bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Twist on Old Questions: A Life Span Approach to the Trait Concept
Authors: Hampson Sarah E. , Edmonds Grant W.
Published: February 2017

Objective

We examine three cardinal concerns in personality psychology from a life span perspective: trait structure, trait stability, and trait mechanisms that account for the predictive utility of traits. We draw on previously published and new findings from the Hawaii Longitudinal Study of Personality and Health, as well as work by others.

Method

The Hawaii study provides a unique opportunity to relate a comprehensive assessment of participants' childhood personality traits (over 2,000 children, mean age 10 years) to their adult personality traits and other self‐report outcomes in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, and their clinically assessed health at mean age 51.

Results

Our analyses have demonstrated that the Big Five can be used to describe childhood personality in this cohort. The stability of the Big Five from childhood teacher assessments to adult self‐ or observer reports is modest and varies from Big Five trait to trait. Personality mechanisms of life span health behavior and life span trauma experience explain some of the influence of childhood Conscientiousness on adult health outcomes.

Conclusions

A life span approach highlights the dynamic nature of traits and their long‐term predictive utility, and it offers numerous directions for future research.
Narcissism and Social Networking Behavior: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Gnambs Timo , Appel Markus
Published: February 2017

Objective

The increasing popularity of social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook and Twitter has given rise to speculations that the intensity of using these platforms is associated with narcissistic tendencies. However, recent research on this issue has been all but conclusive.

Method

We present a three‐level, random effects meta‐analysis including 289 effect sizes from 57 studies (total N = 25,631) on the association between trait narcissism and social networking behavior.

Results

The meta‐analysis identified a small to moderate effect of ρ = .17 (τ = .11), 95% CI [.13, .21], for grandiose narcissism that replicated across different social networking platforms, respondent characteristics, and time. Moderator analyses revealed pronounced cultural differences, with stronger associations in power‐distant cultures. Moreover, social networking behaviors geared toward self‐presentation and the number of SNS friends exhibited stronger effects than usage durations.

Conclusions

Overall, the study not only supported but also refined the notion of a relationship between engaging in social networking sites and narcissistic personality traits.
Design of reforms with time‐inconsistent voters
Authors: Hwang Jisoo , Möllerström Johanna
Published: February 2017

Widespread agreement that a political reform is necessary is no guarantee that it is actually undertaken in a timely manner. There is often a delay before action is taken and reform packages that would be most efficient to implement all at once are often done only gradually. We propose a theoretical model explaining this behavior and show that when voters have present‐biased, time‐inconsistent preferences, gradualism can arise in equilibrium and be welfare‐enhancing. This is because without the possibility for gradualism, time‐inconsistent voters would delay implementing the reform even more. Using a citizen candidate model, we allow the agenda setter, who decides which reform schedule to put to vote, to be endogenously determined. We show that voters who are aware of their own time inconsistency can use the election of the agenda setter as a commitment device and appoint an agent who is more patient than the median voter in order to avoid full procrastination and to achieve efficiency‐maximizing gradualism.
Prioritizing young people's emotional health support needs via participatory research
Authors: Kendal S. E. , Milnes L. , Welsby H. , Pryjmachuk S. ,   Co‐Researchers’ Group
Published: February 2017

Accessible summary

What is known on this subject?

Young people's mental health is a concern to people around the world. Good emotional health promotes mental health and protects against mental illness, but we need to know more about how to help young people look after their emotional health.

We are learning that research is better if the public are involved in it, including children and young people. Therefore, we need to listen carefully to what young people have to say.

In this paper, we describe some research that involved young people from start to finish. We were asking what kind of emotional health support would be useful to them.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge?

We developed a useful way to involve young people in research so their voice can be heard.

Young people like to use the Internet to find emotional health support and information, but need to know which web sites they can trust.

What are the implications for practice?

Our method of bringing young people together to tell us their views was successful.

It is important to explore ways to help young people judge the quality of emotional health web sites.

Introduction

Youth mental health is a global concern. Emotional health promotes mental health and protects against mental illness. Youth value self‐care for emotional health, but we need better understanding of how to help them look after their emotional health. Participatory research is relevant, since meaningful engagement with youth via participatory research enhances the validity and relevance of research findings and supports young people's rights to involvement in decisions that concern them.

Aim

We aimed to develop a participatory approach for involving youth in research about their emotional health support preferences.

Method

Our team included a young expert‐by‐experience. We developed a qualitative, participatory research design. Eleven youth (16–18 years) participated in focus groups, followed immediately by a nominal group exercise in which they analysed the data, thus enhancing methodological rigour.

Results

This process highlighted youth perspectives on self‐care strategies for emotional health.

Discussion and implications for practice

Our simple participatory research approach generated trustworthy and credible findings, which accurately reflect youth perspectives and are consistent with the literature, endorsing our method. Young people said that they want reassurances of quality and safety when accessing digital mental health resources. These findings can inform future development of youth‐oriented digital mental health resources.
Spatial Correspondence Learning is Critical for the Sequence Effects of Symbolic Cueing
Authors: Qian Qian , Wang Feng , Song Miao , Feng Yong , Shinomori Keizo
Published: February 2017

Attention orienting has been found to be influenced by the previous cueing status in a spatial cueing paradigm. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the cue predictive values or the spatial correspondence learning between cues and targets could influence the sequence effect of symbolic cueing. The findings revealed that the predictive values of arrow or word cues do not lead to different sequence effects, but that visually asymmetrical letter cues, which allow spatial correspondence learning between cues and targets, induce stronger sequence effects than visually symmetrical letter cues. In addition, visually symmetrical directional word cues can induce sequence effects. The results suggest that spatial correspondence learning, although not obligatory, is critical for the sequence effects of symbolic cueing. The findings support the feature‐integration hypothesis, rather than the strategic adjustments account.
Undoing the Legal Capacities of a Military Object: A Case Study on the (In)Visibility of Civilians
Authors: Kolanoski Martina
Published: February 2017

International law dictates that actors in armed conflicts must distinguish between combatants and civilians. But how do legal actors assess the legality of a military operation after the fact? I analyze a civil proceeding for compensation by victims of a German-led airstrike in Afghanistan. The court treated military video as key evidence. I show how lawyers, judges, and expert witnesses categorized those involved by asking what a “military viewer” would make of the pictures. During the hearing, they avoided the categories of combatants/civilians; the military object resisted legal coding. I examine the decision in its procedural context, using ethnographic field notes and legal documents. I combine two ethnomethodological analytics: a trans-sequential approach and membership categorization analysis. I show the value of this combination for the sociological analysis of legal practice. I also propose that legal practitioners should use this approach to assess military viewing as a concerted, situated activity.
Specificity of root microbiomes in native‐grown Nicotiana attenuata and plant responses to UVB increase Deinococcus colonization
Authors: Santhanam Rakesh , Oh Youngjoo , Kumar Ramesh , Weinhold Arne , Luu Van Thi , Groten Karin , Baldwin Ian T.
Published: February 2017

Plants recruit microbial communities from the soil in which they germinate. Our understanding of the recruitment process and the factors affecting it is still limited for most microbial taxa. We analysed several factors potentially affecting root microbiome structure – the importance of geographic location of natural populations, the microbiome of native seeds as putative source of colonization and the effect of a plant's response to UVB exposure on root colonization of highly abundant species. The microbiome of Nicotiana attenuata seeds was determined by a culture‐dependent and culture‐independent approach, and the root microbiome of natural N. attenuata populations from five different locations was analysed using 454‐pyrosequencing. To specifically address the influence of UVB light on root colonization by Deinococcus, a genus abundant and consistently present in N. attenuata roots, transgenic lines impaired in UVB perception (irUVR8) and response (irCHAL) were investigated in a microcosm experiment with/without UVB supplementation using a synthetic bacterial community. The seed microbiome analysis indicated that N. attenuata seeds are sterile. Alpha and beta diversities of native root bacterial communities differed significantly between soil and root, while location had only a significant effect on the fungal but not the bacterial root communities. With UVB supplementation, root colonization of Deinococcus increased in wild type, but decreased in irUVR8 and irCHAL plants compared to nontreated plants. Our results suggest that N. attenuata recruits a core root microbiome exclusively from soil, with fungal root colonization being less selective than bacterial colonization. Root colonization by Deinococcus depends on the plant's response to UVB.
Specificity of fungal associations of Pyroleae and Monotropa hypopitys during germination and seedling development
Authors: Johansson V. A. , Bahram M. , Tedersoo L. , Kõljalg U. , Eriksson O.
Published: February 2017

Mycoheterotrophic plants obtain organic carbon from associated mycorrhizal fungi, fully or partially. Angiosperms with this form of nutrition possess exceptionally small ‘dust seeds’ which after germination develop ‘seedlings’ that remain subterranean for several years, fully dependent on fungi for supply of carbon. Mycoheterotrophs which as adults have photosynthesis thus develop from full to partial mycoheterotrophy, or autotrophy, during ontogeny. Mycoheterotrophic plants may represent a gradient of variation in a parasitism–mutualism continuum, both among and within species. Previous studies on plant–fungal associations in mycoheterotrophs have focused on either germination or the adult life stages of the plant. Much less is known about the fungal associations during development of the subterranean seedlings. We investigated germination and seedling development and the diversity of fungi associated with germinating seeds and subterranean seedlings (juveniles) in five Monotropoideae (Ericaceae) species, the full mycoheterotroph Monotropa hypopitys and the putatively partial mycoheterotrophs Pyrola chlorantha, P. rotundifolia, Moneses uniflora and Chimaphila umbellata. Seedlings retrieved from seed sowing experiments in the field were used to examine diversity of fungal associates, using pyrosequencing analysis of ITS2 region for fungal identification. The investigated species varied with regard to germination, seedling development and diversity of associated fungi during juvenile ontogeny. Results suggest that fungal host specificity increases during juvenile ontogeny, most pronounced in the fully mycoheterotrophic species, but a narrowing of fungal associates was found also in two partially mycoheterotrophic species. We suggest that variation in specificity of associated fungi during seedling ontogeny in mycoheterotrophs represents ongoing evolution along a parasitism–mutualism continuum.
The reliability of the German version of the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire
Authors: Krotsetis Susanne , Richards Kathy C , Behncke Anja , Köpke Sascha
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Background

The assessment of sleep quality in critically ill patients is a relevant factor of high‐quality care. Despite the fact that sleep disturbances and insufficient sleep management contain an increased risk of severe morbidity for these patients, a translated and applicable instrument to evaluate sleep is not available for German‐speaking intensive care settings.

Aim

This study aimed to translate the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ), a simple and validated instrument eligible for measuring sleep quality in critically ill patients, and subsequently to evaluate the internal consistency of the German version of the RCSQ. Furthermore, it also aimed to inquire into the perception of sleep in a sample of critically ill patients.

Methods

The RCSQ was translated following established methodological standards. Data were collected cross‐sectionally in a sample of 51 patients at 3 intensive care units at a university hospital in Germany.

Results

The German version of the RCSQ showed an overall internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of 0·88. The mean of the RSCQ in the sample was 47·00 (SD ± 27·57). Depth of sleep was rated the lowest and falling asleep again the highest of the RCSQ sleep items.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated very good internal consistency of the German version of the RCSQ, allowing for its application in practice and research in German‐speaking countries. Quality of sleep perception was generally low in this sample, emphasizing the need for enhanced care concepts regarding the sleep management of critically ill patients.

Relevance to clinical practice

Assessment of self‐perception of sleep is crucial in order to plan an individually tailored care process.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Nondependent Pacemaker Patients with Pacemakers and Defibrillators with a Nearly Depleted Battery
Authors: OKAMURA HIDEO , PADMANABHAN DEEPAK , WATSON ROBERT E. , DALZELL CONNIE , ACKER NANCY , JONDAL MARY , ROMME ABBY L. , CHA YONG‐MEI , ASIRVATHAM SAMUEL J. , FELMLEE JOEL P. , FRIEDMAN PAUL A.
Published: February 2017

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with non‐MRI‐conditional cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) has been shown to be safe when performed under closely monitored protocols. However, the safety of MRI in patients with devices with a nearly depleted battery has not been reported.

Methods

Prospective data were collected between January 2008 and May 2015 in patients with non‐MRI‐conditional CIEDs undergoing clinically indicated MRI under institutional protocol. Patients who were pacemaker dependent were excluded. Patients whose devices were at elective replacement indicator (ERI) at the time of MRI or close to ERI (ERI or replacement for battery depletion within 3 months of scan) were identified through database review and analyzed for clinical events.

Results

MRI scans (n = 569) were performed in 442 patients. Of these, we identified 13 scans performed with a nearly depleted battery in nine patients. All scans with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs, n = 9) were uneventful. However, two scans with pacemakers close to ERI resulted in a power‐on‐reset (PoR) event. One scan with a pacemaker close to ERI that was programmed to DOO mode reached ERI during MRI and automatically changed to VVI mode. Additionally, one scan with a pacemaker at ERI did not allow programming. All pacemakers with events were implanted before 2005.

Conclusion

Patients with pacemakers and ICDs with a nearly depleted battery can safely undergo MRI when patients are not pacemaker dependent. Attention should be paid because old devices can result in PoR or ERI during MRI, which may lead to oversensing and inhibition of pacing.
Romantic competence, healthy relationship functioning, and well‐being in emerging adults
Authors: DAVILA JOANNE , MATTANAH JONATHAN , BHATIA VICKIE , LATACK JESSICA A. , FEINSTEIN BRIAN A. , EATON NICHOLAS R. , DAKS JENNIFER S. , KUMAR SHAINA A. , LOMASH EDWARD F. , MCCORMICK MELODY , ZHOU JIAQI
Published: February 2017

A skills‐based model of healthy relationship functioning—romantic competence (RC)—is described. Its association with relationship and individual well‐being was examined in three studies of emerging adults using the Romantic Competence Interview for Emerging Adults (RCI–EA), which measures competence as the interplay of three skill domains. Across studies (women [n = 102], women and men [n = 187], romantic couples [n = 89]), RC was associated with greater security, healthier decision making, greater satisfaction, and fewer internalizing symptoms. The RCI–EA skill domains formed a latent factor and were associated with self‐reports reflective of RC, supporting the construct's validity. The RC construct may thus provide a theory‐driven, overarching way to characterize healthy romantic functioning that can reduce negative outcomes.
Does imiquimod pretreatment optimize 308‐nm excimer laser (UVB) therapy in psoriasis patients?
Authors: Tacastacas Joselin D. , Oyetakin‐White Patricia , Soler David C. , Young Andrew , Groft Sarah , Honda Kord , Cooper Kevin D. , McCormick Thomas S.
Published: February 2017

Background/Purpose

Psoriasis continues to be a debilitating skin disease affecting 1–3% of the United States population. Although the effectiveness of several current biologic therapies have described this pathology as a IL‐23, TNF‐a and Th17‐mediated disease, less invasive approaches are still in use and in need of refinement. One of these is the usage of narrow band‐UVB (NB‐UVB) therapy to deplete specifically intra‐epidermal CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells to clear psoriatic plaques.

Aims/Objectives

In order to improve NB‐UVB therapy, we sought to determine whether skin pre‐treatment with the TLR7 agonist imiquimod (IMQ) would help increase the efficiency of the former at resolving psoriatic plaques.

Materials and Methods

Eucerin® Original Moisturizing Lotion (topical vehicle) or Aldara® (imiquimod 5% topical cream) were applied for 5 days once daily to a maximum contiguous area of 25 cm2 (5 cm × 5 cm area). Patients were provided with sachets containing 12.5 mg of imiquimod each and were instructed to apply imiquimod (I) to two psoriasis plaques (5 sachets of imiquimod allotted to each plaque). A PHAROS excimer Laser EX‐308 (Ra Medical Systems, Inc. Carlsbad, CA, USA) with an output of monochromatic 308‐nm light and pulse width of 20–50 ns was used for all patients. Punch biopsies of psoriatic lesions (6 mm) were taken at 4 and 48 h after final application of topical treatment with or without excimer laser treatment. Real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR was performed according to manufacturer's instructions and Inmunohistochemistry was used as described before.

Results

Our results suggests that although IMQ seemed to activate the type I interferon pathway as previously described, its concomitant usage with NB‐UVB for clearing psoriatic skin was ineffective. Although upregulation of genes MxA, GRAMD1A and DMXL2 suggested that IMQ treatment did induce skin changes in psoriasis patients, more optimal dosing of IMQ and NB‐UVB might be necessary to achieve desired treatment responses.

Conclusion

The observation that psoriasis involvement was not aggravated by usage of topical IMQ was encouraging. Additional observational studies might be necessary to further tailor the combination of IMQ with NB‐UVB therapy to reliably improve the psoriatic pathology.
Selection history alters attentional filter settings persistently and beyond top‐down control
Authors: Kadel Hanna , Feldmann‐Wüstefeld Tobias , Schubö Anna
Published: February 2017

Visual selective attention is known to be guided by stimulus‐based (bottom‐up) and goal‐oriented (top‐down) control mechanisms. Recent work has pointed out that selection history (i.e., the bias to prioritize items that have been previously attended) can result in a learning experience that also has a substantial impact on subsequent attention guidance. The present study examined to what extent goal‐oriented top‐down control mechanisms interact with an observer's individual selection history in guiding attention. Selection history was manipulated in a categorization task in a between‐subjects design, where participants learned that either color or shape was the response‐relevant dimension. The impact of this experience was assessed in a compound visual search task with an additional color distractor. Top‐down preparation for each search trial was enabled by a pretrial task cue (Experiment 1) or a fixed, predictable trial sequence (Experiment 2). Reaction times and ERPs served as indicators of attention deployment. Results showed that attention was captured by the color distractor when participants had learned that color predicted the correct response in the categorization learning task, suggesting that a bias for predictive stimulus features had developed. The possibility to prepare for the search task reduced the bias, but could not entirely overrule this selection history effect. In Experiment 3, both tasks were performed in separate sessions, and the bias still persisted. These results indicate that selection history considerably shapes selective attention and continues to do so persistently even when the task allowed for high top‐down control.
Aquaculture of two commercially important molluscs (abalone and limpet): existing knowledge and future prospects
Authors: Mau Anthony , Jha Rajesh
Published: February 2017

Molluscan aquaculture produces the most food fish by volume in the global mariculture market. The historical, cultural and ecological value of molluscs makes them a highly sought‐after delicacy in many regions of the world. Specifically, the aquaculture of abalone and that of limpets are two key industries with striking similarities and importance within the context of food production and food security. In this review, the current knowledge of these two commercially important seafood species is explored for a comprehensive understanding of its aquaculture status. The various culture methods and systems, animal nutrition and necessary improvements are discussed for abalone and limpets, respectively. For abalone, the knowledge base is extensive and some reviews have been written to compile essential information regarding different aspects of this healthy industry. For limpets, there is a small collection of aquaculture literature, and this is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first comprehensive review of the research. Our goal was to reveal, within the area of aquaculture research, the current status of both abalone and limpet industries while exposing their respective knowledge gaps for appropriate development of new technologies. With a firm understanding of these molluscs, the production of abalone and limpet will be sustainable for the long term.
FGT Old‐Age Poverty Measures and the Mortality Paradox: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Lefèbvre Mathieu , Pestieau Pierre , Ponthiere Gregory
Published: February 2017

Income‐differentiated mortality, by reducing the share of poor persons in the population, leads to the “Mortality Paradox”: the worse the survival conditions of the poor are, the lower is the measured poverty. We show that FGT measures (Foster et al., ) are, in general, not robust to variations in survival conditions. Then, following Kanbur and Mukherjee (), we propose to adjust FGT poverty measures by extending the income profiles of the prematurely dead, and we identify the condition under which so‐adjusted FGT measures are robust to mortality changes. Finally, we show, on the basis of data from 2007 on old‐age poverty in 11 European economies, that the effect of extending income profiles of the prematurely dead on poverty measurement varies with: (1) the fictitious income assigned to the prematurely dead; (2) the degree of poverty aversion; (3) the shape of the (unadjusted) income distribution; and (4) the strength of the income/mortality relationship.
Increased Systemic Cytokine/Chemokine Expression in Asthmatic and Non‐asthmatic Patients with Bacterial, Viral or Mixed Lung Infection
Authors: Giuffrida M. J. , Valero N. , Mosquera J. , Duran A. , Arocha F. , Chacín B. , Espina L. M. , Gotera J. , Bermudez J. , Mavarez A. , Alvarez‐Mon M.
Published: February 2017

This study was aimed to determine the profiles of serum cytokines (IL‐1β, TNF‐α, IL‐4, IL‐5) and chemokines (MCP‐1: monocyte chemoattract protein‐1 and RANTES: regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) in individuals with an asthmatic versus a non‐asthmatic background with bacterial, viral or mixed acute respiratory infection. Asthmatic (n = 14) and non‐asthmatic (n = 29) patients with acute viral, bacterial or mixed (bacterial and viruses) respiratory infection were studied. Patients were also analysed as individuals with pneumonia or bronchitis. Healthy individuals with similar age and sex (n = 10) were used as controls. Cytokine/chemokine content in serum was determined by ELISA. Increased cytokine/chemokine concentration in asthmatic and non‐asthmatic patients was observed. However, higher concentrations of chemokines (MCP‐1 and RANTES) in asthmatic patients infected by viruses, bacteria or bacteria and viruses (mixed) than in non‐asthmatic patients were observed. In general, viral and mixed infections were better cytokine/chemokine inducers than bacterial infection. Cytokine/chemokine expression was similarly increased in both asthmatic and non‐asthmatic patients with pneumonia or bronchitis, except that RANTES remained at normal levels in bronchitis. Circulating cytokine profiles induced by acute viral, bacterial or mixed lung infection were not related to asthmatic background, except for chemokines that were increased in asthmatic status.
Culture and the Confederate flag: Attitudes toward a divisive symbol
Authors: Talbert Ryan D.
Published: February 2017

The Confederate flag remains a controversial symbol. This article reviews research on attitudes toward the Confederate flag and its public display. In order to better understand the divisiveness of the flag, I outline a historical timeline of the U.S. South and the Confederate flag while emphasizing the association between race and politics within the region. Culture is crucial to this paper because the flag is rooted in cultural constructions of its symbolism, and because opinions toward the flag shed light on the process of cultural change. Overall, this work synthesizes existing research on attitudes and legislative voting patterns focused on the flag and provides a foundation and suggestions for future inquiry into the topic. As a case study analyzing the manner in which “unsettled times” (Swidler, 1986) produce climates conducive to social change, I argue that the Charleston Emanuel AME Church shootings created an opportunity to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina capitol grounds. I conclude by viewing the flag debate within a society that has and continues to perpetuate racial inequities. Future research has the task of analyzing implications of Confederate flag support hopefully leading to the elimination of ideologies that spur racial violence.
More‐than‐human families: Pets, people, and practices in multispecies households
Authors: Irvine Leslie , Cilia Laurent
Published: February 2017

Although humans have coexisted with dogs and cats for thousands of years, that coexistence has taken on various meanings over time. Only recently have people openly included their pets as members of the family. Yet, because of the cultural ambivalence toward animals, what it means for a pet to “be” a family member remains unsettled. Drawing from research on family practices including kinship, household routines, childhood socialization, and domestic violence, this paper considers how pets participate in “doing” family and what their presence means for this social arrangement long considered quintessentially human. Today's more‐than‐human families represent a hybrid of relations, human and animal and social and natural, rather than an entirely new kind of family. Becoming family has always been contingent on a cast of nonhuman characters, and recognition of the “more‐than‐human” can enhance sociological understanding, not only of the family but also of other aspects of social life.
The Views of Syrian Refugees Migrating to Turkey on the Turkish Language and Culture: Kilis Case
Authors: Biçer Nurşat
Published: February 2017

This study aimed to determine the views of the Syrian refugees migrating to Kilis, Turkey on the Turkish language and culture, as well as the impact of this situation on their daily life. For that purpose, this study was done in accordance with a mixed design, using quantitative and qualitative research methods together. The target population of the quantitative study consisted of Syrian refugees between the ages of 18 and 25 who were living in Kilis. As a sample, the study was conducted with 309 participants who were chosen out of these refugees. In the qualitative part of the research, ten participants were selected out of those refugees. In the research, quantitative data were acquired through a survey prepared by the researcher, and qualitative data were obtained through face-to-face interviews and observations made in Kilis. Statistical methods and content analysis methods were employed in the data analysis. The research results have determined that Syrian refugees living in Kilis have generally positive views on the Turkish language and culture, they make an effort to learn them, and the cultural adaptation process is in progress for inclusion of the two communities.
The role of dentate nuclei in human oculomotor control: insights from cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis
Authors: Rosini Francesca , Pretegiani Elena , Mignarri Andrea , Optican Lance M. , Serchi Valeria , De Stefano Nicola , Battaglini Marco , Monti Lucia , Dotti Maria T. , Federico Antonio , Rufa Alessandra
Published: February 2017

Key points

A cerebellar dentate nuclei (DN) contribution to volitional oculomotor control has recently been hypothesized but not fully understood.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare neurometabolic disease typically characterized by DN damage.

In this study, we compared the ocular movement characteristics of two sets of CTX patients, with and without brain MRI evidence of DN involvement, with a set of healthy subjects.

Our results suggest that DN participate in voluntary behaviour, such as the execution of antisaccades, and moreover are involved in controlling the precision of the ocular movement.

The saccadic abnormalities related to DN involvement were independent of global and regional brain atrophy.

Our study confirms the relevant role of DN in voluntary aspects of oculomotion and delineates specific saccadic abnormalities that could be used to detect the involvement of DN in other cerebellar disorders.

It is well known that the medial cerebellum controls saccadic speed and accuracy. In contrast, the role of the lateral cerebellum (cerebellar hemispheres and dentate nuclei, DN) is less well understood. Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a lipid storage disorder due to mutations in CYP27A1, typically characterized by DN damage. CTX thus provides a unique opportunity to study DN in human oculomotor control. We analysed horizontal and vertical visually guided saccades and horizontal antisaccades of 19 CTX patients. Results were related to the presence/absence of DN involvement and compared with those of healthy subjects. To evaluate the contribution of other areas, abnormal saccadic parameters were compared with global and regional brain volumes. CTX patients executed normally accurate saccades with normal main sequence relationships, indicating that the brainstem and medial cerebellar structures were functionally spared. Patients with CTX executed more frequent multistep saccades and directional errors during the antisaccade task than controls. CTX patients with DN damage showed less precise saccades with longer latencies, and more frequent directional errors, usually not followed by corrections, than either controls or patients without DN involvement. These saccadic abnormalities related to DN involvement but were independent of global and regional brain atrophy. We hypothesize that two different cerebellar networks contribute to the metrics of a movement: the medial cerebellar structures determine accuracy, whereas the lateral cerebellar structures control precision. The lateral cerebellum (hemispheres and DN) also participates in modulating goal directed gaze behaviour, by prioritizing volitional over reflexive movements.
Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Results From a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Thiel Danielle M. , Sayah Fatima Al , Vallance Jeff , Johnson Steven T. , Johnson Jeffrey A.
Published: February 2017

Background:

The objective was to investigate the longitudinal relationship between physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

Data were from a prospective cohort of adults with type 2 diabetes. Weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was reported using the Godin Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire, and HRQL was reported using the SF-12 and 5-level EQ-5D. Participants were categorized based on current weekly MVPA recommendations. Multivariable linear regression was used to explore associations between MVPA and HRQL, and multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the direction of change in HRQL after 1 year.

Results:

Mean age of participants (N = 1948) was 64.5 ± 10.8 years and 45% were female. Participants reported a mean of 84.1 ± 172.4 min of MVPA/week, and 21% (n = 416) met weekly MVPA recommendations. MVPA was associated with differences in the physical functioning (b = 5.42; P < .001), general health (b = 2.45; P = .037), and vitality (b = 2.83; P = .016) SF-12 dimensions. Participants who met recommendations were less likely to report a decline (vs. no change) in EQ-5D index score (OR = 0.75; 95% CI [0.57, 0.99]), and SF-12 physical component summary (OR = 0.67; 95% CI [0.50, 0.90]), compared with participants not meeting recommendations.

Conclusions:

Participants who met weekly MVPA recommendations reported better physical functioning and were more likely to maintain their physical and overall HRQL over time.
Are South African Mothers Moving? Patterns and Correlates of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Pregnant Black South African Women
Authors: Watson Estelle D. , Van Poppel Mireille N. M. , Jones Rachel A. , Norris Shane A , Micklesfield Lisa K.
Published: February 2017

Background:

Although physical activity during pregnancy may be beneficial, the prenatal period is a vulnerable time for decreasing physical activity levels and increasing sedentary time.

Methods:

This longitudinal cohort study measured physical activity using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) in singleton, pregnant women in the second (14–18 wk gestation; n = 332) and third trimester (29–33 wk; n = 256).

Results:

There was a significant decrease in total MVPA (MET mins/wk) between the second and third trimester (P = .01). The majority of physical activity time was spent in walking for transport (80%), and less than 2% in recreational activities. In both trimesters, being married was inversely associated with walking for transport (second trimester: β = –0.12 95% CI = –0.31 to –0.02, third trimester: β = –0.17 95% CI = –0.47 to –0.07) and owning a car was positively associated with recreational physical activity (second trimester: β = 0.16 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.32, third trimester: β = 0.17 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.27). The women spent an average of 5 hours per day sitting.

Conclusions:

The low and declining levels of physical activity during pregnancy in this population are a concern. Interventions that include lifestyle education and provision of accessible recreational physical activity programs for pregnant women are needed.
Physical Activity Beliefs in Sedentary, Middle-Aged, Overweight Women
Authors: Yoke Mary
Published: February 2017

Objective:

Physical inactivity, overweight, and obesity are endemic in the United States and in the developed world, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. More information is needed regarding the physical activity beliefs, attitudes, barriers, and perceived self-control among those who are sedentary and weight-challenged. The purpose of this study was to elicit physical activity beliefs about feasibility, pleasure, and movement descriptions from sedentary, middle-aged, overweight women.

Methods:

Open-ended questions were used throughout individual interviews with 23 participants (age: M = 52.0, SD = 7.3; BMI: M = 34.2, SD = 9.79); attitudes and beliefs regarding physical activity and movement descriptions were documented. Participants were divided into those who were completely sedentary (12 women) and those who regularly engaged in physical activity (11 women).

Results:

A content analysis revealed that sedentary women were less active and had more perceived barriers to physical activity than active women. The most frequently cited perceived barriers were injuries, caregiving responsibilities, time, age, dislike of sweating, and depression. Sedentary women were less likely to report physical activity as pleasurable; they were also more likely to cite having an exercise buddy as an optimal activity situation. The most frequently cited pleasurable activities in both groups were yoga, movement to music, stretching, and walking.

Conclusions:

This study provided evidence that perceived barriers to physical activity must be addressed, that low-intensity programs are needed and desired by overweight and sedentary women, and that movement activities must be found that are enjoyable for the target population.
New connections: Protein trafficking for strong bones and teeth
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: February 2017

Distinct mechanisms of dysregulated protein secretion result in weak bones or teeth.
Papers of note in
Science
355
(6324)
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: February 2017

This week’s articles show how excitatory synapses are weakened during sleep and how the catalytic subunit of PKC-cs may mediate the choice between different modes of double-strand DNA break repair.
Tumors direct vessels to feed growth
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: February 2017

Blood vessels go from blocking growth factor signaling with IGFBP7 to sending the growth factor IGF1 in response to tumor-released FGF4.
Chemically Modified Human Serum Albumin Potently Blocks Entry of Ebola Pseudoviruses and Viruslike Particles
Authors: Li Haoyang , Yu Fei , Xia Shuai , Yu Yufeng , Wang Qian , Lv Ming , Wang Yan , Jiang Shibo , Lu Lu
Published: February 2017

Ebola virus (EBOV), the causative pathogen of the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD), can be transmitted via contact with EVD patients, including sexual contact with EVD survivors. At present, no licensed vaccine or therapeutic is available. In this study, we compared eight anhydride-modified proteins for their entry-inhibitory activity against the pseudovirus (PsV) carrying the envelope glycoprotein (GP) of the EBOV Zaire or Sudan species (Zaire PsV and Sudan PsV, respectively). We found that 3-hydroxyphthalic anhydride-modified human serum albumin (HP-HSA) was the most effective in inhibiting the entry of both Zaire PsV and Sudan PsV, with the 50% effective concentration being at the nanomolar level and with HP-HSA being more potent than EBOV-neutralizing antibody MIL77-2 (4G7, a component antibody of the ZMapp drug cocktail). The combination of HP-HSA and MIL77-2 exhibited a synergistic effect. HP-HSA had no obvious
in vitro
or
in vivo
toxicity. The EBOV PsV entry-inhibitory activity of HP-HSA remained intact after storage at 45°C for 8 weeks, suggesting that HP-HSA has the potential for worldwide use, including tropical regions in African countries, as either a therapeutic to treat EBOV infection or a prophylactic microbicide to prevent the sexual transmission of EBOV.
Functional Characterization of the DNA Gyrases in Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Mutants of Francisella novicida
Authors: Caspar Yvan , Siebert Claire , Sutera Vivien , Villers Corinne , Aubry Alexandra , Mayer Claudine , Maurin Max , Renesto Patricia
Published: February 2017

Fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance is a major health concern in the treatment of tularemia. Because DNA gyrase has been described as the main target of these compounds, our aim was to clarify the contributions of both GyrA and GyrB mutations found in
Francisella novicida
clones highly resistant to FQs. Wild-type and mutated GyrA and GyrB subunits were overexpressed so that the
in vitro
FQ sensitivity of functional reconstituted complexes could be evaluated. The data obtained were compared to the MICs of FQs against bacterial clones harboring the same mutations and were further validated through complementation experiments and structural modeling. Whole-genome sequencing of highly FQ-resistant lineages was also done. Supercoiling and DNA cleavage assays demonstrated that GyrA D87 is a hot spot FQ resistance target in
F. novicida
and pointed out the role of the GyrA P43H substitution in resistance acquisition. An unusual feature of FQ resistance acquisition in
F. novicida
is that the first-step mutation occurs in GyrB, with direct or indirect consequences for FQ sensitivity. Insertion of P466 into GyrB leads to a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC
50
) comparable to that observed for a mutant gyrase carrying the GyrA D87Y substitution, while the D487E-ΔK488 mutation, while not active on its own, contributes to the high level of resistance that occurs following acquisition of the GyrA D87G substitution in double GyrA/GyrB mutants. The involvement of other putative targets is discussed, including that of a ParE mutation that was found to arise in the very late stage of antibiotic exposure. This study provides the first characterization of the molecular mechanisms responsible for FQ resistance in
Francisella
.
Ga(III) Nanoparticles Inhibit Growth of both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV and Release of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 in Coinfected Macrophages
Authors: Choi Seoung-ryoung , Britigan Bradley E. , Narayanasamy Prabagaran
Published: February 2017

Treatment of individuals coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 andMycobacterium tuberculosisis challenging due to the prolonged treatment requirements, drug toxicity, and emergence of drug resistance. Mononuclear phagocytes (MP; macrophages) are one of the natural reservoirs for both HIV andM. tuberculosis. Here, the treatment of HIV andM. tuberculosiscoinfection was studied by preloading human macrophages with MP-targeted gallium (Ga) nanoparticles to limit subsequent simultaneous infection with both HIV andM. tuberculosis. Ga nanoparticles provided sustained drug release for 15 days and significantly inhibited the replication of both HIV andM. tuberculosis. Addition of Ga nanoparticles to MP already infected withM. tuberculosisor HIV resulted in a significant decrease in the magnitude of these infections, but the magnitude was less than that achieved with nanoparticle preloading of the MP. In addition, macrophages that were coinfected with HIV andM. tuberculosisand that were loaded with Ga nanoparticles reduced the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 secretion for up to 15 days after drug loading. Ga nanoparticles also reduced the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 secretion by ionomycin- and lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages, likely by modulating the IκB kinase-β/NF-κB pathway. Delivery of Ga nanoparticles to macrophages is a potent long-acting approach for suppressing HIV andM. tuberculosiscoinfection of macrophagesin vitroand sets the stage for the development of new approaches to the treatment of these important infections.
In Vitro
Activity of Delafloxacin against Contemporary Bacterial Pathogens from the United States and Europe, 2014
Authors: Pfaller M. A. , Sader H. S. , Rhomberg P. R. , Flamm R. K.
Published: February 2017

The
in vitro
activities of delafloxacin and comparator antimicrobial agents against 6,485 bacterial isolates collected from medical centers in Europe and the United States in 2014 were tested. Delafloxacin was the most potent agent tested against methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
(MSSA), methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
,
Streptococcus pneumoniae
, viridans group streptococci, and beta-hemolytic streptococci and had activity similar to that of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin against certain members of the
Enterobacteriaceae
. Overall, the broadest coverage of the tested pathogens (Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli) was observed with meropenem and tigecycline in both Europe and the United States. Delafloxacin was shown to be active against organisms that may be encountered in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, respiratory infections, and urinary tract infections.
Decreased Expression of Stable RNA Can Alleviate the Lethality Associated with RNase E Deficiency in Escherichia coli
Authors: Himabindu P. , Anupama K.
Published: February 2017

The endoribonuclease RNase E participates in mRNA degradation, rRNA processing, and tRNA maturation in
Escherichia coli
, but the precise reasons for its essentiality are unclear and much debated. The enzyme is most active on RNA substrates with a 5′-terminal monophosphate, which is sensed by a domain in the enzyme that includes residue R169;
E. coli
also possesses a 5′-pyrophosphohydrolase, RppH, that catalyzes conversion of 5′-terminal triphosphate to 5′-terminal monophosphate on RNAs. Although the C-terminal half (CTH), beyond residue approximately 500, of RNase E is dispensable for viability, deletion of the CTH is lethal when combined with an R169Q mutation or with deletion of
rppH
. In this work, we show that both these lethalities can be rescued in derivatives in which four or five of the seven
rrn
operons in the genome have been deleted. We hypothesize that the reduced stable RNA levels under these conditions minimize the need of RNase E to process them, thereby allowing for its diversion for mRNA degradation. In support of this hypothesis, we have found that other conditions that are known to reduce stable RNA levels also suppress one or both lethalities: (i) alterations in
relA
and
spoT
, which are expected to lead to increased basal ppGpp levels; (ii) stringent
rpoB
mutations, which mimic high intracellular ppGpp levels; and (iii) overexpression of DksA. Lethality suppression by these perturbations was RNase R dependent. Our work therefore suggests that its actions on the various substrates (mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA) jointly contribute to the essentiality of RNase E in
E. coli
.

IMPORTANCE
The endoribonuclease RNase E is essential for viability in many Gram-negative bacteria, including
Escherichia coli
. Different explanations have been offered for its essentiality, including its roles in global mRNA degradation or in the processing of several tRNA and rRNA species. Our work suggests that, rather than its role in the processing of any one particular substrate, its distributed functions on all the different substrates (mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA) are responsible for the essentiality of RNase E in
E. coli
.