bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biological traits yield divergent phylogeographical patterns between two aphids living on the same host plants
Authors: Fang Fang , Chen Jing , Jiang Li‐Yun , Chen Rui , Qiao Ge‐Xia
Published: June 2016

Aim

Animals' phylogeographical patterns are frequently explained by Pleistocene glacial fluctuations and topographical environments. However, species‐specific biological traits are thought to have profound impacts on distribution patterns, particularly in aphids. We hypothesize that the phylogeographical patterns and/or population dynamics of two sympatric aphids may be different due to their different reproductive modes and feeding sites, even though they share the same hosts and environmental conditions.

Location

China.

Methods

We explored our hypothesis in Chaitophorus saliniger and Tuberolachnus salignus, two aphids that share the same host plants (genus Salix) but differ biologically. Chaitophorus saliniger is characterized by alternating sexual and asexual reproduction and only feeds on willow leaves, whereas T. salignus has obligate asexual reproduction and feeds on trunks and branches. The genetic diversity, population structure and demographic history of the aphids were analysed based on both mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b) and nuclear DNA (translation elongation factor 1 alpha). Ecological niche models (ENMs) were used to explore historical changes in distribution. The chief environmental variables that discriminate the different haplogroups were identified through multivariate statistical analysis.

Results

There were striking differences in the phylogeographical patterns between the species. The sexual C. saliniger exhibited higher genetic diversity and population variations than the asexual T. salignus. According to genetic analyses and ENMs, both species experienced glacial contraction and post‐glacial expansion. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that the climatic differences between the divergent haplogroups were explained by principal components mainly loaded with temperature and elevation.

Main conclusions

Our results suggest that species‐specific biological traits and historical climate fluctuations have both shaped the current phylogeographical patterns of both aphid species. Their distinct genetic diversity and population structures highlight the importance of intrinsic biological features in driving phylogeographical patterns.
Cohesin subunits, STAG1 and STAG2, and cohesin regulatory factor, PDS5b, in oral squamous cells carcinomas
Authors: França Josiane Alves , Diniz Marina Gonçalves , Bernardes Vanessa Fátima , Costa‐Silva Raíssa Cristina , Souza Renan Pedra , Gomez Ricardo Santiago , Gomes Carolina Cavaliéri
Published: June 2016

Background

Cohesin complex is responsible for sister chromatid cohesion. STAG1/STAG2 is part of the complex, which is regulated by PDS5B. Alterations in these genes were described in tumors. PDS5B is a negative regulator of cell proliferation. We aimed to assess molecular alterations in these genes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and predict their expression by the expression of 84 cell cycle genes. In addition, we investigated whether pds5b protein expression impacted ki‐67 and p53 immunopositivity.

Methods

We assessed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at STAG1 and STAG2 loci in 15 OSCC using three polymorphic markers. Associations between the immunoexpression of pds5b and ki‐67 and p53 were tested in 62 samples. Differences between transcriptional levels of STAG1, STAG2, and PDS5B between OSCC and normal oral mucosa (NM) were evaluated by qPCR. An 84 cell cycle genes qPCR array was carried with OSCC samples, and STAG1, STAG2, and PDS5B were independently used as response variables in multiple linear regression models.

Results

Loss of heterozygosity in at least one marker was observed in three samples. pds5b, p53, and ki‐67 were highly expressed, and no association was found between pds5b immunoexpression and ki‐67 or p53 (P > 0.05). OSCC and NM showed similar transcriptional levels of STAG1, STAG2, and PDS5B. STAG1 and CUL3 expression seem to be related (P = 0.004).

Conclusions

There is LOH at STAG1 and STAG2 loci in OSCC, but OSCC and NM showed similar transcriptional levels of STAG1, STAG2, and PDS5B. pds5b immunoexpression in OSCC was high, but it was not associated with proliferation cell index.
Silicon‐Induced Changes in the Antioxidant System Reduce Soybean Resistance to Frogeye Leaf Spot
Authors: Telles Nascimento Kelly Juliane , Debona Daniel , Silveira Patrícia Ricardino , Silva Leandro Castro , DaMatta Fabio Murilo , Rodrigues Fabricio Ávila
Published: June 2016

Frogeye leaf spot (FLS), caused by the fungus Cercospora sojina, is one of the most important soybean diseases and can cause great yield losses. Several studies have demonstrated that silicon (Si) enhances the plant antioxidant system, especially when they are subjected to stresses. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of Si on soybean resistance to FLS, on the antioxidant system, on the concentration of reactive oxygen species and on cellular damage during the infection process of C. sojina. Plants from cultivars Bossier and Conquista, susceptible and resistant to FLS, respectively, were supplied with either 0 (−Si) or 2 mm (+Si) and non‐inoculated or inoculated with C. sojina. FLS severity was greater for Bossier than for Conquista, regardless of the Si supply, and it was increased by Si for both cultivars. The activities of the most antioxidant enzymes were lower in the +Si plants than in the −Si plants when they were not inoculated. Inoculated plants usually showed an increased enzyme activities and higher concentrations of ascorbate and reduced glutathione than did the non‐inoculated plants, regardless of Si supply. At advanced stages of fungal infection, the +Si‐inoculated plants from Bossier had higher activity of most antioxidant enzymes and higher concentrations of superoxide and malondialdehyde compared to the non‐inoculated plants as a result of an increased oxidative stress. The results from this study provide the first evidence that Si reduces the basal activity of antioxidant enzymes in soybean leaves leading to an increase in host susceptibility to FLS.
Biocontrol of Fusarium Wilt and Growth Promotion of Tomato Plants Using Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from Solanum elaeagnifolium Stems
Authors: Aydi Ben Abdallah Rania , Jabnoun‐Khiareddine Hayfa , Nefzi Ahlem , Mokni‐Tlili Sonia , Daami‐Remadi Mejda
Published: June 2016

Seven culturable bacterial isolates, obtained from the internal stem tissues of Solanum elaeagnifolium and successfully colonizing the internal stem tissues of tomato cv. Rio Grande, were screened for their in vivo antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (FOL) and their growth‐promoting potential on tomato plants. SV101 and SV104 isolates, assessed on pathogen‐challenged tomato plants led to a significant decrease (77–83%) in Fusarium wilt severity and vascular browning extent (76%), as compared to the inoculated and untreated control. Isolates enhanced growth parameters on pathogen‐challenged and unchallenged tomato plants. SV104 and SV101 isolates were most effective in suppressing disease and enhancing plant growth. These two isolates were identified as Bacillus sp. str. SV101 (KU043040) and B. tequilensis str. SV104 (KU976970). They displayed antifungal activity against FOL; pathogen growth was inhibited by 64% and an inhibition zone (11.50 and 19.75 mm) against FOL could be formed using whole cell suspensions. SV101 and SV104 extracellular metabolites also inhibited FOL growth by 20 and 55%, respectively, as compared to control. B. tequilensis str. SV104 was shown to produce protease, chitinase, pectinase, IAA and siderophores. Bacillus sp. str. SV101 displayed pectinase activity and was found to be an IAA‐producing and phosphate‐solubilizing agent. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting on S. elaeagnifolium use as a potential source of potent biocontrol and plant growth‐promoting agents.
Labour Costs and the Size of Government
Authors: Facchini François , Melki Mickael , Pickering Andrew
Published: June 2016

Given inelastic demand for labour‐intensive public services, the size of government depends positively on labour costs. OECD data exhibit a strong statistical association between government size and the business‐sector labour share of income. When the labour share is instrumented with measures of technological change, institutional variation and predetermined data it continues to positively impact government size. In contrast, transfer spending is unaffected by the labour share. The evidence is consistent with the idea that the recent decline in the labour share has contributed to the slowdown in the growth of government witnessed in much of the post‐war era.
Gene mining in halophytes: functional identification of stress tolerance genes in Lepidium crassifolium
Authors: Rigó Gábor , Valkai Ildikó , Faragó Dóra , Kiss Edina , Van Houdt Sara , Van de Steene Nancy , Hannah Matthew A. , Szabados László
Published: June 2016

Extremophile plants are valuable sources of genes conferring tolerance traits, which can be explored to improve stress tolerance of crops. Lepidium crassifolium is a halophytic relative of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and displays tolerance to salt, osmotic and oxidative stresses. We have employed the modified Conditional cDNA Overexpression System to transfer a cDNA library from L. crassifolium to the glycophyte A. thaliana. By screening for salt, osmotic and oxidative stress tolerance through in vitro growth assays and non‐destructive chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, 20 Arabidopsis lines were identified with superior performance under restrictive conditions. Several cDNA inserts were cloned and confirmed to be responsible for the enhanced tolerance by analysing independent transgenic lines. Examples include full‐length cDNAs encoding proteins with high homologies to GDSL‐lipase/esterase or acyl CoA‐binding protein or proteins without known function, which could confer tolerance to one or several stress conditions. Our results confirm that random gene transfer from stress tolerant to sensitive plant species is a valuable tool to discover novel genes with potential for biotechnological applications.
Effects of Growth Hormone on In Situ Culture of Bovine Preantral Follicles are Dose Dependent
Authors: Jimenez CR , de Azevedo JL , Silveira RG , Penitente‐Filho J , Carrascal‐Triana EL , Zolini AM , Araújo VR , Torres CAA
Published: June 2016

Content

The objective of this study was to evaluate different concentrations of growth hormone (GH) on the development of bovine preantral follicles cultured included in the ovarian tissue (in situ) on the rates of morphologically normal, viable, primordial and developing follicles, as well as the oocyte and follicle diameter and ultrastructural analysis. Ovarian fragments collected from cows with no cross‐breeds defined were cultured in situ for 1 and 7 days in minimal essential medium (α‐MEM+) supplemented with different concentrations of recombinant human GH (0, 10, 25, 50 ng/ml). The ovarian fragments non‐cultured (control) and cultured were processed for classic histology, mechanical isolation and electron transmission microscopy (MET). The parameters underwent anova (Tukey′s and Dunnett′s tests) and chi‐square test (χ2). After 7 days of culture, the treatment with 50 ng/ml GH showed no differences with fresh control (p > 0.05) and had greater effectiveness than in the 0, 10 and 25 ng/ml GH concentrations of the morphologically normal follicles. Regarding the primordial follicles, a reduction was observed in the 50 ng/ml GH concentration concomitant with the significant increase in developing follicles, differing from both the fresh control and the other GH concentrations tested. In addition, 50 ng/ml GH showed a larger follicle and oocyte diameter when compared to the other treatments cultured. Similar structures were ultrastructurally observed in the control group, 50 ng/ml GH. Follicles cultured in 10 ng/ml GH showed nuclear invagination, vacuoles and lesioned basal membrane. Hence, it is concluded that 50 ng/ml GH is the most effective concentration for the development of preantral follicles cultured in situ.
Dental enamel development defects in children and adolescents with HIV infection: case‐control study
Authors: Pontes Alessandra Silva , Lima Marina de Deus Moura , Andrade Natália Silva , de Moura Marcoeli Silva , Moura Lúcia de Fatima Almeida de Deus
Published: June 2016

To determine the frequency of Enamel Development Defects (DDE) and associated factors in children and adolescents infected with HIV. A case‐control study was conducted in HIV‐infected patients (n = 52), aged 3 to 15, and a control group formed by preschool and schoolchildren (n = 104) matched according to gender, age and household income. Data on medical history, neonatal and maternal conditions were obtained. For diagnosis of enamel defects was used modified DDE Index. DDE frequency was 61.5% in the case group and 58.7% in the control group (p = 0.569). Infection of the genitourinary tract and maternal hemorrhage were factors associated with DDE in the case and control groups, respectively. An association was observed between the use of antiretroviral regimens with protease inhibitors or efavirenz and DDE in the permanent dentition. Children and adolescents HIV‐infected showed a DDE frequency similar to healthy patients, but factors associated with this condition were different between the groups.
Technical Note: A new phantom design for routine testing of Doppler ultrasound
Authors: Grice J. V. , Pickens D. R. , Price R. R.
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

The objective of this project is to demonstrate the principle and operation for a simple, inexpensive, and highly portable Doppler ultrasound quality assurance (QA) phantom intended for routine QA testing. A prototype phantom has been designed, fabricated, and evaluated. The phantom described here is powered by gravity alone, requires no external equipment for operation, and produces a stable fluid velocity useful for quality assurance. Many commercially available Doppler ultrasound testing systems can suffer from issues such as a lengthy setup, prohibitive cost, nonportable size, or difficulty in use. This new phantom design aims to address some of these problems and create a phantom appropriate for assessing Doppler ultrasound stability.

Methods:

The phantom was fabricated using a 3D printer. The basic design of the phantom is to provide gravity‐powered flow of a Doppler fluid between two reservoirs. The printed components were connected with latex tubing and then seated in a tissue mimicking gel. Spectral Doppler waveforms were sampled to evaluate variations in the data, and the phantom was evaluated using high frame rate video to find an alternate measure of mean fluid velocity flowing in the phantom.

Results:

The current system design maintains stable flow from one reservoir to the other for approximately 7 s. Color Doppler imaging of the phantom was found to be qualitatively consistent with laminar flow. Using pulsed spectral Doppler, the average fluid velocity from a sample volume approximately centered in the synthetic vessel was measured to be 56 cm/s with a standard deviation of 3.2 cm/s across 118 measurements. An independent measure of the average fluid velocity was measured to be 51.9 cm/s with a standard deviation of 0.7 cm/s over 4 measurements.

Conclusions:

The developed phantom provides stable fluid flow useful for frequent clinical Doppler ultrasound testing and attempts to address several obstacles facing Doppler phantom testing. Such an ultrasound phantom can make routine testing more approachable for institutions that wish to initiate a Doppler QA program or complement a previously existing QA program.
A new form of the calibration curve in radiochromic dosimetry. Properties and results
Authors: Tamponi Matteo , Bona Rossana , Poggiu Angela , Marini Piergiorgio
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

This work describes a new form of the calibration curve for radiochromic dosimetry that depends on one fit parameter. Some results are reported to show that the new curve performs as well as those previously used and, more importantly, significantly reduces the dependence on the lot of films, the film orientation on the scanner, and the time after exposure.

Methods:

The form of the response curve makes use of the net optical densities ratio against the dose and has been studied by means of the Beer–Lambert law and a simple modeling of the film. The new calibration curve has been applied to EBT3 films exposed at 6 and 15 MV energy beams of linear accelerators and read‐out in transmission mode by means of a flatbed color scanner. Its performance has been compared to that of two established forms of the calibration curve, which use the optical density and the net optical density against the dose. Four series of measurements with four lots of EBT3 films were used to evaluate the precision, accuracy, and dependence on the time after exposure, orientation on the scanner and lot of films.

Results:

The new calibration curve is roughly subject to the same dose uncertainty, about 2% (1 standard deviation), and has the same accuracy, about 1.5% (dose values between 50 and 450 cGy), as the other calibration curves when films of the same lot are used. Moreover, the new calibration curve, albeit obtained from only one lot of film, shows a good agreement with experimental data from all other lots of EBT3 films used, with an accuracy of about 2% and a relative dose precision of 2.4% (1 standard deviation). The agreement also holds for changes of the film orientation and of the time after exposure.

Conclusions:

The dose accuracy of this new form of the calibration curve is always equal to or better than those obtained from the two types of curves previously used. The use of the net optical densities ratio considerably reduces the dependence on the lot of films, the landscape/portrait orientation, and the time after exposure. This form of the calibration curve could become even more useful with new optical digital devices using monochromatic light.
Debris-carrying camouflage among diverse lineages of Cretaceous insects
Authors: Wang Bo , Xia Fangyuan , Engel Michael S. , Perrichot Vincent , Shi Gongle , Zhang Haichun , Chen Jun , Jarzembowski Edmund A. , Wappler Torsten , Rust Jes
Published: June 2016

A diverse insect assemblage of exceptionally preserved debris carriers is reported from Cretaceous Burmese, French, and Lebanese ambers.
An electromechanical Ising Hamiltonian
Authors: Mahboob Imran , Okamoto Hajime , Yamaguchi Hiroshi
Published: June 2016

The phonons localized in a mechanical resonator can be electrically manipulated to emulate the Ising Hamiltonian.
Mimosa Origami: A nanostructure-enabled directional self-organization regime of materials
Authors: Wong William S. Y. , Li Minfei , Nisbet David R. , Craig Vincent S. J. , Wang Zuankai , Tricoli Antonio
Published: June 2016

Mimosa Origami: Large-scale dynamic self-assembly of soft materials powered by capillary-driven propagation of a pinpoint stimulus.
Hydrosol of Thymbra capitata Is a Highly Efficient Biocide against Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Biofilms
Authors: Karampoula Foteini , Giaouris Efstathios , Deschamps Julien , Doulgeraki Agapi I. , Nychas George-John E. , Dubois-Brissonnet Florence
Published: June 2016

Salmonella
is recognized as one of the most significant enteric foodborne bacterial pathogens. In recent years, the resistance of pathogens to biocides and other environmental stresses, especially when they are embedded in biofilm structures, has led to the search for and development of novel antimicrobial strategies capable of displaying both high efficiency and safety. In this direction, the aims of the present work were to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of hydrosol of the Mediterranean spice
Thymbra
capitata
against both planktonic and biofilm cells of
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium and to compare its action with that of benzalkonium chloride (BC), a commonly used industrial biocide. In order to achieve this, the disinfectant activity following 6-min treatments was comparatively evaluated for both disinfectants by calculating the concentrations needed to achieve the same log reductions against both types of cells. Their bactericidal effect against biofilm cells was also comparatively determined by
in situ
and real-time visualization of cell inactivation through the use of time-lapse confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Interestingly, results revealed that hydrosol was almost equally effective against biofilms and planktonic cells, whereas a 200-times-higher concentration of BC was needed to achieve the same effect against biofilm compared to planktonic cells. Similarly, time-lapse CLSM revealed the significant advantage of the hydrosol to easily penetrate within the biofilm structure and quickly kill the cells, despite the three-dimensional (3D) structure of
Salmonella
biofilm.

IMPORTANCE
The results of this paper highlight the significant antimicrobial action of a natural compound, hydrosol of
Thymbra capitata
, against both planktonic and biofilm cells of a common foodborne pathogen. Hydrosol has numerous advantages as a disinfectant of food-contact surfaces. It is an aqueous solution which can easily be rinsed out from surfaces, it does not have the strong smell of the essential oil (EO) and it is a byproduct of the EO distillation procedure without any industrial application until now. Consequently, hydrosol obviously could be of great value to combat biofilms and thus to improve product safety not only for the food industries but probably also for many other industries which experience biofilm-related problems.
Economic Problems with Constraints: How Efficiency Relates to Equilibrium
Authors: Krawczyk Jacek B. , Tidball Mabel
Published: June 2016

We consider situations, in which socially important goods (like transportation capacity or hospital beds) are supplied by independent economic agents. There is also a regulator that believes that constraining the goods delivery is desirable. The regulator can compute a constrained Pareto-efficient solution to establish optimal output levels for each agent. We suggest that a coupled-constraint equilibrium (also called a “generalized” Nash or “normalized” equilibrium à la Rosen) may be more relevant for market economies than a Pareto-efficient solution. We examine under which conditions the latter can equal the former. We illustrate our findings using a coordination problem, in which the agents’ outputs depend on externalities. It becomes evident that the correspondence between an efficient and equilibrium solutions cannot be complete if the agents’ activities generate both negative and positive externalities at the same time.
Structural Characterization of Microwave-Assisted Solution-Synthesized Strontium-Substituted Hydroxyapatite
Authors: Liao Jianguo , Li Yanqun , Guan Xiali , Liu Jingxian , Zhang Yongxiang , Xie Yufen , Yang Zhengpeng , Duan Xingze , Zhou Aiguo , Zhu Jiangnan
Published: June 2016

Hydroxyapatite and strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (n-HA and Sr-HA) were prepared by microwave-assisted solution synthesis with aqueous solutions of various Sr/(Sr[Formula: see text]Ca) molar ratios ranging from 0% to 15%. The structural properties of the hydroxyapatite powders were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectra, field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy. The results confirmed that strontium ions had been incorporated into the hydroxyapatite lattice. The synthetic n-HA and Sr-HA nanocrystalline consisted of hydroxyapatite crystalline phase with hexagonal structure, and the particle size was 30–40 × 60–70[Formula: see text]nm and 40–50 × 70–80[Formula: see text]nm, respectively. The calcined HA particle size ranged from about 120[Formula: see text]nm to 150[Formula: see text]nm, the calcined Sr-HA products were composed of spherical aggregates with a size of about 70–100[Formula: see text]nm. The incorporation of Sr ions lead to the formation of vacancies in the crystal structure of the HA. The results indicated that the strontium substitution did not change the crystal structures. More Sr resulted in less calcined crystallites and formed agglomerates owing to the size effect.
Moesin is activated in cardiomyocytes in experimental autoimmune myocarditis and mediates cytoskeletal reorganization with protrusion formation
Authors: Miyawaki Akimitsu , Mitsuhara Yusuke , Orimoto Aya , Nakayasu Yusuke , Tsunoda Shin-ichi , Obana Masanori , Maeda Makiko , Nakayama Hiroyuki , Yoshioka Yasuo , Tsutsumi Yasuo , Fujio Yasushi
Published: June 2016

Acute myocarditis is a self-limiting disease. Most patients with myocarditis recover without cardiac dysfunction in spite of limited capacity of myocardial regeneration. Therefore, to address intrinsic reparative machinery of inflamed hearts, we investigated the cellular dynamics of cardiomyocytes in response to inflammation using experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) model. EAM was induced by immunization of BALB/c mice with α-myosin heavy chain peptides twice. The inflammatory reaction was evoked with myocardial damage with the peak at 3 wk after the first immunization (EAM3w). Morphological and functional restoration started from EAM3w, when active protrusion formation, a critical process of myocardial healing, was observed in cardiomyocytes. Shotgun proteomics revealed that cytoskeletal proteins were preferentially increased in cardiomyocytes at EAM3w, compared with preimmunized (EAM0w) hearts, and that moesin was the most remarkably upregulated among them. Immunoblot analyses demonstrated that the expression of both total and phosphorylated moesin was upregulated in isolated cardiomyocytes from EAM3w hearts. Immunofluorescence staining showed that moesin was localized at cardiomyocyte protrusions at EAM3w. Adenoviral vectors expressing wild-type, constitutively active and inactive form of moesin (wtMoesin, caMoesin, and iaMoesin, respectively) were transfected in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. The overexpression of wtMoesin and caMoesin resulted in protrusion formation, while not iaMoesin. Finally, we found that cardiomyocyte protrusions were accompanied by cell-cell contact formation. The expression of moesin was upregulated in cardiomyocytes under inflammation, inducing protrusion formation in a phosphorylation-dependent fashion. Moesin signal could be a novel therapeutic target that stimulates myocardial repair by promoting contact formation of cardiomyocytes.
PlanHab: hypoxia exaggerates the bed-rest-induced reduction in peak oxygen uptake during upright cycle ergometry
Authors: Keramidas Michail E. , Kölegård Roger , Mekjavic Igor B. , Eiken Ola
Published: June 2016

The study examined the effects of hypoxia and horizontal bed rest, separately and in combination, on peak oxygen uptake (V̇o2 peak) during upright cycle ergometry. Ten male lowlanders underwent three 21-day confinement periods in a counterbalanced order: 1) normoxic bed rest [NBR; partial pressure of inspired O2(PiO2) = 133.1 ± 0.3 mmHg]; 2) hypoxic bed rest (HBR; PiO2= 90.0 ± 0.4 mmHg), and 3) hypoxic ambulation (HAMB; PiO2= 90.0 ± 0.4 mmHg). Before and after each confinement, subjects performed two incremental-load trials to exhaustion, while inspiring either room air (AIR), or a hypoxic gas (HYPO; PiO2= 90.0 ± 0.4 mmHg). Changes in regional oxygenation of the vastus lateralis muscle and the frontal cerebral cortex were monitored with near-infrared spectroscopy. Cardiac output (CO) was recorded using a bioimpedance method. The AIR V̇o2 peakwas decreased by both HBR (∼13.5%; P ≤ 0.001) and NBR (∼8.6%; P ≤ 0.001), with greater drop after HBR ( P = 0.01). The HYPO V̇o2 peakwas also reduced by HBR (−9.7%; P ≤ 0.001) and NBR (−6.1%; P ≤ 0.001). Peak CO was lower after both bed-rest interventions, and especially after HBR (HBR: ∼13%, NBR: ∼7%; P ≤ 0.05). Exercise-induced alterations in muscle and cerebral oxygenation were blunted in a similar manner after both bed-rest confinements. No changes were observed in HAMB. Hence, the bed-rest-induced decrease in V̇o2 peakwas exaggerated by hypoxia, most likely due to a reduction in convective O2transport, as indicated by the lower peak values of CO.
Zebrafish heart as a model to study the integrative autonomic control of pacemaker function
Authors: Stoyek Matthew R. , Quinn T. Alexander , Croll Roger P. , Smith Frank M.
Published: June 2016

The cardiac pacemaker sets the heart's primary rate, with pacemaker discharge controlled by the autonomic nervous system through intracardiac ganglia. A fundamental issue in understanding the relationship between neural activity and cardiac chronotropy is the identification of neuronal populations that control pacemaker cells. To date, most studies of neurocardiac control have been done in mammalian species, where neurons are embedded in and distributed throughout the heart, so they are largely inaccessible for whole-organ, integrative studies. Here, we establish the isolated, innervated zebrafish heart as a novel alternative model for studies of autonomic control of heart rate. Stimulation of individual cardiac vagosympathetic nerve trunks evoked bradycardia (parasympathetic activation) and tachycardia (sympathetic activation). Simultaneous stimulation of both vagosympathetic nerve trunks evoked a summative effect. Effects of nerve stimulation were mimicked by direct application of cholinergic and adrenergic agents. Optical mapping of electrical activity confirmed the sinoatrial region as the site of origin of normal pacemaker activity and identified a secondary pacemaker in the atrioventricular region. Strong vagosympathetic nerve stimulation resulted in a shift in the origin of initial excitation from the sinoatrial pacemaker to the atrioventricular pacemaker. Putative pacemaker cells in the sinoatrial and atrioventricular regions expressed adrenergic β2 and cholinergic muscarinic type 2 receptors. Collectively, we have demonstrated that the zebrafish heart contains the accepted hallmarks of vertebrate cardiac control, establishing this preparation as a viable model for studies of integrative physiological control of cardiac function by intracardiac neurons.
The influence of elective percutaneous coronary intervention on microvascular resistance: a serial assessment using the index of microcirculatory resistance
Authors: Murai Tadashi , Lee Tetsumin , Kanaji Yoshihisa , Matsuda Junji , Usui Eisuke , Araki Makoto , Niida Takayuki , Hishikari Keiichi , Ichijyo Sadamitsu , Hamaya Rikuta , Yonetsu Taishi , Isobe Mitsuaki , Kakuta Tsunekazu
Published: June 2016

This study investigates whether hyperemic microvascular resistance (MR) is influenced by elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by using the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR). Seventy-one consecutive patients with stable angina pectoris undergoing elective PCI were prospectively studied. The IMR was measured before and after PCI and at the 10-mo follow-up. The IMR significantly decreased until follow-up; the pre-PCI, post-PCI, and follow-up IMRs had a median of 19.8 (interquartile range, 14.6–28.9), 16.2 (11.8–22.1), and 14.8 (11.8–18.7), respectively ( P < 0.001). The pre-PCI IMR was significantly correlated with the change in IMR between pre- and post-PCI ( r = 0.84, P < 0.001) and between pre-PCI and follow-up ( r = 0.93, P < 0.001). Pre-PCI IMR values were significantly higher in territories with decreases in IMR than in those with increases in IMR [pre-PCI IMR: 25.4 (18.4–35.5) vs. 12.5 (9.4–16.8), P < 0.001]. At follow-up, IMR values in territories showing decreases in IMR were significantly lower than those with increases in IMR [IMR at follow-up: 13.9 (10.9–17.6) vs. 16.6 (14.0–21.4), P = 0.013]. The IMR decrease was significantly associated with a greater shortening of mean transit time, indicating increases in coronary flow ( P < 0.001). The optimal cut-off values of pre-PCI IMR to predict a decrease in IMR after PCI and at follow-up were 16.8 and 17.0, respectively. In conclusion, elective PCI affected hyperemic MR and its change was associated with pre-PCI MR, resulting in showing a wide distribution. Overall hyperemic MR significantly decreased until follow-up. The modified hyperemic MR introduced by PCI may affect post-PCI coronary flow.
Sex-specific differences in neonatal hyperoxic lung injury
Authors: Lingappan Krithika , Jiang Weiwu , Wang Lihua , Moorthy Bhagavatula
Published: June 2016

Male sex is considered an independent predictor for the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) after adjusting for other confounders. BPD is characterized by an arrest in lung development with marked impairment of alveolar septation and vascular development. The reasons underlying sexually dimorphic outcomes in premature neonates are not known. In this investigation, we tested the hypothesis that male neonatal mice will be more susceptible to hyperoxic lung injury and will display larger arrest in lung alveolarization. Neonatal male and female mice (C57BL/6) were exposed to hyperoxia [95% FiO2, postnatal day (PND) 1–5] and euthanized on PND 7 and 21. Extent of alveolarization, pulmonary vascularization, inflammation, and modulation of the NF-κB pathway were determined and compared with room air controls. Macrophage and neutrophil infiltration was significantly increased in hyperoxia-exposed animals but was increased to a larger extent in males compared with females. Lung morphometry showed a higher mean linear intercept (MLI) and a lower radial alveolar count (RAC) and therefore greater arrest in lung development in male mice. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in the expression of markers of angiogenesis (PECAM1 and VEGFR2) in males after hyperoxia exposure compared with females. Interestingly, female mice showed increased activation of the NF-κB pathway in the lungs compared with males. These results support the hypothesis that sex plays a crucial role in hyperoxia-mediated lung injury in this model. Elucidation of the sex-specific molecular mechanisms may aid in the development of novel individualized therapies to prevent/treat BPD.
MiR-196a regulates heme oxygenase-1 by silencing Bach1 in the neonatal mouse lung
Authors: Go Hayato , La Ping , Namba Fumihiko , Ito Masato , Yang Guang , Brydun Andrey , Igarashi Kazuhiko , Dennery Phyllis A.
Published: June 2016

In the lung, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is developmentally regulated, with its highest expression in the first days of life. In addition, neonatal mice have limited HO-1 induction in hyperoxia compared with adults. However, few reports have addressed the functional effect of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of HO-1 in vivo. The aims of the present study were to characterize changes in lung miRNA expression during postnatal development and in response to hyperoxic exposure, and to identify miRNAs that target lung HO-1 gene expression. Neonatal (<12 h old) and adult (2 mo old) mice were exposed to room air or hyperoxia (95% oxygen) for 72 h. TaqMan low-density array rodent miRNA assays were used to calculate miRNA expression changes between control and hyperoxia groups in neonatal and adult lungs. In neonates, we identified miR-196a, which binds to the 3′-untranslated region of the transcriptional repressor BTB and CNC homology 1 (Bach1) and regulates its expression, and subsequently leads to higher levels of lung HO-1 mRNA compared with levels in adults. Despite the increase at baseline, miR-196a was degraded in hyperoxia resulting in limited HO-1 induction in neonatal mice lungs. Furthermore, the developmental differences in lung HO-1 gene expression can be explained in part by the variation in miRNA-196a and its effect on Bach1. This report is the first to show developmental differences in lung miR-196a and its effect on Bach1 and HO-1 expression at baseline and in hyperoxia.
Nostalgia for the Demise of the ussr in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine
Authors: McAllister Ian , White Stephen
Published: June 2016

A quarter of a century after the collapse of the Soviet Union, its demise still has ramifications for public opinion across the postcommunist world. Using surveys conducted in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, we show that nostalgia for communism is both widespread and persistent. Across all three countries, nostalgia is concentrated among the old and less well-off and, not surprisingly, among those with Communist Party connections. Social networks and travel to other countries is relatively unimportant in shaping views of the communist past. However, despite these widespread feelings of nostalgia, they have implications for contemporary political opinions only in Belarus. Overall, the results suggest that regret for the demise of the Soviet Union will remain in postcommunist societies for some time.
Poverty in Contemporary Russian Society: Formation of a New Periphery
Authors: Tikhonova Natalia E. , Mareeva Svetlana V.
Published: June 2016

The article uses statistical data and all-Russian sociological surveys conducted in 2003–2013 to analyze changes in poverty in Russian society.1 It is shown that, on the one hand, the scope of poverty in Russia decreased before the ongoing economic crisis started in 2014; on the other hand, those who remained poor have become the base for the formation of a “new periphery” which is significantly different from the rest of the population. The “new periphery” formation zone in 2013 covered about 30% of the population, and this group consisted of the poor identified using both absolute and relative approaches to poverty that complement rather than duplicate each other in conditions of Russian social reality. Factors that account for becoming part of the “new periphery” are analyzed, the key one being the position on the labor market; its qualitative features are demonstrated, including living standards of its representatives, and the population’s perceptions of the causes of poverty are described.
Why Ukraine and Russia Need Each Other
Authors: Petro Nicolai N.
Published: June 2016

The West’s focus on corruption in Ukraine is largely misplaced. The main impediment to stability and economic growth is the government’s suicidal choice to cut the country off from its main investor – Russia. This article looks at the economic and political costs of pursuing such a policy, and concludes that there is no alternative to Russian investment. Given the political and economic constraint imposed upon the European Union, the West and Russia need to work together to develop a comprehensive economic strategy that can promote Ukraine’s economic development.
Veto Players and Major Electoral Reforms in Russia
Authors: Turchenko Mikhail , Shevchuk Sergey
Published: June 2016

Within the period of 1993–2014 Russia experienced four major electoral reforms: in 1993, 2002, 2005 and 2014. One further attempt to change the Russian electoral system, initiated by President Yeltsin in 1994–95, was unsuccessful. We suggest that the successes as well as the failures of the electoral reforms in Russia can be explained with the same reasons as in other countries regardless of their political regime. In our view, electoral reforms within any political system are rooted in the specific arrangement of the veto players within the system and their political preferences. This paper demonstrates that major electoral reforms were successfully implemented in cases when the executive branch headed by the Russian president, striving for maximum control over the legislative process, was interested in such implementation and there were no other veto players able to block passage of the law.
The New Pentecostal Movement in Nigeria and the Politics of Belonging
Authors: Adesoji Abimbola O
Published: June 2016

The Pentecostal Movement in Nigeria, like elsewhere, is a distinctly Christian organization by virtue of what it professes and what characterizes it. Increased privileges for leaders, leadership visibility and leadership style have tended to encourage other aspirants to form similar organizations. Despite the existence of an umbrella association like the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, different centres have emerged, each seeking relevance and influence. Using historical and sociological approaches, this paper discusses the trends in the New Pentecostal Movement in Nigeria, identifies some characteristic types and probes into the basis for belonging, seeking to belong or otherwise. It also interrogates the strategies employed and its effectiveness or otherwise.
Forests and ecocultural disequilibrium in two postcolonial novels from Cameroon and Singapore
Authors: Sankaran Chitra , Nkengasong John
Published: June 2016

Forests have always had a very special resonance with humans, one which is evidenced in the ways they are depicted in literatures and art throughout human civilization. This study attempts to look at the ways in which two contemporary authors, one Cameroonian and the other Singaporean, depict the forest in their novels. In both Linus Asong’s Crown of Thorns and Meira Chand’s A Different Sky, the nature/culture binary is shown as primal. Both narratives underline the essential inhospitability of the forests for human habitation. However, Asong’s narrative insists on the importance of ritual in negotiating this uninhabitable terrain and how, were the conduct of this ceremonial ritual to fail, the nebulous harmony between humans and this terrain will be irrevocably broken. Chand’s text, set in Second World War Singapore, reveals how, when the cultural terrain is rendered inhospitable to man due to conquest and human brutality, the forest appears as a refuge. However, this is misleading, for the essential disequilibrium between nature and culture is too deep to be overridden or resolved.
U Suk! Participatory Media and Youth Experiences With Political Discourse
Authors: Middaugh Ellen , Bowyer Benjamin , Kahne Joseph
Published: June 2016

In light of evidence that the Internet, participatory media, and online communities are increasingly central to civic and political life, this article investigates online political discourse as a context of youth civic development. Drawing on a national survey of 2,519 youth, ages 15 to 24, we find that exposure to conflict in online discourse is common. Nearly half of youth report witnessing conflict online, although fewer participate directly in these exchanges. We find that youth who are most involved in online political discussions or who get news through online participatory media are more likely to encounter such conflict. In addition, experiences with conflict vary by type of online community: Greater involvement in interest-driven online communities is associated with greater involvement in online conflict, while involvement in friendship-driven communities is not. Finally, we examine youths’ normative reactions to online conflict and discuss implications for youth civic engagement and development.
Meeting the Needs of Chinese International Students
Authors: Liu Wei , Lin Xiaobing
Published: June 2016

Discussed in this article are the different governance models in international student services in Canadian and Chinese universities. Informing this study were 39 international student service providers from 38 top Chinese universities while interacting with their Canadian counterparts in a professional development program in Canada. The derived comparative data serve to show that a reactive decentralized model is used in international student services in Canada, while practiced in China is a more centralized proactive model. Although both models are rooted in their own social and cultural contexts, mutual learning is possible to some extent. The article ends with some discussion about possible ways Canadian universities can borrow from the Chinese system.
Outdoor Behavioral Health Care
Authors: Roberts Sean D. , Stroud Daniel , Hoag Matthew J. , Combs Katie M.
Published: June 2016

A lack of clarity exists regarding how different clients respond to outdoor behavioral health care (OBH). In this study, specific client and treatment characteristics were assessed for 186 young adults completing an OBH therapeutic wilderness program. Clinical outcomes were measured with the Outcome Questionnaire–45.2. Hierarchical linear modeling results indicated no differences at intake, in change trajectories while in treatment, or at 6- and 18-months follow-up. Treatment gains and maintenance post-discharge were similar regardless of participant age, length of stay, gender, primary diagnosis, or therapist. Findings serve as additional support for the utility of OBH for a range of clients. Results are detailed and implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.
Quality of Life in Patients With Untreated and Symptomatic Hallux Valgus
Authors: Yamamoto Yohei , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Muramatsu Yuta , Terakado Atsushi , Sasho Takahisa , Akagi Ryuichiro , Endo Jun , Sato Yasunori , Takahashi Kazuhisa
Published: June 2016

Background:

The purposes of this study were to compare the quality of life (QOL) of subjects who had untreated symptomatic hallux valgus with the QOL of the general population and to investigate factors associated with the QOL of the subjects.

Methods:

One hundred sixteen subjects with previously untreated and symptomatic hallux valgus were surveyed. QOL was assessed using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Additionally, clinical evaluations (the visual analog scale for pain, Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot Scale, lesser toe pain, and pain in other parts of the body) and radiographic evaluations (hallux valgus angle, intermetatarsal angle between the first and second metatarsals, and dislocation of the second metatarsophalangeal joint) were performed. Differences in the SF-36 between the subjects and the general population were tested using independent t tests. Correlations between the QOL measurements, clinical evaluations, and radiographic evaluations were assessed using Spearman rank correlation coefficient.

Results:

All SF-36 subscales and physical component summary scores for the subjects were significantly lower than those of the general population. Notably, the standardized physical function subscale (38.2 ± 15.8, P < .001) and physical component summary scores (38.9 ± 14.5, P < .001) were more than 10 points lower than those of the general population. Most QOL and clinical evaluation parameters were not correlated or were negligibly correlated with radiographic evaluations. Similarly, lesser toe pain or pain in other parts of the body was not correlated with QOL or clinical evaluations.

Conclusion:

The QOL of untreated and symptomatic hallux valgus subjects was lower than that of the general population. All QOL and clinical evaluation parameters were not significantly or negligibly correlated with the severity of toe deformities. Surgical decision making should not be based on the severity of the deformity alone, but rather patient QOL should also be carefully assessed.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, comparative series.