bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of CBV, BEAM and BEAC high‐dose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in non‐Hodgkin lymphoma: Efficacy and toxicity
Authors: Shi Youwu , Liu Peng , Zhou Shengyu , Yang Jianliang , Han Xiaohong , He Xiaohui , Zhang Changgong , Gui Lin , Qin Yan , Yang Sheng , Zhao Liya , Yao Jiarui , Jia Bo , Zhang Shuxiang , Sun Yan , Shi Yuankai
Published: January 2017

Aim

Limited data are available to guide the choice of conditioning regimen before autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) for patients with lymphoma.

Methods

We analyzed 129 non‐Hodgkin lymphoma patients who underwent AHSCT from 1996 to 2013 using the most common regimens: CBV (cyclophosphamide, carmustine and etoposide; n = 16), BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan; n = 36) and BEAC (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and cyclophosphamide; n = 77).

Results

At a median follow‐up of 42.5 months, the estimated 5‐year overall survival for the CBV, BEAM and BEAC groups was 68.8%, 77.8% and 81.8%, respectively (P = 0.584). The estimated 5‐year progression‐free survival in the CBV group (43.8%) was relatively inferior to the BEAM (66.7%) and BEAC (67.5%) groups, but the differences were not significant (P = 0.403). Grade 2 or higher mucositis, diarrhea and fever were relatively more common in the BEAM group (P < 0.05). No differences were observed in the time to hematopoietic recovery and the duration of hospitalization. The amount of transfused platelet was significantly less in the CBV.

Conclusion

CBV, BEAM and BEAC regimens are all optional high‐dose chemotherapy before AHSCT for NHL patients.
Social Media Data Can Be Used to Understand Tourists’ Preferences for Nature‐Based Experiences in Protected Areas
Authors: Hausmann Anna , Toivonen Tuuli , Slotow Rob , Tenkanen Henrikki , Moilanen Atte , Heikinheimo Vuokko , Di Minin Enrico
Published: January 2017

Can social media data be used as an alternative to traditional surveys to understand tourists’ preferences for nature‐based experiences in protected areas? We explored this by comparing preferences for biodiversity obtained from a traditional survey conducted in Kruger National Park, South Africa, with observed preferences assessed from over 13,600 pictures shared on Instagram and Flickr by tourists visiting the park in the same period. We found no significant difference between the preferences of tourists as stated in the surveys and the preferences revealed by social media content. Overall, large‐bodied mammals were found to be the favorite group, both in the survey and on social media platforms. However, Flickr was found to better match tourists’ preference for less‐charismatic biodiversity. Our findings suggest that social media content can be used as a cost‐efficient way to explore, and for more continuous monitoring of, preferences for biodiversity and human activities in protected areas.
Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Modeling of the PDE4 Inhibitor TAK‐648 in Type 2 Diabetes: Early Translational Approaches for Human Dose Prediction
Authors: Plock N , Vollert S , Mayer M , Hanauer G , Lahu G
Published: January 2017

TAK‐648 is a PDE4 inhibitor with demonstrated preclinical antidiabetic properties. Our objective was to develop a translational pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model for human type 2 diabetes (T2D) dose prediction using HbA1c results from a db/db mouse study. Estimated parameters in combination with tPDE4i values calculated for the clinical roflumilast dose of 500 μg were used to translate preclinical effects of TAK‐648 to required exposure in humans. A first‐in‐human study with single TAK‐648 doses of 0.05–0.85 mg in healthy volunteers yielded mean maximum TAK‐648 concentrations (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) values from 0.62–11.9 μg/L and 4.58–93.8 μg*h/L, respectively. Based on the performed pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis and clinical PK results, clinical efficacy would be expected at a daily dose of 0.1 mg, which is well within the investigated clinical dose range. This result significantly enhanced the confidence in TAK‐648 for type 2 diabetes treatment and underlines the necessity of translational approaches in early preclinical phases.
Aphid density and community composition differentially affect apterous aphid movement and plant virus transmission
Authors: CLAFLIN SUZI B. , POWER ALISON G. , THALER JENNIFER S.
Published: January 2017

1. Although many vector‐borne pathogens are transmitted by an array of vector species, most studies do not account for the potential effects of species interactions.

2. By manipulating conspecific and heterospecific vector density in small experimental mesocosms, this study disentangled the impact of vector density and community composition on vector movement and plant virus transmission in the potato virus Y system.

3. The following predictions were tested: (i) increasing aphid density will increase aphid movement and virus transmission; (ii) adding low‐efficiency vectors and thereby decreasing the average transmission efficiency of the vector assemblage will decrease virus transmission; and (iii) aphid movement and the average vector transmission efficiency will mediate the effect of aphid density and community composition on virus transmission.

4. It was found that initial density positively affected aphid movement, but had no effect on virus transmission, and that conspecific density was more important than heterospecific density. Conversely, community composition affected both aphid movement and virus transmission. These effects were driven by species identity, rather than species richness per se.

5. The results of this study emphasise the importance of accounting for vector behaviour, and analysing it within the context of the wider vector assemblage.
Increase in soil organic carbon in a Mollisol following simulated initial development from parent material
Authors: You M. , Li N. , Zou W. , Han X. , Burger M.
Published: January 2017

Better understanding of the effects of land use and agricultural management on organic carbon (C) sequestration is needed to optimize the restoration of fertility in degraded soil, maintain agricultural sustainability and mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases with C sequestration. Most current studies of C sequestration focus on mature soil, whereas there has been little research on soil development from C‐poor parent material. The aim of this study was to assess soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and C sequestration rates during the early stages of development of a Mollisol from parent material under different types of vegetation, fertilizer application regimes and organic matter inputs, and to compare the results with C sequestration of a mature Mollisol under similar management. Carbon stocks were recorded from 2004 to 2012 in the parent material of a Mollisol under natural fallow (NatF), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (Alfa) or soya beans (Glycine max (Merrill.) L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) (S–M) rotations with and without fertilizer application and crop residues returned or removed at harvest. There was a positive non‐linear relation between C inputs and SOC stocks; increases in SOC stocks decreased with larger additions of C. After 8 years of treatments, the SOC stocks at 0–20‐cm depth had increased in the order S–M + fertilizer + all residues returned (61%) > Alfa (60%) > S–M + fertilizer + part of residues returned (50%) > NatF (30%) > S–M + fertilizer without residue return (17%) > S–M without fertilizer or residue return (7%). These increases in SOC stocks corresponded to annual C sequestration rates of 0.02–0.83 Mg C ha−1 year−1. In contrast, SOC stocks in the 0–20‐cm layer of the mature Mollisol changed little under similar treatments in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–maize–soya bean rotation. Our results have practical implications for how vegetation and agricultural practices could be used to optimize soil restoration and C sequestration in a temperate continental monsoon climate.

Highlights

What management practices and vegetation lead to carbon sequestration during soil development?

Use of a subsoil (parent material) to study soil development.

Carbon stocks increased as much in alfalfa as in soya bean–maize rotations with residue return.

Perennial legume systems sequester carbon comparable to annual systems with larger carbon inputs.
Multiple Plumage Ornaments as Signals of Intrasexual Communication in Golden‐Winged Warblers
Authors: Jones John Anthony , Tisdale Anna C. , Bakermans Marja H. , Larkin Jeffery L. , Smalling Curtis G. , Siefferman Lynn
Published: January 2017

Avian plumage represents some of the greatest diversity in integument coloration of all animals. Plumage signals are diverse in function, including those that allow for assessing potential mates or the mitigation of agonistic interactions between rivals. Many bird species possess multiple ornamental traits that have the potential to serve as multiple or redundant signals. For example, male golden‐winged warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera) have brilliant carotenoid‐based yellow crowns, melanin‐based black throats, and structurally based white patches on their outer tail feathers. Using a correlative approach, we investigated whether plumage ornaments have the potential to reliably signal ability to acquire higher quality territory, aggressive response to simulated territorial intrusions, and reproductive success. We found that both crown chroma and tail brightness were significantly related to habitat quality and aggression; more ornamented birds held territories with higher quality habitat and were less aggressive toward simulated conspecific stimuli. Older birds sang less threatening songs than younger birds and were more likely to sing their mate attraction song type (type 1) rather than songs typically reserved for agonistic interactions (type 2). Finally, despite our previous research demonstrating that habitat strongly predicts reproductive success in this warbler population, we found no evidence of a direct link between ornamentation and reproductive success. Overall, these data suggest that younger males, and those with lower quality ornaments, compensate with more aggressive behaviors. Additional research is needed to investigate the dynamics between behavioral traits and ornaments to better understand complex signaling and how golden wing signals function in conspecific interactions (male–male interactions and mate‐choice).
In Space and Time: Territorial Animals are Attracted to Conspecific Chemical Cues
Authors: Campos Stephanie M. , Strauss Chloe , Martins Emília P.
Published: January 2017

Territorial animals lay scent marks around their territories to broadcast their presence, but these olfactory signals can both attract and repel conspecifics. Attraction or aversion can have a profound impact in terms of space use and thereby influence an individual's access to resources and mates. Here, we test the impact of chemical signals on the long‐term space use and activity of receivers, comparing the response of males and females, territory holders, and temporary visitors in Sceloporus undulatus lizards in the field. We placed either male femoral gland secretions (chemical) or blank (control) cues on resident male landmarks, repeatedly over 5 d, while monitoring the activity and location of all lizards in the vicinity. We found that resident males and females, but not non‐resident males, were active on more days near landmarks treated with chemical cues than landmarks treated with control cues. Non‐resident males remained closer to chemical than control cues. These results suggest that territorial scent marks are attractive to conspecifics and impact space use, but that the specific effects depend on receiver sex and residency status. Such subtle or gradual changes in behavior may frequently be overlooked by short‐term choice experiments. Future studies investigating the behavioral significance of a communicative signal should consider these finer details of behavior for a more comprehensive assessment.
Adult Male Density Influences Juvenile Microhabitat Use in a Territorial Lizard
Authors: Delaney David M. , Warner Daniel A.
Published: January 2017

Habitat choice often has strong effects on performance and fitness. For many animals, optimal habitats differ across age or size classes, and individuals shift habitat use through ontogeny. Although many studies document ontogenetic habitat shifts for various taxa, most are observational and do not identify the causal factor of size‐specific habitat variation. Field observations of the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei) show that juveniles perch on shorter and thinner vegetation than adults. We hypothesized that this variation is due to adult males forcing smaller juveniles to less preferred habitat. To test this assertion, we manipulated adult male densities in mesh enclosures with artificial trees to examine the response of juvenile microhabitat choice. We found that adult male density had strong effects on juvenile perch height, perch width, and substrate use, suggesting that age‐class competition contributes to the observed ontogenetic differences in habitat choice. We also found that time of day significantly affected juvenile perch height and substrate use. In many cases, our results suggest that juveniles distance themselves from adults using different microhabitats from those used in our control ‘no‐adult’ treatment. However, these findings were often body size dependent and varied depending upon time of day. This study highlights the complexity of juvenile perching behavior and demonstrates the role of intraspecific interactions in shaping habitat use by juvenile animals.
A practical approach to vaccination of patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases in Australia
Authors: Wong Peter K. K. , Bagga Hanish , Barrett Claire , Hanrahan Paddy , Johnson Doug , Katrib Amel , Leder Karin , Marabani Mona , Pentony Peta , Riordan John , White Ray , Young Laurel
Published: January 2017

Autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD), such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are often complicated by infection, which results in significant morbidity and mortality. The increased risk of infection is probably due to a combination of immunosuppressive effects of the AIIRD, comorbidities and the use of immunosuppressive conventional synthetic disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and more recently, targeted synthetic DMARDs and biologic DMARDs that block specific pro‐inflammatory enzymes, cytokines or cell types. The use of these various DMARDs has revolutionised the treatment of AIIRD. This has led to a marked improvement in quality of life for AIIRD patients, who often now travel for prolonged periods. Many infections are preventable with vaccination. However, as protective immune responses induced by vaccination may be impaired by immunosuppression, where possible, vaccination may need to be performed prior to initiation of immunosuppression. Vaccination status should also be reviewed when planning overseas travel. Limited data regarding vaccine efficacy in patients with AIIRD make prescriptive guidelines difficult. However, a vaccination history should be part of the initial work‐up in all AIIRD patients. Those caring for AIIRD patients should regularly consider vaccination to prevent infection within the practicalities of routine clinical practice.
Further analysis of high‐voltage ZnO varistor prepared from novel chemically aided method
Authors: Cheng Lihong , Zheng Liaoying , Zeng Jiangtao , Zhao Kunyu , Shi Xue , Ruan Xuezheng , Li Guorong , Yang Jia , Liu Yi
Published: January 2017

Based on previous work, this study further investigated the high‐voltage varistor materials prepared from chemically aided method. Microstructural characterization and electrical measurement results showed that the sample possessed more homogeneous microstructure and ultrahigh drop voltage per grain boundary (Vgb) than the conventional sample. The obtained ultrahigh value of Vgb is connected with the much lower donor concentration (Nd) and density of interface states (NIS) of the samples, which resulted from the increased number of active grain boundaries per unit volume. The improved homogeneous microstructure, together with the smaller grain size and narrower size distribution are essential to obtain high‐voltage ZnO varistor.
Annual Research Review: Understudied populations within the autism spectrum – current trends and future directions in neuroimaging research
Authors: Jack Allison , A. Pelphrey Kevin
Published: January 2017

Background

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions that vary in both etiology and phenotypic expression. Expressions of ASD characterized by a more severe phenotype, including autism with intellectual disability (ASD + ID), autism with a history of developmental regression (ASD + R), and minimally verbal autism (ASD + MV) are understudied generally, and especially in the domain of neuroimaging. However, neuroimaging methods are a potentially powerful tool for understanding the etiology of these ASD subtypes.

Scope and methodology

This review evaluates existing neuroimaging research on ASD + MV, ASD + ID, and ASD + R, identified by a search of the literature using the PubMed database, and discusses methodological, theoretical, and practical considerations for future research involving neuroimaging assessment of these populations.

Findings

There is a paucity of neuroimaging research on ASD + ID, ASD + MV, and ASD + R, and what findings do exist are often contradictory, or so sparse as to be ungeneralizable. We suggest that while greater sample sizes and more studies are necessary, more important would be a paradigm shift toward multimodal (e.g. imaging genetics) approaches that allow for the characterization of heterogeneity within etiologically diverse samples.
Internet‐based learning programme to increase nurses’ knowledge level about venous leg ulcer care in home health care
Authors: Ylönen Minna , Viljamaa Jaakko , Isoaho Hannu , Junttila Kristiina , Leino‐Kilpi Helena , Suhonen Riitta
Published: January 2017

Aims and objectives

To test the effectiveness of an Internet‐based education programme about venous leg ulcer nursing care on perceived and theoretical knowledge levels and attitudes among nurses working in home health care.

Background

Nurses have been shown to have knowledge gaps in venous leg ulcer nursing care. Internet‐based learning could offer a means for flexible continuing education for home healthcare environment.

Design

Quasi‐experimental study with pre‐ and postmeasurements and nonequivalent intervention and comparison groups.

Method

Nurses (n = 946) in home health care in two Finnish municipalities were invited to participate in the study and divided into intervention and comparison groups. The intervention group received education programme about venous leg ulcer nursing care, while the comparison group did not. Data were collected at baseline, at six weeks and at 10 weeks to test the hypotheses: nurses using education programme about venous leg ulcer nursing care will have higher level of knowledge and more positive attitudes than those not using education programme about venous leg ulcer nursing care. An analysis of variance and mixed models with repeated measures were used to test differences in knowledge and attitudes between and within the groups.

Results

There were statistically significant increases in knowledge levels in the intervention group from baseline to the first and second follow‐up measurements. In the comparison group, the knowledge levels remained unchanged during the study. Attitude levels remained unchanged in both groups.

Conclusion

Nurses’ perceived and theoretical knowledge levels of venous leg ulcer nursing care can be increased with Internet‐based education. However, this increase in knowledge levels is short‐lived, which emphasises the need for continuous education.

Relevance to clinical practice

Internet‐based education about venous leg ulcer nursing care is recommended for home healthcare nurses. Education programme about venous leg ulcer nursing care provides flexible method for nurses’ learning with feasible and cost‐effective access to evidence‐based education. Education programme about venous leg ulcer nursing care material can be used in all nursing environments where Internet is available.
Ready, Steady, Green: Examining the Effectiveness of External Policies to Enhance the Adoption of Eco‐Friendly Innovations
Authors: Heidenreich Sven , Spieth Patrick , Petschnig Martin
Published: January 2017

The development and adoption of eco‐friendly innovations needs to be enhanced to reduce emissions caused by industry and transportation. Companies have been heavily investing in technologies and manufacturing processes to improve the development of eco‐friendly innovations such as alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). While the long‐term viability of AFVs will be determined by consumer demand, only few consumers are willing to adopt these eco‐friendly innovations. To increase the diffusion of AFVs, it appears crucial to reach a critical mass of adopters and thus the point at which an innovation spreads exponentially through a target market. In this respect, previous research points to the importance of using external policies to turn the early majority into early adopters, which are primarily distinguished by their extent of innovativeness. However, diffusion theory suggests that consumer innovativeness as an innate trait is fairly stable over time and is thus not externally changeable. Yet, external measures might still be effective in strengthening effects of consumer innovativeness, turning the early and perhaps also the late majority into early adopters. Unfortunately, current research on consumer adoption behavior in general and on AFV adoption still lacks studies of the effectiveness of different external measures to turn potential adopters into early adopters by fostering positive effects of consumer innovativeness. This article addresses this shortcoming by empirically analyzing data from 1080 consumer evaluations in the domain of AFVs. Results from structural equation modeling confirm that AFV adoption relates positively to consumer innovativeness and that this effect can be intensified by providing external policies such as infrastructure, incentives, and communication policies.
R&D, Marketing Innovation, and New Product Performance: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Grimpe Christoph , Sofka Wolfgang , Bhargava Mukesh , Chatterjee Rabikar
Published: January 2017

This paper investigates the relationship between investments in marketing innovation, that is, the way in which technologically unchanged products are designed, priced, distributed, and/or promoted, and a firm's new product performance. Marketing innovation, such as calorie‐based packaging or unusual distribution channels, may lead to new products. However, it is unclear whether they pay off, particularly when the firm follows a dual strategy, that is, investing in both innovative marketing and R&D at the same time. We draw from theory on competence development as well as diffusion of innovation and argue that pursuing a dual strategy lowers performance, an effect that we attribute to the role of complexity in innovation. Based on a mixed methods study that integrates a data set of 866 firms from a representative set of industries in Germany and extensive interview evidence, we find empirical support for our hypotheses. Our research contributes to the emerging stream of literature that seeks to better understand the role of marketing in firms' innovation processes.
Families’ experiences of involvement in care planning in mental health services: an integrative literature review
Authors: Doody O. , Butler M. P. , Lyons R. , Newman D.
Published: January 2017

Accessible summary

What is known on the subject?

Current policy advocates for the participation of family carers in care planning.

Caring for a person with a mental illness requires a significant commitment from families to support their relative's recovery.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge?

The evidence of family involvement in care planning is generally fraught with conflicting experiences related to different requirements between mental health professionals, families and service users.

Confidentiality remains contentious at a practice level in terms of information sharing and decision‐making.

There is a requirement and need for a shared understanding around care planning between families and mental health professionals.

What are the implications for practice?

The provision of written information pertaining to families regarding confidentiality is required at service level.

Educational workshops concerning care planning and treatment options should be provided for service users, families and mental health professionals.

Further research into effective service‐wide strategies that explore with families how their engagement can be positively fostered in mental health services is warranted.

Introduction

Mental health service policy stipulates that family carers be involved in care planning.

Aim

To identify families’ experiences of care planning involvement in adult mental health services.

Method

An integrative review where electronic databases and grey literature were searched for papers published between 01 January 2005 and 10 February 2016.

Results

Fifteen papers met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis generated three themes: (1) families’ experience of collaboration, (2) families’ perceptions of professionals and (3) families’ impressions of the care planning process. Collaborative decision‐making is not regularly experienced by families with an ‘us’ and ‘them’ divide, perpetuated by a lack of communication, confidentiality constraints and a claim of ‘insider knowledge’ of service users. When involved, families perceive care planning to be uncoordinated and that their lived experiences are not always appreciated.

Discussion

Families need to be valued, empowered and engaged in care planning and the partnership distance be addressed. Accommodating the views of family, service user and professionals is preferable but not always possible. Our findings suggest that the key element for professionals is to value all ‘insider knowledge’ where possible.

Implications for Practice

Services should develop written information on confidentiality for families and facilitate open communication concerning their involvement in care planning.
Very Long Engagements: The Persistent Authority of Bridewealth in a Post-Apartheid South African Community
Authors: Yarbrough Michael W.
Published: January 2017

This article examines the persistent authority of lobola, the customary practice for forming marriages in many South African communities. South African marriage rates have sharply fallen, and many blame this on economic challenges completing lobola. Using in-depth, qualitative research from a village in KwaZulu-Natal, where lobola demands are the country's highest and marriage rates its lowest, I argue that lobola's authority survives because lay actors have innovated new approaches for pursuing emerging desires for marriage via lobola. I argue that dyadic narratives of marriage increasingly circulate alongside “traditional” extended-family narratives, especially among the young women who strongly support lobola while yearning for gender-egalitarian marriages. My argument synthesizes actor-oriented analyses of legal pluralism with Ewick and Silbey's theorization of lay actors’ role in producing legality to illuminate how lay actors contribute not only to the form and content of different legal systems, but also to the reach of their authority.
On the rarity of dioecy in flowering plants
Authors: Käfer Jos , Marais Gabriel A. B. , Pannell John R.
Published: January 2017

Dioecy, the coexistence of separate male and female individuals in a population, is a rare but phylogenetically widespread sexual system in flowering plants. While research has concentrated on why and how dioecy evolves from hermaphroditism, the question of why dioecy is rare, despite repeated transitions to it, has received much less attention. Previous phylogenetic and theoretical studies have suggested that dioecy might be an evolutionary dead end. However, recent research indicates that the phylogenetic support for this hypothesis is attributable to a methodological bias and that there is no evidence for reduced diversification in dioecious angiosperms. The relative rarity of dioecy thus remains a puzzle. Here, we review evidence for the hypothesis that dioecy might be rare not because it is an evolutionary dead end, but rather because it easily reverts to hermaphroditism. We review what is known about transitions between hermaphroditism and dioecy, and conclude that there is an important need to consider more widely the possibility of transitions away from dioecy, both from an empirical and a theoretical point of view, and by combining tools from molecular evolution and insights from ecology.
The oldest marine vertebrate fossil from the volcanic island of Iceland: a partial right whale skull from the high latitude Pliocene Tjörnes Formation
Authors: Field Daniel J. , Boessenecker Robert , Racicot Rachel A. , Ásbjörnsdóttir Lovísa , Jónasson Kristján , Hsiang Allison Y. , Behlke Adam D. , Vinther Jakob
Published: January 2017

Extant baleen whales (Cetacea, Mysticeti) are a disparate and species‐rich group, but little is known about their fossil record in the northernmost Atlantic Ocean, a region that supports considerable extant cetacean diversity. Iceland's geographical setting, dividing North Atlantic and Arctic waters, renders it ideally situated to shed light on cetacean evolution in this region. However, as a volcanic island, Iceland exhibits very little marine sedimentary exposure, and fossil whales from Iceland older than the late Pleistocene are virtually unknown. Here, we present the first fossil whale found in situ from the Pliocene Tjörnes Formation (c. 4.5 Ma), Iceland's only substantial marine sedimentary outcrop. The specimen is diagnosed as a partial skull from a large right whale (Mysticeti, Balaenidae). This discovery highlights the Tjörnes Formation as a potentially productive fossil vertebrate locality. Additionally, this find indicates that right whales (Eubalaena) and bowhead whales (Balaena) were sympatric, with broadly overlapping latitudinal ranges in the Pliocene, in contrast to the modern latitudinal separation of their living counterparts.
Silicon promotes cytokinin biosynthesis and delays senescence in Arabidopsis and Sorghum
Authors: Markovich Oshry , Steiner Evyatar , Kouřil Štěpán , Tarkowski Petr , Aharoni Asaph , Elbaum Rivka
Published: January 2017

Silicate minerals are dominant soil components. Thus, plant roots are constantly exposed to silicic acid. High silicon intake, enabled by root silicon transporters, correlates with increased tolerance to many biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the underlying protection mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that silicon interacts with the plant hormones, and specifically, that silicic acid intake increases cytokinin biosynthesis. The reaction of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and Arabidopsis plants, modified to absorb high versus low amounts of silicon, to dark‐induced senescence was monitored, by quantifying expression levels of genes along the senescence pathway and measuring tissue cytokinin levels. In both species, detached leaves with high silicon content senesced more slowly than leaves that were not exposed to silicic acid. Expression levels of genes along the senescence pathway suggested increased cytokinin biosynthesis with silicon exposure. Mass spectrometry measurements of cytokinin suggested a positive correlation between silicon exposure and active cytokinin concentrations. Our results indicate a similar reaction to silicon treatment in distantly related plants, proposing a general function of silicon as a stress reliever, acting via increased cytokinin biosynthesis.
The shade‐avoidance syndrome: multiple signals and ecological consequences
Authors: Ballaré Carlos L. , Pierik Ronald
Published: January 2017

Plants use photoreceptor proteins to detect the proximity of other plants and to activate adaptive responses. Of these photoreceptors, phytochrome B (phyB), which is sensitive to changes in the red (R) to far‐red (FR) ratio of sunlight, is the one that has been studied in greatest detail. The molecular connections between the proximity signal (low R:FR) and a model physiological response (increased elongation growth) have now been mapped in considerable detail in Arabidopsis seedlings. We briefly review our current understanding of these connections and discuss recent progress in establishing the roles of other photoreceptors in regulating growth‐related pathways in response to competition cues. We also consider processes other than elongation that are controlled by photoreceptors and contribute to plant fitness under variable light conditions, including photoresponses that optimize the utilization of soil resources. In examining recent advances in the field, we highlight emerging roles of phyB as a major modulator of hormones related to plant immunity, in particular salicylic acid and jasmonic acid (JA). Recent attempts to manipulate connections between light signals and defence in Arabidopsis suggest that it might be possible to improve crop health at high planting densities by targeting links between phyB and JA signalling.
Rice calcium‐dependent protein kinase OsCPK17 targets plasma membrane intrinsic protein and sucrose‐phosphate synthase and is required for a proper cold stress response
Authors: Almadanim M. Cecília , Alexandre Bruno M. , Rosa Margarida T.G. , Sapeta Helena , Leitão António E. , Ramalho José C. , Lam TuKiet T. , Negrão Sónia , Abreu Isabel A. , Oliveira M. Margarida
Published: January 2017

Calcium‐dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are involved in plant tolerance mechanisms to abiotic stresses. Although CDPKs are recognized as key messengers in signal transduction, the specific role of most members of this family remains unknown. Here, we test the hypothesis that OsCPK17 plays a role in rice cold stress response by analysing OsCPK17 knockout, silencing and overexpressing rice lines under low temperature. Altered OsCPK17 gene expression compromises cold tolerance performance, without affecting the expression of key cold stress‐inducible genes. A comparative phosphoproteomic approach led to the identification of six potential in vivo OsCPK17 targets, which are associated with sugar and nitrogen metabolism, and with osmotic regulation. To test direct interaction, in vitro kinase assays were performed, showing that the sucrose‐phosphate synthase OsSPS4 and the aquaporin OsPIP2;1/OsPIP2;6 are phosphorylated by OsCPK17 in a calcium‐dependent manner. Altogether, our data indicates that OsCPK17 is required for a proper cold stress response in rice, likely affecting the activity of membrane channels and sugar metabolism.
Transient symptomatic worsening by atropine in opsoclonus–myoclonus syndrome
Authors: Miyoshi Hirotsugu , Nakamura Ryuji , Yamaga Ayano , Haraki Toshiaki , Yasuda Toshimichi , Hamada Hiroshi , Kawamoto Masashi
Published: January 2017

Opsoclonus–myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is characterized by abnormal eye and systemic involuntary movements, as well as cerebellar ataxia. Some sedatives and anesthetics worsen movements associated with OMS, while there is no known report of a negative effect of atropine. We report on sedation in two patients with OMS. Involuntary movements were transiently worsened after using atropine with midazolam or thiamylal in both, but were not seen when atropine was not used. We speculated that atropine has the potential to exacerbate involuntary movements in OMS due to vulnerability to this agent via unknown mechanisms.
Antibody formation towards porcine tissue in patients implanted with crosslinked heart valves is directed to antigenic tissue proteins and αGal epitopes and is reduced in healthy vegetarian subjects
Authors: Böer Ulrike , Buettner Falk F. R. , Schridde Ariane , Klingenberg Melanie , Sarikouch Samir , Haverich Axel , Wilhelmi Mathias
Published: January 2017

Background

Glutaraldehyde‐fixed porcine heart valves (ga‐pV) are one of the most frequently used substitutes for insufficient aortic and pulmonary heart valves which, however, degenerate after 10‐15 years. Yet, xeno‐immunogenicity of ga‐pV in humans including identification of immunogens still needs to be investigated. We here determined the immunogenicity of ga‐pV in patients with respect to antibody formation, identity of immunogens and potential options to reduce antibody levels.

Methods

Levels of tissue‐specific and anti‐αGal antibodies were determined retrospectively in patients who received ga‐pV for 51 months (n=4), 25 months (n=6) or 5 months (n=4) and compared to age‐matched untreated subjects (n=10) or younger subjects with or without vegetarian diet (n=12/15). Immunogenic proteins were investigated by Western blot approaches.

Results

Tissue‐specific antibodies in patients were elevated after 5 (1.73‐fold) and 25 (1.46‐fold, both P<.0001) months but not after 51 months, whereas anti‐Gal antibodies were induced 4.75‐fold and 3.66‐fold after 5 and 25 months (both P<.0001) and still were significantly elevated after 51 months (2.85‐fold, P<.05). Western blots of porcine valve extracts with and without enzymatic deglycosylation revealed strong specific staining at ≈65 and ≈140 kDa by patient sera in either group which were identified by 2D Western blots and mass spectrometry as serum albumin and collagen 6A1. Vegetarian diet reduced significantly (0.63‐fold, P<.01) the level of pre‐formed αGal but not of tissue‐specific antibodies.

Conclusion

Immune response in patients towards ga‐pV is induced by the porcine proteins albumin and collagen 6A1 as well as αGal epitopes, which seemed to be more sustained. In contrast, in healthy young subjects pre‐formed anti‐Gal antibodies were reduced by a meat‐free nutrition.
The receptor kinase FER is a RALF-regulated scaffold controlling plant immune signaling
Authors: Stegmann Martin , Monaghan Jacqueline , Smakowska-Luzan Elwira , Rovenich Hanna , Lehner Anita , Holton Nicholas , Belkhadir Youssef , Zipfel Cyril
Published: January 2017

Small peptides allow rapid responses

RALFs (rapid alkalinization factors), a family of small peptides in plants, are produced in response to rapidly changing conditions. Stegmann
et al.
studied the agility and diversity built into this signaling network. Some RALFs, such as RALF23 and its relative RALF33, are activated by proteolytic cleavage. Others, such as RALF32, are not. RALF23 and RALF33 are called into play after a pathogen triggers immune responses. RALF32, on the other hand, regulates seedling growth. All three of these RALFs use the same receptor kinase, which can interact with other signaling components. Thus, plant responses can be fine-tuned by rapid release of peptides.

Science
, this issue p.
287
Technology beats corruption
Authors: Hanna Rema
Published: January 2017

Biometric smart cards help to reduce corruption in cash transfer programs in India
Chromosomal chaos silences immune surveillance
Authors: Zanetti Maurizio
Published: January 2017

A high level of chromosomal structural abnormality can suppress the immune response to tumor cells
The PTPN14 Tumor Suppressor Is a Degradation Target of Human Papillomavirus E7
Authors: Szalmás Anita , Tomaić Vjekoslav , Basukala Om , Massimi Paola , Mittal Suruchi , Kónya József , Banks Lawrence
Published: January 2017

Activation of signaling pathways ensuring cell growth is essential for the proliferative competence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected cells. Tyrosine kinases and phosphatases are key regulators of cellular growth control pathways. A recently identified potential cellular target of HPV E7 is the cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphatase PTPN14, which is a potential tumor suppressor and is linked to the control of the Hippo and Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathways. In this study, we show that the E7 proteins of both high-risk and low-risk mucosal HPV types can interact with PTPN14. This interaction is independent of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and involves residues in the carboxy-terminal region of E7. We also show that high-risk E7 induces proteasome-mediated degradation of PTPN14 in cells derived from cervical tumors. This degradation appears to be independent of cullin-1 or cullin-2 but most likely involves the UBR4/p600 ubiquitin ligase. The degree to which E7 downregulates PTPN14 would suggest that this interaction is important for the viral life cycle and potentially also for the development of malignancy. In support of this we find that overexpression of PTPN14 decreases the ability of HPV-16 E7 to cooperate with activated EJ-ras in primary cell transformation assays.

IMPORTANCE
This study links HPV E7 to the deregulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase signaling pathways. PTPN14 is classified as a potential tumor suppressor protein, and here we show that it is very susceptible to HPV E7-induced proteasome-mediated degradation. Intriguingly, this appears to use a mechanism that is different from that employed by E7 to target pRb. Therefore, this study has important implications for our understanding of the molecular basis for E7 function and also sheds important light on the potential role of PTPN14 as a tumor suppressor.
A Temperature-Sensitive Lesion in the N-Terminal Domain of the Rotavirus Polymerase Affects Its Intracellular Localization and Enzymatic Activity
Authors: McKell Allison O. , LaConte Leslie E. W. , McDonald Sarah M.
Published: January 2017

Temperature-sensitive (
ts
) mutants of simian rotavirus (RV) strain SA11 have been previously created to investigate the functions of viral proteins during replication. One mutant, SA11-
ts
C, has a mutation that maps to the gene encoding the VP1 polymerase and shows diminished growth and RNA synthesis at 39°C compared to that at 31°C. In the present study, we sequenced all 11 genes of SA11-
ts
C, confirming the presence of an L138P mutation in the VP1 N-terminal domain and identifying 52 additional mutations in four other viral proteins (VP4, VP7, NSP1, and NSP2). To investigate whether the L138P mutation induces a
ts
phenotype in VP1 outside the SA11-
ts
C genetic context, we employed ectopic expression systems. Specifically, we tested whether the L138P mutation affects the ability of VP1 to localize to viroplasms, which are the sites of RV RNA synthesis, by expressing the mutant form as a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein (VP1
L138P
-GFP) (i) in wild-type SA11-infected cells or (ii) in uninfected cells along with viroplasm-forming proteins NSP2 and NSP5. We found that VP1
L138P
-GFP localized to viroplasms and interacted with NSP2 and/or NSP5 at 31°C but not at 39°C. Next, we tested the enzymatic activity of a recombinant mutant polymerase (rVP1
L138P
)
in vitro
and found that it synthesized less RNA at 39°C than at 31°C, as well as less RNA than the control at all temperatures. Together, these results provide a mechanistic basis for the
ts
phenotype of SA11-
ts
C and raise important questions about the role of leucine 138 in supporting key protein interactions and the catalytic function of the VP1 polymerase.

IMPORTANCE
RVs cause diarrhea in the young of many animal species, including humans. Despite their medical and economic importance, gaps in knowledge exist about how these viruses replicate inside host cells. Previously, a mutant simian RV (SA11-
ts
C) that replicates worse at higher temperatures was identified. This virus has an amino acid mutation in VP1, which is the enzyme responsible for copying the viral RNA genome. The mutation is located in a poorly understood region of the polymerase called the N-terminal domain. In this study, we determined that the mutation reduces the ability of VP1 to properly localize within infected cells at high temperatures, as well as reduced the ability of the enzyme to copy viral RNA in a test tube. The results of this study explain the temperature sensitivity of SA11-
ts
C and shed new light on functional protein-protein interaction sites of VP1.
Sterol Binding by the Tombusviral Replication Proteins Is Essential for Replication in Yeast and Plants
Authors: Xu Kai , Nagy Peter D.
Published: January 2017

Membranous structures derived from various organelles are important for replication of plus-stranded RNA viruses. Although the important roles of co-opted host proteins in RNA virus replication have been appreciated for a decade, the equally important functions of cellular lipids in virus replication have been gaining full attention only recently. Previous work with
Tomato bushy stunt tombusvirus
(TBSV) in model host yeast has revealed essential roles for phosphatidylethanolamine and sterols in viral replication. To further our understanding of the role of sterols in tombusvirus replication, in this work we showed that the TBSV p33 and p92 replication proteins could bind to sterols
in vitro
. The sterol binding by p33 is supported by cholesterol recognition/interaction amino acid consensus (CRAC) and CARC-like sequences within the two transmembrane domains of p33. Mutagenesis of the critical Y amino acids within the CRAC and CARC sequences blocked TBSV replication in yeast and plant cells. We also showed the enrichment of sterols in the detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) fractions obtained from yeast and plant cells replicating TBSV. The DRMs could support viral RNA synthesis on both the endogenous and exogenous templates. A lipidomic approach showed the lack of enhancement of sterol levels in yeast and plant cells replicating TBSV. The data support the notion that the TBSV replication proteins are associated with sterol-rich detergent-resistant membranes in yeast and plant cells. Together, the results obtained in this study and the previously published results support the local enrichment of sterols around the viral replication proteins that is critical for TBSV replication.

IMPORTANCE
One intriguing aspect of viral infections is their dependence on efficient subcellular assembly platforms serving replication, virion assembly, or virus egress via budding out of infected cells. These assembly platforms might involve sterol-rich membrane microdomains, which are heterogeneous and highly dynamic nanoscale structures usurped by various viruses. Here, we demonstrate that TBSV p33 and p92 replication proteins can bind to sterol
in vitro
. Mutagenesis analysis of p33 within the CRAC and CARC sequences involved in sterol binding shows the important connection between the abilities of p33 to bind to sterol and to support TBSV replication in yeast and plant cells. Together, the results further strengthen the model that cellular sterols are essential as proviral lipids during viral replication.