bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Education through Art after the Second World War: A Critical Review of Art Education in South Korea
Authors: Kim Hyungsook
Published: February 2014

This article examines how progressive education was introduced to South Korea after the Second World War and takes a closer look at critical studies of this history. It argues that the America‐led progressive education policies, which focused on art education, were an uncritical adaptation of the superpower's educational ideology and did not contribute to the advancement of education in Korea. In order to clear the vestiges of Japanese colonial rule, many progressive reform projects, including the reformation of the curriculum, were set into motion. However, these initiatives did not address South Korea's social and economic issues but helped to maintain traces of colonial rule. They influenced the Korean people to develop a negative view of their own roots, culture and traditions. It encouraged people to consider themselves as the subjects of Westernisation and was a strategy implemented by America to have influence on South Korea.
Is Aid a Waste of Money?
Authors: Barder Owen
Published: February 2014

It is sometimes claimed that overseas development aid is wasted; that little of it reaches the poor. After fifty years of aid, there are still many poor countries, and about a billion people still live on less than a dollar a day. Can we conclude that aid is wasted? Owen Barder has a statistic that says otherwise.
New insights into the morphogenic role of stromal cells and their relevance for regenerative medicine. lessons from the heart
Authors: Bani Daniele , Nistri Silvia
Published: February 2014

The term stromal cells is referred to cells of direct or indirect (hematopoietic) mesenchymal origin, and encompasses different cell populations residing in the connective tissue, which share the ability to produce the macromolecular components of the extracellular matrix and to organize them in the correct spatial assembly. In physiological conditions, stromal cells are provided with the unique ability to shape a proper three‐dimensional scaffold and stimulate the growth and differentiation of parenchymal precursors to give rise to tissues and organs. Thus, stromal cells have an essential function in the regulation of organ morphogenesis and regeneration. In pathological conditions, under the influence of local pro‐inflammatory mediators, stromal cells can be prompted to differentiate into myofibroblasts, which rather express a fibrogenic phenotype required for prompt deposition of reparatory scar tissue. Indeed, scarring may be interpreted as an emergency healing response to injury typical of evolved animals, like mammals, conceivably directed to preserve survival at the expense of function. However, under appropriate conditions, the original ability of stromal cells to orchestrate organ regeneration, which is typical of some lower vertebrates and mammalian embryos, can be resumed. These concepts underline the importance of expanding the knowledge on the biological properties of stromal cells and their role as key regulators of the three‐dimensional architecture of the organs in view of the refinement of the therapeutic protocols of regenerative medicine.
Morphology and Phylogenetic Position of an Unusual Stentor polymorphus (Ciliophora: Heterotrichea) Without Symbiotic Algae
Authors: Fernandes Noemi M. , da Silva Neto Inácio Domingos , Schrago Carlos G.
Published: February 2014

We investigated the live morphology, infraciliature, and small subunit rRNA gene sequences of an unusual population of Stentor polymorphus without symbiotic algae that was isolated from the southeastern region of Brazil. The morphological and molecular data confirmed the identity of this strain as S. polymorphus. The Brazilian S. polymorphus organism is 850–2,000 μm in length in vivo and has colorless cortical granules, a moniliform macronucleus with 6–12 nodules, somatic ciliature composed of 50–60 kineties, a single contractile vacuole located to the left of the cytostome, and a conspicuous oral pouch, and it does not build a lorica. Based on the phylogenetic analyses, the Brazilian S. polymorphus was located within a cluster consisting of four other S. polymorphus sequences, with high support values using both the Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood algorithms. Our study presents the first report of a S. polymorphus population without its symbionts under natural conditions. On the basis of our findings, we propose that the presence or absence of symbiotic algae should not be used as a taxonomic character for the identification of Stentor species.
Improving Maternal and Newborn Health Care Delivery in Rural Amhara and Oromiya Regions of Ethiopia Through the Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership
Authors: Sibley Lynn M. , Tesfaye Solomon , Fekadu Desta Binyam , Hailemichael Frew Aynalem , Kebede Alemu , Mohammed Hajira , Ethier‐Stover Kim , Dynes Michelle , Barry Danika , Hepburn Kenneth , Gobezayehu Abebe Gebremariam
Published: February 2014

Introduction

In Ethiopia, rural residence and limited access to skilled providers and health services pose challenges for maternal and newborn survival. The Maternal Health in Ethiopia Partnership (MaNHEP) developed a community‐based model of maternal and newborn health focusing on birth and the early postnatal period and positioned it for scale‐up. MaNHEP's 3‐pronged intervention included community‐ and facility‐based community maternal and newborn health training, continuous quality improvement, and behavior change communications.

Methods

Evaluation included baseline and endline surveys conducted with random samples of health extension workers, community health development agents, traditional birth attendants (TBAs), and women who gave birth the year prior to the survey; pretraining, posttraining, and postintervention clinical skills assessments conducted with health extension workers, community health development agents, and traditional birth attendants; endline surveys conducted with quality improvement teams; and a perinatal verbal autopsy study.

Results

There were significant improvements in the completeness of maternal and newborn health care provided by the team of health extension workers, community health development agents, and TBAs in their demonstrated capacity and confidence to provide care and a sense of being part of a maternal and newborn health care team. There were also significant improvements in women's awareness of and trust in the ability of these team members to provide maternal and newborn health care, in the completeness of care that women received, and in the use of skilled providers and health extension workers for antenatal and postnatal care. In addition, a shift occurred toward the use of providers with a higher level of skills for birth care. Successful local solutions for pregnancy identification, antenatal care registration, labor‐birth notification, and postnatal follow‐up were adopted across 51 project communities. The number of days between perinatal deaths increased over the duration of the project.

Discussion

MaNHEP was associated with more, and more complete, coverage of maternal and newborn health care and improved perinatal outcomes. The model is adaptable and potentially scalable, as indicated by the pilot test of its integration into the Ethiopian Ministry of Health's newly revised Primary Health Care Unit and Health Extension Program structures.
Protective and toxic roles of dopamine in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Segura‐Aguilar Juan , Paris Irmgard , Muñoz Patricia , Ferrari Emanuele , Zecca Luigi , Zucca Fabio A.
Published: February 2014

The molecular mechanisms causing the loss of dopaminergic neurons containing neuromelanin in the substantia nigra and responsible for motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease are still unknown. The discovery of genes associated with Parkinson's disease (such as alpha synuclein (SNCA), E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (parkin), DJ‐1 (PARK7), ubiquitin carboxyl‐terminal hydrolase isozyme L1 (UCHL‐1), serine/threonine‐protein kinase (PINK‐1), leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), cation‐transporting ATPase 13A1 (ATP13A), etc.) contributed enormously to basic research towards understanding the role of these proteins in the sporadic form of the disease. However, it is generally accepted by the scientific community that mitochondria dysfunction, alpha synuclein aggregation, dysfunction of protein degradation, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are involved in neurodegeneration. Dopamine oxidation seems to be a complex pathway in which dopamine o‐quinone, aminochrome and 5,6‐indolequinone are formed. However, both dopamine o‐quinone and 5,6‐indolequinone are so unstable that is difficult to study and separate their roles in the degenerative process occurring in Parkinson's disease. Dopamine oxidation to dopamine o‐quinone, aminochrome and 5,6‐indolequinone seems to play an important role in the neurodegenerative processes of Parkinson's disease as aminochrome induces: (i) mitochondria dysfunction, (ii) formation and stabilization of neurotoxic protofibrils of alpha synuclein, (iii) protein degradation dysfunction of both proteasomal and lysosomal systems and (iv) oxidative stress. The neurotoxic effects of aminochrome in dopaminergic neurons can be inhibited by: (i) preventing dopamine oxidation of the transporter that takes up dopamine into monoaminergic vesicles with low pH and dopamine oxidative deamination catalyzed by monoamino oxidase (ii) dopamine o‐quinone, aminochrome and 5,6‐indolequinone polymerization to neuromelanin and (iii) two‐electron reduction of aminochrome catalyzed by DT‐diaphorase. Furthermore, dopamine conversion to NM seems to have a dual role, protective and toxic, depending mostly on the cellular context.

image

Dopamine oxidation to dopamine o‐quinone, aminochrome and 5,6‐indolequinone plays an important role in neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease since they induce mitochondria and protein degradation dysfunction; formation of neurotoxic alpha synuclein protofibrils and oxidative stress. However, the cells have a protective system against dopamine oxidation composed by dopamine uptake mediated by Vesicular monoaminergic transporter‐2 (VMAT‐2), neuromelanin formation, two‐electron reduction and GSH‐conjugation mediated by Glutathione S‐transferase M2‐2 (GSTM2).
Bad Romance: Sex Differences in the Longitudinal Association Between Romantic Relationships and Deviant Behavior
Authors: Monahan Kathryn C. , Dmitrieva Julia , Cauffman Elizabeth
Published: February 2014

The current study investigates how romantic relationships are related to antisocial behavior longitudinally among delinquent males and females (n = 354; ages 14–25). While being in a relationship or not is unrelated to antisocial behavior, romantic partner characteristics (antisocial behavior and antisocial influence) are associated with greater antisocial behavior. As males age, they become increasingly resistant to romantic partner characteristics. In contrast, females become increasingly vulnerable to the effects of romantic partner characteristics on antisocial behavior as they age, particularly when these relationships are relatively shorter. Females in shorter romantic relationships with partners who are antisocial or exert antisocial influence are at risk of persisting in antisocial behavior.
To Accept or Reject? The Impact of Adolescent Rejection Sensitivity on Early Adult Romantic Relationships
Authors: Hafen Christopher A. , Spilker Ann , Chango Joanna , Marston Emily S. , Allen Joseph P.
Published: February 2014

Successfully navigating entry into romantic relationships is a key task in adolescence, which sensitivity to rejection can make difficult to accomplish. This study uses multi‐informant data from a community sample of 180 adolescents assessed repeatedly from age 16 to 22. Individuals with elevated levels of rejection sensitivity at age 16 were less likely to have a romantic partner at age 22, reported more anxiety and avoidance when they did have relationships, and were observed to be more negative in their interactions with romantic partners. In addition, females whose rejection sensitivity increased during late adolescence were more likely to adopt a submissive pattern within adult romantic relationships, further suggesting a pattern in which rejection sensitivity forecasts difficulties.
Testing for Asymmetric Information Using “Unused Observables” in Insurance Markets: Evidence from the U.K. Annuity Market
Authors: Finkelstein Amy , Poterba James
Published: February 2014

This article tests for asymmetric information in the U.K. annuity market of the 1990s by trying to identify “unused observables,” attributes of individual insurance buyers that are correlated both with subsequent claims experience and with insurance demand but that insurance companies did not use to set insurance prices. Unlike the widely used positive correlation test for asymmetric information, which searches for a positive correlation between insurance demand and risk experience, the unused observables test is not confounded by heterogeneity in individual preference parameters that may affect insurance demand. We identify residential location as an unused observable in the U.K. annuity market of this period. Even though residential location was observed by all market participants, the decision not to condition prices on it created the same types of market inefficiencies that arise when annuity buyers have private information about mortality risk. Our findings raise questions about how insurance companies select the set of buyer attributes that they use in setting policy prices. In the decade following the period that we study, U.K. insurance companies changed their pricing practices and began to condition annuity prices on a buyer's postcode.
The influence of metacognitive training on delusion severity and metacognitive ability in schizophrenia
Authors: Erawati Erna , Keliat Budi Anna , Helena Novy , Hamid Achiryani
Published: February 2014

Accessible summary

Individualized metacognitive training is an effective therapy for reducing delusion severity and at the same time increasing metacognitive ability.

Correlations emerged between delusion severity and metacognitive ability was needed to be established.

Current research findings on cognitive biases and their link to schizophrenia/delusions are explained in a comprehensible and non‐stigmatizing manner to patients and illustrated by multiple (everyday life) examples.

The article is a report of a study conducted to explore the influence of individualized metacognitive therapy (MCT) on delusional severity and metacognitive ability. Delusional beliefs are at the core of schizophrenia. While there is emerging evidence on the usefulness treatment for psychosis of the group training MCT, so far only one study has investigated the effectiveness of individualized metacognitive training. A quasi experimental approach was adopted: The sample consisted of each 26 patients in the intervention group and in the control group. We found that delusion severity as assessed with the Psychosis Rating Scales and metacognitive abilities using the Metacognitive Ability Questionnaire improved significantly in the intervention group. Group differences achieved significance in favour of the MCT for all measures. Correlations that emerged between delusion severity and metacognitive ability were needed to be established. Metacognitive training appears to be effective in decreasing delusion severity and increasing metacognitive ability. We recommend that individualized MCT for a schizophrenic client should become a standard procedure in the treatment of psychosis, which can be administered by a qualified nurse.
Predictors of Sexual Dysfunction Incidence and Remission in Men
Authors: Martin Sean A. , Atlantis Evan , Lange Kylie , Taylor Anne W. , O'Loughlin Peter , Wittert Gary A.
Published: February 2014

Introduction

The progress and determinants of sexual dysfunction in middle-aged and elderly men remain unclear.

Aim

To describe the incidence or remission and biopsychosocial predictors of erectile dysfunction (ED) and low sexual desire (SD).

Main Outcome Measures

Erectile function (International Index of Erectile Function) and sexual desire (Sexual Desire Inventory 2) were assessed at follow-up. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors were examined in multivariate models of ED and low SD.

Methods

Data were collected from 810 randomly selected men residing in northern and western Adelaide, Australia, and aged 35–80 years at baseline, who made clinic visits 5 years apart.

Results

At baseline, 23.2% (n = 123) of men had ED. ED incidence and remission were observed in 31.7% (n = 179) and 29.0% (n = 71) of eligible men, respectively. At baseline, 19.2% (n = 165) had low solitary sexual desire, and 6.0% (n = 50) had low dyadic sexual desire; incidence of low sexual desire occurred in 17.6% (n = 83) (solitary) and 8.3% (n = 51) (dyadic), while remission occurred in 15.4% (n = 68) (solitary) and 22.6% (n = 40) (dyadic) of men. In the final regression models, predictors of incident ED were higher age, lower income, higher abdominal fat mass, low alcohol intake, higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk, voiding lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), depression, and diabetes. Predictors of ED remission were lower age, current employment, and absence of voiding LUTS, angina, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Predictors of low dyadic SD incidence included higher age, never having been married, widowhood, being unemployed, being retired, insufficient physical activity, and low alcohol intake. Predictors of low dyadic SD remission were being married, not being widowed, higher income, lower abdominal fat mass, lower OSA risk, and higher plasma testosterone. Predictors of low solitary SD included never having been married, being unemployed, low alcohol intake, lower testosterone, storage LUTS, and hypertension. Predictors of low solitary SD remission were being married, being employed, higher income, higher physical activity, moderate alcohol intake, and depression.

Conclusions

Sexual dysfunction in aging men is a dynamic disorder whose incidence and remission are predicted by a range of modifiable risk factors.
Rheological and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study on Heat‐Induced Gel Properties of Spent‐Hen Myofibrillar Protein Affected by Porcine Plasma Protein
Authors: Wang Peng , Han Minyi , Xu Xinglian , Zhou Guanghong , Huang Mengmeng
Published: February 2014

Model heat‐induced gels were prepared. Compared with the broiler myofibrillar protein (BMP), interactions between porcine plasma protein (PPP) and spent‐hen myofibrillar protein (SHMP) were evaluated using rheology, textural analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The gel hardness of SHMP was higher than that of BMP. PPP had the highest stickiness and immobilized water fraction of all the gels. The plasma and broiler myofibrillar mixed proteins had a storage modulus similar to that of BMP. After mixing SHMP or BMP with PPP, immobilized water fraction was increased by 5.59% or 50.57%, respectively, and the water‐holding capacity (WHC) of the latter significantly increased. Addition of PPP transformed SHMP heat‐induced gel to a uniform interconnected network. Introducing PPP can improve the WHC and microstructure of SHMP and BMP gels.

Practical Applications

Spent‐hen meat is an underutilized raw material which could be used for mince or imitation products. However, there lies diversity on heat‐induced gel properties among different researches. As incorporation of spent‐hen breast surimi into analog food can bring worse quality, such as increases of cooking losses and decreases of water‐holding capacity, it is the valuable trying to improve quality through protein interaction. This research could be useful to the modification of mince or imitation products with spent‐hen meat, and to the manipulation of texture and water‐holding capacity of meat products with plasma protein.
Sensory Properties of Bulgarian Yogurts, Supplemented with Lactobacilli as Probiotic Adjuncts
Authors: Tropcheva Rositsa , Georgieva Ralitsa , Paskov Vladislav , Karsheva Maria , Danova Svetla
Published: February 2014

Dairy products supplemented with probiotic cultures are a widely accepted approach in the development of functional foods. Moreover, this is the easier way to administrate and to deliver a probiotic culture to the consumers. With this aim, four potential probiotic strains, belonging to the species Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus were preselected as probiotic adjuncts to Bulgarian yogurt. The sensory properties of fermented products, enriched with these cultures, were evaluated using descriptive analyses. The tests were conducted to establish the differences between probiotic and standard yogurts and to estimate the technological relevance of preselected strains. At the end of the storage period, a high ratio of survival and strain‐specific effects on sensory quality of the obtained fermented milks were detected with greater influence on the flavor/taste. The L. plantarum was estimated as the most appropriate adjunct, with a positive effect on sensory properties of typical Bulgarian yogurt.

Practical Applications

Functional foods, incorporating probiotic bacteria with scientifically proven health claims, have a great potential for improving the healthy balance and the quality of life. Currently they provide the largest segment of the functional food market. Thus, the search for new probiotics is in continuous great interest today. With this aim we pre‐selected four Lactobacilli in vitro characterized as candidate probiotics. The technological relevance of these lactic acid bacteria cultures as probiotic adjuncts to Bulgarian yogurts is very important for their further industrial implementation. The key parameters, Lactobacillus viability in fermented milks and the impact of the probiotic adjuncts on the sensory quality, were monitored. Obtained results suggest perspectives for an application of the strain L. plantarum RL as adjunct culture in dairy products like yogurt. The other studied strains, L. salivarius LS and L. brevis KR could be used as probiotics in other types of fermented dairy products and functional foods.
Differential localization of LTA synthesis proteins and their interaction with the cell division machinery in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Reichmann Nathalie T. , Piçarra Cassona Carolina , Monteiro João M. , Bottomley Amy L. , Corrigan Rebecca M. , Foster Simon J. , Pinho Mariana G. , Gründling Angelika
Published: February 2014

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is an important cell wall component of Gram‐positive bacteria. In Staphylococcus aureus it consists of a polyglycerolphosphate‐chain that is retained within the membrane via a glycolipid. Using an immunofluorescence approach, we show here that the LTA polymer is not surface exposed in S. aureus, as it can only be detected after digestion of the peptidoglycan layer. S. aureus mutants lacking LTA are enlarged and show aberrant positioning of septa, suggesting a link between LTA synthesis and the cell division process. Using a bacterial two‐hybrid approach, we show that the three key LTA synthesis proteins, YpfP and LtaA, involved in glycolipid production, and LtaS, required for LTA backbone synthesis, interact with one another. All three proteins also interacted with numerous cell division and peptidoglycan synthesis proteins, suggesting the formation of a multi‐enzyme complex and providing further evidence for the co‐ordination of these processes. When assessed by fluorescence microscopy, YpfP and LtaA fluorescent protein fusions localized to the membrane while the LtaS enzyme accumulated at the cell division site. These data support a model whereby LTA backbone synthesis proceeds in S. aureus at the division site in co‐ordination with cell division, while glycolipid synthesis takes place throughout the membrane.
A pragmatist approach to the hope discourse in health care research
Authors: Herrestad Henning , Biong Stian , McCormack Brendan , Borg Marit , Karlsson Bengt
Published: February 2014

Hope is a central concept in nursing and other fields of health care. However, there is no consensus about the concept of hope. We argue that seeking consensus is futile given the multifaceted and multidimensional nature of the concept, but instead we encourage in‐depth studies of the assumptions behind talk about hope in specific contexts. Our approach to the ‘science of hope’ is inspired by philosophical pragmatism. We argue that hope is a concept that opens different rooms for action in different contexts and that accordingly, all hope interventions are contextually sensitive. Careful attention to how the relative positions and power of nurses and patients influence what can be inferred from their different ways of talking about hope may make hopeful conversations more meaningful in health care relationships.
Histone chaperone ASF1 is involved in gene transcription activation in response to heat stress in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: WENG MINJIE , YANG YUE , FENG HAIYANG , PAN ZONGDE , SHEN WEN‐HUI , ZHU YAN , DONG AIWU
Published: February 2014

ANTI‐SILENCING FUNCTION 1 (ASF1) is an evolutionarily conserved histone chaperone involved in diverse chromatin‐based processes in eukaryotes. Yet, its role in transcription and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely elusive, particularly in plants. Here, we show that the A rabidopsis thaliana ASF1 homologous genes, AtASF1A and AtASF1B, are involved in gene transcription activation in response to heat stress. The A tasf1ab mutant displays defective basal as well as acquired thermotolerance phenotypes. Heat‐induced expression of several key genes, including the HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN (HSP) genes Hsp101, Hsp70, Hsa32, Hsp17.6A and Hsp17.6B‐CI, and the HEAT SHOCK FACTOR (HSF) gene HsfA2 but not HsfB1 is drastically impaired in Atasf1ab as compared with that in wild type. We found that AtASF1A/B proteins are recruited onto chromatin, and their enrichment is correlated with nucleosome removal and RNA polymerase II accumulation at the promoter and coding regions of HsfA2 and Hsa32 but not HsfB1. Moreover, AtASF1A/B facilitate H3K56 acetylation (H3K56ac), which is associated with HsfA2 and Hsa32 activation. Taken together, our study unravels an important function of AtASF1A/B in plant heat stress response and suggests that AtASF1A/B participate in transcription activation of some but not all HSF and HSP genes via nucleosome removal and H3K56ac stimulation.
Banana fruit NAC transcription factor MaNAC1 is a direct target of MaICE1 and involved in cold stress through interacting with MaCBF1
Authors: SHAN WEI , KUANG JIAN‐FEI , LU WANG‐JIN , CHEN JIAN‐YE
Published: February 2014

Our previous studies have indicated that the banana ripening‐induced MaNAC1, a NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2 and CUC2) transcription factor (TF) gene, is regulated by ethylene during fruit ripening, and propylene, a functional ethylene analogue, induces cold tolerance of banana fruits. However, the involvement of MaNAC1 in propylene‐induced cold tolerance of banana fruits is not understood. In the present work, the possible involvement of MaNAC1 in cold tolerance of banana fruits was investigated. MaNAC1 was noticeably induced by cold stress or following propylene treatment during cold storage. Transient protoplast assays showed that MaNAC1 promoter was activated by cold stress and ethylene treatment. Yeast one‐hybrid (Y1H), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and transient expression assays demonstrated MaNAC1 as a novel direct target of MaICE1, and that the ability of MaICE1 binding to MaNAC1 promoter might be enhanced by MaICE1 phosphorylation and cold stress. Moreover, yeast two‐hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analyses revealed physical interaction between MaNAC1 and MaCBF1, a downstream component of inducer of C‐repeat binding factor (CBF) expression 1 (ICE1) in cold signalling. Taken together, these results suggest that the cold‐responsive MaNAC1 may be involved in cold tolerance of banana fruits through its interaction with ICE1–CBF cold signalling pathway, providing new insights into the regulatory activity of NAC TF.
Objectively recorded physical activity and the association with gestational diabetes
Authors: Mørkrid K. , Jenum A. K. , Berntsen S. , Sletner L. , Richardsen K. R. , Vangen S. , Holme I. , Birkeland K. I.
Published: February 2014

The aim of this population‐based study was to assess the association between objectively recorded physical activity (PA) in early gestation and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) identified at 28 weeks of gestation in a multi‐ethnic cohort of healthy pregnant women in Oslo, Norway. In total, 759 women were included. In early gestation (<20 weeks), light‐, moderate‐, and vigorous‐intensity PA and number of steps were objectively recorded (SenseWear™ Armband Pro3), and self‐reported PA, demographics, and anthropometrics were collected. The 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test was performed at 28 weeks of gestation. Women with GDM had fewer objectively recorded steps (mean 7964 steps/day vs 8879 steps/day, P < 0.001) and minutes of moderate‐to‐vigorous‐intensity PA (median 62 min/day vs 75 min/day, P = 0.004) in early gestation than women without GDM. Additionally, 30% of women with GDM compared with 44% (P < 0.001) of women without GDM self‐reported regular PA before pregnancy. The significant inverse association between objectively recorded steps per day in early gestation and GDM persisted after adjustment for ethnic origin, weeks of gestation, age, parity, pre‐pregnancy BMI, early life socioeconomic position, and self‐reported regular PA before pregnancy. The adjusted odds ratio for GDM decreased 19% per standard deviation (3159 steps) increase in objectively recorded steps per day (P = 0.039). Daily life PA in early gestation measured as steps/day was associated with lower risk of GDM.
MAIN‐LIKE1 is a crucial factor for correct cell division and differentiation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Ühlken Christine , Horvath Beatrix , Stadler Ruth , Sauer Norbert , Weingartner Magdalena
Published: February 2014

Plant development requires accurate coordination of gene expression, both in actively dividing meristematic cells and differentiated cells. Cell fate establishment and maintenance, among others, are mediated by chromatin organization complexes that determine the stable transcriptional states of specific cell types. Here, we focus on MAIN‐LIKE1 (MAIL1), one of three homologs of MAINTENANCE OF MERISTEMS (MAIN), which form a plant‐specific gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that MAIL1 encodes a ubiquitously expressed nuclear protein. A mail1 loss‐of‐function mutant developed short primary roots, in which the meristematic cells accumulated DNA double‐strand breaks and underwent massive cell death. In addition, mail1 mutant showed also cell differentiation defects in root and shoot tissues, and developed disorganized callus‐like structures. The genetic interaction between main and mail1 mutants suggests that they act in the same pathway, and that both are essential for maintaining correct cell division acitivity in meristematic cells, while MAIL1 has an additional function in differentiating cells.
Evolution and diversity of the 2–oxoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase superfamily in plants
Authors: Kawai Yosuke , Ono Eiichiro , Mizutani Masaharu
Published: February 2014

The 2–oxoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase (2OGD) superfamily is the second largest enzyme family in the plant genome, and its members are involved in various oxygenation/hydroxylation reactions. Despite their biochemical significance in metabolism, a systematic analysis of plant 2OGDs remains to be accomplished. We present a phylogenetic classification of 479 2OGDs in six plant models, ranging from green algae to angiosperms. These were classified into three classes –DOXA,DOXBandDOXC– based on amino acid sequence similarity. TheDOXAclass includes plant homologs ofEscherichia coli AlkB, which is a prototype of 2OGDinvolved in the oxidative demethylation of alkylated nucleic acids and histones. TheDOXBclass is conserved across all plant taxa and is involved in proline 4–hydroxylation in cell wall protein synthesis. TheDOXCclass is involved in specialized metabolism of various phytochemicals, including phytohormones and flavonoids. The vast majority of 2OGDs from land plants were classified into theDOXCclass, but only seven fromChlamydomonas, suggesting that this class has diversified during land plant evolution. Phylogenetic analysis assignedDOXC‐class 2OGDs to 57 phylogenetic clades. 2OGDgenes involved in gibberellin biosynthesis were conserved among vascular plants, and those involved in flavonoid and ethylene biosynthesis were shared among seed plants. Several angiosperm‐specific clades were found to be involved in various lineage‐specific specialized metabolisms, but 31 of the 57DOXC‐class clades were only found in a single species. Therefore, the evolution and diversification ofDOXC‐class 2OGDs is partly responsible for the diversity and complexity of specialized metabolites in land plants.
Occurrence of sulfonylurea resistance in Sagittaria trifolia, a basal monocot species, based on target‐site and non‐target‐site resistance
Authors: Iwakami Satoshi , Watanabe Hiroaki , Miura Tom , Matsumoto Hiroshi , Uchino Akira
Published: February 2014

Sagittaria trifolia L. is one of the most serious weeds in paddy fields in Japan. Since the late 1990s, severe infestations of S. trifolia have occurred following applications of sulfonylurea herbicides in Akita prefecture. In this study, two accessions of S. trifolia, R1 and R2, were collected from paddy fields with severe infestations and their resistance profiles were determined in comparison to a susceptible accession, S1. R1 and R2 were highly resistant to bensulfuron‐methyl. R1 was also highly resistant to pyrazosulfuron‐ethyl, but R2 was susceptible. Relative to S1, R1 had an amino acid substitution at the Pro197 residue of acetolactate synthase (ALS), a well‐known mutation that confers sulfonylurea resistance, suggesting that R1 has a target‐site‐based resistance (TSR) mechanism. The sequence of the ALS gene in R2 was identical to that in S1. A Southern blot analysis indicated that there was only one copy of the ALS gene in S1 and R2. These results suggest that R2 has a non‐target‐site‐based resistance (NTSR) mechanism. R2 was moderately resistant to imazosulfuron but susceptible to thifensulfuron‐methyl. R2 and S1 were susceptible to pretilachlor, benfuresate, MCPA‐ethyl and bentazon. The results reveal the occurrence of two sulfonylurea‐resistant biotypes of S. trifolia that show different mechanisms of cross‐resistance to sulfonylureas related to TSR in R1 and NTSR in R2.
Remediation Strategy, Capping Construction and Ongoing Monitoring for the Mill Tailings Pond, Ningyo-Toge Uranium Mine, Japan
Authors: Saito Hiroshi , Taki Tomihiro
Published: February 2014

Ningyo-toge Uranium Mine is subject to the environmental remediation. The main purposes are to take measures to ensure the radiation protection from the exposure pathways to humans in future, and to prevent the occurrence of mining pollution.

The Yotsugi Mill Tailings Pond in the Ningyo-toge Uranium Mine has deposited mining waste and impounded water as a buffer reservoir before it is transferred to the Water Treatment Facility. It is located at the upstream of the water-source river and as the impact on its environment in case of earthquake is estimated significant, the highest priority has been put to it among mine-related facilities in the Mine.

So far, basic concept has been examined and a great number of data has been acquired, and using the data, some remediation activities have already done, including capping construction for the upstream part of the Mill Tailings Pond. The capping is to reduce rainwater penetration to lower the burden of water treatment, and to reduce radon exhalation and dose rates. Only natural materials are used to alleviate the future maintenance.

Data, including settlement amount and underground temperature is now being acquired and accumulated to verify the effectiveness of the capping, and used for the future remediation of the Downstream with revision of its specifications if necessary.
Quantity and Management of Spent Fuel From Prototype and Research Reactors in Germany
Authors: Dörr Sabine , Bollingerfehr Wilhelm , Filbert Wolfgang , Tholen Marion
Published: February 2014

Within the scope of an R&D project (project identification number FKZ 02 S 8679) sponsored by BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research), the current state of storage and management of fuel elements from prototype and research reactors was established, and an approach for their future storage/management was developed.

The spent fuels from prototype and research reactors in Germany that require disposal were specified and were described in regard to their repository-relevant characteristics. As there are currently no casks licensed for disposal in Germany, descriptions of casks that were considered to be suitable were provided. Based on the information provided on the spent fuel from prototype and research reactors and the potential casks, a technical disposal concept was developed. In this context, concepts to integrate the spent fuel from prototype and research reactors into existing disposal concepts for spent fuel from German nuclear power plants and for waste from reprocessing were developed for salt and clay formations.
Evaluation of the Safety of Mobile Units for the Conditioning of Radioactive Waste
Authors: Filss Martin , Wallner Christian
Published: February 2014

In Germany mobile units are used to treat and condition radioactive waste. On behalf of the relevant authorities TUV SUD Industrie Service GmbH evaluates their safety. In this paper we outline the general procedure we apply and point out typical results. Generally, a generic safety case evaluates the effects of incidents and accidents and its consequences for the workers and the public. Special care is necessary to define the radioactive inventory, the nuclide composition and the mobility of the radioactive substances. A systems analysis is carried out. Typical aspects to be considered are the handling procedures, the measurement devices and automatic actions. From the various possible malfunctions the critical ones have to be identified. Generally one or only a few scenarios have to be considered in detail.
Radiological Characterization Methods Specifically Applied to the Preparation of the Dismantling of PHENIX Fast Reactor
Authors: Venara J. , Ben Mosbah M. , Mahé C. , Masson M. , Paul J. L.
Published: February 2014

Knowledge of the radiological state of processes and equipment of a nuclear facility is essential to supervise a wide variety of sensitive tasks: building of intervention scenarios in order to optimize maintenance or dismantling operations, optimization of waste categorization, monitoring the effectiveness of decontamination processes, monitoring of nuclear facility decommissioning, etc.

In order to meet the diversity of the issues involved, the CEA has developed in situ radiological characterization methods and techniques to acquire reliable radiological data. The data gathered is necessary to build robust radiological models which can be used as input data for dismantling studies. Over the last 30 years, the main nuclear measurement techniques, such as gamma imaging and gamma spectrometry, have been widely deployed by the CEA on many facilities under dismantling and more recently, on the Phénix nuclear power plant. Phénix was a small-scale prototype of a sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor, located at the Marcoule nuclear site. These techniques have been implemented on this reactor in order to meet the increased need for radiological knowledge to prepare for future dismantling operations following its final shutdown in 2009.

This paper will focus on the description of three radiological characterization methods which take advantage of advanced nuclear measurement techniques. For each method, an example of a specific application on the Phénix reactor will be presented. Firstly, the so-called “gamma scanning” method will be explained. The objective of this method is to determine the activity profile of equipment based on collimated gamma spectrometry measurements with compact probes like CdZnTe. This method was applied to a neutron shielding of the reactor core to estimate the 60Co activity profile. Then the measured activities helped to validate the theoretical activities resulting from neutron activation calculations. Secondly, this paper will focus on the interest of combining different measurement techniques such as gamma imaging, gamma spectrometry and collimated/uncollimated dose rate mapping to characterize complex equipment or processes. In this case, a specific methodology was developed to define the radiological state of a shielded cell used for the processing of irradiated nuclear fuels. Finally, an isotopic characterization technique using a high purity germanium detector will be discussed. This technique was applied to a non-irradiated fertile fuel sub-assembly in order to determine the level of uranium enrichment. The processing was carried out by three types of analysis: two automated, with the MGA-U and IGA software, and one manual.
Direct Disposal of Spent Fuel: Developing Solutions Tailored to Japan
Authors: Kawamura Hideki , McKinley Ian G.
Published: February 2014

With the past Government policy of 100% reprocessing in Japan now open to discussion, options for direct disposal of spent fuel (SF) are now being considered in Japan. The need to move rapidly ahead in developing spent fuel management concepts is closely related to the ongoing debate on the future of nuclear power in Japan and the desire to understand the true costs of the entire life cycle of different options. Different scenarios for future nuclear power — and associated decisions on extent of reprocessing — will give rise to quite different inventories of SF with different disposal challenges.

Although much work has been carried out spent fuel disposal within other national programmes, the potential for mining the international knowledge base is limited by the boundary conditions for disposal in Japan. Indeed, with a volunteer approach to siting, no major salt deposits and few undisturbed sediments, high tectonic activity, relatively corrosive groundwater and no deserts, it is evident that a tailored solution is needed. Nevertheless, valuable lessons can be learned from projects carried out worldwide, if focus is placed on basic principles rather than implementation details.
Stakeholder Opinions on the Use of the Added Value Approach in Siting Radioactive Waste Management Facilities
Authors: Kojo Matti , Richardson Phil
Published: February 2014

In some countries nuclear waste facility siting programs include social and economic benefits, compensation, local empowerment and motivation measures and other incentives for the potential host community. This can generally be referred to as an ‘added value approach’. Demonstration of the safety of a repository is seen as a precondition of an added value approach.

Recently much focus has been placed on studying and developing public participation approaches but less on the use of such incentive and community benefit packages, although they are becoming a more common element in many site selection strategies for nuclear waste management facilities.

The primary objective of this paper is to report on an ongoing study of stakeholders’ opinions of the use of an added value approach in siting a radioactive waste facility in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia. The paper argues that an added value approach should adapt to the interests and needs of stakeholders during different stages of a siting process.

The main question posed in the study is as follows: What are the measures which should be included in ‘added value approach’ according to the stakeholders?

The research data consists of stakeholders’ responses to a survey focusing on the use of added value (community benefits) and incentives in siting nuclear waste management facilities. The survey involved use of a questionnaire developed as part of the EU-funded IPPA* project in three countries: the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia. (* Implementing Public Participation Approaches in Radioactive Waste Disposal, FP7 Contract Number: 269849).

The target audiences for the questionnaires were the stakeholders represented in the national stakeholder groups established to discuss site selection for a nuclear waste repository in their country.

A total of 105 questionnaires were sent to the stakeholders between November 2011 and January 2012. 44 questionnaires were returned, resulting in a total response rate of 41% (10/29 in the Czech Republic, 11/14 in Poland and in 23/64 in Slovenia).
The US DOE EM International Program
Authors: Elmetti Rosa R. , Han Ana M. , Roach Jay A.
Published: February 2014

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) conducts international collaboration activities in support of U.S. policies and objectives regarding the accelerated risk reduction and remediation of environmental legacy of the nations’ nuclear weapons program and government sponsored nuclear energy research. The EM International Program supported out of the EM Office of the Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary pursues collaborations with foreign government organizations, educational institutions and private industry to assist in identifying technologies and promote international collaborations that leverage resources and link international experience and expertise.

In fiscal year (FY) 2012, the International Program awarded eight international collaborative projects for work scope spanning waste processing, groundwater and soil remediation, deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) and nuclear materials disposition initiatives to seven foreign organizations. Additionally, the International Program’s scope and collaboration opportunities were expanded to include technical as well as non-technical areas. This paper will present an overview of the on-going tasks awarded in FY 2012 and an update of upcoming international activities and opportunities for expansion into the remainder of FY 2013 and beyond.