bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The TOR signaling pathway regulates vegetative development and virulence in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Yu Fangwei , Gu Qin , Yun Yingzi , Yin Yanni , Xu Jin‐Rong , Shim Won‐Bo , Ma Zhonghua
Published: March 2014

The target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway plays critical roles in controlling cell growth in a variety of eukaryotes. However, the contribution of this pathway in regulating virulence of plant pathogenic fungi is unknown.

We identified and characterized nine genes encoding components of the TOR pathway in Fusarium graminearum. Biological, genetic and biochemical functions of each component were investigated.

The FgFkbp12‐rapamycin complex binds to the FgTor kinase. The type 2A phosphatases FgPp2A, FgSit4 and FgPpg1 were found to interact with FgTap42, a downstream component of FgTor. Among these, we determined that FgPp2A is likely to be essential for F. graminearum survival, and FgSit4 and FgPpg1 play important roles in cell wall integrity by positively regulating the phosphorylation of FgMgv1, a key MAP kinase in the cell wall integrity pathway. In addition, the FgPpg1 interacting protein, FgTip41, is involved in regulating mycelial growth and virulence. Notably, FgTip41 does not interact with FgTap42 but with FgPpg1, suggesting the existence of FgTap42:FgPpg1:FgTip41 heterotrimer in F. graminearum, a complex not observed in the yeast model.

Collectively, we defined a genetic regulatory framework that elucidates how the TOR pathway regulates virulence and vegetative development in F. graminearum.
The zinc finger protein PtaZFP2 negatively controls stem growth and gene expression responsiveness to external mechanical loads in poplar
Authors: Martin Ludovic , Decourteix Mélanie , Badel Eric , Huguet Stéphanie , Moulia Bruno , Julien Jean‐Louis , Leblanc‐Fournier Nathalie
Published: March 2014

Mechanical cues are essential signals regulating plant growth and development. In response to wind, trees develop a thigmomorphogenetic response characterized by a reduction in longitudinal growth, an increase in diameter growth, and changes in mechanical properties. The molecular mechanisms behind these processes are poorly understood. In poplar, PtaZFP2, a C2H2 transcription factor, is rapidly up‐regulated after stem bending.

To investigate the function of PtaZFP2, we analyzed PtaZFP2‐overexpressing poplars (Populus tremula × Populus alba). To unravel the genes downstream PtaZFP2, a transcriptomic analysis was performed.

PtaZFP2‐overexpressing poplars showed longitudinal and cambial growth reductions together with an increase in the tangent and hardening plastic moduli. The regulation level of mechanoresponsive genes was much weaker after stem bending in PtaZFP2‐overexpressing poplars than in wild‐type plants, showing that PtaZFP2 negatively modulates plant responsiveness to mechanical stimulation. Microarray analysis revealed a high proportion of down‐regulated genes in PtaZFP2‐overexpressing poplars. Among these genes, several were also shown to be regulated by mechanical stimulation.

Our results confirmed the important role of PtaZFP2 during plant acclimation to mechanical load, in particular through a negative control of plant molecular responsiveness. This desensitization process could modulate the amplitude and duration of the plant response during recurrent stimuli.
The evolution of seed dormancy: environmental cues, evolutionary hubs, and diversification of the seed plants
Authors: Willis Charles G. , Baskin Carol C. , Baskin Jerry M. , Auld Josh R. , Venable D. Lawrence , Cavender‐Bares Jeannine , Donohue Kathleen , Rubio de Casas Rafael ,   The NESCent Germination Working Group
Published: March 2014

Seed dormancy, by controlling the timing of germination, can strongly affect plant survival. The kind of seed dormancy, therefore, can influence both population and species‐level processes such as colonization, adaptation, speciation, and extinction.

We used a dataset comprising over 14 000 taxa in 318 families across the seed plants to test hypotheses on the evolution of different kinds of seed dormancy and their association with lineage diversification.

We found morphophysiological dormancy to be the most likely ancestral state of seed plants, suggesting that physiologically regulated dormancy in response to environmental cues was present at the origin of seed plants. Additionally, we found that physiological dormancy (PD), once disassociated from morphological dormancy, acted as an ‘evolutionary hub’ from which other dormancy classes evolved, and that it was associated with higher rates of lineage diversification via higher speciation rates.

The environmental sensitivity provided by dormancy in general, and by PD in particular, appears to be a key trait in the diversification of seed plants.
Herbivory and floral signaling: phenotypic plasticity and tradeoffs between reproduction and indirect defense
Authors: Schiestl Florian P. , Kirk Heather , Bigler Laurent , Cozzolino Salvatore , Desurmont Gaylord A.
Published: March 2014

Plant defense against herbivores may compromise attraction of mutualists, yet information remains limited about the mechanisms underlying such signaling tradeoffs.

Here, we investigated the effects of foliar herbivory by two herbivore species on defense compounds, floral signaling, pollinator and parasitoid attraction, and seed production.

Herbivory generally reduced the quantity of many floral volatile organic compoundsVOCs) inBrassica rapa. By contrast, floral color, flower diameter, and plant height remained unaffected. The decreased amounts of floral volatiles led to reduced attractiveness of flowers to pollinators, but increased the attractiveness of herbivore‐infested plants to parasitoids. Plants infested with the native butterflyPieris brassicaeproduced more flowers during early flowering, effectively compensating for the lower olfactory attractiveness. Herbivory by the invasiveSpodoptera littoralisincreased the amounts of glucobrassicanapin, and led to delayed flowering. These plants tended to attract fewer pollinators and to produce fewer seeds.

Our study indicates a tradeoff between pollinator attraction and indirect defense (parasitoid attraction), which can be mitigated by reduced floralVOCemission and production of more early flowers. We suggest that this compensatory mechanism is specific to plant–herbivore associations with a coevolutionary history.
Exogenous High‐Mobility Group Box 1 Inhibits Apoptosis and Promotes the Proliferation of Lewis Cells via RAGE/TLR4‐Dependent Signal Pathways
Authors: Xu X. , Zhu H. , Wang T. , Sun Y. , Ni P. , Liu Y. , Tian S. , Amoah Barnie P. , Shen H. , Xu W. , Xu H. , Su Z.
Published: March 2014

Upregulated high‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) has been found in many diseases. Nevertheless, the function of HMGB1 on modulating the proliferation of lung cancer cells (Lewis cells) and inhibiting apoptosis is poorly understood, as well as the involved intracellular signalling. In the present study, we firstly found the apoptosis of Lewis was increased following Hanks’ balanced salt solution (HBSS)‐induced starvation, while it was rescued after exogenous HMGB1 protein was added; furthermore, the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and Toll‐like receptor (TLR4) could coordinately improve the proliferation of tumour cells in vitro, and HMGB1 could enhance the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt and Erk1/2, inhibit the expression of pro‐apoptosis protein Bax and promote the expression of anti‐apoptosis protein Bcl‐2. These findings clearly demonstrated that HMGB1–RAGE/TLR4‐ PI3K‐Akt/Erk1/2 pathway contributed to the proliferation of Lewis. Moreover, our observations provide experimental and theoretical basis for clinical biological therapy for cancers; it also may be a new target for intervention and treatment of lung cancer.
What are the main environmental exposures associated with elevated IgE in Cuban infants? A population‐based study
Authors: Fundora‐Hernández Hermes , Venero‐Fernández Silvia J. , Suárez‐Medina Ramón , Mora‐Faife Esperanza de la C. , García‐García Gladys , del Valle‐Infante Ileana , Gómez‐Marrero Liem , Venn Andrea , Britton John , Fogarty Andrew W. ,   the HINASIC Study Group
Published: March 2014

Objective

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays a key role in allergy disease pathogenesis, but little is known about the environmental factors associated with higher IgE levels in infants. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for elevated serum total IgE infants living in Havana.

Methods

Eight hundred and seventy‐seven infants provided blood samples. Data on allergic disease symptoms and a wide range of exposures were collected.

Results

The median IgE was 35IU/ml (interquartile range 13–96). The risk of having an IgE level above the median was higher for children who had been breastfed for 4 months or more (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.28; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.61) and for children who reported cockroaches in their home (OR 1.30; 95% CI: 1.03–1.63). The risk was lower for children whose mother was in paid employment (OR 0.73; 95% CI: 0.54–0.97 compared with those who did not), for children living in homes where gas and electricity were used for cooking (OR 0.45; 95% CI: 0.32–0.62 compared with electricity only) and for children with domestic pets at birth (OR 0.83; 95% CI: 0.70‐1.00). There was no association between paracetamol use and serum IgE levels.

Conclusions

Associations between gas fuel use and maternal employment indicate that IgE levels in early life are lower in children who may be living in relative affluence. The discrepancy in the effect of early exposure to pets or cockroaches may reflect differences in these allergens, or be confounded by relative affluence. Further investigation of this cohort will determine how these effects translate into the expression of allergic disease in later life.
Risk assessment of transfusion‐associated babesiosis inTyrol: appraisal by seroepidemiology and polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Sonnleitner Sissy Therese , Fritz Josef , Bednarska Malgorzata , Baumgartner Raphaela , Simeoni Josef , Zelger Roland , Schennach Harald , Lass‐Flörl Cornelia , Edelhofer Renate , Pfister Kurt , Milhakov Andrea , Walder Gernot
Published: March 2014

Background

After malaria, babesiosis is the second most common transfusion‐transmitted parasitic disease in theUnitedStates. InEurope, one reported transfusion case, concerningBabesia microti, occurred inGermany.

Study Design and Methods

Due to the fact thatBabesiaspp. are present inTyrolean ticks, the aim of this study is to assess the occurrence of immunoglobulin (Ig)Gantibodies against theBabesia divergenscomplex, includingB. divergensandBabesia venatorum(EU1), as well asB. microtiby screening a representative collective of 988 blood donors fromNorth andEastTyrol (Austria) with indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Additionally, we investigated 206 local ixodid ticks for the presence of babesialDNAby polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Seroprevalence data resulted in rates of 2.1% forIgGantibodies against theB. divergenscomplex and 0.6% againstB. microtiinTyrolean blood donors. All sera could be confirmed by independent retesting. Our data indicate that cross‐reactivity is high betweenB. divergensandB. venatorumand lower than 19.8% betweenB. divergensandB. microti.

Conclusions

This study shows thatBabesiaspp. are present in theTyrols, which blood donors come into serologic contact with, and that we have to consider how to sustain blood product safety concerning this new challenge. Additionally, it is the first description ofB. venatorumin theTyrols, found in oneIxodes ricinusat theItalian border.
Impact of acellular hemoglobin‐based oxygen carriers on brain apoptosis in rats
Authors: Vandegriff Kim D. , Malavalli Ashok , Lohman Jeff , Young Mark A. , Terraneo Laura , Virgili Eleonora , Bianciardi Paola , Caretti Anna , Samaja Michele
Published: March 2014

Background

Extracellular hemoglobin (Hb)‐based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) are under extensive consideration as oxygen therapeutics. Their effects on cellular mechanisms related to apoptosis are of particular interest, because the onset of proapoptotic pathways may give rise to tissue damage.

Study Design and Methods

The objective was to assess whether the properties of the Hb that replaces blood during an isovolemic hemodilution would modulate apoptotic‐response mechanisms in rat brain and whether such signaling favors cytoprotection or damage. We exposed rats to exchange transfusion (ET; 50% blood volume and isovolemic replacement with Hextend [negative colloid control], MP4OX [PEGylated HBOC with high oxygen affinity], and ααHb [αα‐cross‐linked HBOC with low oxygen affinity; n = 4‐6/group]). Sham rats acted as control. Animals were euthanized at 2, 6, and 12 hours after ET; brain tissue was harvested and processed for analysis.

Results

In MP4OX animals, the number of neurons that overexpressed the hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α was higher than in ααHb, particularly at the early time points. In addition, MP4OX was associated with greater phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt), a well‐known cytoprotective factor. Indeed, the degree of apoptosis, measured as terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–positive neurons and caspase‐3 cleavage, ranked in order of MP4OX < Hextend < ααHb.

Conclusion

Even though both HBOCs showed increased levels of HIF‐1α compared to shams or Hextend‐treated animals, differences in signaling events resulted in very different outcomes for the two HBOCs. ααHb‐treated brain tissue showed significant neuronal damage, measured as apoptosis. This was in stark contrast to the protection seen with MP4OX, apparently due to recruitment of Akt and neuronal specific HIF‐1α pathways.
Recycling gold nanohole arrays
Authors: Hohertz Donna , Romanuik Sean F. , Gray Bonnie L. , Kavanagh Karen L.
Published: March 2014

The authors report the impact of common cleaning methods on the stability of gold nanohole arrays used as extraordinary optical transmission surface plasmon resonance sensors. Their optical sensitivity, physical structure, and surface contamination levels were measured before and after multiple cycles of monolayer adsorption and removal with various wet chemicals (sulfochromic acid, piranha, or ammonium hydroxide: hydrogen peroxide) and dry oxygen plasma etchants. While these oxidative chemical and plasma etches remove organic monolayers and other contaminants, the oxidation and associated heating also damages the gold nanostructures to varying degrees. The authors observed decreases in the arrays' optical sensitivities via changes in the shapes and positions of their surface plasmon resonance peaks. The optimum recycling process was a room temperature, aqueous ammonium hydroxide: hydrogen peroxide treatment (15 min) commonly referred to as Radio Corporation of America Clean 1, followed by immersion in dilute nitric acid (0.1M, 30 min). This method was effective at removing an alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid; after six recycles, no loss in optical sensitivity was detected with minimal changes in the gold film thickness (−10%), hole area (−10%), and hole circularity (+6%).
Entangled States of More Than 40 Atoms in an Optical Fiber Cavity
Authors: Haas Florian , Volz Jürgen , Gehr Roger , Reichel Jakob , Estève Jérôme
Published: March 2014

All Together Now

In quantum entanglement, correlations between particles mean that the measurement of one determines the outcome of the other(s). Generally, when trying to exploit quantum entanglement, the larger the number of entangled particles, the better. However, the size of entangled systems has been limited.

Haas
et al.

(p.
180
, published online 27 March; see the Perspective by

Widera

) prepared a small ensemble of ultracold atoms into a collective entangled state. Starting from one internal quantum state, the system of cold atoms was excited with a weak microwave pulse leading to a small excitation probability. Because it is not known which atom is promoted into the excited state, the detection of one quantum of excitation projects the system into an entangled quantum state, called a W-state. A fast repeat-until-success scheme produced such W-states quasi-deterministically. Using such a technique was able to yield entangled states of more than 40 particles. The relatively large ensemble-entangled states could potentially in the future find use in quantum sensing or enhanced quantum metrology applications.
Total Synthesis of a Functional Designer Eukaryotic Chromosome
Authors: Annaluru Narayana , Muller Héloïse , Mitchell Leslie A. , Ramalingam Sivaprakash , Stracquadanio Giovanni , Richardson Sarah M. , Dymond Jessica S. , Kuang Zheng , Scheifele Lisa Z. , Cooper Eric M. , Cai Yizhi , Zeller Karen , Agmon Neta , Han Jeffrey S. , Hadjithomas Michalis , Tullman Jennifer , Caravelli Katrina , Cirelli Kimberly , Guo Zheyuan , London Viktoriya , Yeluru Apurva , Murugan Sindurathy , Kandavelou Karthikeyan , Agier Nicolas , Fischer Gilles , Yang Kun , Martin J. Andrew , Bilgel Murat , Bohutskyi Pavlo , Boulier Kristin M. , Capaldo Brian J. , Chang Joy , Charoen Kristie , Choi Woo Jin , Deng Peter , DiCarlo James E. , Doong Judy , Dunn Jessilyn , Feinberg Jason I. , Fernandez Christopher , Floria Charlotte E. , Gladowski David , Hadidi Pasha , Ishizuka Isabel , Jabbari Javaneh , Lau Calvin Y. L. , Lee Pablo A. , Li Sean , Lin Denise , Linder Matthias E. , Ling Jonathan , Liu Jaime , Liu Jonathan , London Mariya , Ma Henry , Mao Jessica , McDade Jessica E. , McMillan Alexandra , Moore Aaron M. , Oh Won Chan , Ouyang Yu , Patel Ruchi , Paul Marina , Paulsen Laura C. , Qiu Judy , Rhee Alex , Rubashkin Matthew G. , Soh Ina Y. , Sotuyo Nathaniel E. , Srinivas Venkatesh , Suarez Allison , Wong Andy , Wong Remus , Xie Wei Rose , Xu Yijie , Yu Allen T. , Koszul Romain , Bader Joel S. , Boeke Jef D. , Chandrasegaran Srinivasan
Published: March 2014

Designer Chromosome

One of the ultimate aims of synthetic biology is to build designer organisms from the ground up. Rapid advances in DNA synthesis has allowed the assembly of complete bacterial genomes. Eukaryotic organisms, with their generally much larger and more complex genomes, present an additional challenge to synthetic biologists.

Annaluru
et al.

(p.
55
, published online 27 March) designed a synthetic eukaryotic chromosome based on yeast chromosome III. The designer chromosome, shorn of destabilizing transfer RNA genes and transposons, is ∼14% smaller than its wild-type template and is fully functional with every gene tagged for easy removal.
Conversion of Channelrhodopsin into a Light-Gated Chloride Channel
Authors: Wietek Jonas , Wiegert J. Simon , Adeishvili Nona , Schneider Franziska , Watanabe Hiroshi , Tsunoda Satoshi P. , Vogt Arend , Elstner Marcus , Oertner Thomas G. , Hegemann Peter
Published: March 2014

Optogenetic Insights

Mapping functional neural circuits for many behaviors has been almost impossible, so

Vogelstein
et al.

(p.
386
, published online 27 March; see the Perspective by

O'Leary and Marder

) developed a broadly applicable optogenetic method for neuron-behavior mapping and used it to phenotype larval
Drosophila
and thus developed a reference atlas. As optogenetic experiments become routine in certain fields of neuroscience research, creating even more specialized tools is imperative (see the Perspective by

Hayashi

). By engineering channelrhodopsin,

Wietek
et al.

(p.
409
, published online 27 March) and

Berndt
et al.

(p.
420
) created two different light-gated anion channels to block action potential generation during synaptic stimulation or depolarizing current injections. These new tools not only improve understanding of channelrhodopsins but also provide a way to silence cells.
Full-Genome Sequence of a Rare Human G3P[9] Rotavirus Strain
Authors: Mijatovic-Rustempasic Slavica , Roy Sunando , Sturgeon Michele , Rungsrisuriyachai Kunchala , Esona Mathew D. , DeGroat Dona , Qin Xuan , Cortese Margaret M. , Bowen Michael D.
Published: March 2014

This is a report of the complete genomic sequence of a rare rotavirus group A G3-P[9]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T1-E2-H3 strain designated RVA/Human-wt/USA/12US1134/2012/G3P[9].
Genome Sequences of Rhinovirus A Isolates from Wisconsin Pediatric Respiratory Studies
Authors: Liggett Stephen B. , Bochkov Yury A. , Pappas Tressa , Lemanske Robert F. , Gern James E. , Sengamalay Naomi , Zhao Xuechu , Su Qi , Fraser Claire M. , Palmenberg Ann C.
Published: March 2014

Full-length or nearly full-length RNA genome sequences for 98 rhinovirus (RV) A isolates (from the
Enterovirus
genus of the
Picornaviridae
family), representing 43 different genotypes, were resolved as part of ongoing studies to define RV genetic diversity and its potential link to respiratory disease.
Genome Sequence of a Hyperthermophilic Archaeon, Thermococcus nautili 30-1, That Produces Viral Vesicles
Authors: Oberto Jacques , Gaudin Marie , Cossu Matteo , Gorlas Aurore , Slesarev Alexeï , Marguet Evelyne , Forterre Patrick
Published: March 2014

Thermococcus nautili
30-1 (formerly
Thermococcus nautilus
), an anaerobic hyperthermophilic marine archaeon, was isolated in 1999 from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent during the Amistad campaign. Here, we present the complete sequence of
T. nautili
, which is able to produce membrane vesicles containing plasmid DNA. This property makes
T. nautili
a model organism to study horizontal gene transfer.
Glucocorticoids induce specific ion-channel-mediated toxicity in human rotator cuff tendon: a mechanism underpinning the ultimately deleterious effect of steroid injection in tendinopathy?
Authors: Dean Benjamin John Floyd , Franklin Sarah Louise , Murphy Richard J , Javaid Muhammad K , Carr Andrew Jonathan
Published: March 2014

Background

Glucocorticoid injection (GCI) and surgical rotator cuff repair are two widely used treatments for rotator cuff tendinopathy. Little is known about the way in which medical and surgical treatments affect the human rotator cuff tendon in vivo. We assessed the histological and immunohistochemical effects of these common treatments on the rotator cuff tendon.

Study design

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods

Supraspinatus tendon biopsies were taken before and after treatment from 12 patients undergoing GCI and 8 patients undergoing surgical rotator cuff repair. All patients were symptomatic and none of the patients undergoing local GCI had full thickness tears of the rotator cuff. The tendon tissue was then analysed using histological techniques and immunohistochemistry.

Results

There was a significant increase in nuclei count and vascularity after rotator cuff repair and not after GCI (both p=0.008). Hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and cell proliferation were only increased after rotator cuff repair (both p=0.03) and not GCI. The ionotropicN-methyl-d-aspartate receptor 1 (NMDAR1) glutamate receptor was only increased after GCI and not rotator cuff repair (p=0.016). An increase in glutamate was seen in both groups following treatment (both p=0.04), while an increase in the receptor metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7) was only seen after rotator cuff repair (p=0.016).

Conclusions

The increases in cell proliferation, vascularity and HIF-1α after surgical rotator cuff repair appear consistent with a proliferative healing response, and these features are not seen after GCI. The increase in the glutamate receptor NMDAR1 after GCI raises concerns about the potential excitotoxic tendon damage that may result from this common treatment.
A new tool for converting food frequency questionnaire data into nutrient and food group values: FETA research methods and availability
Authors: Mulligan Angela A , Luben Robert N , Bhaniani Amit , Parry-Smith David J , O'Connor Laura , Khawaja Anthony P , Forouhi Nita G , Khaw Kay-Tee
Published: March 2014

Objectives

To describe the research methods for the development of a new open source, cross-platform tool which processes data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire (EPIC-Norfolk FFQ). A further aim was to compare nutrient and food group values derived from the current tool (FETA, FFQ EPIC Tool for Analysis) with the previously validated but less accessible tool, CAFÉ (Compositional Analyses from Frequency Estimates). The effect of text matching on intake data was also investigated.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort study—EPIC-Norfolk.

Setting

East England population (city of Norwich and its surrounding small towns and rural areas).

Participants

Complete FFQ data from 11 250 men and 13 602 women (mean age 59 years; range 40–79 years).

Outcome measures

Nutrient and food group intakes derived from FETA and CAFÉ analyses of EPIC-Norfolk FFQ data.

Results

Nutrient outputs from FETA and CAFÉ were similar; mean (SD) energy intake from FETA was 9222 kJ (2633) in men, 8113 kJ (2296) in women, compared with CAFÉ intakes of 9175 kJ (2630) in men, 8091 kJ (2298) in women. The majority of differences resulted in one or less quintile change (98.7%). Only mean daily fruit and vegetable food group intakes were higher in women than in men (278 vs 212 and 284 vs 255 g, respectively). Quintile changes were evident for all nutrients, with the exception of alcohol, when text matching was not executed; however, only the cereals food group was affected.

Conclusions

FETA produces similar nutrient and food group values to the previously validated CAFÉ but has the advantages of being open source, cross-platform and complete with a data-entry form directly compatible with the software. The tool will facilitate research using the EPIC-Norfolk FFQ, and can be customised for different study populations.
Trends in cardiovascular risk factors across levels of education in a general population: is the educational gap increasing? The Tromsø study 1994–2008
Authors: Eggen Anne Elise , Mathiesen Ellisiv B , Wilsgaard Tom , Jacobsen Bjarne K , Njølstad Inger
Published: March 2014

Background

To describe trends in cardiovascular risk factors and change over time across education levels, and study the influence from medicine use and gender.

Methods

Data from participants (30–74 years) of the Tromsø Study in 1994–1995 (n=22 108) and in 2007–2008 (n=11 565). Blood samples, measurements and self-reported educational level and medicine use were collected.

Results

Differences in risk factor levels across education groups were persistent for all risk factors over time, with a more unfavourable pattern in the lowest education group. The exception was cholesterol, with the reduction being largest in the lowest educated, resulting in weakened educational trends over time. While a significant educational trend in cholesterol persisted among the non-users of lipid-lowering drugs (LLD), no educational trend in cholesterol was found among the LLD users in 2007–2008.

The strongest educational trends were found for daily smoking and Body Mass Index (BMI). In 2007–2008 the odds for being a smoker were five times higher among the lowest educated compared to the highest educated. In men, the odds for being in the highest quintile of the BMI distribution were, in 2007–2008, almost doubled in the lowest compared to the highest educated. The lowest educated women had 6.2 mm Hg higher mean systolic blood pressure than the highly educated, mean BMI of 26.4 kg/m 2 and smoking prevalence of 37.7%.

Conclusions

The difference across education groups for cholesterol levels decreased, while the educational gap persisted over time for the other risk factors. Use of LLD seemed to contribute to the reduction of social differences in cholesterol levels.
Comorbidities in lung cancer: prevalence, severity and links with socioeconomic status and treatment
Authors: Grose Derek , Morrison David S , Devereux Graham , Jones Richard , Sharma Dave , Selby Colin , Docherty Kirsty , McIntosh David , Louden Greig , Nicolson Marianne , McMillan Donald C , Milroy Robert ,   the Scottish Lung Cancer Forum
Published: March 2014

Background

Survival from lung cancer remains poor in Scotland, UK. Although the presence of comorbidities is known to influence outcomes, detailed quantification of comorbidities is not available in routinely collected audit or cancer registry data. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and severity of comorbidities in patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer across four centres throughout Scotland using validated criteria.

Methods

Between 2005 and 2008, all patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer coming through the multidisciplinary teams in four Scottish centres were included in the study. Patient demographics, WHO/Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, clinicopathological features and primary treatment modality were recorded.

Results

Details of 882 patients were collected prospectively. The majority of patients (87.3%) had at least one comorbidity, the most common being weight loss (53%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (43%), renal impairment (28%) and ischaemic heart disease (27%). A composite score was produced that included both number and severity of comorbidities. One in seven patients (15.3%) had severe comorbidity scores. There were statistically significant variations in comorbidity scores between treatment centres and between non-small cell lung carcinoma treatment groups. Disease stage was not associated with comorbidity score.

Conclusions

There is a high prevalence of multiple, severe comorbidities in Scottish patients with lung cancer, and these vary by site and treatment group. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between comorbidity scores and survival in these patients.
Plasma biochemical and PCV ranges for healthy, wild, immature hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles
Authors: Whiting S. D. , Guinea M. L. , Fomiatti K. , Flint M. , Limpus C. J.
Published: March 2014

In recent years, the use of blood chemistry as a diagnostic tool for sea turtles has been demonstrated, but much of its effectiveness relies on reference intervals. The first comprehensive blood chemistry values for healthy wild hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles are presented. Nineteen blood chemistry analytes and packed cell volume were analysed for 40 clinically healthy juvenile hawksbill sea turtles captured from a rocky reef habitat in northern Australia. We used four statistical approaches to calculate reference intervals and to investigate their use with non‐normal distributions and small sample sizes, and to compare upper and lower limits between methods. Eleven analytes were correlated with curved carapace length indicating that body size should be considered when designing future studies and interpreting analyte values.
Heart rate response and parasympathetic modulation during recovery from exercise in boys and men
Authors: Guilkey Justin P. , Overstreet Matthew , Fernhall Bo , Mahon Anthony D.
Published: March 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of postexercise parasympathetic modulation, measured by heart rate variability (HRV), on heart rate recovery (HRR) in boys (n = 13, 10.1 ± 0.8 years) and men (n = 13, 23.9 ± 1.5 years) following maximal and submaximal exercise. Subjects completed 10 min of supine rest, followed by graded exercise on a cycle ergometer to maximal effort. On a separate day, subjects exercised at an intensity equivalent to ventilatory threshold. Immediately following both exercise bouts, 1-min HRR was assessed in the supine position. HRV was analyzed under controlled breathing during the final 5 min of rest and recovery in the time and frequency domains and transformed to natural log (ln) values. Boys had a greater 1-min HRR than men following maximal (58 ± 8 vs. 47 ± 11 beats·min−1) and submaximal (59 ± 8 vs. 47 ± 15 beats·min−1) exercise (p < 0.05). Following maximal exercise, boys had greater ln root mean square successive differences in R-R intervals (2.52 ± 0.95 ms), ln standard deviation of NN intervals (3.34 ± 0.57 ms), ln high-frequency power (4.32 ± 2.00 ms2), and ln low-frequency power (4.98 ± 1.17 ms2) than men (1.33 ± 0.37 ms, 2.52 ± 0.24 ms, 1.32 ± 1.06 ms2 and 2.80 ± 0.74 ms2, respectively) (p < 0.05). There were no differences in any HRV variables between groups following submaximal exercise (p > 0.05). In conclusion, it appears that greater parasympathetic modulation accounts for greater HRR following maximal exercise in boys versus men. Although submaximal HRR was greater in boys, parasympathetic responses were similar between groups.
Effects of fine sediment, hyporheic flow, and spawning site characteristics on survival and development of bull trout embryos
Authors: Bowerman Tracy , Neilson Bethany T. , Budy Phaedra
Published: March 2014

Successful spawning is imperative for the persistence of salmonid populations, but relatively little research has been conducted to evaluate factors affecting early life-stage survival for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), a threatened char. We conducted a field experiment to assess the relationship between site-specific environmental factors and bull trout embryo survival and fry emergence timing. Survival from egg to hatch was negatively related to percent fine sediment (<1 mm) in the redd and positively related to the strength of downwelling at spawning sites. Survival of eggs to fry emergence was also negatively related to fine sediment, and the best statistical models included additional variables that described the rate of downwelling and intragravel flow within the incubation environment. Fry emerged at an earlier stage in development from redds with high percentages of fine sediment. Increased hydraulic conductivity via redd construction and selection of spawning sites with strong downwelling appear to enhance hyporheic flow rates and bull trout egg survival, but early life-stage success may ultimately be limited by intrusion of fine sediment into the incubation environment.
Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the managed Canadian boreal forest
Authors: Gauthier Sylvie , Bernier Pierre , Burton Philip J. , Edwards Jason , Isaac Kendra , Isabel Nathalie , Jayen Karelle , Le Goff Héloïse , Nelson Elizabeth A.
Published: March 2014

Climate change is affecting Canada’s boreal zone, which includes most of the country’s managed forests. The impacts of climate change in this zone are expected to be pervasive and will require adaptation of Canada’s forest management system. This paper reviews potential climate change adaptation actions and strategies for the forest management system, considering current and projected climate change impacts and their related vulnerabilities. These impacts and vulnerabilities include regional increases in disturbance rates, regional changes in forest productivity, increased variability in timber supply, decreased socioeconomic resilience, and increased severity of safety and health issues for forest communities. Potential climate change adaptation actions of the forest management system are categorized as those that reduce nonclimatic stressors, those that reduce sensitivity to climate change, or those that maintain or enhance adaptive capacity in the biophysical and human subsystems of the forest management system. Efficient adaptation of the forest management system will revolve around the inclusion of risk management in planning processes, the selection of robust, diversified, and no-regret adaptation actions, and the adoption of an adaptive management framework. Monitoring is highlighted as a no-regret action that is central to the implementation of adaptive forest management.
Using Compiler Directives to Port Large Scientific Applications to GPUs: An Example from Atmospheric Science
Authors: Lapillonne Xavier , Fuhrer Oliver
Published: March 2014

For many scientific applications, Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) can be an interesting alternative to conventional CPUs as they can deliver higher memory bandwidth and computing power. While it is conceivable to re-write the most execution time intensive parts using a low-level API for accelerator programming, it may not be feasible to do it for the entire application. But, having only selected parts of the application running on the GPU requires repetitively transferring data between the GPU and the host CPU, which may lead to a serious performance penalty. In this paper we assess the potential of compiler directives, based on the OpenACC standard, for porting large parts of code and thus achieving a full GPU implementation. As an illustrative and relevant example, we consider the climate and numerical weather prediction code COSMO (Consortium for Small Scale Modeling) and focus on the physical parametrizations, a part of the code which describes all physical processes not accounted for by the fundamental equations of atmospheric motion. We show, by porting three of the dominant parametrization schemes, the radiation, microphysics and turbulence parametrizations, that compiler directives are an efficient tool both in terms of final execution time as well as implementation effort. Compiler directives enable to port large sections of the existing code with minor modifications while still allowing for further optimizations for the most performance critical parts. With the example of the radiation parametrization, which contains the solution of a block tri-diagonal linear system, the required code modifications and key optimizations are discussed in detail. Performance tests for the three physical parametrizations show a speedup of between 3× and 7× for execution time obtained on a GPU and on a multi-core CPU of an equivalent generation.
ROBUST FACE RECOGNITION BY UTILIZING COLOR INFORMATION AND SPARSE REPRESENTATION
Authors: LI BILLY YL , LIU WANQUAN , AN SENJIAN , KRISHNA ANEESH
Published: March 2014

In this paper, we consider the problem of robust face recognition using color information. In this context, sparse representation-based algorithms are the state-of-the-art solutions for gray facial images. We will integrate the existing sparse representation-based algorithms with color information and this integration can improve the previous performances significantly. Furthermore, we propose a new performance metric, namely the discriminativeness (DIS) to describe the recognition effectiveness for sparse representation algorithms. We find out that the richer information in color space can be used to increase the DIS, i.e. enhancing the robustness in face recognition. Extensive experiments have been conducted under different conditions, including various feature extractors, random pixel corruptions and occlusions on AR and GT databases, to demonstrate the advantages of using color information in robust face recognition. Detailed analysis is also included for each experiment to explain why and how color improve the robustness of different sparse representation-based methods.
Robotic Free Writing of Chinese Characters via Human–Robot Interactions
Authors: Chao Fei , Chen Fuhai , Shen Yunhang , He Wenli , Sun Yan , Wang Zhengshuai , Zhou Changle , Jiang Min
Published: March 2014

Implementation of robotic writing ability is recognized as a difficult task, which involves complicated image processing and robotic control algorithms. This paper introduces a novel approach to robotic writing by using human–robot interactions. The method applies a motion sensing input device to capture a human demonstrator's arm trajectories, uses a gesture determination algorithm to extract a Chinese character's strokes from these trajectories, and employs noise filtering and curve fitting methods to optimize the strokes. The approach displays real-time captured trajectories to the human demonstrator; therefore, the human demonstrator is able to adjust his/her gesture to achieve a better character writing effect. Then, our robot writes the human-gestured character by using the robotic arm's joint values. The inverse kinematics algorithm generates the joint values from the stroke trajectories. Experimental analysis shows that the proposed approach can allow a human to naturally and conveniently control the robot in order to write many Chinese characters. Additionally, this approach allows the robot to achieve a satisfactory writing quality for characters with a simple structure, with the potential to write more complex characters.
A DEMATEL-Based Framework for Identification of Causalities Among Internal and External Modes of Technology Acquisition
Authors: Mohamadnejad Farshid
Published: March 2014

Technology acquisition plays a key role in the management of technology in industrial organizations. While there are ample theoretical and empirical researches on firm technology acquisition which are focused on the study of its dependence on other components of organization, the literature pays less attention to explore and analyze the inter-relatedness found in the main body of technology acquisition itself. Internal and external technology acquisitions are among the main substitute modes which are embodied in the general body of firm's innovation and technology acquisition strategy. In this research, we deploy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) as a powerful structural modeling technique to identify and visualize the causalities between internal and external modes of technology acquisition by processing the collective knowledge and expertise of firms' managerial boards and senior technology experts. Then, an integrated structure could be introduced for the macro-level technology acquisition and in addition to the mathematical modeling of causalities between internal and external modes of technology acquisition, a decision support system could be presented.
Structure of cortical cytoskeleton in fibers of mouse muscle cells after being exposed to a 30-day space flight on board the BION-M1 biosatellite
Authors: Ogneva I. V. , Maximova M. V. , Larina I. M.
Published: March 2014

The aim of the work was to analyze changes in the organization of the cortical cytoskeleton in fibers of the mouse soleus muscle, tibialis anterior muscle and left ventricular cardiomyocytes after completion of a 30-day space flight on board the BION-M1 biosatellite (Russia, 2013). The transversal stiffness of the cortical cytoskeleton of the cardiomyocytes and fibers of the skeletal muscles did not differ significantly within the study groups compared with the vivarium control group. The content of beta- and gamma-actin in the membranous fraction of proteins in the left ventricular cardiomyocytes did not differ significantly within all study groups and correlated with the transversal stiffness. A similar situation was revealed in fibers of the soleus muscle and tibialis anterior muscle. At the same time, the content of beta-actin in the cytoplasmic fraction of proteins was found to be decreased in all types of studied tissues compared with the control levels in the postflight group, with lowered beta-actin gene expression rates in the postflight group. After completion of the space flight, the content of alpha-actinin-4 was found to be reduced in the membranous fraction of proteins from the mouse cardiomyocytes, while its content in the cytoplasmic fraction of proteins did not change significantly. Furthermore, gene expression rates of this protein were decreased at the time of dissection (it was started after 13 h after landing). At the same time, the content of alpha-actinin-1 decreased in the membranous fraction and increased in the cytoplasmic fraction of proteins from the soleus muscle fibers.
Wide-pulse-high-frequency neuromuscular stimulation of triceps surae induces greater muscle fatigue compared with conventional stimulation
Authors: Neyroud Daria , Dodd David , Gondin Julien , Maffiuletti Nicola A. , Kayser Bengt , Place Nicolas
Published: March 2014

We compared the extent and origin of muscle fatigue induced by short-pulse-low-frequency [conventional (CONV)] and wide-pulse-high-frequency (WPHF) neuromuscular electrical stimulation. We expected CONV contractions to mainly originate from depolarization of axonal terminal branches (spatially determined muscle fiber recruitment) and WPHF contractions to be partly produced via a central pathway (motor unit recruitment according to size principle). Greater neuromuscular fatigue was, therefore, expected following CONV compared with WPHF. Fourteen healthy subjects underwent 20 WPHF (1 ms-100 Hz) and CONV (50 μs-25 Hz) evoked isometric triceps surae contractions (work/rest periods 20:40 s) at an initial target of 10% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force. Force-time integral of the 20 evoked contractions (FTI) was used as main index of muscle fatigue; MVC force loss was also quantified. Central and peripheral fatigue were assessed by voluntary activation level and paired stimulation amplitudes, respectively. FTI in WPHF was significantly lower than in CONV (21,717 ± 11,541 vs. 37,958 ± 9,898 N·s P<0,001). The reductions in MVC force (WPHF: −7.0 ± 2.7%; CONV: −6.2 ± 2.5%; P < 0.01) and paired stimulation amplitude (WPHF: −8.0 ± 4.0%; CONV: −7.4 ± 6.1%; P < 0.001) were similar between conditions, whereas no change was observed for voluntary activation level ( P > 0.05). Overall, our results showed a different motor unit recruitment pattern between the two neuromuscular electrical stimulation modalities with a lower FTI indicating greater muscle fatigue for WPHF, possibly limiting the presumed benefits for rehabilitation programs.
Biallelic DICER1 Mutations in Sporadic Pleuropulmonary Blastoma
Authors: Seki Masafumi , Yoshida Kenichi , Shiraishi Yuichi , Shimamura Teppei , Sato Yusuke , Nishimura Riki , Okuno Yusuke , Chiba Kenichi , Tanaka Hiroko , Kato Keisuke , Kato Motohiro , Hanada Ryoji , Nomura Yuko , Park Myoung-Ja , Ishida Toshiaki , Oka Akira , Igarashi Takashi , Miyano Satoru , Hayashi Yasuhide , Ogawa Seishi , Takita Junko
Published: March 2014

Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare pediatric malignancy whose pathogens are poorly understood. Recent reports suggest that germline mutations in the microRNA-processing enzyme DICER1 may contribute to PPB development. To investigate the genetic basis of this cancer, we performed whole-exome sequencing or targeted deep sequencing of multiple cases of PPB. We found biallelic DICER1 mutations to be very common, more common than TP53 mutations also found in many tumors. Somatic ribonuclease III (RNase IIIb) domain mutations were identified in all evaluable cases, either in the presence or absence of nonsense/frameshift mutations. Most cases had mutated DICER1 alleles in the germline with or without an additional somatic mutation in the remaining allele, whereas other cases displayed somatic mutations exclusively where the RNase IIIb domain was invariably affected. Our results highlight the role of RNase IIIb domain mutations in DICER1 along with TP53 inactivation in PPB pathogenesis. Cancer Res; 74(10); 2742–9. ©2014 AACR.