bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meaning of relative gene expression in multilayered cultures of epidermal keratinocytes
Authors: Malaisse Jérémy , Hermant Maryse , Hayez Aurélie , Poumay Yves , Lambert de Rouvroit Catherine
Published: July 2014

Reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) has become an in vitro model of choice for studying cell and tissue functions. Analysis of gene expression over the course of reconstruction must take into account the heterogeneous differentiation states of keratinocytes reconstituting the typical epidermal layers. In monolayer cultures, relative mRNA expression levels of differentiation markers are usually expressed as a ratio versus a classical reference gene (also named house‐keeping gene) tested to be expressed equally in certain experimental conditions. Applied to complex tissues in which the cell number increases over time together with differentiation, calculation of relative gene expression does not take enough into account a crucial phenomenon: epidermal morphogenesis results in progressive restriction of differentiation markers, such as involucrin, to a specific layer, or in the delayed onset of mRNA expression of filaggrin or TMEM45A for instance following stratification. Our study illustrates that comparing the relative expression level of mRNAs to that of a basal layer‐specific gene (e.g. ITGA6) better illustrates the contribution of specific differentiation markers to the process of epidermal morphogenesis.
Activation of autophagic pathways is related to growth inhibition and senescence in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Choi So Ra , Chung Bo Young , Kim Seong Who , Kim Chang Deok , Yun Woo Jin , Lee Mi Woo , Choi Jee Ho , Chang Sung Eun
Published: July 2014

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a very common resectable cancer; however, cutaneousSCCis highly resistant to chemotherapy if metastasis develops. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) has been suggested as a marker of advanced or metastatic cutaneousSCC. Autophagy is one of the most important mechanisms in cancer biology and commonly induced byin vitroserum starvation. To investigate the role of autophagy activation in cutaneousSCC, we activated autophagic pathways by serum starvation inSCC13 andATF3‐overexpressingSCC13 (ATF3‐SCC13) cell lines.ATF3‐SCC13 cells demonstrated high proliferative capacity and low p53 and autophagy levels in comparison with controlSCC13 cells under basal conditions. Intriguingly, autophagic stimulation via serum starvation resulted in growth inhibition and senescence in both cells, whileATF3‐SCC13 cells further demonstrated growth inhibition and senescence. Apoptosis was not significantly induced by autophagy activation. Taken together, autophagy activation may be a promising antitumor approach for advanced cutaneousSCC.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress: key promoter of rosacea pathogenesis
Authors: Melnik Bodo C.
Published: July 2014

Recent scientific interest in the pathogenesis of rosacea focuses on abnormally high facial skin levels of cathelicidin and the trypsin‐like serine protease kallikrein 5 (KLK5) that cleaves the cathelicidin precursor protein into the bioactive fragment LL‐37, which exerts crucial proinflammatory, angiogenic and antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, increased expression of toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2) has been identified in rosacea skin supporting the participation of the innate immune system. Notably, TLRs are expressed on sensory neurons and increase neuronal excitability linking TLR signalling to the transmission of neuroinflammatory responses. It is the intention of this viewpoint to present a unifying concept that links all known clinical trigger factors of rosacea such as UV irradiation, heat, skin irritants and special foods to one converging point: enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress that activates the unfolded protein response (UPR). ER stress via upregulation of transcription factor ATF4 increases TLR2 expression, resulting in enhanced production of cathelicidin and KLK5 mediating downstream proinflammatory, angiogenic and antimicrobial signalling. The presented concept identifies rosacea trigger factors as environmental stressors that enhance the skin's ER stress response. Exaggerated cutaneous ER stress that stimulates the TLR2‐driven inflammatory response may involve sebocytes, keratinocytes, monocyte‐macrophages and sensory cutaneous neurons. Finally, all antirosacea drugs are proposed to attenuate the ER stress signalling cascade at some point. Overstimulated ER stress signalling may have evolutionarily evolved as a compensatory mechanism to balance impaired vitamin D‐driven LL‐37‐mediated antimicrobial defenses due to lower exposure of UV‐B irradiation of the northern Celtic population.
Advocating for America's Military Children: Considering the Impact of Parental Combat Deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan
Authors: Lemmon Keith , Stafford Elisabeth
Published: July 2014

Military dependent children and adolescents have faced remarkable adversity during the last 12 years of war. Although we know most military children and families are resilient, research addressing military child and family strengths and challenges in peace and war has shown that military youth fared better than their civilian counterparts in areas such as self‐regulation, academic performance, and emotional well‐being. However, many of these studies occurred prior to current combat activities of the past 10‐plus years with families experiencing repeated military parental deployments to war. It is important for family court professionals to understand that being resilient does not mean that these important families are invulnerable. In this article, the journey of a military family is described through the eyes of its teenage son, Ben.

Key Points for the Family Court Community

The story of a significantly affected military family

The effect of relationship restructuring in military families (separation, divorce, changed family members)

Unique military child and adolescent culture

Advocacy efforts on behalf military children

Relevance of the issues to family court professionals
What can Family Courts Learn from Veterans Treatment Courts?
Authors: Clark Sean , McGuire James , Blue‐Howells Jessica
Published: July 2014

While there is considerable awareness of servicemembers and veterans in contact with the criminal justice system, it is unclear to what extent they, and their readjustment issues, have surfaced in family courts across the country. Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) routinely encounter veteran defendants' family issues that could be addressed in a family court. This article provides administrative data from the Veterans Health Administration Veterans Justice Outreach program, which serves veterans in VTCs, that describe the court‐involved veteran and his/her family circumstances, as well as other social and clinical characteristics. It concludes with a discussion of the possible implications of these data in a family court context and suggestions for how family court judges use this and related information regarding U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care and benefits to improve their practice with veterans.

Key Points for the Family Court Community

The data presented in this article are the first to describe the characteristics and service needs of court‐involved veterans with minor children at a national level.

These data offer family court practitioners a basic understanding of the potential issues presented by veteran families in their courts.

This article identifies existing resources available to address these issues, which practitioners working with veteran families will find useful.
Mandating Cultural Competence Training for Dependency Attorneys
Authors: Schutte Casey
Published: July 2014

Dependency attorneys who represent children in child abuse and neglect proceedings engage in cross‐cultural lawyering. Beyond the inevitable cultural differences between lawyer and child client in terms of education, development, and age, there are often differences in race, sexual orientation, language, neighborhood of residence, and countless other cultural dimensions. Cultural differences can lead to miscommunications and misunderstandings between attorney and client, which in turn hurt the quality of representation. Increasing the cultural competence of an attorney can improve the attorney's ability to work effectively with children from different cultures. Unfortunately, very few states currently require cultural competence training for attorneys who represent children. This article calls for making cultural competence training mandatory for all dependency attorneys to improve the quality of representation for children involved in the dependency system.
An Alleged Father's Family Medical History: An Introduction to the Nonidentifying Paternal Information Form
Authors: Ross Charisma J.
Published: July 2014

Today, the number of single mothers, unwed fathers, and unwed mothers is higher than it was twenty years ago. No longer does the common law presumption of legitimacy apply to a large percentage of U.S. families. Studies have shown that, over time, an unmarried father's involvement with his child decreases. If a medical emergency occurs and the father is unable to be contacted or located, the father's health information should be available in his absence. Due to the growing public health concern for children born with genetic birth defects and mental illness, this Note proposes a pilot program to help children have access to necessary medical information in order to address the medical and health needs of children born into the evolving familial structure of unmarried families. The pilot program will require hospitals to ask unmarried fathers to complete a Nonidentifying Paternal Information Form. This form will not establish paternity. The sole purpose of the form is to gather the father's medical and health history for the well‐being of the child.

Key Points for the Family Court Community

Discusses the importance of children knowing their fathers' medical history in order begin potential mitigate inherited illnesses.

Points out a potential resource—the Nonidentifying Paternal Information Form—to assist children, parent and medical personnel in gathering relevant medical information from alleged fathers.

Presents information about genetically inherited illnesses that may potentially affect children.

Discusses resources utilized in semi‐open adoptions to help children know their paternal medical history.

Presents the idea that best opportunity to request medical and health information from an alleged father is immediately after the in‐hospital birth of a child.
Molecular structure and granule morphology of native and heat‐moisture‐treated pinhão starch
Authors: Pinto Vania Z. , Moomand Khalid , Vanier Nathan L. , Colussi Rosana , Villanova Franciene A. , Zavareze Elessandra R. , Lim Loong‐Tak , Dias Alvaro R. G.
Published: July 2014

Pinhão seed is an unconventional source of starch and the pines grow up in native forests of southern Latin America. In this study, pinhão starch was adjusted at 15, 20 and 25% moisture content and heated to 100, 110 and 120 °C for 1 h. A decrease in λ max (starch/iodine complex) was observed as a result of increase in temperature and moisture content of HMT. The ratio of crystalline to amorphous phase in pinhão starch was determined via Fourier transform infra red by taking 1045/1022 band ratio. A decrease in crystallinity occurred as a result of HMT. Polarised light microscopy indicated a loss of birefringence of starch granules under 120 °C at 25% moisture content. Granule size distribution was further confirmed via scanning electron microscopy which showed the HMT effects. These results increased the understanding on molecular and structural properties of HMT pinhão starch and broadened its food and nonfood industrial applications.
Oxidative stability of purified common Kilka (Clupeonella cultiventris caspia) oil as a function of the bene kernel and hull oils
Authors: Pazhouhanmehr Samaneh , Farhoosh Reza , Esmaeilzadeh Kenari Reza , Sharif Ali
Published: July 2014

Oxidative stability of the purified common Kilka triacylglycerols (PKO) as affected by 1–8% w/w of bene kernel (BKO) and hull (BHO) oils was studied and compared with that of 100 mg kg−1 of BHT and α‐tocopherol. Lipid oxidation was measured by monitoring peroxide value till the minute 80 (PV80, meq kg−1) and also by determining the oxidative stability index at 60 °C (OSI60, h). In the Rancimat test, the OSI60 of the PKO (1.66 h) was significantly increased by some of the added antioxidants, and the BKO 8% (7.98 h) had the highest antioxidant activity with no significant differences among the BHT, α‐tocopherol and the BHO 8%. Furthermore, an exponential regression curve with a good coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.94) was observed between the changes in the PV80 and OSI60 values of the PKO.
Effect of miniemulsion cross‐linking and ultrasonication on properties of banana starch
Authors: Orsuwan Aungkana , Sothornvit Rungsinee
Published: July 2014

Miniemulsion technique has been widely used to prepare cross‐linked starch microsphere for food application. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of miniemulsion and ultrasonic treatment on the morphological, physicochemical and thermal properties of banana starch. Results showed that the miniemulsion cross‐linked banana starch (MCBS) exhibited lower swelling power (SP) and solubility (S) but higher gelatinisation enthalpy (ΔHgel) than native banana starch. Ultrasonic treatment conditions (amplitude and time) did not show any significant difference in SP and ΔHgel of MCBS. Ultrasonicated MCBS showed rough surfaces and slight fragmentations without any change in particle size. At gelatinisation temperature (80 °C), the SP and S of MCBS were higher than those at 29 °C. Moreover, MCBS with ultrasonic treatment showed a lower range in the gelatinisation temperature (ΔT) than untreated. The FT‐IR spectrums revealed that MCBS were fully cross‐linked and had high extent of hydrogen bonding.
Influence of functional information on consumer liking and consumer perception related to health claims for blueberry functional beverages
Authors: Kim Mina K. , Kwak Han Sub
Published: July 2014

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of functional labelling on the consumers acceptability and purchase intentions of blueberry functional beverages (BFB). A 2‐day consumer acceptance test was conducted independently with functional information (n = 60) and without any information (n = 80). The presence of functional labelling did not influence the liking attributes of BFBs (P > 0.05). However, functional information positively affected consumer perception of health‐related perceptions associated with BFBs, such as ‘aiding eye health improvement’ and ‘eye fatigue relief’. Subjects perceived more health‐related perceptions when informed test was conducted. The first‐order effect was observed, in which the degree of the first‐order effect was greater for BFBs that had a thicker mouthfeel. Findings from the results can practically guide product developers and marketers in the functional drink industry by providing the strategy for how to evaluate reformulated functional beverages for the consumer acceptance test by warning a counter‐balanced sample presentation.
A New Vision for Public Art and Functional Landscape Design
Authors: Song Young Imm Kang
Published: July 2014

This article explores how Johanson's ecological public art and landscape design addresses current social issues and community necessities. It also examines how her designs may serve as a communication tool for the surrounding society, and how her public art may provide new perspectives for community members, scientists, artists, engineers, architects and government officials in shaping the future of their communities. The purpose of this study was to inspire art and design students in thinking about their future projects. This phenomenological case study highlights Johanson's works as a model for these students. Furthermore, it discusses some educational implications as seen among university students who first studied Johanson's works and then designed their own public art projects.
An Exploration of Children's Experiences of Art in the Classroom
Authors: Hallam Jenny Louise , Hewitt Des , Buxton Sarah
Published: July 2014

Despite the numerous benefits art has for children, research suggests that there is a lull in the development of expression in children's drawings during the primary school years and that many children give up on art between the ages of 10 and 12. Research investigating this phenomenon has taken an educational focus and aimed to identify potential shortcomings in the primary education system which could impact negatively on children's artistic development and interest in art. This article builds on previous educational research by exploring children's perceptions of the art education they receive. In this small exploratory study semi‐structured interviews were conducted with six children in each of the Key Stages of English compulsory education: Key Stage 1 (5–6 year olds); Key Stage 2 (7–8 year olds); Key Stage 3 (11–12 year olds) and Key Stage 4 (14–15 year olds). A qualitative thematic analysis is used to explore children's experiences of art in the classroom, the kinds of support they receive in art lessons and how art lessons can be improved. It is hoped that the exploration of children's experiences of art in the classroom will enable movement towards an engaging and relevant approach to art education.
Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Reproductive‐Stage Salt Tolerance in Rice
Authors: Hossain H. , Rahman M. A. , Alam M. S. , Singh R. K.
Published: July 2014

Salinity tolerance in rice varies with the state of growth, with the seedling and reproductive stages being the most sensitive. However, association between tolerances at the two stages is poor, suggesting that they are regulated by different processes and genes. Tolerance at the reproductive stage is the most crucial as it determines grain yield. An F2 mapping population was developed from two rice genotypes contrasting in tolerance: Cheriviruppu and Pusa Basmati 1 (PB1). Cheriviruppu is highly tolerant at the reproductive stage, while PB1 is highly sensitive at both seedling and reproductive stages. One hundred and thirty‐one microsatellite markers polymorphic between the parents were used to construct a linkage map of 1458.5 cM (Kosambi), with a mean intermarker distance of 11.1 cM. Sixteen QTLs with LOD values ranging from 3.2 to 22.3 were identified on chromosomes 1, 7, 8 and 10, explaining 4–47 % of the phenotypic variation. The maximum number of QTL clusters for different component traits was colocalized on the long arm of chromosome 1 and chromosome 7. We identified several significant epistatic interactions, including three inter‐QTL interactions, using MapManager. The results suggest that pollen fertility, Na+ concentration and Na/K ratio in the flag leaf are the most important mechanisms controlling salt tolerance at the reproductive stage in rice. The study reports the construction of a genetic map for reproductive‐stage salt tolerance in rice and demonstrates its utility for molecular mapping of QTLs controlling salinity tolerance‐related traits, which will be useful in marker‐assisted selection in the future.
Climate and soil attributes determine plant species turnover in global drylands
Authors: Ulrich Werner , Soliveres Santiago , Maestre Fernando T. , Gotelli Nicholas J. , Quero José L. , Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel , Bowker Matthew A. , Eldridge David J. , Ochoa Victoria , Gozalo Beatriz , Valencia Enrique , Berdugo Miguel , Escolar Cristina , García‐Gómez Miguel , Escudero Adrián , Prina Aníbal , Alfonso Graciela , Arredondo Tulio , Bran Donaldo , Cabrera Omar , Cea Alex P. , Chaieb Mohamed , Contreras Jorge , Derak Mchich , Espinosa Carlos I. , Florentino Adriana , Gaitán Juan , Muro Victoria García , Ghiloufi Wahida , Gómez‐González Susana , Gutiérrez Julio R. , Hernández Rosa M. , Huber‐Sannwald Elisabeth , Jankju Mohammad , Mau Rebecca L. , Hughes Frederic Mendes , Miriti Maria , Monerris Jorge , Muchane Muchai , Naseri Kamal , Pucheta Eduardo , Ramírez‐Collantes David A. , Raveh Eran , Romão Roberto L. , Torres‐Díaz Cristian , Val James , Veiga José Pablo , Wang Deli , Yuan Xia , Zaady Eli
Published: July 2014

Aim

Geographical, climatic and soil factors are major drivers of plant beta diversity, but their importance for dryland plant communities is poorly known. The aim of this study was to: (1) characterize patterns of beta diversity in global drylands; (2) detect common environmental drivers of beta diversity; and (3) test for thresholds in environmental conditions driving potential shifts in plant species composition.

Location

Global.

Methods

Beta diversity was quantified in 224 dryland plant communities from 22 geographical regions on all continents except Antarctica using four complementary measures: the percentage of singletons (species occurring at only one site); Whittaker's beta diversity, β(W); a directional beta diversity metric based on the correlation in species occurrences among spatially contiguous sites, β(R2); and a multivariate abundance‐based metric, β(MV). We used linear modelling to quantify the relationships between these metrics of beta diversity and geographical, climatic and soil variables.

Results

Soil fertility and variability in temperature and rainfall, and to a lesser extent latitude, were the most important environmental predictors of beta diversity. Metrics related to species identity [percentage of singletons and β(W)] were most sensitive to soil fertility, whereas those metrics related to environmental gradients and abundance [(β(R2) and β(MV)] were more associated with climate variability. Interactions among soil variables, climatic factors and plant cover were not important determinants of beta diversity. Sites receiving less than 178 mm of annual rainfall differed sharply in species composition from more mesic sites (> 200 mm).

Main conclusions

Soil fertility and variability in temperature and rainfall are the most important environmental predictors of variation in plant beta diversity in global drylands. Our results suggest that those sites annually receiving c. 178 mm of rainfall will be especially sensitive to future climate changes. These findings may help to define appropriate conservation strategies for mitigating effects of climate change on dryland vegetation.
Do mites evolving in alternating host plants adapt to host switch?
Authors: Magalhães S. , Cailleau A. , Blanchet E. , Olivieri I.
Published: July 2014

A fluctuating environment may be perceived as a composition of different environments, or as an environment per se, in which it is the fluctuation itself that poses a selection pressure. If so, then organisms may adapt to this alternation. We tested this using experimental populations of spider mites that have been evolving for 45 generations in a homogeneous environment (pepper or tomato plants), or in a heterogeneous environment composed of an alternation of these two plants approximately at each generation. The performance (daily oviposition rate and juvenile survival) of individuals from these populations was tested in each of the homogeneous environments, and in two alternating environments, one every 3 days and the other between generations. To discriminate between potential genetic interactions between alleles conferring adaptation to each host plant and environmental effects of evolving in a fluctuating environment, we compared the performance of all lines with that of a cross between tomato and pepper lines. As a control, two lines within each selection regime were also crossed. We found that crosses between alternating lines and between pepper and tomato lines performed worse than crosses between lines evolving in homogeneous environments when tested in that environment. In contrast, alternating lines performed either better or similarly to lines evolving in homogeneous environments when tested in a fluctuating environment. Our results suggest that fluctuating environments are more than the juxtaposition of two environments. Hence, tests for adaptation of organisms evolving in such environments should be carried out in fluctuating conditions.
Resistance to oxidative stress shows low heritability and high common environmental variance in a wild bird
Authors: Losdat S. , Helfenstein F. , Blount J. D. , Richner H.
Published: July 2014

Oxidative stress was recently demonstrated to affect several fitness‐related traits and is now well recognized to shape animal life‐history evolution. However, very little is known about how much resistance to oxidative stress is determined by genetic and environmental effects and hence about its potential for evolution, especially in wild populations. In addition, our knowledge of phenotypic sexual dimorphism and cross‐sex genetic correlations in resistance to oxidative stress remains extremely limited despite important evolutionary implications. In free‐living great tits (Parus major), we quantified heritability, common environmental effect, sexual dimorphism and cross‐sex genetic correlation in offspring resistance to oxidative stress by performing a split‐nest cross‐fostering experiment where 155 broods were split, and all siblings (n = 791) translocated and raised in two other nests. Resistance to oxidative stress was measured as both oxidative damage to lipids and erythrocyte resistance to a controlled free‐radical attack. Both measurements of oxidative stress showed low additive genetic variances, high common environmental effects and phenotypic sexual dimorphism with males showing a higher resistance to oxidative stress. Cross‐sex genetic correlations were not different from unity, and we found no substantial heritability in resistance to oxidative stress at adult age measured on 39 individuals that recruited the subsequent year. Our study shows that individual ability to resist to oxidative stress is primarily influenced by the common environment and has a low heritability with a consequent low potential for evolution, at least at an early stage of life.
Application of PCR Technique in Combination with DNase Treatment for Detection of Viable Lactobacillus acidophilus Bacteria
Authors: Shakeri Monir‐Sadat , Shahidi Fakhri , Mortazavi Ali , Bahrami Ahmad R. , Nassiri Mohammad R.
Published: July 2014

In this study, we examined whether application of DNase I can serve as differential eliminator of DNAs from dead cells, leaving viable probiotic lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus to be assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). When dead cells were treated with DNase I, DNA amplification was not completely suppressed. Increasing the concentration of DNase I, up to 66 u/100 μL, and the preparation of dead cells using high temperatures did not seem to make difference in the level of PCR product from the dead bacteria. Assessment of free DNA degradation, when mixed with dead cells, showed that stability of free DNAs or their degradation by DNase I was not affected by presence of the dead cells. In conclusion, we tend to suggest that for using this technique, one should take great deal of caution and that its reliability should be tested for different species independently.

Practical Applications

Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the most common probiotic bacteria incorporated into food products. To have their health‐promoting properties, consumption of high levels of the viable bacteria is recommended. Meanwhile, access to reliable protocols for assessment of viable bacteria remains elusive. Recent studies have focused on providing differential conditions for clearance of DNA material of the dead cells followed by quantification of the viable bacteria by molecular techniques. Despite the previous reports on application of DNase treatment along with PCR assays, for evaluation of viable harmful food bacteria, our data do not support the notion to be applied for detection of L. acidophilus.
Effect of Physical Damage and Storage of Pineapple Fruits on their Suitability for Juice Production
Authors: Hounhouigan Menouwesso H. , Linnemann Anita R. , Ingenbleek Paul T.M. , Soumanou Mohamed M. , van Trijp Hans C.M. , van Boekel Martinus A.J.S.
Published: July 2014

This study evaluated the suitability of physically damaged pineapples, variety “MD2,” that were stored for up to 9 days at 20C for the production of fresh pineapple juice. Fresh pineapples were bruised and cut in different ways. The study showed an interaction effect of the physical damage treatments and storage duration on juice pH, total soluble solids and sucrose content. However, bruising and cutting treatments did not affect the physicochemical qualities and vitamin C content of the fresh juice. Furthermore, storage of pineapple fruits for up to 9 days was accompanied by an increase of glucose and fructose.

Practical Applications

Damaged pineapples can be sorted at wholesale level, stored at 20C and used to produce a juice of similar physicochemical characteristics as the fresh juice. Furthermore, storage of pineapples is accompanied by a change in the sugar composition; processors may use this insight to produce sweeter juice.
Eco‐Designing the Use Phase of Products in Sustainable Manufacturing
Authors: Sanyé‐Mengual Esther , Pérez‐López Paula , González‐García Sara , Lozano Raul Garcia , Feijoo Gumersindo , Moreira Maria Teresa , Gabarrell Xavier , Rieradevall Joan
Published: July 2014

Sustainable manufacturing has increasingly included design for environment methodologies with the objective of improving the environmental performance of products over their entire life cycles. Current European Union (EU) directives on eco‐design focus on the use phase of energy‐related products (ErPs). However, the maintenance of various household non‐ErPs is performed with ErPs; therefore, the environmental impacts of product maintenance have an important role in the life cycle of non‐ErPs. This article presents two eco‐design studies where the implementation of improvement strategies of the use and maintenance phase of products had relevant results. Furthermore, environmental communication‐to‐user strategies were important to ensure the commitment of users toward eco‐efficient behaviors. First, a knife was eco‐designed according to strategies which focused on materials, processing, maintenance, and communication to user. By applying eco‐design in a cradle‐to‐consumer scope, improvements decreased the environmental impact of the eco‐designed product by 30%. However, when considering the entire life cycle of the eco‐designed product, environmental impacts could be reduced by up to 40% and even up to ≈93% (depending on the cleaning procedure) as a result of large improvements in the maintenance stage. Second, a woman's jacket was eco‐designed following multifunctionality, recycled materials, and efficient maintenance strategies. The new Livingstone jacket reached environmental improvements between 32% and 52% in the indicators analyzed. In this case, maintenance contributed between 40% and 87% of the reduction. As shown in this study, maintenance behavior and communication‐to‐user strategies are crucial to the eco‐design of different household products (traditional vs. flexible design) and their consideration in the design process can reduce their environmental impact by between 40% and 80%.
A preliminary controlled trial of a trans‐diagnostic programme for cognitive behaviour therapy with adults with intellectual disability
Authors: Lindsay W. R. , Tinsley S. , Beail N. , Hastings R. P. , Jahoda A. , Taylor J. L. , Hatton C.
Published: July 2014

Background

Several studies have found a heightened prevalence of mental health disorders in people with intellectual disabilities (ID). There have been a number of successful case series and two promising controlled treatment trials of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for emotional disorders (excluding anger) for people with ID. Several authors have promoted the development of trans‐diagnostic approaches to cognitive treatment. The present study extends this work with the development and evaluation of a trans‐diagnostic treatment manual for CBT in people with ID.

Method

A controlled treatment trial was conducted with 12 participants in treatment and waiting list control data. Each treatment participant was matched to a control on age, IQ, presenting problem, and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) global severity index (GSI) score. The treatment group was also evaluated on the Glasgow anxiety and depression scales and was followed up for 3 to 6 months after treatment.

Results

There were no significant differences between groups at baseline. Following treatment, the CBT group was significantly improved when compared with the control group on the GSI scale of the BSI. The ancovas for all other measures were not significant but there were significant improvements for the treatment group on all scaled except BSI depression from pre to post‐CBT. Gains were maintained to follow up, and changes were associated with large effect sizes.

Conclusions

It was possible to treat a range of symptoms and psychiatric diagnoses with a general trans‐diagnostic CBT manual. The effects of therapy were promising, suggesting that the participants could respond to treatment in a meaningful and helpful manner and supporting the case for further evaluation of the trans‐diagnostic approach in ID.
Leptin inhibits amyloid β‐protein fibrillogenesis by decreasing GM1 gangliosides on the neuronal cell surface through PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway
Authors: Yamamoto Naoki , Tanida Mamoru , Kasahara Rika , Sobue Kazuya , Suzuki Kenji
Published: July 2014

Leptin is a centrally acting hormone that controls metabolic pathways. Recent epidemiological studies suggest that plasma leptin is protective against Alzheimer's disease. However, the mechanism that underlies this effect remains uncertain. To investigate whether leptin inhibits the assembly of amyloid β‐protein (Aβ) on the cell surface of neurons, we treated primary neurons with leptin. Leptin treatment decreased the GM1 ganglioside (GM1) levels in the detergent‐resistant membrane microdomains (DRMs) of neurons. The increase in GM1 expression induced by leptin was inhibited after pre‐treatment with inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (LY294002), Akt (triciribine) and the mammalian target of rapamycin (i.e. rapamycin), but not by an inhibitor of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (PD98059). In addition, pre‐treatment with these reagents blocked the induction of GM1 in DRMs by leptin. Furthermore, Aβ assembly on the cell surface of neurons was inhibited greatly after treatment with leptin. This reduction was markedly inhibited after pre‐treatment with LY294002, triciribine, and rapamycin. These results suggest that leptin significantly inhibits Aβ assembly by decreasing GM1 expression in DRMs of the neuronal surface through the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway.

image

These findings highlight the importance of understanding the function of leptin in AD brains. In this study, our aim was to determine whether leptin regulates the expression and localization of GM1 on the neuronal membrane and if it induces the formation of Aβ assembly on the cell surface of neurons. Our results suggest that leptin regulates the expression of GM1 in DRMs of the neuronal membranes. Moreover, leptin does not seem to facilitate fibrillogenesis of exogenously added soluble Aβ from the cell surface of neurons.
INNOVATION IN CHINA
Authors: Fan Peilei
Published: July 2014

Innovation has been increasingly recognized as a critical force in national economic growth not only in developed countries, but also in emerging countries such as China and India. This paper provides a critical review of the literature related to China's innovation capability. First, I evaluate the current status of China's innovation capability as measured not only by the level of human capital and output of academic research but also by patents, products, and services that directly benefit economic growth. I then review the development pathway of China's national innovation system since the economic reforms, including policies, the role of the government, and the engagement of different actors in the national innovation system. Following that, I examine theories and empirical evidence that help to explain the evolution of China's innovation capability. Finally, using China's experience, I analyze the relationship between innovation capability and economic development and highlight how the uneven spatial distribution of innovation capability may affect China's regional economic development.
Significance of time awake for predicting pilots' fatigue on short‐haul flights: implications for flight duty time regulations
Authors: Vejvoda Martin , Elmenhorst Eva‐Maria , Pennig Sibylle , Plath Gernot , Maass Hartmut , Tritschler Kristjof , Basner Mathias , Aeschbach Daniel
Published: July 2014

European regulations restrict the duration of the maximum daily flight duty period for pilots as a function of the duty start time and the number of scheduled flights. However, late duty end times that may include long times awake are not specifically regulated. In this study, fatigue levels in pilots finishing their duty late at night (00:00–01:59 hour) were analysed and compared with pilots starting their duty early (05:00–06:59 hour). Fatigue levels of 40 commercial short‐haul pilots were studied during a total of 188 flight duty periods, of which 87 started early and 22 finished late. Pilots used a small handheld computer to maintain a duty and sleep log, and to indicate fatigue levels immediately after each flight. Sleep logs were checked with actigraphy. Pilots on late‐finishing flight duty periods were more fatigued at the end of their duty than pilots on early‐starting flight duty periods, despite the fact that preceding sleep duration was longer by 1.1 h. Linear mixed‐model regression identified time awake as a preeminent factor predicting fatigue. Workload had a minor effect. Pilots on late‐finishing flight duty periods were awake longer by an average of 5.5 h (6.6 versus 1.1 h) before commencing their duty than pilots who started early in the morning. Late‐finishing flights were associated with long times awake at a time when the circadian system stops promoting alertness, and an increased, previously underestimated fatigue risk. Based on these findings, flight duty limitations should consider not only duty start time, but also the time of the final landing.
Methylation of suppressor of cytokine signalling 1 gene promoter is associated with acute‐on‐chronic hepatitis B liver failure
Authors: Zhang J.‐J. , Fan Y.‐C. , Zhang Z.‐H. , Han J. , Wang L.‐Y. , Li T. , Zhang F. , Yin Y.‐P. , Hu L.‐H. , Yang Y. , Sun F.‐K. , Wang K.
Published: July 2014

Suppressor of cytokine signalling 1 (SOCS1) was demonstrated to play an important negative role in fulminant hepatitis and might be involved in acute‐on‐chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF). This study was therefore to identify the potential role of SOCS1 and its promoter methylation pattern in ACHBLF patients. Sixty ACHBLF patients, 60 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and 30 healthy controls were investigated in this study. We found that expression of SOCS1 mRNA in CHB and ACHBLF patients was significantly higher than that in healthy controls. The serum level of IL‐6, IFN‐γ and TNF‐α was significantly higher in ACHBLF than CHB. Increased serum level of IL‐6, IFN‐γ and TNF‐α was correlated with total bilirubin, ALT, PTA and MELD scores in ACHBLF. The degree of methylation of the SOCS1 in ACHBLF patients (35.0%, 21/60) was significantly higher than that in CHB patients (16.7%, 10/60). Furthermore, methylated group showed lower level of SOCS1, and higher MELD scores and mortality rate when compared with unmethylated group of ACHBLF. These results suggested that SOCS1 might contribute to immune‐related liver damage in ACHBLF, and its aberrant methylation may be a key event for the prognosis of ACHBLF.
Instructed Concept Appropriation and L2 Pragmatic Development in the Classroom
Authors: van Compernolle Rémi A. , Henery Ashlie
Published: July 2014

In this article, we investigate the integration of concept‐based pragmatics instruction, grounded in Vygotskian sociocultural psychology, in an intact second‐semester French class (n = 13) over the course of an academic term. Our focus is on learners’ appropriation of the concepts of self‐presentation, social distance, and power with respect to the French second‐person pronoun system (i.e., tu versus vous) as revealed through language awareness questionnaires, appropriateness judgment tasks, and computer‐mediated strategic interaction scenario performances. Following this three‐tiered approach to analysis, our findings show that learners developed a deeper and more systematic understanding of tu and vous, that they were able to apply the concepts in planning language use, and that their use of tu and vous became more sensitive to maintaining symmetrical social relationships.
Birds of a feather get misidentified together: High entitativity decreases recognition accuracy for groups of other‐race faces
Authors: McGuire Mollie , Pezdek Kathy
Published: July 2014

Purpose

The cross‐race effect can be exaggerated when faces are presented in groups, leading to less accurate eyewitness identifications (Pezdek, O'Brien, & Wasson,,Law Hum. Behav.,36, 488). Our current study examined the effect of entitativity, the degree to which members of a group are perceived as a coherent unit (Campbell,,Behav. Sci.,3, 14), on recognition accuracy for same‐ and cross‐race faces presented in groups.

Methods

White participants viewed 16 slides of 3‐face groups (eight White groups, eight Black groups). Prior to viewing the faces they were told that the entitativity of each 3‐face group was high (‘friends who do things together’) or low (‘people in line at the bank’). They were then tested on 32 individually presented faces (16 old and 16 new).

Results

When cross‐race faces were presented in high rather than low entitativity groups, less accurate face recognition memory resulted. Increasing group entitativity decreased recognition accuracy for cross‐race faces but increased recognition accuracy for same‐race faces.

Conclusions

The results suggest that the perception of a group negatively impacts eyewitness memory. Contextual factors such as entitativity need to be considered along with other estimator variables when assessing eyewitness identification accuracy.
Sore Loser Laws and Congressional Polarization
Authors: Burden Barry C. , Jones Bradley M. , Kang Michael S.
Published: July 2014

To enhance explanations for party polarization in the U.S. Congress, we focus on an unappreciated legal structure known as the sore loser law. By restricting candidates who lose partisan primaries from subsequently appearing on the general election ballot as independents or as nominees of other parties, these laws give greater control over ballot access to the party bases, thus producing more extreme major party nominees. Using several different measures of candidate and legislator ideology, we find that sore loser laws account for as much as a tenth of the ideological divide between the major parties.
Public Preferences for Bipartisanship in the Policymaking Process
Authors: Harbridge Laurel , Malhotra Neil , Harrison Brian F.
Published: July 2014

At a time of a high level of polarization inCongress, public opinion surveys routinely find thatAmericans want politicians to compromise. When evaluating legislation, does the preference for bipartisanship in the legislative process trump partisan identities? We find that it does not. We conduct two experiments in which we alter aspects of the political context to see how people respond to parties (not) coming together to achieve broadly popular public policy goals. Although citizens can recognize bipartisan processes, preferences for bipartisan legislating do not outweigh partisan desires in the evaluation of public policies.
Majority Party Change and Committee Jurisdictions in State Legislatures
Authors: Makse Todd
Published: July 2014

Committee jurisdictions are important in legislative organization, but the reorganization of jurisdictions has received scant attention, particularly in state legislatures, where the fluidity of committee organization allows us to examine rationales for change. In this article, I examine whether new majorities use jurisdiction reorganization for agenda‐control purposes. Examining 39 state legislatures between 2003 and 2012, I test whether committee patterns are less stable in legislative sessions under new majorities and the extent to which reorganization reflects party priorities. I find that new majority parties eliminate committees that reflect the other party's policy priorities and create committees that reflect their priorities.
Entrepreneurial Judgment, Decision Procedure and the Inevitable Emergence of the Non‐optimizing Firm in a Capitalist Economy
Authors: Furubotn Eirik G.
Published: July 2014

It has been argued that understanding of entrepreneurship and firm behavior can be advanced by generalizing the static theory of the neoclassical firm so that it can deal with conditions in a dynamic economy. The paper rejects generalization and explains why such a shift causes the nature of the allocation process to change from the neoclassical pattern. Under generalization, critical information becomes prohibitively costly to obtain and entrepreneurial judgment rather than the Pareto rules decides allocation. Thus, the non‐optimizing firm becomes dominant.
Human cytomegalovirus and primary intracranial tumours: frequency of tumour infection and lack of correlation with systemic immune anti‐viral responses
Authors: Bianchi E. , Roncarati P. , Hougrand O. , Guérin‐El Khourouj V. , Boreux R. , Kroonen J. , Martin D. , Robe P. , Rogister B. , Delvenne P. , Deprez M.
Published: July 2014

Aims

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous beta human herpesvirus able to influence infected cell survival and proliferation and to modulate the host immune response. As there is accumulating evidence that HCMV is detected in primary intracranial astrocytic tumours, in this study we looked for the presence of HCMV in intracranial tumours and tried to correlate this eventual presence with the anti‐HCMV systemic immunoreactivity and with the detection of HCMV in peripheral blood.

Methods

In this study, we analysed 43 glioblastomas (GBM), 14 oligodendrogliomas (OL) and 20 meningiomas (MG) by immunofluorescence (IF) targeting HCMV immediate early antigen (IE1) and by nested PCR (nPCR) amplifying HCMV glycoprotein B (gB).

Results

Detection of IE1 by IF showed the presence of HCMV in 70% of GBM, 57% of OL and 85% of MG, in contrast to gB nPCR, which detected HCMV in only 50% of GBM, 38% of OL and 46% of MG. Unexpectedly, HCMV DNA and antigens were detected within GBM, OL and MG of patients that exhibit negative viral serology. More surprisingly, PCR on the peripheral blood did not detect HCMV in patients with a HCMV‐positive tumour.

Conclusions

Our results are in agreement with previous observations demonstrating HCMV in glial tumours and highlight the presence of HCMV in meningiomas. We also showed that anti‐HCMV specific systemic immunoreactivity and detection of HCMV in peripheral blood are not predictive of HCMV presence in primary intracranial tumours.