bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fragmentation ofAtlanticForest has not affected gene flow of a widespread seed‐dispersing bat
Authors: McCulloch Eve S. , Sebastián Tello J. , Whitehead Andrew , Rolón‐Mendoza Claudia M. J. , Maldonado‐Rodríguez Mario C. D. , Stevens Richard D.
Published: August 2013

Habitat loss and resultant fragmentation are major threats to biodiversity, particularly in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. It is increasingly urgent to understand fragmentation effects, which are often complex and vary across taxa, time and space. We determined whether recent fragmentation ofAtlantic forest is causing population subdivision in a widespread and importantNeotropical seed disperser:Artibeus lituratus(Chiroptera:Phyllostomidae). Genetic structure within highly fragmented forest inParaguay was compared to that in mostly contiguous forest in neighbouringMisiones,Argentina. Further, observed genetic structure across the fragmented landscape was compared with expected levels of structure for similar time spans in realistic simulated landscapes under different degrees of reduction in gene flow. If fragmentation significantly reduced successful dispersal, greater population differentiation and stronger isolation by distance would be expected in the fragmented than in the continuous landscape, and genetic structure in the fragmented landscape should be similar to structure for simulated landscapes where dispersal had been substantially reduced. Instead, little genetic differentiation was observed, and no significant correlation was found between genetic and geographic distance in fragmented or continuous landscapes. Furthermore, comparison of empirical and simulated landscapes indicated empirical results were consistent with regular long‐distance dispersal and high migration rates. Our results suggest maintenance of high gene flow for this relatively mobile and generalist species, which could be preventing or significantly delaying reduction in population connectivity in fragmented habitat. Our conclusions apply toA. lituratusinInteriorAtlanticForest, and do not contradict broad evidence that habitat fragmentation is contributing to extinction of populations and species, and poses a threat to biodiversity worldwide.
Multilocus patterns of genetic variation across Cryptosporidium species suggest balancing selection at the gp60 locus
Authors: Abal‐Fabeiro J. L. , Maside X. , Bello X. , Llovo J. , Bartolomé C.
Published: August 2013

Cryptosporidium is an apicomplexan protozoan that lives in most vertebrates, including humans. Its gp60 gene is functionally involved in its attachment to host cells, and its high level of genetic variation has made it the reference marker for sample typing in epidemiological studies. To understand the origin of such high diversity and to determine the extent to which this classification applies to the rest of the genome, we analysed the patterns of variation at gp60 and nine other nuclear loci in isolates of three Cryptosporidium species. Most loci showed low genetic polymorphism (πS <1%) and similar levels of between‐species divergence. Contrastingly, gp60 exhibited very different characteristics: (i) it was nearly ten times more variable than the other loci; (ii) it displayed a significant excess of polymorphisms relative to between‐species differences in a maximum‐likelihood Hudson–Kreitman–Aguadé test; (iii) gp60 subtypes turned out to be much older than the species they were found in; and (iv) showed a significant excess of polymorphic variants shared across species from random expectations. These observations suggest that this locus evolves under balancing selection and specifically under negative frequency‐dependent selection (FDS). Interestingly, genetic variation at the other loci clusters very well within the groups of isolates defined by gp60 subtypes, which may provide new tools to understand the genome‐wide patterns of genetic variation of the parasite in the wild. These results suggest that gp60 plays an active and essential role in the life cycle of the parasite and that genetic variation at this locus might be essential for the parasite's long‐term success.
Resource Leveling in Line‐of‐Balance Scheduling
Authors: Damci Atilla , Arditi David , Polat Gul
Published: August 2013

Resource leveling involves minimizing resource fluctuations without changing the completion time of a project. A smooth distribution of resources minimizes logistical problems and results in cost savings. Line‐of‐balance (LOB) is a resource‐based scheduling system that is used in projects that exhibit repetitive characteristics, performs resource allocation as a matter of course, but does not deal with resource leveling. In the past, researchers experienced declines in productivity whenever they leveled resources in different linear scheduling models by adjusting activities’ production rates. The objective of this research is to develop a genetic algorithm‐based resource leveling model for LOB schedules that does not impact productivity negatively. This model is based on the “natural rhythm” principle, according to which a crew of optimum size will be able to complete an activity in the most productive way. The “natural rhythm” principle allows shifting the start time of an activity at different units by adjusting the number of crews without changing the duration of the activity in any one unit and without violating the precedence relationships between activities. An LOB schedule is established for a pipeline project and is used to illustrate the proposed resource leveling model. It was observed that the model provides a smoother resource utilization histogram. Performing resource leveling in LOB scheduling without sacrificing productivity is the major contribution of the proposed model.
Green Targeting Predictor and Ambiguous Targeting Predictor 2: the pitfalls of plant protein targeting prediction and of transient protein expression in heterologous systems
Authors: Fuss Janina , Liegmann Oliver , Krause Kirsten , Rensing Stefan A.
Published: August 2013

The challenges of plant protein targeting prediction are the existence of dual subcellular targets and the bias of experimentally confirmed data towards few and mostly nonplant model species.

To assess whether training with proteins from evolutionarily distant species has a negative impact on prediction accuracy, we developed the Green Targeting Predictor tool, which was trained with a species‐specific data set for Physcomitrella patens. Its performance was compared with that of the same tool trained with a mixed data set. In addition, we updated the Ambiguous Targeting Predictor.

We found that predictions deviated from in vivo observations predominantly for proteins diverging within the green lineage, as well as for dual targeted proteins. To evaluate the usefulness of heterologous expression systems, selected proteins were subjected to localization studies in P. patens, Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum. Four out of six proteins that show dual targeting in the original plant system were located only in a single compartment in one or both heterologous systems.

We conclude that targeting signals of divergent plant species exhibit differences, calling for custom in silico and in vivo approaches when aiming to unravel the actual distribution patterns of proteins within a plant cell.
Spatial‐temporal analysis of zinc homeostasis reveals the response mechanisms to acute zinc deficiency in Sorghum bicolor
Authors: Li Yulong , Zhang Yuan , Shi Dongqing , Liu Xiaojing , Qin Jun , Ge Qing , Xu Longhua , Pan Xiangliang , Li Wei , Zhu Yiyong , Xu Jin
Published: August 2013

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient in plants. The activity of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CSD) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) correlate with differences in Zn efficiency in plants; therefore, it is reasonable to hypothesize the existence of a Zn economy model that saves Zn for these essential Zn proteins during Zn deficiency. However, up to this point, direct evidence for the idea that CSD and/or CA might be priorities for Zn delivery has been lacking.

Here, we investigated the spatial‐temporal effects of acute Zn depletion and resupply by integrating physiological studies and molecular analyses using hydroponically grown Sorghum.

The elevated expression of miR398 repressed CSD expression in roots, whereas the reduced expression of miR528 resulted in a relatively stable level of CSD expression in Sorghum leaves under Zn depletion.

Spatial‐temporal analysis after Zn resupply to previously depleted plants revealed that the expression and activity of CA were the first to recover after Zn addition, whereas the recovery of the activities of CSD and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was delayed, suggesting that CA receives priority in Zn delivery over CSD and ADH. Our results also indicate that microRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of the response of Zn deficiency in plants.
Defining the selectivity of processes along the auxin response chain: a study using auxin analogues
Authors: Simon Sibu , Kubeš Martin , Baster Pawel , Robert Stéphanie , Dobrev Petre Ivanov , Friml Jiří , Petrášek Jan , Zažímalová Eva
Published: August 2013

The mode of action of auxin is based on its non‐uniform distribution within tissues and organs. Despite the wide use of several auxin analogues in research and agriculture, little is known about the specificity of different auxin‐related transport and signalling processes towards these compounds.

Using seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana and suspension‐cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum (BY‐2), the physiological activity of several auxin analogues was investigated, together with their capacity to induce auxin‐dependent gene expression, to inhibit endocytosis and to be transported across the plasma membrane.

This study shows that the specificity criteria for different auxin‐related processes vary widely. Notably, the special behaviour of some synthetic auxin analogues suggests that they might be useful tools in investigations of the molecular mechanism of auxin action. Thus, due to their differential stimulatory effects on DR5 expression, indole‐3‐propionic (IPA) and 2,4,5‐trichlorophenoxy acetic (2,4,5‐T) acids can serve in studies of TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1/AUXIN SIGNALLING F‐BOX (TIR1/AFB)‐mediated auxin signalling, and 5‐fluoroindole‐3‐acetic acid (5‐F‐IAA) can help to discriminate between transcriptional and non‐transcriptional pathways of auxin signalling.

The results demonstrate that the major determinants for the auxin‐like physiological potential of a particular compound are very complex and involve its chemical and metabolic stability, its ability to distribute in tissues in a polar manner and its activity towards auxin signalling machinery.
Evaluation of single‐cell biomechanics as potential marker for oral squamous cell carcinomas: a pilot study
Authors: Runge J , Reichert TE , Fritsch A , Käs J , Bertolini J , Remmerbach TW
Published: August 2013

Objectives

Early detection of oral cancer is a major health issue. The objective of this pilot study was to analyze the deformability of healthy and cancer cells using a microfluidic optical stretcher (OS).

Material and Methods

Different cancer cell lines, primary oral cancer cells, and their healthy counterparts were cultivated and characterized, respectively. A measurable deformation of the cells along the optical axis was detected, caused by surface stress, which is optically induced by the laser power.

Results

All cells revealed a viscoelastic extension behavior and showed a characteristic deformation response under laser light exposure. The CAL‐27/‐33 cells exhibited the highest relative deformation. All other cells achieved similar values, but on a lower level. The cytoskeleton reacts sensitively of changing environmental conditions, which may be influenced by growth behavior of the cancer specimens. Nevertheless, the statistical analysis showed significant differences between healthy and cancer cells.

Conclusion

Generally, malignant and benign cells showed significantly different mechanical behavior. Cancer‐related changes influence the composition of the cytoskeleton and thus affect the deformability, but this effect may be superimposed by cell cultivation conditions or cell doubling time. These influences had to be substituted by brush biopsies to minimize confounders in pursuing investigations.
Global Power Transitions and Their Implications for the 21st Century
Authors: Feng Yi
Published: August 2013

This essay presents a theoretical approach toward war and peace, reviews basic conditions for world leadership, discusses four modes of global power transitions, illuminates the likely emergence of the future superpowers, and summarizes the differences and common interests between the United States, the incumbent world leader, and China, a potential contender for the global leadership in the 21st century. The theoretical background is power‐transition theory, which predicts war when superpowers are close in power and peace when power preponderance exists. Power parity need be also considered in the context of common interests and preferences of superpowers. Conflict abates when the nations share fundamental rules of the game in world affairs. Four historical modes of transitions – co‐dominion, deterrence, confrontation, and cooperation – were identified. Of the four historical transitions, each time, the challenger surpassed the hegemon in economic power, and deterrence and confrontation by the hegemon against the challenger did not prevent the challenger from assuming global leadership in the long term. Among the newly rising nations (BRICs), China is discussed as a potential contender for world leadership. The economic and financial interdependence between the United States and China is currently the driving force in their relations. It shapes their political arrangements, necessitating coordination and cooperation in policy issues. While economic collaboration and interdependence drive the relations between the two, they are not sufficient conditions for a peaceful transition, until their political and security relations are solidified and their preferences coalesce substantively.
Understanding Multiple and Competing Roles: China's Roles in the International Order
Authors: Jones Catherine
Published: August 2013

During the Xinhai revolution, China faced contending domestic identities, and its roles within the international order were assigned by external powers. In the 100 years that have followed, China's internal competing identities have become more stable and it now faces major challenges in reconciling its contending international identities. China's current ascendency returns it to a position of directing the international order, which resembles its position before the Xinhai revolution.

As China changes international identities and gradually moves from being a developing state to a great power, it creates uncertainty among other states. In order for China's rise to continue, it needs to prevent this uncertainty from becoming conflict: it needs a stable international environment. This paper argues that by adopting a view of China's rise as a series of shifts in its identity, the scepter of conflict can be reduced because the uncertainty that is being created can be understood as well as contribute understanding about international behavior. This paper looks at the roles and identities displayed by China at the UN Climate Change conferences.
A Normalized Dragon: Constructing China's Security Identity
Authors: Ogden Chris
Published: August 2013

What has structured Chinese security practice over the last 100 years since the Xinhai (1911) Revolution? Moreover, what are the ideational principles and norms that have influenced China's international relations? Employing an analytical framework concerning norm creation (“security identity”), this article details how different norms originated, became established and subsequently served to orientate Chinese foreign policy behavior. Such a process has been critically informed by China's international interaction, learning and experience across the last 100 years, revealing how past relations can inform present and future conduct. Undertaking an analysis in this fashion implies not so much how a state “should” behave but instead indicates the broad continuities structuring its security practice. From the focus upon security identity (which gives ideational rather than structural explanations of security behavior), our analysis rests upon the elucidation of three inter‐related normative sources. These three sources have been tempered via the interplay between China's international interaction and internal political developments, and show the ideational precedents in China's foreign policy behavior. The three sources are: (i) the political (internal political developments); (ii) the physical (relations with neighboring/bordering states); and (iii) the perceptual (conceptions of self, the international system and their mutual relationship). Overall, the article finds a relative consistency to how security has been ideationally conceived of in China, and highlights three core norms essential to such a conception – centralized control, territorial restoration, and (re)becoming a great power.
Rethinking Beijing's Geostrategic Sensibilities to Tibet and Xinjiang: Images and Interests
Authors: Seo Jungmin , Cho Young Chul
Published: August 2013

The aim of this essay is to examine the ways in which Beijing perceives the issues of Tibet and Xinjiang differently in the context of its geostrategic thinking in international politics today. In doing so, this essay will provide a deeper understanding of Beijing's different geostrategic sensibilities of Tibet and Xinjiang in regard to rising China's national security interests in Central and South Asia. This essay argues that, although Beijing publicly sees the Tibet and Xinjiang problems as issues of securing Chinese sovereignty, geostrategically Beijing alludes to a subtle difference in its perception of the two regions: (i) the Tibet problem is a practical, domestic issue to be handled by Beijing's paternalistic engagement of modernization, and is a symbolic issue regarding how to manage rising China's benign image abroad while harshly oppressing any separatist voices in Tibet; and (ii) in Beijing's geostrategic thinking, Xinjiang's security importance seems to be defined in terms of energy security for China's economic growth, which is integral to social stability and the Chinese Communist Party's legitimacy, as well as the transnational Islamic terrorist movement interlinked with Uyghur separatism in Xinjiang.
Tomato cystatin SlCYS8 as a stabilizing fusion partner for human serpin expression in plants
Authors: Sainsbury Frank , Varennes‐Jutras Philippe , Goulet Marie‐Claire , D'Aoust Marc‐André , Michaud Dominique
Published: August 2013

Studies have reported the usefulness of fusion proteins to bolster recombinant protein yields in plants. Here, we assess the potential of tomato SlCYS8, a Cys protease inhibitor of the cystatin protein superfamily, as a stabilizing fusion partner for human alpha‐1‐antichymotrypsin (α1ACT) targeted to the plant cell secretory pathway. Using the model expression platform Nicotiana benthamiana, we show that the cystatin imparts a strong stabilizing effect when expressed as a translational fusion with α1ACT, allowing impressive accumulation yields of over 2 mg/g of fresh weight tissue for the human serpin, a 25‐fold improvement on the yield of α1ACT expressed alone. Natural and synthetic peptide linkers inserted between SlCYS8 and α1ACT have differential effects on protease inhibitory potency of the two protein partners in vitro. They also have a differential impact on the yield of α1ACT, dependent on the extent to which the hybrid protein may remain intact in the plant cell environment. The stabilizing effect of SlCYS8 does not involve Cys protease inhibition and can be partly reproduced in the cytosol, where peptide linkers are less susceptible to degradation. The effect of SlCYS8 on α1ACT yields could be explained by: (i) an improved translation of the human protein coding sequence; and/or (ii) an overall stabilization of its tertiary structure preventing proteolytic degradation and/or polymerization. These findings suggest the potential of plant cystatins as stabilizing fusion partners for recombinant proteins in plant systems. They also underline the need for an empirical assessment of peptide linker functions in plant cell environments.
Genetically engineered trees for plantation forests: key considerations for environmental risk assessment
Authors: Häggman Hely , Raybould Alan , Borem Aluizio , Fox Thomas , Handley Levis , Hertzberg Magnus , Lu Meng‐Zu , Macdonald Philip , Oguchi Taichi , Pasquali Giancarlo , Pearson Les , Peter Gary , Quemada Hector , Séguin Armand , Tattersall Kylie , Ulian Eugênio , Walter Christian , McLean Morven
Published: August 2013

Forests are vital to the world's ecological, social, cultural and economic well‐being yet sustainable provision of goods and services from forests is increasingly challenged by pressures such as growing demand for wood and other forest products, land conversion and degradation, and climate change. Intensively managed, highly productive forestry incorporating the most advanced methods for tree breeding, including the application of genetic engineering (GE), has tremendous potential for producing more wood on less land. However, the deployment ofGEtrees in plantation forests is a controversial topic and concerns have been particularly expressed about potential harms to the environment. This paper, prepared by an international group of experts in silviculture, forest tree breeding, forest biotechnology and environmental risk assessment (ERA) that met inApril 2012, examines how theERAparadigm used forGEcrop plants may be applied toGEtrees for use in plantation forests. It emphasizes the importance of differentiating betweenERAfor confined field trials ofGEtrees, andERAfor unconfined or commercial‐scale releases. In the case of the latter, particular attention is paid to characteristics of forest trees that distinguish them from shorter‐lived plant species, the temporal and spatial scale of forests, and the biodiversity of the plantation forest as a receiving environment.
Zinc finger artificial transcription factor–based nearest inactive analogue/nearest active analogue strategy used for the identification of plant genes controlling homologous recombination
Authors: Jia Qi , van Verk Marcel C. , Pinas Johan E. , Lindhout Beatrice I. , Hooykaas Paul J.J. , van der Zaal Bert J.
Published: August 2013

In previous work, we selected a particular transcription factor, designated VP16‐HRU, from a pool of zinc finger artificial transcription factors (ZF‐ATFs) used for genome interrogation. When expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana under control of the ribosomal protein S5A promoter, the RPS5A::VP16‐HRU construct led to a 200‐ to 300‐fold increase in the frequency of somatic intrachromosomal homologous recombination (iHR). Because the expression of each ZF‐ATF leads to a large number of transcriptional changes, we designed a strategy employing a collection of structurally similar ZF‐ATFs to filter out the transcriptional changes relevant to the phenotype by deep sequencing. In that manner, 30 transcripts were found to be consistently induced in plants with enhanced homologous recombination (HR). For 25 of the cognate genes, their effect on the HR process was assessed using cDNA/gDNA expression constructs. For three genes, ectopic expression indeed led to enhanced iHR frequencies, albeit much lower than the frequency observed when a HR‐inducing ZF‐ATF was present. Altogether, our data demonstrate that despite the large number of transcriptional changes brought about by individual ZF‐ATFs, causal changes can be identified. In our case, the picture emerged that a natural regulatory switch for iHR does not exist but that ZF‐ATFs‐like VP16‐HRU act as an ectopic master switch, orchestrating the timely expression of a set of plant genes that each by themselves only have modest effects, but when acting together support an extremely high iHR frequency.
Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Japanese version of International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group rating scale for restless legs syndrome in a clinical trial setting
Authors: Inoue Yuichi , Oka Yasunori , Kagimura Tatsuo , Kuroda Kenji , Hirata Koichi
Published: August 2013

Aim

This study was conducted to verify the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Japanese version of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Rating Scale for restless legs syndrome (J‐IRLS) as a sub‐study of a clinical trial of pramipexole against restless legs syndrome.

Methods

After evaluating the test–retest reliability, concurrent validity and construct validity were analyzed. The responsiveness of J‐IRLS was confirmed by evaluating the correlations between the changes in J‐IRLS total score after treatment, Clinical Global Impression Improvement Scale (CGI‐I), and Patient Global Impression.

Results

Test–retest reliability of J‐IRLS was good (intra‐class correlation coefficient, 0.877; 95% confidence interval, 0.802–0.925). The correlation coefficient of J‐IRLS total score and CGI‐S score for the first and second visit was 0.804 and 0.796, respectively (both P < 0.0001). Factor analysis of J‐IRLS itemsalone identified a two‐factor structure. Exploratory analysis on 10 items of J‐IRLS together with the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index revealed that several items on the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index appeared as the third factor. The correlations of CGI‐I and Patient Global Impression with change in J‐IRLS total score after treatment were highly significant.

Conclusions

Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of J‐IRLS were considered adequate. The scale is highly applicable both for evaluating the severity of restless legs syndrome and for assessing drug efficacy.
Unique variant of Adams–Oliver syndrome with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart block
Authors: Atasoy Halil Ibrahim , Tug Esra , Yavuz Taner , Cine Naci
Published: August 2013

Reported herein is the case of a 2‐year‐old boy with Adams–Oliver syndrome who presented with dilated cardiomyopathy and complete atrioventricular block. The patient had aplasia cutis congenita with partial aplasia of the skull bones, and terminal transverse limb malformations characteristic of the disease. Although congenital cardiac malformations may be associated with the syndrome, dilated cardiomyopathy has not been previously reported to be associated with the syndrome.
Administrators' Perspectives on Changing Practice in End‐of‐Life Care in a State Prison System
Authors: Penrod Janice , Loeb Susan J. , Smith Carol A.
Published: August 2013

Objective

Sentencing trends have created a demographic shift in prison populations. Greater numbers of inmates are aging and dying in prison, creating a demand for enhanced end‐of‐life (EOL) care. Changing practice to meet escalating care demands in correction settings is complicated by economic constraints, attitudinal barriers, and organizational features. This study explored perspectives of EOL care held by administrators in a state prison system to reveal challenges to changing practice to meet the needs of inmates suffering advanced illness and dying in prison.

Design and Sample

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 administrators from the central office of a state department of corrections.

Measures

Semi‐structured discussion guide.

Results

Key influences impacting EOL care services included: local prison culture, treatment versus security focus, case‐by‐case consideration, public sentiment, budget neutral approaches, and conflicting views of service targets.

Conclusions

These findings revealed the organizational structures, attitudes, and beliefs held by the administrative echelon of a state prison system and were used to guide the derivation of discrete approaches to changing practice in this complex system. Contextual evaluation permitted a much deeper understanding of the influences on changing practice in this hierarchical bureaucracy. This type of preliminary evaluation is crucial to infusing new practice initiatives in complex organizations caring for stigmatized, at‐risk populations.
An Economic Analysis of Maritime Piracy and its Control
Authors: Hallwood Paul , Miceli Thomas J.
Published: August 2013

Modern‐day piracy on the high seas poses a serious threat to international shipping. This paper develops an economic of model of piracy that emphasizes the strategic interaction between the efforts of pirates to locate potential targets, and shippers to avoid contact. Implementation of optimal enforcement policies is complicated by the need for international cooperation in the apprehension and prosecution of pirates. Free riding and other problems therefore impede the effectiveness of current international laws against piracy.
Is There a Gap in the Gap? Regional Differences in the Gender Pay Gap
Authors: Hirsch Boris , König Marion , Möller Joachim
Published: August 2013

In this paper, we investigate regional differences in the gender pay gap both theoretically and empirically. Within a spatial model of monopsonistic competition, we show that more densely populated labour markets are more competitive and constrain employers’ ability to discriminate against women. Utilizing a large administrative data set for western Germany and a flexible semi‐parametric propensity score matching approach, we find that the unexplained gender pay gap for young workers is substantially lower in large metropolitan than in rural areas. This regional gap in the gap of roughly 10 percentage points remained surprisingly constant over the entire observation period of 30 years.
Discounting, Distribution and Disaggregation: Discount Rates for the Rich and the Poor with Climate as a Source of Utility
Authors: Yamaguchi Rintaro
Published: August 2013

To consider the implications of disaggregated consumption and discounting in the context of climate change, we study discounting in a world composed of the rich and the poor; a standard setting in the literature of cost–benefit analysis with distributional considerations. We derive several discount rates for different numéraires, which allow us to discuss intergenerational and intragenerational equity in common terms. In the example of CES‐CRRA utility, we also show that disaggregated discount rates may vary owing to several factors. One important parameter, inequality aversion, can be determined in the weighting of intergenerational and intragenerational concerns.
Translating Social Motivation Into Action: Contributions of Need for Approval to Children's Social Engagement
Authors: Rudolph Karen D. , Bohn Lauren E.
Published: August 2013

This research examined how children's need for approval (NFA) from peers predicted social behavior (prosocial behavior, aggression, and social helplessness) and peer responses (acceptance, victimization, exclusion). Children (N = 526, mean age = 7.95, standard deviation = .33) reported on NFA and teachers reported on social engagement. Approach NFA (motivation to gain approval) predicted more positive engagement and less conflictual engagement and disengagement. Conversely, avoidance NFA (motivation to avoid disapproval) predicted less positive engagement and more conflictual engagement and disengagement. Some results differed by gender. This study suggests that social motivation contributes to children's peer relationships, providing a specific target for interventions to optimize social health.
Still a Physician rather than a Judge? The Post‐Cold War Foreign and Security Policy of Finland
Authors: Palosaari Teemu
Published: August 2013

This article seeks to explain some of the key changes in Finnish foreign and security policy since the end of the Cold War. Finland's peace policy during the Cold War built on a self‐image of a neutral bridge‐builder between East and West, that is a ‘peacekeeping superpower’ and a ‘physician not judge’ in world politics. Since that Finland's neutrality has been replaced with a peculiar combination of military non‐alignment and commitment to the European Union's common security and defence policy. A change has taken place from traditional peacekeeping to military crisis management led by the EU and NATO. Lately, Finland has started to build a profile in the field of peace mediation. This article argues that these changes have been enabled by a recalibrated understanding of small stateness, as Finnish identity has been adjusted from small‐state neutrality towards ‘member‐state alignment’ and ‘small‐EU‐member‐stateness’. Consequently, the Finnish physician approach has been reconstructed for the post‐Cold War world.
Mechlorethamine, vincristine, melphalan and prednisone (MOMP) for the treatment of relapsed lymphoma in dogs
Authors: Back A. R. , Schleis S. E. , Smrkovski O. A. , Lee J. , Smith A. N. , Phillips J. C.
Published: August 2013

Eighty‐eight dogs with relapsed lymphoma were treated with theMOMP(mechlorethamine, vincristine, melphalan and prednisone) protocol on a 28‐day treatment cycle. The overall response rate (ORR) to theMOMPprotocol was 51.1% for a median of 56 days (range 7–858 days). Twelve percent of dogs experienced a complete response for a median of 81 days (range 42–274 days) and 38.6% experienced a partial response for a median of 49 days (range 7–858 days). Dogs with T‐cell lymphoma had anORRof 55% for a median of 60 days (range 49–858 days) while those with B‐cell lymphoma had anORRof 57% for a median of 81 days (range 7–274 days) (P = 0.783). The overall survival time for all dogs was 183 days (range 17–974 days). Fifty‐four percent of dogs experienced toxicity with the majority classified as grade I. TheMOMPprotocol seems well‐tolerated and is an option for dogs with relapsed lymphoma.
Cryptic diversity, intraspecific phenetic plasticity and recent geographical translocations inBranchiomma(Sabellidae, Annelida)
Authors: Capa Maria , Pons Joan , Hutchings Pat
Published: August 2013

The importance of identifying biological diversity accurately and efficiently is becoming more evident. It is therefore critical to determine the species boundaries between closely related taxa and to establish diagnostic characters that allow us to define species. This is not an easy task when species exhibit high intraspecific phenotypic plasticity or when distinct evolutionary lineages with an unusually large amount of genetic distinctiveness show no apparent morphological diversity (cryptic species). These phenomena appear to be common in the genus of fan wormsBranchiomma(Sabellidae, Annelida), and consequently, taxonomic errors are widespread in the group. Moreover, someBranchiommaspecies have been unintentionally translocated outside the area where natural range extension is expected, increasing the taxonomic problems. We have performed a range of analytical methods including genetic distances, Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, statistical parsimony analyses and general mixed Yule coalescent model to clarify the taxonomic status and assess the species boundaries ofBranchiommain Australia. This study shows that the traditional diagnostic morphological features are greatly homoplastic. Results also indicate that the diversity ofBranchiommain Australia is higher than previously reported and evidence some cases of high phenetic plasticity (in features previously considered as stable within species), high intraspecific genetic variability, cryptic species and several unexpected cases of translocations.
Inferring the ancestral sexuality and reproductive condition in sponges (Porifera)
Authors: Riesgo Ana , Novo Marta , Sharma Prashant P. , Peterson Michaela , Maldonado Manuel , Giribet Gonzalo
Published: August 2013

Considerable diversity abounds among sponges with respect to reproductive and developmental biology. Their ancestral sexual mode (gonochorism vs. hermaphroditism) and reproductive condition (oviparity vs. viviparity) however remain unclear, and these traits appear to have undergone correlated evolution in the phylum. To infer ancestral traits and investigate this putative correlation, we used DNA sequence data from two loci (18S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) to explore the phylogenetic relationships of 62 sponges whose reproductive traits have been previously documented. Although the inferred tree topologies, using the limited data available, favoured paraphyly of sponges, we also investigated ancestral character‐state reconstruction on a phylogeny with constrained sponge monophyly. Both parsimony‐ and likelihood‐based ancestral state reconstructions indicate that viviparity (brooding) was the likely reproductive mode of the ancestral sponge. Hermaphroditism is favoured over gonochorism as the sexual condition of the sponge ancestor under parsimony, but the reconstruction is ambiguous under likelihood, rendering the ancestry of sexuality unresolved in our study. These results are insensitive to the constraint of sponge monophyly when tracing the reproductive characters using parsimony methods. However, the maximum likelihood analysis of the monophyletic hypothetical tree rendered gonochorism as ancestral for the phylum. A test of trait correlation unambiguously favours the concerted evolution of sexuality and reproductive mode in sponges (hermaphroditism/viviparity, gonochorism/oviparity). Although testing ecological hypotheses for the pattern of sponge reproduction is beyond the scope of our analyses, we postulate that certain physiological constrains might be key causes for the correlation of reproductive characters.
Tobacco mosaic virus: A biological building block for micro/nano/bio systems
Authors: Fan Xiao Z. , Pomerantseva Ekaterina , Gnerlich Markus , Brown Adam , Gerasopoulos Konstantinos , McCarthy Matthew , Culver James , Ghodssi Reza
Published: August 2013

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) has the potential to be an ideal candidate for a building block of the next-generation micro/nano/bio systems. The TMV virion is a high-aspect ratio rigid nanotube that is robust and compatible with some conventional microfabrication processes. TMV can be chemically and genetically modified to enhance its physical properties and tailor them to specific applications. This review covers the use of TMV nanostructures in a wide range of micro/nano/bio systems. TMV has been utilized in the production of nanowires, nanostructured thin films, biomimetic surfaces, novel sensors, high performance microbatteries, solid-state electronics,and engineered biosystems. The work highlighted here is meant to give a perspective of the entire breadth of the properties of these virions, from their synthesis and functionalization to assembly and patterning, as well as feature works that represent key milestones in the field of biofabrication and biomaterial integration. The advantages already demonstrated by the integration of TMV nanostructures, even at this early stage of development, suggest that the applications for this micro/nano/bio systems building block will continue to grow.
Spatially resolved assessment of hepatic function using 99mTc‐IDA SPECT
Authors: Wang Hesheng , Cao Yue
Published: August 2013

Purpose:

99mTc‐iminodiacetic acid (IDA) hepatobiliary imaging is usually quantified for hepatic function on the entire liver or regions of interest (ROIs) in the liver. The authors presented a method to estimate the hepatic extraction fraction (HEF) voxel‐by‐voxel from single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT with a 99mTc‐labeled IDA agent of mebrofenin and evaluated the spatially resolved HEF measurements with an independent physiological measurement.

Methods:

Fourteen patients with intrahepatic cancers were treated with radiation therapy (RT) and imaged by 99mTc‐mebrofenin SPECT before and 1 month after RT. The dynamic SPECT volumes were with a resolution of 3.9 × 3.9 × 2.5 mm3. Throughout the whole liver with approximate 50 000 voxels, voxelwise HEF quantifications were estimated and compared between using arterial input function (AIF) from the heart and using vascular input function (VIF) from the spleen. The correlation between mean of the HEFs over the nontumor liver tissue and the overall liver function measured by Indocyanine green clearance half‐time (T1/2) was assessed. Variation of the voxelwise estimation was evaluated in ROIs drawn in relatively homogeneous regions of the livers. The authors also examined effects of the time range parameter on the voxelwise HEF quantification.

Results:

Mean of the HEFs over the liver estimated using AIF significantly correlated with the physiological measurement T1/2 (r = 0.52, p = 0.0004), and the correlation was greatly improved by using VIF (r = 0.79, p < 0.0001). The parameter of time range for the retention phase did not lead to a significant difference in the means of the HEFs in the ROIs. Using VIF and a retention phase time range of 7–30 min, the relative variation of the voxelwise HEF in the ROIs was 10% ± 6% of respective mean HEF.

Conclusions:

The voxelwise HEF derived from 99mTc‐IDA SPECT by the deconvolution analysis is feasible to assess the spatial distribution of hepatic function in the liver.
Measurement of absorbed dose‐to‐water for an HDR 192Ir source with ionization chambers in a sandwich setup
Authors: Araki Fujio , Kouno Tomohiro , Ohno Takeshi , Kakei Kiyotaka , Yoshiyama Fumiaki , Kawamura Shinji
Published: August 2013

Purpose:

In this study, a dedicated device for ion chamber measurements of absorbed dose‐to‐water for a Nucletron microSelectron‐v2 HDR192Ir brachytherapy source is presented. The device uses two ionization chambers in a so‐called sandwich assembly. Using this setup and by taking the average reading of the two chambers, any dose error due to difficulties in absolute positioning (centering) of the source in between the chambers is cancelled to first order. The method's accuracy was examined by comparing measurements with absorbed dose‐to‐water determination based on the AAPM TG‐43 protocol.

Methods:

The optimal source‐to‐chamber distance (SCD) for192Ir dosimetry was determined from ion chamber measurements in a water phantom. The 192Ir source was sandwiched between two Exradin A1SL chambers (0.057 cm3) at the optimal SCD separation. The measured ionization was converted to the absorbed dose‐to‐water using a 60Co calibration factor and a Monte Carlo‐calculated beam quality conversion factor, kQ, for 60Co to 192Ir. An uncertainty estimate of the proposed method was determined based on reproducibility of measurements at different institutions for the same type of source.

Results:

The optimal distance for the A1SL chamber measurements was determined to be 5 cm from the192Ir source center, considering the depth dependency of kQ for 60Co to 192Ir and the chamber positioning. The absorbed dose to water measured at (5 cm, 90°) on the transverse axis was 1.3% lower than TG‐43 values and its reproducibility and overall uncertainty were 0.8% and 1.7%, respectively. The measurement doses at anisotropic points agreed within 1.5% with TG‐43 values.

Conclusions:

The ion chamber measurement of absorbed dose‐to‐water with a sandwich method for the192Ir source provides a more accurate, direct, and reference dose compared to the dose‐to‐water determination based on air‐kerma strength in the TG‐43 protocol. Due to the simple but accurate assembly, the sandwich measurement method is useful for daily dose management of 192Ir sources.
Non-surgical management of superior mesenteric artery thrombosis using spinal cord stimulation
Authors: Tod Laura , Ghosh Jonathan , Lieberman Ilan , Baguneid Mohamed
Published: August 2013

We report the use of a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) for non-surgical management of superior mesenteric artery thrombosis. A 59-year-old woman with polycythaemia rubra vera presented with extensive superior mesenteric artery thrombosis not amenable to surgical or endovascular revascularisation. A SCS was implanted for analgesia thereby allowing enteral feeding to be tolerated during the acute period. Four months later the patient developed a focal ischaemic jejunal stricture and underwent resection of a short segment of small bowel with primary anastomosis that healed without complication. Spinal cord stimulation can facilitate non-surgical management of mesenteric ischaemia.
Malignancy knows no boundaries
Authors: Batra Sandeep , Vaid Ashok K , Bhargava Rahul , Singh Amanjeet
Published: August 2013

A 47-year-old woman presented with ascites. There was history of large volume paracentesis and the drained ascitic fluid was found to be positive for malignant cells. Clinical examination revealed a soft tissue nodule over the skin of right iliac fossa and a small umbilical nodule besides presence of ascites. In addition, the patient had a breast lump of 2×2 cm in upper quadrant of right breast. Biopsy from the abdominal wall nodule revealed a malignant tumour with dense desmoplastic response. The tumour cells were pancytokeratin, CA125, WT1 positive and CDX2, CD10, villin, calretinin negative; thus immunohistochemically suggesting a primary tumor arising from ovary. Biopsy from breast lump showed malignant epithelial cells present in sheets with stromal dysplasia. Immunohistochemically tumour cells were positive for CK7. CA125, WT1, thus favouring a metastatic carcinoma to breast with possible primary arising from ovary.
A ‘benign’ condition masquerading as arthritis
Authors: V Shanmugapriya , B Subashini , K Brindha , S Shobhana
Published: August 2013

A 9 year-old boy presented with a 3-week history of low-grade fever, on and off, and additive arthritis of the lower limb joints with no overt antecedent trauma. Investigations for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), reactive and tuberculous arthritis were normal. He was started on anti-inflammatory drugs as for seronegative oligoarticular JIA. Since arthritis persisted despite treatment, MRI of the left knee joint was planned prior to an aspiration/synovial biopsy. MRI revealed a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament with a significant effusion. On careful re-examination, at this point, he was found to have generalised hypermobility with a Beighton score of 9/9. This had been missed initially, leading to a delay in diagnosis and management. He was managed with careful physiotherapy and lifestyle modification. The left knee effusion resolved within a month. This case is being reported in order to highlight the fact that joint hypermobility syndrome can be misdiagnosed as arthritis.
Immunodeficiency, centromeric region instability and facial anomalies (ICF) syndrome diagnosed in an adult who is now a long-term survivor
Authors: Sathasivam Santron , Selvakumaran Aran , Jones Quentin Christopher , Wathen Christopher G
Published: August 2013

We describe a 42-year-old British man of Indo-Caribbean origin with immunodeficiency, centromeric region instability and facial anomalies (ICF) syndrome. Most patients with ICF syndrome die of infection at a young age, usually in the first or second decade of life. The patient was born 3.5 weeks premature to non-consanguineous parents. He had a mild bird-like face abnormality, but had no other congenital malformations, cognitive impairment or developmental delays. He had recurrent ear and chest infections during childhood and developed bronchiectasis. Investigations revealed IgG, IgA and IgM deficiencies with a normal lymphocyte count and normal T cell proliferation to in vitro mitogenic stimulation. Following several unsuccessful attempts to make a diagnosis during childhood, a recent chromosomal analysis showed centromeric region instability of chromosomes 1 and 16, diagnosing ICF syndrome. The patient receives immunoglobulin replacement for hypogammaglobulinameia and has chest physiotherapy and antibiotics for bronchiectasis. Recently, he developed liver cirrhosis of unknown cause.