavior analysis software program.

Results

The mean number of urinations per day detected by VRS (2.5 ± 0.7) was significantly higher compared with caregiver observations (0.6 ± 0.6;P< .0001). Five cats were never observed in the litter box by their caregivers. The mean number of urinations per day detected by VRS was significantly higher for abnormal cats (2.9 ± 0.7) compared with healthy cats (2.1 ± 0.7;P= .02); there were no apparent differences in frequency between these groups reported by caregivers (0.7 ± 1.0 and 0.5 ± 1.0, respectively). There were no differences in mean urination time between healthy and abnormal cats as determined by VRS or caregivers. Mean cover‐up time determined by VRS was significantly longer in healthy cats (22.7 ± 12.9 seconds/urination) compared with abnormal cats (8.7 ± 12.9 seconds/urination;P= .03); differences in cover‐up time were not detected by caregivers.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Caregivers commonly underestimate urination frequency in cats when compared to video‐based observations. Video recording appears to facilitate objective assessment of urination behaviors and could be of value in future clinical studies of urinary disorders in cats.
Linkages and Trust in the Value Chain for Small‐scale Aquaculture in Asia
Authors: Pomeroy Robert , Navy Hap , Ferrer Alice Joan , Purnomo Agus H.
Published: March 2017

The small‐scale aquaculture (SSA) sector is recognized as making an important contribution to food security, poverty alleviation, and socioeconomic development. A value chain analysis can uncover insights into the linkages and trust within a value chain and constraints and challenges that face the sector. This paper examines the linkages and trust between SSA producers and traders in Asia in order to better understand the constraints and opportunities faced by small‐scale producers. The perspective revealed by the value chain analysis provides response strategies that can enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of the entire value chain and the actors that comprise it.
Comparison of Protective Efficacy between Formalin‐killed and aroA Gene‐knockout Vibrio anguillarum Vaccines in Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus
Authors: Choi Seung Hyuk , Kim Dong Soo , Kim Ki Hong
Published: March 2017

The aro genes in bacteria encode enzymes needed for the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids, and mutant bacteria that are defective in the enzymes can replicate only a limited number in vertebrates owing to the lack or scarceness of chorismate, through which the mutant bacteria of the aro genes become attenuated. In the present study, the 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase (aroA) gene‐knockout Vibrio anguillarum (ΔaroA V. anguillarum) were generated by the allelic exchange method, and its vaccine potential was evaluated in the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, by comparing the protective efficacy of a formalin‐inactivated V. anguillarum. The LD50 (50% lethal dose) value of ΔaroA V. anguillarum was 1000 times higher than that of wild‐type V. anguillarum in olive flounder fingerlings, and the growth of ΔaroA V. anguillarum was significantly suppressed by coincubation with nonimmune olive flounder serum compared with that of wild‐type V. anguillarum. The survival rates and serum agglutination titers of fish immunized with ΔaroA V. anguillarum were significantly higher than those of fish immunized with the same amount of formalin‐inactivated V. anguillarum, suggesting that although the inactivated V. anguillarum vaccine can provide a high protection in olive flounder, the protective efficacy can be enhanced by immunization with an auxotrophic mutant ΔaroA V. anguillarum.
Methionine Requirement for Juvenile White Seabass, Atractoscion nobilis, Using Nonlinear Models
Authors: Salze Guillaume P. , Davis Donald A. , Jirsa Dave O. , Drawbridge Mark A.
Published: March 2017

Two trials were conducted to estimate the methionine (Met) requirement of juvenile white seabass, Atractoscion nobilis. Diets were formulated to contain 40% crude protein, 10% lipids, and 0.51% cysteine. Graded levels of dl‐Met were added to create seven diets with dietary Met levels ranging from 0.72 to 0.98%, and nine diets ranging from 0.64 to 1.28% Met in Trials A and B, respectively. Thermal‐unit growth coefficient was fitted to dietary Met levels to estimate the Met requirement using the saturation kinetic model (SKM), the quadratic model (QM), or the broken quadratic model (BQM). The 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated through the iterative fitting process for the BQM and using a bootstrapping approach for the QM and SKM. In Trial A, the three models estimated the requirement between 0.88 and 1.08%, with wide CI. In Trial B, precisions of the requirement estimates by the SKM and BQM were significantly improved compared with Trial A, though BQM evidently overestimated the requirement. SKM provided the best fit; hence, we conclude that the Met requirement for juvenile white seabass is 0.88% (95% CI: 0.80–1.08%) in the presence of 0.51% cysteine. This estimate provides valuable basis for the formulation of practical diets for juvenile white seabass.
The Vakkejokk Breccia: An Early Cambrian proximal impact ejecta layer in the North‐Swedish Caledonides
Authors: Ormö J. , Nielsen A. T. , Alwmark C.
Published: March 2017

The ≤27 m thick Vakkejokk Breccia is intercalated in autochthon Lower Cambrian along the Caledonian front north of Lake Torneträsk, Lapland, Sweden. The spectacular breccia is here interpreted as a proximal ejecta layer associated with an impact crater, probably ~2–3 km in size, located below Caledonian overthrusts immediately north of the main breccia section. The impact would have taken place in a shallow‐marine environment ~520 Ma ago. The breccia comprises i) a strongly disturbed lower polymict subunit with occasional, in themselves brecciated, crystalline mega‐clasts locally exceeding 50 m surrounded by contorted sediments; ii) a middle, commonly normally graded, crystalline‐rich, polymict subunit, in turn locally overlain by iii) a thin fine‐grained quartz sandstone, <30 cm thick. The upper sandstone is sporadically either overlain, or replaced, by a conglomerate. In progressively more distal parts of the ejecta layer, the lower subunit is better described as only slightly disturbed strata. The lower subunit is suggested to have formed by ejecta bombardment of the strata surrounding the impact crater, even causing some net outwards mobilization of the sediments. The middle subunit and the uppermost quartz sandstone are considered resurge deposits. The top conglomerate may be caused by subsequent wave reworking and slumping of material from the elevated rim. Quartz grains showing planar deformation features are present in the graded polymict subunit and the upper sandstone, that is, the inferred resurge deposits.
Signatures of local adaptation in lowland and highland teosintes from whole‐genome sequencing of pooled samples
Authors: Fustier M.‐A. , Brandenburg J.‐T. , Boitard S. , Lapeyronnie J. , Eguiarte L. E. , Vigouroux Y. , Manicacci D. , Tenaillon M. I.
Published: March 2017

Spatially varying selection triggers differential adaptation of local populations. Here, we mined the determinants of local adaptation at the genomewide scale in the two closest maize wild relatives, the teosintes Zea mays ssp parviglumis and ssp. mexicana. We sequenced 120 individuals from six populations: two lowland, two intermediate and two highland populations sampled along two altitudinal gradients. We detected 8 479 581 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covered in the six populations with an average sequencing depth per site per population ranging from 17.0× to 32.2×. Population diversity varied from 0.10 to 0.15, and linkage disequilibrium decayed very rapidly. We combined two differentiation‐based methods, and correlation of allele frequencies with environmental variables to detect outlier SNPs. Outlier SNPs displayed significant clustering. From clusters, we identified 47 candidate regions. We further modified a haplotype‐based method to incorporate genotype uncertainties in haplotype calling, and applied it to candidate regions. We retrieved evidence for selection at the haplotype level in 53% of our candidate regions, and in 70% of the cases the same haplotype was selected in the two lowland or the two highland populations. We recovered a candidate region located within a previously characterized inversion on chromosome 1. We found evidence of a soft sweep at a locus involved in leaf macrohair variation. Finally, our results revealed frequent colocalization between our candidate regions and loci involved in the variation of traits associated with plant–soil interactions such as root morphology, aluminium and low phosphorus tolerance. Soil therefore appears to be a major driver of local adaptation in teosintes.
Characterization of lysine acetylation of a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase involved in glutamate overproduction in Corynebacterium glutamicum
Authors: Nagano‐Shoji Megumi , Hamamoto Yuma , Mizuno Yuta , Yamada Ayuka , Kikuchi Masaki , Shirouzu Mikako , Umehara Takashi , Yoshida Minoru , Nishiyama Makoto , Kosono Saori
Published: March 2017

Protein Nε‐acylation is emerging as a ubiquitous post‐translational modification. In Corynebacterium glutamicum, which is utilized for industrial production of l‐glutamate, the levels of protein acetylation and succinylation change drastically under the conditions that induce glutamate overproduction. Here, the acylation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), an anaplerotic enzyme that supplies oxaloacetate for glutamate overproduction was characterized. It was shown that acetylation of PEPC at lysine 653 decreased enzymatic activity, leading to reduced glutamate production. An acetylation‐mimic (KQ) mutant of K653 showed severely reduced glutamate production, while the corresponding KR mutant showed normal production levels. Using an acetyllysine‐incorporated PEPC protein, we verified that K653‐acetylation negatively regulates PEPC activity. In addition, NCgl0616, a sirtuin‐type deacetylase, deacetylated K653‐acetylated PEPC in vitro. Interestingly, the specific activity of PEPC was increased during glutamate overproduction, which was blocked by the K653R mutation or deletion of sirtuin‐type deacetylase homologues. These findings suggested that deacetylation of K653 by NCgl0616 likely plays a role in the activation of PEPC, which maintains carbon flux under glutamate‐producing conditions. PEPC deletion increased protein acetylation levels in cells under glutamate‐producing conditions, supporting the hypothesis that PEPC is responsible for a large carbon flux change under glutamate‐producing conditions.
Involvement of a conserved GFG motif region in substrate binding by RseP, an Escherichia coliS2P protease
Authors: Akiyama Koichiro , Hizukuri Yohei , Akiyama Yoshinori
Published: March 2017

RseP, an Escherichia coli S2P family intramembrane cleaving protease, is involved in regulation of the extracytoplasmic stress response and membrane quality control through specific cleavage of substrates. Recent research suggested that the PDZ domains and the MRE β‐loop (membrane‐reentrant β‐loop) are involved in substrate discrimination; the former would serve to prevent cleavage of substrates with a large periplasmic domain, whereas the latter would directly interact with the substrate's transmembrane segment and induce its conformational change. However, the mechanisms underlying specific substrate recognition and cleavage by RseP are not fully understood. Here, the roles of the N‐terminal part of the first cytoplasmic loop region (C1N) of RseP that contains a highly conserved GFG motif were investigated. A Cys modifiability assay suggested that C1N is partly membrane‐inserted like the MRE β‐loop. Pro, but not Cys, substitutions in the GFG motif region compromised the proteolytic function of RseP, suggesting the importance of a higher order structure of this motif region. Several lines of evidence indicated that the GFG motif region directly interacts with the substrate and also aids the function of the MRE β‐loop that participates in substrate recognition by RseP. These findings provide insights into the substrate recognition mechanisms of S2P proteases.
The processive kinetics of gene conversion in bacteria
Authors: Paulsson Johan , El Karoui Meriem , Lindell Monica , Hughes Diarmaid
Published: March 2017

Gene conversion, non‐reciprocal transfer from one homologous sequence to another, is a major force in evolutionary dynamics, promoting co‐evolution in gene families and maintaining similarities between repeated genes. However, the properties of the transfer – where it initiates, how far it proceeds and how the resulting conversion tracts are affected by mismatch repair – are not well understood. Here, we use the duplicate tuf genes in Salmonella as a quantitatively tractable model system for gene conversion. We selected for conversion in multiple different positions of tuf, and examined the resulting distributions of conversion tracts in mismatch repair‐deficient and mismatch repair‐proficient strains. A simple stochastic model accounting for the essential steps of conversion showed excellent agreement with the data for all selection points using the same value of the conversion processivity, which is the only kinetic parameter of the model. The analysis suggests that gene conversion effectively initiates uniformly at any position within a tuf gene, and proceeds with an effectively uniform conversion processivity in either direction limited by the bounds of the gene.
Molting phenology of the Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) on two islands off the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico
Authors: Tapia‐Harris Claudia , Heckel Gisela , Schramm Yolanda , Fernández‐Martín Eva María
Published: March 2017

We document and compare the annual molt of the Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) on two islands off the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula that are the northern and southern extremes of its distribution in Mexico. During 2014, observations were made from March to July on Todos Santos Island (northern extreme) and from January to June on San Roque Island (southern extreme). On Todos Santos, the premolt lasted 15 wk (March–June) and the molt 12 wk (April–July). On San Roque, the premolt lasted 22 wk (January–June) and the molt 17 wk (February–June). The proportion of seals undergoing molt peaked on 26 May on Todos Santos and on 7 June on San Roque. Shedding of old hair most commonly initiated on the torso and progressed to the head and flippers (reverse molting pattern). The period when the highest number of harbor seals haul out in Mexico is in late April on the more southerly islands and in early May on the more northerly islands, when a large proportion of seals are in premolt.
Downregulation of RWA genes in hybrid aspen affects xylan acetylation and wood saccharification
Authors: Pawar Prashant Mohan‐Anupama , Ratke Christine , Balasubramanian Vimal K. , Chong Sun‐Li , Gandla Madhavi Latha , Adriasola Mathilda , Sparrman Tobias , Hedenström Mattias , Szwaj Klaudia , Derba‐Maceluch Marta , Gaertner Cyril , Mouille Gregory , Ezcurra Ines , Tenkanen Maija , Jönsson Leif J. , Mellerowicz Ewa J.
Published: March 2017

High acetylation of angiosperm wood hinders its conversion to sugars by glycoside hydrolases, subsequent ethanol fermentation and (hence) its use for biofuel production.

We studied the REDUCED WALL ACETYLATION (RWA) gene family of the hardwood model Populus to evaluate its potential for improving saccharification.

The family has two clades, AB and CD, containing two genes each. All four genes are expressed in developing wood but only RWA‐A and ‐B are activated by master switches of the secondary cell wall PtNST1 and PtMYB21. Histochemical analysis of promoter::GUS lines in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × tremuloides) showed activation of RWA‐A and ‐B promoters in the secondary wall formation zone, while RWA‐C and ‐D promoter activity was diffuse. Ectopic downregulation of either clade reduced wood xylan and xyloglucan acetylation. Suppressing both clades simultaneously using the wood‐specific promoter reduced wood acetylation by 25% and decreased acetylation at position 2 of Xylp in the dimethyl sulfoxide‐extracted xylan. This did not affect plant growth but decreased xylose and increased glucose contents in the noncellulosic monosaccharide fraction, and increased glucose and xylose yields of wood enzymatic hydrolysis without pretreatment.

Both RWA clades regulate wood xylan acetylation in aspen and are promising targets to improve wood saccharification.
Adjusting phenotypes via within‐ and across‐generational plasticity
Authors: Auge Gabriela A. , Leverett Lindsay D. , Edwards Brianne R. , Donohue Kathleen
Published: March 2017

There is renewed interest in how transgenerational environmental effects, including epigenetic inheritance, contribute to adaptive evolution. The contribution of across‐generation plasticity to adaptation, however, needs to be evaluated within the context of within‐generation plasticity, which is often proposed to contribute more efficiently to adaptation because of the potentially greater accuracy of progeny than parental cues to predict progeny selective environments. We highlight recent empirical studies of transgenerational plasticity, and find that they do not consistently support predictions based on the higher predictive ability of progeny environmental cues. We discuss these findings within the context of the relative predictive ability of maternal and progeny cues, costs and constraints of plasticity in parental and progeny generations, and the dynamic nature of the adaptive value of within‐ and across‐generation plasticity that varies with the process of adaptation itself. Such contingent and dynamically variable selection could account for the diversity of patterns of within‐ and across‐generation plasticity observed in nature, and can influence the adaptive value of the persistence of environmental effects across generations.

Contents

Summary
343

I.
Introduction
343

II.
When are responses to parental vs progeny environmental cues adaptive?
343

III.
Constraints, costs and conflicts
347

IV.
Conclusions
348

Acknowledgements
348

References
348
Disentangling above‐ and below‐ground facilitation drivers in arid environments: the role of soil microorganisms, soil properties and microhabitat
Authors: Lozano Yudi M. , Armas Cristina , Hortal Sara , Casanoves Fernando , Pugnaire Francisco I.
Published: March 2017

Nurse plants promote establishment of other plant species by buffering climate extremes and improving soil properties. Soil biota plays an important role, but an analysis to disentangle the effects of soil microorganisms, soil properties and microclimate on facilitation is lacking.

In three microhabitats (gaps, small and large Retama shrubs), we placed six microcosms with sterilized soil, two per soil origin (i.e. from each microhabitat). One in every pair received an alive, and the other a sterile, inoculum from its own soil. Seeds of annual plants were sown into the microcosms. Germination, survival and biomass were monitored. Soil bacterial communities were characterized by pyrosequencing.

Germination in living Retama inoculum was nearly double that of germination in sterile inoculum. Germination was greater under Retama canopies than in gaps. Biomass was up to three times higher in nurse than in gap soils. Soil microorganisms, soil properties and microclimate showed a range of positive to negative effects on understory plants depending on species identity and life stage.

Nurse soil microorganisms promoted germination, but the effect was smaller than the positive effects of soil properties and microclimate under nurses. Nurse below‐ground environment (soil properties and microorganisms) promoted plant growth and survival more than nurse microhabitat.
Covariation and phenotypic integration in chemical communication displays: biosynthetic constraints and eco‐evolutionary implications
Authors: Junker Robert R. , Kuppler Jonas , Amo Luisa , Blande James D. , Borges Renee M. , van Dam Nicole M. , Dicke Marcel , Dötterl Stefan , Ehlers Bodil K. , Etl Florian , Gershenzon Jonathan , Glinwood Robert , Gols Rieta , Groot Astrid T. , Heil Martin , Hoffmeister Mathias , Holopainen Jarmo K. , Jarau Stefan , John Lena , Kessler Andre , Knudsen Jette T. , Kost Christian , Larue‐Kontic Anne‐Amélie C. , Leonhardt Sara Diana , Lucas‐Barbosa Dani , Majetic Cassie J. , Menzel Florian , Parachnowitsch Amy L. , Pasquet Rémy S. , Poelman Erik H. , Raguso Robert A. , Ruther Joachim , Schiestl Florian P. , Schmitt Thomas , Tholl Dorothea , Unsicker Sybille B. , Verhulst Niels , Visser Marcel E. , Weldegergis Berhane T. , Köllner Tobias G.
Published: March 2017

Chemical communication is ubiquitous. The identification of conserved structural elements in visual and acoustic communication is well established, but comparable information on chemical communication displays (CCDs) is lacking.

We assessed the phenotypic integration of CCDs in a meta‐analysis to characterize patterns of covariation in CCDs and identified functional or biosynthetically constrained modules.

Poorly integrated plant CCDs (i.e. low covariation between scent compounds) support the notion that plants often utilize one or few key compounds to repel antagonists or to attract pollinators and enemies of herbivores. Animal CCDs (mostly insect pheromones) were usually more integrated than those of plants (i.e. stronger covariation), suggesting that animals communicateviafixed proportions among compounds. Both plant and animal CCDs were composed of modules, which are groups of strongly covarying compounds. Biosynthetic similarity of compounds revealed biosynthetic constraints in the covariation patterns of plant CCDs.

We provide a novel perspective on chemical communication and a basis for future investigations on structural properties of CCDs. This will facilitate identifying modules and biosynthetic constraints that may affect the outcome of selection and thus provide a predictive framework for evolutionary trajectories of CCDs in plants and animals.
Business Experts on Public Sector Boards: What Do They Contribute?
Authors: Kirkpatrick Ian , Vallascas Francesco , Veronesi Gianluca
Published: March 2017

Although public management reforms around the world have given business experts an enhanced role in the governance of public sector organizations, the impact of this change is poorly understood. Drawing from the literature on board human capital as a theoretical framework and focusing on the case of hospital boards in the English National Health Service, this concern is addressed by investigating whether increasing the presence of individuals with business expertise has any significant relationship with organizational performance. The findings show that while business expertise appears to have no influence on service quality, it does have a positive effect on financial performance. However, this only applies to governing boards that are less experienced in terms of their collective tenure. The findings lend partial support to board capital theory but also show that in certain conditions generic business expertise can be a valuable asset for public sector organizations.
The beginnings of comparative anatomy and Renaissance reflections on the human–animal divide
Authors: Arbel Benjamin
Published: March 2017

This essay is part of a larger research project on Renaissance attitudes to animals. It considers the extent to which early developments in the new field of comparative anatomy were influenced by Renaissance discussions concerning the nature and capacities of animals, compared to those of humans. It mainly focuses on the writings of Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), Andreas Vesalius (1514–64), Pierre Belon du Mans (1517–64) and Girolamo Fabrici di Acquapendente (c. 1533–1619), all of whom can be considered as pioneers in the field of comparative anatomy. The insights that they derived from their experience in dissections of animal bodies are examined against the background of changing sensitivities with regard to animals, which have already been observed in other writings of the same period, particularly literary ones. Rather than going into a detailed comparison of anatomical findings, this essay focuses on perceptions that transcended strictly anatomical knowledge, particularly on reflections concerning the animal soul, animal intelligence and animal speech that were expressed in the writings of the above‐mentioned protagonists.
Interspecies understanding: exotic animals and their handlers at the Italian Renaissance court
Authors: Cockram Sarah
Published: March 2017

In February 1492 Lodovico Sforza sent Francesco Gonzaga, marquis of Mantua, some particularly fierce lions, accompanied by an expert to instruct the animals’ new keepers in how to handle them. Animals such as these – exotic, valuable, and difficult to keep – were sent between courts along with humans who had specialized knowledge of their training and care. The importance of such specialists in Renaissance Italy has hitherto been neglected. These were experts such as the mahout of the pope's elephant; Ercole d'Este's cheetah trainers in Ferrara; the custodian of the Medici giraffe; or the Florentine handler responsible for trying to stop a lion mauling a fourteen‐year‐old boy who entered the enclosure. Using archival, visual and literary sources, this article argues that these experts had a central role in court culture, whether they were Europeans or came from the animals’ native lands. In common with hunt‐ or racing‐related professionals, with whom they shared experience of animals, handlers of the exotic were important members of the court hierarchy. They were crucial too in the gift economy and the international animal trade. Handlers can be seen as brokers and mediators between the worlds they traversed. They moved between cultures, transporting foreign creatures and techniques to far‐away places; between the collections and expertise available at different European centres; and, at the heart of the skill of the accomplished animal handler, between the realms of human and animal. The handlers’ expertise was predicated on interspecies understanding as they maintained and trained animals through an intimate awareness of the creatures’ requirements and natures. Understanding might be reciprocated too by the animal, not only in a response to training but in interaction and co‐operation. The world of keepers and their exotic animal charges in Renaissance Italy thus offers important new insights into inter‐relationships of human to human, state to state, culture to culture, and human to animal.
Cryotherapy induces an increase in muscle stiffness
Authors: Point M. , Guilhem G. , Hug F. , Nordez A. , Frey A. , Lacourpaille L.
Published: March 2017

Although cold application (ie, cryotherapy) may be useful to treat sports injuries and to prevent muscle damage, it is unclear whether it has adverse effects on muscle mechanical properties. This study aimed to determine the effect of air‐pulsed cryotherapy on muscle stiffness estimated using ultrasound shear wave elastography. Myoelectrical activity, ankle passive torque, shear modulus (an index of stiffness), and muscle temperature of the gastrocnemius medialis were measured before, during an air‐pulsed cryotherapy (−30°C) treatment of four sets of 4 minutes with 1‐minute recovery in between and during a 40 minutes postcryotherapy period. Muscle temperature significantly decreased after the second set of treatment (10 minutes: 32.3±2.5°C; P<.001), peaked at 29 minutes (27.9±2.2°C; P<.001) and remained below baseline values at 60 minutes (29.5±2.0°C; P<.001). Shear modulus increased by +11.5±11.8% after the second set (10 minutes; P=.011), peaked at 30 minutes (+34.7±42.6%; P<.001), and remained elevated until the end of the post‐treatment period (+25.4±17.1%; P<.001). These findings provide evidence that cryotherapy induces an increase in muscle stiffness. This acute change in muscle mechanical properties may lower the amount of stretch that the muscle tissue is able to sustain without subsequent injury. This should be considered when using cryotherapy in athletic practice.
Probable walnut‐induced anaphylactic reaction in a dog
Authors: Rostaher Ana , Fischer Nina Maria , Kümmerle‐Fraune Claudia , Couturier Nicolas , Jacquenet Sandrine , Favrot Claude
Published: March 2017

Background

Anaphylaxis due to nuts is frequent in humans; to the best of the authors’ knowledge, it has not been reported previously in dogs.

Case report

A 5‐year‐old female, intact, Vizsla dog was presented with acute diarrhoea, vomiting, respiratory distress and erythematous wheals. The dog had eaten walnuts, which she had been fed in small amounts for years, hours before the onset of clinical signs. A diagnosis of generalized anaphylaxis was made. Skin testing and Western blotting revealed positive results with walnuts and hazelnuts.

Conclusions and clinical importance

This case report illustrates the need for a thorough food history and for recognition that a dog may experience severe allergic reactions to unusual and regularly fed food items. It also shows that allergen specific tests may help to confirm the diagnosis and help in planning the dog's future dietary regime.
The Craighero–Gattazzo surface is simply connected
Authors: Rana Julie , Tevelev Jenia , Urzúa Giancarlo
Published: March 2017

We show that the Craighero–Gattazzo surface, the minimal resolution of an explicit complex quintic surface with four elliptic singularities, is simply connected. This was conjectured by Dolgachev and Werner, who proved that its fundamental group has a trivial profinite completion. The Craighero–Gattazzo surface is the only explicit example of a smooth simply connected complex surface of geometric genus zero with ample canonical class. We hope that our method will find other applications: to prove a topological fact about a complex surface we use an algebraic reduction mod$p$technique and deformation theory.
Normal intracranial BS/BSOB ratio values in the first trimester of single gestations with live fetuses in a Korean population
Authors: Yang Sung Hee , An Hyun Sook , Lee Jin Soo , Kim Changsoo
Published: March 2017

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the normal length of the brainstem (BS) in Korean fetuses and to evaluatethe usefulness of the routine measurement of BS size in the first trimester of pregnancy for the early detection of spina bifida.Material and methods: A total of 2,621 normal singleton pregnant Korean women at 10+6 to 13+6 weeks of gestation were selected for this retrospective cross-sectional study. Ultrasonography was used to measure the length of the longest vertical depth diameter of the BS and brainstem-occipital bone (BSOB) in order to obtain the BS to BSOB ratio.Results: The best indicators for spina bifida ranged from 1.00±0.24 mm to 4.70±0.46 mm for the BS and from 2.90±0.36 mm to 8.50±0.92 mm for the BSOB. For the gestational period, BS (R=0.70) and BSOB (R=0.81) values were considered statistically significant (p<.0001). The value of the BS to BSOB ratio was <1.0 in normal fetuses, and was not correlated with the gestational age.Conclusion: Measurement of BS and BSOB diameter in the first trimester is thought to provide the best reference marker for evaluating the posterior brain for diagnosis of spina bifida.
Ultrasonographic findings in hyperimmunoglobulin D syndrome: a case report
Authors: Damian Laura Otilia , Fufezan Otilia , Farcău Mihaela , Tătar Simona , Lazăr Călin , Farcău Dorin-Ioan
Published: March 2017

Hyperimmunoglobulin D syndrome due to mevalonate kinase deficiency is a rare autoinflammatory disease with digestive tract involvement. We report an 11-year female child who has presented since the age of 1 year, bouts of fever, rash, joint swelling, pulmonary consolidation, lymph node involvement and hepatosplenomegaly. Hyperimmunglobulin D and increased urinary mevalonic acid were detected. The ultrasonographic features of hepatosplenomegaly ranged from increment in size to pseudotumoral involvement, with hypoechogenic masses without apparent wall. Abdominal CT during a disease flare showed hypodense, hypoenhancing nodular lesions, suggesting metastases. Nevertheless, a thorough search for malignancy was negative and the masses disappeared after the flare. Mevalonate kinase deficiency may add to the causes of hepatosplenic and pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors.
End correction model for the transfer impedance of microperforated panels using viscothermal wave theory
Authors: Li Xianhui
Published: March 2017

Microperforated panels (MPPs) are efficient sound absorbers featuring microperforations with low porosity. Sound absorption occurs inside the perforations and their vicinity as well, which is represented with an end correction in the transfer impedance of the MPPs. Many empirical models for the end correction were derived from experiment or numerical simulation data. In order to validate these models, this paper presents an analytical solution of the end correction for sharp-edged circular perforations using viscothermal wave theory. The perforations are assumed to be periodically distributed and each perforation is associated with a square duct resulting from a periodic spatial partition. The velocity profile and the temperature field in each perforation are derived from the low reduced frequency model, which pose the boundary conditions to determine the modal coefficients of the acoustic, entropy, and viscous waves in the duct. An impedance end correction model is derived from the asymptotic expansion of the modal solution. It improves the conventional model by introducing a static flow resistance term to describe the energy dissipation due to the acoustic flow distortion outside the perforations. Numerical and experimental examples validate that the proposed model offers better prediction for the transfer impedance and the sound absorption of the MPPs.
Situational and person-related factors influencing momentary and retrospective soundscape evaluations in day-to-day life
Authors: Steffens Jochen , Steele Daniel , Guastavino Catherine
Published: March 2017

Soundscape research draws on both experiments conducted in laboratory settings and studies in the field to explore peoples' perception and understanding of their acoustic environments. One opportunity to combine the strength of both approaches is the so-called Experience Sampling Method (ESM). This method was used to investigate the influence of situational and person-related variables on soundscape evaluations. Further, the relationship between momentary and retrospective soundscape judgments was explored. In the course of the 7-day ESM study, 32 participants were prompted ten times per day by a smartphone application to evaluate their soundscape and report on situational factors. Additionally, they performed summary retrospective judgments evaluating the whole of each day and their whole week. Upon completion, an exit interview probed personality traits (e.g., Big Five, information processing styles). Results revealed that both situational and person-related factors significantly contributed to the judgments of three soundscape dimensions (pleasantness, eventfulness, familiarity). Retrospective judgments of soundscape pleasantness were not only the average of the momentary judgments, but were also affected by the peak moment, the linear trend of the experience, and a person's mood while performing the judgment. Hence, the study provides valuable insights into the complex structure of momentary and retrospective soundscape evaluations.
On the spatial sampling and beat effects in discrete wave profiles of lumped acoustic metamaterials
Authors: Nouh M.
Published: March 2017

Acoustic metamaterials are sub-wavelength locally resonant structures known for their band gap behavior and unique response. To capture their working mechanisms, the analysis typically discretizes the continuum model into lumped cells at the interface with the resonators with a cell size chosen appropriately to satisfy homogenization limits. This paper investigates steady-state wave profiles computed from the numerically obtained displacement field of the adjacent discrete cells. It is shown that predicted wave properties often deviate from those obtained via dispersion analysis of the unit cell. For a metamaterial comprised of a finite series of locally resonant cells, the resolution of the discretized waves on both sides of the band gap depends heavily on the shape of the dispersion branches, excitation frequencies, spacing, and properties of the cell constituents. A few examples are used to show the effect of these parameters on the spatial sampling of the propagating wave at both acoustic and optic modes, and the consequences of inadequate resolution on the harmonic response such as apparent modulation of longer wavelengths and beat-like effects in the resultant profiles. These effects are explained in light of defined parameters such as the number of cells per wavelength and the equivalent spatial Nyquist rate.
Big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) maintain hearing sensitivity after exposure to intense band-limited noise
Authors: Simmons Andrea Megela , Hom Kelsey N. , Simmons James A.
Published: March 2017

Thresholds to short-duration narrowband frequency-modulated (FM) sweeps were measured in six big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in a two-alternative forced choice passive listening task before and after exposure to band-limited noise (lower and upper frequencies between 10 and 50 kHz, 1 h, 116–119 dB sound pressure level root mean square; sound exposure level 152 dB). At recovery time points of 2 and 5 min post-exposure, thresholds varied from −4 to +4 dB from pre-exposure threshold estimates. Thresholds after sham (control) exposures varied from −6 to +2 dB from pre-exposure estimates. The small differences in thresholds after noise and sham exposures support the hypothesis that big brown bats do not experience significant temporary threshold shifts under these experimental conditions. These results confirm earlier findings showing stability of thresholds to broadband FM sweeps at longer recovery times after exposure to broadband noise. Big brown bats may have evolved a lessened susceptibility to noise-induced hearing losses, related to the special demands of echolocation.
Assembly of embryonic and extraembryonic stem cells to mimic embryogenesis in vitro
Authors: Harrison Sarah Ellys , Sozen Berna , Christodoulou Neophytos , Kyprianou Christos , Zernicka-Goetz Magdalena
Published: March 2017

In vitro embryogenesis

Pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can differentiate into any adult cell type; however, aggregates of these cells do not mimic embryonic architecture when grown in culture. To see whether mouse ESCs and their extraembryonic counterparts, trophoblast stem cells (TSCs), can recapitulate normal development, Harrison
et al.
combined ESCs and TSCs in an extracellular matrix culture (see the Perspective by Pera). The resultant “ETS-embryos” displayed considerable resemblance to normal embryos, even specifying mesoderm and primordial germ cells at the boundary between embryonic and extraembryonic compartments. These ETS-embryos are a genetically tractable tool for studying mammalian embryogenesis.

Science
, this issue p.
eaal1810
; see also p.
137
DeepStack: Expert-level artificial intelligence in heads-up no-limit poker
Authors: Moravčík Matej , Schmid Martin , Burch Neil , Lisý Viliam , Morrill Dustin , Bard Nolan , Davis Trevor , Waugh Kevin , Johanson Michael , Bowling Michael
Published: March 2017

Computer code based on continual problem re-solving beats human professional poker players at a two-player variant of poker.
Genome Sequence of Enterovirus D68 from St. Louis, Missouri, USA, 2016
Authors: Wylie Kristine M. , Wylie Todd N. , Storch Gregory A.
Published: March 2017

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) was rarely observed prior to a widespread outbreak in 2014. We observed its reemergence in St. Louis in 2016 and sequenced the EV-D68 genomes from two patient samples. The 2016 viruses in St. Louis differed from those we had sequenced from the 2014 outbreak but were similar to other viruses circulating nationally in 2016.
Draft Genome Sequences of Six Novel Picorna-Like Viruses from Washington State Spiders
Authors: Shean Ryan C. , Makhsous Negar , Crawford Rodney L. , Jerome Keith R. , Greninger Alexander L.
Published: March 2017

We report draft genome sequences of six novel
Picornavirales
members from six different spider species found in Washington state. These six viral sequences distinctly clustered together phylogenetically with less than 35% amino acid identity to the closest reference viral genome.
Draft Genome Sequence of Ochrobactrum intermedium Strain SA148, a Plant Growth-Promoting Desert Rhizobacterium
Authors: Lafi Feras F. , Alam Intikhab , Geurts Rene , Bisseling Ton , Bajic Vladimir B. , Hirt Heribert , Saad Maged M.
Published: March 2017

Ochrobactrum intermedium
strain SA148 is a plant growth-promoting bacterium isolated from sandy soil in the Jizan area of Saudi Arabia. Here, we report the 4.9-Mb draft genome sequence of this strain, highlighting different pathways characteristic of plant growth promotion activity and environmental adaptation of SA148.
Complete Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus succinus 14BME20 Isolated from a Traditional Korean Fermented Soybean Food
Authors: Jeong Do-Won , Lee Jong-Hoon
Published: March 2017

The complete genome sequence of
Staphylococcus succinus
14BME20, isolated from a Korean fermented soybean food and selected as a possible starter culture candidate, was determined. Comparative genome analysis with
S. succinus
CSM-77 from a Triassic salt mine revealed the presence of strain-specific genes for lipid degradation in strain 14BME20.
Genome Sequence of
Talaromyces atroroseus
, Which Produces Red Colorants for the Food Industry
Authors: Thrane Ulf , Rasmussen Kasper Bøwig , Petersen Bent , Rasmussen Simon , Sicheritz-Pontén Thomas , Mortensen Uffe Hasbro
Published: March 2017

Talaromyces atroroseus
is a known producer of
Monascus
colorants suitable for the food industry. Furthermore, genetic tools have been established that facilitate elucidation and engineering of its biosynthetic pathways. Here, we report the draft genome of a potential fungal cell factory,
T. atroroseus
IBT 11181 (CBS 123796).
Annotated Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequence of Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis MTB13_M Isolated from Morocco
Authors: Lahlou L. , El Mrimar N. , Alouane T. , Laamarti M. , Karti S. , Benhrif O. , El Mesbahi H. , Lemriss H. , Bssaibis F. , Maleb A. , El Rarit S. , Zegmout A. , El Jaoudi R. , Frikh M. , Lemnouar A. , Dakka T. , Elouennass M. , Ibrahimi A.
Published: March 2017

Here, we describe the annotated genome sequence of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
MTB13_M. The organism was isolated from a sputum sample in Morocco.
What drives inappropriate antibiotic dispensing? A mixed-methods study of pharmacy employee perspectives in Haryana, India
Authors: Barker Anna K , Brown Kelli , Ahsan Muneeb , Sengupta Sharmila , Safdar Nasia
Published: March 2017

Objectives

There are only 0.70 licensed physicians per 1000 people in India. Thus, pharmacies are a primary source of healthcare and patients often seek their services directly, especially in village settings. However, there is wide variability in a pharmacy employee's training, which contributes to inappropriate antibiotic dispensing and misuse. These practices increase the risk of antibiotic resistance and poor patient outcomes. This study seeks to better understand the factors that drive inappropriate antibiotic dispensing among pharmacy employees in India's village communities.

Design

We conducted a mixed-methods study of the antibiotic dispensing practices, including semistructured interviews and a pilot cross-sectional Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice survey. All data were transcribed, translated from Hindi into English, and coded for themes.

Setting

Community pharmacies in villages in Haryana, India.

Participants

We recruited 24 community pharmacy employees (all male) by convenience sampling. Participants have a range of characteristics regarding village location, monthly income, baseline antibiotic knowledge, formal education and licensure.

Results

75% of pharmacy employees in our study were unlicensed practitioners, and the majority had very limited understanding of antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, only half could correctly define the term antibiotics. All reported that at times they dispensed antibiotics without a prescription. This practice was more common when treating patients who had limited access to a licensed physician because of economic or logistic reasons. Many pharmacy workers also felt pressure to provide shortened medication courses to poorer clientele, and often dispensed only 1 or 2 days' worth of antibiotics. Such patients rarely returned to the pharmacy for the complete course.

Conclusions

This study highlights the need for short-term, intensive training programmes on antibiotic prescribing and resistance that can be disseminated to village pharmacies. Programme development should take into account the realities of working with poor clientele, especially in areas of limited healthcare access.
Out-of-plane instability of reinforced masonry uniaxial specimens under reversed cyclic axial loading
Authors: Azimikor Nazli , Brzev Svetlana , Elwood Kenneth J. , Anderson Donald L. , McEwen William
Published: March 2017

Results of a study performed on the out-of-plane instability of reinforced masonry shear walls (RMSW) under seismic loading are presented. The study was conducted to gain understanding of the out-of-plane instability mechanism and the key factors influencing its development through the testing of five reinforced masonry uniaxial specimens under reversed cyclic tension and compression. The specimens represented the end zone of a RMSW. The design parameters considered in the study included longitudinal reinforcement ratio and height-to-thickness ratio for the test specimens. It was found that onset of out-of-plane instability is strongly influenced by the level of tensile strains developed in the specimens, the reinforcement ratio, and the bar size. In this case, out-of-plane instability occurred when out-of-plane displacements exceeded the critical value equal to half the wall thickness. A study on full-scale RMSW specimens subjected to reversed cyclic loading, also undertaken under this research program, is expected to verify the findings of this study and contribute towards development of design criteria for out-of-plane stability of RMSW.