bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The energy budget in C4 photosynthesis: insights from a cell‐type‐specific electron transport model
Authors: Yin Xinyou , Struik Paul C.
Published: March 2018

Extra ATP required in C4 photosynthesis for the CO2‐concentrating mechanism probably comes from cyclic electron transport (CET). As metabolic ATP : NADPH requirements in mesophyll (M) and bundle‐sheath (BS) cells differ among C4 subtypes, the subtypes may differ in the extent to which CET operates in these cells.

We present an analytical model for cell‐type‐specific CET and linear electron transport. Modelled NADPH and ATP production were compared with requirements.

For malic‐enzyme (ME) subtypes, c. 50% of electron flux is CET, occurring predominantly in BS cells for standard NADP‐ME species, but in a ratio of c. 6 : 4 in BS : M cells for NAD‐ME species. Some C4 acids follow a secondary decarboxylation route, which is obligatory, in the form of ‘aspartate‐malate’, for the NADP‐ME subtype, but facultative, in the form of phosphoenolpyruvate‐carboxykinase (PEP‐CK), for the NAD‐ME subtype. The percentage for secondary decarboxylation is c. 25% and that for 3‐phosphoglycerate reduction in BS cells is c. 40%; but these values vary with species. The ‘pure’ PEP‐CK type is unrealistic because its is impossible to fulfil ATP : NADPH requirements in BS cells.

The standard PEP‐CK subtype requires negligible CET, and thus has the highest intrinsic quantum yields and deserves further studies in the context of improving canopy productivity.
The molecular control of tendril development in angiosperms
Authors: Sousa‐Baena Mariane S. , Lohmann Lúcia G. , Hernandes‐Lopes José , Sinha Neelima R.
Published: March 2018

The climbing habit has evolved multiple times during the evolutionary history of angiosperms. Plants evolved various strategies for climbing, such as twining stems, tendrils and hooks. Tendrils are threadlike organs with the ability to twine around other structures through helical growth; they may be derived from a variety of structures, such as branches, leaflets and inflorescences. The genetic capacity to grow as a tendrilled climber existed in some of the earliest land plants; however, the underlying molecular basis of tendril development has been studied in only a few taxa. Here, we summarize what is known about the molecular basis of tendril development in model and candidate model species from key tendrilled families, that is, Fabaceae, Vitaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Passifloraceae and Bignoniaceae. Studies on tendril molecular genetics and development show the molecular basis of tendril formation and ontogenesis is diverse, even when tendrils have the same ontogenetic origin, for example leaflet‐derived tendrils in Fabaceae and Bignoniaceae. Interestingly, all tendrils perform helical growth during contact‐induced coiling, indicating that such ability is not correlated with their ontogenetic origin or phylogenetic history. Whether the same genetic networks are involved during helical growth in diverse tendrils still remains to be investigated.
The impact of junk food marketing regulations on food sales: an ecological study
Authors: Kovic Y. , Noel J. K. , Ungemack J. A. , Burleson J. A.
Published: March 2018

Objective

To evaluate the impact of junk food broadcast marketing policies on nationwide junk food sales and identify policy characteristics effective in reducing sales.

Methods

Country policy data (n = 79) were categorized in a thorough literature review and analysed using a repeated measures design against data on food sales per capita. Study conducted in United States, 2017.

Results

Countries with junk food broadcast marketing policies saw a decrease in junk food sales per capita after implementation, while those without said policies saw an increase (p = 0.013). Countries with statutory policies saw a decrease in sales per capita, while those with only self‐regulation saw an increase (p = 0.004). Audience restrictions (p = 0.024) and standardized nutrition criteria (p = 0.008) were policy characteristics significantly associated with a decrease in sales per capita.

Conclusions

Utilizing a novel approach to evaluate junk food broadcast marketing policies, the study demonstrated that countries with statutory policies saw a significant decrease in junk food sales per capita not seen in countries with no or only self‐regulatory policies. To effectively reduce exposure to child‐targeted junk food marketing, governments should establish strong, comprehensive statutory regulations. Additionally, countries that implement junk food marketing policies can use food sales data to track policy effectiveness.
Insight into the development of obesity: functional alterations of adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Louwen F. , Ritter A. , Kreis N. N. , Yuan J.
Published: March 2018

Obesity is associated with a variety of disorders including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and cancer. Obesity changes the composition and structure of adipose tissue, linked to pro‐inflammatory environment, endocrine/metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance and oxidative stress. Adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) have multiple functions like cell renewal, spontaneous repair and homeostasis in adipose tissue. In this review article, we have summarized the recent data highlighting that ASCs in obesity are defective in various functionalities and properties including differentiation, angiogenesis, motility, multipotent state, metabolism and immunomodulation. Inflammatory milieu, hypoxia and abnormal metabolites in obese tissue are crucial for impairing the functions of ASCs. Further work is required to explore the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its alterations and impairments. Based on these data, we suggest that deregulated ASCs, possibly also other mesenchymal stem cells, are important in promoting the development of obesity. Restoration of ASCs/mesenchymal stem cells might be an additional strategy to combat obesity and its associated diseases.
The correlation between mandibular third molar and mandibular angle fracture among patients in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
Authors: Asif J.A. , Alam M.K. , Haque S. , Rashdan N.H.B.M. , Mahmoud M.
Published: March 2018

Aim

The purpose for this study was to investigate and elucidate the relationships between the mandibular third molar and mandibular angle fractures.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study incorporated the presence, position and angulation of mandibular third molar and prevalence of fracture of angle of mandible among patients treated in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. The medical records were scanned and 427 patients with mandibular fractures from 2001 until 2016 were identified. Depending on the notes and various radiographic images, 77 of 427 patients had mandibular angle fracture. The presence or absence of impacted mandibular third molar was assessed for each patient that had angle fracture. In presence of impacted mandibular third molar, their position and angulation of the tooth were evaluated. The positions were classified using Pell and Gregory system while the angulations were classified using Winter's classification. Data were analysed using SPSS 22.0 system and applying a chi‐square test.

Results

Among 77 patients with angle fracture, 67 (87%) had impacted mandibular third molar while 10 (13%) had no evidence of mandibular third molar. The incidence of mandibular angle fracture was found to be significantly greater when impacted third molar was present (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that the patients with impacted mandibular third molar have an increased risk of mandibular angle fracture compared to those without.
Yield improvement in maize for tolerance to low soil nitrogen
Authors: Ajala Sam Oyewole , Olaniyan Amudalat Bolanle , Olayiwola Muyideen Oluseyi , Job Anthony Oluwatoyosi
Published: March 2018

Low soil nitrogen limits maize (Zea mays L.) production in the West and Central African subregion. Levels of residual genetic variability were determined in two low‐N populations using selfed progeny evaluations, and results obtained indicate large genotypic and phenotypic variances for grain yield under both low‐ and high‐N environments for effective selection, while heritability estimates were generally low. Ear aspect and stay green were the most important traits contributing to grain yield for both populations. Selection reduced days to flowering, ASI and ear aspect, but increased plant height and yield. Yield gains of more than 25% occurred for the two populations under both low and high N with the most significant change of 42% occurring in one population under high N.
Maternal inheritance of male sterility in the progeny of a natural hybrid between Cajanus lineatus and C. cajan
Authors: Saxena Kul Bhushan , Kumar Ravikotti Vijaya , Rao Rama , Saxena Rachit Kumar
Published: March 2018

Adoption of pigeonpea hybrids in central and southern India is showing high impact with on‐farm yield advantages of >30%. The hybrid pigeonpea technology, the first in any legume crop, is based on a cytoplasmic‐nuclear male‐sterility (CMS) system. For a long‐term sustainability of hybrid programme, it is imperative that both nuclear diversity and cytoplasmic diversity are maintained among hybrid parents. In this context, a continuous search for new CMS‐inducing cytoplasms is necessary. This paper reports detection of maternal inheritance of male sterility in the progeny derived from a natural hybrid between a wild relative [Cajanus lineatus (W. & A.) Maesen comb. nov.] of pigeonpea and an unknown pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] genotype. In the present study, the male sterility was maintained up to BC7F1 generation by an advanced breeding pigeonpea line ICPL 99044. This male sterility inducing cytoplasm of C. lineatus was tagged as A6. In future, this CMS genetic stock can be used to develop a range of new pigeonpea hybrids with high yield and adaptation.
Global spatial analysis of Arabidopsis natural variants implicates 5′UTR splicing of LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL in responses to temperature
Authors: James Allan B. , Sullivan Stuart , Nimmo Hugh G.
Published: March 2018

How plants perceive and respond to temperature remains an important question in the plant sciences. Temperature perception and signal transduction may occur through temperature‐sensitive intramolecular folding of primary mRNA transcripts. Recent studies suggested a role for retention of the first intron in the 5′UTR of the clock component LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY) in response to changes in temperature. Here, we identified a set of haplotypes in the LHY 5′UTR, examined their global spatial distribution, and obtained evidence that haplotype can affect temperature‐dependent splicing of LHY transcripts. Correlations of haplotype spatial distributions with global bioclimatic variables and altitude point to associations with annual mean temperature and temperature fluctuation. Relatively rare relict type accessions correlate with lower mean temperature and greater temperature fluctuation and the spatial distribution of other haplotypes may be informative of evolutionary processes driving colonization of ecosystems. We propose that haplotypes may possess distinct 5′UTR pre‐mRNA folding thermodynamics and/or specific biological stabilities based around the binding of trans‐acting RNA splicing factors, a consequence of which is scalable splicing sensitivity of a central clock component that is likely tuned to specific temperature environments.
Molecular mechanisms underpinning phosphorus‐use efficiency in rice
Authors: Dissanayaka D.M.S.B. , Plaxton William C. , Lambers Hans , Siebers Meike , Marambe Buddhi , Wasaki Jun
Published: March 2018

Orthophosphate (H2PO4−, Pi) is an essential macronutrient integral to energy metabolism as well as a component of membrane lipids, nucleic acids, including ribosomal RNA, and therefore essential for protein synthesis. The Pi concentration in the solution of most soils worldwide is usually far too low for maximum growth of crops, including rice. This has prompted the massive use of inefficient, polluting, and nonrenewable phosphorus (P) fertilizers in agriculture. We urgently need alternative and more sustainable approaches to decrease agriculture's dependence on Pi fertilizers. These include manipulating crops by (a) enhancing the ability of their roots to acquire limiting Pi from the soil (i.e. increased P‐acquisition efficiency) and/or (b) increasing the total biomass/yield produced per molecule of Pi acquired from the soil (i.e. increased P‐use efficiency). Improved P‐use efficiency may be achieved by producing high‐yielding plants with lower P concentrations or by improving the remobilization of acquired P within the plant so as to maximize growth and biomass allocation to developing organs. Membrane lipid remodelling coupled with hydrolysis of RNA and smaller P‐esters in senescing organs fuels P remobilization in rice, the world's most important cereal crop.
Sex ratio rather than population size affects genetic diversity in Antennaria dioica
Authors: Rosche C. , Schrieber K. , Lachmuth S. , Durka W. , Hirsch H. , Wagner V. , Schleuning M. , Hensen I.
Published: March 2018

Habitat fragmentation and small population size can lead to genetic erosion in threatened plant populations. Classical theory implies that dioecy can counteract genetic erosion as it decreases the magnitude of inbreeding and genetic drift due to obligate outcrossing. However, in small populations, sex ratios may be strongly male‐ or female‐biased, leading to substantial reductions in effective population size. This may theoretically result in a unimodal relationship between sex ratios and genetic diversity; yet, empirical studies on this relationship are scarce.

Using AFLP markers, we studied genetic diversity, structure and differentiation in 14 highly fragmented Antennaria dioica populations from the Central European lowlands. Our analyses focused on the relationship between sex ratio, population size and genetic diversity.

Although most populations were small (mean: 35.5 patches), genetic diversity was moderately high. We found evidence for isolation‐by‐distance, but overall differentiation of the populations was rather weak. Females dominated 11 populations, which overall resulted in a slightly female‐biased sex ratio (61.5%). There was no significant relationship between population size and genetic diversity. The proportion of females was not unimodally but positively linearly related to genetic diversity.

The high genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation suggest that A. dioica has been widely distributed in the Central European lowlands in the past, while fragmentation occurred only in the last decades. Sex ratio has more immediate consequences on genetic diversity than population size. An increasing proportion of females can increase genetic diversity in dioecious plants, probably due to a higher amount of sexual reproduction.
The Impact of Computing Interpregnancy Intervals Without Accounting for Intervening Pregnancy Events
Authors: Conzuelo‐Rodriguez Gabriel , Naimi Ashley I.
Published: March 2018

Background

Short interpregnancy intervals (IPI) are associated with poor birth outcomes. Often, only livebirths are considered to estimate IPI. The objective of our work is to explore whether the associations between demographic, behavioural, and pregnancy variables and IPI change when events other than livebirth are included.

Methods

We used data from the 2006–10 and 2011–13 period of the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). We defined IPI using the conception date of the index pregnancy and the event date of the previous one ending in (i) livebirth; (ii) stillbirth; (iii) miscarriage; (iv) abortion; or (v) any of these events. Risk ratios (RR) were estimated for short IPI (<18 months), and demographic, pregnancy, and behavioural variables using log‐linear models.

Results

When intervening events are included, the association between short IPI and its predictors vary by definition, especially for unintended versus intended pregnancies (only livebirth risk ratio [RR] 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2, 1.5) versus livebirth and miscarriage RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.0, 1.3) and women older than 30 vs. younger than 20 at resolution of the previous pregnancy (only livebirth RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.0, 1.5 versus livebirth and miscarriage RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.2, 1.6).

Conclusions

Including miscarriage as an intervening event in the calculation of IPI changes the association between several risk factors and short IPI. However, the association between short IPI and preterm birth does not vary when different IPI calculations are used.
Application of herbal anaesthetics in aquaculture
Authors: Hoseini Seyyed Morteza , Taheri Mirghaed Ali , Yousefi Morteza
Published: March 2018

Anaesthesia is a widely used tool in fish handling, sampling and surgery in aquaculture; thus, fish anaesthesiology has been studied for a long time. In this case, there are several common anaesthetics in aquaculture, namely tricaine methanesulfonate (a chemical agent) and clove oil (a natural agent). Recently, there was an increasing interest to use herbal materials (other than clove oil) in fish anaesthesia. In this review, current knowledge about the use of herbal anaesthetics has been summarized. To date, essential oils/extracts of different plants have been studied for fish anaesthesia; most of them belong to Lamiaceae, Verbenaceae, Lauraceae and Myrtaceae. In addition, menthol, linalool, myrcene, cineole, globulol, spathulenol, guaiol, caryophyllene oxide, terpinen‐4‐ol and dehydrofukinone are herbal compounds that their anaesthetic effects have been studied in fish. Compared with clove oil and eugenol as the most common herbal anaesthetic, all tested herbal materials are less efficacious to anaesthetize fish. Some plants’ essential oil/extract, namely Aloysia triphylla, Myrcia sylvatica, Lippia alba and Curcuma longa, have beneficial health effects including suppression of physiological and oxidative stress. There is a lack of data in mechanism of anaesthesia and health effects of the herbal anaesthetics, which should be followed in future studies. In addition, most of the current studies have focused on certain fish species such as silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen), tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and in most of the studies, essential oils/extracts of South American plants have been used. Thus, there is a need to study other fish and plant species.
Winning or losing in investor‐to‐state dispute resolution: The role of arbitrator bias and experience
Authors: Donaubauer Julian , Neumayer Eric , Nunnenkamp Peter
Published: March 2018

When an investor sues a state for alleged breaches of its obligations under an investment treaty or a trade agreement with investment provisions, all that should matter for who wins the case are the merits of the claim itself. Alas, investor‐to‐state dispute settlement (ISDS) does not take place in a vacuum. Such cases are decided by a tribunal typically consisting of three arbitrators, one each nominated by the two parties while the president is mutually agreed upon. We demonstrate that the kind of involvement of these arbitrators in previous ISDS cases matters for the case under dispute. Specifically, we show that what we label the presidents' pro‐investor appointment bias—the number of times they have previously been nominated by an investor minus the number of times they have represented respondent states—raises the likelihood that an investor wins an ISDS case. The same holds for the pro‐investor appointment bias of state‐appointed arbitrators. Given the president's crucial role, the main implication of our findings is that presidents should be drawn from among those who have not systematically represented more one side than the other in previous cases.
Attitudes Toward Mass Arrivals: Variations by Racial, Spatial, and Temporal Distances to Incoming Disaster Evacuees*
Authors: Raker Ethan J. , Elliott James R.
Published: March 2018

Objective

Disasters can send large numbers of evacuees into new contexts of reception, where attitudes toward them can vary significantly by perceived social distance. To conventional assessment of such distance along racial lines, we add spatial and temporal distance from point of central arrival.

Methods

A novel research design combines the natural experiment triggered by Hurricane Katrina with five consecutive Kinder Houston Area Surveys (2006–2010), which gather data on attitudes toward arrived evacuees as well as tract‐level data on residential context.

Results

Regression analyses reveal that spatial and temporal distance act similarly to racial distance in predicting negative attitudes toward evacuees. Results also show these effects are moderated by the racial context of incumbents’ residential neighborhoods.

Conclusions

Social distance exerts a multifaceted influence on evacuee reception in ways that become especially pertinent in the arrival of communities from large‐scale, urban evacuations.
Detection of a novel HLA allele, HLA‐B*50:01:09, identified by next generation sequencing
Authors: Pruszak J. , Bernheiden M. , Emmerich F.
Published: March 2018

HLA‐B*50:01:09 differs by a synonymous nucleotide exchange in codon 17 from B*50:01:01.
Contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography for evaluation of blood perfusion in normal canine eyes
Authors: Hong Sunghwa , Park Seungjo , Lee Dahae , Cha Ahyoung , Kim Dongeun , Choi Jihye
Published: March 2018

Objective

This study was performed to evaluate ocular structures using contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in dogs to assess the feasibility of CEUS for investigating the blood perfusion of canine eyes.

Animal studied

Eight purpose‐bred beagles were used.

Procedures

Blood perfusion and vascularity of the right eye were evaluated using color Doppler, power Doppler, and CEUS with Sonazoid®. Vascular changes were quantitatively evaluated by measuring peak intensity, time to initial upslope, and time to peak from the ciliary body, iris, choroid, retina, and the retrobulbar region by CEUS.

Results

On CEUS images, all parts of the examined ocular structures were markedly enhanced and clearly identified from the adjacent region. After injection, the contrast agent initially flowed to the choroid and retina at 14.2 seconds, then to the ciliary body and iris at 20 seconds. The blood signal reached its peak intensity in the ciliary body at 27.2 seconds (47.4 ± 10.63), in the iris at 31.6 seconds (74.00 ± 41.85), and in the retrobulbar region at 23.4 seconds (149 ± 24.59). The optic nerve was clearly distinguished from the retrobulbar region over 5 minutes after the initiation of CEUS. Significantly, more vascular signals were detected in the ciliary body and iris by CEUS than by color and power Doppler.

Conclusion

Blood perfusion of the intraocular structures and the retrobulbar region can be quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed by CEUS. CEUS may be a useful, noninvasive, and sensitive tool for the evaluation of blood perfusion in ocular diseases.
The use of hyaluronic acid subdermal filler for entropion in canines and felines: 40 cases
Authors: McDonald Jessica E. , Knollinger Amy M.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

To evaluate the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) subdermal filler in canines and felines for entropion.

Methods

Complete ophthalmologic examination was performed by a board‐certified veterinary ophthalmologist or ABVO‐approved resident. Each case was characterized as primary, secondary, spastic or cicatricial entropion. HA subdermal filler, specifically Restylane® and Restylane Silk®, were utilized in dogs and cats, respectively. Subdermal injection was performed 1‐2 mm from the eyelid margin in the affected area until normal eyelid conformation was achieved. All patients did not require sedation or general anesthesia.

Results

Forty animals (28 dogs and 12 cats) were included in the study. No local reaction to the HA dermal filler or any other complications other than minor skin bleeding at the injection sites were noted in all patients. Resolution of entropion and secondary complications including corneal ulceration, epiphora, and blepharospasm were noted by the first week after injection in the majority of cases. Three canines and one feline case failed to resolve the entropion, necessitating additional permanent surgical intervention. Two cases were submitted for histopathological analysis. Median follow‐up time for all cases was 152.5 days (mean: 194.6 ± 142.7 days; range 9‐419 days). Five patients died or were euthanized during the study for unrelated causes.

Conclusions

Hyaluronic acid (HA) subdermal filler appears to be a safe, easy, reliable method for mild to moderate eyelid entropion not requiring general anesthesia. This procedure may be especially appropriate for geriatric patients and those with high anesthetic risk with entropion.
Etch considerations for directed self-assembly patterning using capacitively coupled plasma
Authors: Rastogi Vinayak , Ventzek Peter L. G. , Ranjan Alok
Published: March 2018

Alternative patterning strategies are pursued to push the device feature size below the physical limit of optical lithography as the semiconductor manufacturing industry is preparing for production at sub-10 nm technology node. Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, 193 nm immersion augmented with multiple patterning schemes (“self-aligned double patterning,” “self-aligned quadruple patterning”) and “directed self-assembly (DSA)” are being evaluated as alternatives to meet rising demands of aggressive patterning. EUV lithography reduces the number of processing steps, but it is yet to achieve full maturity in terms of resist materials, throughput, and manufacturability. DSA when augmented with 193 nm immersion guide prepatterns can aid in reducing the pitch of final structures. There is no infrastructure upgrade cost involved as the key processing steps of DSA are conducted in existing wafer track systems. The authors have successfully demonstrated DSA pattern transfer into metal hard masks for the back end of the line application and nonmetal hard masks for the front end of the line applications. However, DSA comes with its own challenges posed in the form of polymer-to-polymer selectivity, mask budget, post-lithography defects, mask shape, critical dimension control, and line edge roughness (LER). The authors address the challenge of selectivity and roughness correction by using spatially uniform low-density plasma obtained in dual (low and high) frequency midgap capacitively coupled plasma etcher. A parametric study of an O2/Ar gas chemistry based plasma etch of widely studied poly(styrene-block-methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) films is used to describe how plasma parameters impact PMMA removal selective to PS and LER during plasma etch pattern transfer using DSA lithography. The effects of etchant gas concentration and deposition gas addition for preferential passivation of the PS mask are investigated during PMMA etch. Their results indicate modulation of ion energy through bias power adjustments can be used to improve selectivity. Zero bias power optimal; however, roughness degrades at this condition necessitating inclusion of other solutions. Controlled addition of hydrocarbon gas enhances the selectivity further. Low frequency peak-to-peak voltage and high frequency power most strongly correlate with LER; hydrocarbon addition has little effect. Relative balance between various fluxes and ion energy is needed to obtain the maximum reduction in roughness with the required selectivity.
Molecular ionization probability in cluster-SIMS
Authors: Wucher Andreas
Published: March 2018

The ionization efficiency of molecular species sputtered under bombardment with cluster ion beams is generally assumed to be rather low, but hard experimental evidence for this notion is still lacking. In order to estimate the prospects for possible sensitivity improvements in molecular secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) experiments, the author therefore reports on recent experiments utilizing laser postionization (LPI) in order to determine an absolute ionization probability value for a few organic molecules sputtered under C60 cluster ion bombardment. The results show that the molecular ionization efficiency obtained under these bombarding conditions is of the order of 10−3, leaving at least 2 orders of magnitude for possible enhancement of the physical or a chemical ionization mechanism leading to the formation of (quasi-) molecular secondary ions. Analyzing the measured molecular LPI signal, the author demonstrates that about the same headroom exists for improvement of the currently achieved postionization efficiency. Using trehalose as a model system, the author then illustrates the level of improvement achieved by different attempts to utilize projectile induced surface chemistry in order to enhance the ionization efficiency. The results may be useful to guide new developments aimed at enhancing the detection sensitivity in molecular cluster-SIMS experiments.
Direction of arrival estimation using nonsingular spherical ESPRIT
Authors: Jo Byeongho , Choi Jung-Woo
Published: March 2018

The eigenbeam-ESPRIT (EB-ESPRIT) is a parametric method that estimates the direction of arrival of source signals using a recurrence relation of spherical harmonics. In EB-ESPRIT, the sound-source elevation angle is estimated from an arctangent function, which diverges near the equator in the spherical coordinate system and inevitably induces an ill-conditioning problem. Here, a nonsingular spherical ESPRIT technique based on sine-based recurrence relations is proposed, in which the elevation angles are estimated from an arcsine function. It is shown that the proposed technique can estimate more sources than the conventional EB-ESPRIT technique while also avoiding ill-conditioning problems.
Resveratrol as a Growth Substrate for Bacteria from the Rhizosphere
Authors: Kurt Zohre , Minoia Marco , Spain Jim C.
Published: March 2018

Resveratrol is among the best-known secondary plant metabolites because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. It also is an important allelopathic chemical widely credited with the protection of plants from pathogens. The ecological role of resveratrol in natural habitats is difficult to establish rigorously, because it does not seem to accumulate outside plant tissue. It is likely that bacterial degradation plays a key role in determining the persistence, and thus the ecological role, of resveratrol in soil. Here, we report the isolation of an
Acinetobacter
species that can use resveratrol as a sole carbon source from the rhizosphere of peanut plants. Both molecular and biochemical techniques indicate that the pathway starts with the conversion of resveratrol to 3,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The aldehydes are oxidized to substituted benzoates that subsequently enter central metabolism. The gene that encodes the enzyme responsible for the oxidative cleavage of resveratrol was cloned and expressed in
Escherichia coli
to establish its function. Its physiological role in the resveratrol catabolic pathway was established by knockouts and by the reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) demonstration of expression during growth on resveratrol. The results establish the presence and capabilities of resveratrol-degrading bacteria in the rhizosphere of the peanut plants and set the stage for studies to evaluate the role of the bacteria in plant allelopathy.

IMPORTANCE
In addition to its antioxidant properties, resveratrol is representative of a broad array of allelopathic chemicals produced by plants to inhibit competitors, herbivores, and pathogens. The bacterial degradation of such chemicals in the rhizosphere would reduce the effects of the chemicals. Therefore, it is important to understand the activity and ecological role of bacteria that biodegrade resveratrol near the plants that produce it. This study describes the isolation from the peanut rhizosphere of bacteria that can grow on resveratrol. The characterization of the initial steps in the biodegradation process sets the stage for the investigation of the evolution of the catabolic pathways responsible for the biodegradation of resveratrol and its homologs.
A Decade of Streptococcus thermophilus Phage Evolution in an Irish Dairy Plant
Authors: Lavelle Katherine , Murphy James , Fitzgerald Brian , Lugli Gabriele A. , Zomer Aldert , Neve Horst , Ventura Marco , Franz Charles M. , Cambillau Christian , van Sinderen Douwe , Mahony Jennifer
Published: March 2018

Phages ofStreptococcus thermophiluspresent a major threat to the production of many fermented dairy products. To date, only a few studies have assessed the biodiversity ofS. thermophilusphages in dairy fermentations. In order to develop strategies to limit phage predation in this important industrial environment, it is imperative that such studies are undertaken and that phage-host interactions of this species are better defined. The present study investigated the biodiversity and evolution of phages within an Irish dairy fermentation facility over an 11-year period. This resulted in the isolation of 17 genetically distinct phages, all of which belong to the so-calledcosgroup. The evolution of phages within the factory appears to be influenced by phages from other dairy plants introduced into the factory for whey protein powder production. Modular exchange, primarily within the regions encoding lysogeny and replication functions, was the major observation among the phages isolated between 2006 and 2016. Furthermore, the genotype of the first isolate in 2006 was observed continuously across the following decade, highlighting the ability of these phages to prevail in the factory setting for extended periods of time. The proteins responsible for host recognition were analyzed, and carbohydrate-binding domains (CBDs) were identified in the distal tail (Dit), the baseplate proteins, and the Tail-associated lysin (Tal) variable regions (VR1 and VR2) of many isolates. This supports the notion thatS. thermophilusphages recognize a carbohydrate receptor on the cell surface of their host.

IMPORTANCEDairy fermentations are consistently threatened by the presence of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages or phages), which may lead to a reduction in acidification rates or even complete loss of the fermentate. These phages may persist in factories for long periods of time. The objective of the current study was to monitor the progression of phages infecting the dairy bacteriumStreptococcus thermophilusover a period of 11 years in an Irish dairy plant so as to understand how these phages evolve. A focused analysis of the genomic region that encodes host recognition functions highlighted that the associated proteins harbor a variety of carbohydrate-binding domains, which corroborates the notion that phages ofS. thermophilusrecognize carbohydrate receptors at the initial stages of the phage cycle.
Treating People with Arthritis with Traditional Chinese Medicine (Tcm): An Examination of the Perception of Tcm Practitioners
Authors: Yang Lu , Peng Wenbo , Adams Jon , Sibbritt David William
Published: March 2018

Introduction

Emerging evidence has shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a positive effect on arthritis. This research provides the first critical, systematic examination of TCM practitioners’ perceptions of TCM use for people with arthritis.

Methods

An online survey was distributed to all TCM professionals including acupuncturists and Chinese herbal medicine practitioners registered with the Practitioner Research and Collaborate Initiative (PRACI) practitioner database. The survey questions focus on practitioner characteristics, practice characteristics and clinical management approaches regarding arthritis care.

Results

The survey attracted a response rate of 53% (n=52). The average age of the respondents was 49.9 years, more than half were female, and the majority held a bachelor degree or higher qualification. More than two thirds of TCM practitioners in our study worked with other health professionals, while they had a high level of referral relationships with a wide range of conventional, allied health and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers. Most of the TCM practitioners reported that their patients with arthritis used other treatments alongside TCM and a large number of the TCM practitioners who participated believed that TCM was effective for treating arthritis.

Conclusions

The TCM profession represents a substantial component of the healthcare field in Australia, and treating patients with arthritis appears to be an important area of TCM practice, among others. Further detailed research is needed to help ensure effective, safe patient care for those with arthritis who may be utilising TCM alongside a broader range of conventional medicine, allied health, and other CAM treatments.
Prognostic significance of autoantibodies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Kamiya Hiroyuki , Panlaqui Ogee Mer
Published: March 2018

Introduction

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) is chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown aetiology. IPF is diagnosed based on the exclusion of known causes such as connective tissue diseases(CTDs). However, some patients fail to meet defined CTD criteria regardless of an implication of immunological involvement and these cases were described in a variety of terms. The classification criteria of this clinical entity consist of a combination of clinical, serological and morphological findings and it is reported to be distinct from IPF. However, the significance of the sole presence of autoantibodies complicated with IPF is still unknown. Therefore, this systematic review aims to clarify the significance of autoantibodies complicated with IPF.

Methods and analysis

IPF with any autoantibody associated with CTDs is eligible for the review. Primary outcomes are all-cause mortality and pulmonary-cause mortality, while secondary outcomes include a progression of the disease, a deterioration of health-related quality of life and the development of a defined CTD. Primary studies of any type except a case report are included. Two reviewers search four electronic databases such as Medline, EMBASE, Science Citation Index Expanded and Google Scholar from each inception through 1 February 2018 and extract data independently. A risk of bias in individual studies is assessed by the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool. Meta-analysis is sought to be conducted if three or more studies report an outcome for a specific autoantibody with the same statistics. If it is inappropriate to combine data due to substantial heterogeneity, the result is reported qualitatively. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses are considered to identify the source of heterogeneity. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation method is applied to evaluate the evidence level of the result.

Ethics and dissemination

There is no concerning ethical issue. The result will be sought for publication.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017077336.
Psychosocial stress factors, including the relationship with the coach, and their influence on acute and overuse injury risk in elite female football players
Authors: Pensgaard Anne Marte , Ivarsson Andreas , Nilstad Agnethe , Solstad Bård Erlend , Steffen Kathrin
Published: March 2018

Background

The relationship between specific types of stressors (eg, teammates, coach) and acute versus overuse injuries is not well understood.

Objective

To examine the roles of different types of stressors as well as the effect of motivational climate on the occurrence of acute and overuse injuries.

Methods

Players in the Norwegian elite female football league (n=193 players from 12 teams) participated in baseline screening tests prior to the 2009 competitive football season. As part of the screening, we included the Life Event Survey for Collegiate Athletes and the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire (Norwegian short version). Acute and overuse time-loss injuries and exposure to training and matches were recorded prospectively in the football season using weekly text messaging. Data were analysed with Bayesian logistic regression analyses.

Results

Using Bayesian logistic regression analyses, we showed that perceived negative life event stress from teammates was associated with an increased risk of acute injuries (OR=1.23, 95% credibility interval (1.01 to 1.48)). There was a credible positive association between perceived negative life event stress from the coach and the risk of overuse injuries (OR=1.21, 95% credibility interval (1.01 to 1.45)).

Conclusions

Players who report teammates as a source of stress have a greater risk of sustaining an acute injury, while players reporting the coach as a source of stress are at greater risk of sustaining an overuse injury. Motivational climate did not relate to increased injury occurrence.
Impact of emergency department surge and end of shift on patient workup and treatment prior to referral to internal medicine: a health records review
Authors: Charbonneau Valerie , Kwok Edmund , Boyle Loree , Stiell Ian G
Published: March 2018

Background

The goal of this study was to determine if ED surge and end-of-shift assessment of patients affect the extent of diagnostic tests, therapeutic interventions and accuracy of diagnosis prior to referral to internal medicine.

Methods

This study was a health records review of consecutive patients referred to the internal medicine service with an ED diagnosis of heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or sepsis starting 1 December 2013 until 100 cases for each condition had been obtained. We developed a scoring system in consultation with emergency and internal medicine physicians to uniformly assess the completeness of treatments and investigations performed. These scores, expressed as percentage of possible points, were compared at high and low surge levels and at middle and end of shift at time of patient referral. End of shift was defined as 7:30–8:30, 15:30–16:30 and 23:30–00:30 as our shift changes occur at 8:00, 16:00 and 24:00. Rate of admission, diversion to other services and diagnosis disagreements were also assessed.

Results

We included 308 patients (101 heart failure, 101 COPD, 106 sepsis) with a mean age of 74.7. Comparing middle of shift to end of shift, the mean scores were 91.9% versus 91.8% (difference 0.1% (95% CI −2.4 to 3.0)) for investigations and 73.0% versus 70.4% (difference 2.6% (95% CI −1.8 to 7.4)) for treatments. Comparing low to high surge times, the mean scores were 92.1% versus 91.7% (difference 0.4% (95% CI −1.2 to 2.4)) for investigations and 71.4% versus 73.6% (difference −2.2% (95% CI −5.6 to 1.3)) for treatments. We found low rates of diversion to alternate services (8.9% heart failure, 0% COPD, 6.6% sepsis) and low rates of diagnosis disagreement (4.0% heart failure, 10.9% COPD, 8.5% sepsis).

Conclusions

We found no evidence that surge levels and end of shift impact the extent of investigations and treatments provided to patients diagnosed in the ED with heart failure, COPD or sepsis and referred to internal medicine.
Temporal trends in the contribution of Chagas cardiomyopathy to mortality among patients with heart failure
Authors: Nadruz Wilson , Gioli-Pereira Luciana , Bernardez-Pereira Sabrina , Marcondes-Braga Fabiana G , Fernandes-Silva Miguel M , Silvestre Odilson M , Sposito Andrei C , Ribeiro Antonio L , Bacal Fernando , Fernandes Fabio , Krieger Jose E , Mansur Alfredo J , Pereira Alexandre C
Published: March 2018

Background

Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC) prevalence is decreasing in Brazil and medical therapies for heart failure (HF) have improved in the last decade. Whether these changes modified the prognosis of ChC relative to non-Chagas cardiomyopathies (NChC) remains unknown. This study evaluated the temporal trends in population attributable risk (PAR) of ChC for 2-year mortality among patients with HF enrolled at years 2002–2004 (era 1) and 2012–2014 (era 2) in a Brazilian university hospital.

Methods

We prospectively studied 362 (15% with ChC) and 582 (18% with ChC) HF patients with ejection fraction ≤50% in eras 1 and 2, respectively and estimated the PAR of ChC for 2-year mortality.

Results

There were 145 deaths (29 in ChC) in era 1 and 85 deaths (26 in ChC) in era 2. In multivariable Cox-regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, ejection fraction, heart rate, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, systolic blood pressure and ischaemic/valvar aetiology, ChC was associated with higher risk of death in era 1 (HR (95% CI)=1.92 (1.00 to 3.71), p=0.05) and era 2 (HR (95% CI)=3.51 (1.94 to 6.36), p<0.001). In fully adjusted analysis, the PAR of ChC for mortality increased twofold from era 1 (PAR (95% CI)=11.0 (2.8 to 18.5)%) to era 2 (PAR (95% CI)=21.9 (16.5 to 26.9)%; p=0.023 versus era 1).

Conclusion

Although the absolute death rates decreased over time in the ChC and NChC groups, the PAR of ChC for mortality increased among patients with HF, driven by increases in the HR associated with ChC. Our results highlight the need for additional efforts aiming to prevent and treat ChC.
Characterisation of mesenchymal stem cells from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Matejckova Nicole , Zajicova Alena , Hermankova Barbora , Kossl Jan , Bohacova Pavla , Holan Vladimir , Javorkova Eliska
Published: March 2018

Aims

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have recently been tested in clinical trials to treat severe diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Since autologous MSCs are frequently used for therapy, we aimed to evaluate the possible influence of the disease on characteristics and function of these cells.

Methods

MSCs were isolated from the bone marrow of patients with ALS and compared with MSCs from healthy controls (HC). The cells were tested for phenotype, growth properties, differentiation ability, metabolic activity, secretory potential, expression of genes for immunomodulatory molecules and for the ability to regulate proliferation of mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood leucocytes. MSCs from patients with ALS and HC were either unstimulated or treated with proinflammatory cytokines for 24 hours before testing.

Results

MSCs isolated from patients with ALS have a higher differentiation potential into adipocytes, express elevated levels of mRNA for interleukin-6, but produce less hepatocyte growth factor than MSCs from HC. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between MSCs from patients with ALS and HC in the expression of phenotypic markers, growth properties, metabolic activity, osteogenic differentiation potential and immunoregulatory properties.

Conclusions

The results suggest that, in spite of some differences in cytokine production, MSCs from patients with ALS can be useful as autologous cells in therapy of ALS.
Influence of low-protein diets and protease and bromelain supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood urine nitrogen, creatinine, and faecal noxious gas in growing–finishing pigs
Authors: Nguyen D.H. , Lee S.I. , Cheong J.Y. , Kim I.H.
Published: March 2018

A total of 180 crossbred pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] with an average body weight of 22.61 ± 1.23 kg were used in an 18 wk study to determine the effect of protease and bromelain in low-protein diets in grower–finisher pigs. Dietary treatments included: T1, basal diet treatment; T2, low-protein treatment; T3 (T2 + 0.2 g kg−1protease); and T4 (T2 + 0.3 g kg−1bromelain). Pigs fed protease- and bromelain-supplemented diets increased average daily gain and gain to feed ratio at week 18, dry matter and nitrogen digestibility at week 6, as well as energy digestibility at week 12, compared with low-protein diet (P < 0.05). Pigs fed T3 and T4 diets led to a trend of decreased (P < 0.05) blood urine nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine concentrations at the 12th wk. A reduction of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emission was observed in pigs fed the dietary protease and bromelain supplementation at the 6th wk (P < 0.05). There was no effect on all parameters between the protease and bromelain supplementation treatments. In conclusion, supplementation of protease and bromelain to low-protein diet enhanced growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and reduced NH3and H2S in growing–finishing pigs.