bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Novel Metabolic Pathways through Subgraph Mining
Authors: Sankar Aravind , Ranu Sayan , Raman Karthik
Published: April 2017

The ability to predict pathways for biosynthesis of metabolites is very important in metabolic engineering. It is possible to mine the repertoire of biochemical transformations from reaction databases, and apply the knowledge to predict reactions to synthesize new molecules. However, this usually involves a careful understanding of the mechanism and the knowledge of the exact bonds being created and broken. There is clearly a need for a method to rapidly predict reactions for synthesizing new molecules, which relies only on the structures of the molecules, without demanding additional information such as thermodynamics or hand-curated information such as atom-atom mapping, which are often hard to obtain accurately.

We here describe a robust method based on subgraph mining, to predict a series of biochemical transformations, which can convert between two (even previously unseen) molecules. We first describe a reliable method based on subgraph edit distance to map reactants and products, using only their chemical structures. Having mapped reactants and products, we identify the reaction centre and its neighbourhood, the reaction signature, and store this in a reaction rule network. This novel representation enables us to rapidly predict pathways, even between previously unseen molecules. We also propose a heuristic that predominantly recovers natural biosynthetic pathways from amongst hundreds of possible alternatives, through a directed search of the reaction rule network, enabling us to provide a reliable ranking of the different pathways. Our approach scales well, even to databases with > 100,000 reactions. A Java-based implementation of our algorithms is available athttps://github.com/RamanLab/ReactionMiner

CCS CONCEPTS

•Information systems →Data mining; •Applied computing →Bioinformatics;
Regulatory divergence in wound-responsive gene expression in domesticated and wild tomato
Authors: Liu Ming-Jung , Sugimoto Koichi , Uygun Sahra , Panchy Nicholas , Campbell Michael S. , Yandell Mark , Howe Gregg A. , Shiu Shin-Han
Published: April 2017

Background

The evolution ofcis-andtrans-regulatory components of transcription is central to how stress response and tolerance differ across species. However, it remains largely unknown how divergence in TF binding specificity andcis-regulatory sites contribute to the divergence of stress-responsive gene expression between wild and domesticated species.

Results

Using tomato as model, we analyzed the transcriptional profile of wound-responsive genes in wildSolanum pennelliiand domesticatedS. lycopersicum. We found that extensive expression divergence of wound-responsive genes is associated with speciation. To assess the degree of trans-regulatory divergence between these two species, 342 and 267 putativecis-regulatory elements (pCREs) inS. lycopersicumandS. pennellii, respectively, were identified that were predictive of wound-induced gene expression. We found that 35-66% of pCREs were conserved across species, suggesting that the remaining proportion (34-65%) of pCREs are species specific. This finding indicates a substantially higher degree of trans-regulatory divergence between these two plant species, which diverged ∼3-7 million years ago, compared to that observed in mouse and human, which diverged ∼100 million years ago. In addition, differences in pCRE sites were significantly associated with differences in wound-responsive gene expression between wild and domesticated tomato orthologs, suggesting the presence of substantialcis-regulatory divergence.

Conclusions

Our study provides new insights into the mechanistic basis of how the transcriptional response to wounding is regulated and, importantly, the contribution ofcis-andtrans-regulatory components to variation in wound-responsive gene expression during species domestication.
Independence between pre-mRNA splicing andde novoDNA methylation in an isogenic minigene resource
Authors: Nanan Kyster K. , Ocheltree Cody , Sturgill David , Mandler Mariana D. , Prigge Maria , Varma Garima , Oberdoerffer Shalini
Published: April 2017

Actively transcribed genes adopt a unique chromatin environment with characteristic patterns of enrichment. Within gene bodies, H3K36me3 and cytosine DNA methylation are elevated at exons of spliced genes and have been implicated in the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing. H3K36me3 is further responsive to splicing, wherein splicing inhibition led to a redistribution and general reduction over gene bodies. In contrast, little is known of the mechanisms supporting elevated DNA methylation at actively spliced genic locations. Recent evidence associating thede novoDNA methyltransferase Dnmt3b with H3K36me3-rich chromatin raises the possibility that genic DNA methylation is influenced by splicing-associated H3K36me3. Here, we report the generation of an isogenic resource to test the direct impact of splicing on chromatin. A panel of minigenes of varying splicing potential were integrated into a single FRT site for inducible expression. Profiling of H3K36me3 confirmed the established relationship to splicing, wherein levels were directly correlated with splicing efficiency. In contrast, DNA methylation was equivalently detected across the minigene panel, irrespective of splicing and H3K36me3 status. In addition to revealing a degree of independence between genic H3K36me3 and DNA methylation, these findings highlight the generated minigene panel as a flexible platform for the query of splicing-dependent chromatin modifications.
Cohesin can remain associated with chromosomes during DNA replication
Authors: Rhodes James D. P. , Haarhuis Judith H. I. , Grimm Jonathan B. , Rowland Benjamin D. , Lavis Luke D. , Nasmyth Kim A.
Published: April 2017

To ensure disjunction to opposite poles during anaphase, sister chromatids must be held together following DNA replication. This is mediated by cohesin, which is thought to entrap sister DNAs inside a tripartite ring composed of its Smc and kleisin (Scc1) subunits. How such structures are created during S phase is poorly understood, in particular whether they are derived from complexes that had entrapped DNAs prior to replication. To address this, we used selective photobleaching to determine whether cohesin associated with chromatin in G1 persists in situ after replication. We used unlabelled HaloTag ligand following fluorescent labelling to block newly synthesised Halo-tagged Scc1 protein from incorporating fluorescent dye (pulse-chase or pcFRAP). In cells whose cohesin turnover is inactivated by deletion ofWAPL, Scc1 remains associated with chromatin throughout S phase. These findings suggest that cohesion might be generated by cohesin that is already bound to unreplicated DNA.
SEARCH_16S: A new algorithm for identifying 16S ribosomal RNA genes in contigs and chromosomes
Authors: Edgar Robert C.
Published: April 2017

SEARCH_16S is a new algorithm that annotates 16S ribosomal RNA genes in microbial genomes and metagenomic sequences. Word counting is used to identify candidate segments, then conserved motifs are used to identify homologous loci close to the gene boundaries. SEARCH_16S has >99% sensitivity to known 16S genes.
Rapid and Programmable Protein Mutagenesis Using Plasmid Recombineering
Authors: Higgins Sean A. , Ouonkap Sorel , Savage David F.
Published: April 2017

Comprehensive and programmable protein mutagenesis is critical for understanding structure-function relationships and improving protein function. However, current techniques enabling comprehensive protein mutagenesis are based on PCR and requirein vitroreactions involving specialized protocols and reagents. This has complicated efforts to rapidly and reliably produce desired comprehensive protein libraries. Here we demonstrate that plasmid recombineering is a simple and robustin vivomethod for the generation of protein mutants for both comprehensive library generation as well as programmable targeting of sequence space. Using the fluorescent protein iLOV as a model target, we build a complete mutagenesis library and find it to be specific and unbiased, detecting 99.8% of our intended mutations. We then develop a thermostability screen and utilize our comprehensive mutation data to rapidly construct a targeted and multiplexed library that identifies significantly improved variants, thus demonstrating rapid protein engineering in a simple one-pot protocol.
Synthesis, structural characterization and computational studies of catena-poly[chlorido[μ3-(pyridin-1-ium-3-yl)phosphonato-κ3
O:O′:O′′]zinc(II)]
Authors: Wilk-Kozubek Magdalena , Jarzembska Katarzyna N. , Janczak Jan , Videnova-Adrabinska Veneta
Published: April 2017

Coordination polymers are constructed from two basic components, namely metal ions, or metal-ion clusters, and bridging organic ligands. Their structures may also contain other auxiliary components, such as blocking ligands, counter-ions and nonbonding guest or template molecules. The choice or design of a suitable linker is essential. The new title zinc(II) coordination polymer, [Zn(C5H5NO3P)Cl]
n
, has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy (FT–IR and FT–Raman). Additionally, computational methods have been applied to derive quantitative information about interactions present in the solid state. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c. The four-coordinated ZnII cation is in a distorted tetrahedral environment, formed by three phosphonate O atoms from three different (pyridin-1-ium-3-yl)phosphonate ligands and one chloride anion. The ZnII ions are extended by phosphonate ligands to generate a ladder chain along the [001] direction. Adjacent ladders are held together via N—H...O hydrogen bonds and offset face-to-face π–π stacking interactions, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular network with channels. As calculated, the interaction energy between the neighbouring ladders is −115.2 kJ mol−1. In turn, the cohesive energy evaluated per asymmetric unit-equivalent fragment of a polymeric chain in the crystal structure is −205.4 kJ mol−1. This latter value reflects the numerous hydrogen bonds stabilizing the three-dimensional packing of the coordination chains.
Advertising effectiveness on financial performance of banking sector: Turkey case
Authors: Acar Merve , Temiz Hüseyin
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the association between banks’ advertising expenses and accounting measures of income and profitability for banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study the authors have used distributed lag models to investigate the association between advertising expenses and banks’ financial performance. To investigate the long-term effect of advertising expenses on financial performance of banking sector Koyck’s distributed lag models have been used.

Findings

The results confirm a significant and positive association between advertising expenses and financial performance. Besides its positive effect, the authors provide a basis for detecting the extent to which advertising has long-term benefits. The results show a positive association between advertising expenses and financial performance that extend that extends over time, thereby suggesting that advertising expenses should be capitalized and then amortized instead of being incurred as an expense immediately.

Originality/value

Although there are lots of studies about advertising and its effect on financial position of firms, research about advertising effects on financial performance of banking sector is very scarce. Therefore, this study has a potential to shed light on research about marketing aspect of financial sector. Besides, empirical results show a positive association between advertising expenses and financial performance that extend that extends over time (interest income, total operating income and return on assets), thereby suggesting that advertising expenses should be capitalized and then amortized instead of being incurred as an expense immediately. To sum it all, the paper finds an evidence for banking sector that advertising inholds “future economic benefits” which is the key criterion necessary for asset recognition.
The mediating role of hedonic motivation on the relationship between adoption of e-banking and its determinants
Authors: Salimon Maruf Gbadebo , Yusoff Rushami Zien Bin , Mohd Mokhtar Sany Sanuri
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the combined roles that perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use, perceived security and hedonic motivation play on the adoption of e-banking. It also aims to determine the ability of hedonic motivation to transfer the effect of other determinants of e-banking adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to empirically test the conceptual model of this study, data were collected from the users of e-banking in Nigeria. A total of 266 questionnaires were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling.

Findings

The empirical results revealed a significant and positive relationship between PU, perceived security and e-banking adoption. The same result was found to be applicable to the relationship between PU, perceived ease of use, perceived security and hedonic motivation. However, support was not found for the relationship between perceived ease of use and adoption of e-banking. Hedonic motivation plays a mediating role between PU, perceived security and e-banking adoption. The study did not find a mediating effect of hedonic motivation between perceived ease of use and e-banking adoption.

Practical implications

The results of this study provide insights for banking practitioners to know which aspect of e-banking to improve and to aid with policies that will increase adoption. Furthermore, improvements in hedonic motivation will also significantly increase adoption of e-banking.

Originality/value

This study is one of the pioneer studies that tests the mediating influence of hedonic motivation.
Impact of brand familiarity on brands experience dimensions for financial services brands
Authors: Bapat Dhananjay
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of brand familiarity on the various dimensions of brand experience, and to identify the factor structure of brand familiarity for financial services brands.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a convenience sampling technique by contacting 216 respondents, and examined the relationship between brand experience dimensions and brand familiarity. An independent sample t-test was performed to assess the differences for brand experience dimensions. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed for both low familiarity and high familiarity service brands to highlight the differences.

Findings

The improvement in brand familiarity is positive for sensory, emotional, behavioral and relational brand experiences for high familiarity service brands. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis found a four-factor brand experience model for low brand familiarity and a five-factor brand experience structure for high familiarity financial services brands. The study of financial services brands validates the service brand experience framework of Nysveen et al. (2013) for high familiarity brands, but not for low familiarity financial services brand.

Practical implications

There is a need for marketers to comprehend various dimensions of brand experience in the context of financial services brands which are experiencing increased competition with non-banks.

Originality/value

The study makes a contribution to the existing literature as the concept of brand familiarity and its relationship with brand experience have received scant attention in the past.
Principles of successful implementation of lecture recordings in higher education
Authors: Ollermann Frank , Rolf Rüdiger , Greweling Christian , Klaßen André
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the principles underlying the successful implementation of a lecture recording service in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper qualitatively reviews the practices and experiences of several years of automated lecture recording at a medium-sized university in Germany.

Findings

The paper concludes that there are several principles that should be followed to successfully implement lecture recordings in higher education.

Practical implications

The principles described in this paper can serve as recommendations for other universities that would like to establish or optimize their own lecture recording service.

Originality/value

The value of the paper lies mainly in the great amount of experience in successfully running a lecture recording service on which the principles and recommendations are based.
The impact of socio-political and economic environments on private sector participation in energy infrastructure delivery in Ghana
Authors: Owusu-Manu De-Graft , Edwards David John , Kutin-Mensah E.K. , Kilby Angela , Parn Erika , Love Peter Edward
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Investment in power and electricity generation for replacing aging infrastructure with new represents a major challenge for developing countries. This paper therefore aims to examine infrastructure projects’ characteristics and how socio-political and economic investment environments interplay to influence the degree of private sector participation (PPP) in infrastructure delivery in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Using World Bank Public-private infrastructure advisory facility (PPIAF) and private participation in infrastructure (PPI) project database data from 1994 to 2013, binary logistic regression was used to: determine the probability of a higher or lower degree of PPP; and examine the significance of factors that are determinants of private investments.

Findings

The findings reveal that the private sector is more likely to invest in a higher degree of PPP infrastructure projects through greenfield and concession vehicles as opposed to management and leasing contracts. From the extant literature, drivers of PPP included infrastructure project characteristics and the social–economic–political health of the host country. However, the significance, direction and magnitude of these drivers vary.

Originality/value

This paper identifies investment drivers to PPP advisors and project managers and seeks to engender discussion among government policymakers responsible for promoting and managing PPP projects. Direction for future work seeks to explore competitive routes to infrastructure debt and equity finance options that finance energy projects.
Intuitive design: framing a software test system as a status reporting tool for business
Authors: So Chaehan
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to present a conceptual framework of how software teams can leverage the implicit information of implemented acceptance tests to cater to the needs of decision makers. The research questions on this framework were how business stakeholders can receive project status information in an intuitive way and how this framework can guarantee the traceability of tests to requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual framework delineates the design of an acceptance test framework in three aspects: how the requirements model reflects the evolving states of requirement maturity over a project, how the acceptance test model becomes synchronized with the requirements model without a traceability matrix and how the acceptance test model communicates business value to the decision makers.

Findings

In an industrial case study, the presented framework yielded the positive effects of intuitive understanding by business stakeholders, high test coverage of requirements and distinctly reduced manual quality assurance (QA) work by automated testing for browsers and mobile devices.

Practical implications

The presented framework can help to convince business stakeholders to approve the budget for building a testing framework because it delivers them value as a status reporting tool.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to describe a step-by-step approach to solving a critical problem that IT departments frequently face. The solution consists in a new way of transforming the perception of a technical framework into a reporting tool for business information by intuitive design. The idea of mapping hierarchically corresponding abstraction layers can be transferred to other engineering domains.
Getting acquainted with social networks and apps: periscope up! Broadcasting via live streaming
Authors: Anderson Katie Elson
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to get acquainted with social networks and apps: up periscope! broadcasting via live streaming.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a general review paper.

Findings

The popularity and growth of live streaming applications should not be overlooked by information professionals.

Originality/value

Even if the library does not use the app itself, it is important to be aware that patrons are using these tools to stream their lives to the world.
Use of a duckweed pond for the domestic wastewater polishing in Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil
Authors: Garcia Daiane Cristina de Oliveira , Albertin Liliane Lazzari , Matsumoto Tsunao
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of a duckweed pond in the polishing of a stabilization pond effluent, as well as quantify its biomass production. Once an adequate destination is given to the produced biomass, the wastewater treatment plant can work in a sustainable and integrated way.

Design/methodology/approach

The duckweed pond consisted of a tank with volume 0.44 m3, operating in continuous flow with an outflow of 0.12 m3/day and hydraulic retention time of 3.8 days. Effluent samples were collected before and after the treatment, with analyzes made: daily-pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature; twice a week – total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and chemical oxygen demand (COD); and weekly – total solids (TS) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5). The duckweeds were collected each for seven days for its production quantification.

Findings

The highest efficiency of TN, TP, COD, BOD5and TS removal were of 74.67, 66.18, 88.12, 91.14 and 48.9 percent, respectively. The highest biomass production rate was 10.33 g/m2/day in dry mass.

Research limitations/implications

There was great variation in biomass production, which may be related to the stabilization pond effluent conditions. The evaluation of the effluent composition, which will be treated with duckweeds, is recommended.

Practical implications

The evaluated treatment system obtained positive results for the reduction in the analyzed variables concentration, being an efficient technology and with operational simplicity for the domestic effluent polishing.

Originality/value

The motivation of this work was to bring a simple system of treatment and to give value to a domestic wastewater treatment system in a way that, at the same time the effluent polluter level is reduced and it is also possible to produce biomass during the treatment process.
Particle size characterization as a support for sediment contamination analysis
Authors: Fernandes Felippe , Poleto Cristiano
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the results of particle size profiles carried out in the dam Mãe d’água, located in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, becoming a tool of support for geochemistry evaluation works of sediments in this basin.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology comprised the particle size analysis of eight cores sampled using the extraction profile technique “Sampling Cores.” A total of 56 sub-samples were obtained at different depths, varying between 0 and 52 cm. The particle size analysis of the sub-samples was carried out with the protocol relating to Brazilian analysis standards NBR 7,181; for determination of the particle size distribution of thick sediments, the sieve method was used, and for fine sediments, the pipette method was used.

Findings

The results show that for the different depths, the sediment profiles show similarity in their sedimentary deposition layers. Cores T1, T6, T7 and T8 showed a classification with predominance of mud. Cores T2 and T5 showed variations throughout their sedimentary profile, varying of mud predominance to sand with gravel, and on cores T3 and T4, the predominant characteristic is sand with mud and sand with gravel, respectively.

Originality/value

It can be seen in this paper that energy of sedimentological flow reaches it in a different way, creating these three sectors (first, sand with gravel; second, sand with mud and third, mud) with different characteristics – morphodynamic and sedimentological. These characteristics are important for the study of the heavy metals on the soil and therefore for reducing the risk of contamination of water courses.
From pristine forests to high‐altitude pastures: an ecological approach to prehistoric human impact on vegetation and landscapes in the western Italian Alps
Authors: Pini Roberta , Ravazzi Cesare , Raiteri Luca , Guerreschi Antonio , Castellano Lorenzo , Comolli Roberto
Published: April 2017

This paper addresses the origin and development of the oldest prehistoric pasture in the timberline ecotone known so far in the Alps and its relation to anthropogenic pressure and natural climate change.

Palaeoecological and geochemical techniques were applied on the Crotte Basse mire stratigraphy (2365 m a.s.l, northwestern Italy) to describe changes in vegetation composition, forest biomass, land use and fertilization between c. 6400–1800 cal years bp.

Subalpine forests dominated by Pinus cembra occurred at very high‐altitude up to c. 5600 cal years bp, when a sharp contraction of woody vegetation took place. This major vegetation shift is matched by increasing charcoal input and markers of pastoral/grazing activities (pollen, dung spores and forms of phosphorus) in the sediment sequence in this small basin.

Major phases of landscape change detected in our multiproxy record chronologically match intervals of cumulative probability density of 14C ages from nearby archaeological sites, suggesting that human activity was the factor leading to massive landscape change from the onset of the Copper Age (c. 5600 cal years bp). The change may have been reinforced by climate variability in the period 5700–5300 cal years bp.

Sensitivity of woody species to fires was statistically explored (Appendix S1, Supporting Information), revealing negative reactions of P. cembra and Betula to frequent fire episodes and positive reactions of Alnus viridis and Juniperus. Fire episodes do not affect Larix dynamics.

Synthesis. Mt. Fallère provides some of the oldest and consistent evidence so far available in the Alps for major anthropogenic pressure at the upper forest limit. As far back as 5600 cal years bp, high‐elevation forest ecosystems were permanently disrupted and the alpine pastures were created. Palaeoecological data enable a clear distinction between a random and sporadic use of the alpine space, typical for Mesolithic and Neolithic societies, and an organized seasonal exploitation of natural resources, starting from the Copper Age onwards. The chronological comparison of independent climate proxies, palaeoecological information and pollen‐based temperature reconstructions sheds light on the relationships between climate and humans since prehistoric times.
Simulation in Occupational Therapy Curricula: A literature review
Authors: Bennett Sally , Rodger Sylvia , Fitzgerald Cate , Gibson Libby
Published: April 2017

Background/aim

Simulated learning experiences are increasingly being used in health‐care education to enhance student engagement and provide experiences that reflect clinical practice; however, simulation has not been widely investigated in occupational therapy curricula. The aim of this paper was to: (i) describe the existing research about the use and evaluation of simulation over the last three decades in occupational therapy curricula and (ii) consider how simulation has been used to develop competence in students.

Methods

A literature review was undertaken with searches of MEDLINE, CINAHL and ERIC to locate articles that described or evaluated the use of simulation in occupational therapy curricula.

Results/findings

Fifty‐seven papers were identified. Occupational therapy educators have used the full scope of simulation modalities, including written case studies (22), standardised patients (13), video case studies (15), computer‐based and virtual reality cases (7), role‐play (8) and mannequins and part‐task trainers (4). Ten studies used combinations of these modalities and two papers compared modalities. Most papers described the use of simulation for foundational courses, as for preparation for fieldwork, and to address competencies necessary for newly graduating therapists. The majority of studies were descriptive, used pre‐post design, or were student's perceptions of the value of simulation.

Conclusion

Simulation‐based education has been used for a wide range of purposes in occupational therapy curricula and appears to be well received. Randomised controlled trials are needed to more accurately understand the effects of simulation not just for occupational therapy students but for longer term outcomes in clinical practice.
Taxonomic variability and functional stability in microbial communities infected by phages
Authors: Louca Stilianos , Doebeli Michael
Published: April 2017

Microbial communities can display large variation in taxonomic composition, yet this variation can coincide with stable metabolic functional structure and performance. The mechanisms driving the taxonomic variation within functional groups remain largely unknown. Biotic interactions, such as predation by phages, have been suggested as potential cause of taxonomic turnover, but the conditions for this scenario have not been rigorously examined. Further, it is unknown how predation by phages affects community function, and how these effects are modulated by functional redundancy in the communities. Here, we address these questions using a model for a methanogenic microbial community that includes several interacting metabolic functional groups. Each functional group comprises multiple competing clades, and each clade is attacked by a specialist lytic phage. Our model predicts that phages induce intense taxonomic turnover, resembling the variability observed in previous experiments. The functional structure and performance of the community are also disturbed by phage predation, but they become more stable as the functional redundancy in the community increases. The extent of this stabilization depends on the particular functions considered. Our model suggests mechanisms by which functional redundancy stabilizes community function and supports the interpretation that biotic interactions promote taxonomic turnover within microbial functional groups.
Sequential bioavailability of sedimentary organic matter to heterotrophic bacteria
Authors: Mahmoudi Nagissa , Beaupré Steven R. , Steen Andrew D. , Pearson Ann
Published: April 2017

Aquatic sediments harbour diverse microbial communities that mediate organic matter degradation and influence biogeochemical cycles. The pool of bioavailable carbon continuously changes as a result of abiotic processes and microbial activity. It remains unclear how microbial communities respond to heterogeneous organic matrices and how this ultimately affects heterotrophic respiration. To explore the relationships between the degradation of mixed carbon substrates and microbial activity, we incubated batches of organic‐rich sediments in a novel bioreactor (IsoCaRB) that permitted continuous observations of CO2 production rates, as well as sequential sampling of isotopic signatures (δ13C, Δ14C), microbial community structure and diversity, and extracellular enzyme activity. Our results indicated that lower molecular weight (MW), labile, phytoplankton‐derived compounds were degraded first, followed by petroleum‐derived exogenous pollutants, and finally by higher MW polymeric plant material. This shift in utilization coincided with a community succession and increased extracellular enzyme activities. Thus, sequential utilization of different carbon pools induced changes at both the community and cellular level, shifting community composition, enzyme activity, respiration rates, and residual organic matter reactivity. Our results provide novel insight into the accessibility of sedimentary organic matter and demonstrate how bioavailability of natural organic substrates may affect the function and composition of heterotrophic bacterial populations.
Relational Ownership and CEO Continuity: A Property Rights Perspective
Authors: Zeitoun Hossam , Pamini Paolo
Published: April 2017

Inspired by agency theory, research on Chief Executive Officer (CEO) succession often focuses on turnovers as a mechanism to discipline CEOs in the event of poor firm performance. Recent research extends this view by showing that CEO turnovers can also lead to substantial disruption in a firm's management. Less is known, however, about the antecedents of disruption and continuity in the context of CEO turnovers. Drawing on modern property rights theory, we investigate how CEO continuity varies across different types of firms. Using a sample of Swiss publicly traded firms, we find that relational ownership enhances the likelihood of CEOs staying in office or moving to the position of board chair. Firms with little relational ownership, in contrast, display a high degree of CEO continuity only when capital intensity is high. Provided that a CEO turnover occurs, relational ownership and capital intensity reduce the likelihood of interim CEO successions. These findings highlight the importance of a nuanced view of CEO continuity, taking into account owner types as well as contextual factors.
Disparities in Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations: Near‐National Estimates for Hispanics
Authors: Feng Chen , Paasche‐Orlow Michael K. , Kressin Nancy R. , Rosen Jennifer E. , López Lenny , Kim Eun Ji , Lin Meng‐Yun , Hanchate Amresh D.
Published: April 2017

Objective

To obtain near‐national rates of potentially preventable hospitalization (PPH)—a marker of barriers to outpatient care access—for Hispanics; to examine their differences from other race‐ethnic groups and by Hispanic national origin; and to identify key mediating factors.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Data from all‐payer inpatient discharge databases for 15 states accounting for 85 percent of Hispanics nationally.

Study Design

Combining counts of inpatient discharges with census population for adults aged 18 and older, we estimated age‐sex‐adjusted PPH rates. We examined county‐level variation in race‐ethnic disparities in these rates to identify the mediating role of area‐level indicators of chronic condition prevalence, socioeconomic status (SES), health care access, acculturation, and provider availability.

Principal Findings

Age‐sex‐adjusted PPH rates were 13 percent higher among Hispanics (1,375 per 100,000 adults) and 111 percent higher among blacks (2,578) compared to whites (1,221). Among Hispanics, these rates were relatively higher in areas with predominantly Puerto Rican and Cuban Americans than in areas with Hispanics of other nationalities. Small area variation in chronic condition prevalence and SES fully accounted for the higher rates among Hispanics, but only partially among blacks.

Conclusions

Hispanics and blacks face higher barriers to outpatient care access; the higher barriers among Hispanics (but not blacks) seem mediated by SES, lack of insurance, cost barriers, and limited provider availability.
The Promise of Andragogy and Experimental Learning to Improve Teaching of Nutrition Concepts to Culinary Arts Students
Authors: Abdulsalam N. , Condrasky M. , Bridges W. , Havice P.
Published: April 2017

This randomized controlled trial compared the effectiveness of traditional lecture (C), face‐to‐face demonstration (DP), on‐line lecture capture (OP), and the combination of the last two (OP+DP) to enhance culinary arts students' application skills related to sodium usage in food preparation. Objectives were to compare relative effectiveness of the four instructional methods with respect to knowledge about dietary sodium, ease of use of sodium reduction techniques, strategies to reduce sodium and attitudes about use of dietary sodium in cooking; and to compare student satisfaction with the instructional methods. A convenience sample of n = 139 students was randomized to receive the C, DP, OP, or OP+DP intervention. To measure effectiveness of each instructional method, a nutrition survey was administered as a pre‐test, post‐test, and an eight‐week follow‐up. There was no statistically significant difference in performance between DP, OP, and OP+DP groups on each subscale. However, each of these methods performed significantly better than the control group (C). DP, OP, and OP+DP methods were superior to the control group (C). In general, OP+DP resulted in the largest effect sizes, suggesting that this intervention was possibly more effective as compared to the OP or DP. Future culinarians can benefit from learning about health‐conscious sodium reduction cooking practices as seen in the nutrition education sector to improve population health.
Biogenic Amine Formation and Microbiological Quality of Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) Treated with Lavender and Lemon Balm Ethanol Extracts
Authors: Özogul Fatih , Öztekin Rana , Kulawik Piotr
Published: April 2017

Biogenic amine formation and bacterial growth of vacuum‐packed European anchovy treated with 1% lemon balm (LB) or lavender (LD) ethanol extracts was investigated. The treated samples were stored at 2 ± 1 °C for 11 d and analyzed for biogenic amines, total viable count, fecal coliform count, and lactic acid bacterial count. The analyses were done on 0, 4, 7, 9, and 11 d of storage. Both LB and LD extracts proved effective in reducing most biogenic amines, with histamine reduced by 3‐fold compared to control. The calculated biogenic amine index showed that LB extract was the most effective in inhibiting the biogenic amine formation. The reduction in total viable count was low and the bacterial contamination reached more than 7 log cfu/g at the end of the storage period for all the samples. Moreover, the reduction in fecal coliform and lactic acid bacterial count by LB and LD extracts was below 1 log cfu/g. Treatment of European anchovy with LB and LD extracts proved to be a very effective preservation technique to reduce the biogenic amine formation and lower the risk of histamine fish poisoning but is not effective in reduction of bacterial load. Consequently, LB and LD extracts could be used to reduce the biogenic amine formation which provides additional safety prior to spoilage for histamine sensitive fish species.
Increased serum interleukin‐32 levels in patients with Behçet's disease
Authors: Ha You‐Jung , Park Jin‐Su , Kang Mi‐il , Lee Soo‐Kon , Park Yong‐Beom , Lee Sang‐Won
Published: April 2017

Aim

Interleukin (IL)‐32 is known to act as a proinflammatory cytokine and is likely involved in several chronic inflammatory diseases. The aims of this study were to investigate whether serum IL‐32 levels are elevated in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) and to identify the correlation between IL‐32 levels and disease activity.

Methods

We enrolled 50 patients with BD and 35 healthy controls. Serum IL‐32 levels were measured using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Serum levels of IL‐12p70, IL‐17A, IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐8 were measured using a multiplex assay. BD disease activity was determined using the Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF).

Results

Serum IL‐32 levels were significantly higher in patients with BD (median [interquartile ranges], 0.4 [0.1–736.2] pg/mL) than in healthy controls (0.1 [0.1–14.7] pg/mL, P = 0.041). When patients with BD were divided into active (patient index score ≥ 2 or transformed index score ≥ 5 in the BDCAF) and inactive groups, IL‐32 levels tended to be higher in patients with active BD, although this observation was statistically insignificant. Serum levels of IL‐12p70, IL‐17A, IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐8 did not differ between active and inactive groups. There was a weak positive correlation between serum IL‐32 levels and BDCAF scores (R = 0.301, P = 0.033). BD patients with recent arthralgia exhibited higher IL‐32 levels than did those without (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that IL‐32 may play a minor role in the pathogenesis of BD.
The Political Economy of Drought: Legacy and Lessons from Australia's Millennium Drought
Authors: Crase Lin , Cooper Bethany
Published: April 2017

The policy response to drought can have both positive and negative effects by either promoting adaptation to greater variability or setting in train processes that ultimately make water users less adaptable. Also, on the one hand the “crisis” of drought can encourage policy reforms that may have stalled and on the other hand the desire to be seen to be “doing something” can lead to political expediency that might be counter to the goal of adaptation. In this paper we focus on recent Australian water policy in an effort to gain insights to the direction of contemporary interventions and identify what can be done better. In order to answer questions about the current preparedness for drought we consider strengths and weaknesses that emerged in response to the so‐called millennium drought that began in Australia in the mid‐1990s and concluded in 2009–2010. We also briefly scrutinise subsequent policy changes, legislation and management practices against wider reform objectives. The aim is to encourage other jurisdictions to recognise the pitfalls and avoid costly mistakes.
Dental responsibility loadings and the relative value of dental services
Authors: Teusner DN , Ju X , Brennan DS
Published: April 2017

Objective

To estimate responsibility loadings for a comprehensive list of dental services, providing a standardized unit of clinical work effort.

Methods

Dentists (n = 2500) randomly sampled from the Australian Dental Association membership (2011) were randomly assigned to one of 25 panels. Panels were surveyed by questionnaires eliciting responsibility loadings for eight common dental services (core items) and approximately 12 other items unique to that questionnaire. In total, loadings were elicited for 299 items listed in the Australian Dental Schedule 9th Edition. Data were weighted to reflect the age and sex distribution of the workforce. To assess reliability, regression models assessed differences in core item loadings by panel assignment. Estimated loadings were described by reporting the median and mean.

Results

Response rate was 37%. Panel composition did not vary by practitioner characteristics. Core item loadings did not vary by panel assignment. Oral surgery and endodontic service areas had the highest proportion (91%) of services with median loadings ≥1.5, followed by prosthodontics (78%), periodontics (76%), orthodontics (63%), restorative (62%) and diagnostic services (31%). Preventive services had median loadings ≤1.25.

Conclusion

Dental responsibility loadings estimated by this study can be applied in the development of relative value scales.
Oral manifestations related to dengue fever: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Pedrosa MS , de Paiva MHP , Oliveira LGFL , Pereira SMS , da Silva CHV , Pompeu JGF
Published: April 2017

The focus on oral manifestations of dengue fever (DF) is not common in the scientific literature and the patient affected can present signs and symptoms that may not be noticed by dental professionals. This systematic review article was conducted to identify and discuss the oral manifestations related to DF. The electronic databases PubMed, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Sciences (LILACS), Web of Science and Scopus were searched from November to December 2016 by two authors, simultaneously, using the search terms ‘dengue and oral manifestation’ combined. We included complete original articles, clinical trials and clinical case reports published in Portuguese, Spanish and English. No limits were applied to the year of publication. Review articles and those with no health outcomes were removed. A limited number of studies aimed to investigate the oral manifestations of DF (N = 25). However, several manifestations were identified in the oral cavity of patients diagnosed with DF such as acute gingival and palate bleeding, dryness of the mouth, taste changes, and erythematous plaque and vesicles on the tongue and palate. Osteonecrosis of jaw associated with DF was also reported. In conclusion, oral manifestations may represent a relevant contributory factor to identify DF disease among patients undergoing dental procedures in general practise.
Assessment of the immunogenicity of gonadotrophins during controlled ovarian stimulation
Authors: Morte Carles , Celma Carles , De Geyter Christian , Urbancsek Janos , Coroleu Lletget Buenaventura , Cometti Barbara
Published: April 2017

Problem

Gonadotrophin hormones are used for the controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) as part of the in vitro fertilization techniques. Therapeutic proteins have the potential to induce an unwanted immune response.

Method of study

The presence of anti‐FSH, anti‐LH and anti‐hCG antibodies were determined in patients from two different clinical trials after the repeated administration of hMG or FSH.

Results

In the first study, 27 subjects were screening for the presence of anti‐FSH antibodies. From the 27 patients, only one patient showed the presence of low levels of antibodies. In a second study, 25 patients were screened for the presence of anti‐FSH, anti‐LH and anti‐hCG antibodies. At the end of the study, no patients showed the presence of antibodies.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that repeated treatment cycles with FSH or hMG in patients undergoing COS for in vitro fertilization can be safely and effectively applied without concerns for immunogenicity.
Efficacy of treatment with pseudoephedrine in men with retrograde ejaculation
Authors: Shoshany O. , Abhyankar N. , Elyaguov J. , Niederberger C.
Published: April 2017

The use of pseudoephedrine, an alpha agonist, for the treatment of retrograde ejaculation is well‐known, however, there is no clear consensus from the literature regarding its efficacy and treatment protocol. We evaluated the efficacy of pseudoephedrine treatment in patients with retrograde ejaculation, utilizing a yet undescribed short‐period treatment protocol. Twenty men were medically treated with pseudoephedrine for retrograde ejaculation between January 2010 and May 2016 (12 with complete retrograde ejaculation and 8 with partial retrograde ejaculation). All patients had a semen analysis and post‐ejaculatory urinalysis before and after treatment. The treatment protocol consisted of 60 mg of pseudoephedrine every 6 h on the day before semen analysis and two more 60 mg doses on the day of the semen analysis. Diabetes was the most common etiology for complete retrograde ejaculation (60%), whereas an idiopathic cause was the most common etiology for partial retrograde ejaculation (82%). Of the 12 complete retrograde ejaculation patients treated with pseudoephedrine prior to semen analysis, 7 (58.3%) recovered spermatozoa in the antegrade ejaculate, with a mean total sperm count of 273.5 ± 172.5 million. Of the eight patients with partial retrograde ejaculation, five (62.5%) had a ≥50% increase in the antegrade total sperm count. In this group, the mean total sperm count increased from 26.9 ± 8.5 million before treatment to 84.2 ± 24.6 million after treatment, whereas the percentage of spermatozoa in the urine declined from 43.2 ± 9% to 17 ± 10%, respectively (both p < 0.05). Overall, in men with retrograde ejaculation treated with a pseudoephedrine regimen prior to ejaculation, some improvement in seminal parameters occurred in 14 (70%) patients, with 10 patients (38.5% of all patients) achieving antegrade total sperm counts over 39 million.