bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural regeneration following wind disturbance increases the diversity of managed lowland forests in NE Poland
Authors: Szwagrzyk Jerzy , Gazda Anna , Dobrowolska Dorota , Chećko Ewa , Zaremba Jakub , Tomski Andrzej
Published: July 2018

Questions

Are there significant differences in the density and composition of natural regeneration among habitat types? Is the abundance of regeneration higher in patches more seriously damaged by a windstorm than in patches not affected by the wind? Is the species diversity of regeneration greater than the diversity of mature trees prior to disturbance?

Location

Szast Protected Forest, NE Poland.

Methods

Throughout the Szast P.F., 111 sample plots were distributed in a regular grid 13 years after a windstorm. In plots located in disturbed forests, we measured all the canopy trees and the 30 young individuals of each size class (seedlings, short saplings and tall saplings) closest to the plot centre. In non‐disturbed patches, we measured all trees within a plot of predefined radius. For statistical analyses of differences in the diversity between mature stands and young generation, we used the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn's multiple comparison test. The relationship between the canopy layer and the young generation of trees was analysed using Spearman's rank correlation and a classic negative binomial regression.

Results

Natural regeneration was more abundant in the coniferous and mixed coniferous habitat types than in the mixed deciduous type. The density of young trees was negatively correlated with the basal area of the trees that survived the windstorm and was positively correlated with canopy tree mortality. After the windstorm, Pinus sylvestris lost more trees than the other species; Picea abies and Betula pendula slightly increased their share; and the species that benefited most from the disturbance was Quercus robur. In the coniferous habitat type, the species diversity of the young generation of trees was higher than the diversity of the canopy trees prior to the windstorm.

Conclusions

Leaving wind‐disturbed areas to natural regeneration could be a viable option for converting coniferous plantations into more diverse and species‐rich stands.
Compliance with Food Safety Laws in Germany: Food Businesses in Berlin
Authors: Fietz Anica , Bavorová Miroslava , Grüner Sven , Hirschauer Norbert
Published: July 2018

In this article we explore how variables associated both with material temptations (economic incentives that foster rule breaking) and nonmaterial behavioral determinants (protective factors that shield people from rule breaking) are linked to compliance with food laws. The object of the study is to examine food businesses in the ready‐to‐eat industry in three districts of the German capital, Berlin. We collected data on compliance behavior and its potential drivers via an anonymous postal survey in 2014. Accounting for the data structure, we used a generalized ordered logit regression to model the relationship between the presumed behavioral drivers and compliance. One crucial finding is that a feeling of embarrassment if relevant others were to learn about noncompliance is positively related to compliance. The same holds for the internalized approval of food laws and their enforcement (acceptance of rules).
Spatiotemporal dynamics and genome‐wide association analysis of desiccation tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Rajpurohit Subhash , Gefen Eran , Bergland Alan O. , Petrov Dmitri A. , Gibbs Allen G. , Schmidt Paul S.
Published: July 2018

Water availability is a major environmental challenge to a variety of terrestrial organisms. In insects, desiccation tolerance varies predictably over spatial and temporal scales and is an important physiological determinant of fitness in natural populations. Here, we examine the dynamics of desiccation tolerance in North American populations of Drosophila melanogaster using: (a) natural populations sampled across latitudes and seasons; (b) experimental evolution in field mesocosms over seasonal time; (c) genome‐wide associations to identify SNPs/genes associated with variation for desiccation tolerance; and (d) subsequent analysis of patterns of clinal/seasonal enrichment in existing pooled sequencing data of populations sampled in both North America and Australia. A cline in desiccation tolerance was observed, for which tolerance exhibited a positive association with latitude; tolerance also varied predictably with culture temperature, demonstrating a significant degree of thermal plasticity. Desiccation tolerance evolved rapidly in field mesocosms, although only males showed differences in desiccation tolerance between spring and autumn collections from natural populations. Water loss rates did not vary significantly among latitudinal or seasonal populations; however, changes in metabolic rates during prolonged exposure to dry conditions are consistent with increased tolerance in higher latitude populations. Genome‐wide associations in a panel of inbred lines identified twenty‐five SNPs in twenty‐one loci associated with sex‐averaged desiccation tolerance, but there is no robust signal of spatially varying selection on genes associated with desiccation tolerance. Together, our results suggest that desiccation tolerance is a complex and important fitness component that evolves rapidly and predictably in natural populations.
The cytotaxonomy of Piptatherum kuoi (Stipeae, Poaceae)
Authors: Zhang Zhong‐Shuai , Chen Wen‐Li
Published: July 2018

The generic placement of Piptatherum kuoi (Poaceae, Stipeae) has long been controversial. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that Piptatherum kuoi should be transferred to Patis. Here, we present cytological support for this transfer and discuss morphological differences and similarities. Piptatherum kuoi has a chromosome number of 2n = 46 with the chromosomes varying in length between 1.1 and 3.1 μm, and the symmetrical karyotype 2n = 26m + 16sm + 4st (2sat). Karyological characters of Piptatherum kuoi, including chromosome number, size, and karyotype asymmetry, thus all agree with those of species of Patis, but are different from those of other species of Piptatherum. The transfer of Piptatherum kuoi to Patis is thus corroborated.
Scape anatomy and its systematic importance in the Allium stipitatum species complex (Amaryllidaceae)
Authors: Khorasani Mina , Mehrvarz Shahryar Saeidi , Zarre Shahin
Published: July 2018

Allium subg. Melanocrommyum is the second largest subgenus of Allium (Amaryllidaceae) and encompasses several taxonomically difficult groups. One of these is comprised of A. stipitatum and allies referrable to a vague number of sections, subsections and species. We investigated the anatomical characters of the scape in 12 species of this complex and its allies representing four recognized sections, viz Compactoprason, Megaloprason, Procerallium and Pseudoprason, and evaluated their systematic importance. The following features were found to be most informative for taxonomic classification of the complex at sectional and subsectional level: number of vascular bundles and their conforming rings, diameter of scape (or the cross‐sections), diameter of parenchymatous pith, thickness of sclerenchymatous ring and thickness of parenchymatous cortex. Statistical analyses (Kruskal‐Wallis, Anova and principal factor analysis) of 23 examined characters allow appropriate circumscription of species and sections in this species complex. In general, the results corroborate the conclusions from previous anatomical, morphological and molecular studies and phylogenetic reconstructions, but a few species are suggested to be reallocated among the sections.
Predator size and prey size–gut capacity ratios determine kill frequency and carcass production in terrestrial carnivorous mammals
Authors: De Cuyper Annelies , Clauss Marcus , Carbone Chris , Codron Daryl , Cools An , Hesta Myriam , Janssens Geert P. J.
Published: July 2018

Carnivore kill frequency is a fundamental part of predator–prey interactions, which are important shapers of ecosystems. Current field kill frequency data are rare and existing models are insufficiently adapted to carnivore functional groups. We developed a kill frequency model accounting for carnivore mass, prey mass, pack size, partial consumption of prey and carnivore gut capacity. Two main carnivore functional groups, small prey‐feeders versus large prey‐feeders, were established based on the relationship between stomach capacity (C) and pack corrected prey mass (iMprey). Although the majority of small prey‐feeders is below, and of large prey‐feeders above a body mass of 10–20 kg, both occur across the whole body size spectrum, indicating that the dichotomy is rather linked to body size‐related ecology than physiology. The model predicts a negative relationship between predator size and kill frequency for large prey‐feeders. However, for small prey‐feeders, this negative relationship was absent. When comparing carnivore prey requirements to estimated stomach capacity, small carnivores may have to eat to their full capacity repeatedly per day, requiring fast digestion and gut clearance. Large carnivores do not necessarily have to eat to full gastric capacity per day, or do not need to eat every day, which in turn reduces kill frequencies or drives other ecological processes such as scavenging, kleptoparasitism, and partial carcass consumption. Where ecological conditions allow, large prey‐feeding appears attractive for carnivores, which can thus reduce activities related to hunting. This is particularly so for large carnivores, who can achieve distinct reductions in hunting activity due to their relatively large gut capacity.
Host traits associated with species roles in parasite sharing networks
Authors: Dallas Tad A. , Han Barbara A. , Nunn Charles L. , Park Andrew W. , Stephens Patrick R. , Drake John M.
Published: July 2018

The community of host species that a parasite infects is often explained by functional traits and phylogeny, predicting that closely related hosts or those with particular traits share more parasites with other hosts. Previous research has examined parasite community similarity by regressing pairwise parasite community dissimilarity between two host species against host phylogenetic distance. However, pairwise approaches cannot target specific host species responsible for disproportionate levels of parasite sharing. To better identify why some host species contribute differentially to parasite diversity patterns, we represent parasite sharing using ecological networks consisting of host species connected by instances of shared parasitism. These networks can help identify host species and traits associated with high levels of parasite sharing that may subsequently identify important hosts for parasite maintenance and transmission within communities. We used global‐scale parasite sharing networks of ungulates, carnivores, and primates to determine if host importance – encapsulated by the network measures degree, closeness, betweenness, and eigenvector centrality – was predictable based on host traits. Our findings suggest that host centrality in parasite sharing networks is a function of host population density and range size, with range size reflecting both species geographic range and the home range of those species. In the full network, host taxonomic family became an important predictor of centrality, suggesting a role for evolutionary relationships between host and parasite species. More broadly, these findings show that trait data predict key properties of ecological networks, thus highlighting a role for species traits in understanding network assembly, stability, and structure.
Target enrichment sequencing of 307 germplasm accessions identified ancestry of ancient and modern hybrids and signatures of adaptation and selection in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), a ‘sweet’ crop with ‘bitter’ genomes
Authors: Yang Xiping , Song Jian , Todd James , Peng Ze , Paudel Dev , Luo Ziliang , Ma Xiaokai , You Qian , Hanson Erik , Zhao Zifan , Zhao Yang , Zhang Jisen , Ming Ray , Wang Jianping
Published: July 2018

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a highly energy‐efficient crop primarily for sugar and bio‐ethanol production. Sugarcane genetics and cultivar improvement have been extremely challenging largely due to its complex genomes with high polyploidy levels. In this study, we deeply sequenced the coding regions of 307 sugarcane germplasm accessions. Nearly five million sequence variations were catalogued. The average of 98× sequence depth enabled different allele dosages of sequence variation to be differentiated in this polyploid collection. With selected high‐quality genome‐wide SNPs, we performed population genomic studies and environmental association analysis. Results illustrated that the ancient sugarcane hybrids, S. barberi and S. sinense, and modern sugarcane hybrids are significantly different in terms of genomic compositions, hybridization processes and their potential ancestry contributors. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis showed a large extent of LD in sugarcane, with 962.4 Kbp, 2739.2 Kbp and 3573.6 Kbp for S. spontaneum, S. officinarum and modern S. hybrids respectively. Candidate selective sweep regions and genes were identified during domestication and historical selection processes of sugarcane in addition to genes associated with environmental variables at the original locations of the collection. This research provided an extensive amount of genomic resources for sugarcane community and the in‐depth population genomic analyses shed light on the breeding and evolution history of sugarcane, a highly polyploid species.
Expanding the base editing scope in rice by using Cas9 variants
Authors: Hua Kai , Tao Xiaoping , Zhu Jian‐Kang
Published: July 2018

Base editing is a novel genome editing strategy that enables irreversible base conversion at target loci without the need for double stranded break induction or homology‐directed repair. Here, we developed new adenine and cytosine base editors with engineered SpCas9 and SaCas9 variants that substantially expand the targetable sites in the rice genome. These new base editors can edit endogenous genes in the rice genome with various efficiencies. Moreover, we show that adenine and cytosine base editing can be simultaneously executed in rice. The new base editors described here will be useful in rice functional genomics research and will advance precision molecular breeding in crops.
Factors influencing confabulation in Japanese patients with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Okamoto Toyoko , Yamamoto Yasuji , Sakai Kazuo , Matsuyama Kenichi , Hashimoto Takeshi , Hayashi Atsuko
Published: July 2018

Background

Confabulations are often observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and can increase family caregivers’ burdens. Previous studies have focused on the relationship between confabulation and cognitive ability. However, few studies have investigated the association between confabulation and familial factors. Here, we aimed to examine whether confabulation relates to familial factors, such as the level of family caregivers’ expressed emotion or the level of functioning of the family.

Methods

Twenty‐seven outpatients with AD and their family caregivers participated in this study. We examined confabulations about episodic memory, semantic memory, and future planning using the Modified Confabulation Battery (MCB). We investigated correlations between scores on the MCB and scores on the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Family Attitude Scale (FAS), and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale. Multiple regression analyses were performed using the total scores on the MCB and domain‐specific scores on the MCB as dependent variables, and the scores on the MMSE, GDS, and FAS as independent variables.

Results

MCB scores were positively related to FAS scores (P < 0.01) and negatively to GDS scores (P < 0.05), but not to MMSE scores. Regarding the three domains the MCB measured, confabulation about episodic memory and future planning showed a positive relationship with FAS scores.

Conclusions

Family attitude was the factor most related to confabulation in our study. Patients with AD may attempt to avoid confronting family caregivers’ high emotional expression through confabulation, or confabulation itself might result in high emotional expression among family caregivers. Psychoeducational or therapeutic approaches for family caregivers might reduce confabulation in patients with AD.
Effects of a 10‐week functional training programme on pain, mood state, depression, and sleep in healthy older adults
Authors: Laredo‐Aguilera José Alberto , Carmona‐Torres Juan Manuel , García‐Pinillos Felipe , Latorre‐Román Pedro Ángel
Published: July 2018

Background

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a 10‐week functional training (FT) programme on pain, mood state, sleep, and depression in healthy older adults.

Method

A group of 38 older adults (32 women, 6 men) voluntarily participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 20; age: 75.44 ± 5.31 years) or the control group (n = 18: age: 76.35 ± 6.45 years). Pain, depression, mood state, and sleep were tested before and after FT.

Results

After the treatment, the experimental group experienced significant improvements in geriatric depression (P < 0.001), vigour (P = 0.044), fatigue (P = 0.002), depression (P = 0.005), and hypersomnia (P = 0.014), whereas the control group experienced significant deterioration in geriatric depression (P = 0.003), pain (P < 0.001), vigour (P = 0.011), depression (P = 0.009), and hypersomnia (P = 0.018). In addition, the experimental group showed an iceberg profile of mood; the control group did not show this profile.

Conclusion

Ten‐week FT improved mood state, depression, and sleep in healthy older adults. Therefore, FT exercises may be recommended for the prevention and treatment of insomnia, depression, and alterations in mood state.
Buffalo SCNT embryos exhibit abnormal gene expression of ERK/MAPK pathway and DNA methylation
Authors: Ashok Disha , Sood Tanushri Jerath , Sah Shrutika , Palta Prabhat , Mukesh Manishi , Chauhan Manmohan Singh , Manik Radhey Sham , Singla Suresh Kumar
Published: July 2018

Inhibition of ERK/MAPK pathway has been shown to decrease DNA methylation via down‐regulation of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in several studies suggesting that this pathway plays an important role in regulation of DNA methylation. We examined the relative expression level of seven important genes related to ERK/MAPK pathway and DNMTs (DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b) by quantitative real‐time PCR in buffalo blastocysts produced by Hand‐made cloning and compared it with that in blastocyst‐stage embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF). The expression level of six of seven genes related to ERK/MAPK pathway examined i.e., p21RAS, RAF1, AKT1, ERK2, PIK3R2 and c‐Myc was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in cloned than in IVF embryos. However, the expression level of FOS was lower (p < 0.005) in cloned than in IVF embryos. The relative expression level of DNMT3a and DNMT3b but not that of DNMT1 was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in cloned than in IVF embryos. These results indicate that the cloned embryos exhibit an abnormal expression of several important genes related to ERK/MAPK pathway and DNMTs. Although a direct link between ERK/MAPK pathway and DNMTs was not examined in the present study, it can be speculated that ERK/MAPK pathway may have a role in regulating the expression of DNMTs in embryos, as also observed in other tissues.
Effects of chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid on the quality of frozen‐thawed boar sperm
Authors: Namula Zhao , Hirata Maki , Wittayarat Manita , Tanihara Fuminori , Thi Nguyen Nhien , Hirano Takayuki , Nii Masahiro , Otoi Takeshige
Published: July 2018

Contents

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) and caffeic acid (CA) are potent antioxidants that are mostly found in coffee beans. This study aimed to investigate the effects of CGA and CA supplementation during semen freezing on the quality of frozen‐thawed boar spermatozoa. The antioxidants CGA and CA were added to a semen extender to achieve final concentrations of 50, 100, 200 and 400 µM. Supplementation of 100 µM CGA and CA yielded a significantly higher percentage of sperm viability (increased by 8%–10%) and plasma membrane integrity (increased by 4%–6%) than the control groups without the antioxidants at 0 and 3 hr after thawing (p < 0.05). At a concentration of 100 µM, CGA and CA also yielded beneficial effects on total and progressive sperm motility. Increases of CGA and CA concentrations to more than 200 µM did not enhance any sperm quality parameters. When the sperm penetrability and oocyte development by spermatozoa frozen with CGA and CA were evaluated, CGA and CA supplementations had no positive effects on the percentages of total fertilization, monospermic fertilization, cleavage and blastocyst formation. In conclusion, the supplementation of 100 µM CGA and CA during sperm freezing improved certain sperm parameters including motility, viability and plasma membrane integrity.
Children Are Exposed to Fecal Contamination via Multiple Interconnected Pathways: A Network Model for Exposure Assessment
Authors: Wang Yuke , Moe Christine L. , Teunis Peter F. M.
Published: July 2018

In recent decades, quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) has been widely used to assess exposure to fecal microbes and associated health risks. In this study, a multipathway exposure assessment model was developed to evaluate exposure to fecal microbes for children under 5 in highly contaminated urban environments. Children had contact with various environmental compartments. The contamination levels of these compartments were estimated from fecal indicator counts in the environmental samples. Structured observations of child behavior (including activities, locations, and time) were used to model behavioral sequences as a dynamic network. The exposure model combines behavior sequences with environmental contamination, using additional exposure factors when needed, to estimate the number of fecal microbes transferred from environmental sources to human oral ingestion. As fecal exposure in a highly contaminated urban environment consists of contributions from multiple pathways, it is imperative to study their relative importance. The model helps us better understand the characteristics of the exposure pathways that may be driven by variation in contamination and by variable behavior, like hygiene and high‐risk activities. Importantly, the model also allows prediction of the quantitative effects of an intervention—the expected reduction in exposure due to infrastructural or behavioral changes—by means of scenario studies. Based on experience with this exposure model, we make specific recommendations for additional studies of child behavior and exposure factors in order to fill critical information gaps and improve the model structure and assumptions.
Informal one‐sided target zone model and the Swiss franc
Authors: Chen Yu‐Fu , Funke Michael , Moessner Richhild
Published: July 2018

This paper develops a new theoretical model with an asymmetric informal one‐sided exchange rate target zone, with an application to the Swiss franc following the removal of the minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20 per euro in January 2015. We extend and generalize a standard target zone model by introducing perceived uncertainty about the lower edge of the band. We find that informal soft edge target zone bands lead to weaker honeymoon effects, wider target zone ranges, and higher exchange rate volatility than formal target zone bands. These results suggest that it would be beneficial for exchange rate policy intentions to be stated clearly in order to anchor exchange rate expectations and reduce exchange rate volatility. We also study how exchange rate dynamics can be characterized in models in which financial markets are aware of occasional changes in the policy regime. We show that expected changes in the central bank's exchange rate policy may lead to exchange rate oscillations, providing an additional source of exchange rate volatility, and to capture this it is important to take into account the possibility of regime changes in exchange rate policy.
Does More Consumption Promote Real GDP Growth?
Authors: Liao Shu‐Yi , Wang Lan‐Hsun , Huang Mao‐Lung
Published: July 2018

This paper employs Hansen's (1999) panel threshold regression model [Journal of Econometrics 39 (1999) 345–68] based on a time series dataset of 109 countries from 1960 to 2007 to investigate the threshold relationship between the change in real GDP per capita and the consumption size (consumption‐income ratio, APC). The results show that the consumption level should not exceed the 49.68% threshold of real GDP per capita for each country regardless of the income level. Also, the relationship between the change in real GDP per capita and the consumption size seems to have ‘Armey curve’ or ‘inverted‐U shape’ characteristic. In order to promote real GDP growth, our results suggest that the high‐income, low‐APC countries should encourage more consumption while the low‐income, high‐APC countries should encourage more saving.
Ambivalent Voting Behavior: Ideology, Efficacy, and the Socioeconomic Dynamic of Voter Turnout in Iran, 1997–2005
Authors: Daghagheleh Aghil
Published: July 2018

This study investigates voting behavior in Iran as a case of electoral authoritarianism. In analyzing survey data from the Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), I examine the socioeconomic dynamic of voting as well as the effects of sociopolitical views on voting in Iran. In contrast to theories that predict a higher turnout rate among the poor in authoritarian regimes, I show that the socioeconomic dynamic of voting in Iran varies across years and elections. This inconsistency, I propose, may reflect the ambivalent feelings of a fraction of voters toward the election that depends on the context of elections, and electoral campaigning produces various patterns of voting across socioeconomic status and the religious or ethnic background. I found that there is a strong association between sociopolitical views and turnout. In all elections, dissatisfied voters were more likely to stay home on Election Day. Voting behavior also is shaped by respondents' source of income as well as their attitudes toward democratic elections, the state ideology, and the efficacy of voting.
Starch degradation, abscisic acid and vesicular trafficking are important elements in callose priming by indole‐3‐carboxylic acid in response to Plectosphaerella cucumerina infection
Authors: Gamir Jordi , Pastor Victoria , Sánchez‐Bel Paloma , Agut Blas , Mateu Diego , García‐Andrade Javier , Flors Víctor
Published: July 2018

A fast callose accumulation has been shown to mediate defence priming in certain plant–pathogen interactions, but the events upstream of callose assembly following chemical priming are poorly understood, mainly because those steps comprise sugar transfer to the infection site. β‐Amino butyric acid (BABA)‐induced resistance in Arabidopsis against Plectosphaerella cucumerina is known to be mediated by callose priming. Indole‐3‐carboxylic acid (ICOOH, also known as I3CA) mediates BABA‐induced resistance in Arabidopsis against P. cucumerina. This indolic compound is found in a common fingerprint of primed metabolites following treatments with various priming stimuli. In the present study, we show that I3CA induces resistance in Arabidopsis against P. cucumerina and primes enhancement of callose accumulation. I3CA treatment increased abscisic acid (ABA) levels before infection with P. cucumerina. An intact ABA synthesis pathway is needed to activate a starch amylase (BAM1) to trigger augmented callose deposition against P. cucumerina during I3CA‐IR. To verify the relevance of the BAM1 amylase in I3CA‐IR, knockdown mutants and overexpressors of the BAM1 gene were tested. The mutant bam1 was impaired to express I3CA‐IR, but complemented 35S::BAM1‐YFP lines in the background of bam1 restored an intact I3CA‐IR and callose priming. Therefore, a more active starch metabolism is a committed step for I3CA‐IR, inducing callose priming in adult plants. Additionally, I3CA treatments induced expression of the ubiquitin ligase ATL31 and syntaxin SYP131, suggesting that vesicular trafficking is relevant for callose priming. As a final element in the callose priming, an intact Powdery Mildew resistant4 (PMR4) gene is also essential to fully express I3CA‐IR.
Retrospective evaluation of canine palpebral masses treated with debulking and cryotherapy: 46 cases
Authors: Zibura Ashley E. , Henriksen Michala de Linde , Rendahl Aaron , Lim Christine C. , Reilly Christopher
Published: July 2018

Purpose

To evaluate the recurrence frequency and the time to recurrence of canine palpebral masses treated with debulking and cryotherapy.

Methods

Medical records of dogs that underwent debulking and cryotherapy for palpebral masses from December 2010 to November 2015 at the University of Minnesota's Veterinary Medical Center were reviewed. A telephone survey with owners was used to determine recurrence and time to recurrence.

Results

Forty‐six masses (31 dogs) were included in this retrospective study. Included palpebral masses were as follows: adenomas 17/46 (37%), epitheliomas 8/46 (17.4%), papillomas 6/46 (13%), inflammatory masses 6/46 (13%), mixed adenoma‐papillomas 6/46 (13%), mixed epithelioma‐papillomas 2/46 (4.4%), and a melanocytoma 1/46 (2.2%). Of the seven masses that were noted to recur (7/46, 15.2%), three were mixed adenoma‐papillomas (three of six adenoma‐papillomas, 50%), two were epitheliomas (two of eight epitheliomas, 25%), one was a papilloma (one of six papillomas, 16.7%), and one was a melanocytoma (one of one melanocytoma, 100%). Average recurrence time was 367.9 days [range: 30‐904 days]. A significant association between tumor type and tumor recurrence was found (P = .009). Adenomas were significantly less likely to recur (P = .017), and mixed adenoma‐papillomas were significantly more likely to recur (P = .001).

Conclusions

Debulking and cryotherapy is an effective method of treatment for eyelid masses in dogs with a low study recurrence rate of 15.2% and average recurrence time of 367.9 days. Results also suggest that mixed adenoma‐papilloma masses have a significantly higher recurrence rate than other eyelid masses, whereas adenomas had no recurrence in our study population.
Modification of the metal endoprosthesis limb‐salvage procedure for excision of a large distal radial osteosarcoma in a dog: A case report
Authors: Wustefeld‐Janssens Brandan G. , Lafferty Mary , Séguin Bernard
Published: July 2018

Objective

To report modification of the endoprosthesis surgical limb‐salvage technique to treat a locally extensive osteosarcoma in a dog and associated functional outcome.

Study design

Clinical case report.

Animals

One client‐owned dog.

Methods

A 9‐year‐old dog was presented for treatment of a locally extensive distal radial osteosarcoma. A limb‐salvage surgery was performed with a second‐generation Veterinary Orthopedic Implants (VOI) endoprosthesis to reconstruct the radial segmental and carpal osseous defect. The endoprosthesis was stabilized with a 16‐mm‐wide locking VOI limb‐salvage plate. The level of the osteotomy of the radius/ulna was 3 cm proximal to the periosteal reaction seen on radiographs, and the distal osteotomy extended through the proximal metacarpal bones (II‐V), 3 cm from the distal extent of the soft tissue component of the tumor. A 3.5‐mm SOP (String of Pearls) plate was used as adjunct fixation.

Results

The postoperative functional outcome was classified as acceptable. Ambulation was normal, with mild subjective lameness on the treated limb at examinations 20, 43, and 63 days after surgery. The dog was euthanized 92 days after surgery because of progressive metastatic disease.

Conclusion

The modified endoprosthetic technique allowed complete excision of the carpal joint, which resulted in acceptable functional outcomes in the dog described here.

Clinical significance

Distal ostectomies may include part of the manus during limb salvage surgery of locally extensive distal radial osteosarcoma and using an endoprosthesis implant to reconstruct the defect.
Primary appendicular hemangiosarcoma and telangiectatic osteosarcoma in 70 dogs: AVeterinarySociety ofSurgicalOncology retrospective study
Authors: Giuffrida Michelle A. , Kamstock Debra A. , Selmic Laura E. , Pass William , Szivek Anna , Mison Michael B. , Boston Sarah E. , Fox Leslie E. , Robat Cecilia , Grimes Janet A. , Maritato Karl C. , Bacon Nicholas J.
Published: July 2018

Objective

To define and compare clinical characteristics of canine primary appendicular hemangiosarcoma (HSA) and telangiectatic osteosarcoma (tOSA), including signalment, presentation, response to treatment, and prognosis.

Study design

Multi‐institutional retrospective study.

Animals

Seventy dogs with primary appendicular HSA or tOSA.

Methods

Patient data were obtained from institutions' medical records. Immunohistochemistry was applied to archived tissues to establish tumor type. Patient characteristics, treatment responses, and outcomes were described and compared by tumor type.

Results

Forty‐one HSA and 29 tOSA were identified. Dogs with HSA were more likely than dogs with tOSA to be male and have hind limb tumors; 78% of HSA occurred in hind limbs, particularly the tibia. Dogs with tOSA weighed a median of 9.9 kg (95% CI 4.6‐15.3) more than dogs with HSA. Most dogs received antineoplastic treatment, predominantly amputation with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. Overall survival with local treatment and chemotherapy was 299 days (95% CI 123‐750) for HSA and 213 days (95% CI 77‐310) for tOSA. Younger age and more aggressive treatment were associated with longer survival in dogs with HSA but not tOSA. One‐year survival rates did not differ between dogs with HSA (28%) and those with tOSA (7%).

Conclusion

Distinct clinical features were identified between HSA and tOSA in this population. Both tumors were aggressive, with a high incidence of pulmonary metastases. However, local treatment combined with chemotherapy led to an average survival 7 months for tOSA and 10 months for HSA.

Clinical significance

HSA should be considered as a differential in dogs with aggressive lytic bone lesions, particularly medium‐sized dogs with tibial lesions. HSA has a unique clinical presentation but similar therapeutic response and outcome to OSA. Amputation and chemotherapy appear to prolong survival in some dogs with HSA and tOSA.
In vitro characterization of neonatal, juvenile, and adult porcine islet oxygen demand, β‐cell function, and transcriptomes
Authors: Smith Kate E. , Purvis William G. , Davis Melissa A. , Min Catherine G. , Cooksey Amanda M. , Weber Craig S. , Jandova Jana , Price Nicholas D. , Molano Diana S. , Stanton James Brett , Kelly Amy C. , Steyn Leah V. , Lynch Ronald M. , Limesand Sean W. , Alexander Michael , Lakey Jonathan R. T. , Seeberger Karen , Korbutt Gregory S. , Mueller Kate R. , Hering Bernhard J. , McCarthy Fiona M. , Papas Klearchos K.
Published: July 2018

Background

There is currently a shortage of human donor pancreata which limits the broad application of islet transplantation as a treatment for type 1 diabetes. Porcine islets have demonstrated potential as an alternative source, but a study evaluating islets from different donor ages under unified protocols has yet to be conducted.

Methods

Neonatal porcine islets (NPI; 1‐3 days), juvenile porcine islets (JPI; 18‐21 days), and adult porcine islets (API; 2+ years) were compared in vitro, including assessments of oxygen consumption rate, membrane integrity determined by FDA/PI staining, β‐cell proliferation, dynamic glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion, and RNA sequencing.

Results

Oxygen consumption rate normalized to DNA was not significantly different between ages. Membrane integrity was age dependent, and API had the highest percentage of intact cells. API also had the highest glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion response during a dynamic insulin secretion assay and had 50‐fold higher total insulin content compared to NPI and JPI. NPI and JPI had similar glucose responsiveness, β‐cell percentage, and β‐cell proliferation rate. Transcriptome analysis was consistent with physiological assessments. API transcriptomes were enriched for cellular metabolic and insulin secretory pathways, while NPI exhibited higher expression of genes associated with proliferation.

Conclusions

The oxygen demand, membrane integrity, β‐cell function and proliferation, and transcriptomes of islets from API, JPI, and NPI provide a comprehensive physiological comparison for future studies. These assessments will inform the optimal application of each age of porcine islet to expand the availability of islet transplantation.
El origen teológico de la “bioética”.
Authors: Quesada Rodríguez Francisco
Published: July 2018

El teólogo Fritz Jahr fue el creador de la palabra “Bio-Ethik” (1927). Él consideraba a San Francisco el inspirador de un movimiento moderno de apreciación del valor de la vida en armonía con Dios, el ser humano y la naturaleza. La dimensión “biopsíquica” que explica el amor de San Francisco por la naturaleza –según Jahr– fue completada por las “formas de simpatía” de Max Scheler. Sin embargo, dos críticas filosóficas fueron argumentadas según dos bioeticistas, Peter Singery Hans Jonas. Finalmente, el artículo presenta a San Francisco como un modelo del cuidado de la creación, según el papa Francisco.
Teología de la realidad histórica.
Authors: Santamaría Rodríguez Juan Esteban
Published: July 2018

Este artículo propone una teología de la realidad histórica a la luz de los escritos teológicos de Ignacio Ellacuría y en diálogo con algunos autores que han apropiado su pensamiento. Para ello, considera como principio constitutivo el acto intelectivo-sentiente del creyente y su despliegue como criterio para la vivencia de la fe cristiana a partir de tres dimensiones conexas entre sí: “hacerse cargo” de la realidad, “cargar” con la realidad y “encargarse” de la realidad. Por tanto, esta teología señala la urgencia de una praxis histórico-salvífica del creyente, la Iglesia y la teología desde la praxis humana de los pueblos históricamente crucificados cuyo fin sea la instauración del Reinado de Dios.
Nitrogen plasma-induced HfSiON film growth from Hf nanoscale islands on SiO2/Si
Authors: Kitajima Takeshi , Kage Ryosuke , Nakano Toshiki
Published: July 2018

HfSiON films for high-k dielectric applications are synthesized from Hf nanoscale islands on SiO2/Si(100) substrates using the exposure of nitrogen inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The process consists of the novel interfacial reaction of nanoscale islands with the substrate induced by plasma-derived radicals and ions. The Hf metal islands nucleate on an SiO2/Si(100) surface by strain-induced engineering during electron beam evaporation. In vacuo AFM measurement shows that the N2 ICP exposure collapses the islands to form films. XPS analysis shows that the ICP exposure initially nitrides Hf islands in 1 min. Then, it induces the intermixing of the base SiO2 with HfN in the next stage. The rapid nitridation of Hf is the unique feature of the process initiated from nanoscale islands. The chemical composition ratio of Hf:Si:N in the film can be roughly controlled to be 1:1:1 with an ICP exposure time of 20 min. The uniformity of the grown films depends on the initial uniformity of the islands and the surface diffusion of materials. The study is a unique example of the film-growth method based on the nanoscale interaction of the surface of nucleated islands and the substrate material induced by plasmas.
Gas-cluster ion sputtering: Effect on organic layer morphology
Authors: Goodwin Christopher M. , Voras Zachary E. , Beebe Thomas P.
Published: July 2018

Analysis of the surface of thin Irganox 1010 films before and after sputtering with an argon gas-cluster ion beam was performed with AFM and XPS to determine the effect that Zalar rotation has on the chemistry and morphology of the surface. The analysis is based on the change in roughness of the surface by comparing the same location on the surface before and after sputtering. The ion beam used was an Arn+ of size n = 1000 and energy 4 keV. The XPS analysis agreed with previous results in which the ion beam did not cause measurable accumulation of damaged material. Based on the AFM results, the Irganox 1010 surface became rougher as a result of ion sputtering, and the degree of roughening was quantified, as was the sputter rate. Furthermore, Zalar rotation during ion sputtering did not have a significant effect on surface roughening, surprisingly.
Single-Center Pharmacokinetic Study and Simulation of a Low Meropenem Concentration in Brain-Dead Organ Donors
Authors: Lee Jae-Myeong , Lee Joo Won , Jeong Tae Seok , Bang Eun Sook , Kim So Hee
Published: July 2018

Meropenem is an ultrabroad-spectrum antibiotic of the carbapenem family. In brain-dead organ donors, administration of standard meropenem dosages does not reach therapeutic levels.
Population Pharmacokinetic Analyses for Ertapenem in Subjects with a Wide Range of Body Sizes
Authors: Lakota Elizabeth A. , Landersdorfer Cornelia B. , Zhang Li , Nafziger Anne N. , Bertino Joseph S. , Bhavnani Sujata M. , Forrest Alan
Published: July 2018

Despite a number of studies reporting that ertapenem pharmacokinetic parameters differ considerably in obese patients from those in healthy volunteers, functions describing the relationships between this agent's pharmacokinetics and indicators of body size have not been developed. The aim of this analysis was to develop an ertapenem population pharmacokinetic model using data from a previously described study in normal-weight, obese, and morbidly obese healthy volunteers.
Past and Present Perspectives on β-Lactamases
Authors: Bush Karen
Published: July 2018

β-Lactamases, the major resistance determinant for β-lactam antibiotics in Gram-negative bacteria, are ancient enzymes whose origins can be traced back millions of years ago. These well-studied enzymes, currently numbering almost 2,800 unique proteins, initially emerged from environmental sources, most likely to protect a producing bacterium from attack by naturally occurring β-lactams.
A Diverse Range of Human Gut Bacteria Have the Potential To Metabolize the Dietary Component Gallic Acid
Authors: Esteban-Torres María , Santamaría Laura , Cabrera-Rubio Raúl , Plaza-Vinuesa Laura , Crispie Fiona , de las Rivas Blanca , Cotter Paul , Muñoz Rosario
Published: July 2018

Despite the increasing wealth of sequencing data, the health contributions of many bacteria found in the human gut microbiota have yet to be elucidated. This study applies a novel experimental approach to predict the ability of gut microbes to carry out a specific metabolic activity, i.e., gallate metabolism. The study showed that, while gallate-decarboxylating bacteria represented 47% of the bacterial genera detected previously in the same human fecal samples, no gallate decarboxylase homologs were identified from representatives of
Bacteroidetes
. The presence of functional gallate decarboxylases was demonstrated in representative
Proteobacteria
and
Firmicutes
strains from the human microbiota, an observation that could be of considerable relevance to the
in vivo
production of pyrogallol, a physiologically important bioactive compound.
Role of DNA Repair and Protective Components in Bacillus subtilis Spore Resistance to Inactivation by 400-nm-Wavelength Blue Light
Authors: Djouiai Bahar , Thwaite Joanne E. , Laws Thomas R. , Commichau Fabian M. , Setlow Barbara , Setlow Peter , Moeller Ralf
Published: July 2018

Effective methods of spore inactivation would be of considerable interest in the health care and medical products industries, particularly if the decontamination method effectively killed spores while remaining benign to both humans and sensitive equipment. Intense blue light radiation is one such treatment that has drawn significant interest. In this work, all known spore-protective features, as well as universal and spore-specific DNA repair mechanisms, were tested in a systematic fashion for their contribution to the resistance of spores to blue light radiation.
Depressed Gamma Interferon Responses and Treatment Outcomes in Tuberculosis Patients: a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Feng Jia-Yih , Pan Sheng-Wei , Huang Shiang-Fen , Chen Ying-Ying , Lin Yung-Yang , Su Wei-Juin
Published: July 2018

Immunosuppression induced by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
is important in the pathogenesis of active tuberculosis (TB). However, the impact of depressed TB-specific and non-TB-specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ) response on the treatment outcomes of TB patients remains uncertain.
Porcine Adenovirus Type 3 E3 Encodes a Structural Protein Essential for Capsid Stability and Production of Infectious Progeny Virions
Authors: Said Abdelrahman , Woldemariam Tekeleselassie A. , Tikoo Suresh K.
Published: July 2018

Although E3 region-encoded proteins are involved in the modulation of leukocyte functions (N. Arnberg, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110:19976–19977, 2013) and inducing a lytic infection of lymphocytes (V. K. Murali, D. A. Ornelles, L. R. Gooding, H. T. Wilms, W. Huang, A. E. Tollefson, W. S. Wold, and C. Garnett-Benson, J Virol 88:903–912, 2014), none of the E3 proteins appear to be a component of virion capsid or required for replication of adenovirus. Here, we demonstrate that the 13.7K protein encoded by the E3 region of porcine adenovirus type 3 is a component of progeny virion capsids and appears to be essential for maintaining the integrity of virion capsid and production of infectious progeny virions. To our knowledge, this is the first report to suggest that an adenovirus E3-encoded protein is an essential structural protein.
Blue Ridge–Inner Piedmont geotraverse from the Great Smoky fault to the Inner Piedmont: Upper crust to upper-lower crust, terranes, large faults, and sutures
Authors: Merschat Arthur J. , Hatcher Robert D. , Thigpen J. Ryan , McClellan Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2018

The southern Appalachian orogen is a Paleozoic accretionary-collisional orogen that formed as the result of three Paleozoic orogenies, Taconic, Acadian and Neoacadian, and Alleghanian orogenies. The Blue Ridge–Piedmont megathrust sheet exposes various crystalline terranes of the Blue Ridge and Inner Piedmont that record the different effects of these orogenies. The western Blue Ridge is the Neoproterozoic to Ordovician Laurentian margin. Constructed on Mesoproterozoic basement, 1.2–1.0 Ga, the western Blue Ridge transitions from two rifting events at ca. 750 Ma and ca. 565 Ma to an Early Cambrian passive margin and then carbonate bank. The Hayesville fault marks the Taconic suture and separates the western Blue Ridge from distal peri-Laurentian terranes of the central and eastern Blue Ridge, which are the Cartoogechaye, Cowrock, Dahlonega gold belt, and Tugaloo terranes. The central and eastern Blue Ridge terranes are dominantly clastic in composition, intruded by Ordovician to Mississippian granitoids, and contain ultramafic and mafic rocks, suggesting deposition on oceanic crust. These terranes accreted to the western Blue Ridge during the Taconic orogeny at 462–448 Ma, resulting in metamorphism dated with SHRIMP (sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe) U-Pb ages of metamorphic zircon. The Inner Piedmont, which is separated from the Blue Ridge by the Brevard fault zone, experienced upper amphibolite, sillimanite I and higher-grade ­metamorphism during the Acadian and Neoacadian orogenies, 395–345 Ma. These events also affected the eastern Blue Ridge, and parts of the western Blue Ridge. The Acadian and Neoacadian orogeny is the result of the oblique collision and accretion of the peri-Gondwanan Carolina superterrane overriding the Inner Piedmont. During this collision, the Inner Piedmont was a forced mid-crustal orogenic channel that flowed NW-, W-, and SW-directed from underneath the Carolina superterrane. The Alleghanian orogeny thrust these terranes northwestward as part of the Blue Ridge–Piedmont megathrust sheet during the collision of Gondwana (Africa) and the formation of Pangea.