bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GASTRIC EMPTYING IN PRETERM INFANTS
Authors: CAVELL BERTIL
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT. Cavell, B. (Department of Paediatrics, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden). Gastric emptying in preterm infants. Acta Paediatr Scand, 68: 725, 1979.—The gastric emptying of meals of human milk and infant formula was studied in 11 healthy preterm (AGA) infants at a postnatal age of 1–9 weeks corresponding to 33–38 weeks of gestational age. A total of 30 studies were performed using a marker dilution technique. Gastric emptying of meals of human milk followed a biphasic emptying pattern with an initial fast phase. In about 25 min half of the meal had left the stomach. The emptying of meals of adapted infant formula usually followed a linear pattern and half the meal had left the stomach after 51 min. After one hour an average of 24.8 ml of human milk and 19.2 ml of infant formula had left the stomach.
A BOY WITH SEVERE INFANTILE GASTROGEN LACTOSE INTOLERANCE AND ACQUIRED LACTASE DEFICIENCY
Authors: BERG N. O. , DAHLQVIST A. , LINDBERG T.
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT. Berg, N. O., Dahlqvist, A. and Lindberg, T. (Departments of Pathology and Nutrition, University of Lund, and Department of Paediatrics, Malmö General Hospital, Malmö, University of Lund, Sweden). A boy with severe infantile gastrogen lactose intolerance and acquired lactase deficiency. Acta Paediatr Scand, 68: 751, 1979.—A 10‐year‐old boy with severe familial lactose intolerance in infancy (vomiting, failure to thrive, lactosuria (5.25 g/l), sucrosuria (12 g/l), and aminoaciduria. Intestinal disaccharidases (including lactase and sucrase) normal at age 6 and 20 weeks. Oral lactose tolerance test at this age resulted in lactosuria (4.6 g/l); sucrose tolerance test, in sucrosuria (18.5 g/l). In contrast, intraduodenal lactose tolerance test gave only low lactose excretion in urine (0.28 g/l). He improved rapidly and had no lactosuria on intraduodenal feeding with citric acid milk. The lactosuria diminished as age increased, but was still higher at age 6 years than that of controls. He tolerated normal disaccharide containing food after 1.5 years of age. At 5.5 to 6 years, he had symptoms of lactose malabsorption, and an isolated lactase deficiency was proved. At 10 years, he still tolerates only limited amounts of milk. The defect in severe familial infantile lactose intolerance seems to be localized in the gastric mucosa. Acquired lactase deficiency can appear later in childhood in this syndrome.
Electrophysiologic Characteristics of Ventricular Arrhythmias Arising from the Aortic Mitral Continuity—Potential Role of the Conduction System
Authors: HAI JO JO , CHAHAL ANWAR A. , FRIEDMAN PAUL A. , VAIDYA VAIBHAV R. , SYED FAISAL F. , DeSIMONE CHRISTOPHER V. , NANDA SUDIP , BRADY PETER A. , MADHAVAN MALINI , CHA YONG‐MEI , McLEOD CHRISTOPHER J. , MULPURU SIVA , MUNGER THOMAS M. , PACKER DOUGLAS L. , ASIRVATHAM SAMUEL J.
Published: November 2014

Arrhythmogenic Substrate of Ventricular Arrhythmias at the AMC

Introduction

Catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) at the fibrous aortic mitral continuity (AMC) has been described, yet the nature of the arrhythmogenic substrate remains unknown.

Methods

Procedural records of 528 consecutive patients undergoing ablation of VA at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, were reviewed. The electrocardiographic and electrophysiologic characteristics of patients with successful ablation at the AMC were analyzed to characterize the underlying arrhythmogenic substrate.

Results

Of the 21 patients (mean age 53.2 ± 13.4 years, 47.6% male) who underwent ablation of VA at the AMC with acute success, prepotentials (PPs) were found at the ablation sites preceding the ventricular electrogram (VEGM) during arrhythmias in 13 (61.9%) patients and during sinus rhythm in 7 (53.8%) patients. VAs with PPs were associated with a significantly higher burden of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs; 26.1 ± 10.9% vs. 14.9 ± 10.1%, P = 0.03), shorter VEGM to QRS intervals (9.0 ± 28.5 milliseconds vs. 33.1 ± 8.8 milliseconds, P = 0.03), lower pace map scores (8.7 ± 1.6 vs. 11.4 ± 0.8, P = 0.001), and a trend toward shorter V‐H intervals during VA (32.1 ± 38.6 milliseconds vs. 76.3 ± 11.1 milliseconds, P = 0.06) as compared to those without PP. A strong and positive correlation was found between V‐H interval and QRS duration during arrhythmia in those with PPs (B = 2.11, R2 = 0.97, t = 13.7, P < 0.001) but not in those without PPs.

Conclusion

Local EGM characteristics and relative activation time of the His bundle suggest the possibility of conduction tissue as the origin for VA arising from the fibrous AMC. Specific identification and targeting of PPs when ablating VAs at this location may improve procedural success.
Optimization of traps for live trapping of Pine Wood Nematode vector Monochamus galloprovincialis
Authors: Álvarez G. , Etxebeste I. , Gallego D. , David G. , Bonifacio L. , Jactel H. , Sousa E. , Pajares J. A.
Published: November 2014

The pine sawyer beetle Monochamus galloprovincialis, a secondary pest of pines in Europe and North Africa, has become important as it was identified as the vector in Europe of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the causal agent of pine wilt disease (PWD). An effective trapping system is needed, not only for monitoring the insect vector but also for direct control of its population. Trapping may also provide key information on the nematode load carried by the beetles, allowing early detection of infections, provided that captured beetles remain alive within the trap. Highly effective attractants have been developed in recent years that are commonly used in combination with diverse standard trap designs. In this study, several trap designs were developed and compared to commercial standard models in order to determine which designs maximized the number of attracted insects actually caught and the proportion of them remaining alive. In total, 12 trap designs were evaluated in five field experiments carried out in France, Spain and Portugal. Teflon coating applied to the whole trap and extended, ventilated collecting cups resulted in a significant improvement of trap performance. These modifications led to significant increases of pine sawyer catches, up to 275%, when applied to multiple‐funnel or black cross‐vane traps, compared to standard designs. Furthermore, a significant proportion of the captured beetles remained alive within the trap. These findings have been used to develop new commercial traps (Econex Multifunnel‐12® and Crosstrap®; Econex, Murcia, Spain) available to forest managers. A model for insect survival within the trap was also fitted. Elapsed time between consecutive samplings, mean relative humidity and maximum radiation were the three most significant variables. Thus, traps should provide a suitable sample of live insects if sun exposure of the trap is minimized and a reasonable sampling schedule is implemented.
Interlaboratory Identification of Black Seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) as a Model Species on Basis of Polymerase Chain Reaction Targeting the Second Intron of the Parvalbumin Gene
Authors: Laknerová Ivana , Zdeňková Kamila , Purkrtová Sabina , Piknová Ľubica , Vyroubalová Šárka , Hanák Petr
Published: November 2014

An end‐point polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the second intron in the protein‐coding region of the parvalbumin gene of black seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) was used to identify this fish species. The reproducibility of the method was tested by a collaborative study in which four laboratories participated. Twenty‐eight samples of isolated DNA from fish meat were tested in participating laboratories by the presented identification method. Nine samples were from black seabream and the remaining 19 were fish flesh from the reference panel. In parallel, six frozen samples of fish meat, where three were of black seabream and remaining three from the reference panel, were tested in the laboratories by this method after various DNA isolation procedures. The PCR‐based method for species determination of black seabream presented in this study proved to be a reliable and independent on method of DNA isolation from meat among the isolation techniques used.

Practical Applications

This work deals with the interlaboratory assessment of a previously described end‐point polymerase chain reaction‐based method for fish species determination from fish flesh devoid of anatomical traits. The end‐point form of the test is simple enough to be broadly used by laboratories in the field. This novel approach based on species‐independent degenerate primers makes it possible, through the use of obtained amplicons, to design species‐specific primers, such as the ones tested here, in a quite straightforward manner. Therefore, the presented assay represents the first practical employment of a broader and more versatile approach capable of reacting in a relatively short time to fish species first emerging as new commodities on the market.
Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) on the Quality of Sea Buckthorn Berry Fruits during Postharvest Storage
Authors: Li Jingyan , Song Wei , Barth M. Margaret , Zhuang Hong , Zhang Wenlong , Zhang Lanwei , Wang Li , Lu Weihong , Wang Zhenyu , Han Xue , Li Qi
Published: November 2014

The effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the quality of the berry fruits of sea buckthorn (SBT) during refrigerated storage was investigated. SBT berries were packaged in 160 and 525 oxygen transmission rate (OTR) films or in vented clamshell containers (air control) and stored at 10C for 10 days. Changes in the quality of the berries were determined by the evaluation of their headspace composition, moisture content, dry weight, pH level, color, total soluble solids, texture and antioxidant activity. The results indicated that the 160 OTR film presented good competency to maintain a proper atmosphere for storage. Both the 160 and 525 OTR films showed better capability for retaining the firm and springy texture of the berries, as well as their weight. The total soluble solids of 160 OTR packed fruits remained a stable value. The pH of SBT berries packed in different films and control samples increased in general during storage compared with the initial pH of fruits. The antioxidant activity of the berries was higher in MAP samples, especially those in the 160 OTR packages.

Practical Applications

This is the first study on the storage characteristics of berry fruit of sea buckthorn (SBT) under modified atmosphere packaging conditions. Film of 160 oxygen transmission rate (OTR) effectively maintained the initial quality parameters and antioxidant activity of berries by slowing down the respiration intensity. It may be because 160 OTR provided excellent CO2/O2 exchange performance to supply a desired gaseous environment of berry fruit. Thus, 160 OTR could be used as a potential packaging film for SBT berry on maintaining fruit quality and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, 160 OTR to different food systems of vegetables, mushrooms and juicy fruits can greatly maintain the nutritional value, product quality and fresh supply. The results of the present study can also serve as an assistive technology combined with other preservation techniques such as ice temperature, controlled atmosphere storage and so on to achieve desirable storage performance.
Long‐distance transport of neonates with transposition of the great arteries for the arterial switch operation: A 26‐year Western Australian experience
Authors: Paul Saritha , Resnick Steven , Gardiner Katharine , Ramsay James M
Published: November 2014

Aim

There is evidence that outcomes of complex paediatric cardiac procedures including the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) are improved when performed at higher volume centres. While in utero transport for surgery is considered ideal, antenatal detection rates of TGA are low. Long‐distance transport of post‐natally diagnosed neonates has the potential to destabilise the patient's clinical condition. Since 1986, many neonates with TGA have been transported interstate from Perth to Melbourne or Brisbane for ASO surgery. The aim of this study was to review the Western Australian experience of interstate transport of newborns with TGA for ASO, noting transport complications and comparing the early mortality of these patients with published outcomes of the ASO from Royal Children's Hospital (RCH), Melbourne.

Method

In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the neonatal and cardiology databases and medical records to identify infants with TGA born between 1986 and 2011 and requiring ASO surgery during the neonatal period.

Results

Over 26 years, 80 neonates were transferred interstate for ASO surgery. Twelve infants required ventilation, 36 needed prostaglandin (prostaglandin E1) infusion and 3 inotropic support. There was no mortality during transport and there was a single early post‐operative death. This early mortality of 1.2% compares favourably with the RCH mortality of 2.8% from a recently published review of early outcomes for ASO.

Conclusions

When in utero transport is not possible, long‐distance transport of neonates with TGA can be safely undertaken, with no evidence of increased transport mortality/ major morbidity or higher early surgical mortality.
Molecular Detection and Characterization of Chinese Yam Mild Mosaic Virus Isolates
Authors: Wang Mingqiang , Li Fan , Zhou Guohui , Lan Pingxiu , Xu Donglin , Li Ruhui
Published: November 2014

An improved RT‐PCR was developed and validated for the detection of Yam mild mosaic virus (YMMV). Sequences of the coat protein core region of 19 Chinese isolates were obtained, and analysis indicated the presence of different genetic variants. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the Chinese isolates were divided into two distinct clusters. Complete genomic sequences of two distinct Chinese variants were determined to be 9527 and 9529 nucleotides long, excluding the 3′ poly (A) tail. Their genomic structure and organization were virtually identical to that of a Brazilian isolate. The two variants shared identity of 87.3% to one another and 83.9–84.6% to the Brazilian variant at the genomic sequence level. Phylogenetic analyses supported that they represented two distinct YMMV lineages.
Premature Ejaculation is Associated with Glycemic Control in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Bellastella Giuseppe , Maiorino Maria Ida , Olita Laura , Della Volpe Elisabetta , Giugliano Dario , Esposito Katherine
Published: November 2014

Introduction

Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common male sexual dysfunction. Its prevalence in Type 1 diabetes is unknown.

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of PE in Type 1 diabetes and the influence of glycemic control on ejaculatory function.

Methods

One hundred Type 1 diabetic male patients (age < 40 years) and 51 age-matched nondiabetic control subjects were evaluated for PE. A subgroup of 30 diabetic patients (20 with PE and 10 without) were also evaluated for blood glucose variability.

Main Outcome Measures

The presence of PE was assessed with the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) and the self-estimated intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT). Glucose variability was evaluated by continuous glucose monitoring for a 7-day period with a DexCom G4 CGM system: the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGEs), low (LBGI) and high (HBGI) blood glucose indices, and the standard deviation of blood glucose (BGSD) were calculated.

Results

PE prevalence did not differ significantly between the two groups: pathological values of the PEDT score (>8) and IELT score (<1 minute) were recorded in 24 out of 100 diabetic patients (24%) and in 12 out of 51 controls (23.5%). There were significant associations between hemoglobin A1c and the PEDT score (r = 0.27; P = 0.006) and IELT (r = −0.3; P = 0.01). In the subgroup assessed for glucose variability, the PEDT score was associated with LBGI (r = 0.43; P = 0.01), but not with BGSD (r = 0.1, P = 0.6), MAGE (r = −0.1; P = 0.4), or HBGI (r = 0.1; P = 0.6).

Conclusions

Our results show a similar prevalence of PE in young male patients with Type 1 diabetes and in the age-matched control population; in diabetic patients with PE, a higher glycemic variability in the hypoglycemic domain is significantly associated with the PEDT score.
NanoSIMS analysis of organic carbon from the Tissint Martian meteorite: Evidence for the past existence of subsurface organic‐bearing fluids on Mars
Authors: Lin Yangting , El Goresy Ahmed , Hu Sen , Zhang Jianchao , Gillet Philippe , Xu Yuchen , Hao Jialong , Miyahara Masaaki , Ouyang Ziyuan , Ohtani Eiji , Xu Lin , Yang Wei , Feng Lu , Zhao Xuchao , Yang Jing , Ozawa Shin
Published: November 2014

Two petrographic settings of carbonaceous components, mainly filling open fractures and occasionally enclosed in shock‐melt veins, were found in the recently fallen Tissint Martian meteorite. The presence in shock‐melt veins and the deuterium enrichments (δD up to +1183‰) of these components clearly indicate a pristine Martian origin. The carbonaceous components are kerogen‐like, based on micro‐Raman spectra and multielemental ratios, and were probably deposited from fluids in shock‐induced fractures in the parent rock of Tissint. After precipitation of the organic matter, the rock experienced another severe shock event, producing the melt veins that encapsulated a part of the organic matter. The C isotopic compositions of the organic matter (δ13C = −12.8 to −33.1‰) are significantly lighter than Martian atmospheric CO2 and carbonate, providing a tantalizing hint for a possible biotic process. Alternatively, the organic matter could be derived from carbonaceous chondrites, as insoluble organic matter from the latter has similar chemical and isotopic compositions. The presence of organic‐rich fluids that infiltrated rocks near the surface of Mars has significant implications for the study of Martian paleoenvironment and perhaps to search for possible ancient biological activities on Mars.
Identification of NoxD/Pro41 as the homologue of the p22phoxNADPH oxidase subunit in fungi
Authors: Lacaze Isabelle , Lalucque Hervé , Siegmund Ulrike , Silar Philippe , Brun Sylvain
Published: November 2014

NADPH oxidases (Nox) are membrane complexes that produce O2−. Researches in mammals, plants and fungi highlight the involvement of Nox‐generated ROS in cell proliferation, differentiation and defense. In mammals, the core enzyme gp91phox/Nox2 is associated with p22phox forming the flavocytochrome b558 ready for activation by a cytosolic complex. Intriguingly, no homologue of the p22phox gene has been found in fungal genomes, questioning how the flavoenzyme forms. Using whole genome sequencing combined with phylogenetic analysis and structural studies, we identify the fungal p22phox homologue as being mutated in the Podospora anserina mutant IDC509. Functional studies show that the fungal p22phox, PaNoxD, acts along PaNox1, but not PaNox2, a second fungal gp91phox homologue. Finally, cytological analysis of functional tagged versions of PaNox1, PaNoxD and PaNoxR shows clear co‐localization of PaNoxD and PaNox1 and unravel a dynamic assembly of the complex in the endoplasmic reticulum and in the vacuolar system.
Aspergillus fumigatus devoid of cell wall β‐1,3‐glucan is viable, massively sheds galactomannan and is killed by septum formation inhibitors
Authors: Dichtl Karl , Samantaray Sweta , Aimanianda Vishukumar , Zhu Zhaojun , Prévost Marie‐Christine , Latgé Jean‐Paul , Ebel Frank , Wagener Johannes
Published: November 2014

Echinocandins inhibit β‐1,3‐glucan synthesis and are one of the few antimycotic drug classes effective against Aspergillus spp. In this study, we characterized the β‐1,3‐glucan synthase Fks1 of Aspergillus fumigatus, the putative target of echinocandins. Data obtained with a conditional mutant suggest that fks1 is not essential. In agreement, we successfully constructed a viable Δfks1 deletion mutant. Lack of Fks1 results in characteristic growth phenotypes similar to wild type treated with echinocandins and an increased susceptibility to calcofluor white and sodium dodecyl sulfate. In agreement with Fks1 being the only β‐1,3‐glucan synthase in A. fumigatus, the cell wall is devoid of β‐1,3‐glucan. This is accompanied by a compensatory increase of chitin and galactosaminogalactan and a significant decrease in cell wall galactomannan due to a massively enhanced galactomannan shedding. Our data furthermore suggest that inhibition of hyphal septation can overcome the limitations of echinocandin therapy. Compounds inhibiting septum formation boosted the antifungal activity of caspofungin. Thus, development of clinically applicable inhibitors of septum formation is a promising strategy to improve existing antifungal therapy.
CYP116B5: a new class VII catalytically self‐sufficient cytochrome P450 from Acinetobacter radioresistens that enables growth on alkanes
Authors: Minerdi Daniela , Sadeghi Sheila J. , Di Nardo Giovanna , Rua Francesco , Castrignanò Silvia , Allegra Paola , Gilardi Gianfranco
Published: November 2014

A gene coding for a class VII cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP116B5) was identified from Acinetobacter radioresistens S13 growing on media with medium (C14, C16) and long (C24, C36) chain alkanes as the sole energy source. Phylogenetic analysis of its N‐ and C‐terminal domains suggests an evolutionary model involving a plasmid‐mediated horizontal gene transfer from the donor Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 to the receiving A. radioresistens S13. This event was followed by fusion and integration of the new gene in A. radioresistens chromosome. Heterologous expression of CYP116B5 in Escherichia coli BL21, together with the A. radioresistens Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase, allowed the recombinant bacteria to grow on long‐ and medium‐chain alkanes, showing that CYP116B5 is involved in the first step of terminal oxidation of medium‐chain alkanes overlapping AlkB and in the first step of sub‐terminal oxidation of long‐chain alkanes. It was also demonstrated that CYP116B5 is a self‐sufficient cytochrome P450 consisting of a heme domain (aa 1–392) involved in the oxidation step of n‐alkanes degradation, and its reductase domain (aa 444–758) comprising the NADPH‐, FMN‐ and [2Fe2S]‐binding sites. To our knowledge, CYP116B5 is the first member of this class to have its natural substrate and function identified.
PRACTICING FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY: A HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH TO THE GLOBAL PROBLEM OF MISSING AND UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS
Authors: Kimmerle Erin H.
Published: November 2014

The problem of missing, endangered, and unidentified persons is increasingly approached through a human rights model with successful outcomes. Contexts vary from international investigations into war crimes, genocide, and extrajudicial killings to American “cold cases.” In all these examples, anthropologists play critical roles, such as searching for clandestine graves, crime scene recovery, human identification, interviewing witnesses, repatriation, public education, and testifying in court. To successfully identify unknown persons, key questions about human variation and biology are essential. For example, can ancestry be reliably estimated? What are the ramifications of estimating the biological profile of an unknown person without appropriate references samples? Does the variation occur because of inherent genetic variation or environmental conditions? Given the potential variation that exists, what are the implications of using standard calibrations across populations in criminal trials? Moreover, forensic anthropologists today work in diverse cultural and legal environments. How do the roles of forensic anthropologists differ in diverse legal settings? The current practice of forensic anthropology ranges from field to laboratory to courtroom and has evolved as a discipline from what it was almost a century ago. The purpose of this volume is to explore the ways in which forensic anthropology intersects with current human rights and humanitarian justice initiatives. The 11 papers in this series include a range of emerging new tools and approaches to human identification and the investigation of long‐term missing and unidentified persons.
Hydrogen breath test in patients with severe constipation: the interference of the mixing of intestinal content
Authors: Di Stefano M. , Mengoli C. , Bergonzi M. , Miceli E. , Pagani E. , Corazza G. R.
Published: November 2014

Background

The diagnostic accuracy of the hydrogen (H2) breath test might be reduced by the release of preformed H2, trapped in hard stools. Test solution ingestion might induce the mixing of colonic content and a false positive result. We studied severely constipated patients, at diagnosis and after the normalization of bowel function, to clarify whether this mechanism affects test results.

Methods

Twenty functional constipated patients, 10 consecutive patients with functional diarrhea and 10 healthy volunteers underwent (i) a H2 breath test after lactulose, to exclude differences among the groups in fermenting capacity; (ii) breath H2 excretion monitoring after non‐absorbable, non‐fermentable PEG‐electrolyte solution, to exclude the role of the delivery to the colon of preexisting fermentable substrates or of the release of preformed H2 entrapped in the feces; (iii) H2 measurement during a 7‐h fasting period, to exclude the role of spontaneous variations of breath gas excretion; and (iv) breath H2 excretion monitoring after PEG, after normalization of bowel function.

Key Results

All the subjects excreted similar amounts of H2 after lactulose. After PEG, only severely constipated patients showed significant breath H2 excretion, theoretically able to induce a false positivity of the lactose breath test in 70% of patients and a false positivity of glucose breath tests in 50% of patients. Breath H2 excretion after PEG disappeared if fecal consistency improved after therapy.

Conclusions & Inferences

Severely constipated patients may harbor preformed gas in hard stools which can be released when mixing of the intestinal content is induced. This mechanism may interfere with breath test results.
The quest for biomarkers in IBS—where should it lead us?
Authors: Corsetti M. , Van Oudenhove L. , Tack J.
Published: November 2014

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder which represents a major cost to health‐care services. The diagnosis of IBS is currently performed by means of symptom‐based diagnostic criteria, but there has been an ongoing interest in developing biomarkers which could simplify the diagnosis and/or evaluating the effect of treatments. This article reviews the current literature concerning the proposed biomarkers including those of altered gut motility, of visceral hypersensitivity, of abnormal brain mechanisms, of serum, fecal and mucosal inflammation and of increased intestinal permeability.
Natural variation for anthocyanin accumulation under high‐light and low‐temperature stress is attributable to the ENHANCER OF AG‐4 2 (HUA2) locus in combination with PRODUCTION OF ANTHOCYANIN PIGMENT1 (PAP1) and PAP2
Authors: Ilk Nadine , Ding Jia , Ihnatowicz Anna , Koornneef Maarten , Reymond Matthieu
Published: November 2014

Growing conditions combining high light intensities and low temperatures lead to anthocyanin accumulation in plants. This response was contrasted between two Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, which were used to decipher the genetic and molecular bases underlying the variation of this response.

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for flowering time (FT) and anthocyanin accumulation under a high‐light and low‐temperature scenario versus a control environment were mapped. Major QTLs were confirmed using near‐isogenic lines. Candidate genes were examined using mutants and gene expression studies as well as transgenic complementation.

Several QTLs were found for FT and for anthocyanin content, of which one QTL co‐located at the ENHANCER OF AG‐4 2 (HUA2) locus. That HUA2 is a regulator of both pathways was confirmed by the analysis of loss‐of‐function mutants. For a strong expression of anthocyanin, additional allelic variation was detected for the PRODUCTION OF ANTHOCYANIN PIGMENT1 (PAP1) and PAP2 genes which control the anthocyanin pathway.

The genetic control of variation for anthocyanin content was dissected in A. thaliana and shown to be affected by a common regulator of flowering and anthocyanin biosynthesis together with anthocyanin‐specific regulators.
Pro‐oxidant and antioxidant processes in aquatic invertebrates
Authors: Canesi Laura
Published: November 2014

Most aquatic organisms behave as conformers with respect to environmental variables, including changes in O2 availability. Aquatic species that show tolerance to hypoxia/anoxia or hyperoxia can be excellent models for investigating physiological and biochemical adaptations that deal with changing O2 and consequent changes in metabolic rate and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, I summarize selected data on ROS production and antioxidant defenses in a model marine invertebrate, the bivalve Mytilus, under different environmental and physiological conditions. An example of other bivalves adapted to particular environments (the Antarctic Sea) is also reported. These studies contributed to the knowledge on pro‐oxidant and antioxidant processes in aquatic invertebrates from comparative and environmental perspectives. A common role for metallothioneins in antioxidant protection in mammals and aquatic invertebrates is underlined in different conditions, from human disease to responses to environmental exposure to heavy metals.
Rapid influences of cued visual memories on attentional guidance
Authors: van Moorselaar Dirk , Battistoni Elisa , Theeuwes Jan , Olivers Christian N. L.
Published: November 2014

There is evidence that the deployment of attention can be biased by the content of visual working memory. Recently, it has been shown that focusing internal attention to a specific item in memory not only increases the accessibility of that specific item for retrieval, but also results in increased attentional guidance toward matching external stimuli by that item. Here, we investigated the time course of attentional guidance by cued memories. Following a retro‐cue that prioritized one of two memory items, participants performed a visual search task. The interval between the cue and the search display was varied. Consistent with earlier findings, we observed memory‐related capture when the search display contained a distractor that was related to the cued item in memory. No such effects were found for the uncued items or when none of the memory items were prioritized by a retro‐cue. Results suggest that the prioritization by a retro‐cue is a very rapid process that starts to affect perceptual selection within the first 100–200 ms following the cue.
Acquired cystic disease‐associated renal cell carcinoma with a focal sarcomatoid component: Report of a case showing more pronounced polysomy of chromosomes 3 and 16 in the sarcomatoid component
Authors: Tajima Shogo , Waki Michihiko , Doi Wataru , Hayashi Kazumasa , Takenaka Syunsuke , Fukaya Yoshie , Kimura Ryosuke
Published: November 2014

Acquired cystic disease (ACD)‐associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has recently been established. Herein we report the sixth case of ACD‐associated RCC with a sarcomatoid change. The patient was a 77‐year‐old man who regularly underwent hemodialysis for 14 years due to chronic renal failure resulting from IgA nephropathy. On computed tomography, a large right RCC was observed with contrast enhancement in the arterial phase. A nodular protrusion into the perirenal fat was detected. Right nephrectomy was performed under laparoscopy. Surgically resected specimens revealed a tan‐to‐yellow tumor (95 × 75 × 55 mm) with a whitish nodule (20 × 15 × 15 mm) invading into the perirenal fat. Histopathologically, the large carcinoma component of the tumor displayed a cribriform or microcystic growth pattern with deposition of oxalate crystals. The whitish nodule corresponded to the sarcomatoid component, and the spindled and pleomorphic tumor cells showed diffuse positivity of p53 on immunohistochemistry. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed trisomy of chromosomes 3 and 16 in the carcinoma component, as was expected from the literature. In addition, increased polysomy of these chromosomes was also observed in the sarcomatoid component. This finding may be related to the development of the sarcomatoid component along with the TP53 mutation.
Route vs. Segment: An Experiment on Real‐Time Travel Information in Congestible Networks
Authors: Mak Vincent , Gisches Eyran J. , Rapoport Amnon
Published: November 2014

We report the results of an experimental study of route choice in congestible networks with a common origin and common destination. In one condition, in each round of play network users independently committed themselves at the origin to a three‐segment route; in the other condition, they chose route segments sequentially at each network junction upon receiving en route information. At the end of each round, players received ex‐post complete information about the distribution of the route choices. Although the complexity of the network defies analysis by common users, traffic patterns in both conditions converged rapidly to the equilibrium solution. We account for the observed results by a Markov adaptive learning model postulating regret minimization and inertia. We find that subjects' learning behavior was similar across conditions, except that they exhibited more inertia in the condition with en route information.
Sourcing with Deferred Payment and Inspection under Supplier Product Adulteration Risk
Authors: Rui Huaxia , Lai Guoming
Published: November 2014

We study the deferred payment and inspection mechanisms for mitigating supplier product adulteration, with endogenous procurement decision and general defect discovery process. We first derive the optimal deferred payment contract, which reveals that either entire or partial deferral can arise, depending on the moral hazard severity and the information accumulation rate. Because of the supplier's incentive to adulterate, the optimal procurement quantity under deferred payment generally is smaller than the first‐best quantity. We then investigate the inspection mechanism and characterize the equilibrium. We find that under the inspection mechanism, the optimal procurement quantity is no less than the first best. A comparison between these two mechanisms shows that the deferred payment mechanism generally can outperform the inspection mechanism when either the market size is small or the profit margin is low. However, we find that these two mechanisms can also be complementary, for which we characterize a necessary condition.
Maximizing Revenue Through Two‐Dimensional Shelf‐Space Allocation
Authors: Geismar H. Neil , Dawande Milind , Murthi B. P. S. , Sriskandarajah Chelliah
Published: November 2014

We consider the problem of optimally allocating contiguous rectangular presentation spaces in order to maximize revenues. Such problems are encountered in the arrangement of products in retail shelf‐space and in the design of feature advertising displays or webpages. Specifically, we allow (i) the shape of a product's presentation to have a vertical as well as a horizontal component and (ii) displays to extend across multiple shelves for in‐store presentations. Since the vertical location of the shelf on which a product is displayed affects its sales, each vertical location is assigned its own effectiveness with regard to revenue generation. The problem of maximizing the total weighted revenue of a display is strongly NP‐hard. Therefore, we decompose it into two subproblems. The first consists of allocating products to different cabinets. In the second, within each cabinet, each product's units are arranged in a contiguous rectangle and assigned a location. These subproblems are solved using an innovative approach that uses a combination of integer programming and an algorithm for the maximum‐weight independent set problem. Based on computational studies on both real‐world and simulated data, we demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of our approach. Specifically, the revenue generated by this scheme is within 1% of the optimum for actual data and within 5% for simulated data.
Impulsivity and the association between the feedback‐related negativity and performance on an inhibitory control task in young at‐risk children
Authors: Roos Leslie E. , Pears Katherine , Bruce Jacqueline , Kim Hyoun K. , Fisher Philip A.
Published: November 2014

Identifying neurocognitive processes associated with effective inhibitory control is particularly relevant for individuals at high risk for disruptive behaviors, such as maltreated children. Performance feedback processing during a flanker task was investigated in maltreated preschool‐aged children (N = 67) via an event‐related potential component, the feedback‐related negativity (FRN). The functionality of the FRN in children with high impulsivity was of interest, as impulsivity was associated with an exaggerated FRN in previous research. Results showed that high impulsivity was associated with an exaggerated FRN and greater post‐error slowing. For children with high impulsivity, there was a correlation between the FRN and accuracy, which was not found in children with low impulsivity. This suggests that an exaggerated FRN is particularly important for children with high impulsivity to maintain effective inhibitory control.
Magnesium physiology and clinical therapy in veterinary critical care
Authors: Humphrey Sarah , Kirby Rebecca , Rudloff Elke
Published: November 2014

Objective

To review magnesium physiology including absorption, excretion, and function within the body, causes of magnesium abnormalities, and the current applications of magnesium monitoring and therapy in people and animals.

Etiology

Magnesium plays a pivotal role in energy production and specific functions in every cell in the body. Disorders of magnesium can be correlated with severity of disease, length of hospital stay, and recovery of the septic patient. Hypermagnesemia is seen infrequently in people and animals with significant consequences reported. Hypomagnesemia is more common in critically ill people and animals, and can be associated with platelet, immune system, neurological, and cardiovascular dysfunction as well as alterations in insulin responsiveness and electrolyte imbalance.

Diagnosis

Measurement of serum ionized magnesium in critically or chronically ill veterinary patients is practical and provides information necessary for stabilization and treatment. Tissue magnesium concentrations may be assessed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as well as through the application of fluorescent dye techniques.

Therapy

Magnesium infusions may play a therapeutic role in reperfusion injury, myocardial ischemia, cerebral infarcts, systemic inflammatory response syndromes, tetanus, digitalis toxicity, bronchospasms, hypercoagulable states, and as an adjunct to specific anesthetic or analgesic protocols. Further veterinary studies are needed to establish the frequency and importance of magnesium disorders in animals and the potential benefit of magnesium infusions as a therapeutic adjunct to specific diseases.

Prognosis

The prognosis for most patients with magnesium disorders is variable and largely dependent on the underlying cause of the disorder.
A Novel Paradigm for Engineering Education: Virtual Internships With Individualized Mentoring and Assessment of Engineering Thinking
Authors: Chesler Naomi C. , Ruis A. R. , Collier Wesley , Swiecki Zachari , Arastoopour Golnaz , Williamson Shaffer David
Published: November 2014

Engineering virtual internships are a novel paradigm for providing authentic engineering experiences in the first-year curriculum. They are both individualized and accommodate large numbers of students. As we describe in this report, this approach can (a) enable students to solve complex engineering problems in a mentored, collaborative environment; (b) allow educators to assess engineering thinking; and (c) provide an introductory experience that students enjoy and find valuable. Furthermore, engineering virtual internships have been shown to increase students'—and especially women's—interest in and motivation to pursue engineering degrees. When implemented in first-year engineering curricula more broadly, the potential impact of engineering virtual internships on the size and diversity of the engineering workforce could be dramatic.
Numerical Investigations on Rotordynamic Characteristic of Hole-Pattern Seals With Two Different Hole-Diameters
Authors: Yan Xin , He Kun , Li Jun , Feng Zhenping
Published: November 2014

The rotordynamic characteristic of the hole-pattern seals with two different hole-diameters was investigated using the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equations solutions and bulk flow methods. The mesh deformation method combined with elliptical orbit model was adopted to numerically solve the transient flow fields. By integrating the transient reaction forces on the rotor surface, the rotordynamic coefficients of the hole-pattern seals at a set of excitation frequencies were obtained with the reaction-force/motion model. The effects of mesh density, constant temperature assumption, and turbulence model on the numerical accuracy were analyzed for both large hole-diameter hole-pattern (LDHP) and small hole-diameter hole-pattern (SDHP) seals. The comparisons between the two bulk flow methods (i.e., the isothermal bulk flow method (ISOTSEAL) and the ideal gas bulk flow method with energy equation (ideal gas bulk flow model)) and transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method were performed. It shows that, compared to the experimental data, the isothermal URANS (constant temperature assumption) and total energy URANS (consider the temperature varying) solutions almost have the same accuracy with respect to the rotordynamic coefficients predictions. However, for the direct damping coefficient predictions, the total energy URANS method has a slight advantage over the isothermal URANS for both SDHP and LDHP cases. For the LDHP seal, the predicted rotordynamic coefficients are not sensitive to the selected turbulence models, but as the hole-diameter becomes smaller, the effect of turbulence model on the numerical accuracy becomes pronounced. Among the studied numerical methods, the isothermal URANS solutions with standard k–ε turbulence model have a good performance taking both numerical accuracy and computational time into consideration. For the SDHP seal, the present ideal gas bulk flow method and ISOTSEAL can provide the reasonable predictions of the rotordynamic coefficients. However, for the LDHP seal, both of them show a low accuracy in predicting the rotordynamic coefficients.
Selective adaptation in sound lateralization is not due to a repulsion effect
Authors: Phillips Dennis P. , Mew Emma J. , Hall Susan E.
Published: November 2014

Selective adaptation studies in dichotic sound lateralization have contributed to a three-channel model of lateralization mechanisms. They usually have employed highly-lateralized adaptor stimuli, and the expression of the selective adaptation is the perceptual shift of test tone locations away from that of the adaptor. The present study employed modestly lateralized adaptors so that any repulsion mechanism could be visualized in distorted position judgments for test tones on both sides of the adaptor stimuli. Comparison of position reports for tones lateralized using interaural time differences before and after selective adaptation provided no evidence for a repulsion effect.
Differential splicing and glycosylation of Apoer2 alters synaptic plasticity and fear learning
Authors: Wasser Catherine R. , Masiulis Irene , Durakoglugil Murat S. , Lane-Donovan Courtney , Xian Xunde , Beffert Uwe , Agarwala Anandita , Hammer Robert E. , Herz Joachim
Published: November 2014

Glycosylation of the apolipoprotein E receptor Apoer2 is important for regulating synaptic function and cognition.
Large-scale functional analysis of the roles of phosphorylation in yeast metabolic pathways
Authors: Schulz Juliane Caroline , Zampieri Mattia , Wanka Stefanie , von Mering Christian , Sauer Uwe
Published: November 2014

An integrated experimental and computational approach identifies roles for protein phosphorylation in yeast metabolic pathways.
Science Signaling
Podcast: 25 November 2014
Authors: Wasser Catherine R. , Herz Joachim , VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: November 2014

Normal synaptic function and fear learning require glycosylation of the apolipoprotein E receptor Apoer2.
Targeting Cell-Intrinsic and Cell-Extrinsic Mechanisms of Intravasation in Invasive Breast Cancer
Authors: Keirsse Jiri , Laoui Damya , Van Overmeire Eva , Van Ginderachter Jo A.
Published: November 2014

Understanding how invasive breast cancer cells may enter the circulation with the help of macrophages suggests new clinical strategies for patients.
Switching from Secretory to Phagocytic
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: November 2014

Stat3 causes mammary epithelial cells to become phagocytes to support involution of mammary glands after lactation ends.
Diabetes Drug Treats TB
Authors: Colmone Angela
Published: November 2014

Metformin can be repurposed as host-directed therapy for tuberculosis.
Salmonella
Evades
d
-Amino Acid Oxidase To Promote Infection in Neutrophils
Authors: Tuinema Brian R. , Reid-Yu Sarah A. , Coombes Brian K.
Published: November 2014

Neutrophils engulf and kill bacteria using oxidative and nonoxidative mechanisms. Despite robust antimicrobial activity, neutrophils are impaired in directing
Salmonella
clearance and harbor viable intracellular bacteria during early stages of infection that can subsequently escape to more-permissive cell types. The mechanisms accounting for this immune impairment are not understood. We report that
Salmonella
limits exposure to oxidative damage elicited by
d
-amino acid oxidase (DAO) in neutrophils by expressing an ABC importer specific for
d
-alanine, a DAO substrate found in peptidoglycan stem peptides. A
Salmonella dalS
mutant defective for
d
-alanine import was more susceptible to killing by DAO through exposure to greater oxidative stress during infection. This fitness defect was reversed by selective depletion of neutrophils or by inhibition of DAO
in vivo
with a small-molecule inhibitor. DalS-mediated subversion of neutrophil DAO is a novel host-pathogen interaction that enhances
Salmonella
survival during systemic infection.

IMPORTANCE
Neutrophils engulf
Salmonella
during early stages of infection, but bacterial killing is incomplete. Very little is known about how
Salmonella
survives in neutrophils to gain access to other cell types during infection. In this study, we show that
d
-amino acid oxidase (DAO) in neutrophils consumes
d
-alanine and that importing this substrate protects
Salmonella
from oxidative killing by neutrophil DAO. Loss of this importer results in increased bacterial killing
in vitro
, in neutrophils, and in a mouse model of infection, all phenotypes that are lost upon inhibition of DAO. These findings add mechanistic insight into a novel host-pathogen interaction that has consequences on infection outcome.