bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Altered Subcellular Distribution of the 75‐kDa DISC1 Isoform, cAMP Accumulation, and Decreased Neuronal Migration in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: Implications for Neurodevelopment
Authors: Muñoz‐Estrada Jesús , Benítez‐King Gloria , Berlanga Carlos , Meza Isaura
Published: January 2015

Background

DISC1 (Disrupted‐In‐Schizophrenia‐1) is considered a genetic risk factor for schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). DISC1 regulates microtubule stability, migration, and cAMP signaling in mammalian cell lines and mouse brain tissue. cAMP is a regulator of microtubule organization and migration in neurons. Aberrant microtubule organization has been observed in olfactory neuronal precursors (ONP) derived from patients with SZ and BD, which suggests involvement of DISC1 and cAMP. However, the biology of DISC1 in the physiopathology of psychiatric conditions remains elusive.

Aims

Herein, utilizing ONP obtained from SZ, BD patients and healthy subjects, we have studied DISC1 expression, protein levels, and subcellular distribution by qRT‐PCR, immunoblotting, subcellular fractionation, and confocal microscopy. Cell migration and cAMP accumulation were assessed by Transwell and PKA competition assays.

Results

We found increased levels of the 75‐kDa DISC1 isoform in total cell extracts of ONP from patients with SZ and BD compared with controls. Subcellular distribution showed a significant decrease of cytoplasmic DISC1 concomitant with its augmented levels in transcription sites. Moreover, significant cAMP accumulation and diminished migration were also observed in patients' cells.

Conclusion

Alterations of DISC1 levels and its cellular distribution, which negatively modify cAMP homeostasis, microtubule organization, and cell migration, in ONP from patients with SZ and BD, suggest that their presence in early stages of brain development may impact brain maturation and function.
Histamine Promotes Locomotion Recovery After Spinal Cord Hemisection via Inhibiting Astrocytic Scar Formation
Authors: Zhao Yan‐Yan , Yuan Yang , Chen Ying , Jiang Lei , Liao Ru‐Jia , Wang Lu , Zhang Xiang‐Nan , Ohtsu Hiroshi , Hu Wei‐Wei , Chen Zhong
Published: January 2015

Aim

This study investigated whether histamine could play a protective role in pathophysiological response of spinal cord injury (SCI) and regulate the glial scar formation.

Methods

Functional assessment and histological analyses were performed to investigate the effect of histamine after SCI. Histidine decarboxylase knockout (HDC−/−) mice were used to confirm the action of histamine. Selective antagonists for H1 and H2 receptors were utilized in vivo and in vitro to verify the functional properties of histamine on astrogliosis.

Results

The local administration of histamine significantly attenuated the tissue damage and glial scar formation after SCI. In particular, the astrogliosis and neurocan expression found around the lesion were significantly suppressed by histamine. Immunofluorescent staining for neurofilament showed that histamine promoted axonal growth across the glial scar. The HDC−/− mice, lacking in endogenous histamine, showed lower behavior score, increased lesion size and astrogliosis, as compared with the wild types. The effect of histamine on locomotor recovery and reactive astrogliosis is reversed by H1 receptor antagonist but not H2 receptor antagonist.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that histamine significantly improved the chronic locomotor recovery via attenuating astrogliosis after SCI by stimulating histamine H1 receptor. This study highlights a therapeutic potential of histamine and its related drugs for SCI.
The Ueno method for substaging pT1 colorectal adenocarcinoma by depth and width measurement: an interobserver study
Authors: Wang L. M. , Guy R. , Fryer E. , Kartsonaki C. , Gill P. , Hughes C. , Szuts A. , Perera R. , Chetty R. , Mortensen N.
Published: January 2015

Aim

Early pT1 polyp colorectal cancers (CRCs) present challenges for accurate pathology substaging. Haggitt and Kikuchi stages depend on polyp morphology and are often difficult to apply due to suboptimal orientation or fragmentation, or absence of the muscularis propria in polypectomy or submucosal resection specimens. European guidelines for quality assurance suggest using Ueno's more objective approach, using depth and width measurements beyond muscularis mucosae. We have investigated interobserver variation using Ueno's approach.

Method

Ten consecutive pT1 polyp CRCs were identified and the slides assessed by six gastrointestinal pathologists for depth and width of invasion. A further 60 polyps were studied by a group of specialist and general pathologists. Agreement was assessed by analysis of variance. A polyp CRC is classified as high risk if it has a depth ≥ 2000 μm or a width ≥ 4000 μm and low risk with a depth < 2000 μm or a width < 4000 μm. Concordance for the dichotomized values was assessed using the kappa statistic.

Results

The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for depth was 0.83 and for width 0.56 in the 10‐polyp group. The ICC for the 60‐polyp CRCs was 0.67 for depth and 0.37 for width. In both groups, when polyp CRCs are divided into high‐ and low‐risk categories based on depth, there was substantial and moderate agreement (κ = 0.80 and 0.47) but only fair agreement when based on width (κ = 0.34 and 0.35).

Conclusion

Ueno's method has the advantage of being independent of polyp morphology. Our study shows better concordance for depth measurement and reproducibility in nonfragmented specimens, with poorer agreement when based on width.
Daily fluid intake and outcomes in kidney recipients: post hoc analysis from the randomized ABCAN trial
Authors: Weber M. , Berglund D. , Reule S. , Jackson S. , Matas A.J. , Ibrahim H.N.
Published: January 2015

Generous and even excessive fluid intake is routinely recommended to kidney transplant recipients despite minimal evidence to support this practice. We hypothesized that increased fluid intake, ascertained by 24‐h urine volume output, may adversely affect graft outcomes as it would impose an extra workload on a limited number of nephrons. Kidney transplant recipients who were randomized to losartan vs. placebo in the Angiotensin II Blockade for Chronic Allograft Nephropathy (ABCAN) trial (n = 153) underwent baseline, five‐yr biopsies, and annual iothalamate glomerular filtration rate assessment. Recipients with higher urine volume at randomization had higher urinary sodium and also higher urinary protein. The proportion using diuretics or CNI based regimens were similar across urinary volume tertiles. The highest urinary volume tertile (>2.56 L/d) did not predict the development of interstitial volume doubling or end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) from interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (OR = 3.52, 95% CI 0.4, 31.24, p = 0.26), interstitial volume doubling or all‐cause ESRD (OR = 7.04, 95% CI 0.66, 74.87, p = 0.11), and was not associated with the conventional endpoint of doubling serum creatinine, all‐cause ESRD, or death (OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.21, 3.71, p = 0.87). These results suggest that the current practice of liberal fluid intake may not be beneficial in low risk and mostly Caucasian transplant recipients.
Enhanced Definitions of Intimate Partner Violence for DSM‐5 and ICD‐11 May Promote Improved Screening and Treatment
Authors: Heyman Richard E. , Slep Amy M. Smith , Foran Heather M.
Published: January 2015

Nuanced, multifaceted, and content valid diagnostic criteria for intimate partner violence (IPV) have been created and can be used reliably in the field even by those with little‐to‐no clinical training/background. The use of such criteria such as these would likely lead to more reliable decision making in the field and more consistency across studies. Further, interrater agreement was higher than that usually reported for individual mental disorders. This paper will provide an overview of (a) IPV's scope and impact; (b) the reliable and valid diagnostic criteria that have been used and the adaptation of these criteria inserted in the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and another adaptation proposed for the forthcoming International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD); (c) suggestions for screening of IPV in primary care settings; (d) interventions for IPV; and (e) suggested steps toward globally accepted programs.
‘Dopamine‐first’ mechanism enables the rational engineering of the norcoclaurine synthase aldehyde activity profile
Authors: Lichman Benjamin R. , Gershater Markus C. , Lamming Eleanor D. , Pesnot Thomas , Sula Altin , Keep Nicholas H. , Hailes Helen C. , Ward John M.
Published: January 2015

Norcoclaurine synthase (NCS) (EC 4.2.1.78) catalyzes the Pictet–Spengler condensation of dopamine and an aldehyde, forming a substituted (S)‐tetrahydroisoquinoline, a pharmaceutically important moiety. This unique activity has led to NCS being used for both in vitro biocatalysis and in vivo recombinant metabolism. Future engineering of NCS activity to enable the synthesis of diverse tetrahydroisoquinolines is dependent on an understanding of the NCS mechanism and kinetics. We assess two proposed mechanisms for NCS activity: (a) one based on the holo X‐ray crystal structure and (b) the ‘dopamine‐first’ mechanism based on computational docking. Thalictrum flavum NCS variant activities support the dopamine‐first mechanism. Suppression of the non‐enzymatic background reaction reveals novel kinetic parameters for NCS, showing it to act with low catalytic efficiency. This kinetic behaviour can account for the ineffectiveness of recombinant NCS in in vivo systems, and also suggests NCS may have an in planta role as a metabolic gatekeeper. The amino acid substitution L76A, situated in the proposed aldehyde binding site, results in the alteration of the enzyme's aldehyde activity profile. This both verifies the dopamine‐first mechanism and demonstrates the potential for the rational engineering of NCS activity.
Multiphase flow simulation through porous media with explicitly resolved fractures
Authors: Su K. , Latham J.‐P. , Pavlidis D. , Xiang J. , Fang F. , Mostaghimi P. , Percival J. R. , Pain C. C. , Jackson M. D.
Published: January 2015

Accurate simulation of multiphase flow in fractured porous media remains a challenge. An important problem is the representation of the discontinuous or near discontinuous behaviour of saturation in real geological formations. In the classical continuum approach, a refined mesh is required at the interface between fracture and porous media to capture the steep gradients in saturation and saturation‐dependent transport properties. This dramatically increases the computational load when large numbers of fractures are present in the numerical model. A discontinuous finite element method is reported here to model flow in fractured porous media. The governing multiphase porous media flow equations are solved in the adaptive mesh computational fluid dynamics codeIC‐FERSTon unstructured meshes. The method is based on a mixed control volume – discontinuous finite element formulation. This is combined with thePN+1DG‐PNDGelement pair, which has discontinuous (orderN+1) representation for velocity and discontinuous (orderN) representation for pressure. A number of test cases are used to evaluate the method's ability to model fracture flow. The first is used to verify the performance of the element pair on structured and unstructured meshes of different resolution. Multiphase flow is then modelled in a range of idealised and simple fracture patterns. Solutions with sharp saturation fronts and computational economy in terms of mesh size are illustrated.
Regímenes de producción y relaciones laborales en el sector chino del automóvil
Authors: LÜTHJE Boy
Published: January 2015

Las huelgas en el sector del automóvil acaecidas en China en 2010 suscitaron reformas sustanciales de las relaciones laborales en la provincia de Guangdong. A partir de una investigación empírica exhaustiva en empresas líderes de ensamblaje y en sus suministradoras, el autor construye una tipología de los regímenes de producción para analizar los cambios actuales de las relaciones laborales. Este marco ayuda a entender y a conceptualizar la diversidad creciente de regímenes en la industria china automotriz y la segmentación de la fuerza de trabajo a lo largo de la cadena de suministro. Se concluye con un análisis de las perspectivas de reforma ulterior.
Consulta colectiva y gestión por cuotas en el modelo chino gubernamental de relaciones laborales
Authors: WU Qingjun , SUN Zhaoyang
Published: January 2015

El sistema chino de relaciones laborales consiste en un modelo de consulta colectiva dirigida por el Gobierno y un método de gestión por cuotas heredado de la economía planificada. Gobierno y sindicatos colaboran para lograr cuotas de cobertura, sobre todo a nivel empresarial. Aunque consiguen salvar las reticencias empresariales, la ausencia de verdadera negociación colectiva priva de sustancia los convenios firmados. A partir de entrevistas y de fuentes documentales, los autores concluyen que el Gobierno pretende institucionalizar un marco de relaciones laborales para contener el creciente descontento laboral pero posponiendo pragmáticamente la auténtica negociación colectiva en aras de la estabilidad y el crecimiento.
Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Azilsartan Medoxomil With or Without Chlorthalidone During and After 8 Months of Treatment for Hypertension
Authors: Kipnes Mark S. , Handley Alison , Lloyd Eric , Barger Bruce , Roberts Andrew
Published: January 2015

A phase 3, 26‐week, open‐label, titrate‐to‐target study (n=418) assessed the safety of azilsartan medoxomil (AZL‐M) alone and with chlorthalidone (CLD), followed by a 6‐week, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled reversal phase with change in clinic diastolic blood pressure (DBP) as the primary endpoint. Target blood pressure (BP) was <140/90 mm Hg (<130/80 mm Hg with diabetes/chronic kidney disease). AZL‐M was initiated at 40 mg once a day (QD), force‐titrated to 80 mg at week 4. CLD 25 mg QD could be added (weeks 8–22), if required, to reach target, followed by additional antihypertensives from week 12. At the end of the open‐label phase, mean change in systolic BP (SBP)/DBP from baseline was −23/−16 mm Hg. The most common adverse events, irrespective of treatment, were dizziness (8.9%) and headache (7.2%). Serious AEs were reported in eight patients (1.9%). Consecutive creatinine elevations ≥50% with values exceeding the upper limit of normal (ULN) were reported in nine (2.2%) patients. All returned to below the 50% threshold; most also returned to below the ULN after drug discontinuation. Mean DBP was maintained through the reversal phase in patients receiving AZL‐M, but increased with placebo (difference: −7.8 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval, −9.8 to −5.8; P<.001). AZL‐M alone or with CLD showed good long‐term safety and stable BP improvements in a titrate‐to‐target approach. BP improvements caused by AZL‐M therapy were safely reversible upon AZL‐M withdrawal.
Facial dynamics and emotional expressions in facial aging treatments
Authors: Michaud Thierry , Gassia Véronique , Belhaouari Lakhdar
Published: January 2015

Facial expressions convey emotions that form the foundation of interpersonal relationships, and many of these emotions promote and regulate our social linkages. Hence, the facial aging symptomatological analysis and the treatment plan must of necessity include knowledge of the facial dynamics and the emotional expressions of the face. This approach aims to more closely meet patients' expectations of natural‐looking results, by correcting age‐related negative expressions while observing the emotional language of the face. This article will successively describe patients' expectations, the role of facial expressions in relational dynamics, the relationship between facial structures and facial expressions, and the way facial aging mimics negative expressions. Eventually, therapeutic implications for facial aging treatment will be addressed.
Phytotherapy as an alternative for treating fish disease
Authors: Valladão G. M. R. , Gallani S. U. , Pilarski F.
Published: January 2015

Intensification of livestock rearing often promotes an increase in inappropriate practices that disregard care for the environment, animal health, and workers' health. Intensive fish farming systems are often associated with higher stocking density and massive use of artificial feed. Currently, outbreaks of parasitic, bacterial, and fungal diseases act as major limiting factors for fish farming, meaning that producers have to make use of massive amounts of antibiotics, disinfectants, and pesticides in order to control mortality and avoid huge economic losses. Because of adverse effects on the aquatic environment, terrestrial organisms, and human health (both fish handlers and consumers), this therapy has been criticized. Use of herbal medicines within animal production has shown promise, in that it is natural and biodegradable and has antimicrobial activity against various pathogens, including those relating to fish. Recently, researchers have reported promising effects from many herbal medicines for treating parasitic diseases caused by protozoa and metazoa, and broad activity against bacteria and fungi. This review addresses the current issues regarding indiscriminate use of chemicals and antibiotics in aquaculture and discusses the main findings and methodologies of the latest research on herbal medicines to stimulate and accelerate research in this field, especially in developing countries.
Is tolvaptan indicated for refractory oedema in nephrotic syndrome?
Authors: Park Eun‐Sik , Huh Youn‐sung , Kim Gheun‐Ho
Published: January 2015

Tolvaptan is useful for correcting dilutional hyponatraemia because of its aquaretic effect. On the other hand, there is a distinct lack of data regarding tolvaptan‐induced natriuresis, although previous studies have demonstrated improvement of congestive symptoms and signs in heart failure patients following tolvaptan treatment. Here, we report the case of a 47‐year‐old man diagnosed with minimal change nephrotic syndrome and whose refractory oedema was immediately controlled by tolvaptan before steroid response was induced. With tolvaptan treatment, patient urine output increased dramatically to approximately 5.5 L/day and body weight decreased by 9 kg over 5 days. Interestingly, urine sodium concentration, fractional excretion of sodium and urine osmolality all increased in response to tolvaptan administration. However, serum sodium concentration was maintained within the normal range, and mild azotaemia was corrected. Tolvaptan was discontinued after 11 days when heavy proteinuria and generalized oedema had been resolved. We discuss the potential mechanisms by which V2 receptor antagonists may stimulate natriuresis in the kidney. In conclusion, tolvaptan may be useful as an adjunctive treatment for oedematous disorders.
Is renal tissue oxygen desaturation during severe hypoxia underestimated? An observational study in term newborn piglets
Authors: Pichler Gerhard , Cheung Po‐Yin , Tze‐Fun Lee , Li Elliott S , Schmölzer Georg M
Published: January 2015

The kidney is an organ highly susceptible to injury by regional tissue oxygen desaturation during hypoxic episodes. Transcutaneous monitoring of renal tissue oxygen saturation is therefore of increasing interest. The aim of the present study was to compare renal tissue oxygen saturation measured by near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during acute hypoxia in neonates directly on the kidney and transcutaneously. We hypothesized that transcutaneous renal tissue oxygen saturation measurements would be influenced by superficial tissue. Five term newborn piglets were anesthetized, instrumented and exposed to normocapnic hypoxia at an inspired oxygen concentration of 0.14. Regional tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) was simultaneously measured for comparison with the sensor of NIRS (Invos 5100, Somanetics Corp., Troy, MI, USA) applied directly on the left kidney (renaldirectrSO2) and on the skin of right flank above the right kidney (renalskinrSO2). Cerebral regional tissue oxygenation (cerebralskinrSO2), arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were also monitored. NIRS parameters were analyzed in 5 s intervals during first 2 min of hypoxia. Hypoxia was achieved with an arterial oxygen desaturation from median (range) 95.3% (86.8–98.0) to 23.5% (13.0–41.0) after 2 min. HR and MAP did not change significantly during hypoxia. There were pronounced and lower renaldirectrSO2 readings when compared with those of renalskinrSO2 with significant differences from 25 to 55 s after initiation of hypoxia. Changes of cerebralskinrSO2 and renalskinrSO2 were similar. Transcutaneous monitoring of renal tissue oxygen saturation may underestimate acute oxygen desaturation of the kidney during hypoxia in neonates.
The rural–urban enigma of allergy: What can we learn from studies around the world?
Authors: Schröder Paul C. , Li Jing , Wong Gary W. K. , Schaub Bianca
Published: January 2015

Childhood asthma and related allergic conditions have become the most common chronic disorders in the Western world. Many studies from around the world have demonstrated an increasing trend of asthma prevalence over the last few decades (Lancet, 368, 2004, 733). A few recent reports also suggested that childhood asthma prevalence may be showing a plateau or even a decline in few developed countries. Given the rapid changes in the prevalence over a short period of time, environmental factors are the more likely candidates explaining such trend. One of the most consistent epidemiological findings was that subjects living in the rural areas had lower prevalence of allergies when compared to those from urban areas (Clin Exp Allergy 30, 2000, 187; Pediatr Pulmonol 44, 2009, 793). Clear understanding of the mechanisms of how the environmental determinants in the rural environment may affect the early immune system resulting in lower risk of allergies and asthma will facilitate the development of future primary preventive strategies. In this study, we review recent data from around the world and explore the epidemiology and mechanistic studies that may explain the rural–urban difference of allergies.
Anthroposophic lifestyle and salivary cortisol are associated with a lower risk of sensitization during childhood
Authors: Swartz Jackie , Lindblad Frank , Arinell Hans , Theorell Töres , Alm Johan
Published: January 2015

Background

Infants from anthroposophic families have low cortisol levels and low risk of IgE‐sensitization during first 2 years of life. Our aim was to study the impact of an anthroposophic lifestyle and cortisol levels at 6 months on allergy sensitization up to age 5 years.

Methods

A total of 507 families participated from maternal healthcare centers. Parental lifestyle was categorized as anthroposophic, partly anthroposophic, or non‐anthroposophic. Blood samples for analyzes of sensitization were obtained from parents at inclusion and from children at 6, 12, 24, and 60 months. Salivary samples were collected at home at 6 months.

Results

Sensitization increased from 2.9% to 26.0% in the anthroposophic group, from 8.4% to 26.8% in the partly anthroposophic group, and from 19.1% to 44.1% in the non‐anthroposophic group. Children from anthroposophic families had lower cortisol levels in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The odds ratio (OR) for anthroposophic lifestyle was always <1 and lowest at 12 months (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.03–0.36). Adjusting for cortisol levels at 6 months increased these ORs at 12 and 24 months. At the same ages, ORs for sensitization were elevated also for cortisol levels at 6 months. Analyzes in children not sensitized at 6 months confirmed the cortisol‐related risk of sensitization.

Conclusions

Children from families with an anthroposophic lifestyle have lower risk than comparisons of developing sensitization up to 5 years. This risk is partially explained by low cortisol levels during infancy. High cortisol levels at 6 months predict sensitization up to 24 months.
How Common is Peer Disagreement? On Self‐Trust and Rational Symmetry
Authors: Schafer Karl
Published: January 2015

In this paper I offer an argument for a view about the epistemology of peer disagreement, which I call the “Rational Symmetry View”. I argue that this view follows from a natural (if controversial) conception of the epistemology of testimony, together with a basic entitlement to trust our own faculties for belief formation. I then discuss some objections to this view, focusing on its relationship to other well‐known views in the literature. The upshot of this discussion is that, if the Rational Symmetry View is correct, much of the action in the epistemology of disagreement relates—not to how one should treat those one regards as an “epistemic peer” in the sense popular in that literature—but rather to who one should treat as such.
Epichloae infection in a native South African grass, Festuca costata Nees
Authors: McGranahan D. A. , Burgdorf R. , Kirkman K. P.
Published: January 2015

Fungal endophytes have been documented in almost all terrestrial plant groups. Although the endophyte infection syndrome in agronomic cultivars is well studied, relatively little work addresses questions of spatial ecology and fire effects on epichloae endophyte infection in native grasses, and none, to our knowledge, in sub‐Saharan Africa. We sampled seven populations of the native Festuca costata Nees along the spline of the Drakensberg range in South Africa at several spatial scales, including both recently burned and unburned stands. We tested epichloae presence and prevalence with immunoblot assays, PCR and genetic sequencing. We found epichloae endophytes were present and prevalent (38–98% infection rates depending on location). Variation in infection rates occurred primarily among locations, but also among bunches. There was little evidence that endophyte infection rates varied with fire. Novel evidence of epichloae infection of a native Festuca in South Africa opens the door to several new research questions, from the phylogenetic relationship between epichloae of sub‐Saharan Africa and other continents to the ecological advantages or disadvantages that endophytes confer upon their hosts, especially in a fire‐prone ecosystem vulnerable to global environmental change.
High light‐induced hydrogen peroxide production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is increased by high CO2 availability
Authors: Roach Thomas , Na Chae Sun , Krieger‐Liszkay Anja
Published: January 2015

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an unavoidable part of photosynthesis. Stress that accompanies high light levels and low CO2 availability putatively includes enhanced ROS production in the so‐called Mehler reaction. Such conditions are thought to encourage O2 to become an electron acceptor at photosystem I, producing the ROS superoxide anion radical () and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In contrast, here it is shown in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that CO2 depletion under high light levels lowered cellular H2O2 production, and that elevated CO2 levels increased H2O2 production. Using various photosynthetic and mitochondrial mutants of C. reinhardtii, the chloroplast was identified as the main source of elevated H2O2 production under high CO2 availability. High light levels under low CO2 availability induced photoprotective mechanisms called non‐photochemical quenching, or NPQ, including state transitions (qT) and high energy state quenching (qE). The qE‐deficient mutant npq4 produced more H2O2 than wild‐type cells under high light levels, although less so under high CO2 availability, whereas it demonstrated equal or greater enzymatic H2O2‐degrading capacity. The qT‐deficient mutant stt7‐9 produced the same H2O2 as wild‐type cells under high CO2 availability. Physiological levels of H2O2 were able to hinder qT and the induction of state 2, providing an explanation for why under high light levels and high CO2 availability wild‐type cells behaved like stt7‐9 cells stuck in state 1.
The Arabidopsis ceramidase AtACER functions in disease resistance and salt tolerance
Authors: Wu Jian‐Xin , Li Jian , Liu Zhe , Yin Jian , Chang Zhen‐Yi , Rong Chan , Wu Jia‐Li , Bi Fang‐Cheng , Yao Nan
Published: January 2015

Ceramidases hydrolyze ceramide into sphingosine and fatty acids. In mammals, ceramidases function as key regulators of sphingolipid homeostasis, but little is known about their roles in plants. Here we characterize the Arabidopsis ceramidase AtACER, a homolog of human alkaline ceramidases. The acer‐1 T‐DNA insertion mutant has pleiotropic phenotypes, including reduction of leaf size, dwarfing and an irregular wax layer, compared with wild‐type plants. Quantitative sphingolipid profiling showed that acer‐1 mutants and the artificial microRNA‐mediated silenced line amiR‐ACER‐1 have high ceramide levels and decreased long chain bases. AtACER localizes predominantly to the endoplasmic reticulum, and partially to the Golgi complex. Furthermore, we found that acer‐1 mutants and AtACER RNAi lines showed increased sensitivity to salt stress, and lines overexpressing AtACER showed increased tolerance to salt stress. Reduction of AtACER also increased plant susceptibility to Pseudomonas syringae. Our data highlight the key biological functions of ceramidases in biotic and abiotic stresses in plants.
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ELASTOGRAPHY OF THE LIVER, SPLEEN, KIDNEYS, AND PROSTATE IN CLINICALLY NORMAL BEAGLE DOGS
Authors: Jeon Sunghoon , Lee Gahyun , Lee Sang‐Kwon , Kim Hyunwoo , Yu Dohyeon , Choi Jihye
Published: January 2015

Standard ultrasonography is often insensitive for distinguishing normal vs. diseased states for canine abdominal organs. Ultrasonographic elastography is a new technique that is becoming increasingly available and may help to improve sensitivity. This study evaluated the feasibility, repeatability, and reproducibility of strain elastography of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and prostate in healthy dogs and described the elasticity of each organ using strain values and strain ratios. The reproducibility of strain elastography was excellent, and intraobserver repeatability was moderate to excellent. The strain value of each organ was not significantly different among dogs (liver = 143.38 ± 7.41, spleen = 141.04 ± 9.03, left renal cortex = 141.26 ± 7.50, right renal cortex = 145.80 ± 7.79, and prostate = 135.46 ± 5.80), except for the renal medulla (left = 51.19 ± 4.54 and right = 51.93 ± 5.09) (P < 0.05). The strain ratios for the liver, spleen, renal cortex, and prostate were similar with no significant difference (liver = 10.20 ± 1.47, spleen = 8.40 ± 1.53, left renal cortex = 9.62 ± 1.56, right renal cortex = 8.29 ± 1.63, and prostate = 8.20 ± 1.21), except for the renal medulla (left = 3.48 ± 0.68 and right = 2.95 ± 0.63) (P < 0.05). Our results indicated that strain elastography was feasible for estimating tissue stiffness in the canine liver, spleen, kidneys, and prostate. This study provides basic information for strain values and strain ratios for the liver, spleen, kidneys, and prostate in clinically normal dogs.
High frequency backscattering by a solid cylinder with axis tilted relative to a nearby horizontal surface
Authors: Plotnick Daniel S. , Marston Philip L. , Williams Kevin L. , España Aubrey L.
Published: January 2015

The backscattering spectrum versus azimuthal angle, also called the “acoustic color” or “acoustic template,” of solid cylinders located in the free water column have been previously studied. For cylinders lying proud on horizontal sand sediment, there has been progress in understanding the backscattering spectrum as a function of grazing angle and the viewing angle relative to the cylinder's axis. Significant changes in the proud backscattering spectrum versus the freefield case are associated with the interference of several multipaths involving the target and the surface. If the cylinder's axis has a vertical tilt such that one end is partially buried in the sand, the multipath structure is changed, thus modifying the resulting spectrum. Some of the changes in the template can be approximately modeled using a combination of geometrical and physical acoustics. The resulting analysis gives a simple approximation relating certain changes in the template with the vertical tilt of the cylinder. This includes a splitting in the azimuthal angle at which broadside multipath features are observed. A similar approximation also applies to a metallic cylinder adjacent to a flat free surface and was confirmed in tank experiments.
In-plane time-harmonic elastic wave motion and resonance phenomena in a layered phononic crystal with periodic cracks
Authors: Golub Mikhail V. , Zhang Chuanzeng
Published: January 2015

This paper presents an elastodynamic analysis of two-dimensional time-harmonic elastic wave propagation in periodically multilayered elastic composites, which are also frequently referred to as one-dimensional phononic crystals, with a periodic array of strip-like interior or interface cracks. The transfer matrix method and the boundary integral equation method in conjunction with the Bloch-Floquet theorem are applied to compute the elastic wave fields in the layered periodic composites. The effects of the crack size, spacing, and location, as well as the incidence angle and the type of incident elastic waves on the wave propagation characteristics in the composite structure are investigated in details. In particular, the band-gaps, the localization and the resonances of elastic waves are revealed by numerical examples. In order to understand better the wave propagation phenomena in layered phononic crystals with distributed cracks, the energy flow vector of Umov and the corresponding energy streamlines are visualized and analyzed. The numerical results demonstrate that large energy vortices obstruct elastic wave propagation in layered phononic crystals at resonance frequencies. They occur before the cracks reflecting most of the energy transmitted by the incoming wave and disappear when the problem parameters are shifted from the resonant ones.
Numerical analysis of the vibroacoustic properties of plates with embedded grids of acoustic black holes
Authors: Conlon Stephen C. , Fahnline John B. , Semperlotti Fabio
Published: January 2015

The concept of an Acoustic Black Hole (ABH) has been developed and exploited as an approach for passively attenuating structural vibration. The basic principle of the ABH relies on proper tailoring of the structure geometrical properties in order to produce a gradual reduction of the flexural wave speed, theoretically approaching zero. For practical systems the idealized “zero” wave speed condition cannot be achieved so the structural areas of low wave speed are treated with surface damping layers to allow the ABH to approach the idealized dissipation level. In this work, an investigation was conducted to assess the effects that distributions of ABHs embedded in plate-like structures have on both vibration and structure radiated sound, focusing on characterizing and improving low frequency performance. Finite Element and Boundary Element models were used to assess the vibration response and radiated sound power performance of several plate configurations, comparing baseline uniform plates with embedded periodic ABH designs. The computed modal loss factors showed the importance of the ABH unit cell low order modes in the overall vibration reduction effectiveness of the embedded ABH plates at low frequencies where the free plate bending wavelengths are longer than the scale of the ABH.
Repertoire and classification of non-song calls in Southeast Alaskan humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Authors: Fournet Michelle E. , Szabo Andy , Mellinger David K.
Published: January 2015

On low-latitude breeding grounds, humpback whales produce complex and highly stereotyped songs as well as a range of non-song sounds associated with breeding behaviors. While on their Southeast Alaskan foraging grounds, humpback whales produce a range of previously unclassified non-song vocalizations. This study investigates the vocal repertoire of Southeast Alaskan humpback whales from a sample of 299 non-song vocalizations collected over a 3-month period on foraging grounds in Frederick Sound, Southeast Alaska. Three classification systems were used, including aural spectrogram analysis, statistical cluster analysis, and discriminant function analysis, to describe and classify vocalizations. A hierarchical acoustic structure was identified; vocalizations were classified into 16 individual call types nested within four vocal classes. The combined classification method shows promise for identifying variability in call stereotypy between vocal groupings and is recommended for future classification of broad vocal repertoires.
Aeroacoustic response of coaxial wall-mounted Helmholtz resonators in a low-speed wind tunnel
Authors: Slaton William V. , Nishikawa Asami
Published: January 2015

The aeroacoustic response of coaxial wall-mounted Helmholtz resonators with different neck geometries in a low-speed wind tunnel has been investigated. Experimental test results of this system reveal a strong aeroacoustic response over a Strouhal number range of 0.25 to 0.1 for both increasing and decreasing the flow rate in the wind tunnel. Aeroacoustic response in the low-amplitude range O(10−3) < Vac/Vflow < O(10−1) has been successfully modeled by describing-function analysis. This analysis, coupled with a turbulent flow velocity distribution model, gives reasonable values for the location in the flow of the undulating stream velocity that drives vortex shedding at the resonator mouth. Having an estimate for the stream velocity that drives the flow-excited resonance is crucial when employing the describing-function analysis to predict aeroacoustic response of resonators.
Advantages of the incoherent uniform theory of diffraction for acoustic calculations in open-plan offices
Authors: Chevret P.
Published: January 2015

Sound prediction in open-plan offices is a real challenge for room acoustics models because of the large dimensions involved and because of the complexity of the interior layout. For these reasons, the geometrical theory, based on a high frequency hypothesis, is often cited as an advantageous solution. Two types of approaches are, in general, developed under this hypothesis: the phase-included approach and the energy-based or “incoherent” approach. In this paper, comparisons are presented between calculations performed using these two approaches and measurements conducted in the laboratory where workstations were separated by low dividers and placed under ceilings that were absorbent to various extents. Particular attention was paid to processing diffraction using the uniform theory of diffraction. Narrow-band comparisons between calculations and measurements show that the phase-included model is flawed at low frequencies whenever the characteristic dimensions of the elements of the room (desk, low divider, etc.) are of the same order of magnitude as the wavelength. Conversely, the incoherent formulation, which removes the part played by the interference, gives results at least as accurate, be it in octave band or overall. Boasting very short computation times, the incoherent approach opens up interesting prospects for acoustic predictions in large open-plan offices.
Sound localization in common vampire bats: Acuity and use of the binaural time cue by a small mammal
Authors: Heffner Rickye S. , Koay Gimseong , Heffner Henry E.
Published: January 2015

Passive sound-localization acuity and the ability to use binaural time and intensity cues were determined for the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus). The bats were tested using a conditioned suppression/avoidance procedure in which they drank defibrinated blood from a spout in the presence of sounds from their right, but stopped drinking (i.e., broke contact with the spout) whenever a sound came from their left, thereby avoiding a mild shock. The mean minimum audible angle for three bats for a 100-ms noise burst was 13.1°—within the range of thresholds for other bats and near the mean for mammals. Common vampire bats readily localized pure tones of 20 kHz and higher, indicating they could use interaural intensity-differences. They could also localize pure tones of 5 kHz and lower, thereby demonstrating the use of interaural time-differences, despite their very small maximum interaural distance of 60 μs. A comparison of the use of locus cues among mammals suggests several implications for the evolution of sound localization and its underlying anatomical and physiological mechanisms.
Acoustic behavior of porous ceiling absorbers based on local and extended reaction
Authors: Gunnarsdóttir Kristrún , Jeong Cheol-Ho , Marbjerg Gerd
Published: January 2015

The acoustic behavior of ceiling absorbers can be predicted under different surface reaction assumptions: Local and extended reaction. This study aims to experimentally validate acoustic transfer functions near a ceiling absorber in an anechoic chamber based on the two surface reaction models. First, a ceiling absorber with two mounting conditions is modeled by equivalent fluid models, such as Delany-Bazley's, Miki's, and Komatsu's model, in various ways: (1) Local vs extended reaction and (2) plane-wave vs spherical-wave incidence. For a single absorber under anechoic conditions, the acoustic transfer functions for four source-receiver pairs are simulated using a pressure-based image source model, and then compared with measurements. For a rigid backing condition, both the local and extended reaction models agree well with the measurement. For an absorber backed by an air cavity, the extended reaction model agrees better at larger incidence angles at lower frequencies than the local reaction model.
Violin plate modes
Authors: Gough Colin
Published: January 2015

As the first step toward developing a generic model for the acoustically radiating vibrational modes of the violin and related instruments, the modes of both freely supported and edge-constrained top and back plates have been investigated as functions of shape, arching height, elastic anisotropy, the f-holes and associated island area, thickness graduations, and the additional boundary constraints of the ribs, soundpost, and bass-bar present in the assembled instrument. Comsol shell structure finite element software has been used as a quasi-experimental tool, with physical and geometric properties varied smoothly, often over several orders of magnitude, allowing the development of the plate modes to be followed continuously from those of an initially square plate to those of doubly-arched, guitar-shaped, orthotropic plates and their dependence on all the above factors.
Describing and classifying urban sound environments with a relevant set of physical indicators
Authors: Can A. , Gauvreau B.
Published: January 2015

Categorization is a powerful method for describing urban sound environments. However, it has only been applied, until now, to discrete noise data collection, whereas sound environments vary continuously both in space and time. Therefore, a procedure is developed in this paper for describing the variations of urban sound environments. The procedure consists of mobile measurements, followed by a statistical clustering analysis that selects relevant noise indicators and classifies sound environments. Analysis are based on a 3 days + 1 night survey where geo-referenced noise measurements were collected over 19 1-h soundwalk periods in a district of Marseille, France. The clustering analysis showed that a limited subset of indicators is sufficient to discriminate sound environments. The three indicators that emerged from the clustering, namely, the Leq,A, the standard deviation σLeq,A, and the sound gravity spectrum SGC[50 Hz–10 kHz], are consistent with previous studies on sound environment classification. Moreover, the procedure proposed enables the description of the sound environment, which is classified into homogenous sound environment classes by means of the selected indicators. Thus, the procedure can be adapted to any urban environment, and can, for instance, favorably enhance perceptive studies by delimiting precisely the spatial extent of each typical sound environment.
Reduction of non-native accents through statistical parametric articulatory synthesis
Authors: Aryal Sandesh , Gutierrez-Osuna Ricardo
Published: January 2015

This paper presents an articulatory synthesis method to transform utterances from a second language (L2) learner to appear as if they had been produced by the same speaker but with a native (L1) accent. The approach consists of building a probabilistic articulatory synthesizer (a mapping from articulators to acoustics) for the L2 speaker, then driving the model with articulatory gestures from a reference L1 speaker. To account for differences in the vocal tract of the two speakers, a Procrustes transform is used to bring their articulatory spaces into registration. In a series of listening tests, accent conversions were rated as being more intelligible and less accented than L2 utterances while preserving the voice identity of the L2 speaker. No significant effect was found between the intelligibility of accent-converted utterances and the proportion of phones outside the L2 inventory. Because the latter is a strong predictor of pronunciation variability in L2 speech, these results suggest that articulatory resynthesis can decouple those aspects of an utterance that are due to the speaker's physiology from those that are due to their linguistic gestures.
The Growing Season, but Not the Farming System, Is a Food Safety Risk Determinant for Leafy Greens in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States
Authors: Marine Sasha C. , Pagadala Sivaranjani , Wang Fei , Pahl Donna M. , Melendez Meredith V. , Kline Wesley L. , Oni Ruth A. , Walsh Christopher S. , Everts Kathryne L. , Buchanan Robert L. , Micallef Shirley A.
Published: January 2015

Small- and medium-size farms in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States use varied agricultural practices to produce leafy greens during spring and fall, but the impact of preharvest practices on food safety risk remains unclear. To assess farm-level risk factors, bacterial indicators,
Salmonella enterica
, and Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) from 32 organic and conventional farms were analyzed. A total of 577 leafy greens, irrigation water, compost, field soil, and pond sediment samples were collected.
Salmonella
was recovered from 2.2% of leafy greens (
n
= 369) and 7.7% of sediment (
n
= 13) samples. There was an association between
Salmonella
recovery and growing season (fall versus spring) (
P
= 0.006) but not farming system (organic or conventional) (
P
= 0.920) or region (
P
= 0.991). No STEC was isolated. In all, 10% of samples were positive for
E. coli
: 6% of leafy greens, 18% of irrigation water, 10% of soil, 38% of sediment, and 27% of compost samples. Farming system was not a significant factor for levels of
E. coli
or aerobic mesophiles on leafy greens but was a significant factor for total coliforms (TC) (
P
< 0.001), with higher counts from organic farm samples. Growing season was a factor for aerobic mesophiles on leafy greens (
P
= 0.004), with higher levels in fall than in spring. Water source was a factor for all indicator bacteria (
P
< 0.001), and end-of-line groundwater had marginally higher TC counts than source samples (
P
= 0.059). Overall, the data suggest that seasonal events, weather conditions, and proximity of compost piles might be important factors contributing to microbial contamination on farms growing leafy greens.