bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robust Transgene Expression from Bicistronic mRNA in the Green AlgaChlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Onishi Masayuki , Pringle John R
Published: October 2016

The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a model organism that provides an opportunity to understand the evolution and functional biology of the lineage that includes the land plants, as well as aspects of the fundamental core biology conserved throughout the eukaryotic phylogeny. Although many tools are available to facilitate genetic, molecular biological, biochemical, and cell biological studies in Chlamydomonas, expression of unselected transgenes of interest (GOIs) has been challenging. In most methods used previously, the GOI and a selectable marker are expressed from two separate mRNAs, so that their concomitant expression is not guaranteed. In this study, we developed constructs that allow expression of an upstream GOI and downstream selectable marker from a single bicistronic mRNA. Although this approach in other systems has typically required a translation-enhancing element such as an internal ribosome entry site for the downstream marker, we found that a short stretch of unstructured junction sequence was sufficient to obtain adequate expression of the downstream gene, presumably through post-termination reinitiation. With this system, we obtained robust expression of both endogenous and heterologous GOIs, including fluorescent proteins and tagged fusion proteins, in the vast majority of transformants, thus eliminating the need for tedious secondary screening for GOI-expressing transformants. This improved efficiency should greatly facilitate a variety of genetic and cell-biological studies in Chlamydomonas and also enable new applications such as expression-based screens and large-scale production of foreign proteins.
The Interaction of Genotype and Environment Determines Variation in the Maize Kernel Ionome
Authors: Asaro Alexandra , Ziegler Gregory , Ziyomo Cathrine , Hoekenga Owen A , Dilkes Brian P , Baxter Ivan
Published: October 2016

Plants obtain soil-resident elements that support growth and metabolism from the water-flow facilitated by transpiration and active transport processes. The availability of elements in the environment interacts with the genetic capacity of organisms to modulate element uptake through plastic adaptive responses, such as homeostasis. These interactions should cause the elemental contents of plants to vary such that the effects of genetic polymorphisms will be dramatically dependent on the environment in which the plant is grown. To investigate genotype by environment interactions underlying elemental accumulation, we analyzed levels of elements in maize kernels of the Intermated B73 × Mo17 (IBM) recombinant inbred population grown in 10 different environments, spanning a total of six locations and five different years. In analyses conducted separately for each environment, we identified a total of 79 quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling seed elemental accumulation. While a set of these QTL was found in multiple environments, the majority were specific to a single environment, suggesting the presence of genetic by environment interactions. To specifically identify and quantify QTL by environment interactions (QEIs), we implemented two methods: linear modeling with environmental covariates, and QTL analysis on trait differences between growouts. With these approaches, we found several instances of QEI, indicating that elemental profiles are highly heritable, interrelated, and responsive to the environment.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Meiotic Recombination Phenotypes
Authors: Begum Ferdouse , Chowdhury Reshmi , Cheung Vivian G , Sherman Stephanie L , Feingold Eleanor
Published: October 2016

Meiotic recombination is an essential step in gametogenesis, and is one that also generates genetic diversity. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and molecular studies have identified genes that influence of human meiotic recombination. RNF212 is associated with total or average number of recombination events, and PRDM9 is associated with the locations of hotspots, or sequences where crossing over appears to cluster. In addition, a common inversion on chromosome 17 is strongly associated with recombination. Other genes have been identified by GWAS, but those results have not been replicated. In this study, using new datasets, we characterized additional recombination phenotypes to uncover novel candidates and further dissect the role of already known loci. We used three datasets totaling 1562 two-generation families, including 3108 parents with 4304 children. We estimated five different recombination phenotypes including two novel phenotypes (average recombination counts within recombination hotspots and outside of hotspots) using dense SNP array genotype data. We then performed gender-specific and combined-sex genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analyses. We replicated associations for several previously reported recombination genes, including RNF212 and PRDM9. By looking specifically at recombination events outside of hotspots, we showed for the first time that PRDM9 has different effects in males and females. We identified several new candidate loci, particularly for recombination events outside of hotspots. These include regions near the genes SPINK6, EVC2, ARHGAP25, and DLGAP2. This study expands our understanding of human meiotic recombination by characterizing additional features that vary across individuals, and identifying regulatory variants influencing the numbers and locations of recombination events.
Little White Lies: Pericarp Color Provides Insights into the Origins and Evolution of Southeast Asian Weedy Rice
Authors: Cui Yongxia , Song Beng Kah , Li Lin-Feng , Li Ya-Ling , Huang Zhongyun , Caicedo Ana L , Jia Yulin , Olsen Kenneth M
Published: October 2016

Weedy rice is a conspecific form of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) that infests rice fields and results in severe crop losses. Weed strains in different world regions appear to have originated multiple times from different domesticated and/or wild rice progenitors. In the case of Malaysian weedy rice, a multiple-origin model has been proposed based on neutral markers and analyses of domestication genes for hull color and seed shattering. Here, we examined variation in pericarp (bran) color and its molecular basis to address how this trait evolved in Malaysian weeds and its possible role in weed adaptation. Functional alleles of the Rc gene confer proanthocyanidin pigmentation of the pericarp, a trait found in most wild and weedy Oryzas and associated with seed dormancy; nonfunctional rc alleles were strongly favored during rice domestication, and most cultivated varieties have nonpigmented pericarps. Phenotypic characterizations of 52 Malaysian weeds revealed that most strains are characterized by the pigmented pericarp; however, some weeds have white pericarps, suggesting close relationships to cultivated rice. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the Rc haplotypes present in Malaysian weeds likely have at least three distinct origins: wild O. rufipogon, white-pericarp cultivated rice, and red-pericarp cultivated rice. These diverse origins contribute to high Rc nucleotide diversity in the Malaysian weeds. Comparison of Rc allelic distributions with other rice domestication genes suggests that functional Rc alleles may confer particular fitness benefits in weedy rice populations, for example, by conferring seed dormancy. This may promote functional Rc introgression from local wild Oryza populations.
Controlling the Rate of GWAS False Discoveries
Authors: Brzyski Damian , Peterson Christine B , Sobczyk Piotr , Candès Emmanuel J , Bogdan Malgorzata , Sabatti Chiara
Published: October 2016

With the rise of both the number and the complexity of traits of interest, control of the false discovery rate (FDR) in genetic association studies has become an increasingly appealing and accepted target for multiple comparison adjustment. While a number of robust FDR-controlling strategies exist, the nature of this error rate is intimately tied to the precise way in which discoveries are counted, and the performance of FDR-controlling procedures is satisfactory only if there is a one-to-one correspondence between what scientists describe as unique discoveries and the number of rejected hypotheses. The presence of linkage disequilibrium between markers in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) often leads researchers to consider the signal associated to multiple neighboring SNPs as indicating the existence of a single genomic locus with possible influence on the phenotype. This a posteriori aggregation of rejected hypotheses results in inflation of the relevant FDR. We propose a novel approach to FDR control that is based on prescreening to identify the level of resolution of distinct hypotheses. We show how FDR-controlling strategies can be adapted to account for this initial selection both with theoretical results and simulations that mimic the dependence structure to be expected in GWAS. We demonstrate that our approach is versatile and useful when the data are analyzed using both tests based on single markers and multiple regression. We provide an R package that allows practitioners to apply our procedure on standard GWAS format data, and illustrate its performance on lipid traits in the North Finland Birth Cohort 66 cohort study.
Neonatal Morbidity After Maternal Use of Antidepressant Drugs During Pregnancy
Authors: Nörby Ulrika , Forsberg Lisa , Wide Katarina , Sjörs Gunnar , Winbladh Birger , Källén Karin
Published: October 2016

OBJECTIVES:

To estimate the rate of admissions to NICUs, as well as infants’ morbidity and neonatal interventions, after exposure to antidepressant drugs in utero.

METHODS:

Data on pregnancies, deliveries, prescription drug use, and health status of the newborn infants were obtained from the Swedish Medical Birth Register, the Prescribed Drug Register, and the Swedish Neonatal Quality Register. We included 741 040 singletons, born between July 1, 2006, and December 31, 2012. Of the infants, 17 736 (2.4%) had mothers who used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy. Infants exposed to an SSRI were compared with nonexposed infants, and infants exposed during late pregnancy were compared with those exposed during early pregnancy only. The results were analyzed with logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS:

After maternal use of an SSRI, 13.7% of the infants were admitted to the NICU compared with 8.2% in the population (adjusted odds ratio: 1.5 [95% confidence interval: 1.4–1.5]). The admission rate to the NICU after treatment during late pregnancy was 16.5% compared with 10.8% after treatment during early pregnancy only (adjusted odds ratio: 1.6 [95% confidence interval: 1.5–1.8]). Respiratory and central nervous system disorders and hypoglycemia were more common after maternal use of an SSRI. Infants exposed to SSRIs in late pregnancy compared with early pregnancy had a higher risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension (number needed to harm: 285).

CONCLUSIONS:

Maternal use of antidepressants during pregnancy was associated with increased neonatal morbidity and a higher rate of admissions to the NICU. The absolute risk for severe disease was low, however.
Barriers to female sex addiction treatment in the UK
Authors: Dhuffar Manpreet K. , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: October 2016

Background

Over the last 20 years, behavioral addictions (e.g., addictions to gambling, playing video games, work, etc.) have become more accepted among both public and scientific communities. Addiction to sex is arguably a more controversial issue, but this does not take away from the fact that some individuals seek professional help for problematic excessive sex, irrespective of how the behavior is conceptualized. Empirical evidence suggests that among treatment seekers, men are more likely than women to seek help for sex addiction (SA).

Methods

Using the behavioral addiction literature and the authors’ own expertise in researching female SA, this paper examines potential barriers to the treatment for female sex addicts.

Results

Four main types of barriers for female sex addicts not seeking treatment were identified. These comprised (a) individual barriers, (b) social barriers, (c) research barriers, and (d) treatment barriers.

Conclusions

Further research is needed to either confirm or disconfirm the identified barriers that female sex addicts face when seeking treatment, and if conformation is found, interested stakeholders should provide better awareness and/or see ways in which such barriers can be overcome to aid better uptake of SA services.
The effects of sexually explicit material use on romantic relationship dynamics
Authors: Minarcik Jenny , Wetterneck Chad T. , Short MARY B.
Published: October 2016

Background and aims

Pornography use has become increasingly common. Studies have shown that individuals who use sexually explicit materials (SEMs) report negative effects (Schneider, 2000b). However, Bridges (2008b) found that couples who use SEM together have higher relationship satisfaction than those who use SEM independently. A further investigation into various types of SEM use in relationships may highlight how SEM is related to various areas of couple satisfaction. Thus, the purpose of the current study is to examine the impact of SEM use related to different relationship dynamics.

Methods

The current study included a college and Internet sample of 296 participants divided into groups based upon the SEM use in relationships (i.e., SEM alone, SEM use with partner, and no SEM use).

Results

There were significant differences between groups in relationship satisfaction [F(2, 252) = 3.69, p = .026], intimacy [F(2, 252) = 7.95, p = <.001], and commitment [F(2, 252) = 5.30, p = .006]. Post-hoc analyses revealed additional differences in relationship satisfaction [t(174) = 2.13, p = .035] and intimacy [t(174) = 2.76, p = .006] based on the frequency of SEM use.

Discussion

Further exploration of the SEM use function in couples will provide greater understanding of its role in romantic relationships.
PSIKOLOGI PENDIDIKAN DALAM AL-QUR’AN
Authors: Abdullah Muhammad Faisal M.
Published: October 2016

The core issues have been examined in this study including the relationships of the teacher’s involvement in decision making, interpersonal communication, and work motivation of the BPKB teachers in Gorontalo Province. This study used survey method with correlation techniques. The sample was the whole population of the 47 teachers by using total sampling or sample saturated. Based on the analysis of data concluded results namely 1) there is a positive relationship between teacher’s involvements in decision-making with the work motivation. 2) There is a positive relationship between interpersonal communication and the work motivation of teachers, 3) There is a positive relationship between involvement in decision-making and interpersonal communication simultaneously on the work motivation of teachers. These results indicated that the higher of teachers’ involvement in decision-making and interpersonal communication, the work motivation is increasing.
Klein-Gordon-Fock equation from Einstein general relativity
Authors: Thuan Vo Van
Published: October 2016

A time-space symmetry based cylindrical model of geometrical dynamics was proposed. Accordingly, the solution of Einstein gravitational equation in vacuum has a duality: an exponential solution and a wave-like one.  The former leads to a "microscopic" cosmological model with Hubble expansion. Due to interaction of a Higgs-like cosmological potential, the original time-space symmetry is spontaneously broken, inducing a strong time-like curvature and a weak space-like deviation curve.  In the result, the wave-like solution leads  to Klein-Gordon-Fock equation which would serve  an explicit approach to the problem of consistency between quantum mechanics and general relativity.
Influence of Disulfide Bridge on the Structural Stability of Human Neuroglobin: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Using Latest Data Entry
Authors: Quyen Bui Thi Le , Hoai Nguyen Thi Lam , Thanh Ngo Van
Published: October 2016

In this paper, we investigated the role of the disulfide bridge in the structural stability of wild-type human neuroglobin. The classical simulation of the neuroglobin without the disulfide bridge was performed for a long simulation run of 240~ns   using a new parameter set of Gromos96 force field and the latest data entry as the initial topologies. We used the analyzed data of original neuroglobin with the remained disulfide bridge to compare to the ones from this simulation. Our results showed that, the structure of neuroglobin was still very stable although the disulfide bridge was absent. There was only a few residues in B and C helices having a higher mobility. The most interesting result we obtained was that the increasing distance between the distal histidine and heme group could allow oxygen to bind more easily.
Simple Experimental Setups for Observing Wave-particle and Entanglement-separability Superpositions
Authors: An Nguyen Ba
Published: October 2016

It has been long believed that waveand particle cannot be superposed. Recently, however, modern quantumtechniques have allowed one to prepare photon wave-particle superpositionsexperimentally. In this work, we suggest simple setups, which resortto neither any extra quantum resources nor controlled-Hadamard gates, toobserve such superpositions as well as entanglement-separabilitysuperpositions with tunable entanglement degree. The suggested setups canalso serve as an interaction-free method to detect partially absorbingobjects.
Dwa oblicza emancypacji podmiotu
Authors: Augustyniak Piotr
Published: October 2016

The article discusses the duality of the phenomenon of emancipation of the human subject; this duality is one of the dimensions of the contingency of man. By duality I understand two discrepant and contradictory modes of being, which the emancipation of the subject can evoke. The first mode is being that consists in rising above the self through creativity, while the second is solidifying oneself, which lacks a creative element. The starting point for this analysis is a review of two approaches to this duality: 1) the dissonance between the romantic idea of authenticity and the contemporary self-actualisation, outlined by Taylor; and 2) the difference between the superman and the last man in Nietzsche’s thought. The second part of the article presents the reasons for this duality from an existential and ontological perspective (Heidegger) and from a psychoanalytical perspective (Freud). Both the drive-based structure and the existential-ontological structure of the human subject determine the not fully predictable (i.e. contingent) direction of self-development, which – regardless of the subject’s will – can take two fundamentally different routes.
Metaforyczność źródła w myśli filozoficznej Józefa Tischnera
Authors: Kot Dobrosław
Published: October 2016

Józef Tischner began his thinking from phenomenology. However, with time, other origins appeared: hermeneutics and the philosophy of encounter. All of them shaped his philosophy of drama, giving his thought a horizon with multiple origins. Each of these inspirations would seem very difficult to combine with the others. What makes them coherent? What are the relations between these origins? Perhaps somewhere deeper a kind of pre-origin can be found. I attempt to sketch Tischner’s journey to the origins to reveal that this pre-origin – man – needs this kind of complex system of origins.
Między przeznaczeniem a wolnym wyborem. Przygodność człowieka w filozofii Alberta Schweitzera
Authors: Kusak Leszek
Published: October 2016

The world described by science is, according to Schweitzer, terrible despite its greatness. The order of the world remains a mystery to man, and any attempts to justify the sovereignty of man’s will meet the insurmountable barrier of objective determinants of human existence (our birth, imperfect intellect, shortness of life; what limits man as a thinking and active subject).The world of civilisation and culture created by man is also becoming independent of man and opposes man as a hostile force. The ominous consequences of this double contingency may, to some extent, be neutralised by establishing a universal moral signpost that is binding for all people. In Schweitzer’s philosophy, this role is performed by the ethics of reverence for life. The principles, consequences, cohesion, and credibility of his programme of transforming man are the subject of consideration in the article.
Forensic engineering of construction materials: lessons learnt from disputes
Authors: Ingham Jeremy , Leek Darrell
Published: October 2016

Construction materials are an essential part of the built environment, whose manufacture and supply is an important global industry. Forensic engineering of construction materials is required when disputes arise relating to perceived failures, either during construction or in service. Concentrating on geomaterials, this paper discusses lessons learnt from a review of in excess of 100 forensic engineering investigations of defects and failures involving construction materials used in the built environment. Failures were observed to result either from deficient design, inadequate workmanship or defective materials and, frequently, from a combination of issues. Examples based on the case studies are presented with the aim of improving future design and construction practice.
Rural connectivity in Africa: motorcycle track construction
Authors: Jenkins Jack Thomas , Peters Krijn
Published: October 2016

Motorcycle transportation has burgeoned in war-affected West Africa over the past decade. The penetration of motorcycle taxis deep into isolated rural communities has spread spontaneously and created direct and indirect employment opportunities for low-skilled youth, a category most susceptible to militia recruitment. Equally important, it has significantly contributed to lifting smallholder farmers out of poverty by reducing the costs of moving produce to markets, with motorcycles able to visit villages connected to feeder roads solely by footpaths. Nevertheless, state actors and international donors remain reluctant to allocate funds to rural track building/upgrading, preferring to stick to more conventional, but expensive, construction/rehabilitation of rural roads accessible to four-wheeled vehicles. Through a case study of Liberia – still recovering from two civil wars and an Ebola health crisis – this paper argues that the impact of bringing community access through track construction/footpath upgrading is significant, particularly because track construction lends itself par excellence to the involvement of the rural communities themselves.
Does Renal Repair Recapitulate Kidney Development?
Authors: Little Melissa Helen , Kairath Pamela
Published: October 2016

Over a decade ago, it was proposed that the regulation of tubular repair in the kidney might involve the recapitulation of developmental pathways. Although the kidney cannot generate new nephrons after birth, suggesting a low level of regenerative competence, the tubular epithelial cells of the nephrons can proliferate to repair the damage after AKI. However, the debate continues over whether this repair involves a persistent progenitor population or any mature epithelial cell remaining after injury. Recent reports have highlighted the expression of Sox9, a transcription factor critical for normal kidney development, during postnatal epithelial repair in the kidney. Indeed, the proliferative response of the epithelium involves expression of several pathways previously described as being involved in kidney development. In some instances, these pathways are also apparently involved in the maladaptive responses observed after repeated injury. Whether development and repair in the kidney are the same processes or we are misinterpreting the similar expression of genes under different circumstances remains unknown. Here, we review the evidence for this link, concluding that such parallels in expression may more correctly represent the use of the same pathways in a distinct context, likely triggered by similar stressors.
The Didactical Contract Surrounding CAS when Changing Teachers in the Classroom
Authors: Jankvist Uffe Thomas , Misfeldt Morten , Marcussen Anders
Published: October 2016

The article discusses three empirical examples of Computer Algebra System (CAS) use in Danish upper secondary school mathematics class with a recent change of teacher. All examples lead to didactical problems surrounding the situation and unclear expectations between teacher and students, involving loss of students’ mathematical skills and confidence, loss of global mathematical perspective, and the students losing sight of the mathematical objects in question. The article is the result of collaboration between two mathematics education researchers and an upper secondary school mathematics teacher, who experienced severe difficulties when taking over a class from another teacher. CAS was experienced as a crucial part of and reason for these difficulties. As a means for investigating the potential reasons behind the difficulties, a selection of constructs from the Theory of Didactical Situations (TDS) is applied. In particular, it is observed that unclear contractual relations about the role of CAS bring with them misguided winning strategies and metacognitive shifts, eventually causing the students to ‘lose the game’.
Investigating Pedagogical Content Knowledge-in-Action
Authors: Taylan Rukiye Didem , Da Ponte João Pedro
Published: October 2016

Abstract: This paper investigates the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of a teacher educator who teaches 5th-grade mathematics in a school in the context of a university-school partnership project. PCK is analyzed in a qualitative way through video-taped classroom episodes with focus on interactions between the teacher and the students as well as the teacher’s reflections and pedagogical reasoning on the interactions. The analyses indicate examples of PCK development during teaching, especially refinement in the domain of knowledge of instructional strategies and representations. This knowledge improved as a result of reflection on student questioning and analysis of students’ misconceptions. Different roles of being teacher, teacher educator, and researcher afforded opportunities to gain insights on how to develop knowledge required for teaching and analyze it in order to facilitate future teachers’ learning.
The structure and development of urban settlement system
Authors: Gladkey A.
Published: October 2016

The features of urban population settlement development are disclosed. The peculiarities of urban territorial structures in different regions are explored. The supporting frame of urban population settlement development is investigated. The traditional types of urban settlement supporting frames (ring-radial, rectangular regular, linear-nodular, seaside as well as multicore) are defined. The new forms of ring-radial settlement systems (vector, polynuclear, semi-ring et al.) are characterized. The main advantages and disadvantages of urban settlement configuration are shown. The basic examples of their development are proposed.
Geography of budget airlines in Europe
Authors: Beydyk A. , Sova V.
Published: October 2016

Analyzes the spatial organization of activity of low cost airlines in Europe, identified the main differences between budget and traditional air carriers proposed cartographic model of the absolute amount of budget air travel.
National park “Slobozhansky” – component of the natural and historical heritage of Ukraine
Authors: Getman V.
Published: October 2016

The result of the increased anthropogenic global influence has become a planetary phenomenon of fragmentation of natural landscapes. One of the relatively preserved natural systems of landscape diversity is national park “Slobozhanskiy” in the Kharkiv region. The National Park “Slobozhanskiy” – an important center of biodiversity in Eastern Ukraine. Biotic uniqueness of its territory is largely determined by local natural and historical conditions. The article analyzes the flora and fauna of the national park, to the extent possible volume of article – retrospective prerequisites for the formation of not simple relationship in the system “man – nature” after the settlement of Sloboda Ukraine in the XVII century.
Conformational polymorphysm of G-rich fragments of DNA ALU-repeats. I. Potential noncanonical structures
Authors: Sekridova A.V. , Varizhuk A.M. , Tatarinova O.N. , Severov V.V. , Barinov N.A. , Smirnov I.P. , Lazarev V.N. , Klinov D.V. , Pozmogova G.E.
Published: October 2016

In this paper, we report results of systematic studies of conformational polymorphism of G-rich DNA fragments from Alu repeats. Alu retrotransposones are primate-specific short interspersed elements. Using the Alu sequence from the prooncogen bcl2 intron and the consensus AluSx sequence as representative examples, we determined characteristic Alu sites that are capable of adopting G-quadruplex (GQ) conformations (i.e., potential quadruplex sites – PQSAlu), and demonstrated by bioinformatics methods that those sites are Alu-specific in the human genome. Genomic frequencies of PQSAlu were assessed (~1/10000 b.p.). The sites were found to be characteristic of young (active) Alu families (Alu-Y). A recombinant DNA sequence bearing the Alu element from the human bcl2 gene (304 b.p.) and its PQS-mutant (Alu-PQS) were constructed. The formation of noncanonical structures in Alubcl2 dsDNA and the absence of such structures in the case of Alu-PQS were shown using DMS-footprinting and AFM microscopy. Expression vectors bearing wild-type and mutant Alu insertions in the promoter regions were obtained, and the effects of these insertions on the expression of the reporter gene in НЕК293 and HeLa cell lines were compared. Our findings on the spatial organization of Alu repeats may provide insight into the mechanisms of genomic rearrangements which underlie many oncological and neurodegenerative diseases.
The role of neutrophil myeloperoxidase in the development of inflammation after thermal skin burns
Authors: Mikhalchik E.V. , Budkevich L.I. , Piterskaya Yu.A. , Penkov L.Yu. , Astamirova T.S. , Smolina N.V. , Vakhrusheva T.V. , Panasenko O.M.
Published: October 2016

In the blood of children (n=16) with large thermal skin burns (> 20% of total body surface), luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) of neutrophils stimulated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in neutrophils and plasma were assayed in the early period (1-7 post-burn days). PMA-stimulated neutrophils in thermally injured patients produced higher CL than those in a reference group of healthy children (n=24), p<0.01. MPO activity was elevated in neutrophils and plasma in 40% and 57% of patients' blood samples, respectively. The albumin fraction isolated from plasma of burned patients enhanced the PMA-stimulated CL response of blood samples from healthy volunteer. Our results suggest that the acute inflammatory response induced by thermal injury involves activation of neutrophils and is accompanied by MPO release into the plasma. MPO-mediated modification of serum albumin induces its capacity to prime neutrophils and thus to enhance further inflammatory reaction.
Использование социально-психологического тренинга при решении проблемы адаптации обучающихся в МГТУ им. Н.Э. Баумана
Authors: Пятибратова Инна Викторовна
Published: October 2016

Автор статьи рассматривает социально-психологический тренинг как средство адаптации студентов к обучению в МГТУ им. Н.Э. Баумана. Определен круг проблем, которые возникают в период адаптации обучающихся. Показана эффективность использования социально-психологического тренинга как средства здоровьесберегающих и оздоровительных технологий в процессе адаптации обучающихся.
Battling a Tangled Web: The Lived Experience of Nurses Providing End-of-Life Care on an Acute Medical Unit
Authors: Oliveira Irene , Fothergill-Bourbonnais Frances , McPherson Christine , Vanderspank-Wright Brandi
Published: October 2016

Meeting the heath care needs of patients at the end of life is becoming more complex. In Canada, most patients with life-limiting illness will die in hospitals, many on medical units. Yet, few studies have qualitatively investigated end-of-life care (EOLC) in this context, or from the perspectives of nurses providing EOLC. The purpose of this study was to seek to understand the lived experience of nurses on a medical unit providing EOLC to patients. Interpretive phenomenology guided the method and analysis. Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with 10 nurses from 2 hospital medical units. The underlying essence of these nurses’ experiences was that of “battling a tangled web.” Battling a tangled web represented their struggles in attempting to provide EOLC in an environment that was not always conducive to it. Seven themes were generated from the analysis: caring in complexity, caught in a tangled web, bearing witness to suffering, weaving a way to get there: struggling through the process, creating comfort for the patient, working through the dying process with the family, and finding a way through the web. The findings contribute to an understanding of the experiences of nurses in providing EOLC on a medical unit including perceived facilitators and barriers.
Comparative Analysis of User‐Generated Online Yelp Reviews for Periodontal Practices in Multiple Metropolitan Markets
Authors: Holtzclaw Dan J.
Published: October 2016

Background: Previously published research for a single metropolitan market (Austin, Texas) found that periodontists fare poorly on the Yelp website for nearly all measured metrics, including average star ratings, number of reviews, review removal rate, and evaluations by “elite” Yelp users. The purpose of the current study is to confirm or refute these findings by expanding datasets to additional metropolitan markets of various sizes and geographic locations.

Methods: A total of 6,559 Yelp reviews were examined for general dentists, endodontists, pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, orthodontists, and periodontists in small (Austin, Texas), medium (Seattle, Washington), and large (New York City, New York) metropolitan markets. Numerous review characteristics were evaluated, including: 1) total number of reviews; 2) average star rating; 3) review filtering rate; and 4) number of reviews by Yelp members with elite status. Results were compared in multiple ways to determine whether statistically significant differences existed.

Results: In all metropolitan markets, periodontists were outperformed by all other dental specialties for all measured Yelp metrics in this study. Intermetropolitan comparisons of periodontal practices showed no statistically significant differences.

Conclusions: Periodontists were outperformed consistently by all other dental specialties in every measured metric on the Yelp website. These results were consistent and repeated in all three metropolitan markets evaluated in this study. Poor performance of periodontists on Yelp may be related to the age profile of patients in the typical periodontal practice. This may result in inadvertently biased filtering of periodontal reviews and subsequently poor performance in multiple other categories.
Efetividade de um programa multiprofissional de tratamento da obesidade em adolescentes: impacto sobre transtorno de compulsão alimentar periódica
Authors: Nardo Junior Nelson , Bolognese Marciele Alves , Bianchini Josiane Aparecida Alves , Silva Danilo Fernandes da , Mendes Anselmo Alexandre , Dada Rafaela Pilegi
Published: October 2016

Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar os efeitos de um Programa Multiprofissional de Tratamento da Obesidade (PMTO-NEMO-UEM) sobre o transtorno de compulsão alimentar periódica (TCAP) em adolescentes; verificar o impacto do sexo e faixa etária sobre as mudanças no escore de compulsão alimentar e; relacionar as mudanças percentuais neste escore com as mudanças percentuais nas variáveis antropométricas e composição corporal. A amostra foi composta por 27 adolescentes com excesso de peso entre 14 e 17 anos, que passaram por avaliações antes e após um PMTO composto por nutricionistas, educadores físicos e uma psicóloga. Foram obtidas as medidas de peso, índice de massa corporal (IMC), composição corporal, e TCAP, a partir da escala de compulsão alimentar periódica. Verificou-se que o PMTO-NEMO-UEM foi capaz de reduzir os escores de compulsão alimentar em adolescentes, independente do sexo e faixa etária, além de promover melhoras sobre o peso, IMC, gordura corporal, e massa livre de gordura relativa. O programa também reduziu o número de adolescentes com TCAP após o período de intervenção (18,5% versus 3,7%). Assim, conclui-se que um PMTO pode promover mudanças positivas sobre os escores de compulsão alimentar em adolescentes, sendo uma possibilidade de serviço de saúde voltado à população pediátrica.
Condições higiênico-sanitárias de Unidades de Alimentação e Nutrição Hospitalares da Região Oeste de Santa Catarina
Authors: Pederssetti Maiara Tecchio , Hautrive Tiffany Prokopp
Published: October 2016

As Unidades de Alimentação e Nutrição Hospitalares (UANs) devem oferecer uma alimentação adequada, balanceada e segura. A alimentação desta clientela integra tratamento clínico e deve contribuir para a recuperação dos pacientes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as condições higiênico-sanitárias de quatro UANs hospitalares da região oeste do estado de Santa Catarina (SC). Utilizou-se uma lista de verificação baseada nas resoluções RDC 216/04 e RDC 275/02 da vigilância sanitária avaliando 11 itens em relação às Boas Práticas de Fabricação (BPF) e aos Procedimentos Operacionais Padronizados (POPs). Os resultados obtidos mostraram algumas irregularidades nas UANs, principalmente naquelas que que não mantinham nutricionista no local. Apesar das irregularidades apresentadas, nenhuma UAN foi classificada no Grupo 3, considerado o de pior qualidade higiênico sanitária. As UANs A e B foram classificadas no Grupo 2 – Regular, e as UANs C e D foram classificadas no Grupo 1 – Bom. Apesar das quatro UANs apresentarem um bom percentual de adequação e nenhuma encontrarse na classificação Ruim, as UANs que se encaixaram no Grupo 2 merecem uma atenção especial quanto à qualidade higiênico sanitária, pois não possuem um profissional responsável no local aumentando o risco de contaminação alimentar durante o preparo de dietas hospitalares.
Ação educativa com idosos institucionalizados
Authors: Andreo Denise , Bublitz Gabriela Nobile , Alencar Jéssica Andrade de
Published: October 2016

A deficiência nutricional em idosos vem aumentando juntamente com os transtornos alimentares e pode levar o indivíduo a diversos quadros, como: desnutrição, obesidade, hipertensão, diabetes, doenças cardiovasculares e a perda de apetite, que tem sido relacionada à ausência de elementos dentários, e que leva à diminuição do consumo de carnes e hortifrútis. Considerando ainda as demências, notadamente a Doença de Alzheimer, este quadro tornase ainda mais agravante. Este estudo objetivou incentivar o consumo de hortifrútis em idosos institucionalizados, para que estes possam ter uma dieta balanceada, de acordo com as necessidades nutricionais nesta fase do ciclo da vida. O presente trabalho foi realizado em uma Instituição de Longa Permanência (ILP) para idosos, no interior de São Paulo, pela equipe do Programa Mesa Brasil Sesc Rio Preto. Para incentivar a mudança no hábito alimentar, optou-se por dinâmicas que favoreçam a coordenação motora e a memorização, com o objetivo de evidenciar a importância dos hortifrútis para a saúde. O objetivo foi alcançado, pois o grupamento entendeu a importância de ingerir hortifrútis e como montar um prato saudável e completo nutricionalmente.
Experiences of Urban Australian Indigenous peer Mentors in a Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Program
Authors: Adams Karen , Browne Jennifer , Palermo Claire , Radford Gail
Published: October 2016

This paper describes urban Indigenous Australian experiences of a peer mentor program (PMP) aiming to reduce non-communicable disease (NCD) risks and discusses its implications for future policy and practice. Much of the inequitable mortality for Indigenous Australians is related to NCD incidence. Using a qualitative approach the study reported here explored 21 people's experiences as peer mentors in an NCD risk reduction PMP, which took place between 2009 and 2011. Four key themes were identified, including community networks, collective wellbeing, skills development and problem solving, and sustainability. The PMP allowed for inclusiveness of individual strengths, diversity and cultural knowledge. Formal networks provided sustainability and information while peer informal networks provided increased participation, knowledge dissemination, practice of health-promoting skills and provision of support. Inclusion of collective cultural elements, such as connections to Elders, families, children and Country were particularly important for the peer mentors in this study.
The consequences of China's impending economic crisis on global economy
Authors: Mafukata Mavhungu Abel
Published: October 2016

The main objective of this paper is to predict the consequences of China's impending economic crisis on global economy – with reference to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in particular. The specific objective of this paper is to investigate and explore the increasing dominance of economic practice of China in SSA. China is a critical principal player in the economy of SSA. China's influence and dominance of the SSA economy might have negative effect on SSA in case of any implosion of the Chinese economy. Data were collected from print and electronic sources extracted from the vast body of empirical scholarship of different disciplines on China in SSA.  The results of this paper revealed that China is indeed dominating the economy in SSA. Pointers are that China's economic implosion would have consequences for SSA in the same way as the 2008-2009 global economic recession had around the world. This  paper positively predicts that China's economic and financial implosion remains a possibility, and would impact on SSA.
Phenological model performance to warmer conditions: application to Pinot noir in Burgundy
Authors: Cuccia Cédric , Bois Benjamin , Richard Yves , Parker Amber Kaye , García de Cortázar-Atauri Iñaki , Van Leeuwen Cornelis , Castel Thierry
Published: October 2016

Aim: The current work aims to assess the performance of two phenological models - a linear model (Grapevine Flowering Véraison model, GFV) and a curvilinear model (Wang and Engel model, WE) - to warmer temperature conditions for the grapevine variety Pinot noir in Burgundy.

Methods and results: Simulations using historical data from the 1973-2005 period were similar between models and consistent with observations. To mimic potential climate warming for 2050 and 2100, 3 °C and 5 °C were added to each daily average temperature of the 1973-2005 dataset. The results showed that the two models simulated similarly the véraison stage of Pinot noir in Burgundy for temperature increases up to 5 °C. However, the simulation by the GFV model was 4.7 days earlier than that by the WE model when 10 °C was added. This difference may reflect the inhibitory effect of high temperatures on plant development incorporated in the equations of the WE model. Finally, both models were tested for three other sites in Europe (Carcassonne, Cagliari and Seville) with quite contrasting climatic conditions. Results obtained showed that both models differed significantly when they were applied at latitudes below 40°N.

Conclusion: In cool-climate grape growing regions and for early grapevine varieties, increased temperatures (up to +5 °C) may advance the date of véraison as predicted by heat summation models but produce little difference in predictions between the simpler GFV model and the WE model.

Significance and impact of the study: Both models (GFV and WE) satisfactorily reproduce the observed véraison dates for Pinot noir in Burgundy. For the range of temperature increases expected in the future for cool temperate areas, a model that uses a curvilinear response to temperature does not improve significantly the phenological predictions compared with a simple model based on a linear response.
Shading of the fruit zone to reduce grape yield and quality losses caused by sunburn
Authors: Oliveira Manuel , Teles José , Barbosa Pedro , Olazabal Francisco , Queiroz Jorge
Published: October 2016

Aim: To test the hypothesis that shading of the fruiting zone of the plants might reduce yield losses caused by excessive exposure to sun while avoiding the most damaging effects associated with reduced radiation.

Methods and results: A number of grapevine rows were shaded with a double layered white plastic netting on their south-facing side, from the ground to about 20 cm above the cluster zone. Data on meteorological conditions, plant growth, plant water availability, yield components and must characteristics were recorded during three growing seasons. Shading significantly increased yield but did not alter significantly the must characteristics.

Conclusion: Partial shading of the grapevine canopy reduced yield losses attributable to excessive radiation. The must obtained from shaded berries had a lower concentration of anthocyanins, and the wines made from these musts had a lighter colour which may be detrimental to their quality.

Significance and impact of the study: The study highlights the effects of solar radiation on the composition of grape musts and suggests a potentially cost-effective method to control excessive radiation in vineyards.
Electrochemical Biosensor Using Acetobacter Enzyme for Detecting Alcohol
Authors: Iswantini Dyah , Nurhidayat Novik , Djukarsa Indah R.
Published: October 2016

Determining halal product of fermented foods and bevearages becomes important for muslim consumers due to religious codification of halal. In order to help on site analysis, an alcohol biosensor was under development. The biosensor was constructed using bacteria producing alcohol oxidase (AOX). Bacteria from apple juice was isolated in advance to obtain pure bacteria. The bacteria was cultured in two solid media. Bacteria on the Acetobacter media had a resistance in a solution containing alcohol with a higher concentration. Acetobacter was cultured on solid and liquid media for measuring at various ethanol concentrations (0.01%-3%) with different absorbance value. Bacteria with absorbance value 0.500 had the highest oxidation current peak. Later, it was used as bioreceptor for measuring ethanol by cyclic voltammetry method. The linearity of measurement later was compared with spectrophotometric measurement. By using cyclic voltammetry the linearity had higher R2 value than spectrophotometric method. However, it only had stability for two days, there fore it needs more improvement for lasting its lifetime. Basically, electrochemical method has potency for further being improved fur as an alternative method of ethanol on-site measurement.