bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascade Module, MKK3-MPK6 and MYC2, Is Involved in Blue Light-Mediated Seedling Development in Arabidopsis
Authors: Sethi Vishmita , Raghuram Badmi , Sinha Alok Krishna , Chattopadhyay Sudip
Published: August 2014

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are involved in several signal transduction processes in eukaryotes. Light signal transduction pathways have been extensively studied in plants; however, the connection between MAPK and light signaling pathways is currently unknown. Here, we show that MKK3-MPK6 is activated by blue light in a MYC2-dependent manner. MPK6 physically interacts with and phosphorylates a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, MYC2, and is phosphorylated by a MAPK kinase, MKK3. Furthermore, MYC2 binds to the MPK6 promoter and regulates its expression in a feedback regulatory mechanism in blue light signaling. We present mutational and physiological studies that illustrate the function of the MKK3-MPK6-MYC2 module in Arabidopsis thaliana seedling development and provide a revised mechanistic view of photomorphogenesis.
“Is ‘junk food’ an ‘healthy’ concept?” the challenges of the current debate
Authors: Finardi Corrado , Tognon Gianluca
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The term “junk food” is for the most part currently used in the widest political and media debate, without reference to something tangible. The purpose of this paper is to pinpoint the delicate issues involved in moving towards a trans-national, unified, consensual definition of the term “junk food”, including social, economic, cultural, nutritional and methodological problems.

Design/methodology/approach

– Departing from the work done by international bodies (WHO, FAO-Codex Alimentarius, OECD, EFSA and European Commission) authors descriptively investigate possible background elements able to frame the surrounding debate about “junk food” (“nutrient profiles”, labelling provisions, institutional aspects, etc.).

Findings

– Presently there is a lack of a global consensus and of scientific basis to define clearly what constitutes “junk food” either on regional areas or globally. Despite of good metrics able to classify foods according to their nutritional quality, policy making relies yet on the concept that only diets or single nutrients can be focused as “good or bad”.

Practical implications

– A “junk food” taxonomy could be helpful to harmonize trade policies in internal markets (i.e. the EU) and at global level; but also to gain a wider social support for “hard” policy measures intending to counteract non-communicable-diseases (NCDs), and more generally, obesity and overweight.

Social implications

– A clear basis for “junk food” definition could be the first step to introduce otherwise controversial and easily opposable public health policies and campaigns, due to private interests of the different stakeholders. Even consumers may perceive food policies (in the sake of “food taxes” or “traffic light labelling”) as unfair, whereas not robust scientific ground has been previously given at the highest possible level.

Originality/value

– The value of this descriptive paper consists in addressing the shortcomings of global and regional nutritional policies framework in front of the emerging trend of “globesity”. Conclusions stress the need to find support for broader food policies (labelling, taxes, education, bans, etc.) which currently are on the rise but lack fundamental aspects of scientific and hence social support.
Social production in a collectivist culture
Authors: Uppalury Suma , Bhaskar Racherla Kumar
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to study the relationship between structure and agency of Indian women executives in the area of work-life balance in a developing and globalized context. It examines social production in a collectivist culture.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach is qualitative and interpretative. Semi-structured interviews of 105 senior women executives from major metropolitan cities in India (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai) form the rich data for this research. It uses sociological theories of McNay and Bourdieu to discuss the narratives of women executives.

Findings

– The agency of women executives in India is influenced by cultural meta-narratives of marriage and motherhood. They experience conflict in the home front and less at the work place. Their negotiations with their structures reveal a nuanced agency wherein they try to fit cultural roles and also seek self fulfillment in a career.

Research limitations/implications

– First, it includes women executives only from the corporate sector. Second, opinions expressed by women executives alone have been taken for this study and is not cross-validated by opinions of others. This study is also limited to socio-cultural roles and expectations from women executives. Other variables that affect agency are not examined.

Practical implications

– This study contributes to the understanding of how women executives, who have a greater agency, negotiate their structural constraints and how these actions contribute to social production.

Social implications

– It studies the societal impact of the agency of women executives in India.

Originality/value

– The study provides a theoretical insight into structure and agency of women executives in India and thus adds an Indian perspective to the gender discourse.
Branding George Town world heritage site as city of gastronomy: prospects of creative cities strategy in Penang
Authors: Suet Leng Khoo , Badarulzaman Nurwati
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to discuss the prevalent trends of exploiting cultural capital such as gastronomic legacy to ignite redevelopment of contemporary cities as illustrated in the city of George Town, Penang, Malaysia. In the twenty-first century, cities are transforming to be creative cities as they compete globally on the basis of their respective city branding, image and identity, as well as cultural capital assets. The emerging importance of cultural capital complements the realms of politics, economics and built environment in creating sustainable urban structure and ecosystem.

Design/methodology/approach

– In line with UNESCO’s creative cities network flagship, this paper showcases George Town’s potentials in propagating its gastronomic appeals as a strategic urban asset to regenerate the urban economy.

Findings

– This paper postulates branding George Town World Heritage Site as a creative city under the theme of “City of Gastronomy” would successfully capture the city’s gastronomic prowess, image and identity at the global scene.

Originality/value

– Given that research in “culture and urban planning” is still at its infancy and largely absent in the Malaysian context, this study aims to fill that research gap and contributes towards existing scholarship. The findings from this test bed study will benefit key stakeholders, especially urban policymakers (i.e. Local Council, State Government and Federal Government) towards reforming and revolutionising contemporary urban policies towards sustainable development.
The attractiveness of tourist night markets in Taiwan – a supply-side view
Authors: Chuang Yi-Fei , Hwang Shiuh-Nan , Wong Jehn-Yih , Chen Chun-Der
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to explore the attractiveness of tourist night markets by looking at the dual nature of retail service and tourism from a supply-side perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conducted field observations to understand the offerings at night markets and used content analysis to explore the attributes of vendors who operate there.

Findings

– The research reveals that the attractiveness of night markets derives from the diversity of service contents and local food, affordable consumption (the lowest unit prices, with products under US$3.3 comprising approximately 70 per cent of those offered), temple festivals and the various service attributes of vendors. These night market features generate physical perceptions and personnel perceptions among tourists. Vendor service attributes include performance, empathy, responsiveness and courtesy. Unique and interesting performances comprise a special attribute of night markets that differ from other service industries.

Practical implications

– The results provide information on how tourism officials can promote night markets as tourist destinations and what kinds of vendor service attributes please tourists the most.

Originality/value

– This study expands on the literature that discusses perceptual attributes to tourist street markets by exploring the service contents of these markets and by identifying the service attributes of vendors.
Variables influencing preferences for stocks (high risk investment) vis-à-vis fixed deposits (low-risk investment)
Authors: Arora Sangeeta , Marwaha Kanika
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The paper, an exploratory attempt, aims to analyze the perception of individual investors of stock market of Punjab towards investing in stocks vis-à-vis fixed deposits. For the purpose, the most and least influencing variables affecting the decisions of individual stock investors to invest in stocks and fixed deposits were gauged and the comparison for such variables influencing their preferences was conducted.

Design/methodology/approach

– A pre-tested, well-structured questionnaire which was administered personally and the responses of 241 respondents were analyzed. The responses have been analyzed with the help of weighted average scores method used to identify the most and least influencing variables and paired sample t-test is applied to the data to identify if there exists any significant difference in the variables influencing the investment preferences for stocks (high-risk investment) vis-à-vis fixed deposits (low- and medium-risk investment).

Findings

– High returns was found as the most important variable while investing in stocks and stability of income as the most important variable while investing in fixed deposits. Religious reason is the only variable found as the least influencing variable for individual investors in Punjab while investing in both avenues, i.e. stocks and fixed deposits. Statistically significant difference exists in perception of individual investors for 22 variables towards the preference for stocks vis-à-vis fixed deposits.

Practical implications

– The current research will be helpful for financial service providers in understanding the investment preferences of the individual stock investors on the basis of variables influencing such preferences and suggest them investment options as per their perceptions and needs.

Originality/value

– This paper is a first of its kind to empirically compare the variables influencing the preferences for high-risk investments vis-à-vis low-risk investments of individual investors of Punjab, India and contributes to the understanding of the investor behaviour.
Ten questions about terminology for children with unexplained language problems
Authors: Bishop D. V. M.
Published: August 2014

Background

In domains other than language, there is fairly consistent diagnostic terminology to refer to children's developmental difficulties. For instance, the terms ‘dyslexia’, ‘attention deficit hyperactivity disorder’ and ‘autistic spectrum disorder’ are used for difficulties with reading, attention or social cognition, respectively. There is no agreed label, however, for children with unexplained language problems.

Aims

To consider whether we need labels for unexplained language problems in children, and if so, what terminology is appropriate.

Main Contribution

There are both advantages and disadvantages to labels, but they are important to ensure children receive services, and to increase our knowledge of the nature and causes of such problems. A survey of labels in current use found 132 different terms, 33 of which had 600 or more returns on Google Scholar between 1994 and 2013. Many of these labels were too general to be useful. Of the remainder, the term ‘specific language impairment’ was the most commonly used.

Conclusions

The current mayhem in diagnostic labels is unsustainable; it causes confusion and impedes research progress and access to appropriate services. We need to achieve consensus on diagnostic criteria and terminology. The DSM‐5 term ‘language disorder’ is problematic because it identifies too wide a range of conditions on an internet search. One solution is to retain specific language impairment, with the understanding that ‘specific’ means idiopathic (i.e., of unknown origin) rather than implying there are no other problems beyond language. Other options are the terms ‘primary language impairment’, ‘developmental language disorder’ or ‘language learning impairment’.
Specific language impairment: a convenient label for whom?
Authors: Reilly Sheena , Tomblin Bruce , Law James , McKean Cristina , Mensah Fiona K. , Morgan Angela , Goldfeld Sharon , Nicholson Jan M. , Wake Melissa
Published: August 2014

Background

The term ‘specific language impairment’ (SLI), in use since the 1980s, describes children with language impairment whose cognitive skills are within normal limits where there is no identifiable reason for the language impairment. SLI is determined by applying exclusionary criteria, so that it is defined by what it is not rather than by what it is. The recent decision to not include SLI in DSM‐5 provoked much debate and concern from researchers and clinicians.

Aims

To explore how the term ‘specific language impairment’ emerged, to consider how disorders, including SLI, are generally defined and to explore how societal changes might impact on use the term.

Methods & Procedures

We reviewed the literature to explore the origins of the term ‘specific language impairment’ and present published evidence, as well as new analyses of population data, to explore the validity of continuing to use the term.

Outcomes & Results and Conclusions & Implications

We support the decision to exclude the term ‘specific language impairment’ from DSM‐5 and conclude that the term has been a convenient label for researchers, but that the current classification is unacceptably arbitrary. Furthermore, we argue there is no empirical evidence to support the continued use of the term SLI and limited evidence that it has provided any real benefits for children and their families. In fact, the term may be disadvantageous to some due to the use of exclusionary criteria to determine eligibility for and access to speech pathology services. We propose the following recommendations. First, that the word ‘specific’ be removed and the label ‘language impairment’ be used. Second, that the exclusionary criteria be relaxed and in their place inclusionary criteria be adopted that take into account the fluid nature of language development particularly in the preschool period. Building on the goodwill and collaborations between the clinical and research communities we propose the establishment of an international consensus panel to develop an agreed definition and set of criteria for language impairment. Given the rich data now available in population studies it is possible to test the validity of these definitions and criteria. Consultation with service users and policy‐makers should be incorporated into the decision‐making process.
Etiology, clinical features and management of acute recurrent pancreatitis
Authors: Deng Yi Yun , Wang Rui , Wu Hao , Tang Cheng Wei , Chen Xin Zu
Published: August 2014

Objective

To study the etiology and clinical features of acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) and to determine its optimal management and outcomes.

Methods

ARP cases among acute pancreatitis patients who were admitted to the West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2008 to December 2012 were retrospectively collected. Their etiology, clinical features, treatments and outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Of all pancreatitis patients, 8.9% were classified as ARP. The proportions of mild and severe diseases were 85.7% and 14.3%, respectively. The common etiological factors were biliogenic (31.0%), alcohol (26.2%), hyperlipidemia (21.4%) and pancreaticobiliary malformation (15.4%). At first 46 cases were cryptogenic and among them 36 were subsequently confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Among the hyperlipidemic ARP patients, 72.2% failed to routinely monitor and control serum lipids. ERCP was performed in 88 cases, and 48 also required an endoscopic sphincterotomy or calculus removal. Twenty‐two patients underwent cholangiopancreatic duct stent placement, and pancreatic necrosectomy was performed on eight severe cases. The overall outcomes indicate that 8.3% of the cases progressed to chronic pancreatitis and 33.3% of the cases receiving etiological treatment were recurrence‐free. There were no deaths in this study.

Conclusions

The etiological factors of ARP are similar to those of acute pancreatitis at the first attack. The management of ARP should be fully considered based on etiological investigation.
What is the impact of longitudinal rural medical student clerkships on clinical supervisors and hospitals?
Authors: Connolly Marnie , Sweet Linda , Campbell David
Published: August 2014

Objective

Studies have investigated the impact of medical students undertaking longitudinal clerkships in General Practices; however, little is known about the impact of students' longitudinal clerkships on clinical supervisors in the hospital environment. This research aimed to explore the educational impacts and benefits gained from supervisory responsibilities in a rural hospital context.

Design

We assessed the impact of longitudinal clerkships using individual and group‐structured interviews. The responses were thematically analysed by the researchers.

Setting

Two rural hospitals in Victoria, Australia.

Participants

Fifteen senior medical and nursing staff at two rural hospitals who supervised year four medical students in a longitudinal clinical program.

Results

Thematic analysis identified three major themes: changes to the supervisor, change in the hospital learning culture and student usefulness.

Doctors and nurses who undertook student supervisory responsibilities reported a sense of personal change, including increased reflective practice, improved value of professional identity and increased enthusiasm for interprofessional learning. Supervisors updated their clinical skills and became proactive in seeking out learning opportunities for students. Hospitals became more vibrant learning environments and interprofessional education enhanced teamwork. Patient care increased, knowledge gaps filled and hospital governance, policy and procedures challenged.

Conclusion

The benefits of longitudinal clerkship in the rural hospital setting provided symbiotic relationships between hospitals, students, patients and educations provider. The interprofessional approach towards clinical supervision enhanced supervisor learning and generated an understanding among professional groups of each other's clinical skills, roles and values, and raised an awareness of the importance of working collaboratively for better patient outcomes and addressing future workforce shortages.
Undergraduate physiotherapy students' expectations and perceptions of rural/regional clinical placements
Authors: White Sarah , Humphreys Nicole
Published: August 2014

Objective

To explore undergraduate physiotherapy students' expectations and preconceptions of undertaking a rural/regional clinical placement and determine if these preconceptions differ between regional and metropolitan‐based students.

Design

Data was collected via focus groups and analysed via thematic analysis of emerging themes.

Setting

All focus groups were undertaken in tutorial rooms at the participating universities between classes at a time convenient to participants.

Participants

Undergraduate physiotherapy students yet to complete a major clinical placement were invited to participate. Second year physiotherapy students from regional and metropolitan universities were recruited to form focus groups, allowing comparison between the two groups. Four metropolitan students and nine regional students made up the sample size.

Results

Three major themes were identified via thematic analysis of transcripts; socio‐cultural factors, education and professional factors. The significance of socio‐cultural factors was far beyond what was expected to be found. Regional students did not generally have a more accurate perspective of rural/regional placement and voiced more concerns about missing out on educational opportunities.

Conclusions

Rural/regional clinical educators need to be mindful of creating quality experiences with caseloads appropriate for the specific placement's requirements. The impact of external socio‐cultural factors must be acknowledged. Supervision strategies must be put in place to ensure students on rural/regional clinical placements are well supported to achieve a successful outcome for student and educator.
Immunotherapy using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells to treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Zhou F , Ciric B , Zhang G-X , Rostami A
Published: August 2014

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced by Gram-negative bacteria induces tolerance and suppresses inflammatory responses in vivo; however, the mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study we show that LPS induces apoptosis of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and modulates phenotypes of DCs. LPS treatment up-regulates expression of tolerance-associated molecules such as CD205 and galectin-1, but down-regulates expression of Gr-1 and B220 on CD11c+ DCs. Moreover, LPS treatment regulates the numbers of CD11c+ CD8+, CD11c+ CD11blow and CD11c+ CD11bhi DCs, which perform different immune functions in vivo. Our data also demonstrated that intravenous transfer of LPS-treated DCs blocks experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) development and down-regulates expression of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (ROR-γt), interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22 and interferon (IFN)-γ in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-primed CD4+ T cells in the peripheral environment. These results suggest that LPS-induced apoptotic DCs may lead to generation of tolerogenic DCs and suppress the activity of MOG-stimulated effector CD4+ T cells, thus inhibiting the development of EAE in vivo. Our results imply a potential mechanism of LPS-induced tolerance mediated by DCs and the possible use of LPS-induced apoptotic DCs to treat autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Burial rates and stoichiometry of sedimentary carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in Midwestern US reservoirs
Authors: Knoll Lesley B. , Vanni Michael J. , Renwick William H. , Kollie Sonii
Published: August 2014

Lakes and reservoirs bury large quantities of organic carbon (C) and nutrients (nitrogen, N; phosphorus, P) in their sediments, especially when expressed relative to the small area they occupy. Global estimates of C and nutrient burial rates in reservoirs require a quantitative understanding of the wide variation in the rates and ratios at which C, N and P are sequestered in sediments.

We examined how catchment and reservoir characteristics relate to sediment organic C, N and P concentrations, stoichiometric burial ratios (C : P, C : N, N : P) and burial rates in 13 small reservoirs across a catchment land use gradient in the Midwestern United States.

Sediment P concentrations were positively correlated with urban catchment land use and negatively correlated with agricultural catchment land use. Stoichiometric burial ratios varied with catchment land use. Both N : P and C : P were positively correlated with agricultural land use, while these ratios were negatively correlated with urban land use and forested land use.

In general, rates of C, N and P burial per unit lake area were not related to land use in the catchment, but were all positively correlated with catchment area to lake area ratios. Results from our study reservoirs suggest that reservoir burial rates are more tightly coupled with morphometric catchment characteristics than with land use.

Our results suggest that small reservoirs are regionally and globally significant for biogeochemical processing. However, regional variation requires that much more comprehensive sampling is needed for accurate estimates of global element burial rates.
Assessing biodiversity loss due to land use with Life Cycle Assessment: are we there yet?
Authors: Souza Danielle M. , Teixeira Ricardo F.M. , Ostermann Ole P.
Published: August 2014

Ecosystems are under increasing pressure from human activities, with land use and land‐use change at the forefront of the drivers that provoke global and regional biodiversity loss. The first step in addressing the challenge of how to reverse the negative outlook for the coming years starts with measuring environmental loss rates and assigning responsibilities. Pinpointing the global pressures on biodiversity is a task best addressed using holistic models such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). LCA is the leading method for calculating cradle‐to‐grave environmental impacts of products and services; it is actively promoted by many public policies, and integrated as part of environmental information systems within private companies. LCA already deals with the potential biodiversity impacts of land use, but there are significant obstacles to overcome before its models grasp the full reach of the phenomena involved. In this review, we discuss some pressing issues that need to be addressed. LCA mainly introduces biodiversity as an endpoint category modeled as a loss in species richness due to the conversion and use of land over time and space. The functional and population effects on biodiversity are mostly absent due to the emphasis on species accumulation with limited geographic and taxonomical reach. Current land‐use modeling activities that use biodiversity indicators tend to oversimplify the real dynamics and complexity of the interactions of species among each other and with their habitats. To identify the main areas for improvement, we systematically reviewed LCA studies on land use that had findings related to global change and conservation ecology. We provide suggestion as to how to address some of the issues raised. Our overall objective was to encourage companies to monitor and take concrete steps to address the impacts of land use on biodiversity on a broader geographical scale and along increasingly globalized supply chains.
Prolonged and flexible primary moult overlaps extensively with breeding in beach‐nesting Hooded Plovers Thinornis rubricollis
Authors: Rogers Ken G. , Rogers Danny I. , Weston Michael A.
Published: August 2014

We present the first report of complete overlap of breeding and moult in a shorebird. In southeastern Australia, Hooded Plovers Thinornis rubricollis spend their entire lives on oceanic beaches, where they exhibit biparental care. Population moult encompassed the 6‐month breeding season. Moult timing was estimated using the Underhill–Zucchini method for Type 2 data with a power transformation to accommodate sexual differences in rates of moult progression in the early and late stages of moult. Average moult durations were long in females (170.3 ± 14.2 days), and even longer in males (210.3 ± 13.5 days). Breeding status was known for most birds in our samples, and many active breeders (especially males) were also growing primaries. Females delayed the onset of primary moult but were able to increase the speed of moult and continue breeding, completing moult at about the same time as males. The mechanism by which this was achieved appeared to be flexibility in moult sequence. All moult formulae fell on one of two linked moult sequences, one faster than the other. The slower sequence had fewer feathers growing concurrently and also had formulae indicating suspended moults. Switching between sequences via common formulae is possible at many points during the moult cycle, and three of 12 recaptures were confirmed to have switched sequences in the same moult season. Hooded Plovers thus have a prolonged primary moult with the flexibility to change their rate of moult; this may facilitate high levels of replacement clutches that are associated with passive nest defence and low reproductive success.
Prediction of mean adult survival rates of southern African birds from demographic and ecological covariates
Authors: Collingham Yvonne C. , Huntley Brian , Altwegg Res , Barnard Phoebe , Beveridge Oliver S. , Gregory Richard D. , Mason Lucy R. , Oschadleus H. Dieter , Simmons Robert E. , Willis Stephen G. , Green Rhys E.
Published: August 2014

Estimates of annual survival rates of birds are valuable in a wide range of studies of population ecology and conservation. These include modelling studies to assess the impacts of climatic change or anthropogenic mortality for many species for which no reliable direct estimates of survival are available. We evaluate the performance of regression models in predicting adult survival rates of birds from values of demographic and ecological covariates available from textbooks and databases. We estimated adult survival for 67 species using dead recoveries of birds ringed in southern Africa and fitted regression models using five covariates: mean clutch size, mean body mass, mean age at first breeding, diet and migratory tendency. Models including these explanatory variables performed well in predicting adult survival in this set of species, both when phylogenetic relatedness of the species was taken into account using phylogenetic generalized least squares (51% of variation in logit survival explained) and when it was not (48%). Two independent validation tests also indicated good predictive power, as indicated by high correlations of observed with expected values in a leave‐one‐out cross validation test performed using data from the 67 species (35% of variation in logit survival explained), and when annual survival rates from independent mark–recapture studies of 38 southern African species were predicted from covariates and the regression using dead recoveries (48%). Clutch size and body mass were the most influential covariates, both with and without the inclusion of phylogenetic effects, and a regression model including only these two variables performed well in both of the validation tests (39 and 48% of variation in logit survival explained). Our regression models, including the version with only clutch size and body mass, are likely to perform well in predicting adult survival rate for southern African species for which direct survival estimates are not available.
Peripheral neuropathy in Parkinson disease: An in vivo confocal microscopy study
Authors: ANJOS R , VIEIRA L , SOUSA A , MADURO V , ALVES N , CANDELARIA P
Published: August 2014

Purpose To assess whether corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) can detect alterations in corneal nerve morphology in patients with Parkinson disease.

Methods Twenty‐five patients with Parkinson disease and 25 control subjects were examined. Patients underwent neurological and complete ophthalmological evaluation. Corneal sensitivity testing was performed with a Cochet‐Bonnet esthesiometer and corneal sub‐basal nerve morphology assessment with confocal microscopy (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II/Rostock Cornea Module). CCM was used to quantify corneal nerve fibre density, tortuosity, length and branch density.

Results Patients with Parkinson disease had decreased corneal sensation in comparison with controls. Corneal nerve fiber morphology differed in both groups, with a lower global fiber density, branch density and higher tortuosity in Parksinson patients (p<0,05). These parameters were found to be related to dopaminergic medication exposure.

Conclusion We found a decreased corneal sensation and corneal nerve fiber changes in patients with Parkinson disease. CCM may be used to detect signs of peripheral neuropathy and follow patients in dopaminergic therapy.
Visual Search Test (VST) ‐ reaction time perimetry with fixation objects detectable only by foveal vision
Authors: LEINONEN M , KNAAPI L
Published: August 2014

Purpose To validate a novel perimetry method (Visual Search Test, VST) which is based on reaction times in visual decision‐making task, where the subject is allowed to move eyes and where the fixation is verified by the subject himself in contrast to standard automatic perimetry (SAP) where prolonged stationary fixation and external fixation monitoring apparatus is required.

Methods Device (Ocusweep prototype, Ocuspecto Ltd, Turku, Finland) consisting of 35° arc (radius 54 cm) was constructed with six 3x5 LED arrays displaying 0.4°, 100 ms suprathreshold stimulus (Saccade Triggering Stimulus, STS) followed by an arrow (< or >) as a fixation object (FO) the recognition of which was reported by pressing a correct button. The intensity of FO was 3‐5 dB above the foveal threshold. With a correct button press a new peripheral STS & FO stimulus sequence was displayed in order to initiate a reflex saccade towards the STS. The time periods between button presses were recorded. 18 locations (up to 28° temporal, 20° nasal) along the meridians 0° and 8° of the visual field of left eye were tested. The center of the physiological blind spot of 11 healthy volunteers was measured with Octopus perimeter by custom program (1° oval grid of 139 test points). Reaction times within the blind spot area were compared to other locations.

Results Reaction times within the blind spot area were slower compared to other locations in 10 of 11 subjects (AOV, p < 0.001 in 9 subjects, p < 0.006 in one subject).

Conclusion Visual Search Test (VST) can be used to detect visual field defects.

Commercial interest
Severe retinal degeneration in females with c.2543del mutation in the RPGR gene
Authors: KOUSAL B , SKALICKA P , VALESOVA L , COLCLOUGH T , HART‐HOLDEN N , O'GRADY A , HARDCASTLE AJ , LISKOVA P
Published: August 2014

Purpose To describe the genotype‐phenotype correlation and serial observations in a five‐generation Czech family with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) associated with total blindness in females.

Methods Comprehensive ophthalmological examination was performed in sixteen family members (nine females and seven males). Autosomal dominant inheritance was suspected and screening for known mutations by genotyping microarray was performed. Next, direct sequencing of ORF15 RPGR exon was undertaken.

Results The c.2543delA, in ORF15 of the RPGR gene was detected. Three females became bilaterally totally blind in the sixth decade. Four examined females and five males showed pigmentary deposits, progressive visual field constriction, moderate to high myopia and myopic astigmatism. Three other females had moderate to high myopia and myopic astigmatism but without the presence of bone spicule formation. Only one 34 year old female carrier had clinically normal fundus findings.

Conclusion The c.2543delA in RPGR is associated with severe phenotype in females in the studied family. The presence of refractive errors, especially high myopia and astigmatism in the absence of male to male transmission may be indicative of an X‐linked inheritance.
Lack of effect of the glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist liraglutide on psoriasis in glucose‐tolerant patients – a randomized placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Faurschou A. , Gyldenløve M. , Rohde U. , Thyssen J.P. , Zachariae C. , Skov L. , Knop F.K. , Vilsbøll T.
Published: August 2014

Background

It has been proposed that glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor (GLP‐1R) agonists used for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes might also improve their psoriasis.

Objective

To assess the efficacy and safety of the GLP‐1R agonist liraglutide in glucose‐tolerant patients with plaque psoriasis.

Methods

A total of 20 obese (body mass index > 25 kg/m2), glucose‐tolerant patients with plaque psoriasis (psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) of at least 8) were randomized 1 : 1 to once‐daily subcutaneous injections with liraglutide or placebo for an 8‐week period. The primary end points were improvement in PASI and dermatology life quality index (DLQI). Secondary end points included changes in weight and high sensitive C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, as well as adverse events.

Results

After 8 weeks of treatment, no significant change in PASI was found in the liraglutide group (mean±standard deviation: −2.6 ± 2.1) compared with the placebo group (−1.3 ± 2.4) (P = 0.228). No difference in DLQI was observed between the groups [−2.5 ± 4.4 (liraglutide) vs. −3.7 ± 4.8 (placebo); P = 0.564]. HsCRP did not change in any of the groups (0.26 ± 1 (placebo) vs. 0.25 ± 2.2 (liraglutide); P = 0.992). Liraglutide treatment resulted in a bodyweight loss of 4.7 ± 2.5 kg compared with 1.6 ± 2.7 kg in the placebo group (P = 0.014) accompanied by decreased cholesterol levels. No serious adverse events occurred during the 8‐week observation period. The most common complaint was transient nausea, which occurred in 45% of the liraglutide‐treated patients but in none from the placebo group.

Conclusion

Liraglutide treatment for 8 weeks did not significantly change PASI, DLQI, or hsCRP in a small group of glucose‐tolerant obese patients with plaque psoriasis compared with placebo. A significant weight loss and decrease in cholesterol levels was observed in liraglutide‐treated patients.
Preference of the vector thrips Frankliniella occidentalis for plants infected with thrips‐non‐transmissible Tomato spotted wilt virus
Authors: Tomitaka Y. , Abe H. , Sakurai T. , Tsuda S.
Published: August 2014

The effect of a thrips‐non‐transmissible Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) on insect–host interactions between thrips and Arabidopsis thaliana was analysed. A wild‐type TSWV virulent isolate and a TSWV isolate that induces mild symptoms on inoculated plants (TSWV‐Mo) were used in this study, and TSWV‐Mo isolate was obtained by single local lesion isolation using Petunia x hybrid after several passages on Nicotiana rustica plants. In transmission test, although wild‐type TSWV (TSWV‐wt) was transmitted by two thrips species (transmission ratio; Frankliniella occidentalis, 25%; Thrips tabaci, 10%; and T. palmi, 0%), none of the thrips transmitted TSWV‐Mo. Feeding damage by F. occidentalis in A. thaliana plants was more extensive on TSWV‐wt‐infected plants than on TSWV‐Mo‐infected plants, despite comparable preference. Among the markers of plant defences, salicylic acid‐regulated genes were upregulated threefold to sixfold by TSWV‐wt or TSWV‐Mo infection. In contrast, jasmonate‐regulated genes and jasmonate/ethylene‐regulated genes were not affected by the infections. Pull assays showed that adjacent TSWV‐Mo‐infected plants were preferred over uninfected plants. In conclusion, our results showed that the transmissibility by thrips of TSWV is not related to preference of vector thrips and suggested that TSWV‐Mo‐infected plants may be used as attractants for behaviour control of thrips.
Temporal and spatial mapping of red grouper Epinephelus morio sound production
Authors: Wall C. C. , Simard P. , Lindemuth M. , Lembke C. , Naar D. F. , Hu C. , Barnes B. B. , Muller‐Karger F. E. , Mann D. A.
Published: August 2014

The goals of this project were to determine the daily, seasonal and spatial patterns of red grouper Epinephelus morio sound production on the West Florida Shelf (WFS) using passive acoustics. An 11 month time series of acoustic data from fixed recorders deployed at a known E. morio aggregation site showed that E. morio produce sounds throughout the day and during all months of the year. Increased calling (number of files containing E. morio sound) was correlated to sunrise and sunset, and peaked in late summer (July and August) and early winter (November and December). Due to the ubiquitous production of sound, large‐scale spatial mapping across the WFS of E. morio sound production was feasible using recordings from shorter duration‐fixed location recorders and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Epinephelus morio were primarily recorded in waters 15–93 m deep, with increased sound production detected in hard bottom areas and within the Steamboat Lumps Marine Protected Area (Steamboat Lumps). AUV tracks through Steamboat Lumps, an offshore marine reserve where E. morio hole excavations have been previously mapped, showed that hydrophone‐integrated AUVs could accurately map the location of soniferous fish over spatial scales of <1 km. The results show that passive acoustics is an effective, non‐invasive tool to map the distribution of this species over large spatial scales.
Contribution of Generative Leisure Activities to Cognitive Function in Elderly Sri Lankan Adults
Authors: Maselko Joanna , Sebranek Matthew , Mun Mirna H. , Perera Bilesha , Ahs Jill , Østbye Truls
Published: August 2014

Objectives

To examine the unique contribution of generative leisure activities, defined as activities motivated by a concern for others and a need to contribute something to the next generation.

Design

Cross‐sectional survey.

Setting

Peri‐urban and rural area in southern Sri Lanka.

Participants

Community‐dwelling adults aged 60 and older (N = 252).

Measurements

The main predictors were leisure activities, grouped into generative, social, or solitary. The main outcome was cognitive function, assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE).

Results

More‐frequent engagement in generative leisure activities was associated with higher levels of cognitive function, independent of the effect of other social and solitary leisure activities. In a fully adjusted model combining all three leisure activities, generative activities independently predicted cognitive function as measured using the MoCA (β = 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.11–0.83) and the IQCODE (β = −0.81, 95% CI = −1.54 to −0.09). In this combined model, solitary activities were also independently associated with slower cognitive decline using the MoCA (β = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.16–0.64) but not the IQCODE (β = −0.38, 95% CI = −0.88–0.12); the association with social activities did not reach statistical significance with either measure. These associations did not differ meaningfully according to sex.

Conclusion

Generative leisure activities are a promising area for the development of interventions aimed at reducing cognitive decline in elderly adults.
Candida albicans Adherence to Denture Base Material: Chemical Disinfection and the Effect of Acquired Salivary Pellicle Formation
Authors: Rodríguez Acosta Emilio José T. , da Silva Paulo Mauricio Batista , Jacobina Matheus , Lara Vanessa Soares , Neppelenbroek Karin Hermana , Porto Vinicius Carvalho
Published: August 2014

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 1% sodium hypochlorite (H1%) and 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (CG4%) on the adhesion of Candida albicans to denture base acrylic resins, as well as to verify the effect of the acquired salivary pellicle (ASP) formation on this process.

Materials and Methods

A total of 300 acrylic specimens were immersed in distilled water (control) (n = 100), H1% (n = 100), or CG4% (n = 100) for 30 days. Twenty specimens were used in each experimental period (0, 1, 7, 15, 30 days). At the end of disinfection testing periods, 10 specimens of each group were exposed to human whole saliva to simulate ASP formation, and then all specimens were incubated with C. albicans ATTC 90028. Microorganism adhesion was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy, after staining with Acridine orange.

Results

In the 30th disinfection cycle in relation to baseline, the H1% or CG4%, without ASP formation, reduced the C. albicans adhesion by approximately 80%; however, with ASP, this reduction after disinfection with H1% was higher (88%). The presence of ASP resulted in higher reduction of adhered fungal cells in comparison to resin without ASP, at the 1st H1% or CG4% disinfection cycle, as well as at 30th H1% disinfection cycles.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the presence of saliva might influence the adhesion of C. albicans and improve the effectiveness of methods to reduce fungal adhesion.
A Multispecies Probiotic Reduces Oral Candida Colonization in Denture Wearers
Authors: Ishikawa Karin H. , Mayer Marcia P. A. , Miyazima Tatiana Y. , Matsubara Victor H. , Silva Eriques G. , Paula Claudete R. , Campos Tomie T. , Nakamae Atlas E. M.
Published: August 2014

Purpose

The prevalence of Candida infections has been rising with an increasingly aging population and a larger population of immunocompromised individuals. The use of probiotics may be an alternative approach to antifungal agents in the prevention and treatment of oral candidiasis. This study aimed to evaluate the short‐term effect of probiotics in reducing the infection level of oral Candida in candidiasis‐asymptomatic elderly denture wearers.

Materials and Methods

In a double‐blind randomized study, 59 denture wearers harboring Candida spp. in the oral cavity with no clinical symptoms were allocated into two groups: probiotic and placebo. All patients were instructed to clean the denture daily. The probiotic group poured a capsule containing lyophilized Lactobacillus rhamnosus HS111, Lactobacillus acidophillus HS101, and Bifidobacterium bifidum daily on the palatal surface of the maxillary denture, whereas the placebo group was submitted to the same regimen using placebo capsules. Candida spp. infection levels were evaluated in palate mucosa samples obtained before and after a 5‐week experimental period.

Results

All patients harbored Candida in the palate mucosa at baseline. Fifty‐five individuals completed the experimental period. The detection rate of Candida spp. was 92.0% in the placebo group after the experimental period, whereas it was reduced to 16.7% in the probiotic group. The reduction promoted by the probiotic regimen was independent of baseline characteristics such as Candida infection level and colonizing species, age of denture, and other variables.

Conclusion

The probiotic product was effective in reducing the colonization of the oral cavity with Candida in candidiasis‐asymptomatic elderly denture wearers, suggesting that this multispecies probiotic could be used to prevent oral candidiasis. Clinical implications: Colonization of oral surfaces by Candida is considered a risk factor for invasive fungal infections. The use of a product with L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, and B. bifidum may represent an alternative treatment for reduction of Candida infections in elderly denture wearers.
Early Adolescent Peer Foundations of Late Adolescent and Young Adult Psychological Adjustment
Authors: Chango Joanna M. , Allen Joseph P. , Szwedo David , Schad Megan M.
Published: August 2014

The long‐term impacts of failing to establish autonomy and relatedness within close friendships are poorly understood. Adolescent behaviors undermining autonomy and relatedness in friendships at 13 were examined as predictors of friendship competence at 18 and depressive symptoms and social withdrawal at 21. A diverse community sample of 184 adolescents participated in self‐, peer, and observational assessments. Teens' inability to establish autonomy and connection with friends at 13 predicted decreases in friendship competence at 18 (β = −.20, p = .02). Direct links to increase in depressive symptoms (β = .34, p < .001) and social withdrawal (β = .18, p = .03) were observed, with friendship competence partially mediating these relations. Results highlight the importance of problematic adolescent peer relationships as risk factors for the development of young adult internalizing symptoms.