bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Does Couple and Relationship Education Affect Relationship Hope? An Intervention‐Process Study with Lower Income Couples
Authors: Hawkins Alan J. , Allen Sage E. , Yang Chongming
Published: October 2017

Objective

To explore whether changes in positive interaction skills as a result of participation in couple and relationship education (CRE) are associated with changes in relationship hope.

Background

Recent CRE work has focused more on its effectiveness for disadvantaged couples, with the early evidence mixed. Increasing the effectiveness of CRE for disadvantaged couples will require more evidence of how it works, not just whether it works.

Method

In this study, 182 lower income couples participated in a 30‐hour psychoeducational intervention, Family Expectations (FE), in Oklahoma City. Participants completed measures of positive interaction skills and relationship hope, a seldom‐studied construct in CRE research, before and shortly after the program.

Results

At pretest, there was significant variation in relationship hope among FE participants. Latent growth curve models revealed changes in positive interaction skills were associated with higher levels of partners' relationship hope at the end of the program, although the effect of men's skills changes on their partners' hope was 3 to 4 times stronger than for women's skills changes on their partners' hope. Additional latent growth curve models found that nearly 70% of participants reported positive changes in skills and that participants entering the program with the lowest levels of hope experienced the greatest changes in positive interaction skills.

Conclusion

We conclude that relationship hope is a legitimate target outcome in CRE and is influenced by improvement in positive interaction skills, consistent with social learning theory. Also, those entering CRE with low levels of hope improve interaction skills most, and men's growth produces larger gains for the couple relationship than women's growth.

Implications

Distressed individuals and couples should be particularly encouraged to attend CRE programs, and program developers should make sure that their curricula and pedagogic processes are well aligned with men's interests and learning styles.
Extremely low genetic diversity across mangrove taxa reflects past sea level changes and hints at poor future responses
Authors: Guo Zixiao , Li Xinnian , He Ziwen , Yang Yuchen , Wang Wenqing , Zhong Cairong , Greenberg Anthony J. , Wu Chung‐I , Duke Norman C. , Shi Suhua
Published: October 2017

The projected increases in sea levels are expected to affect coastal ecosystems. Tropical communities, anchored by mangrove trees and having experienced frequent past sea level changes, appear to be vibrant at present. However, any optimism about the resilience of these ecosystems is premature because the impact of past climate events may not be reflected in the current abundance. To assess the impact of historical sea level changes, we conducted an extensive genetic diversity survey on the Indo‐Malayan coast, a hotspot with a large global mangrove distribution. A survey of 26 populations in six species reveals extremely low genome‐wide nucleotide diversity and hence very small effective population sizes (Ne) in all populations. Whole‐genome sequencing of three mangrove species further shows the decline in Ne to be strongly associated with the speed of past changes in sea level. We also used a recent series of flooding events in Yalong Bay, southern China, to test the robustness of mangroves to sea level changes in relation to their genetic diversity. The events resulted in the death of half of the mangrove trees in this area. Significantly, less genetically diverse mangrove species suffered much greater destruction. The dieback was accompanied by a drastic reduction in local invertebrate biodiversity. We thus predict that tropical coastal communities will be seriously endangered as the global sea level rises. Well‐planned coastal development near mangrove forests will be essential to avert this crisis.
Don't call me ibu: challenges of belonging for childless transnational Indonesian women
Authors: WINARNITA MONIKA SWASTI
Published: October 2017

New forms of transnational families are being created by the feminization of migration, particularly of mobile Southeast Asian female workers who take on the financial responsibility of supporting their nieces and nephews who remain in the home country. This understudied kin relationship provides important insights into the complexities of transnational belonging among childless women. Fieldwork conducted in 2015 with Indonesian professional migrant women in Melbourne, Australia, reveals a translocalized Javanese cultural practice of fostering nieces and nephews. Using a framework that extends the anthropology of belonging into a gendered transnational context, in this article I argue that children who are absent, whether living in another country or never born, are yet present in women's narratives and are key to a larger migrant project of recreating oneself as an ambiguously valued subject.
Transnationalism and intra‐European mobility among Europe's second generation: review and research agenda
Authors: BARWICK CHRISTINE
Published: October 2017

Most studies on second‐generation transnationalism focus on transnational practices that connect the country of residence to the ancestral home. The second generation, however, is likely to develop other forms of mobility and different destination countries. Particularly in Europe, where citizens have a right to free movement, connecting research on migrant transnationalism to that on intra‐European mobility and the emergence of collective identities allows us more fully to capture second‐generation transnationalism and alternative forms of mobility, including their determinants and consequences. By way of a literature review and a research agenda, I point out the merits of connecting the two research traditions by focusing on the link between transnational ways of being and belonging, national and local contexts that act as push and pull factors for transnationalism and mobilities, and the potential for methodological innovation.
Population size and genetic variability of a relict population of an endangered butterfly, Parnassius apollo filabricus
Authors: Martínez Juan Gabriel , Mira Óscar , Sánchez‐Prieto Cristina Belén , Barea‐Azcón José Miguel , Tinaut Alberto
Published: October 2017

Parnassius apollo filabricus is a subspecies of apollo (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) restricted to the Sierra de Baza‐Filabres range in southeastern Spain that has become increasingly rare in the last decades, disappearing from most of its known locations.

In this article, we calculate both census and effective population size of a local population discovered in 2009 that occupies c. 30 ha.

After 2 years of capture–mark–recapture work we estimate a population size of about 100 individuals.

Genetic variation was characterised using 9 microsatellite markers and 29 individuals. Effective population size was estimated from 13 microsatellites. The studied population is strongly differentiated from the nearby Sierra Nevada apollo populations, and its expected heterozygosity and allelic richness were higher than the average value for Sierra Nevada.

Genetic diversity of the population is not as low as expected by its small size, which points out to a recent population decline. We discuss the implications of these results for the conservation of the species.
Molecular mechanism of obesity‐induced ‘metabolic’ tissue remodeling
Authors: Tanaka Miyako , Itoh Michiko , Ogawa Yoshihiro , Suganami Takayoshi
Published: October 2017

Chronic inflammation is a common molecular basis underlying a variety of chronic diseases. Accumulating evidence has also suggested that chronic inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes, which have been considered as metabolic diseases. For the past several decades, there has been dramatic progress in understanding the underlying mechanism of adipose tissue dysfunction induced by obesity. Tissue remodeling is one of the histological features of chronic inflammation, in which stromal cells dramatically change in number and cell type. Indeed, adipose tissue remodeling is induced by various stromal cells, and results in the impairment of adipose tissue function, such as adipocytokine production and lipid storage, which leads to systemic metabolic disorder. In addition to adipose tissue, the liver is another example of obesity‐induced tissue remodeling. In the present review, we discuss how obesity induces interstitial fibrosis in adipose tissue and the liver, particularly focusing on the role of macrophages.
Nicotiana attenuata's capacity to interact with arbuscular mycorrhiza alters its competitive ability and elicits major changes in the leaf transcriptome
Authors: Wang Ming , Wilde Julia , Baldwin Ian T. , Groten Karin
Published: October 2017

To study the local and systemic effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization, Nicotiana attenuata plants impaired in their interactions with AMF due to silencing of a calcium‐ and calmodulin dependent protein kinase (inverted repreat (ir)CCaMK) were grown competitively in pairs with empty vector (EV) plants, with and without two different types of inoculum. When inoculated, EV plants strongly outperformed irCCaMK plants. Foliar transcript profiling revealed that AMF colonization significantly changed gene expression of P‐starvation and ‐transporter genes in irCCaMK plants. The Pht1 family phosphate transporter NaPT5 was not only specifically induced in roots after AMF colonization, but also in leaves of AMF‐colonized irCCaMK plants, and in plants grown under low Pi conditions in the absence of AMF. The P‐starvation signature of inoculated irCCaMK plants corresponded with increases in selected amino acids and phenolic compounds in leaves. We also found a strong AMF‐induced increase in amino acids and phenolic metabolites in roots. Plants impaired in their interactions with AMF clearly have a fitness disadvantage when competing for limited soil nutrients with a fully functional isogenic line. The additional role of the AMF‐induced Pht1 family transporter NaPT5 in leaves under P‐starvation conditions will require further experiments to fully resolve.
Effects of rosuvastatin on inducible nitric oxide synthase in rats with hyperlipidaemia and periodontitis
Authors: Kırzıoğlu F. Y. , Özmen Ö. , Doğan B. , Bulut M. T. , Fentoğlu Ö. , Özdem M.
Published: October 2017

Background and Objective

Nitric oxide is a free radical that is synthesized from l‐arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The level of inducible NOS (iNOS) in gingiva with periodontitis is higher than that in healthy gingiva. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rosuvastatin administration on alveolar bone loss (ABL) and iNOS(+) cell counts in gingival tissues in rats with ligature‐induced experimental periodontitis with/without hyperlipidaemia.

Material and Methods

The rats were randomly divided into seven groups: Hy (cholesterol‐added diet/water administration); HyP (cholesterol‐added diet/periodontitis/water administration); HyPR (cholesterol‐added diet/periodontitis/rosuvastatin administration); P (standard diet/periodontitis/water administration); PR (standard diet/periodontitis/rosuvastatin administration); C (standard diet/water administration); and R (standard diet/rosuvastatin administration). Experimental periodontitis was induced with silk ligatures, and rosuvastatin/water was administered to rats by oral gavage for the last 2 weeks of the 8‐week study. After the rats were killed in week 8, histomorphometric and histological analyses were performed. Immunostained iNOS(+) cells were counted in the gingival samples and the Mann‐Whitney U‐test was used for statistical analysis.

Results

The experimental groups exhibited increases in total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein, except for Groups C and R. The cholesterol‐added diet induced ABL in Group Hy. Of the periodontitis groups, the lowest ABL was found in Group PR. While there was a significant difference in ABL between Groups P (0.82 ± 0.15 mm) and PR (0.70 ± 0.21 mm) receiving a standard diet (P < .05), no difference was observed between Groups HyP (0.77 ± 0.07 mm) and HyPR (0.76 ± 0.11 mm) receiving a cholesterol‐added diet (P ˃ .05). Rosuvastatin significantly reduced expression of iNOS in Groups PR (18.40 ± 2.31%) and HyPR (24.00 ± 4.83%) compared with Group P (30.90 ± 2.42%; P < .001). However, a larger number of iNOS(+) cells was found in Group HyPR than in Group PR (P < .001).

Conclusion

Administration of rosuvastatin reduced gingival iNOS expression in ligature‐induced periodontitis with/without hyperlipidaemia. It also led to significant differences in ABL in rats with periodontitis, except when periodontitis was associated with hyperlipidaemia. These findings could provide an important contribution in further studies to evaluate the role of rosuvastatin as a host modulatory agent in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases.
In vivo analysis at the cellular level reveals similar steatosis induction in both hepatitis C virus genotype 1 and 3 infections
Authors: Campana B. , Calabrese D. , Matter M. S. , Terracciano L. M. , Wieland S. F. , Heim M. H.
Published: October 2017

Steatosis is a frequent histological feature of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Cohort studies of patients with chronic hepatitis C identified HCV genotype 3 (HCV GT3) as the prevalent steatotic genotype. Moreover, Huh‐7 cells over‐expressing HCV GT3 core protein accumulate more triglyceride in larger lipid droplets than cells expressing core proteins of other HCV genotypes. However, little is known about the relationship of steatosis and HCV infection at the cellular level in vivo. In this study, we used highly sensitive multiplex in situ hybridization methodology together with lipid staining to investigate HCV‐induced lipid droplet accumulation at the cellular level in liver biopsies. Consistent with previous reports, histological steatosis grades were significantly higher in GT3 compared to GT1 infected livers, but independent of viral load. Using nile red lipid stainings, we observed that the frequency of lipid droplet containing cells was similar in HCV GT1‐ and HCV GT3‐infected livers. Lipid droplet formation preferentially occurred in HCV‐infected cells irrespective of the genotype, but was also observed in noninfected cells. These findings demonstrate that the main difference between GT1‐ and GT3‐induced steatosis is the size of lipid droplets, but not the number or relative distribution of lipid droplets in infected vs uninfected hepatocytes.
Environmental DNA detection of rare and invasive fish species in two Great Lakes tributaries
Authors: Balasingham Katherine D. , Walter Ryan P. , Mandrak Nicholas E. , Heath Daniel D.
Published: October 2017

The extraction and characterization of DNA from aquatic environmental samples offers an alternative, noninvasive approach for the detection of rare species. Environmental DNA, coupled with PCR and next‐generation sequencing (“metabarcoding”), has proven to be very sensitive for the detection of rare aquatic species. Our study used a custom‐designed group‐specific primer set and next‐generation sequencing for the detection of three species at risk (Eastern Sand Darter, Ammocrypta pellucida; Northern Madtom, Noturus stigmosus; and Silver Shiner, Notropis photogenis), one invasive species (Round Goby, Neogobius melanostomus) and an additional 78 native species from two large Great Lakes tributary rivers in southern Ontario, Canada: the Grand River and the Sydenham River. Of 82 fish species detected in both rivers using capture‐based and eDNA methods, our eDNA method detected 86.2% and 72.0% of the fish species in the Grand River and the Sydenham River, respectively, which included our four target species. Our analyses also identified significant positive and negative species co‐occurrence patterns between our target species and other identified species. Our results demonstrate that eDNA metabarcoding that targets the fish community as well as individual species of interest provides a better understanding of factors affecting the target species spatial distribution in an ecosystem than possible with only target species data. Additionally, eDNA is easily implemented as an initial survey tool, or alongside capture‐based methods, for improved mapping of species distribution patterns.
New insights into the covariation of stomatal, mesophyll and hydraulic conductances from optimization models incorporating nonstomatal limitations to photosynthesis
Authors: Dewar Roderick , Mauranen Aleksanteri , Mäkelä Annikki , Hölttä Teemu , Medlyn Belinda , Vesala Timo
Published: October 2017

Optimization models of stomatal conductance (gs) attempt to explain observed stomatal behaviour in terms of cost‐‐benefit tradeoffs. While the benefit of stomatal opening through increased CO2 uptake is clear, currently the nature of the associated cost(s) remains unclear. We explored the hypothesis that gs maximizes leaf photosynthesis, where the cost of stomatal opening arises from nonstomatal reductions in photosynthesis induced by leaf water stress.

We analytically solved two cases, CAP and MES, in which reduced leaf water potential leads to reductions in carboxylation capacity (CAP) and mesophyll conductance (gm) (MES).

Both CAP and MES predict the same one‐parameter relationship between the intercellular : atmospheric CO2 concentration ratio (ci/ca) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD, D), viz. ci/ca ≈ ξ/(ξ + √D), as that obtained from previous optimization models, with the novel feature that the parameter ξ is determined unambiguously as a function of a small number of photosynthetic and hydraulic variables. These include soil‐to‐leaf hydraulic conductance, implying a stomatal closure response to drought. MES also predicts that gs/gm is closely related to ci/ca and is similarly conservative.

These results are consistent with observations, give rise to new testable predictions, and offer new insights into the covariation of stomatal, mesophyll and hydraulic conductances.
Assessing the Empirical Relevance of Labour Frictions to Business Cycle Fluctuations
Authors: Madeira João
Published: October 2017

This paper describes a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model augmented with labour frictions, namely: indivisible labour, predetermined employment and adjustment costs. This improves the fit to the data as shown by a higher log marginal likelihood and closer match to key business cycle statistics. The labour frictions introduced are relevant for model dynamics and economic policy: the effect of total factor productivity shocks on most macroeconomic variables is substantially mitigated; fiscal policy leads to a greater crowding out of private sector activity and monetary policy has a lower impact on output. Labour frictions also provide a better match to impulse response functions from vector autoregressive models.
Pulmonary vein isolation with real‐time pulmonary vein potential recording using second‐generation cryoballoon: Procedural and biophysical predictors of acute pulmonary vein reconnection
Authors: Wei Hui‐Qiang , Guo Xiao‐Gang , Zhou Gong‐Bu , Sun Qi , Liu Xu , Yang Jian‐Du , Luo Bin , Ma Jian
Published: October 2017

Objective

The study sought to evaluate the procedural and biophysical factors related to acute pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) guided by real‐time pulmonary vein (PV) potential recordings.

Methods

A total of 180 consecutive patients with drug‐resistant atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing CB2 (second‐generation version of cryoballoon) ablation were enrolled. Real‐time monitoring of PV potentials was obtained using an inner lumen spiral mapping catheter.

Results

Acute isolation was achieved in all PVs without touch‐up ablation. Real‐time assessment of PV disconnection was possible in 611 of 711 (85.9%) PVs. A total of 617 (86.8%) PVs were isolated during the initial freeze. Longer time cycle integration (TCI) (TTI * freeze cycle, TCI) (254.6 ± 112.8 seconds vs 74.1 ± 59.7 seconds, P < 0.001), time to isolation (TTI) (94.3 ± 34.0 seconds vs 46.3 ± 26.2 seconds, P < 0.001), higher nadir temperature (−45.5 ± 5.3°C vs −50.4 ± 5.5°C, P < 0.001), longer time to −40°C (77.3 ± 22.7 seconds vs 55.7 ± 23.2 seconds, P < 0.001), faster interval rewarming time at 0°C (9.4 ± 4.3 seconds vs 12.4 ± 4.9 seconds, P = 0.008), and total balloon rewarming time (38.1 ± 11.6 seconds vs 47.7 ± 14.0 seconds, P = 0.003) were observed in PVs with acute reconduction. TTI ≤ 65 seconds predicted absence of acute reconnection with 84.2% sensitivity and 75.7% specificity, whereas TCI ≤ 119 seconds presented 94.7% sensitivity and 80.2% specificity. At a mean follow‐up of 4.7 ± 1.4 months, 82.2% of patients were free of AF. None of those with PV reconnections suffered from AF recurrences.

Conclusions

The ablation using CB2 is effective in achieving acute PVI. Real‐time assessment of PVI could be achieved during CB application in 86% of PVs. The incidence of spontaneous PV reconnection is very low, observed in just 3% of isolated PVs. TTI ≤ 65 seconds and TCI ≤ 119 seconds predicted absence of acute PV reconnection. Although they may identify effective cryoapplications in the acute phase, their performance still needs to be verified in the long term.
The electromechanical substrate for response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with right bundle branch block
Authors: Atwater Brett D. , Wagner Galen S. , Kisslo Joseph , Risum Niels
Published: October 2017

Background

Some patients with RBBB may respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, little is known regarding the electromechanical substrate for CRT and whether this is the optimal pacing strategy.

Methods

This was a pilot prospective double crossover randomized controlled clinical study comparing ventricular back up pacing (VVI‐40), RV fusion pacing (DDD‐40, RV only), and biventricular (BIV) pacing (DDD‐40 BIV) in nine patients with RBBB and depressed EF. The study compared the frequency of dyssynchrony on baseline echocardiogram in patients with RBBB (n = 4), RBBB + anterior MI (RBBB with left axis deviation + left ventricular (LV) anterior wall thinning, n = 3), and RBBB + LAFB (RBBB with left axis deviation without LV anterior wall thinning n = 2). Echocardiographic assessment of LV dyssynchrony, LV size, and LV function was repeated after 6 months in each pacing mode.

Results

Patients with RBBB + LAFB demonstrated baseline echocardiographic dyssynchrony between the LV anterior and inferior wall. Both DDD‐40 RV‐only pacing and DDD‐40 BIV pacing resulted in improved LV function and clinical status compared to VVI‐40 back up pacing. Patients with RBBB alone and RBBB with anterior MI had no baseline dyssynchrony and CRT using either RV only or BIV pacing resulted in LV dilation, worsened left ventricular ejection fraction and worsened clinical status compared to VVI‐40 back up pacing.

Conclusion

Patients with RBBB, left axis deviation, and no prior anterior MI may have LV dyssynchrony between the anterior and inferior walls that is correctable with CRT.
Probabilistic methods surpass parsimony when assessing clade support in phylogenetic analyses of discrete morphological data
Authors: O'Reilly Joseph E. , Puttick Mark N. , Pisani Davide , Donoghue Philip C. J.
Published: October 2017

Fossil taxa are critical to inferences of historical diversity and the origins of modern biodiversity, but realizing their evolutionary significance is contingent on restoring fossil species to their correct position within the tree of life. For most fossil species, morphology is the only source of data for phylogenetic inference; this has traditionally been analysed using parsimony, the predominance of which is currently challenged by the development of probabilistic models that achieve greater phylogenetic accuracy. Here, based on simulated and empirical datasets, we explore the relative efficacy of competing phylogenetic methods in terms of clade support. We characterize clade support using bootstrapping for parsimony and Maximum Likelihood, and intrinsic Bayesian posterior probabilities, collapsing branches that exhibit less than 50% support. Ignoring node support, Bayesian inference is the most accurate method in estimating the tree used to simulate the data. After assessing clade support, Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood exhibit comparable levels of accuracy, and parsimony remains the least accurate method. However, Maximum Likelihood is less precise than Bayesian phylogeny estimation, and Bayesian inference recaptures more correct nodes with higher support compared to all other methods, including Maximum Likelihood. We assess the effects of these findings on empirical phylogenies. Our results indicate probabilistic methods should be favoured over parsimony.
Male views on help‐seeking for depression: A Q methodology study
Authors: House Jennifer , Marasli Pinar , Lister Matthew , Brown June S. L.
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To identify viewpoints among men with depression about depression and its treatment, consider how these might influence help‐seeking behaviour, and generate ideas for interventions and future research.

Design

Q methodology.

Methods

Twenty‐nine men with depression completed a Q sort by ranking a set of statements about depression and help‐seeking according to their relative agreement with each statement. Factor analysis was used to identify viewpoints relating to male understandings of depression and help‐seeking, which were interpreted in the context of participant characteristics and additional information from post‐sorting interviews.

Results

A two‐factor solution accounting for 45% of the total variance was considered the best fit for the data. The 2 factors were: (1) Help is available if you can get to the point of asking for it (34% of the variance) and (2) depression should be dealt with in private; help‐seeking makes you vulnerable (11% of the variance). Participants who were significantly associated with both factors described a sense of shame, relating to their own or others' views that being depressed and help‐seeking are in conflict with socially constructed ‘masculine' values, such as strength and self‐sufficiency. In the viewpoint represented by Factor 1, however, the benefits of help‐seeking outweigh the negatives. In contrast, the viewpoint represented in Factor 2 holds that depression should remain a private struggle and that help‐seeking is too risky a move to make.

Conclusions

In order to access treatment, men must first recognize depression, then overcome considerable perceived and internalized stigma to ask for help. Improving public knowledge about the nature of depression; positive messages about the act of help‐seeking, types of treatment available, and effectiveness of treatments; and work to overcome the challenges posed by long waiting times and other service constraints may increase rates of help‐seeking, and represent areas for future research.

Practitioner points

Interventions to improve recognition of depression symptoms, particularly in the absence of recent negative life events or suicidal ideation, might help to improve help‐seeking rates among men.

Media campaigns should consider focusing on the positive elements of help‐seeking and potential for recovery, and the impact of such campaigns should be evaluated.

Improving public knowledge of the types of non‐medical intervention that are available for depression may help to increase help‐seeking rates.

Clinical services and commissioners should be aware of the impact of long waiting times and strict discharge policies on service users, especially those who have difficulty asking for help.
CRISPR/Cas9 and TALENs generate heritable mutations for genes involved in small RNA processing of Glycine max and Medicago truncatula
Authors: Curtin Shaun J. , Xiong Yer , Michno Jean‐Michel , Campbell Benjamin W. , Stec Adrian O. , Čermák Tomas , Starker Colby , Voytas Daniel F. , Eamens Andrew L. , Stupar Robert M.
Published: October 2017

Processing of double‐stranded RNA precursors into small RNAs is an essential regulator of gene expression in plant development and stress response. Small RNA processing requires the combined activity of a functionally diverse group of molecular components. However, in most of the plant species, there are insufficient mutant resources to functionally characterize each encoding gene. Here, mutations in loci encoding protein machinery involved in small RNA processing in soya bean and Medicago truncatula were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 and TAL‐effector nuclease (TALEN) mutagenesis platforms. An efficient CRISPR/Cas9 reagent was used to create a bi‐allelic double mutant for the two soya bean paralogous Double‐stranded RNA‐binding2 (GmDrb2a and GmDrb2b) genes. These mutations, along with a CRISPR/Cas9‐generated mutation of the M. truncatula Hua enhancer1 (MtHen1) gene, were determined to be germ‐line transmissible. Furthermore, TALENs were used to generate a mutation within the soya bean Dicer‐like2 gene. CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis of the soya bean Dicer‐like3 gene and the GmHen1a gene was observed in the T0 generation, but these mutations failed to transmit to the T1 generation. The irregular transmission of induced mutations and the corresponding transgenes was investigated by whole‐genome sequencing to reveal a spectrum of non‐germ‐line‐targeted mutations and multiple transgene insertion events. Finally, a suite of combinatorial mutant plants were generated by combining the previously reported Gmdcl1a, Gmdcl1b and Gmdcl4b mutants with the Gmdrb2ab double mutant. Altogether, this study demonstrates the synergistic use of different genome engineering platforms to generate a collection of useful mutant plant lines for future study of small RNA processing in legume crops.
Pathogenicity and phylogenetic analysis of Clavibacter michiganensis strains associated with tomato plants in Iran
Authors: Osdaghi E. , Ansari M. , Taghavi S. M. , Zarei S. , Koebnik R. , Lamichhane J. R.
Published: October 2017

During 2013–2016, 277 tomato fields were surveyed across Iran to monitor the status of bacterial canker of tomato, caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. Altogether, 450 plant samples were collected, both with and without symptoms, from which 35 bacterial strains were recovered. These were positive for the PCR test performed using the Clavibacter‐specific primer pair CMR16F1/CMR16R1. Based on the phylogeny of the gyrB gene sequences, 31, three and one of the 35 strains were identified as C. michiganensis, Microbacterium sp. and Agrococcus sp., respectively. The 31 strains of C. michiganensis were further identified as C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (23 strains), C. michiganensis subsp. tessellarius (six strains) and Clavibacter spp. (two strains). This was subsequently confirmed by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of five housekeeping genes (atpD, gyrB, ppk, recA and rpoB). In pathogenicity tests, all 23 strains induced wilting symptoms on tomato plants in greenhouse conditions, while no symptoms were observed on eggplant, bell pepper and chili pepper plants. All evaluated pathogenicity determinant genes (celA, pat‐1, tomA, ppaA, chpC and chpG) were detected in 18 out of 31 C. michiganensis strains, using eight specific primer pairs. Estimation of the number of nucleotide differences, sequence similarity matrix and MLSA clustered two peach‐coloured strains (Tom495 and Tom532) separately from all nine previously described subspecies, thereby suggesting these two strains are a new subspecies of C. michiganensis. However, a detailed taxonomic study using multiphased molecular approaches is needed to delineate a formal taxonomic name for these atypical strains.
Varieties of Populism across a Left‐Right Spectrum: The Case of the Front National, the Northern League, Podemos and Five Star Movement
Authors: Ivaldi Gilles , Lanzone Maria Elisabetta , Woods Dwayne
Published: October 2017

This article engages in a comparative analysis of populist parties across the West‐European left‐right spectrum. Conceptualizing populism as a ‘thin ideology’, we argue that populist parties show both similarities and differences, and that these are a product of the interaction of the core features of populism with the ‘thicker’ ideological traditions from which the different parties draw upon. We employ a qualitative method in analyzing the core ideational features of populism in four different populist parties, both left and right. We find that all four parties converge in particular on their conception of the elite as a separate ‘caste’, in relation to economic and European integration conflicts, operating on patriotism and in claiming that they represent the true interests of the sovereign people. They differ, however, in their conception of the ‘true’ people that they presumably represent and the nature of popular sovereignty and populist democracy.
TAF15b, involved in the autonomous pathway for flowering, represses transcription of FLOWERING LOCUS C
Authors: Eom Hyunjoo , Park Su Jung , Kim Min Kyung , Kim Hoyeun , Kang Hunseung , Lee Ilha
Published: October 2017

TATA‐binding protein‐associated factors (TAFs) are general transcription factors within the transcription factor IID (TFIID) complex, which recognizes the core promoter of genes. In addition to their biochemical function, it is known that several TAFs are involved in the regulation of developmental processes. In this study, we found that TAF15b affects flowering time, especially through the autonomous pathway (AP) in Arabidopsis. The mutant taf15b shows late flowering compared with the wild type plant during both long and short days, and vernalization accelerates the flowering time of taf15b. In addition, taf15b shows strong upregulation of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), a flowering repressor in Arabidopsis, and the flc taf15b double mutant completely offsets the late flowering of taf15b, indicating that TAF15b is a typical AP gene. The taf15b mutant also shows increased transcript levels of COOLAIR, an antisense transcript of FLC. Consistently, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses showed that the TAF15b protein is enriched around both sense and antisense transcription start sites of the FLC locus. In addition, co‐immunoprecipitation showed that TAF15b interacts with RNA polymerase II (Pol II), while ChIP showed increased enrichment of the phosphorylated forms, both serine 2 (Ser2) and Ser5, of the C‐terminal domain of Pol II at the FLC locus, which is indicative of transcriptional elongation. Finally, taf15b showed higher enrichment of the active histone marker, H3K4me3, on FLC chromatin. Taken together, our results suggest that TAF15b affects flowering time through transcriptional repression of FLC in Arabidopsis.
On the exact solutions of the fractional (2+1)- dimensional Davey - Stewartson equation system
Authors: Yel Gülnur , Koçak Zeynep Fidan
Published: October 2017

In this work, we construct the exact traveling wave solutions of the fractional (2+1)-dimensional Davey-Stewartson equation system (D-S) that is complex equation system using the Modified Trial Equation Method (MTEM). We obtained trigonometric function solutions by this method that are new in literature.
Changes in blood pressure, blood flow towards the head and heart rate during 90 deg head‐up tilting for 30 min in anaesthetized male rats
Authors: Nishimura Hironobu , Yamasaki Masao
Published: October 2017

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

How does the baroreceptor reflex contribute to systemic blood pressure (BP) control during prolonged 90 deg head‐up tilting (HUT) in unconscious rats?

What is the main finding and its importance?

In intact rats, heart rate (HR) increased after the transition to upright by HUT, and BP was maintained in this posture throughout the 30 min experimental period. After sinoaortic denervation, which results in lack of discharge of the baroreflex afferents, HR and BP decreased gradually during 30 min of 90 deg HUT, suggesting that the baroreceptor reflex is an important factor for maintenance of BP during long‐term upright posture.

Changes in cardiovascular parameters during prolonged 90 deg head‐up tilting (HUT) in animals have not been elucidated in detail. We clarified changes in systemic blood pressure (BP), blood flow towards the head (BF) and heart rate (HR) and the role of the baroreceptor reflex after a transition from the supine posture to 90 deg HUT for 30 min in anaesthetized rats (n = 13). In control rats with the baroreceptor reflex afferents intact, mean BP and BF after the onset of 90 deg HUT decreased significantly by –15.4 ± 5.9 and –26.2 ± 11.5% at 2.9 ± 1.1 s (mean ± SD,n = 12), respectively, compared with control values and then immediately increased and steadied at 30.7 ± 13.1 s (plateau; –2.8 ± 8.5% in BP and –17.5 ± 17.4% in BF compared with control values; BP was maintained during 90 deg HUT). After acute sinoaortic denervation in seven rats, initial reductions in BP and BF after 90 deg HUT were observed at 3.9 ± 1.0 s, similar to the reductions in the nerve‐intact rats; the percentage changes from control were –19.2 ± 3.7 and –32.3 ± 8.4%, respectively. These parameters reached a plateau at 22.4 ± 5.8 s at –8.6 ± 7.7 and –29.5 ± 15.0%, respectively, and then BP decreased gradually throughout 90 deg HUT. Heart rate increased slightly after 90 deg HUT in nerve‐intact rats, but after sinoaortic denervation this increase disappeared and HR decreased gradually during 90 deg HUT. These results suggest that the baroreceptor reflex contributes to the maintenance of adequate BP during long‐term 90 deg HUT.
Design of a Muscle-Powered Extra-Aortic Counterpulsation Device for Long-Term Circulatory Support
Authors: Aranda-Michel Edgar , Han Jooli , Trumble Dennis R.
Published: October 2017

While great strides continue to be made in the treatment of congestive heart failure using mechanical ventricular assist devices (VADs), several longstanding difficulties associated with pumping blood continue to limit their long-term use. Among the most troublesome has been the persistent risk of clot formation at the blood-device interface, which generally requires VAD recipients to undergo costly — and potentially dangerous — anticoagulation therapy for the duration of the implant. Another serious and persistent problem with long-term use of these pumps is the increased risk of infection associated with the use of percutaneous drivelines.

To address these issues we are currently exploring a new approach to blood pump design that aims to solve both these problems by avoiding them altogether. Toward that end, we propose to harness the body’s own endogenous energy stores in order to eliminate the need to transmit energy across the skin. Further, we intend to transfer the energy from this internal power source to the circulation without contacting the blood to obviate the thrombogenic risks imposed by devices placed directly into the bloodstream.

To power the implant we will employ a device developed previously by our group called a muscle energy converter (MEC), shown in Figure 1. The MEC is, in essence, an implantable hydraulic actuator powered by the latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle with the capacity to transmit up to 1.37 joules of contractile work per stroke [1]. By training the muscle to express fatigue-resistant oxidative fibers and stimulating the LD to contract in coordination with the cardiac cycle, the MEC captures and transmits this contractile energy as a high-pressure low-volume (5 cc) hydraulic pulse that can be used, in principle, to actuate an implanted pulsatile blood pump.

The goal of this research is to use the low-volume output of the MEC to drive a polymer-based aortic compression device for long-term circulatory support. In this context it is important to note that the idea of applying a counterpulsation device around the ascending aorta is not new. Indeed, this approach has been validated by clinical trials recently completed by Sunshine Heart Inc. showing that displacing 20 cc of blood at the aortic root has significant therapeutic benefits [2]. Unfortunately, while the pneumatic ‘C-Pulse’ device solves the blood-contacting problem, it suffers from the same limitations as traditional VADs — i.e., driveline infections. The device described here achieves the same volumetric displacement as the SSH device via geometric amplification of MEC outputs. Thus, through this mechanism we believe the low-volume power output of the MEC can be used to support heart failure patients while addressing the major limitations associated with long-term VAD use.
Design of a Robotic Catheterization Platform With Use of Commercial Ablation Catheter
Authors: Hu Zhenkai , Won Jongseok , Moon Youngjin , Park Sanghoon , Choi Jaesoon
Published: October 2017

Cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, thrombosis, aneurysm and arrhythmia remain the major cause of mortality in developed countries, accounting for 34% of deaths each year [1]. Commonly used minimally invasive vascular intervention with using catheters leads to higher success rate than open surgery [2].

Integrating robotic technologies into active control of catheters in teleoperation manner has promised to reduce radiation exposure to surgeons and improve accuracy during electro-physiological (EP) procedures [1]. Common used commercial robotic EP catheter platforms such as Sensei (Hansen Medical Inc., USA) and Niobe (Stereotaxis Inc., USA) are usually composed of a catheter driver (slave side) which can be remotely controlled by a console operator (master side). However, the Sensei catheters are more rigid and bigger than standard catheters because of their two-layer-sheath structure; and Magnetic Niobe systems are huge and expensive.

In this paper, we propose a mechanism of remote-driving catheterization platforms in which a commercial tip-steerable ablation catheter (St. Jude Medical Inc., USA) (Fig. 1) is manipulated by a catheter driver in three degree of freedoms (DOF) (insertion/withdrawal, rotation and tip deflection). In addition, we also present the design of the control software based on Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) method which is expected to give the other researchers a guide line during robotic catheter design.
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Transducer Using Inversion Layer Technique for Ultrasound Therapy
Authors: Park Chan Yuk , Kwon Da Sol , Sung Jin Ho , Jeong Jong Seob
Published: October 2017

Recently, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been used for non-invasive surgery of prostate, uterus, and brain. However, a HIFU therapy is suffered from relatively long surgical time mainly due to small focal area per each sonication. In order to solve this problem, a HIFU therapy using multi-frequency was suggested by several researchers, and they demonstrated that this technique can increase the area of the coagulated lesion due to enhanced cavitation effect compared to single-frequency HIFU [1–3]. To generate multi-frequency especially dual-frequency, dual-element and dual-layer HIFU transducers have been developed and provided an expanded lesion size [1–3]. In this study, we present an alternative technique of making dual-frequency HIFU transducer using inversion layer technique. Generally, a single layer piezoelectric element can excite the strong fundamental resonance (f0) and the weak odd-order harmonic resonance (3f0) [4]. In the inversion layer technique, on the other hand, a piezoelectric component consisting of two piezo-ceramic plates bonded together with opposite poling directions and different thicknesses can produce the relatively strong even-order harmonic (2f0) in addition to the fundamental resonance [5]. Additionally, only a pair of electrode at the outside of the each piezo-ceramic plate is required to stimulate dual-frequency ultrasound while two pairs of electrodes are typically required for conventional dual-element and dual-layer transducers [2,3]. A specially designed prototype HIFU transducer was built, and we verified that the dual-frequency ultrasound was successfully generated through electrical impedance and pulse-echo response measurements.
Programmable Ultrasound Phased Array Therapy System
Authors: Zhu Yiying I. , Hall Timothy L. , Kripfgans Oliver D.
Published: October 2017

There has been an emerging interest in high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for therapeutic applications. By means of its thermal or mechanical effects, HIFU is able to serve as a direct tool for tissue ablation, or an indirect moderating medium to manipulate microbubbles or perform heating (hyperthermia) for the purpose of targeted drug delivery. The development and testing of HIFU based phased arrays is favorable as their elements allow for individual phasing to steer and focus the beam. While FDA has already approved tissue ablation by HIFU for the treatment of uterine fibroids (2004) and pain from bone metastases (2012), development continues on other possible applications that are less forgiving of incomplete treatment, such as thermal necrosis of malignant masses.

Ideally, each element, of such an array must have its own fully programmable electrical driving channel, which allows the control of delay, phase, and amplitude of the output from each element. To enable full control, each channel needs a waveform generator, an amplification device, and an impedance matching circuit between driver and acoustic element.

Similar projects utilizing this approach to drive therapeutic arrays include a 512-channel therapy system which was built at the University of Michigan using low cost Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) microcontroller and highly efficient MOSFET switching amplifiers [1]. However, this system lacks the ability to drive both, continuous wave (CW) and transient short duty-cycle high power pulses.

This paper presents a hybrid system, which is able to perform CW and transient short duty-cycle high power excitation. In the following we will describe the design, programming, fabrication, and evaluation of this radiofrequency (RF) driver system as used in our laboratory for a 1.5 MHz center frequency, 298-element array (Imasonic SA, Besancon, France) [2], FPGA-controlled amplifier boards and matching circuitry. Advantages of our design include: 1. Inexpensive components (<$15/channel); 2. Ability to program/drive individual output channels independently; 3. Sufficient time and amplitude resolution for various acoustic pattern design; 4. Capability of hybrid switching between low power CW and short duty cycle, high instantaneous power.