bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Making of an Asian American Short-Story Cycle: Don Lee'sYellow: Stories
Authors: LEE KUN JONG
Published: May 2015

Don Lee reworked his eight magazine stories to varying degrees, arranged the sequence of the stories in a specific order, and published a short-story cycle in 2001. Significantly, the writer changed the ethnic identity of some characters from white American to Asian American. He also added and highlighted Asian American themes and issues. In short, Lee made an “Asian American” short-story cycle par excellence by coloring his stories yellow. This essay examines Lee's rewriting and arrangement of his magazine stories for an Asian American short-story cycle. It first compares the differences between the magazine and cycle versions of the stories. It goes on to examine totalizing devices such as the common setting, recurrent places, connective characters, and unifying themes. Lastly, it elucidates the arrangement of the eight stories and significance of the title story in the cycle. It ultimately argues that Don Lee retrofitted his magazine stories extensively and meticulously for a short-story cycle in order to portray the diverse aspects of post-immigrant Asian America at the turn of the century from his positionality as a third-generation Korean American.
Carnivore diversity at a montane rainforest site in Ecuador's Gran Sumaco Biosphere Reserve
Authors: Hodge Anne-Marie C. , Arbogast Brian S.
Published: May 2015

Ecuador harbours a diverse assemblage of tropical mammals, yet the natural history and local-scale distributions of many species remain poorly understood. We conducted the first systematic camera-trap survey of terrestrial mammalian carnivores at Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary, a mid-elevation (1,250–1,450 m), montane rainforest site on the slopes of Sumaco Volcano, in the heart of the Tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot. We quantified trap success, latency to detection and temporal activity patterns for each species detected. We recorded nine carnivore species (four felids, two procyonids and three mustelids), including the first verified record of the jaguarundi Puma yagouaroundi in the region. These species comprise one-third of all terrestrial carnivore species known to occur in Ecuador and 82% of those thought to occur at mid-elevation. All except one of the carnivores we detected have reported elevational ranges ≤ 1,500 m; the one exception, the puma Puma concolor, occurs throughout mainland Ecuador at 0–4,500 m. No cloud forest or highland species (i.e. those with a reported lower elevational limit of ≥ 1,500 m) were detected. Trap success was highest, and latency to detection smallest, for the margay Leopardis wiedii, and temporal activity patterns for all species were consistent with those reported previously in the literature. Our results demonstrate that the mid-elevation montane rainforests of Sumaco Volcano support an exceptionally high diversity of co-existing mammalian carnivores, many of which appear to be near their upper elevational limits, and emphasize the conservation value of this area.
Considerations on State Pension Age in the United Kingdom
Authors: Hammond R. , Baxter S. , Bramley R. , Kakkad A. , Mehta S. , Sadler M.
Published: May 2015

State Pension Age (SPA) is an issue of topical interest in the United Kingdom at the time of writing owing to the Government’s plans to link SPA at future dates to estimates of the projected longevity of the population. This paper considers the background to the current position, how the linkage is proposed to work, other factors that may need to be considered and some changes in the proposed State pension regime that could be alternatives to, or complementary with, a changing SPA.
Spontaneous structure transition in nanoparticle aggregates: from amorphous clusters to super-crystals
Authors: Shen Xiaoshuang , Mei Chao , He Hui , Zhou Min , Xia Weiwei , Zeng Xianghua
Published: May 2015

Spontaneous structure transition is studied in a real NP system, which reveals some important details of this transition.
One-dimensional water cages with repeat units of (H2O)24resembling pagodane trapped in a 3D coordination polymer: proton conduction and tunable luminescence emission by adsorption of anionic dyes
Authors: Maity Kartik , Kundu Tanay , Banerjee Rahul , Biradha Kumar
Published: May 2015

A 3D-coordination polymer was shown to trap one-dimensional polyhedral water cages consisting of repeat units of (H2O)24, the geometry of which resembles the exotic organic molecule pagodane.
Flexible and in situ fabrication of nanochannels with high aspect ratios and nanopillar arrays in fused silica substrates utilizing focused ion beam
Authors: Xu Yan , Matsumoto Nobuhiro
Published: May 2015

We present a general methodology for the fabrication of fused silica nanochannels with high aspect ratios and nanopillar arrays using FIB milling.
Controllable synthesis of Ni3−xCoxS4nanotube arrays with different aspect ratios grown on carbon cloth for high-capacity supercapacitors
Authors: Ding Rui , Gao Hong , Zhang MingYi , Zhang Jing , Zhang XiTian
Published: May 2015

Aspect ratio and electrochemical properties of the Ni3−xCoxS4can be controlled by manipulating the Co/Ni molar ratio.
Features of silicon– and titanium–polyethylene glycol precursors in sol–gel synthesis of new hydrogels
Authors: Khonina T. G. , Safronov A. P. , Ivanenko M. V. , Shadrina E. V. , Chupakhin O. N.
Published: May 2015

The formation of organic/inorganic hydrogels based on silicon and titanium polyethylene glycolates, new biocompatible water-soluble precursors in sol–gel processing, was investigated.
Teaching Adults With Intellectual Disability Manual Signs Through Their Support Staff: A Key Word Signing Program
Authors: Meuris Kristien , Maes Bea , Zink Inge
Published: May 2015

Purpose

The goal of this study was to evaluate a key word signing (KWS) program in which adults with mild to severe intellectual disability (ID) were taught manual signs through their support staff. Our hypothesis was that spontaneous manual sign production of participants would increase significantly after 12 months of implementation of the KWS program.

Method

A KWS immersion program was implemented in a facility for adults with ID. First, 8 support workers received 8 hr of training. These KWS ambassadors then taught 2 manual signs per week to their colleagues, who modeled the use of the signs throughout the day in natural interactions with their clients. KWS use in 15 adults with ID and 15 of their support staff was evaluated before the start of the program and at a 12-month follow-up using a narrative task and during spontaneous conversation.

Results

Manual sign production of support workers and adults with ID had increased significantly 12 months after the start of the program. The adults with ID were able to express significantly more communicative functions in their narrative language after the intervention and when using KWS.

Conclusion

The KWS program was successful and can be applied in similar clinical settings.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6170240
Wnt ligands regulate Tkv expression to constrain Dpp activity in the Drosophila ovarian stem cell niche
Authors: Luo Lichao , Wang Huashan , Fan Chao , Liu Sen , Cai Yu
Published: May 2015

Stem cell self-renewal versus differentiation is regulated by the niche, which provides localized molecules that favor self-renewal. In the Drosophila melanogaster female germline stem cell (GSC) niche, Decapentaplegic (Dpp), a fly transforming growth factor β molecule and well-established long-range morphogen, acts over one cell diameter to maintain the GSCs. Here, we show that Thickveins (Tkv; a type I receptor of Dpp) is highly expressed in stromal cells next to Dpp-producing cells and functions to remove excess Dpp outside the niche, thereby spatially restricting its activity. Interestingly, Tkv expression in these stromal cells is regulated by multiple Wnt ligands that are produced by the niche. Our data demonstrate a self-restraining mechanism by which the Drosophila ovarian GSC niche acts to define its own boundary.
Neutron Laue and X-ray diffraction study of a new crystallographic superspace phase inn-nonadecane–urea
Authors: Zerdane S. , Mariette C. , McIntyre G. J. , Lemée-Cailleau M.-H. , Rabiller P. , Guérin L. , Ameline J. C. , Toudic B.
Published: May 2015

Aperiodic composite crystals present long-range order without translational symmetry. These materials may be described as the intersection in three dimensions of a crystal which is periodic in a higher-dimensional space. In such materials, symmetry breaking must be described as structural changes within these crystallographic superspaces. The increase in the number of superspace groups with the increase in the dimension of the superspace allows many more structural solutions. This is illustrated inn-nonadecane–urea, revealing a fifth higher-dimensional phase at low temperature.
Synthesis, growth, structure and characterization of molybdenum zinc thiourea complex crystals
Authors: Rajasekar M. , Muthu K. , Aditya Prasad A. , Agilandeshwari R. , Meenakshisundaram SP
Published: May 2015

Single crystals of molybdenum-incorporated tris(thiourea)zinc(II) sulfate (MoZTS) are grown by the slow evaporation solution growth technique. Crystal composition as determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that it belongs to the orthorhombic system with space groupPca21and cell parametersa= 11.153 (2),b= 7.7691 (14),c= 15.408 (3) Å,V= 1335.14 (4) Å3andZ= 4. The surface morphological changes are studied by scanning electron microscopy. The vibrational patterns in FT–IR are used to identify the functional group and TGA/DTA (thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis) indicates the stability of the material. The structure and the crystallinity of the material were confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction analysis and the simulated X-ray diffraction (XRD) closely matches the experimental one with varied intensity patterns. The band gap energy is estimated using diffuse reflectance data by the application of the Kubelka–Munk algorithm. The relative second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency measurements reveal that MoZTS has an efficiency comparable to that of tris(thiourea)zinc(II) sulfate (ZTS). Hirshfeld surfaces were derived using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Investigation of the intermolecular interactions and crystal packingviaHirshfeld surface analysis reveal that the close contacts are associated with strong interactions. Intermolecular interactions as revealed by the fingerprint plot and close packing could be the possible reasons for facile charge transfer leading to SHG activity.
Urban drivers of plant‐pollinator interactions
Authors: Harrison Tina , Winfree Rachael
Published: May 2015

Plant–pollinator interactions are affected by global change, with largely negative impacts on pollination and plant reproduction. Urban areas provide a unique and productive study system for understanding the impacts of many global change drivers on plant–pollinator interactions.

We review the mechanistic pathways through which urban drivers alter plant–pollinator interactions. The literature on urban drivers of plant–pollinator interactions is small but growing and has already produced exciting insights about how population processes or pollinator behaviour interacts with landscape urban drivers to affect pollination outcomes.

Habitat loss and fragmentation can change flower visitation rates and pollination success through changes in pollinator foraging behaviour or through population‐level effects on pollinators. Urban environments, where impermeable surface provides an inhospitable matrix, may allow researchers to identify habitat fragments more clearly than in many other environments.

Recent studies have found that non‐native plants are not differently preferred by pollinators relative to native plants, therefore removing the basis for expecting pollinator‐mediated competition between native and non‐native plants in urban habitats. However, non‐native species together with managed vegetation may have powerful effects in urban habitats via changes in community‐level plant phenology and consequent changes in pollinator phenology.

The current level of climate warming has not caused plants and pollinators to become detectably temporally separated, although at the same time, diversity among species’ phenological responses could buffer plant–pollinator interactions from climate variation. Due to the urban warming effect, cities provide a promising system for better understanding the warming effects on plant–pollinator interactions.

Environmental contaminants such as soil nitrogen and heavy metal pollution have been examined with respect to plant–pollinator interactions in small‐scale, mechanistic studies. The extent to which environmental contaminants drive plant–pollinator interactions in actual urban landscapes is, however, currently unknown.

Important knowledge gaps that require research attention include understanding the consequences of plant and pollinator trait filtering on plant–pollinator interactions, and expanding the literature to include underrepresented biomes and pollinator taxa.
The Rhetoric of Convention: The Foundational Saul Narratives (1 Samuel 9–11) Reconsidered
Authors: Leuchter Mark
Published: May 2015

Biblical scholars have applied new methodologies to the royal narratives in the Deuteronomistic History (Joshua–Kings) as viable resources for recovering authentic historical information regarding the monarchic cultures of ancient Israel and their impact on the development of Israelite religion. The present study considers anew the narratives regarding Israel's first king, Saul son of Kish. A recurring motif in these narratives is the appeal to socio‐religious convention, which is suggestive of a rhetorical strategy among the authors that sought to situate the Saulide royal lineage in familiar traditions that the institution of kingship was perceived as disrupting.
Influence of Xanthan–Curdlan Hydrogel Complex on Freeze‐Thaw Stability and Rheological Properties of Whey Protein Isolate Gel over Multiple Freeze‐Thaw Cycle
Authors: Shiroodi Setareh Ghorban , Rasco Barbara A. , Lo Y. Martin
Published: May 2015

The effect of adding xanthan–curdlan hydrogel complex (XCHC) at 2 concentrations (0.25 and 0.5% w/w) on the freeze‐thaw stability of heat‐induced whey protein isolate (WPI) gel was investigated. Samples were stored at 4 °C for 24 h before subjected to 5 freeze‐thaw cycles alternating between −16 °C (18 h) and 25 °C (6 h). Adding XCHC to the WPI solution resulted in the reduction of a significant amount of syneresis up to 5 repeated freeze‐thaw cycles. Addition of XCHC decreased the amount of syneresis from 45% in the control sample (pure WPI gel) to 31.82% and 5.44% in the samples containing 0.25% and 0.5% gum, respectively, after the 5th freeze‐thaw cycle. XCHC increased the storage modulus (G′) of the gels and minimized the changes of the G′ values over the 5 freeze‐thaw cycles, indicating improvement of the stability of the system. Furthermore, the minimum protein concentration for gel formation decreased in the presence of the XCHC. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that addition of XCHC resulted in the formation of a well‐structured gel with numerous small pores in the network, which consequently improved the water retention ability during the temperature abuses up to 5 freeze‐thaw cycles. These results have important implications for using XCHC in the formulation of the frozen WPI‐based products with improved freeze‐thaw stability and rheological properties.
The Receptor for the CD200 Tolerance‐Signaling Molecule Associated with Successful Pregnancy is Expressed by Early‐Stage Breast Cancer Cells in 80% of Patients and by Term Placental Trophoblasts
Authors: Clark David A. , Dhesy‐Thind Sukhbinder , Arredondo Jorge L. , Ellis Peter M. , Ramsay Jennifer A.
Published: May 2015

Problem

The CD200 tolerance‐signaling molecule that is expressed by a wide variety of tissues, including placental trophoblast and epithelial tumor cells, lacks an intracytoplasmic tail and must act by binding to CD200 receptors that have a limited expression on lymphomyeloid cells. This binding can inhibit inflammation and NK cells, promote macrophage secretion of indoleamine‐2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), and promote generation of Treg cells. Recently, CD200R1 was reported on human first trimester placental villous trophoblast cells. CD200R1 has not been described on malignant tumor cells. As malignant tumor cells exhibit a number of characteristics of trophoblast, is CD200R1 expressed?

Method of study

Affinity‐purified rabbit polyclonal antibodies to CD200 and CD200R1 were used to immunostain tissue blocks available from cases in a previous cross‐sectional study of Stage 1‐IIIA human breast cancer cases and term placental trophoblast.

Results

Affinity‐purified anti‐CD200R1 stained primary breast cancer cells and term placental villous trophoblasts. Tumor cells were also stained by anti‐CD200 as in a previous study (correlation P = 0.0042), but CD200R1 and CD200 were not correlated. Presence or absence of strong CD200 expression in the tumor did not correlate with metastasis, and a similar result was obtained with CD200R1.

Conclusions

This is the first report of CD200R1 expression by human epithelial tumor cells, and specifically, early‐stage human breast cancer cells. It is also the first report of CD200R1 expression by term placental villous trophoblasts. The potential biological significance of CD200R1 expression in non‐hematopoietic cells is discussed.
2 Arqueología Patria: Mexican Archaeology and the Nation‐Building Process during the Nineteenth Century
Authors: Peniche May Nancy
Published: May 2015

It is currently accepted that state‐sponsored archaeological practice in Mexico falls under the rubric of nationalist archaeology. The Mexican state supports archaeological research and displays its results, which include archaeological remains, in order to strengthen a sense of national pride and unity. Traditional narratives have held that this practice began after the Revolution (1910). Nevertheless, the institutionalization and professionalization of archaeology dates back to the period known as the Porfiriato (1879–1911). This chapter describes the process through which archaeology was institutionalized during the Porfiriato and how this nationalist archaeology contributed to constructing a Mexican national identity.
4 The Role of Migrations in Creating Identities among Mesoamerica Peoples from Pre‐Hispanic to Modern Times
Authors: Xiuhtecutli Nezahualcoyotl
Published: May 2015

Migration stories abound in pre‐Hispanic Mesoamerican history. After the Conquest, indigenous groups continued to migrate as part of Spanish imperial expansive and within the cultural bounds of their own migratory tradition. In spite of state consolidation, people of Mesoamerica have continued moving between borders regardless of how they identify themselves. As these migrant groups have encountered hostility in the U.S. and Mexico, in recent history they have become activists, challenging traditional definitions of what an indigenous community is. A theme in their activism is a migration narrative that echoes those used by their ancestors from pre‐Hispanic to present times.
6 Of Ancestors and Books: Perception of the Past among Children in a Contemporary Yucatec Maya Community
Authors: Fernández Souza Lilia
Published: May 2015

This chapter explores the preconceptions held by Yucatec children about the Maya past. The research was developed in the secondary school of San Antonio Siho, a community located 97 kilometers from Merida, the capital city of Yucatan, Mexico, and situated next to an archaeological site. I present and comment upon the results of observation, interviews, and surveys about topics such as the relationship of children with Yucatec Maya language, traditional clothing and ceremonies, the nearby archaeological site, and the pre‐Hispanic Maya. Finally I discuss how formal and informal education creates the frame for different modernities in contemporary Yucatan.
14 Archaeological Legacies of Knowledge
Authors: Frese Pamela R.
Published: May 2015

The scholars in this volume successfully illustrate that state and local governments, archaeologists, museums, and the tourist industries actively manipulate “truth” about the past in ways that reflect both an “authentic” heritage and contemporary ethnic, political and economic hegemonic structures. Overall, the volume contributes to current issues of identity construction; to questions of authenticity and commodification of culture; and, to issues surrounding tourism in Mesoamerica. Three significant themes are woven throughout the articles: the reliance on the historical and archaeological past to empower subaltern groups to resist hegemonic structures especially through forms of expressive culture, museums, and tourist venues; the active and powerful struggle for identity by individuals relying on their connections to archaeological sites and rich historical traditions; and finally, the promise of scholarship that incorporates a more holistic archaeological perspective in a four‐field anthropology.
Skeletal muscle homeostasis and plasticity in youth and ageing: impact of nutrition and exercise
Authors: Brook M. S. , Wilkinson D. J. , Phillips B. E. , Perez‐Schindler J. , Philp A. , Smith K. , Atherton P. J.
Published: May 2015

Skeletal muscles comprise a substantial portion of whole body mass and are integral for locomotion and metabolic health. Increasing age is associated with declines in both muscle mass and function (e.g. strength‐related performance, power) with declines in muscle function quantitatively outweighing those in muscle volume. The mechanisms behind these declines are multi‐faceted involving both intrinsic age‐related metabolic dysregulation and environmental influences such as nutritional and physical activity. Ageing is associated with a degree of ‘anabolic resistance’ to these key environmental inputs, which likely accelerates the intrinsic processes driving ageing. On this basis, strategies to sensitize and/or promote anabolic responses to nutrition and physical activity are likely to be imperative in alleviating the progression and trajectory of sarcopenia. Both resistance‐ and aerobic‐type exercises are likely to confer functional and health benefits in older age, and a clutch of research suggests that enhancement of anabolic responsiveness to exercise and/or nutrition may be achieved by optimizing modifications of muscle‐loading paradigms (workload, volume, blood flow restriction) or nutritional support (e.g. essential amino acid/leucine) patterns. Nonetheless, more work is needed in which a more holistic view in ageing studies is taken into account. This should include improved characterization of older study recruits, that is physical activity/nutritional behaviours, to limit confounding variables influencing whether findings are attributable to age, or other environmental influences. Nonetheless, on balance, ageing is associated with declines in muscle mass and function and a partially related decline in aerobic capacity. There is also good evidence that metabolic flexibility is impaired in older age.
Increased tumor cell expression of Axl is a marker of aggressive features in breast cancer among African women
Authors: Ahmed Lavina , Nalwoga Hawa , Arnes Jarle B. , Wabinga Henry , Micklem David R. , Akslen Lars A.
Published: May 2015

Axl, a receptor tyrosine kinase belonging to the Tyro/Axl/Mer (TAM) family, has been shown to be overexpressed in breast cancer with poor outcome. Moreover, Axl was associated with a basal‐like phenotype (BLP) in these tumors. Our aim was to investigate Axl expression in breast cancers from an African population since these tumors are known to be aggressive and have a high frequency of the basal‐like phenotype. We studied 170 paraffin‐embedded breast carcinoma cases by tissue microarrays and immunohistochemical methods. In total, 128 tumor cases (75%) had strong Axl expression and 42 cases (25%) had weak or negative staining. Strong expression of Axl was associated with high tumor grade (p < 0.0005), estrogen receptor (ER) negativity (p = 0.024), p53 expression (p = 0.004), P‐cadherin positivity (p = 0.017), and basal‐like phenotypic profiles BLP2 (p = 0.033) and BLP3 (p = 0.022). In addition, Axl overexpression also showed an association with markers of tumor cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. In conclusion, our findings indicate strong expression of Axl in a high proportion of breast cancer cases among African women and associations with markers of aggressive features, indicating poor prognosis. These findings suggest Axl as a potential therapeutic target in this population.
What enhances the development of emotion understanding in young children? A longitudinal study of interpersonal predictors
Authors: Kårstad Silja B. , Wichstrøm Lars , Reinfjell Trude , Belsky Jay , Berg‐Nielsen Turid S.
Published: May 2015

We studied potential determinants of the development of children's emotion understanding (EU) from age 4 to 6 in a Norwegian community sample (N = 974) using the Test of Emotion Comprehension. Interpersonal predictors included the accuracy of parental mentalization, parental emotional availability, and teacher‐reported child social skills. Intrapersonal child factors were child gender and verbal skills. Overall, children's EU increased significantly over time. After adjusting for child gender, age‐4 EU, and parental socio‐economic status, greater child verbal and social skills and greater parental mentalization each uniquely predicted growth in EU. Results are discussed in terms of theory and research on children's EU and parents' emotion socialization.
Thesaurus dataset of educational technology in Chinese
Authors: Wu Linjing , Liu Qingtang , Zhao Gang , Huang Huan , Huang Tao
Published: May 2015

The thesaurus dataset of educational technology is a knowledge description of educational technology in Chinese. The aims of this thesaurus were to collect the subject terms in the domain of educational technology, facilitate the standardization of terminology and promote the communication between Chinese researchers and scholars from various countries. This thesaurus contains 2367 subject terms and 752 relation pairs between subject terms. This thesaurus can be used in bilingual control, index and retrieval of information resources.
COPD and squamous cell lung cancer: aberrant inflammation and immunity is the common link
Authors: Bozinovski Steven , Vlahos Ross , Anthony Desiree , McQualter Jonathan , Anderson Gary , Irving Louis , Steinfort Daniel
Published: May 2015

Cigarette smoking has reached epidemic proportions within many regions of the world and remains the highest risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Squamous cell lung cancer is commonly detected in heavy smokers, where the risk of developing lung cancer is not solely defined by tobacco consumption. Although therapies that target common driver mutations in adenocarcinomas are showing some promise, they are proving ineffective in smoking‐related squamous cell lung cancer. Since COPD is characterized by an excessive inflammatory and oxidative stress response, this review details how aberrant innate, adaptive and systemic inflammatory processes can contribute to lung cancer susceptibility in COPD. Activated leukocytes release increasing levels of proteases and free radicals as COPD progresses and tertiary lymphoid aggregates accumulate with increasing severity. Reactive oxygen species promote formation of reactive carbonyls that are not only tumourigenic through initiating DNA damage, but can directly alter the function of regulatory proteins involved in host immunity and tumour suppressor functions. Systemic inflammation is also markedly increased during infective exacerbations in COPD and the interplay between tumour‐promoting serum amyloid A (SAA) and IL‐17A is discussed. SAA is also an endogenous allosteric modifier of FPR2 expressed on immune and epithelial cells, and the therapeutic potential of targeting this receptor is proposed as a novel strategy for COPD–lung cancer overlap.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Inflammation: maladies, models, mechanisms and molecules. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2016.173.issue-4
Induction of the inflammatory regulator A20 by gibberellic acid in airway epithelial cells
Authors: Reihill J A , Malcomson B , Bertelsen A , Cheung S , Czerwiec A , Barsden R , Elborn J S , Dürkop H , Hirsch B , Ennis M , Kelly C , Schock B C
Published: May 2015

Background and Purpose

NF‐κB‐driven inflammation is negatively regulated by the zinc finger protein A20. Gibberellic acid (GA3) is a plant‐derived diterpenoid with documented anti‐inflammatory activity, which is reported to induce A20‐like zinc finger proteins in plants. Here, we sought to investigate the anti‐inflammatory effect of GA3 in airway epithelial cells and determine if the anti‐inflammatory action relates to A20 induction.

Experimental Approach

Primary nasal epithelial cells and a human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE14o‐) were used. Cells were pre‐incubated with GA3, stimulated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS; IL‐6 and IL‐8 release, A20, NF‐κB and IκBα expression were then evaluated. To determine if any observed anti‐inflammatory effect occurred via an A20‐dependent mechanism, A20 was silenced using siRNA.

Key Results

Cells pre‐incubated with GA3 had significantly increased levels of A20 mRNA (4 h) and protein (24 h), resulting in a significant reduction in IL‐6 and IL‐8 release. This effect was mediated via reduced IκBα degradation and reduced NF‐κB (p65) expression. Furthermore, the anti‐inflammatory action of GA3 was abolished in A20‐silenced cells.

Conclusions and Implications

We showed that A20 induction by GA3 attenuates inflammation in airway epithelial cells, at least in part through its effect on NF‐κB and IκBα. GA3 or gibberellin‐derived derivatives could potentially be developed into anti‐inflammatory drugs for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases associated with A20 dysfunction.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Inflammation: maladies, models, mechanisms and molecules. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2016.173.issue-4
A mathematical model of the evolution of individual differences in developmental plasticity arising through parental bet‐hedging
Authors: Frankenhuis Willem E. , Panchanathan Karthik , Belsky Jay
Published: May 2015

Children vary in the extent to which their development is shaped by particular experiences (e.g. maltreatment, social support). This variation raises a question: Is there no single level of plasticity that maximizes biological fitness? One influential hypothesis states that when different levels of plasticity are optimal in different environmental states and the environment fluctuates unpredictably, natural selection may favor parents producing offspring with varying levels of plasticity. The current article presents a mathematical model assessing the logic of this hypothesis – specifically, it examines what conditions are required for natural selection to favor parents to bet‐hedge by varying their offspring's plasticity. Consistent with existing theory from biology, results show that between‐individual variation in plasticity cannot evolve when the environment only varies across space. If, however, the environment varies across time, selection can favor differential plasticity, provided fitness effects are large (i.e. variation in individuals’ plasticity is correlated with substantial variation in fitness). Our model also generates a novel restriction: Differential plasticity only evolves when the cost of being mismatched to the environment exceeds the benefits of being well matched. Based on mechanistic considerations, we argue that bet‐hedging by varying offspring plasticity, if it were to evolve, would be more likely instantiated via epigenetic mechanisms (e.g. pre‐ or postnatal developmental programming) than genetic ones (e.g. mating with genetically diverse partners). Our model suggests novel avenues for testing the bet‐hedging hypothesis of differential plasticity, including empirical predictions and relevant measures. We also discuss several ways in which future work might extend our model.
SP1 promotes the odontoblastic differentiation of dental papilla cells
Authors: Zhang Jie , Lin Heng , Liu Huan , Zhang Lu , Yuan Guohua , Chen Zhi
Published: May 2015

Odontoblasts are a type of terminally differentiated and matrix‐secreting cells that are responsible for dentinogenesis. The process of odontoblast differentiation is regulated by a variety of transcription factors. The transcription factor SP1 is known to play an essential regulatory role in cell proliferation and differentiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of SP1 in odontoblastic differentiation. Immunohistochemistry verified that SP1 was specifically expressed in polarizing and secretory odontoblasts in vivo. Quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR) and immunofluorescence revealed that the expression of SP1 was significantly upregulated during odontoblastic differentiation of mDPC6T cells, a dental papilla cell line. Overexpression of SP1 significantly increased the expression of odontoblast‐related genes, including DSPP, DMP1 and ALP, and promoted the formation of mineralized nodules. Meanwhile, knockdown of SP1 decreased the expression of these odontoblast‐related genes and suppressed the formation of mineralized nodules. Our results demonstrate that SP1 promotes the odontoblastic differentiation and mineralization of dental papilla cells.
Salvage chemotherapy followed by granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor‐primed donor leukocyte infusion with graft‐vs.‐host disease control for minimal residual disease in acute leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: prognostic factors and clinical outcomes
Authors: Mo Xiao‐Dong , Zhang Xiao‐Hui , Xu Lan‐Ping , Wang Yu , Yan Chen‐Hua , Chen Huan , Chen Yu‐Hong , Han Wei , Wang Feng‐Rong , Wang Jing‐Zhi , Liu Kai‐Yan , Huang Xiao‐Jun
Published: May 2015

This study investigated the prognostic factors and clinical outcomes of preemptive chemotherapy followed by granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor‐primed donor leukocyte infusion (Chemo‐DLI) according to minimal residual disease (MRD) status in patients with acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) (n = 101). Patients received immunosuppressive drugs to prevent graft‐vs.‐host disease (GVHD) after Chemo‐DLI. The 3‐yr cumulative incidences of relapse, non‐relapse mortality, and disease‐free survival (DFS) afterHSCTwere 39.5%, 9.6%, and 51.7%, respectively. The cumulative incidences of relapse andDFSwere significantly poorer in patients who exhibited early‐onsetMRD. Forty‐four patients turnedMRDnegative 1 month after Chemo‐DLI; their cumulative incidences of relapse andDFSwere significantly better than those with persistentMRD1 month after preemptive Chemo‐DLI(relapse: 19.8% vs. 46.8%,P = 0.001;DFS: 69.6% vs. 46.4%,P = 0.004). The cumulative incidences of relapse andDFSafterHSCTwere significantly better in patients with chronicGVHD(cGVHD) than those withoutcGVHD(relapse: 19.6% vs. 63.7%,P < 0.001;DFS: 74.4% vs. 23.8%,P < 0.001). Early‐onsetMRD, persistentMRDafter Chemo‐DLI, and non‐cGVHDafter Chemo‐DLI, which were associated with increased relapse and impairedDFS, suggest unsatisfactory response to preemptive Chemo‐DLI.
Effects of elevated water temperature on physiological responses in adult freshwater mussels
Authors: Ganser Alissa M. , Newton Teresa J. , Haro Roger J.
Published: May 2015

Freshwater mussels (order Unionoida) face multiple environmental stressors, which pose serious conservation challenges to this diverse assemblage of aquatic invertebrates. Of these stressors, elevated water temperature from global climate change and other anthropogenic sources may be the most ubiquitous and could be placing many mussel populations dangerously close to their thermal maxima.

We tested the hypothesis that elevated water temperatures (20, 25, 30 and 35 °C) adversely affected physiological responses in adults of four North American species of mussels (Amblema plicata,Elliptio complanata, Fusconaia flavaandLampsilis cardium)in 21‐d laboratory tests.

Oxygen consumption rates were directly affected by temperature inE. complanataandL. cardium, and indirectly affected by temperature inA. plicataandF. flava. Rates of O2consumption were generally positively correlated with water temperature. Ammonium excretion rates varied significantly with temperature inE. complanataand generally increased with temperature. The amount of O2consumed relative to nitrogen excreted (O : N ratio), varied significantly with temperature inA. plicata,E. complanataandF. flava. The tissue condition index varied among temperatures and species.

These data suggest that elevated temperatures can alter metabolic rates in native mussels and may decrease the amount of energy that is available for key biological processes, such as survival, growth and reproduction.
Expression analysis of microRNA‐125 in patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia and correlation with JAK2 allele burden and laboratory findings
Authors: Ferdowsi S. , Atarodi K. , Amirizadeh N. , Toogeh G. , Azarkeivan A. , Shirkoohi R. , Faranoush M. , Vaezi M. , Alimoghaddam K. , Ghavamzadeh A. , Naghadeh H. Teimori , Ghaffari S. H.
Published: May 2015

Introduction

The JAK2V617F mutation has emerged in recent years as a diagnostic as well as a treatment target in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). The disease phenotype is also influenced by other factors such as microRNA (miRNA) deregulation. The aim of this study was to investigate miR‐125 expression level in these patients with those obtained from healthy control subjects and its correlation with JAK2 allele burden and laboratory findings.

Methods

In total, forty patients with a clinical diagnosis of PV and ET were examined at the time of diagnosis. Ten healthy subjects were checked as controls. We performed JAK2 V617F allele burdens measurement and expression analysis of miR‐125b‐5p, miR‐125b‐3p, miR‐125a‐5p, and miR‐125a‐3p in leukocytes isolated from peripheral blood by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

MiR‐125b‐5p and miR‐125a‐5p were upregulated in both patients with PV (P = 0.00 and P = 0.003, respectively) and ET (P = 0.02 and P = 0.002, respectively). In PV group, a significant correlation was observed between miR‐125a‐5p and platelet counts (P = 0.01, r = 0.531). The correlation between miRNA and JAk2 allele burden was not significant.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our data indicate that other factors such as aberrant miR‐125 expression may influence on the disease phenotype in patients with PV and ET.
Optogenetic versus electrical stimulation of dopamine terminals in the nucleus accumbens reveals local modulation of presynaptic release
Authors: Melchior James R. , Ferris Mark J. , Stuber Garret D. , Riddle David R. , Jones Sara R.
Published: May 2015

The nucleus accumbens is highly heterogeneous, integrating regionally distinct afferent projections and accumbal interneurons, resulting in diverse local microenvironments. Dopamine (DA) neuron terminals similarly express a heterogeneous collection of terminal receptors that modulate DA signaling. Cyclic voltammetry is often used to probe DA terminal dynamics in brain slice preparations; however, this method traditionally requires electrical stimulation to induce DA release. Electrical stimulation excites all of the neuronal processes in the stimulation field, potentially introducing simultaneous, multi‐synaptic modulation of DA terminal release. We used optogenetics to selectively stimulate DA terminals and used voltammetry to compare DA responses from electrical and optical stimulation of the same area of tissue around a recording electrode. We found that with multiple pulse stimulation trains, optically stimulated DA release increasingly exceeded that of electrical stimulation. Furthermore, electrical stimulation produced inhibition of DA release across longer duration stimulations. The GABAB antagonist, CGP 55845, increased electrically stimulated DA release significantly more than light stimulated release. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, dihydro‐β‐erythroidine hydrobromide, inhibited single pulse electrically stimulated DA release while having no effect on optically stimulated DA release. Our results demonstrate that electrical stimulation introduces local multi‐synaptic modulation of DA release that is absent with optogenetically targeted stimulation.

image

The nucleus accumbens is highly heterogeneous, integrating regionally distinct afferent projections and accumbal interneurons, resulting in diverse microenvironments. Local electrical stimulation excites all of the neuronal processes in the stimulation field, potentially modulating the dopamine signal ‐ measured using cyclic voltammetry. Optogenetically targeting light stimulation to dopamine terminals (blue) reduces the cholinergic and GABAergic modulatory effects on stimulated dopamine release.
Feasibility study on the effectiveness of Goreisan‐based Kampo therapy for lower abdominal lymphedema after retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy via extraperitoneal approach
Authors: Komiyama Shinichi , Takeya Chiaki , Takahashi Rena , Yamamoto Yasuhiro , Kubushiro Kaneyuki
Published: May 2015

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Kampo therapy based on Goreisan for lower abdominal lymphedema after surgical treatment of endometrial cancer or cervical cancer.

Methods

Radical surgery, including retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, was performed for endometrial cancer and cervical cancer. After surgery, Kampo therapy based on Goreisan and integrated physical therapy were provided for patients with lower abdominal lymphedema, especially lymphedema affecting the pubic‐inguinal‐vulval region. Goreisan (7.5g/day) was given orally three times a day (tds). If a significant response was not observed, Saireito (9 g/day; 3 g tds) or Gosyajinkigan (7.5 g/day; 2.5 g tds) was administered concomitantly.

Results

A total of 21 patients received treatment. The response rate to Goreisan monotherapy was 78%, with 22% being non‐responders. Median reduction of abdominal circumference was 2.1cm (95% CI 1.3‐2.85). When Goreisan was combined with another Kampo agent, the response rate was 92% and the non‐response rate was 8%. The median reduction of the abdominal circumference was 2.85 cm (95% CI: 2.25‐3.3). In particular, concomitant Goreisan and Saireito therapy achieved satisfactory results. No severe adverse reactions occurred.

Conclusions

Goreisan‐based Kampo therapy might be effective and safe for lower abdominal lymphedema after retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. We will perform a prospective control study in the near future.
Protective effect of melatonin‐supported adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells against small bowel ischemia‐reperfusion injury in rat
Authors: Chang Chia‐Lo , Sung Pei‐Hsun , Sun Cheuk‐Kwan , Chen Chih‐Hung , Chiang Hsin‐Ju , Huang Tien‐Hung , Chen Yi‐Ling , Zhen Yen‐Yi , Chai Han‐Tan , Chung Sheng‐Ying , Tong Meng‐Shen , Chang Hsueh‐Wen , Chen Hong‐Hwa , Yip Hon‐Kan
Published: May 2015

We tested the hypothesis that combined melatonin and autologous adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC) was superior to either alone against small bowel ischemia‐reperfusion (SBIR) injury induced by superior mesenteric artery clamping for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 72 hr. Male adult Sprague Dawley rats (n = 50) were equally categorized into sham‐operated controls SC, SBIR, SBIR‐ADMSC (1.0 × 106 intravenous and 1.0 × 106 intrajejunal injection), SBIR‐melatonin (intraperitoneal 20 mg/kg at 30 min after SI ischemia and 50 mg/kg at 6 and 18 hr after SI reperfusion), and SBIR‐ADMSC‐melatonin groups. The results demonstrated that the circulating levels of TNF‐α, MPO, LyG6+ cells, CD68+ cells, WBC count, and gut permeability were highest in SBIR and lowest in SC, significantly higher in SBIR‐ADMSC group and further increased in SBIR‐melatonin group than in the combined therapy group (all P < 0.001). The ischemic mucosal damage score, the protein expressions of inflammation (TNF‐α, NF‐κB, MMP‐9, MPO, and iNOS), oxidative stress (NOX‐1, NOX‐2, and oxidized protein), apoptosis (APAF‐1, mitochondrial Bax, cleaved caspase‐3 and PARP), mitochondrial damage (cytosolic cytochrome C) and DNA damage (γ‐H2AX) markers, as well as cellular expressions of proliferation (PCNA), apoptosis (caspase‐3, TUNEL assay), and DNA damage (γ‐H2AX) showed an identical pattern, whereas mitochondrial cytochrome C exhibited an opposite pattern compared to that of inflammation among all groups (all P < 0.001). Besides, antioxidant expressions at protein (NQO‐1, GR, and GPx) and cellular (HO‐1) levels progressively increased from SC to the combined treatment group (all P < 0.001). In conclusion, combined melatonin‐ADMSC treatment offered additive beneficial effect against SBIR injury.
Is there such a thing as landscape genetics?
Authors: Dyer Rodney J.
Published: May 2015

For a scientific discipline to be interdisciplinary, it must satisfy two conditions; it must consist of contributions from at least two existing disciplines, and it must be able to provide insights, through this interaction, that neither progenitor discipline could address. In this study, I examine the complete body of peer‐reviewed literature self‐identified as landscape genetics (LG) using the statistical approaches of text mining and natural language processing. The goal here was to quantify the kinds of questions being addressed in LG studies, the ways in which questions are evaluated mechanistically, and how they are differentiated from the progenitor disciplines of landscape ecology and population genetics. I then circumscribe the main factions within published LG studies examining the extent to which emergent questions are being addressed and highlighting a deep bifurcation between existing individual‐ and population‐based approaches. I close by providing some suggestions on where theoretical and analytical work is needed if LGs is to serve as a real bridge connecting evolution and ecology sensu lato.
Cerebral Cortical Microvascular Rarefaction in Metabolic Syndrome is Dependent on Insulin Resistance and Loss of Nitric Oxide Bioavailability
Authors: Chantler Paul D. , Shrader Carl D. , Tabone Lawrence E. , d'Audiffret Alexandre C. , Huseynova Khumara , Brooks Steven D. , Branyan Kayla W. , Grogg Kristin A. , Frisbee Jefferson C.
Published: May 2015

Objective

Chronic presentation of the MS is associated with an increased likelihood for stroke and poor stroke outcomes following occlusive cerebrovascular events. However, the physiological mechanisms contributing to compromised outcomes remain unclear, and the degree of cerebral cortical MVD may represent a central determinant of stroke outcomes.

Methods

This study used the OZR model of MS and clinically relevant, chronic interventions to determine the impact on cerebral cortical microvascular rarefaction via immunohistochemistry with a parallel determination of cerebrovascular function to identify putative mechanistic contributors.

Results

OZR exhibited a progressive rarefaction (to ~80% control MVD) of the cortical microvascular networks vs. lean Zucker rats. Chronic treatment with antihypertensive agents (captopril/hydralazine) had limited effectiveness in blunting rarefaction, although treatments improving glycemic control (metformin/rosiglitazone) were superior, maintaining ~94% control MVD. Chronic treatment with the antioxidant TEMPOL severely blunted rarefaction in OZR, although this ameliorative effect was prevented by concurrent NOS inhibition.

Conclusions

Further analyses revealed that the maintenance of glycemic control and vascular NO bioavailability were stronger predictors of cerebral cortical MVD in OZR than was prevention of hypertension, and this may have implications for chronic treatment of CVD risk under stroke‐prone conditions.