bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitogen-activated protein kinase modulates ethanol inhibition of cell adhesion mediated by the L1 neural cell adhesion molecule
Authors: Dou Xiaowei , Wilkemeyer Michael F. , Menkari Carrie E. , Parnell Scott E. , Sulik Kathleen K. , Charness Michael E.
Published: February 2013

There is a genetic contribution to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), but the identification of candidate genes has been elusive. Ethanol may cause FASD in part by decreasing the adhesion of the developmentally critical L1 cell adhesion molecule through interactions with an alcohol binding pocket on the extracellular domain. Pharmacologic inhibition or genetic knockdown of ERK2 did not alter L1 adhesion, but markedly decreased ethanol inhibition of L1 adhesion in NIH/3T3 cells and NG108-15 cells. Likewise, leucine replacement of S1248, an ERK2 substrate on the L1 cytoplasmic domain, did not decrease L1 adhesion, but abolished ethanol inhibition of L1 adhesion. Stable transfection of NIH/3T3 cells with human L1 resulted in clonal cell lines in which L1 adhesion was consistently sensitive or insensitive to ethanol for more than a decade. ERK2 activity and S1248 phosphorylation were greater in ethanol-sensitive NIH/3T3 clonal cell lines than in their ethanol-insensitive counterparts. Ethanol-insensitive cells became ethanol sensitive after increasing ERK2 activity by transfection with a constitutively active MAP kinase kinase 1. Finally, embryos from two substrains of C57BL mice that differ in susceptibility to ethanol teratogenesis showed corresponding differences in MAPK activity. Our data suggest that ERK2 phosphorylation of S1248 modulates ethanol inhibition of L1 adhesion by inside-out signaling and that differential regulation of ERK2 signaling might contribute to genetic susceptibility to FASD. Moreover, identification of a specific locus that regulates ethanol sensitivity, but not L1 function, might facilitate the rational design of drugs that block ethanol neurotoxicity.
Phenotypic model for early T-cell activation displaying sensitivity, specificity, and antagonism
Authors: François Paul , Voisinne Guillaume , Siggia Eric D. , Altan-Bonnet Grégoire , Vergassola Massimo
Published: February 2013

Significance

Early immune response has to discriminate a few foreign peptides rapidly from a vast excess of self-peptides, and it is unclear in quantitative terms how this is possible. We show that a generic proofreading cascade supplemented by a single negative feedback mediated by the Src homology 2 domain phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) accounts quantitatively for this discrimination. Our model, with minimal variables and parameters, can fit a large body of experimental data and accounts for phenotypes in T-cell activation. New experiments validate our predictions and provide a quantitative understanding of antagonism, the effect by which foreign ligands close to activation alter the immune response.
Anatomical and transcriptional dynamics of maize embryonic leaves during seed germination
Authors: Liu Wen-Yu , Chang Yao-Ming , Chen Sean Chun-Chang , Lu Chen-Hua , Wu Yeh-Hwa , Lu Mei-Yeh Jade , Chen Di-Rong , Shih Arthur Chun-Chieh , Sheue Chiou-Rong , Huang Hsuan-Cheng , Yu Chun-Ping , Lin Hsin-Hung , Shiu Shin-Han , Sun-Ben Ku Maurice , Li Wen-Hsiung
Published: February 2013

Our anatomical analysis revealed that a dry maize seed contains four to five embryonic leaves at different developmental stages. Rudimentary kranz structure (KS) is apparent in the first leaf with a substantial density, but its density decreases toward younger leaves. Upon imbibition, leaf expansion occurs rapidly with new KSs initiated from the palisade-like ground meristem cells in the middle of the leaf. In parallel to the anatomical analysis, we obtained the time course transcriptomes for the embryonic leaves in dry and imbibed seeds every 6 h up to hour 72. Over this time course, the embryonic leaves exhibit transcripts of 30,255 genes at a level that can be regarded as “expressed.” In dry seeds, ∼25,500 genes are expressed, showing functional enrichment in transcription, RNA processing, protein synthesis, primary metabolic pathways, and calcium transport. During the 72-h time course, ∼13,900 genes, including 590 transcription factor genes, are differentially expressed. Indeed, by 30 h postimbibition, ∼2,200 genes expressed in dry seeds are already down-regulated, and ∼2,000 are up-regulated. Moreover, the top 1% expressed genes at 54 h or later are very different from those before 30 h, reflecting important developmental and physiological transitions. Interestingly, clusters of genes involved in hormone metabolism, signaling, and responses are differentially expressed at various time points and TF gene expression is also modular and stage specific. Our dataset provides an opportunity for hypothesizing the timing of regulatory actions, particularly in the context of KS development.
Using Diets to Reveal Overlap and Egg Predation among Benthivorous Fishes in Lake Michigan
Authors: Mychek‐Londer Justin G. , Bunnell David B. , Stott Wendylee , Diana James S. , French John R. P. , Chriscinske Margret A.
Published: February 2013

Ecological stability in the Laurentian Great Lakes has been altered by nonindigenous species, such as the Round Goby Neogobius melanostomus and dreissenid mussels, and by declines in native amphipods Diporeia spp. We evaluated whether these changes could influence diet overlap between three benthivorous fishes (Slimy Sculpin Cottus cognatus, Deepwater Sculpin Myoxocephalus thompsonii, and Round Goby) and whether predation on eggs of native species was occurring. We examined diets of fish collected at depths of 69–128 m in Lake Michigan offshore of Frankfort and Muskegon, Michigan, and Two Rivers and Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, during January–May 2009 and 2010. Important prey (by dry weight proportion and by percent frequency of occurrence) for Slimy Sculpin were Mysis (0.34; 45%), Diporeia (0.16; 34%), and Limnocalanus macrurus (0.22; 68%); important prey for Deepwater Sculpin were Mysis (0.74; 92%) and Diporeia (0.16; 54%). Round Goby consumed mainly bivalves (i.e., dreissenids: 0.68; 95%) and Mysis (0.15; 37%). The two sculpin species consumed the eggs of Bloaters Coregonus hoyi (Slimy Sculpin: 0.04, 11%; Deepwater Sculpin: 0.02, 7%) and the eggs of Deepwater Sculpin (Slimy Sculpin: 0.03, 13%; Deepwater Sculpin: 0.05, 16%) during February–May at all sites. Round Goby also consumed eggs of these species but at lower levels (≤0.01; <1%). Diet overlap was identified between sculpin species at Frankfort and Sturgeon Bay, suggesting possible interspecific competition, but their diets did not overlap at Two Rivers; diet overlap was never observed between Round Goby and either sculpin species. Given that (1) diet overlap varied by site and (2) diet proportions varied spatially more than temporally, benthivores appear to be exhibiting localized responses to recent ecological changes. Overall, these results reveal that egg predation and interspecific competition could be important interactions to consider in future examinations of the population dynamics of these species or in ecosystem models that forecast how fisheries will respond to possible perturbations or management scenarios.
Evaluation of Commercial Marine Fish Feeds for Production of Juvenile Cobia in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
Authors: Wills Paul S , Weirich Charles R , Baptiste Richard M , Riche Marty A
Published: February 2013

The effect of different commercially available marine fish diets on production characteristics and body composition of juvenile Cobia Rachycentron canadum reared in production-scale recirculating aquaculture systems was evaluated in a 57-d growth trial. Juvenile Cobia (mean weight ± SE, 26.7 ± 0.9 g) were stocked at an initial density of 1.2 kg/m3. After stocking, fish were fed one of three closed-formula diets formulated for carnivorous marine finfish (coded diet A, 50% crude protein : 22% crude lipid; diet B, 49% crude protein : 17% crude lipid; and diet C, 48% crude protein : 17% crude lipid), all at a targeted feed rate of 3–5% body weight per day. At 2-week intervals, 10% of the population of each tank was sampled to determine mean weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, and biomass. At the termination of the trial, the entire population of each tank was harvested to determine the same characteristics and survival. In addition, fish were sampled to determine relative changes in whole body composition, energy retention, protein efficiency ratio, and protein productive value. Final weight (203.3 g), specific growth rate (3.6%/d), feed conversion efficiency (92.2%), biomass (7.3 kg/m3), and protein productive value (25.2%) of fish fed the high-lipid diet A were significantly higher than those of fish fed the other two diets. No differences in whole body composition were observed among fish fed the three diets with the exception of dry matter composition. Contrary to previous reports, the results of the current study indicate that juvenile Cobia reared in production-scale recirculating aquaculture systems fed high-lipid diets exhibit protein sparing and better growth.
qPCR Assays for the Detection of Cylindrocladium buxicola in Plant, Water, and Air Samples
Authors: Gehesquière B. , D'Haeyer S. , Pham K. T. K. , Van Kuik A. J. , Maes M. , Höfte M. , Heungens K.
Published: February 2013

Cylindrocladium buxicola (syn. C. pseudonaviculatum; teleomorph Calonectria pseudonaviculata) is an important fungal pathogen of Buxus spp. Although widespread in Western Europe, this pathogen has only recently been introduced into North America, where it represents a significant threat to the U.S. and Canadian boxwood industries. Trade of latently infected nursery stock is an important mode of long-distance dissemination and introduction of this pathogen but no methods for detection of latently infected material are available. Also, the pathways for short-distance dispersal of C. buxicola have not been adequately studied. Improved detection methods of this pathogen in air and water samples would benefit future research in this area. We have developed real-time polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of C. buxicola based on the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS) and the β-tubulin 2 gene (TUB). Using a TaqMan probe conjugated with a 3′ minor groove binding group (TaqMan MGB probe), the ITS-based assay could reliably detect as little as 10 fg of genomic DNA or 20 copies of cloned target DNA and was approximately 70 times more sensitive than the SYBR Green TUB-based assay. The ITS-based assay provided good but not complete specificity, and is well suited for epidemiological studies. The TUB-based assay, however, proved to be fully specific and can be used for diagnostics. We developed and optimized sample processing and DNA extraction methods for detection of latently present C. buxicola in boxwood plants and quantification of conidia in water and air samples. C. buxicola could be detected in 20 g of plant material, of which only 1 ppm of the tissue was infected, in 10-ml water samples containing as low as 1 conidium/ml, and on Melinex tape pieces representing 12 h of air sampling containing 10 or more conidia. The applicability of the techniques to plant, water, and air samples of practical size was demonstrated.
Do animals generally flush early and avoid the rush? A meta-analysis
Authors: Samia Diogo S. M. , Nomura Fausto , Blumstein Daniel T.
Published: February 2013

Optimal escape theory predicts that animals should balance the costs and benefits of flight. One cost of not fleeing is the ongoing cost of monitoring an approaching predator. We used a phylogenetic meta-analysis to test the general hypothesis that animals should initiate flight soon after they detect a predator—the ‘flush early and avoid the rush’ hypothesis. We found a large, significant overall relationship between the distance at which animals were approached or first detected a threat and the distance at which they fled. While these results are the first general test of the flush early and avoid the rush hypothesis, future work will be required to determine whether animals flush early to reduce ongoing attentional costs, or if they flush early as a form of risk reduction.
Erosion of community diversity and stability by herbivore removal under warming
Authors: Post Eric
Published: February 2013

Climate change has the potential to influence the persistence of ecological communities by altering their stability properties. One of the major drivers of community stability is species diversity, which is itself expected to be altered by climate change in many systems. The extent to which climatic effects on community stability may be buffered by the influence of species interactions on diversity is, however, poorly understood because of a paucity of studies incorporating interactions between abiotic and biotic factors. Here, I report results of a 10-year field experiment, the past 7 years of which have focused on effects of ongoing warming and herbivore removal on diversity and stability within the plant community, where competitive species interactions are mediated by exploitation through herbivory. Across the entire plant community, stability increased with diversity, but both stability and diversity were reduced by herbivore removal, warming and their interaction. Within the most species-rich functional group in the community, forbs, warming reduced species diversity, and both warming and herbivore removal reduced the strength of the relationship between diversity and stability. Species interactions, such as exploitation, may thus buffer communities against destabilizing influences of climate change, and intact populations of large herbivores, in particular, may prove important in maintaining and promoting plant community diversity and stability in a changing climate.
Stochastic multiplicative population growth predicts and interprets Taylor's power law of fluctuation scaling
Authors: Cohen Joel E. , Xu Meng , Schuster William S. F.
Published: February 2013

Taylor's law (TL) asserts that the variance of the density (individuals per area or volume) of a set of comparable populations is a power-law function of the mean density of those populations. Despite the empirical confirmation of TL in hundreds of species, there is little consensus about why TL is so widely observed and how its estimated parameters should be interpreted. Here, we report that the Lewontin–Cohen (henceforth LC) model of stochastic population dynamics, which has been widely discussed and applied, leads to a spatial TL in the limit of large time and provides an explicit, exact interpretation of its parameters. The exponent of TL exceeds 2 if and only if the LC model is supercritical (growing on average), equals 2 if and only if the LC model is deterministic, and is less than 2 if and only if the LC model is subcritical (declining on average). TL and the LC model describe the spatial variability and the temporal dynamics of populations of trees on long-term plots censused over 75 years at the Black Rock Forest, Cornwall, NY, USA.
Association of rhizobia with a marine polychaete
Authors: Summers Mindi M. , Katz Sigrid , Allen Eric E. , Rouse Greg W.
Published: February 2013

We report the presence of Mesorhizobium, a genus best known for its nitrogen‐fixing symbiosis with terrestrial legumes, associated with the marine polychaete Meganerilla bactericola (Annelida: Nerillidae). Abundant epibionts were previously described as coating the exterior of M. bactericola, which is found within the anoxic sulfide‐oxidizing microbial mats of the Santa Barbara Basin, California, USA. 16S rRNA investigation of the bacterial community associated with this polychaete discovered the presence of bacteria belonging to Mesorhizobium. We identified these bacteria using phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA and three additional functional genes, nifH, atpD and recA, and group‐specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
mTOR regulates tau phosphorylation and degradation: implications for Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies
Authors: Caccamo Antonella , Magrì Andrea , Medina David X. , Wisely Elena V. , López‐Aranda Manuel F. , Silva Alcino J. , Oddo Salvatore
Published: February 2013

Accumulation of tau is a critical event in several neurodegenerative disorders, collectively known as tauopathies, which include Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Pathological tau is hyperphosphorylated and aggregates to form neurofibrillary tangles. The molecular mechanisms leading to tau accumulation remain unclear and more needs to be done to elucidate them. Age is a major risk factor for all tauopathies, suggesting that molecular changes contributing to the aging process may facilitate tau accumulation and represent common mechanisms across different tauopathies. Here, we use multiple animal models and complementary genetic and pharmacological approaches to show that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates tau phosphorylation and degradation. Specifically, we show that genetically increasing mTOR activity elevates endogenous mouse tau levels and phosphorylation. Complementary to it, we further demonstrate that pharmacologically reducing mTOR signaling with rapamycin ameliorates tau pathology and the associated behavioral deficits in a mouse model overexpressing mutant human tau. Mechanistically, we provide compelling evidence that the association between mTOR and tau is linked to GSK3β and autophagy function. In summary, we show that increasing mTOR signaling facilitates tau pathology, while reducing mTOR signaling ameliorates tau pathology. Given the overwhelming evidence that reducing mTOR signaling increases lifespan and healthspan, the data presented here have profound clinical implications for aging and tauopathies and provide the molecular basis for how aging may contribute to tau pathology. Additionally, these results provide preclinical data indicating that reducing mTOR signaling may be a valid therapeutic approach for tauopathies.
Sorafenib suppresses growth and survival of hepatoma cells by accelerating degradation of enhancer of zeste homolog 2
Authors: Wang Shanshan , Zhu Yu , He Hongyong , Liu Jing , Xu Le , Zhang Heng , Liu Haiou , Liu Weisi , Liu Yidong , Pan Deng , Chen Lin , Wu Qian , Xu Jiejie , Gu Jianxin
Published: February 2013

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a mammalian histone methyltransferase that contributes to the epigenetic silencing of target genes that regulate cancer cell growth and survival. It is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a clinical significance that remains obscure. Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, has been used as a first‐line therapeutic drug and shown clinical efficiency for advanced‐stage HCC patients. In the present study, we found that sorafenib lowered the protein level of EZH2 through accelerating proteasome‐mediated EZH2 degradation in hepatoma cells. Overexpression of EZH2 reversed sorafenib‐induced cell growth arrest, cell cycle arrest, and cell apoptosis dependent on histone methyltransferase activity in hepatoma cells. More importantly, shRNA‐mediated EZH2 knockdown or EZH2 inhibition with 3‐deazaneplanocin A treatment promoted sorafenib‐induced hepatoma cell growth arrest and apoptosis. Sorafenib altered the hepatoma epigenome by reducing EZH2 and H3K27 trimethylation. These results revealed a novel therapeutic mechanism underlying sorafenib treatment in suppressing hepatoma growth and survival by accelerating EZH2 degradation. Genetic deletion or pharmacological ablation of EZH2 made hepatoma cells more sensitive to sorafenib, which helps provide a strong framework for exploring innovative combined therapies for advanced‐stage HCC patients.
A short and validated multiple sclerosis‐specific health‐related quality of life measurement for routine medical practice
Authors: Devy R. , Lehert P. , Varlan E. , Genty M. , Edan G.
Published: February 2013

Background and purpose

Patient‐reported health‐related quality of life (Hr‐QoL) is an essential end‐point to assess the efficacy of multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment. Most QoL tools were developed for clinical research, for which measurement accuracy is required, irrespective of ease of use or the human resources needed. In routine medical practice (RMP), time and resources are limited, requiring simple and quick tools. Our objective was to set up a Hr‐QoL measurement adapted for patients with MS, and providing an accurate estimate of Hr‐QoL, whilst remaining easy to use and interpret in the RMP context.

Methods

Literature searches, expert meetings and semi‐structured interviews were used to gather relevant items and dimensions of existing scales. Scale development included item reduction and dimension identification through a cross‐sectional observational study. The scale was validated on another independent representative sample. Statistically significant dimensions were identified using psychometric procedures, a Rasch polytomous model and iterative confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

Results

From 12 potential dimensions, based on a sample of 331 patients with MS, the backward CFA identified physical, mental and energy dimensions, and item optimization selected 10 items constituting our Hr‐QoL scale prototype. Its validity was assessed in an independent study of 457 patients with MS, which provided statistical evidence of reliability, reproducibility in time, invariance with regard to population subgroups and overall fitting with a Rasch polytomous model.

Conclusions

Compared with existing alternatives, our 10‐item three‐dimensional Hr‐QoL measurement tool is adapted to RMP, and constitutes an adequate compromise between precision and ease of use in patients with MS.
Are lizards feeling the heat? A tale of ecology and evolution under two temperatures
Authors: Meiri Shai , Bauer Aaron M. , Chirio Laurent , Colli Guarino R. , Das Indraneil , Doan Tiffany M. , Feldman Anat , Herrera Fernando‐Castro , Novosolov Maria , Pafilis Panayiotis , Pincheira‐Donoso Daniel , Powney Gary , Torres‐Carvajal Omar , Uetz Peter , Van Damme Raoul
Published: February 2013

Aim

Temperature influences most components of animal ecology and life history – but what kind of temperature? Physiologists usually examine the influence of body temperatures, while biogeographers and macroecologists tend to focus on environmental temperatures. We aim to examine the relationship between these two measures, to determine the factors that affect lizard body temperatures and to test the effect of both temperature measures on lizard life history.

Location

World‐wide.

Methods

We used a large (861 species) global dataset of lizard body temperatures, and the mean annual temperatures across their geographic ranges to examine the relationships between body and mean annual temperatures. We then examined factors influencing body temperatures, and tested for the influence of both on ecological and life‐history traits while accounting for the influence of shared ancestry.

Results

Body temperatures and mean annual temperatures are uncorrelated. However, accounting for activity time (nocturnal species have low body temperatures), use of space (fossorial and semi‐aquatic species are ‘colder’), insularity (mainland species are ‘hotter’) and phylogeny, the two temperatures are positively correlated. High body temperatures are only associated with larger hatchlings and increased rates of biomass production. Annual temperatures are positively correlated with clutch frequency and annual longevity, and negatively correlated with clutch size, age at first reproduction and longevity.

Main conclusions

Lizards with low body temperatures do not seem to have ‘slower’ life‐history attributes than species with high body temperatures. The longer seasons prevalent in warm regions, and physiological processes that operate while lizards are inactive (but warm enough), make environmental temperatures better predictors of lizard life‐history variation than body temperatures. This surprisingly greater effect of environmental temperatures on lizard life histories hints that global warming may have a profound influence on lizard ecology and evolution.
Characteristics of CO2‐driven cold‐water geyser, Crystal Geyser in Utah: experimental observation and mechanism analyses
Authors: Han W. S. , Lu M. , McPherson B. J. , Keating E. H. , Moore J. , Park E. , Watson Z. T. , Jung N.‐H.
Published: February 2013

Geologic carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an option for reducing CO2 emissions, but leakage to the surface is a risk factor. Natural CO2 reservoirs that erupt from abandoned oil and gas holes leak to the surface as spectacular cold geysers in the Colorado Plateau, United States. A better understanding of the mechanisms of CO2‐driven cold‐water geysers will provide valuable insight about the potential modes of leakage from engineered CCS sites. A notable example of a CO2‐driven cold‐water geyser is Crystal Geyser in central Utah. We investigated the fluid mechanics of this regularly erupting geyser by instrumenting its conduit with sensors and measuring pressure and temperature every 20 sec over a period of 17 days. Analyses of these measurements suggest that the timescale of a single‐eruption cycle is composed of four successive eruption types with two recharge periods ranging from 30 to 40 h. Current eruption patterns exhibit a bimodal distribution, but these patterns evolved during past 80 years. The field observation suggests that the geyser's eruptions are regular and predictable and reflect pressure and temperature changes resulting from Joule–Thomson cooling and endothermic CO2 exsolution. The eruption interval between multiple small‐scale eruptions is a direct indicator of the subsequent large‐scale eruption.
Frayed Careers of Migrant Female Professors in British Academia: An Intersectional Perspective
Authors: Sang Katherine , Al‐Dajani Haya , Özbilgin Mustafa
Published: February 2013

Women and migrants continue to make inroads into the academic labour market in the UK, where their numbers are increasing. However, the same pattern of access is not true for these two groups in terms of their representation in positions of power and influence in the higher education sector in the country. Intuitively, at the intersection of these two disadvantaged groups, migrant women academics in full professorial posts should suffer from frayed careers. Drawing on life‐story interviews with nine migrant women who hold full professorial posts in UK academia, we challenge the frayed careers concept, and the double disadvantage discourse, from an intersectional perspective. Our findings demonstrate the surprising rather than summative nature of intersections between gender and ethnicity and as such lend support to the argument that disadvantages across multiple categories of difference do not necessarily translate into multiple jeopardy at the level of careers. Instead, our study reveals that the status of migrant female academics as double outsiders has more explanatory power than their status as subjects of double disadvantage.
Infant Brain Responses to Object Weight: Exploring Goal‐Directed Actions and Self‐Experience
Authors: Marshall Peter J. , Saby Joni N. , Meltzoff Andrew N.
Published: February 2013

Recent work has suggested the value of electroencephalographic (EEG) measures in the study of infants' processing of human action. Studies in this area have investigated desynchronization of the sensorimotor mu rhythm during action execution and action observation in infancy. Untested but critical to theory is whether the mu rhythm shows a differential response to actions which share similar goals but have different motor requirements or sensory outcomes. By varying the invisible property of object weight, we controlled for the abstract goal (reach, grasp, and lift the object), while allowing other aspects of the action to vary. The mu response during 14‐month‐old infants' own executed actions showed a differential hemispheric response between acting on heavier and lighter objects. EEG responses also showed sensitivity to “expected object weight” when infants simply observed an experimenter reach for objects that the infants' prior experience indicated were heavier vs. lighter. Crucially, this neural reactivity was predictive—during the observation of the other reaching toward the object, before lifting occurred. This suggests that infants' own self‐experience with a particular object's weight influences their processing of others' actions on the object, with implications for developmental social‐cognitive neuroscience.
Impact analysis of logistics facility relocation using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)
Authors: Opasanon Sathaporn , Lertsanti Pattarakamol
Published: February 2013

Facility relocation has a long‐term impact on business competitiveness in terms of cost efficiency, service level, and accessibility to marketplace. This paper investigates the impacts of relocating a company's logistics facility. Specifically, a case study of a logistics service provider for a bank, whose services include cash pick‐up and deliveries, and ATM refill, is conducted. Some of the major logistics issues caused by the relocation of the company's distribution center are identified through process observation and in‐depth interview. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is implemented to evaluate and rank the importance of the logistics issues according to the needs and requirements of the company's policy makers. Four criteria considered in the AHP include cost, responsiveness, reliability, and utilization. Results show that, from the company's perspective, the development of logistics key performance indices is given the highest priority, followed by improvement of internal process, vehicle routing, network design, and inventory management, respectively.
Transarterial embolization as neo‐adjuvant therapy pretransplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Tsochatzis Emmanuel , Garcovich Matteo , Marelli Laura , Papastergiou Vassilis , Fatourou Evangelia , Rodriguez‐Peralvarez Manuel L. , Germani Giacomo , Davies Neil , Yu Dominic , Luong Tu Vinh , Dhillon Amar P. , Thorburn Douglas , Patch David , O'Beirne James , Meyer Tim , Burroughs Andrew K.
Published: February 2013

Background & Aims

Neo‐adjuvant transarterial therapies are commonly used for patients with HCC in the waiting list for liver transplantation (LT) to delay tumour progression, however, their effectiveness is not well‐established. We studied the effect of pre‐LT transarterial therapies on post‐LT HCC recurrence, using the explanted liver histology to assess therapeutic efficacy and the predictors of response to these therapies.

Methods

We included 150 consecutive patients from our prospectively compiled database, listed for liver transplantation using the Milan criteria. Transarterial embolization without chemotherapeutic agents was the transarterial therapy used as standard of care. PVA particles were the embolizing agent of choice.

Results

Sixty‐seven (45%) patients had TAE as bridging therapy to liver transplantation, of which 60 were transplanted after 2001. The majority of patients (36, 54%) had partial tumour necrosis after transarterial therapy, whereas 22 (33%) had complete tumour necrosis and 9 (13%) had no necrosis. HCC post‐transplant recurrence was independently associated with no neo‐adjuvant transarterial therapy (OR 5.395, 95% CI 1.289–22.577; P = 0.021) and the total radiological size of HCC nodules (OR 1.037, 95% CI 1.006–1.069; P = 0.020).

Conclusions

Pre‐transplant TAE with the more permanently occluding PVA particles significantly reduces post‐transplant HCC recurrence in patients within the Milan criteria.
Tetrathionate stimulated growth of Campylobacter jejuni identifies a new type of bi‐functional tetrathionate reductase (TsdA) that is widely distributed in bacteria
Authors: Liu Yang‐Wei , Denkmann Kevin , Kosciow Konrad , Dahl Christiane , Kelly David J.
Published: February 2013

Tetrathionate (S4O62−) is used by some bacteria as an electron acceptor and can be produced in the vertebrate intestinal mucosa from the oxidation of thiosulphate (S2O32−) by reactive oxygen species during inflammation. Surprisingly, growth of the microaerophilic mucosal pathogen Campylobacter jejuni under oxygen‐limited conditions was stimulated by tetrathionate, although it does not possess any known type of tetrathionate reductase. Here, we identify a dihaem cytochrome c (C8j_0815; TsdA) as the enzyme responsible. Kinetic studies with purified recombinant C. jejuni TsdA showed it to be a bifunctional tetrathionate reductase/thiosulphate dehydrogenase with a high affinity for tetrathionate. A tsdA null mutant still slowly reduced, but could not grow on, tetrathionate under oxygen limitation, lacked thiosulphate‐dependent respiration and failed to convert thiosulphate to tetrathionate microaerobically. A TsdA paralogue (C8j_0040), lacking the unusual His–Cys haem ligation of TsdA, had low thiosulphate dehydrogenase and tetrathionate reductase activities. Our data highlight a hitherto unrecognized capacity of C. jejuni to use tetrathionate and thiosulphate in its energy metabolism, which may promote growth in the host. Moreover, as TsdA represents a new class of tetrathionate reductase that is widely distributed among bacteria, we predict that energy conserving tetrathionate respiration is far more common than currently appreciated.
Diagnostic testing for dyssynergic defecation in chronic constipation: meta‐analysis
Authors: Videlock E. J. , Lembo A. , Cremonini F.
Published: February 2013

Background

Dyssynergic defecation (DD) results from inadequate relaxation of the pelvic floor on attempted defecation. The prevalence of DD in patients with chronic constipation (CC) is not certain. Aims of this study are to estimate the prevalence of abnormal findings associated with DD across testing modalities in patients referred for physiological testing for CC.

Methods

Systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and PUBMED databases were conducted. We included full manuscripts reporting DD prevalence in CC, and specific findings at pelvic floor diagnostic tests. Random effects models were used to calculate pooled DD prevalences (with 95% CI) according to individual tests and specific findings.

Key Results

A total of 79 studies on 7581 CC patients were included. The median prevalence of any single abnormal finding associated with DD was 37.2%, ranging from 14.9% (95% CI 7.9–26.3) for absent opening of the anorectal angle (ARA) on defecography to 52.9% (95% CI 44.3–61.3) for a dyssynergic pattern on ultrasound. The prevalence of a dyssynergic pattern on manometry was 47.7% (95% CI 39.5–56.1). The prevalence of DD was similar across specialty and geographic area as well as when restricting to studies using Rome criteria to define constipation.

Conclusions & Inferences

Dyssynergic defecation is highly prevalent in CC and is commonly detected across testing modalities, type of patient referred, and geographical regions. We believe that the lower prevalence of findings associated with DD by defecography supports use of manometry and balloon expulsion testing as an initial evaluation for CC.
Efficient xylem transport and phloem remobilization of Zn in the hyperaccumulator plant species Sedum alfredii
Authors: Lu Lingli , Tian Shengke , Zhang Jie , Yang Xiaoe , Labavitch John M. , Webb Samuel M. , Latimer Matthew , Brown Patrick H.
Published: February 2013

Sedum alfredii is one of a few species known to hyperaccumulate zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd). Xylem transport and phloem remobilization of Zn in hyperaccumulating (HP) and nonhyperaccumulating (NHP) populations of S. alfredii were compared.

Micro‐X‐ray fluorescence (μ‐XRF) images of Zn in the roots of the two S. alfredii populations suggested an efficient xylem loading of Zn in HP S. alfredii, confirmed by the seven‐fold higher Zn concentrations detected in the xylem sap collected from HP, when compared with NHP, populations. Zn was predominantly transported as aqueous Zn (> 55.9%), with the remaining proportion (36.7–42.3%) associated with the predominant organic acid, citric acid, in the xylem sap of HP S. alfredii.

The stable isotope 68Zn was used to trace Zn remobilization from mature leaves to new growing leaves for both populations. Remobilization of 68Zn was seven‐fold higher in HP than in NHP S. alfredii. Subsequent analysis by μ‐XRF, combined with LA‐ICPMS (laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), confirmed the enhanced ability of HP S. alfredii to remobilize Zn and to preferentially distribute the metal to mesophyll cells surrounding phloem in the new leaves.

The results suggest that Zn hyperaccumulation by HP S. alfredii is largely associated with enhanced xylem transport and phloem remobilization of the metal. To our knowledge, this report is the first to reveal enhanced remobilization of metal by phloem transport in hyperaccumulators.
Sexual polyploidization in plants – cytological mechanisms and molecular regulation
Authors: De Storme Nico , Geelen Danny
Published: February 2013

In the plant kingdom, events of whole genome duplication or polyploidization are generally believed to occur via alterations of the sexual reproduction process. Thereby, diploid pollen and eggs are formed that contain the somatic number of chromosomes rather than the gametophytic number. By participating in fertilization, these so‐called 2n gametes generate polyploid offspring and therefore constitute the basis for the establishment of polyploidy in plants. In addition, diplogamete formation, through meiotic restitution, is an essential component of apomixis and also serves as an important mechanism for the restoration of F1 hybrid fertility. Characterization of the cytological mechanisms and molecular factors underlying 2n gamete formation is therefore not only relevant for basic plant biology and evolution, but may also provide valuable cues for agricultural and biotechnological applications (e.g. reverse breeding, clonal seeds). Recent data have provided novel insights into the process of 2n pollen and egg formation and have revealed multiple means to the same end. Here, we summarize the cytological mechanisms and molecular regulatory networks underlying 2n gamete formation, and outline important mitotic and meiotic processes involved in the ectopic induction of sexual polyploidization.

Contents

Summary
670

I.
Introduction
670

II.
General mechanisms of 2n gamete formation
671

III.
Cytological processes leading to meiotic restitution
672

IV.
Genetic control of 2n gamete formation
675

V.
Conclusions and future directions
680

Acknowledgements
680

References
680
The jasmonic acid signaling pathway is linked to auxin homeostasis through the modulation of YUCCA8 and YUCCA9 gene expression
Authors: Hentrich Mathias , Böttcher Christine , Düchting Petra , Cheng Youfa , Zhao Yunde , Berkowitz Oliver , Masle Josette , Medina Joaquín , Pollmann Stephan
Published: February 2013

Interactions between phytohormones play important roles in the regulation of plant growth and development, but knowledge of the networks controlling hormonal relationships, such as between oxylipins and auxins, is just emerging. Here, we report the transcriptional regulation of two Arabidopsis YUCCA genes, YUC8 and YUC9, by oxylipins. Similar to previously characterized YUCCA family members, we show that both YUC8 and YUC9 are involved in auxin biosynthesis, as demonstrated by the increased auxin contents and auxin‐dependent phenotypes displayed by gain‐of‐function mutants as well as the significantly decreased indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) levels in yuc8 and yuc8/9 knockout lines. Gene expression data obtained by qPCR analysis and microscopic examination of promoter‐reporter lines reveal an oxylipin‐mediated regulation of YUC9 expression that is dependent on the COI1 signal transduction pathway. In support of these findings, the roots of the analyzed yuc knockout mutants displayed a reduced response to methyl jasmonate (MeJA). The similar response of the yuc8 and yuc9 mutants to MeJA in cotyledons and hypocotyls suggests functional overlap of YUC8 and YUC9 in aerial tissues, while their function in roots shows some specificity, probably in part related to different spatio‐temporal expression patterns of the two genes. These results provide evidence for an intimate functional relationship between oxylipin signaling and auxin homeostasis.
Left Ventricular Finite Element Model Bounded by a Systemic Circulation Model
Authors: Veress A. I. , Raymond G. M. , Gullberg G. T. , Bassingthwaighte J. B.
Published: February 2013

A series of models were developed in which a circulatory system model was coupled to an existing series of finite element (FE) models of the left ventricle (LV). The circulatory models were used to provide realistic boundary conditions for the LV models. This was developed for the JSim analysis package and was composed of a systemic arterial, capillary, and venous system in a closed loop with a varying elastance LV and left atria to provide the driving pressures and flows matching those of the FE model. Three coupled models were developed, a normal LV under normotensive aortic loading (116/80 mm Hg), a mild hypertension (137/89 mm Hg) model, and a moderate hypertension model (165/100 mm Hg). The initial step in the modeling analysis was that the circulation was optimized to the end-diastolic pressure and volume values of the LV model. The cardiac FE models were then optimized to the systolic pressure/volume characteristics of the steady-state JSim circulatory model solution. Comparison of the stress predictions for the three models indicated that the mild hypertensive case produced a 21% increase in the average fiber stress levels, and the moderate hypertension case had a 36% increase in average stress. The circulatory work increased by 18% and 43% over that of the control for the mild and moderate hypertensive cases, respectively.
Validation of an Empirical Damage Model for Aging and in Vivo Injury of the Murine Patellar Tendon
Authors: Buckley Mark R. , Dunkman Andrew A. , Reuther Katherine E. , Kumar Akash , Pathmanathan Lydia , Beason David P. , Birk David E. , Soslowsky Louis J.
Published: February 2013

While useful models have been proposed to predict the mechanical impact of damage in tendon and other soft tissues, the applicability of these models for describing in vivo injury and age-related degeneration has not been investigated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop and validate a simple damage model to predict mechanical alterations in mouse patellar tendons after aging, injury, or healing. To characterize baseline properties, uninjured controls at age 150 days were cyclically loaded across three strain levels and five frequencies. For comparison, damage was induced in mature (120 day-old) mice through either injury or aging. Injured mice were sacrificed at three or six weeks after surgery, while aged mice were sacrificed at either 300 or 570 days old. Changes in mechanical properties (relative to baseline) in the three week post-injury group were assessed and used to develop an empirical damage model based on a simple damage parameter related to the equilibrium stress at a prescribed strain (6%). From the derived model, the viscoelastic properties of the 300 day-old, 570 day-old, and six week post-injury groups were accurately predicted. Across testing conditions, nearly all correlations between predicted and measured parameters were statistically significant and coefficients of determination ranged from R2 = 0.25 to 0.97. Results suggest that the proposed damage model could exploit simple in vivo mechanical measurements to predict how an injured or aged tendon will respond to complex physiological loading regimens.
Get Physical, Get Smart!
Authors: Singh Manpreet K.
Published: February 2013

Reduced motor activity in childhood can result in poor academic achievement as a teen.
Novel Combinations of Vancomycin plus Ceftaroline or Oxacillin against Methicillin-Resistant Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and Heterogeneous VISA
Authors: Werth B. J. , Vidaillac C. , Murray K. P. , Newton K. L. , Sakoulas G. , Nonejuie P. , Pogliano J. , Rybak M. J.
Published: February 2013

We demonstrated a significant inverse correlation between vancomycin and beta-lactam susceptibilities in vancomycin-intermediate
Staphylococcus aureus
(VISA) and heterogeneous VISA (hVISA) isolates. Using time-kill assays, vancomycin plus oxacillin or ceftaroline was synergistic against 3 of 5 VISA and 1 of 5 hVISA isolates or 5 of 5 VISA and 4 of 5 hVISA isolates, respectively. Beta-lactam exposure reduced overall vancomycin-Bodipy (
dipy
rromethene
bo
ron difluoride [4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-
s
-indacene] fluorescent dye) binding but may have improved vancomycin-cell wall interactions to improve vancomycin activity. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanism behind vancomycin and beta-lactam synergy.
Temporal lobe epilepsy exacerbation during pharmacological inhibition of endogenous neurosteroid synthesis
Authors: Pugnaghi Matteo , Monti Giulia , Biagini Giuseppe , Meletti Stefano
Published: February 2013

We report the case of a woman who presented cryptogenic temporal lobe seizures from the age of 43 years. Antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment with carbamazepine was able to control seizures for 1 year, but seizures relapsed and an add-on treatment with lamotrigine was started without achieving seizures control. The patient's  medical history was unremarkable except for a mild hirsutism for which she was taking finasteride since 45 years of age. In view of the possible relationship between finasteride, a known inhibitor of neurosteroids synthesis, and patient's seizures exacerbation, we stopped finasteride resulting in prompt recovery of seizures control. It is know that 5α-dihydrosteroids are precursors of powerful positive modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid-A  inhibitory currents and exert antiseizure effects in animal epilepsy models. This case supports the hypothesis that endogenous neurosteroids can modulate seizure susceptibility and response to AEDs also in humans, suggesting their possible use as a new therapeutic option.
Lipid infusion in the management of poisoning: a report of 6 canine cases
Authors: Bates N. , Chatterton J. , Robbins C. , Wells K. , Hughes J. , Stone M. , Campbell A.
Published: February 2013

Intravenous administration of lipid is a relatively new treatment in the management of toxicity from lipophilic compounds. It is used in human medicine in the treatment of toxicity from lipophilic local anaesthetics and cardiotoxic drugs and can result in dramatic improvement in clinical status. We present six cases of poisoning in dogs successfully treated with lipid infusion after ingestion of ivermectin (3), moxidectin (2) and baclofen (1). The dogs ranged in age from eight weeks to 14 years, and weighed 4–30 kg. Intravenous lipid therapy was started between six and eight hours and 22 hours after ingestion, and all the dogs responded well. In four dogs, there was clinical improvement within one hour; one had improved within two hours and the other within 4.5 hours of lipid administration. The only adverse effect of lipid infusion reported was mild swelling and pain after extravasation in one case which resolved with conservative management. All the dogs were discharged within 24–52 hours after exposure (7–46 hours after the start of lipid administration), and none developed any apparent sequelae.
PERMANENCE IN GENERAL NON-AUTONOMOUS LOTKA–VOLTERRA PREDATOR–PREY SYSTEMS WITH DISTRIBUTED DELAYS AND IMPULSES
Authors: MUHAMMADHAJI AHMADJAN , TENG ZHIDONG , ZHANG LONG
Published: February 2013

In this paper, we study a general non-autonomous Lotka–Volterra predator–prey system with distributed delays and fixed time impulsive effects. Necessary and sufficient integral conditions on the permanence of species are established.