bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mandates, Geography, and Networks: Diffusion of Criminal Procedure Reform in Mexico
Authors: Ingram Matthew C.
Published: February 2016

Why have some Mexican states proceeded faster than others in the revolutionary transformation of overhauling criminal procedure? Contributing an original index of criminal procedure reform across Mexico's 32 states from 2002 to 2011 and building on existing research on policy diffusion, this article seeks to answer this question. It finds that the 2008 constitutional reform at the federal level exerts a strong positive effect (federal mandate); being situated in a neighborhood of states that have reformed has a counterintuitive negative effect (spatial proximity); and having a governor from the same party as governors of other states that have reformed has a positive influence (network affinity). These findings yield a better understanding of the vertical, cross-level and horizontal, cross-unit diffusion of reform, with implications for understanding how to overcome challenges to criminal justice reform in Mexico, Latin America, and elsewhere.
Immigrant entrepreneurship from a social psychological perspective
Authors: Robertson Daniel W. , Grant Peter R.
Published: February 2016

We examined immigrant entrepreneurship from a social psychological perspective with an emphasis on Social Identity Theory (SIT). Immigrant entrepreneurs from across Canada (N=122) completed a questionnaire about their experiences as Canadian business owners. The results showed that business decisions are, indeed, related to social psychological influences. The use of social capital, the strength of cultural and national identity, acculturation and perceived discrimination were related to decisions made throughout the course of the business, from the initial motivations for pursuing entrepreneurship, to the intention to continue running a business in Canada. Overall, being an immigrant entrepreneur had social psychological implications and, in the future, the influence of identity, acculturation and discrimination among this group deserves further attention.
Interaction of socio‐structural characteristics to predict Roma's identification and desire to challenge low status position
Authors: Reysen Stephen , Slobodnikova Andrea , Katzarska‐Miller Iva
Published: February 2016

We examined the interaction of socio‐structural variables predicting Roma's identification and endorsement for collective action. Roma from Slovakia rated perceived stigma and status, their perception of the intergroup context, identification, and desire for Roma to join together to compete with the high status non‐Roma majority. The results showed that greater perceived permeability predicted lower Roma identification. The socio‐structural variables also interacted such that Roma who perceived group boundaries as impermeable and status difference as unstable and illegitimate expressed the highest desire for collective action. Lastly, identification was also a strong predictor of desire to directly compete with non‐Roma. The results highlight both the usefulness of a social identity perspective for understanding resistance to discrimination and perceived context for collective action.
The Air Quality Health Index and Emergency Department Visits for Otitis Media
Authors: Kousha Termeh , Castner Jessica
Published: February 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore novel multipollutant exposure assessments using the Air Quality Health Index in relation to emergency department visits for otitis media (OM).

Design

This study was a retrospective analysis using information from emergency department visits for OM, air pollution, and weather databases.

Methods

For children 3 years of age or younger, there were 4,815 emergency department visits for OM over a 6‐year period across hospitals in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Both time‐stratified case‐crossover and nonlinear time series distributed lag analyses were applied to investigate the association between the Air Quality Health Index and visits for OM.

Findings

Using case‐crossover analysis, there was an increase in emergency department visits with OM diagnoses 6 to 7 days postexposure to increased ozone and 3 to 4 days after exposure to increased particulate matter. For every 1 unit increase in the Air Quality Health Index, discharge diagnosis of OM increased 5% to 6% three days postexposure. Effects were stronger using the nonlinear time series analysis. The overall risk for OM, in the first 15 days after an increase in the Air Quality Health Index, was 1.22 times the risk of OM on days following no increase in exposures.

Conclusions

These findings confirm that there is an association between the multipollutant Air Quality Health Index and emergency department visits for OM. The findings can be used to inform risk communication, patient education, and policy.

Clinical Relevance

Clinicians can use the Air Quality Health Index as an education and advocacy tool to promote and protect the health of those at high risk for OM to reduce exposures.
In Vitro Analysis of Surface Roughness of Acrylic Resin Exposed to the Combined Hygiene Method of Brushing and Immersion in Ricinus communis and Sodium Hypochlorite
Authors: Badaró Maurício Malheiros , Salles Marcela Moreira , de Arruda Carolina Noronha Ferraz , Oliveira Viviane de Cássia , de Souza Raphael Freitas , Paranhos Helena Freitas Oliveira , Silva‐Lovato Cláudia Helena
Published: February 2016

Purpose

To evaluate a solution based on Ricinus communis (Castor oil) for denture cleansing, comparing it to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for the surface roughness of heat‐polymerized acrylic resin.

Materials and Methods

Forty polished and unpolished resin specimens (90 × 30 × 4 mm) were evaluated before and after their exposure to protocol hygiene: brushing the specimens with a specific denture brush and mild soap for 3 minutes, three times a day, and immersing them in hygiene solutions (0.25% NaOCl—S1 and 0.5% NaOCl—S2; 10% R. communis—S3; saline—S4: control) for 20 minutes. Surface roughness was evaluated by rugosimeter and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after the protocol. For evaluation of surface roughness, polished and unpolished surfaces were used.

Results

The roughness of the polished surface was not affected by time (p = 0.062), but was affected by solutions (p < 0.0001) and the interaction between factors (p = 0.005). For S1 and S4, the period did not influence the roughness. For S2, there was a change after 7 days, remaining stable after 14 days. For S3, there were changes, and stabilization occurred after 14 days. After 7 and 14 days, S2 and S3 promoted major changes, but after 21 days, there were no differences among solutions, except saline. The unpolished surface was not influenced by factors: period (p = 0.115), solution (p = 0.120), and their interaction (p = 0.382). SEM analysis showed similar results on the evaluation of surface roughness.

Conclusions

The polished surface of the prosthesis was more susceptible to changes when exposed to hygiene solutions, and although the 0.5% NaOCl solution promoted an increase in the surface roughness compared with the same solution at 0.25% and R. communis at 10%, the values are clinically acceptable.
An In Vitro Study of Condylar Displacement Caused by Interocclusal Records: Influence of Recording Material, Storage Time, and Recording Technique
Authors: Ghazal Muhamad , Hedderich Jürgen , Kern Matthias
Published: February 2016

Purpose

To evaluate the condylar displacement after mounting working casts using different interocclusal recording materials and to analyze the influence of the storage time and the recording technique on the displacement caused by the interocclusal record.

Materials and Methods

Eight interocclusal records were made in each of the following groups: G1: Aluwax (aluminum wax), G2: Beauty Pink wax (hydrocarbon wax compound), G3: Futar D Fast, G4: Futar Scan (G3, G4: vinylpolysiloxane), G5: Ramitec (polyether), G6: LuxaBite (composite resin based on bis‐acryl), G7: LuxaBite corrected with Aluwax. A condylar‐positioning indicator measured the condylar displacement in the three planes after storage of the records for two periods of 1 and 48 hours. Two‐way ANOVA was used to determine the influences of recording materials and each of the following factors: (1) region (record and non‐record side), (2) storage time, and (3) recording technique. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05.

Results

The vertical displacement caused by the interocclusal records in the record side after storage time of 1 hour ranged between 0.29 mm (Aluwax) and 0.14 mm (Futar Scan). The lateral displacement ranged between 0.13 mm (Aluwax) and 0.02 mm (Ramitec) while the anteroposterior displacement ranged between 0.15 mm (Ramitec) and 0.04 mm (Futar Scan). The corrected resin record showed generally lower displacement values than other materials tested (0.03, 0.02, and 0.07, respectively). On the non‐record side, the values were lower than that on the record side. The condylar displacement increased after a storage time of 48 hours for all materials. Both factors, storage time and recording technique, had statistically significant influence on the condylar displacement.

Conclusions

Based on the results, the vertical displacement of the condyle caused by the interocclusal records was higher than the lateral or the anteroposterior displacement. Elastomers caused statistically significantly less condylar displacement than waxes or uncorrected composite resin. Corrected LuxaBite records with Aluwax showed significantly less condylar displacement than all other materials.
Class Average Score for Teacher Support and Relief of Depression in Adolescents: A Population Study in Japan
Authors: Mizuta Akiko , Noda Tatsuya , Nakamura Mieko , Tatsumi Asami , Ojima Toshiyuki
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUND

Factors contributing to the relief of depression among adolescents have not been sufficiently revealed. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of teacher support on depression in adolescent students.

METHODS

We conducted a self‐rating questionnaire survey among 2862 junior high school students and 93 homeroom teachers in Japan. We employed binary logistic regression models, with teacher support averaged for each class as an explanatory variable and depression as an objective variable. To examine the interaction terms of class average score for teacher support by economic status, by student sex, and by grade satisfaction were estimated.

RESULTS

Higher class average scores for teacher support were independently associated with lower levels of depression among adolescents (odds ratio [OR], 0.739; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.575‐0.948). Furthermore, the interaction of class average scores for teacher support with grade satisfaction was significant (p = .025). The interaction of class average score for teacher support with economic status and with student sex was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that higher class average scores for teacher support were significantly associated with lower depression. These results can help homeroom teachers enhance interventions and promote the health of their homeroom students.
Applying the Social Ecological Model to Creating Asthma‐Friendly Schools in Louisiana
Authors: Nuss Henry J. , Hester Laura L. , Perry Mark A. , Stewart‐Briley Collette , Reagon Valamar M. , Collins Pamela
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUND

In 2010, the Louisiana Asthma Management and Prevention Program (LAMP) implemented the Asthma‐Friendly Schools Initiative in high‐risk Louisiana populations. The social ecological model (SEM) was used as a framework for an asthma program implemented in 70 state K‐12 public schools over 2 years.

METHODS

Activities included a needs assessment, identification of students with asthma, individualized asthma action plans (AAP), staff trainings, environmental quality improvement, and school system policy changes to address the asthma burden.

RESULTS

There were 522 new or existing asthma cases recognized. Asthma knowledge/awareness was measurably improved among school personnel. School indoor air quality was improved across all locations. School‐level polices were adopted that improved AAP collection, compliance to bus‐idling restrictions, and asthma medication self‐carry.

CONCLUSIONS

The SEM framework can be used for school‐based programs to address successfully and improve asthma‐related issues from the individual through policy levels.
Red and white Chinook salmon: genetic divergence and mate choice
Authors: Lehnert Sarah J. , Pitcher Trevor E. , Devlin Robert H. , Heath Daniel D.
Published: February 2016

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) exhibit extreme differences in coloration of skin, eggs and flesh due to genetic polymorphisms affecting carotenoid deposition, where colour can range from white to bright red. A sympatric population of red and white Chinook salmon occurs in the Quesnel River, British Columbia, where frequencies of each phenotype are relatively equal. In our study, we examined evolutionary mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of the morphs, where we first tested whether morphs were reproductively isolated using microsatellite genotyping, and second, using breeding trials in seminatural spawning channels, we tested whether colour assortative mate choice could be operating to maintain the polymorphism in nature. Next, given extreme difference in carotenoid assimilation and the importance of carotenoids to immune function, we examined mate choice and selection between colour morphs at immune genes (major histocompatibility complex genes: MHC I‐A1 and MHC II‐B1). In our study, red and white individuals were found to interbreed, and under seminatural conditions, some degree of colour assortative mate choice (71% of matings) was observed. We found significant genetic differences at both MHC genes between morphs, but no evidence of MHC II‐B1‐based mate choice. White individuals were more heterozygous at MHC II‐B1 compared with red individuals, and morphs showed significant allele frequency differences at MHC I‐A1. Although colour assortative mate choice is likely not a primary mechanism maintaining the polymorphisms in the population, our results suggest that selection is operating differentially at immune genes in red and white Chinook salmon, possibly due to differences in carotenoid utilization.
Epigenetic divergence as a potential first step in darter speciation
Authors: Smith Tracy A. , Martin Michael D. , Nguyen Michael , Mendelson Tamra C.
Published: February 2016

Recent studies show that epigenetic variation in the form of DNA methylation may serve as a substrate for selection. Theory suggests that heritable epigenetic marks that increase fitness should increase in frequency in a population, and these changes may result in novel morphology, behaviour, or physiology, and ultimately reproductive isolation. Therefore, epigenetic variation might provide the first substrate for selection during the course of evolutionary divergence. This hypothesis predicts that populations in the earliest stages of divergence will differentiate in their methylome prior to any genetic differentiation. While several studies have investigated natural epigenetic variation, empirical studies that test predictions about its role in speciation are surprisingly scarce. Here, we investigate DNA methylation variation using an isoschizomeric digest method, Methyl‐Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism, across multiple stages of evolutionary divergence in natural populations of North American stream fishes. We show that epigenetic differentiation between methylomes is greater than genetic divergence among closely related populations across two river drainages. Additionally, we demonstrate that epigenetic divergence is a stronger predictor of the strength of behavioural reproductive isolation and suggest that changes in the methylome could influence the evolution of reproductive isolation between species. Our findings suggest a role for epigenetics not only in the initiation of divergence, but also in the maintenance of species boundaries over greater evolutionary timescales.
Species‐wide patterns of DNA methylation variation in Quercus lobata and their association with climate gradients
Authors: Gugger Paul F. , Fitz‐Gibbon Sorel , PellEgrini Matteo , Sork Victoria L.
Published: February 2016

DNA methylation in plants affects transposon silencing, transcriptional regulation and thus phenotypic variation. One unanswered question is whether DNA methylation could be involved in local adaptation of plant populations to their environments. If methylation alters phenotypes to improve plant response to the environment, then methylation sites or the genes that affect them could be a target of natural selection. Using reduced‐representation bisulphite sequencing (RRBS) data, we assessed whether climate is associated with variation in DNA methylation levels among 58 naturally occurring, and species‐wide samples of valley oak (Quercus lobata) collected across climate gradients. We identified the genomic context of these variants referencing a new draft valley oak genome sequence. Methylation data were obtained for 341 107 cytosines, of which we deemed 57 488 as single‐methylation variants (SMVs), found in the CG, CHG and CHH sequence contexts. Environmental association analyses revealed 43 specific SMVs that are significantly associated with any of four climate variables, the majority of which are associated with mean maximum temperature. The 43 climate‐associated SMVs tend to occur in or near genes, several of which have known involvement in plant response to environment. Multivariate analyses show that climate and spatial variables explain more overall variance in CG‐SMVs among individuals than in SNPs, CHG‐SMVs or CHH‐SMVs. Together, these results from natural oak populations provide initial evidence for a role of CG methylation in locally adaptive evolution or plasticity in plant response.
Bayesian Sensorimotor Psychology
Authors: Rescorla Michael
Published: February 2016

Sensorimotor psychologystudies the mental processes that control goal‐directed bodily motion. Recently, sensorimotor psychologists have provided empirically successful Bayesian models of motor control. These models describe how the motor system uses sensory input to select motor commands that promote goals set by high‐level cognition. I highlight the impressive explanatory benefits offered by Bayesian models of motor control. I argue that our current best models assign explanatory centrality to a robust notion of mental representation. I deploy my analysis to defendintentional realism, to rebuteliminativismandinstrumentalismregarding mental representation, and to explore the relation between intentionality and normativity.
Cognition in Skilled Action: Meshed Control and the Varieties of Skill Experience
Authors: Christensen Wayne , Sutton John , McIlwain Doris J.F.
Published: February 2016

We present a synthetic theory of skilled action which proposes that cognitive processes make an important contribution to almost all skilled action, contrary to influential views that many skills are performed largely automatically. Cognitive control is focused on strategic aspects of performance, and plays a greater role as difficulty increases. We offer an analysis of various forms of skill experience and show that the theory provides a better explanation for the full set of these experiences than automatic theories. We further show that the theory can explain experimental evidence for skill automaticity, including evidence that secondary tasks do not interfere with expert performance, and evidence that experts have reduced memory for performance of sensorimotor skills.
Intuitions' Linguistic Sources: Stereotypes, Intuitions and Illusions
Authors: Fischer Eugen , Engelhardt Paul E.
Published: February 2016

Intuitive judgments elicited by verbal case‐descriptions play key roles in philosophical problem‐setting and argument. Experimental philosophy's ‘sources project’ seeks to develop psychological explanations of philosophically relevant intuitions which help us assess our warrant for accepting them. This article develops a psycholinguistic explanation of intuitions prompted by philosophical case‐descriptions. For proof of concept, we target intuitions underlying a classic paradox about perception (‘argument from illusion’), trace them to stereotype‐driven inferences automatically executed in verb comprehension, and employ a forced‐choice plausibility‐ranking task to elicit the relevant stereotypical associations of perception‐ and appearance‐verbs. We obtain a debunking explanation that resolves the philosophical paradox.
The post‐transcriptional regulatory system CSR controls the balance of metabolic pools in upper glycolysis of Escherichia coli
Authors: Morin Manon , Ropers Delphine , Letisse Fabien , Laguerre Sandrine , Portais Jean‐Charles , Cocaign‐Bousquet Muriel , Enjalbert Brice
Published: February 2016

Metabolic control in Escherichia coli is a complex process involving multilevel regulatory systems but the involvement of post‐transcriptional regulation is uncertain. The post‐transcriptional factor CsrA is stated as being the only regulator essential for the use of glycolytic substrates. A dozen enzymes in the central carbon metabolism (CCM) have been reported as potentially controlled by CsrA, but its impact on the CCM functioning has not been demonstrated. Here, a multiscale analysis was performed in a wild‐type strain and its isogenic mutant attenuated for CsrA (including growth parameters, gene expression levels, metabolite pools, abundance of enzymes and fluxes). Data integration and regulation analysis showed a coordinated control of the expression of glycolytic enzymes. This also revealed the imbalance of metabolite pools in the csrA mutant upper glycolysis, before the phosphofructokinase PfkA step. This imbalance is associated with a glucose–phosphate stress. Restoring PfkA activity in the csrA mutant strain suppressed this stress and increased the mutant growth rate on glucose. Thus, the carbon storage regulator system is essential for the effective functioning of the upper glycolysis mainly through its control of PfkA. This work demonstrates the pivotal role of post‐transcriptional regulation to shape the carbon metabolism.
Specific detection of Pectobacterium carotovorum by loop‐mediated isothermal amplification
Authors: Yasuhara‐Bell Jarred , Marrero Glorimar , De Silva Asoka , Alvarez Anne M.
Published: February 2016

Potatoes are an important agroeconomic crop worldwide and maceration diseases caused by pectolytic bacterial pathogens result in significant pre‐ and post‐harvest losses. Pectobacterium carotovorum shares a common host range with other Pectobacterium spp. and other members of the Enterobacteriaceae, such as Dickeya spp. As these pathogens cannot be clearly differentiated on the basis of the symptoms they cause, improved methods of identification are critical for the determination of sources of contamination. Current standardized methods for the differentiation of pectolytic species are time consuming and require trained personnel, as they rely on traditional bacteriological practices that do not always produce conclusive results. In this growing world market, there is a need for rapid diagnostic tests that can differentiate between pectolytic pathogens, as well as separate them from non‐pectolytic enteric bacteria associated with soft rots of potato. An assay has been designed previously to detect the temperate pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum, but there is currently no recognized rapid assay for the detection of the tropical/subtropical counterpart, Pectobacterium carotovorum. This report describes the development of a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay that detects P. carotovorum with high specificity. The assay was evaluated using all known species of Pectobacterium and only showed positive reactions for P. carotovorum. This assay was also tested against 15 non‐target genera of plant‐associated bacteria and did not produce any false positives. The LAMP assay described here can be used as a rapid test for the differentiation of P. carotovorum from other pectolytic pathogens, and its gene target can be the basis for the development of other molecular‐based detection assays.
Direct oral anticoagulants: New drugs with practical problems. How can nurses help prevent patient harm?
Authors: Barras Michael A. , Hughes David , Ullner Melanie
Published: February 2016

The safe use of anticoagulants requires a delicate balance between the risk of bleeding and the risk of thrombosis, particularly in drug‐sensitive patients, such as older people. Recently‐marketed “direct oral anticoagulants” are now being increasingly prescribed and administered in the hospital setting. Direct oral anticoagulants have pharmacological properties that are often unpredictable, and inter‐patient variability in drug response is high. Therefore, people often require meticulous review and planning to ensure they receive optimal dosing and monitoring. The multidisciplinary medication management of those receiving these drugs needs to be effectively coordinated to reduce the risk of patient harm. All clinical staff, including nurses, doctors, and pharmacists, should be competent in the pharmacology of these drugs, and know which people require individualized care plans. In this study, we introduced important concepts via the use of case studies developed from commonly‐seen scenarios at our quaternary hospital. In particular, the important role of nurses in ensuring patient safety in the periprocedural setting is highlighted.
Impairment of gastric accommodation induced by water‐avoidance stress is mediated by 5‐HT2B receptors
Authors: Miwa H. , Koseki J. , Oshima T. , Hattori T. , Kase Y. , Kondo T. , Fukui H. , Tomita T. , Ohda Y. , Watari J.
Published: February 2016

Background

Psychological stress has been shown to impair gastric accommodation (GA), but its mechanism has not been elucidated. This study was conducted to clarify the role of 5‐HT2B receptors in a guinea pig model of stress‐induced impairment of GA.

Methods

Gastric accommodation was evaluated by measuring the intrabag pressure in the proximal stomach after administration of a liquid meal. The guinea pigs were subjected to water‐avoidance stress. The role of 5‐HT2B receptors in impairment of GA was investigated by administering a 5‐HT2B receptor agonist (BW723C86) or antagonist (SB215505), the traditional Japanese medicine rikkunshito (RKT), a muscarinic M3 receptor antagonist (1,1‐dimethyl‐4‐diphenylacetoxypiperidium iodide [4‐DAMP]), or a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (Nω‐nitro‐L‐arginine [L‐NNA]).

Key Results

In normal animals, liquid meal‐induced GA was inhibited by BW723C86, but was not affected by SB215505. The inhibition of GA by BW723C86 was reversed by co‐administration of 4‐DAMP. Compared to normal animals, GA in stressed animals was significantly inhibited. SB215505 and RKT significantly suppressed stress‐induced impairment of GA. After meal administration, the level of cyclic guanosine monophosphate in gastric fundus tissue increased by approximately twofold in normal animals, but did not change in stressed animals. The inhibition of GA by L‐NNA was suppressed by SB215505 or RKT. At a dose that did not affect GA in normal animals, BW723C86 exacerbated the impairment of GA in stressed animals.

Conclusions and Inferences

Stress‐induced impairment of GA may be mediated by an increased responsiveness of 5‐HT2B receptors, and activation of the 5‐HT2B receptor signaling pathway may have an inhibitory effect on nitric oxide function.
The meaning of illness in nursing practice: a philosophical model of communication and concept possession
Authors: Nordby Halvor
Published: February 2016

It is fundamental assumption in nursing theory that it is important for nurses to understand how patients experience states of ill health. This assumption is often related to aims of empathic understanding, but normative principles of social interpretation can have an important action‐guiding role whenever nurses seek to understand patients’ subjective horizons on the basis of active or passive expressions of meaning. The aim of this article is to present a philosophical theory of concept possession and to argue that it can shed light on how nurses should seek to understand patients’ subjective perspectives on the meaning of illness. The two basic ideas in the theory are that patients’ beliefs and thoughts about their experiences involve concepts and that concepts can be communicated on the basis of shared implicit conceptions of what they mean. These conditions of understanding have a striking application: nurse‐patient communication is limited by many contextual factors, but it is often possible for nurses to detect shared implicit conceptions of the meaning of concepts of disease and illness. Furthermore, by acting as sympathetic linguistic experts and creating an atmosphere for dialogue, nurses can make patients feel comfortable about deferring to medical explanations of meaning that can constitute a communicative platform. The last part of the article uses a number of cases studies to show how these implications can be implemented as conceptual tools for securing meaningful communication about illness experiences in patient dialogue.
Interactions between Streptococcus oralis, Actinomyces oris, and Candida albicans in the development of multispecies oral microbial biofilms on salivary pellicle
Authors: Cavalcanti I.M.G. , Del Bel Cury A.A. , Jenkinson H.F. , Nobbs A.H.
Published: February 2016

The fungus Candida albicans is carried orally and causes a range of superficial infections that may become systemic. Oral bacteria Actinomyces oris and Streptococcus oralis are abundant in early dental plaque and on oral mucosa. The aims of this study were to determine the mechanisms by which S. oralis and A. oris interact with each other and with C. albicans in biofilm development. Spatial distribution of microorganisms was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy of biofilms labeled by differential fluorescence or by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Actinomyces oris and S. oralis formed robust dual‐species biofilms, or three‐species biofilms with C. albicans. The bacterial components tended to dominate the lower levels of the biofilms while C. albicans occupied the upper levels. Non‐fimbriated A. oris was compromised in biofilm formation in the absence or presence of streptococci, but was incorporated into upper biofilm layers through binding to C. albicans. Biofilm growth and hyphal filament production by C. albicans was enhanced by S. oralis. It is suggested that the interkingdom biofilms are metabolically coordinated to house all three components, and this study demonstrates that adhesive interactions between them determine spatial distribution and biofilm architecture. The physical and chemical communication processes occurring in these communities potentially augment C. albicans persistence at multiple oral cavity sites.
Crosstalk between chloroplast thioredoxin systems in regulation of photosynthesis
Authors: Nikkanen Lauri , Toivola Jouni , Rintamäki Eevi
Published: February 2016

Thioredoxins (TRXs) mediate light‐dependent activation of primary photosynthetic reactions in plant chloroplasts by reducing disulphide bridges in redox‐regulated enzymes. Of the two plastid TRX systems, the ferredoxin‐TRX system consists of ferredoxin‐thioredoxin reductase (FTR) and multiple TRXs, while the NADPH‐dependent thioredoxin reductase (NTRC) contains a complete TRX system in a single polypeptide. Using Arabidopsis plants overexpressing or lacking a functional NTRC, we have investigated the redundancy and interaction between the NTRC and Fd‐TRX systems in regulation of photosynthesis in vivo. Overexpression of NTRC raised the CO2 fixation rate and lowered non‐photochemical quenching and acceptor side limitation of PSI in low light conditions by enhancing the activation of chloroplast ATP synthase and TRX‐regulated enzymes in Calvin–Benson cycle (CBC). Overexpression of NTRC with an inactivated NTR or TRX domain partly recovered the phenotype of knockout plants, suggesting crosstalk between the plastid TRX systems. NTRC interacted in planta with fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase, phosphoribulokinase and CF1γ subunit of the ATP synthase and with several chloroplast TRXs. These findings indicate that NTRC‐mediated regulation of the CBC and ATP synthesis occurs both directly and through interaction with the ferredoxin‐TRX system and is crucial when availability of light is limiting photosynthesis.
Flowering pathway is regulated by bulb size in Lilium longiflorum (Easter lily)
Authors: Lazare S. , Zaccai M.
Published: February 2016

Lilium longiflorum (Easter lily) vegetative propagation occurs through production of underground bulbs containing apical and axillary meristems. In addition, sexual reproduction is achieved by flowering of elongated shoots above the bulb. It is generally accepted that L. longiflorum has an obligatory requirement for vernalisation and that long day (LD) regime hastens flowering. However, the effect of bulb size and origin, with respect to axillary or apical meristems on flowering, as well as the interactions between these meristems are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of bulb size, vernalisation and photoperiod on L. longiflorum flowering. To this end, we applied vernalisation and photoperiod treatments to the different bulb sizes and used a system of constant ambient temperature of 25 °C, above vernalisation spectrum, to avoid cold‐dependent floral induction during plant growth. Vernalisation and LD hasten flowering in all bulbs. Large, non‐vernalised bulbs invariably remained at a vegetative stage. However, small non‐vernalised bulbs flowered under LD conditions. These results demonstrate for the first time that cold exposure is not an obligatory prerequisite for L. longiflorum flowering, and that an alternative flowering pathway can bypass vernalisation in small bulbs. We suggest that apical dominance interactions determine the distinct flowering pathways of the apical and axillary meristems. Similar floral induction is achieved in propagated bulblets from scaling. These innovative findings in the field of geophyte floral induction represent valuable applicative knowledge for lily production.
Cilostazol Improves Developmental Competence of Pig Oocytes by Increasing Intraoocyte Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Level and Delaying Meiotic Resumption
Authors: Elahi F , Lee H , Lee Y , Park B , Lee J , Hyun S‐H , Lee E
Published: February 2016

Contents

Cilostazol (CLZ) is a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) modulator that influences the steady state of the meiotic stage. This study was conducted to determine the effects of CLZ treatment during in vitro maturation (IVM) on developmental competence of pig oocytes. Immature oocytes were exposed to 0 (control), 0.5, 2 and 4 μm CLZ during the first 22 h of IVM. Nuclear maturation, intraoocyte glutathione content and embryo cleavage after parthenogenesis (PA) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) were not influenced by CLZ at any concentrations. However, 4 μm CLZ significantly (p < 0.05) improved blastocyst formation after PA (52.1% vs 38.7–46.0%) and SCNT relative to other concentrations (40.8% vs 25.0–30.7%). The mean cell numbers of SCNT blastocysts were significantly increased by 4 μm CLZ compared to the control (42.6 cells vs 35.3 cells/blastocyst). CLZ treatment significantly increased the intraoocyte cAMP level and effectively arrested oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) and GV break down stages compared to the control (74.5% vs 45.4%). Our results demonstrated that improved developmental competence of PA and SCNT pig embryos occurred via better synchronization of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation induced by increased cAMP and delayed meiotic resumption after CLZ treatment.
The Relationship Between Home Market Performance and Internationalization Decisions: Evidence From German Insurance Groups
Authors: Altuntas Muhammed , Gößmann Gerrit
Published: February 2016

This study investigates the relationship between home market performance and the choice of foreign market entry mode using survey data and financial statement data for German insurance groups with property–liability business from 1999 to 2011. We develop a dynamic resource‐based perspective and argue that strategic transformation is a major motive driving the decisions of insurance groups to internationalize their businesses. Additionally, the more rapid the strategic transformation, the more intense is the choice of market entry mode. Furthermore, our findings corroborate the notion that internationalization has a positive effect on home market performance when insurance groups are able to decrease home market dependence by extending the degree of internationalization.
Formation of point bars through rising and falling flood stages: Evidence from bar morphology, sediment transport and bed shear stress
Authors: Wu Chenliang , Ullah Mohammad S. , Lu Jin , Bhattacharya Janok P.
Published: February 2016

Flow processes and sediment transport in a channel bend and associated point bar have been studied in modern rivers, theoretical models and physical experiments: however, the relationship between flow process and point‐bar morphology has rarely been explained due to the complex nature of open channel flow. Plan‐view exposures of an ancient point‐bar complex, exposed at the top of the Cretaceous Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale Formation, south‐central Utah, allowed reconstruction of bar morphology, sediment transport and bed shear stress, which were used to extrapolate flow processes. Studies of these outcrops show that compound point bars and scroll bars were probably formed during falling and rising flood stages, respectively. A simulation model of plan‐view channel form shows that channel dimensions, such as radius of curvature and sinuosity of the point‐bar complex, range between 205 m and 351 m and 1·04 and 1·22, respectively, throughout the evolution of the channel bend. Variations in strength of the helical flow were interpreted as the main control on facies architecture and bar morphology. Strong helical flow was related to the deposition of the scroll bars, while strength of helical flow is decreased for compound bars. The use of cross‐beds as a common palaeocurrent indicator was found to be inconsistent with mean flow directions and channel margin orientation.
Thoughts on Positive Selection in Thymus
Authors: Cohn M.
Published: February 2016

Any analysis of the mechanism of signalling during positive selection in the thymus is dependent on one's model of the TCR–ligand interaction. To date, thinking about mechanism has been dominated by what might be termed the Standard (or Centric) model, which is based on analogy between the BCR and the TCR. As the present analysis is an independent rationalized view of the TCR–ligand interactions, it permits a more balanced view of positive selection. The goal here was to explore this alternative to the Standard model.
A novel HLA‐B allele, HLA‐B*35:269
Authors: Zhu X. , Yang T. , Tan R. , Su P. , Li Z.
Published: February 2016

HLA‐B*35:269 differs from HLA‐B*35:01:01:01, by a single synonymous nucleotide at position 103.
A survey of US and Canadian hospitals' paediatric massive transfusion protocol policies
Authors: Horst J. , Leonard J. C. , Vogel A. , Jacobs R. , Spinella P. C.
Published: February 2016

Background

Trauma is the leading cause of death in children >1 year of age, with haemorrhage as the most common cause of medically preventable deaths. While massive transfusion protocols (MTPs) have been investigated and used in adults to reduce death from haemorrhage, there are a paucity of published data on MTP practices and outcomes in children. This study aimed to survey current MTP policies and the frequency of activation at paediatric care centres.

Study design and methods

We conducted a survey of MTPs at hospitals in the United States and Canada, including children's general hospitals, children's specialty hospitals and children's units in general hospitals. We collected information on how the MTP is activated, what therapeutics are given, frequency of its use, and how it is audited for compliance.

Results

Forty‐six survey responses were analysed. Physician discretion was the most common activation criteria (89%). A majority of sites (78%) targeted a ‘high’ (≥1 : 2) ratio of plasma to red blood cells (RBC). Fifteen percent of sites use antifibrinolytics in their MTPs. Eighty nine percent of sites have type‐O RBC units and 48% of sites had thawed plasma units stored in an immediately available location.

Conclusion

There is a wide variation in MTPs among paediatric hospitals with regard to both activation criteria and products administered. This underscores the need for future prospective studies to determine the most effective resuscitation methods for paediatric populations to improve outcomes and therapeutic safety for massive bleeding.
A novel strategy for screening blood donors for syphilis at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana
Authors: Sarkodie F. , Ullum H. , Owusu‐Dabo E. , Owusu‐Ofori S. , Owusu‐Ofori A. , Hassall O.
Published: February 2016

Objective

To implement and describe a novel syphilis screening strategy for blood donors.

Background

The seroprevalence of syphilis in blood donors is often high in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC) although the proportion of infectious donations is probably low. Syphilis screening may not happen at all; or the use of non‐specific screening tests, which have high false positive rates, results in many donations being discarded unnecessarily. This can have a critical effect on already inadequate blood supplies.

Materials and Methods

Blood donors were screened at the time of donation with an anti‐treponemal rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and blood collected irrespective of the result. Units screening negative for syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C were released to stock. RDT screen‐positive units were re‐tested with rapid plasma reagin (RPR) – units testing negative were released to stock and test‐positive units discarded.

Results

Of the 2213 blood donors, 182 (8·2%; 182/2213) screened positive by RDT. In addition, 38 out of these 182 (20·9%) were RPR positive on post‐donation testing. Over 2 months there was a 79% reduction in blood units discarded due to a positive syphilis screen.

Conclusion

In other LMIC, this novel strategy can contribute to improving blood safety without jeopardising blood supply.
AAE13 encodes a dual‐localized malonyl‐CoA synthetase that is crucial for mitochondrial fatty acid biosynthesis
Authors: Guan Xin , Nikolau Basil J.
Published: February 2016

Malonyl‐CoA is a key intermediate in a number of metabolic processes associated with its role as a substrate in acylation and condensation reactions. These types of reactions occur in plastids, the cytosol and mitochondria, and although carboxylation of acetyl‐CoA is the known mechanism for generating the distinct plastidial and cytosolic pools, the metabolic origin of the mitochondrial malonyl‐CoA pool is still unclear. In this study we demonstrate that malonyl‐CoA synthetase encoded by the Arabidopsis AAE13 (AT3G16170) gene is localized in both the cytosol and the mitochondria. These isoforms are translated from two types of transcripts, one that contains and one that does not contain a mitochondrial‐targeting pre‐sequence. Whereas the cytosolic AAE13 protein is not essential, due to the presence of a redundant malonyl‐CoA generating system provided by a cytosolic acetyl‐CoA carboxylase, the mitochondrial AAE13 protein is essential for plant growth. Phenotypes of the aae13‐1 mutant are transgenically reversed only if the mitochondrial pre‐sequence is present in the ectopically expressed AAE13 proteins. The aae13‐1 mutant exhibits typical metabolic phenotypes associated with a deficiency in the mitochondrial fatty acid synthase system, namely depleted lipoylation of the H subunit of the photorespiratory enzyme glycine decarboxylase, increased accumulation of glycine and glycolate and reduced levels of sucrose. Most of these metabolic alterations, and associated morphological changes, are reversed when the aae13‐1 mutant is grown in a non‐photorespiratory condition (i.e. a 1% CO2 atmosphere), demonstrating that they are a consequence of the deficiency in photorespiration due to the inability to generate lipoic acid from mitochondrially synthesized fatty acids.
Epidermal jasmonate perception is sufficient for all aspects of jasmonate‐mediated male fertility in Arabidopsis
Authors: Jewell Jeremy B. , Browse John
Published: February 2016

Jasmonate (JA) signaling is essential for several environmental responses and reproductive development in many plant species. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the most obvious phenotype of JA biosynthetic and perception mutants is profound sporophytic male sterility characterized by failure of stamen filament elongation, severe delay of anther dehiscence and pollen inviability. The site of action of JA in the context of reproductive development has been discussed, but the ideas have not been tested experimentally. To this end we used targeted expression of a COI1‐YFP transgene in the coi1‐1 mutant background. As COI1 is an essential component of the JA co‐receptor complex, the null coi1‐1 mutant is male sterile due to lack of JA perception. We show that expression of COI1‐YFP in the epidermis of the stamen filament and anther in coi1 mutant plants is sufficient to rescue filament elongation, anther dehiscence and pollen viability. In contrast, filament expression alone or expression in the tapetum do not restore dehiscence and pollen viability. These results demonstrate that epidermal JA perception is sufficient for anther function and pollen viability, and suggest the presence of a JA‐dependent non‐autonomous signal produced in the anther epidermis to synchronize both anther dehiscence and pollen maturation.
Predicted effect of selectively testing female donors for HLA antibodies to mitigate transfusion‐related acute lung injury risk from apheresis platelets
Authors: Eder Anne F. , Dy Beth A. , O'Neill E. Mary
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUND

The use of male‐donor‐predominant plasma has reduced the risk of transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI), but the possible benefit of different mitigation strategies for other components is unknown. We evaluated the risk of TRALI from apheresis platelets (PLTs) to predict the effect of selectively testing female plateletpheresis donors who have been pregnant for HLA antibodies.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The American Red Cross hemovigilance program classified TRALI cases from apheresis PLTs or red blood cells (RBCs) in 2006 to 2013 or from predominantly male‐donor (>95%) plasma in 2008 to 2013 and compared the component‐specific TRALI rates.

RESULTS

The overall rate of TRALI was significantly higher for apheresis PLTs (6.2 cases per 106 units; OR [95% CI], 3.3 [2.3‐4.8]) or plasma (3.8 cases per 106 units; OR [95% CI], 2.0 [1.4‐2.9]) compared to RBCs (1.9 per 106 units). Twenty‐nine of the 41 apheresis PLT cases involved female donors; 28 had been pregnant, and one had not been pregnant and was not tested. Twenty‐five (61%) of the apheresis PLT TRALI cases had female donors with HLA Class I or Class II antibodies. In five of six cases that implicated specific HNA antibodies, the female parous donors also had multiple HLA antibodies.

CONCLUSIONS

TRALI was more likely after transfusion of apheresis PLTs than male‐donor‐predominant plasma or RBCs. A selective strategy to test all female plateletpheresis donors who have been pregnant for HLA antibodies might reduce the risk of TRALI by approximately 60% and prevent some cases from coexisting HNA antibodies.