bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specialist corallivores dominate butterflyfish assemblages in coral‐dominated reef habitats
Authors: Pratchett M. S. , Graham N. A. J. , Cole A. J.
Published: March 2013

This study examined the dietary habits and functional composition of butterflyfishes in the Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean. Eighteen species of butterflyfishes were recorded in Chagos, including six obligate corallivores (Chaetodon bennetti, Chaetodon guttatissimus, Chaetodon meyeri, Chaetodon trifascialis, Chaetodon trifasciatus and Chaetodon zanzibarensis), five facultative corallivores (Chaetodon auriga, Chaetodon falcula, Chaetodon interruptus, Chaetodon kleinii and Chaetodon madagaskariensis), two non‐corallivores (Chaetodon lunula and Chaetodon xanthocephalus) and a further five species (Chaetodon citrinellus, Chaetodon lineolatus, Heimitaurichthys zoster, Heniochus monoceros and Forcipiger flavissimus), for which local dietary habits were not studied. There were marked differences in the abundance of butterflyfishes among sites and between reef zones, mostly associated with variation in abundance of scleractinian corals. Obligate coral‐feeding species (mostly C. trifascialis) dominated across all sites. This study suggests that coral feeding and high levels of dietary specialization contribute to high population‐level fitness among coral reef butterflyfishes. Despite being more vulnerable to habitat disturbances and coral loss, it appears likely that specialist coral‐feeding butterflyfishes are also much more resilient to occasional disturbances, and therefore dominate in a wide range of coral reef habitats.
Effects of a muscle‐infecting parasitic nematode on the locomotor performance of their fish host
Authors: Umberger C. M. , de Buron I. , Roumillat W. A. , McElroy E. J.
Published: March 2013

The southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma, host to the nematodePhilometroides paralichthydisthat is embedded in place of the inclinator muscles of the dorsal and anal fin elements, is hypothesized to impair two aspects of locomotor performance (swimming and burying capacity). Peak swimming acceleration and both measures of burying performance did not differ between infected and uninfected fish, whereas swimming velocity of infected fish was significantly lower than that of uninfected fish. Smaller infected fish swam at significantly slower speeds than smaller uninfected fish, whereas there was no difference among larger fish. Neither the location nor the number of worms affected either swimming or burying performance. The decrease in swimming velocity observed in smaller infected fish may be sufficient in rendering them more vulnerable to predation and environmental stressors.
The spatial rotator
Authors: RASMUSSON A. , HAHN U. , LARSEN J.O. , GUNDERSEN H.J.G. , JENSEN E.B. VEDEL , NYENGAARD J.R.
Published: March 2013

This paper presents a new local volume estimator, the spatial rotator, which is based on measurements on a virtual 3D probe, using computer assisted microscopy. The basic design of the probe builds upon the rotator principle which requires only a few manual intersection markings, thus making the spatial rotator fast to use. Since a 3D probe is involved, it is expected that the spatial rotator will be more efficient than the the nucleator and the planar rotator, which are based on measurements in a single plane. An extensive simulation study shows that the spatial rotator may be more efficient than the traditional local volume estimators. Furthermore, the spatial rotator can be seen as a further development of the Cavalieri estimator, which does not require randomization of sectioning or viewing direction. The tissue may thus be sectioned in any arbitrary direction, making it easy to identify the specific tissue region under study. In order to use the spatial rotator in practice, however, it is necessary to be able to identify intersection points between cell boundaries and test rays in a series of parallel focal planes, also at the peripheral parts of the cell boundaries. In cases where over‐ and underprojection phenomena are not negligible, they should therefore be corrected for if the spatial rotator is to be applied. If such a correction is not possible, it is needed to avoid these phenomena by using microscopy with increased resolution in the focal plane.
RhoA, RhoB and RhoC have different roles in cancer cell migration
Authors: RIDLEY A.J.
Published: March 2013

Rho GTPases are well known to regulate cell motility through activation of a variety of downstream effector proteins, including enzymes, adaptor proteins and actin nucleators. The three closely related Rho GTPases RhoA, RhoB and RhoC all have the potential to interact with the same downstream effectors, yet they have substantially different effects on cell shape and migratory properties. Here I review the different ways in which RhoA, RhoB and RhoC expression is regulated in cancer and how they play distinct roles in cancer progression. I describe their main effectors known to contribute to cell motility. Recent results from our laboratory and others indicate that RhoA, RhoB and RhoC can be activated by specific stimuli and act through different effectors to control distinct aspects of cancer cell migration and invasion. This suggests that they each make unique contributions to cancer by participating in different protein complexes.
Oxyacetylene torch testing and microstructural characterization of tantalum carbide
Authors: PAUL A. , BINNER J.G.P. , VAIDHYANATHAN B. , HEATON A.C.J. , BROWN P.M.
Published: March 2013

Tantalum carbide samples have been subjected to high‐temperature testing at ∼2300°C using an oxyacetylene torch to evaluate their potential for ultra‐high temperature applications. While large samples cracked during the rapid heating, indicating their inability to withstand thermal shock, small samples survived the severe test conditions. The oxidation products formed were characterized and found to comprise different phases of Ta2O5. The ultra‐high temperature experienced by the samples resulted in the formation of many interesting microstructures, including the formation of submicron sized grains, which has not been reported previously in the literature, as well as the expected evidence of melting.
The estimated mechanical advantage of the prosimian ankle joint musculature, and implications for locomotor adaptation
Authors: Goto Ryosuke , Kumakura Hiroo
Published: March 2013

In this study we compared the power arm lengths and mechanical advantages attributed to 12 lower leg muscles across three prosimian species. The origins and insertions of the lower leg muscles in Garnett's galago, the ring‐tailed lemur, and the slow loris were quantified and correlated with positional behaviour. The ankle joint of the galago has a speed‐oriented mechanical system, in contrast to that of the slow loris, which exhibits more power‐oriented mechanics. The lemur ankle joint exhibited intermediate power arm lengths and an intermediate mechanical advantage relative to the other primates. This result suggests that the mechanical differences in the ankle between the galago and the lemur, taxa that exhibit similar locomotory repertoires, reflect a difference in the kinematics and kinetics of leaping (i.e. generalised vs. specialised leapers). In contrast to leaping primates, lorises have developed a more power‐oriented mechanical system as a foot adaptation for positional behaviours such as bridging or cantilevering in their arboreal habitat.
‘The path through the unknown’: the experience of being a relative of a dementia‐suffering spouse or parent
Authors: Madsen Rikke , Birkelund Regner
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectives

To examine the experiences of relatives of a spouse or parent who suffers from dementia and examines whether there are similarities or differences between these experiences.

Background

Dementia is an increasing illness in the world. Dementia affects not only the person with dementia but also the relatives. There is a lack of knowledge about the experience of being a relative to a dementia‐suffering person.

Design and methods

Twenty‐one stories from relatives were included in this study, and these stories were analysed by employing Kirsti Malterud's method ‘systematic text condensation’. The relatives were divided into four groups: sons, husbands, daughters and wives.

Results

Eight themes were identified in their stories, two in each of the four groups. From these eight themes, it was identified that they all experienced change, grief and negative personal sentiments. However, differences were also found, one of them being that the sons found it easier to adapt to new roles during the course of the illness, while the daughters found it more difficult. The husbands experienced being attacked by the people around them, while the wives were found to submit their dementia‐suffering husbands to physical abuse. The wives also suffered from self‐criticism.

Conclusions

The similarities between the four groups are more significant than the differences. Sons, husbands, daughters and wives of a person suffering from dementia should be considered on an equal basis in terms of their experiences of grief, change and personal negative sentiments.

Relevance to clinical practice

Relatives play a significant role in the well‐being of their parent or spouse suffering from dementia. Therefore, professionals need to focus on both relatives and patient when they meet a person with dementia in clinical practice.
The provision of emotional support to the families of traumatic brain injury patients: perspectives of finnish nurses
Authors: Coco Kirsi , Tossavainen Kerttu , Jääskeläinen Juha E , Turunen Hannele
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectives

To examine nursing staff's perceptions about how often they provide interventions of emotional support and the level of competence needed on neurosurgical wards to support traumatic brain injury patients' family members.

Background

Traumatic brain injury in one individual affects the health of their whole family. Studying the emotional support provided by nursing staff is important because such support is crucial for the family members of a traumatic brain injury patient during the acute phase of treatment. Members of the nursing staff provide emotional support to family members by consoling them; this alleviates insecurity, anxiety, hopelessness and depression.

Design

A structured self‐reported questionnaire presented to 172 nurses working on neurosurgical wards. The response rate was 67% (n = 115).

Methods

Descriptive statistics were used to determine how often nurses provided emotional support to the traumatic brain injury patients family members and one‐way anova to examine the relationships between the background variables and the respondents' evaluations of how often they gave emotional support to brain injury patients' family members.

Results

Thirty‐seven percentage of nurses stated that they always took account of family members' individuality and 65% that they were always respectful. All registered nurses and staff members with long work experience (21 years or more) on a neurosurgical ward reported that they took family members' feelings of anger and guilt into consideration slightly more often than other nursing staff did. Most nurses considered these skills to represent basic competencies.

Conclusion

Further service training on dealing with difficult emotions of traumatic brain injury patients' family members could help nurses to face these situations. Both education and work experience affected the frequency at which nursing staff provided emotional support to traumatic brain injury patients' family members.

Relevance to clinical practice

The results are relevant for example when planning specialised studies or in‐service training for neuro‐nurses, as well as when selecting the subjects to be addressed during the orientation of a new staff member. In addition, the results should help nursing staff to understand their role in the emotional support of family members.
Precautionary allergen labelling following new labelling practice in Australia
Authors: Zurzolo Giovanni A , Mathai Michael L , Koplin Jennifer J , Allen Katrina J
Published: March 2013

Aims

We aimed to assess the prevalence and types of precautionary labelling statements for common food allergens on the packages of products for which these allergens were not listed as an ingredient and to investigate the uptake of the Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling, a new risk management tool developed in Australia to assist with declaring the possible presence of allergens in food products by manufacturers. We also aimed to examine changes in the prevalence of precautionary labelling for egg, peanuts and tree nuts over a 3‐year period.

Methods

All packaged processed goods in a large supermarket in Melbourne, Australia, were examined for precautionary labelling between May and July 2011.

Results

In total, 1355 products were investigated. Overall, 882 products (65%) had a precautionary statement for one or more allergens. The most common allergens listed on precautionary statements were tree nuts (36.2%) and peanuts (34.1%), followed by sesame (27.5%) and egg (22.6%). Of those that had precautionary statements, ‘May contain traces of …’ was the most common type of precautionary label used on 392 products (29.0%). This was followed by ‘May be present’ on 172 products (12.7%).

Conclusions

The use of precautionary labelling for peanut, tree nuts and egg remained high. The uptake of the Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling ‘May be present’ statement was low in comparison with other precautionary statements, but there has been an increase since 2009.
Forming and Dissolving Partnerships in Cooperative Game Situations
Authors: PLATZ TRINE TORNØE , ØSTERDAL LARS PETER
Published: March 2013

A group of players in a cooperative game are partners (e.g., as in the form of a union or a joint ownership) if the prospects for cooperation are restricted such that cooperation with players outside the partnership requires the accept of all the partners. The formation of such partnerships through binding agreements may change the game implying that players could have incentives to manipulate a game by forming or dissolving partnerships. The present paper seeks to explore the existence of allocation rules that are immune to this type of manipulation. An allocation rule that distributes the worth of the grand coalition among players is called partnership formation‐proof if it ensures that it is never jointly profitable for any group of players to form a partnership and partnership dissolution‐proof if no group can ever profit from dissolving a partnership. The paper provides results on the existence of such allocation rules for general classes of games as well as more specific results concerning well‐known allocation rules.
Social Inefficiency of Free Entry with Status Effects
Authors: WOO WAI CHIU
Published: March 2013

Free markets may support too many or too few firms. Traditional analysis does not provide unambiguous conclusion in this respect. This paper introduces status effects of consumption into the model. It shows that a sufficiently significant status effect tends to support too many firms. Two conditions are required for this result. First, complementary effect between status and consumption is not significant. Second, a higher average status consumption level makes everyone more difficult to get the same degree of gain in status. Both conditions appear to be realistic.
Intergenerational Complementarities in Education, Endogenous Public Policy, and the Relation Between Growth and Volatility
Authors: PALIVOS THEODORE , VARVARIGOS DIMITRIOS
Published: March 2013

We construct an overlapping generations model in which parents vote on the tax rate that determines publicly provided education and offspring choose their effort in learning activities. The technology governing the accumulation of human capital allows these decisions to be strategic complements. In the presence of coordination failure, indeterminacy and, possibly, growth volatility emerge. This indeterminacy can be eliminated by an institutional mechanism that commits to a minimum level of public education provision. Given that, in the latter case, the economy moves along a uniquely determined balanced growth path, we argue that such structural differences can account for the negative correlation between volatility and growth.
Double Irreversibility and Environmental Policy Timing
Authors: POMMERET AUDE , PRIEUR FABIEN
Published: March 2013

The timing of environmental policy typically takes place within a framework in which uncertainty over the future impact of pollution and two different kinds of irreversibilities interact. The first kind of irreversibility concerns the sunk cost of environmental degradation; the second is related to the sunk cost of environmental policy. Clearly, the two irreversibilities pull in opposite directions: policy irreversibility leads to more pollution and a less/later policy, while environmental irreversibility generates less pollution and a more/sooner policy. Using a real option approach and an infinite time horizon model, this paper considers both irreversibilities simultaneously. The model first is developed by paying particular attention to the option values related to pollution and policy adoption. The environmental policy we consider consists in increasing the natural assimilation rate. Solving the model in closed form then provides solutions for both the optimal pollution level and the optimal environmental policy timing. Finally, we provide a numerical example with the purpose of appraising which irreversibility has the prevailing effect and what is the overall impact of both irreversibilities on pollution and policy timing.
Comparing Environmental Policy Instruments Within an Incomplete Contract Framework
Authors: WIRL FRANZ
Published: March 2013

This paper compares three different legal means—no environmental policy (the pollutee pays), full liability (the polluter pays), and pollution standards—to reduce and regulate neighborhood externalities within an incomplete contract framework. It turns out that the relative efficiency of these instruments depends, in general, on details. However, moderate standards are preferable to no environmental policy and tight (but not too tight) standards dominate liability. This provides under the given assumptions (neighborhood externalities, incomplete contracts) a justification for “sensible” standards for three reasons. First, unilateral allocations of property rights are biased that distort allocations even if ex post bargaining takes place. Second, a standard is superior in the following sense: if it is set equal to the outcome under any allocation of rights, it will be improved in the process of ex post bargaining. Third, unilateral property rights encourage strategic ex ante investments up to the point that committing to no bargaining would be beneficial (if possible).
Permanent first molar eruption and caries patterns in American Indian and Alaska Native children: challenging the concept of targeting second grade for school‐based sealant programs
Authors: Phipps Kathy R. , Ricks Timothy L. , Blahut Patrick
Published: March 2013

Objective

To describe first permanent molar eruption and caries patterns among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children in order to identify the appropriate target grade for school‐based sealant programs.

Methods

We used data from the 2011‐2012 Indian Health Service oral health surveillance survey of AI/AN children in kindergarten through third grade. Children were screened by trained examiners. Cavitated lesions were classified as decayed, and teeth with any portion of the crown exposed were considered erupted.

Results

We screened 15,611 AI/AN children in 186 schools. The percentage with four erupted first molars was 27 percent of kindergarten, 76 percent of first, 96 percent of second, and 99 percent of third‐grade children. About 7 percent of kindergarteners had decayed, missing, or filled molars compared with 20 percent, 30 percent, and 38 percent of first, second, and third graders, respectively.

Conclusion

School‐based sealant programs for AI/AN children should target kindergarten and first grade with follow‐up programs for second‐grade children.
Lipopolysaccharide‐induced indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase expression in the periodontal ligament
Authors: Moon J. S. , Cheong N. R. , Yang S. Y. , Kim I. S. , Chung H. J. , Jeong Y. W. , Park J. C. , Kim M. S. , Kim S. H. , Ko H. M.
Published: March 2013

Background and Objective

Indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO) is a tryptophan‐oxidizing enzyme with immune‐inhibitory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of IDO by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of gram‐negative bacteria, in human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells.

Material and Methods

Human PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts (GFs) were prepared from explants of human PDLs and from gingival tissues of clinically healthy donors, respectively. Real‐time RT‐PCR, western blotting and the IDO enzyme assay were performed to determine the expression of IDO following LPS treatment of cells. LPS was injected into mice tail veins to evaluate the effects of LPS in vivo in the maxillary first molar. Immunofluorescence staining and histological analysis were followed to localize IDO in mouse PDL.

Results

The level of expression of IDO mRNA in primary human PDL cells after LPS treatment was increased in a dose‐dependent manner, reaching a peak 8 h after LPS treatment. The expression and activities of IDO protein were significantly increased in comparison with those of the control. In addition, the increased production of kynurenine in culture medium was observed 72 h after LPS treatment. In the immunofluorescence findings, stronger immunoreactivities were shown in PDL than in gingival tissues in the maxillae. In accordance with the immunofluorescence findings, LPS treatment induced a strong up‐regulation of IDO mRNA in human PDL cells, whereas human GFs showed only a weak response to LPS.

Conclusion

These results clearly show that IDO was induced by LPS in primary human PDL cells, suggesting that PDL might be involved in the regulation of oral inflammatory disease.
Relationship between salivary leukotriene B4 levels and salivary mucin or alveolar bone resorption, in subjects with periodontal health and disease
Authors: Sánchez G. A. , Miozza V. A. , Delgado A. , Busch L.
Published: March 2013

Objective

Here we determine the salivary levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and its relation with salivary mucin and alveolar bone level.

Background

LTB4 is a membrane‐derived lipid mediator formed from arachidonic acid. It is among the most potent stimulants of polymorphonuclear leukocytes providing the first host defense against infections. Leukotrienes also induce bone resorption. Because LTB4 is present in the oral cavity the aim of the present study was to explore the role of LTB4 in patients with periodontal disease.

Methods

Eighty‐one subjects were clinically examined and distributed into four groups, namely, clinically healthy, mild, moderate and severe periodontitis, according to periodontal status, classified into values of clinical attachment level and probing pocket depth. Unstimulated saliva was collected for 5 min. Salivary LTB4 was determined by an immune assay method, mucin was determined by a colorimetric method and radiographic assessment used to determine alveolar bone level.

Results

Patients with mild periodontitis showed a decrease in salivary LTB4 levels while patients with severe periodontitis showed increased LTB4 levels. A significant positive correlation was observed between salivary LTB4 and clinical attachment level, salivary mucin concentration or alveolar bone level.

Conclusion

The close relation between salivary LTB4 and mucin levels suggested that LTB4 might be involved in the defense mechanism of the oral cavity. The correlation of LTB4 with the alveolar bone level indicates that they are one of the mediators responsible for bone resorption.
Oxidative burst intensity of peripheral phagocytic cells and periodontitis in Down syndrome
Authors: Khocht A. , Russell B. , Cannon J. G. , Turner B. , Janal M.
Published: March 2013

Background

This study investigated the oxidative burst function of peripheral phagocytic cells (granulocytes and monocytes) and assessed the relation between oxidative burst and periodontal status in adult individuals with Down syndrome (DS) vs. other groups.

Methods

Of 55 DS individuals (18–56 years old), 74 individuals with mental retardation (MR) and 88 medically healthy controls (HC) participated in the study. The MR and HC groups were age, race and gender matched with the DS group. Gingival index, plaque index, probing depth, attachment level and bleeding on probing were recorded for each subject. Whole blood was collected for granulocyte/monocyte oxidative burst tests. Oxidative burst was determined by flow cytometry in terms of percentage of cells actively involved in oxidative burst, and oxidative intensity (magnitude of ROIs per cell).

Results

The basal oxidative burst intensity of DS granulocytes was higher than that of HC and MR granulocytes (p = 0.05). The Escherichia coli stimulated oxidative burst intensity of DS monocytes was higher than that of HC and MR monocytes (p = 0.05). Regression analysis controlling for age, sex, race and plaque levels showed a significant association between monocyte oxidative burst intensity and loss of periodontal attachment in DS subjects (p < 0.01). Regression analysis also showed a significant association between granulocyte oxidative burst intensity and bleeding on probing in all subjects (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Oxidative burst activity of peripheral monocytes and granulocytes is elevated in DS affected individuals and may contribute to periodontal tissue inflammation and loss of periodontal attachment in this susceptible group.
Patient Safety Perspectives of Providers and Nurses: The Experience of a Rural Ambulatory Care Practice Using an EHR With E‐prescribing
Authors: Bramble James D. , Abbott Amy A. , Fuji Kevin T. , Paschal Karen A. , Siracuse Mark V. , Galt Kimberly
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe safety improvements and concerns indicated by providers and nurses in a rural community ambulatory care practice using an electronic health record with an e‐prescribing feature (EHR with eRx).

Methods

Two focus groups were conducted; 1 with providers and the other with nurses. Participants responded to questions and discussed their perceptions of safety improvements and concerns with use of an EHR with eRx. Transcripts were analyzed using sequential and continuous analytic methods.

Findings

Three themes centered on efficiency and patient safety emerged from data analysis: (1) EHR with eRx adoption has led to new improvements and concerns for patient safety, (2) the EHR with eRx has affected efficiency in the clinic, and (3) EHR with eRx adoption has led to workarounds.

Conclusions

Concerns remain among providers and nurses regarding the use of EHR with eRx applications, although concerns differed between groups. Therefore, When EHR improvements are planned, it is important to consider the differing needs of the professionals who deliver care.
Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Subclinical Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and PTSD in Urban and Rural Areas of Montana: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Erickson Lance D. , Hedges Dawson W. , Call Vaughn R. A. , Bair Byron
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an important clinical problem, but little is known about PTSD in rural, nonclinical populations. To better understand PTSD in rural areas, we examined the prevalence and risk and protective factors in urban, rural, and highly rural communities in Montana for both subclinical posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and PTSD.

Methods

We compared the prevalence of PTSS and PTSD in urban, rural, and highly rural communities in bivariate and multivariable regression analyses using self‐reported cross‐sectional survey data from the Montana Health Matters study (N = 3,512), a state‐representative household‐based survey done in 2010‐2011. We also explore potential risk and protective factors for PTSS and PTSD and whether risk and protective factors for each differ by rurality.

Findings

There were no differences in the level of PTSS by rurality in bivariate or multivariate models, and the bivariate relationship between rurality and PTSD became nonsignificant in a multivariate model. Only locus of control was predictive for PTSS; however, gender, age, marital status, income, employment status, community fit, locus of control, and religiosity were associated with PTSD. Some risk and protective factors operate differently by rurality.

Conclusions

Although our findings are subject to weaknesses common to cross‐sectional data and are based on questionnaire reports, it appears that there are different risk and protective factors for PTSS and PTSD, suggesting that PTSD may be qualitatively different from PTSS. Furthermore, differences in risk and protective factors across urban and rural communities suggest more attention is needed to understand PTSD in rural communities.
Biogeographic deconstruction of alpine plant communities along altitudinal and topographic gradients
Authors: Jiménez‐Alfaro Borja , Marcenó Corrado , Bueno Álvaro , Gavilán Rosario , Obeso José Ramón
Published: March 2013

Questions

Are species from different biogeographic groups (mediterranean, alpine and endemic) filtered in different ways by altitude and topography in alpine plant communities? What is the relative performance of these environmental factors at predicting the species diversity of the communities as a whole and of the geographic species groups?

Location

Picos deEuropa,CantabrianRange (Spain).

Methods

We sampled the presence and cover of vascular plants in 5‐m radius plots on alpine grasslands between 1900 and 2500 m a.s.l. FiveGIS‐based terrain variables at 15 m × 15 m were used to model species richness and cover per plot using generalized and linear models, and the variation in species composition with redundancy analysis. The same analyses were repeated for the whole data set and for subsets of species from alpine, mediterranean and endemic distributions.

Results

The influence of altitude and topography on species richness, cover and composition differed for the whole data set and for the geographic species groups. Altitude was the main variable affecting floristic diversity in the communities as a whole, but the separate species groups were more influenced by slope, topographic wetness index and solar radiation. Richness and cover of mediterranean species showed the strongest relationships with topography. Alpine and endemic species showed relationships with topography for species cover and composition, but not for species richness.

Conclusions

In alpine landscapes, biogeographic deconstruction of the species pool can provide a better understanding of the influence of altitude and topography on local communities than analysis of the entire community alone. Furthermore, the strong influence of local topography on species groups improves our understanding of how alpine species will respond to climate change.
The arrestin‐like protein ArtA is essential for ubiquitination and endocytosis of the UapA transporter in response to both broad‐range and specific signals
Authors: Karachaliou Mayia , Amillis Sotiris , Evangelinos Minoas , Kokotos Alexandros C. , Yalelis Vassilis , Diallinas George
Published: March 2013

We investigated the role of all arrestin‐like proteins of Aspergillus nidulans in respect to growth, morphology, sensitivity to drugs and specifically for the endocytosis and turnover of the uric acid‐xanthine transporter UapA. A single arrestin‐like protein, ArtA, is essential for HulARsp5‐dependent ubiquitination and endocytosis of UapA in response to ammonium or substrates. Mutational analysis showed that residues 545–563 of the UapA C‐terminal region are required for efficient UapA endocytosis, whereas the N‐terminal region (residues 2–123) and both PPxY motives are essential for ArtA function. We further show that ArtA undergoes HulA‐dependent ubiquitination at residue Lys‐343 and that this modification is critical for UapA ubiquitination and endocytosis. Lastly, we show that ArtA is essential for vacuolar turnover of transporters specific for purines (AzgA) or l‐proline (PrnB), but not for an aspartate/glutamate transporter (AgtA). Our results are discussed within the frame of recently proposed mechanisms on how arrestin‐like proteins are activated and recruited for ubiquitination of transporters in response to broad range signals, but also put the basis for understanding how arrestin‐like proteins, such as ArtA, regulate the turnover of a specific transporter in the presence of its substrates.
A complex of YlbF, YmcA and YaaT regulates sporulation, competence and biofilm formation by accelerating the phosphorylation of Spo0A
Authors: Carabetta Valerie J. , Tanner Andrew W. , Greco Todd M. , Defrancesco Melissa , Cristea Ileana M. , Dubnau David
Published: March 2013

Bacillus subtilis has adopted a bet‐hedging strategy to ensure survival in changing environments. From a clonal population, numerous sub‐populations can emerge, expressing different sets of genes that govern the developmental processes of sporulation, competence and biofilm formation. The master transcriptional regulator Spo0A controls the entry into all three fates and the production of the phosphorylated active form of Spo0A is precisely regulated via a phosphorelay, involving at least four proteins. Two proteins, YmcA and YlbF were previously shown to play an unidentified role in the regulation of biofilm formation, and in addition, YlbF was shown to regulate competence and sporulation. Using an unbiased proteomics screen, we demonstrate that YmcA and YlbF interact with a third protein, YaaT to form a tripartite complex. We show that all three proteins are required for proper establishment of the three above‐mentioned developmental states. We show that the complex regulates the activity of Spo0A in vivo and, using in vitro reconstitution experiments, determine that they stimulate the phosphorelay, probably by interacting with Spo0F and Spo0B. We propose that the YmcA–YlbF–YaaT ternary complex is required to increase Spo0A~P levels above the thresholds needed to induce development.
Structural characterization of 2,6‐dichloro‐p‐hydroquinone 1,2‐dioxygenase (PcpA) from Sphingobium chlorophenolicum, a new type of aromatic ring‐cleavage enzyme
Authors: Hayes Robert P. , Green Abigail R. , Nissen Mark S. , Lewis Kevin M. , Xun Luying , Kang ChulHee
Published: March 2013

PcpA (2,6‐dichloro‐p‐hydroquinone 1,2‐dioxygenase) from Sphingobium chlorophenolicum, a non‐haem Fe(II) dioxygenase capable of cleaving the aromatic ring of p‐hydroquinone and its substituted variants, is a member of the recently discovered p‐hydroquinone 1,2‐dioxygenases. Here we report the 2.6 Å structure of PcpA, which consists of four βαβββ motifs, a hallmark of the vicinal oxygen chelate superfamily. The secondary co‐ordination sphere of the Fe(II) centre forms an extensive hydrogen‐bonding network with three solvent exposed residues, linking the catalytic Fe(II) to solvent. A tight hydrophobic pocket provides p‐hydroquinones access to the Fe(II) centre. The p‐hydroxyl group is essential for the substrate‐binding, thus phenols and catechols, lacking a p‐hydroxyl group, do not bind to PcpA. Site‐directed mutagenesis and kinetic analysis confirm the critical catalytic role played by the highly conserved His10, Thr13, His226 and Arg259. Based on these results, we propose a general reaction mechanism for p‐hydroquinone 1,2‐dioxygenases.
Robust inducible Cre recombinase activity in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum enables efficient gene deletion within a single asexual erythrocytic growth cycle
Authors: Collins Christine R. , Das Sujaan , Wong Eleanor H. , Andenmatten Nicole , Stallmach Robert , Hackett Fiona , Herman Jean‐Paul , Müller Sylke , Meissner Markus , Blackman Michael J.
Published: March 2013

Asexual blood stages of the malaria parasite, which cause all the pathology associated with malaria, can readily be genetically modified by homologous recombination, enabling the functional study of parasite genes that are not essential in this part of the life cycle. However, no widely applicable method for conditional mutagenesis of essential asexual blood‐stage malarial genes is available, hindering their functional analysis. We report the application of the DiCre conditional recombinase system to Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of the most dangerous form of malaria. We show that DiCre can be used to obtain rapid, highly regulated site‐specific recombination in P. falciparum, capable of excising loxP‐flanked sequences from a genomic locus with close to 100% efficiency within the time‐span of a single erythrocytic growth cycle. DiCre‐mediated deletion of the SERA5 3' UTR failed to reduce expression of the gene due to the existence of alternative cryptic polyadenylation sites within the modified locus. However, we successfully used the system to recycle the most widely used drug resistance marker for P. falciparum, human dihydrofolate reductase, in the process producing constitutively DiCre‐expressing P. falciparum clones that have broad utility for the functional analysis of essential asexual blood‐stage parasite genes.
Transcriptomic analysis of metabolic function in the giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, across depth and season
Authors: Konotchick Talina , Dupont Christopher L. , Valas Ruben E. , Badger Jonathan H. , Allen Andrew E.
Published: March 2013

To increase knowledge of transcript diversity for the giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, and assess gene expression across naturally occurring depth gradients in light, temperature and nutrients, we sequenced four cDNA libraries created from blades collected at the sea surface and at 18 m depth during the winter and summer.

Comparative genomics cluster analyses revealed novel gene families (clusters) in existing brown alga expressed sequence tag data compared with other related algal groups, a pattern also seen with the addition of M. pyrifera sequences.

Assembly of 228 Mbp of sequence generated c. 9000 isotigs and c. 12 000 open reading frames. Annotations were assigned using families of hidden Markov models for c. 11% of open reading frames; M. pyrifera had highest similarity to other members of the Phaeophyceae, namely Ectocarpus siliculosus and Laminaria digitata.

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction of transcript targets verified depth‐related differences in gene expression; stress response and light‐harvesting transcripts, especially members of the LI818 (also known as LHCSR) family, showed high expression in the surface compared with 18 m depth, while some nitrogen acquisition transcripts (e.g. nitrite reductase) were upregulated at depth compared with the surface, supporting a conceptual biological model of depth‐dependent physiology.
Approximating subcellular organisation of carbohydrate metabolism during cold acclimation in different natural accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Nägele Thomas , Heyer Arnd G.
Published: March 2013

Accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana originating from climatically different habitats show different levels of cold acclimation when exposed to low temperatures. The central carbohydrate metabolism plays a crucial role during this acclimation. Subcellular distribution of carbohydrates over the compartments cytosol, vacuole and plastids, and putative interactions of the compartments, are analyzed in three differentially cold‐tolerant accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana, originating from the Iberian Peninsula (C24), Russia (Rschew) and Scandinavia (Tenela), respectively.

Subcellular carbohydrate concentrations were determined by applying the nonaqueous fractionation technique. Mathematical modeling and steady‐state simulation was used to analyse the metabolic homeostasis during cold exposure.

In all accessions, the initial response to cold exposure was a significant increase of plastidial and cytosolic sucrose concentrations. Raffinose accumulated in all cellular compartments of cold‐tolerant accessions with a delay of 3 d, indicating that raffinose accumulation is a long‐term component of cold acclimation. Minimal rates of metabolite transport permitting steady‐state simulations of metabolite concentrations correlated with cold tolerance, indicating an important role of subcellular re‐distribution of metabolites during cold acclimation.

A highly regulated interplay of enzymatic reactions and intracellular transport processes appears to be a prerequisite for maintaining carbohydrate homeostasis during cold exposure and allowing cold acclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana.
POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERFORMANCE AUDIT: THE CASE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL IN NORWAY
Authors: REICHBORN‐ KJENNERUD KRISTIN
Published: March 2013

Performance audit is widely used in public administration, but, at present, little empirical evidence exists on its usefulness and contribution to accountability. Based on survey data from 353 civil servants in Norway, this article analyzes the auditees' perceptions of the audit. Performance audit was seen as useful by a majority of the auditees. If auditees agreed to audit criteria and assessments, were allowed to influence the process, had favourable opinions of the reports, and believed that the State Audit Institution contributed to accountability and improvement, then they regarded it as useful. Reports used for accountability purposes were not perceived as less useful. The auditees' administrative level, the use of the report to further interests, and attention from politicians, the media, and the Parliament impacted on the accountability dimension. These results indicate that performance audit can influence civil servants, but the influence is contingent on how the audited civil servants perceive the performance audit.
Dermoscopic and Histological Correlation of an Atypical Case of Pyogenic Granuloma
Authors: Lacarrubba Francesco , Caltabiano Rosario , Micali Giuseppe
Published: March 2013

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a common, rapidly growing, benign vascular proliferation of skin and mucous membranes generally showing, on dermoscopy, a typical pattern characterized by a red to dark pink homogeneous area surrounded by a white collarette. A case of PG in a 5‐year‐old girl showing an atypical dermoscopic pattern characterized by the presence of a central, irregular, whitish‐yellow amorphous structure with a peripheral crown of polymorphous, atypical vessels is reported and discussed.
Religion and Secular Utility: Happiness, Truth, and Pragmatic Arguments for Theistic Belief
Authors: Duncan Craig
Published: March 2013

This article explores “pragmatic arguments” for theistic belief – that is, arguments for believing in God that appeal, not to evidence in favor of God’s existence, but rather to alleged practical benefits that come from belief in God. Central to this exploration is a consideration of Jeff Jordan’s recent defense of “the Jamesian wager,” which portrays itself as building on the case for belief presented in William James’s essay “The Will to Believe.” According to Jordan, religious belief creates significant gains in this‐worldly happiness (i.e. gains in “secular utility,” I shall say), and provided the individual does not have decisive evidence against God’s existence, these gains give the individual sufficient reason to strive to believe in God. In its exploration of this argument, the article presents an overview of recent social scientific work on the this‐worldly effects of religious belief. It canvases several challenges to pragmatic arguments, namely, a challenge according to which happiness rooted in false belief is worth less than that rooted in truth, a perfectionistic challenge alleging that one should strive for personal excellence rather than happiness, and a challenge alleging that any happiness gains of religious belief are outweighed by the potential harms brought about by religious belief.
Cudworth on Mind, Body, and Plastic Nature
Authors: Allen Keith
Published: March 2013

Ralph Cudworth (1617–1688) is a member of the group of philosophers and theologians commonly called ‘the Cambridge Platonists’. Although not part of the canon of great early modern philosophers, Cudworth’s work is of more than merely passing interest. Cudworth was an influential philosopher in the early modern period both for his criticisms of contemporaries like Hobbes, Descartes, and Spinoza, and for his own distinctive philosophical views. This entry focusses on Cudworth’s views on mind and body, considering both his criticisms of contemporaries’ theories of mind and body, and outlining his alternative form of dualism in which plastic nature plays a central role.
Impossible Worlds
Authors: Nolan Daniel P.
Published: March 2013

Philosophers have found postulating possible worlds to be very useful in a number of areas, including philosophy of language and mind, logic, and metaphysics. Impossible worlds are a natural extension to this use of possible worlds, and can help resolve a number of difficulties thrown up by possible‐worlds frameworks.
Gender difference in allergic airway remodelling and immunoglobulin production in mouse model of asthma
Authors: Takeda Masahide , Tanabe Masako , Ito Wataru , Ueki Shigeharu , Konnno Yasunori , Chihara Mami , Itoga Masamichi , Kobayashi Yoshiki , Moritoki Yuki , Kayaba Hiroyuki , Chihara Junichi
Published: March 2013

Background and objective

Epidemiological studies have shown that the prevalence of adult asthma and severe asthma is higher in women. It has also been reported that female mice are more susceptible than males to the development of allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). The influence of gender difference in the pathogenesis of severe asthma, especially airway remodelling in an animal model, has been studied rarely. We investigated gender difference in the development of airway remodelling using a long‐term antigen‐challenged mouse asthma model.

Methods

Following ovalbumin (OVA)/alum intraperitoneal injection, male or female mice (BALB/c) were challenged with aerosolized 1% OVA on 3 days/week for 5 weeks, and differences in AHR, airway inflammation and airway remodelling between the sexes were investigated.

Results

In OVA‐sensitized and OVA‐challenged (OVA/OVA) female mice, eosinophils, lymphocytes, T‐helper type 2 cytokines and growth factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were increased compared with OVA/OVA male mice. Histological features of airway remodelling were also increased in OVA/OVA female mice. Serum total and OVA‐specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and serum IgA were significantly elevated in OVA/OVA female mice.

Conclusions

These results indicate that female mice experience more airway remodelling compared with male mice. These results suggest the involvement of sex hormones and gender differences in cellular functions in airway remodelling.