bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Group Well-Child Care
Authors: Yoshida Hiromi , Fenick Ada M. , Rosenthal Marjorie S.
Published: December 2013

Objective. To determine if group well-child visits (WCV) can be cost neutral compared with individual WCV by varying health care providers, group size, and physician salary. Method. We created 6 economic models to evaluate the costs of WCV: 3 for individual WCV delivered by (1) advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), (2) resident, and (3) attending and 3 for group WCV delivered by (4) APRN with a nurse and social worker; (5) resident with an attending, nurse, and child life specialist; and (6)attending with a nurse. For group WCV, we performed sensitivity analyses on group size and duration of provider participation. Results. We achieved cost-neutrality at 4 families in the APRN group WCV model; at 3, 4, 5, and 6 families in the resident model with 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes of attending supervision, respectively; and at 4 and 5 families in the low and high attending salary model, respectively. Conclusion. Group WCV can be delivered in a cost-neutral manner by optimizing group size and provider participation.
Fusobacterium nucleatum Activates the Immune Response through Retinoic Acid–Inducible Gene I
Authors: Lee P. , Tan K.S.
Published: December 2013

Retinoic acid–inducible gene I (RIG-I) is a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor involved in the sensing of RNA viruses and the initiation of antiviral responses. Fusobacterium nucleatum, a Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium associated with periodontal disease, is capable of invading cells. We hypothesized that F. nucleatum’s ability to invade cells allows the microorganism to activate the immune response through RIG-I. Bacterial invasion was found to be necessary for F. nucleatum–induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation. Following invasion of the human periodontal ligament fibroblast (PDLF), F. nucleatum was located in the cytosol. F. nucleatum infection led to an 80-fold increase in RIG-I expression. Silencing RIG-I in PDLF by siRNA led to a significant decrease of NF-κB activation and expression of proinflammatory genes. Additionally, F. nucleatum was able to secrete nucleic acids, and introduction of F. nucleatum RNA into PDLF led to a RIG-I-dependent activation of NF-κB. Our findings showed RIG-I to be involved in the recognition of F. nucleatum. The function of RIG-I is likely to be broad and not limited to sensing of viruses only. Hence, this receptor may play an important role in detecting invasive forms of oral pathogens and contribute to inflammation in periodontal tissues.
Carbodiimide Inactivation of MMPs and Effect on Dentin Bonding
Authors: Mazzoni A. , Apolonio F.M. , Saboia V.P.A. , Santi S. , Angeloni V. , Checchi V. , Curci R. , Di Lenarda R. , Tay F.R. , Pashley D.H. , Breschi L.
Published: December 2013

The use of protein cross-linking agents during bonding procedures has been recently proposed to improve bond durability. This study aimed to use zymography and in situ zymography techniques to evaluate the ability of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) cross-linker to inhibit matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. The hypotheses tested were that: (1) bonding procedures increase dentin gelatinolytic activity and (2) EDC pre-treatment prevents this enzymatic activity. The zymographic assay was performed on protein extracts obtained from dentin powder treated with Optibond FL or Scotchbond 1XT with or without 0.3M EDC pre-treatment. For in situ zymography, adhesive/dentin interfaces were created with the same adhesives applied to acid-etched dentin slabs pre-treated or not with EDC conditioner. Zymograms revealed increased expression of dentin endogenous MMP-2 and -9 after adhesive application, while the use of EDC as a primer inactivated dentin gelatinases. Results of in situ zymograpy showed that hybrid layers of tested adhesives exhibited intense collagenolytic activity, while almost no fluorescence signal was detected when specimens were pre-treated with EDC. The correlative analysis used in this study demonstrated that EDC could contribute to inactivate endogenous dentin MMPs within the hybrid layer created by etch-and-rinse adhesives.
The Origins of Race-conscious Affirmative Action in Undergraduate Admissions
Authors: Stulberg Lisa M. , Chen Anthony S.
Published: December 2013

What explains the rise of race-conscious affirmative action policies in undergraduate admissions? The dominant theory posits that adoption of such policies was precipitated by urban and campus unrest in the North during the late 1960s. Based on primary research in a sample of 17 selective schools, we find limited support for the dominant theory. Affirmative action arose in two distinct waves during the 1960s. A first wave was launched in the early 1960s by northern college administrators inspired by nonviolent civil rights protests in the South. A second wave of affirmative action emerged in the late 1960s, primarily as a response to campus-based student protests. Most late-adopting schools were those most favored by the Protestant upper class. Our findings are most consistent with a theoretical perspective on institutional change in which social movements’ effects are mediated by the moral and ideological beliefs of key administrators.
Are Readability Formulas Valid Tools for Assessing Survey Question Difficulty?
Authors: Lenzner Timo
Published: December 2013

Readability formulas, such as the Flesch Reading Ease formula, the Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level Index, the Gunning Fog Index, and the Dale–Chall formula are often considered to be objective measures of language complexity. Not surprisingly, survey researchers have frequently used readability scores as indicators of question difficulty and it has been repeatedly suggested that the formulas be applied during the questionnaire design phase, to identify problematic items and to assist survey designers in revising flawed questions. At the same time, the formulas have faced severe criticism among reading researchers, particularly because they are predominantly based on only two variables (word length/frequency and sentence length) that may not be appropriate predictors of language difficulty. The present study examines whether the four readability formulas named above correctly identify problematic survey questions. Readability scores were calculated for 71 question pairs, each of which included a problematic (e.g., syntactically complex, vague, etc.) and an improved version of the question. The question pairs came from two sources: (1) existing literature on questionnaire design and (2) the Q-BANK database. The analyses revealed that the readability formulas often favored the problematic over the improved version. On average, the success rate of the formulas in identifying the difficult questions was below 50 percent and agreement between the various formulas varied considerably. Reasons for this poor performance, as well as implications for the use of readability formulas during questionnaire design and testing, are discussed.
Can the Media Discipline Chinese Firms’ Pollution Behaviors? The Mediating Effects of the Public and Government
Authors: Tang Zhi , Tang Jintong
Published: December 2013

Extant stakeholder studies posit that the media have a direct impact on firms’ pollution behaviors. By integrating agenda-setting theory with the stakeholder framework, we propose the media exert an influence on firms’ pollution behaviors through two primary stakeholders: the government and the public. Longitudinal archival data collected from Chinese newspapers in 2009 indicate that the government tends to take actions upon the official newspaper reports, while the public acts upon the reports from commercialized papers. Both the government’s and the public’s actions can prompt the firm to provide solutions to its pollution problems. In addition, the government’s actions mediate the relationship between official media coverage and firm solutions, and the public’s actions mediate the link between commercialized media coverage and firm solutions.
Patterns of Coping Among Family Caregivers of Frail Older Adults
Authors: Lin I-Fen , Wu Hsueh-Sheng
Published: December 2013

Past studies have extensively examined factors associated with coping strategies that caregivers use to ameliorate distress or solve problems. While these studies have found that stressors and individual resources influence choices of coping strategies, they have tended to overlook caregivers’ social resources and have rarely considered the possibility that distinct groups of caregivers may use different sets of coping strategies. We conducted latent-class analyses to identify distinct groups of caregivers: those using no particular patterns of coping (unpatterned-coping), those centering on ameliorating distress (emotional-coping), and those focusing on both ameliorating distress and solving problems (hybrid-coping). Stressors distinguished all three coping groups, individual resources differentiated the hybrid-coping group from the emotional-coping group and the unpatterned-coping group, and social resources separated the emotional-coping group and the hybrid-coping group from the unpatterned-coping group. These findings indicate different factors contributing to caregivers’ use of different coping styles and suggest ways to better help caregivers.
Class Power and China’s Productivity Miracle
Authors: Piovani Chiara
Published: December 2013

This paper aims to assess the relationship between industrial productivity and industrial wage share in China between 1980 and 2007, and to identify the determinants of the industrial wage share over the same period. The results suggest that the market reforms in China have led to a reduction of workers’ bargaining power, which in turn explains both the rapid productivity increase and the steady decline in the wage share observed since the beginning of the reforms. The results also suggest that privatization, labor market informalization, and retreat of the state from social provisioning are key factors explaining the decline in the wage share. The current Chinese model of development, however, is unsustainable for economic, social, and environmental reasons, and a sustainable model of development is likely to require a more egalitarian income distribution.
Psychometric Characteristics of the Korean Mental Health Continuum–Short Form in an Adolescent Sample
Authors: Lim Young-Jin
Published: December 2013

There have been few research studies to examine the positive mental health of Asian adolescents. The aim here is to examine the factorial structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent/discriminant validity of a Korean version of the Mental Health Continuum–short form (K-MHC-SF), a newly developed self-report scale for positive mental health assessment, in a sample of South Korean adolescents. The Korean sample comprised 547 high school students (57% were female), ranging in age from 14 to 17 years (mean age = 16.08 years, SD = 0.34). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the K-MHC-SF replicated the three-factor structure of emotional, psychological, and social well-being found in earlier studies. Another confirmatory factor analysis supported the correlated two-factor model of mental health and mental disorder. The internal consistency of the overall K-MHC-SF was .91. The total score on the K-MHC-SF significantly correlated with a measure of life satisfaction (ρ = .58) and a measure of self-esteem (ρ = .57). In addition, the attempt at categorical classification revealed that 11.7% were in the category of positive mental health, characterized as flourishing, and 13.0% were in the category of absence of positive mental health, described as languishing. The results of the present study suggest that the K-MHC-SF is a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring the three lower-order dimensions of subjective well-being.
Investing in children’s future: Cross-cultural perspectives and ideologies on parental involvement in education
Authors: Kremer-Sadlik Tamar , Fatigante Marilena
Published: December 2013

Drawing on two ethnographic studies of everyday middle-class family life in Los Angeles and Rome, this cross-cultural study examines parents’ practices of and beliefs about involvement in children’s education. It analyzes parents’ interviews and naturalistic video recordings of parent–child interactions at home to access parents’ perspectives on and ways of enacting involvement in school-related activities. Findings indicate that while the LA and Rome parents engaged in similar practices, their involvement in their children’s education was experienced differently and motivated by different assumptions. The article argues that differences in parents’ perceptions and practices reflect and reproduce marked cultural preferences and expectations within the local education systems and reveal distinct ideologies regarding childhood. Drawing on Halldén, the study proposes that LA parents tended to treat childhood as a period of ‘preparation’ for adulthood where there is more deliberate shaping of a child’s path, displaying a belief that children’s future much depends on present actions. Rome parents tended to view their child less as a project that they needed to work on, leaving room for children’s autonomy and freedom. Finally, the study argues that the examination of local sociocultural and institutional contexts offers a more comprehensive and situated interpretation of Italian and US parents’ choices and actions.
Quadrotor-tracking controller design using adaptive dynamic feedback-linearization method
Authors: Choi IH , Bang HC
Published: December 2013

Design of an adaptive dynamic feedback-linearization control law for a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle under uncertain parameters is presented. Because the quadrotor carries rotational speed-varying thrusters, it has the advantage of simple mechanism compared to the pitch-varying thrusters. However, it is subjected to slow dynamics in thruster and suffers from uncertainties in efficiency due to power subsystem. Additionally, parametric uncertainties tend to exist such as thruster misalignment, mass, and inertia. The control law is targeted to tracking reference trajectories under such uncertainties. Dynamic feedback-linearization method is employed primarily to produce the small-bandwidth thruster signal. A dynamic observer is used to estimate the states of feedback-linearized system, and Lyapunov-based update laws are derived to compensate for uncertain parameters. The controller and its performance are evaluated using a nonlinear, six-degree-of-freedom dynamic model of a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle with a thruster model in the simulation. The results illustrate that the proposed control law enhances tracking performance even with slow and misaligned thruster.
The role of advance directives regarding the patient’s consent. Views held by the first Spanish Act regulating the patient's autonomy and differences with the Common Law tradition
Authors: Rodriguez-Vazquez Virgilio
Published: December 2013

The present article aims at examining the legal value of advance directives in those cases where a patient cannot state his/her consent due to his/her being in a state of unconsciousness or temporary disability. In order to reach a conclusion about the issue at hand, I analyse Act 41/2002, 14 November, which regulates the patient’s autonomy in Spain. I then compare Act 41/2002 to some other legal documents that deal with this question, both in and outside Spain. Finally, I present my own views regarding the legal value of advance directives in the situation specified above.

It is necessary to point out that Act 41/2002 does not limit the application of advance directives to borderline situations of life termination. In fact, the same denomination (‘advance directives’) covers two different situations. On the one hand, it covers the expression of a given patient’s will in relation to an extreme situation of life termination, where the patient is in a state of irreversible unconsciousness, completely dependent on others and being fed and hydrated artificially. On the other hand, it covers those cases where a patient is in a state of reversible unconsciousness that is temporary and can be reversed by applying the required medical treatment.

The main conclusion reached in the present article is that advance directives do not have a binding value for doctors in the second situation, a view that is not shared by a good number of scholars, especially in the Common Law tradition. I support that view on the basis of the need to preserve the patient’s right to choose her treatment, which is guaranteed by the so-called ‘deduced consent’.
Numerical modeling tensile failure behavior of concrete at mesoscale using extended finite element method
Authors: Du Xiuli , Jin Liu , Ma Guowei
Published: December 2013

Uniaxial tensile behavior of concrete plays an important role in the behavior of concrete specimens as well as structural elements. A 2D mesoscale analysis is performed to investigate the fracture process of concrete subjected to uniaxial tension by using the extended finite element method. The concrete considered includes the hydrated cement paste, aggregate particles, and the interfacial transition zones. In the cracked domain, to represent the discontinuities of a displacement field, the Heaviside jump function is added to the common finite element approximation for the local enrichment based on the framework of partition of unity. A user-defined subroutine for the extended finite element method is implemented with FORTRAN codes and embedded into the commercial software ABAQUS. The failure process of the L-specimen is studied, and good agreement is obtained between the experimental observation and the present simulation results. Based on the extended finite element method, the fracture process of the concrete under uniaxial tension is investigated subsequently. The influences of aggregate distribution, aggregate size, and aggregate shape as well as the strength of interfacial transition zone on the failure process and the global deformation process of concrete are analyzed. The crack initiation, propagation, and failure mode of concrete specimens are also discussed in detail. The simulation results indicate that the macroscopic mechanical properties of concrete are merely dependent on the aggregate distribution, but dependent on aggregate shape, size, and strength of the interfacial transition zone.
Acute Achilles Tendon Repair
Authors: Porter David A. , Barnes Adam F. , Rund Angela M. , Kaz Ari J. , Tyndall James A. , Millis Andrew A.
Published: December 2013

Background:

This is the first study to evaluate the effect of an acute bout of exercise on strength evaluation after Achilles tendon (AT) rupture and repair.

Methods:

Forty patients sustained an acute AT injury and met inclusion criteria for this study. At a minimum of 12 months after operative repair, patients were measured for (1) calf circumference, (2) bilateral isokinetic strength on a Cybex dynamometer before and after 30 minutes of walking at 70% maximal exertion, and (3) subjective evaluation by AAOS lower limb core and foot and ankle modules. Follow-up occurred at a mean of 32.4 ± 20.7 (range, 12-80) months after surgery, and patients were on average 44.4 ± 8.6 (range, 20-62) years old. One-tailed Student’s paired t tests analyzed significance for strength and fatigue between the involved and uninvolved ankle ( P < .05).

Results:

The calf circumference of the involved ankle was significantly smaller than the uninvolved ankle by 1.9 cm, or 4.7%. Plantarflexion deficits of the involved ankle ranged from 12% to 18% for peak torque ( P < .0001) and from 17% to 25% for work per repetition ( P < .0001), but both ankles fatigued at equal proportions as measured after exercise. Dorsiflexion strength of the involved ankle increased 6% to 11% for peak torque ( P = .070) and 1% to 25% for peak work ( P = .386). Reported AAOS lower limb core and foot and ankle scores averaged 99.8 and 96.0, respectively.

Conclusion:

After an AT rupture with repair, patients had less plantarflexion strength, and equal dorsiflexion strength in the operative leg compared to the uninvolved, normal leg. However, subjective results indicated near normal pain and function despite mild plantarflexion strength deficits. Dorsiflexion strength was normal after repair and remained normal even after an acute bout of exercise. Plantarflexion strength ratios postexercise remained similar to pre-exercise after acute exercise bouts. Athletes reported a “flat tire” feeling while running, which suggests a probable gait adjustment as cause for long-term plantarflexion strength deficits.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, cohort study.
Association of Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio With the Presence and Severity of Rheumatic Mitral Valve Stenosis
Authors: Polat Nihat , Yildiz Abdulkadir , Yuksel Murat , Bilik Mehmet Zihni , Aydin Mesut , Acet Halit , Akil Mehmet Ata , Oylumlu Mustafa , Kaya Hasan , Ertas Faruk , Cil Habib
Published: December 2013

The aim of the study is to investigate the association between the severity of rheumatic mitral valvular disease (RMVD) and the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR). A total of 227 patients were enrolled in the study and divided into 3 groups. Patients in group 1 had rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS), those in group 2 had RMVD without stenosis, and those in group 3 served as the control group. Group 1 was further divided into 2 groups, severe mitral stenosis (MS) and mild to moderate MS. The NLR was significantly higher in patients with severe MS when compared to those with mild to moderate MS ( P = .002) while lymphocyte count was lower ( P = .034). Using a cutoff level of 2.56, the NLR predicted severe RMS with a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 74%. In conclusion, as an inexpensive, simple, and accessible marker of inflammation, the NLR may be useful in predicting the presence and severity of MS in patients with RMVD.
Energy parameter control system of a polyharmonic bending and torsion testing machine
Authors: Kasprzyczak Leszek , Macha Ewald
Published: December 2013

This paper describes an electromechanical fatigue stand which was developed in Opole University of Technology in a research and development project financed by the Polish government. It shows the principle operation of the strength testing machine and functionality of its electronic and software control system. Different types of possible fatigue tests were presented, i.e. uniaxial and biaxial (bending and torsion), cyclic and polyharmonic. Equations were discussed concerning the strain density energy parameter in bending and torsional axes. The theory was implemented in LabVIEW software in the control system of the machine. The main aim of this paper is the presentation of fatigue of a machine control system for material tests under polyharmonic bending and torsion based on the recently defined energy fatigue damage parameter.
Using Pavement Management to Support Maintenance and Engineering Policy Decisions for Small and Mid-Sized Municipalities
Authors: Bryce James M. , Hosten Akyiaa M. , Priddy Lucy P. , Flintsch Gerardo W. , de León Izeppi Edgar , Nelson Wayne O.
Published: December 2013

This article presents the development of a pavement management system (PMS) for the town of Christiansburg, VA, and the effectiveness of pavement management applications as a decision support tool. Researchers worked with personnel from the town of Christiansburg to gather inventory data and past work history on all of the pavements within the town’s network. First, the network was defined by importing existing GIS data into commercially available PMS software. The expected pavement performance was then modeled using age data along with surface condition information gathered during a survey of the network. The surface condition, age, and performance data were all combined to develop several maintenance and rehabilitation scenarios for the pavement network. The results indicated that implementing the PMS provided a framework that significantly enhanced the ability of the municipality’s engineers to determine the optimal work types and work scenarios for long-term budgeting and planning.
Brief report: Emotional distress and recent stressful life events in long QT syndrome mutation carriers
Authors: Määttänen Ilmari , Jokela Markus , Pulkki-Råback Laura , Keltikangas-Järvinen Liisa , Swan Heikki , Toivonen Lauri , Merjonen Päivi , Hintsa Taina
Published: December 2013

To study emotional distress in symptomatic and asymptomatic long QT syndrome mutation carriers who had experienced a recent stressful life event. The participants were 209 symptomatic and 279 asymptomatic long QT syndrome mutation carriers. Emotional distress was assessed with the Cope questionnaire and stressful life events with the Social Readjustment Rating Scale. Symptomatic long QT syndrome mutation carriers with burdening recent stressful life events reported a higher emotional distress ( β = 0.35, p < 0.001), while the asymptomatic did not show such difference ( β = 0.13, p = 0.393). Symptomatic long QT syndrome mutation carriers who have experienced stressful life events recently report an increased emotional distress.
Early Coursework and College Experience Predictors of Persistence at a Hispanic-Serving Institution
Authors: Musoba Glenda Droogsma , Krichevskiy Dmitriy
Published: December 2013

Utilizing survival analysis, we examined two key first year courses, mathematics and English, and tested whether they were predictive for long-term student success as measured by persistence to graduation at a Hispanic-serving research university. While first math and first English courses were significant, SAT score was not for Hispanic and Black students. High school grade point average (GPA) was significant for Hispanic students but not for White or Black students.
Age at Sexual Debut and Subsequent Sexual Partnering in Adulthood Among American Men
Authors: Nield Jennifer , Magnusson Briana M. , Chapman Derek A. , Lapane Kate L.
Published: December 2013

This study examined the association of sexual debut and sexual partnering among men in the United States aged 21 to 44 years who participated in the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth. Age at debut was categorized as <15 years, 15 to 17 years, and ≥18 years to permit comparison with previous research. Sexual partnering was defined as being concurrent, serial monogamist, or monogamist in prior year. Eleven percent reported concurrent partnerships and 6% serial monogamy. Sexual debut <15 and 15 to 17 years was associated with concurrency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] < 15 = 2.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37-3.61; aOR 15-17 = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.05-2.74). Irrespective of age at sexual debut, interventions to reduce risky lifetime number of partners may prevent risky sexual behavior in early adulthood and later in life.
Repair of Acute Extensor Hallucis Longus Tendon Injuries
Authors: Wong Justin C. , Daniel Joseph N. , Raikin Steven M.
Published: December 2013

Background. Extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendon injuries may occur with lacerations sustained over the dorsum of the foot and lead to hallux dysfunction. Primary repair is performed when tendon edges are opposable; however, if a gap exists between tendon edges, then reconstruction with tendon graft or tendon transfer may be necessary to restore hallux alignment and dorsiflexion. We describe the surgical technique and report the results on a large series of patients having undergone primary repair or reconstruction of EHL tendon lacerations. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing EHL tendon repair or reconstruction between January 2005 and May 2012. Information on patient demographics, mechanism of injury, time to surgery, intraoperative findings, surgical repair or reconstruction technique, and postoperative function were collected. Patients were contacted by telephone for administration of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hallux questionnaires. Results. Twenty of 23 patients undergoing EHL tendon repair or reconstruction were available for review at an average clinical follow-up of 12 months (range 3-89 months) and an average telephone follow-up of 5.1 years (range 1-10.4 years). Primary EHL repair was performed in 80% of cases, with the remaining patients undergoing reconstruction with deep tendon transfer of the extensor digitorum longus tendon from the second toe. At final follow-up, 19 of 20 patients had active hallux dorsiflexion. The average FAAM Activities of Daily Living score was 94.2% (range 58.3% to 100%) and the average FAAM Sports score was 94.2% (range 65.6% to 100%). Conclusion. Primary repair or reconstruction of EHL tendon lacerations is a reliable procedure that restores hallux alignment and function in most patients as measured by the validated FAAM questionnaire. Deep tendon transfer from the extensor digitorum longus may be performed if EHL tendon edges are not opposable thus eliminating the need for allograft reconstruction.

Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV, Case series
Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) are required for effective T-cell expansion/survival during antiviral immunity in mice
Authors: Gentle Ian E. , Moelter Isabel , Lechler Nadja , Bambach Sarah , Vucikuja Smiljka , Häcker Georg , Aichele Peter
Published: December 2013

Key Points

IAPs are required for survival and expansion of activated T cells. IAP antagonists sensitize to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced cell death of activated T cells during viral infection.
Phylogenomics of fescue grass-derived fungal endophytes based on selected nuclear genes and the mitochondrial gene complement
Authors: Ekanayake Piyumi N , Rabinovich Maia , Guthridge Kathryn M , Spangenberg German C , Forster John W , Sawbridge Timothy I
Published: December 2013

Background

Tall fescue and meadow fescue are important as temperate pasture grasses, forming mutualistic associations with asexual Neotyphodium endophytes. The most frequently identified endophyte of Continental allohexaploid tall fescue is Neotyphodium coenophialum, while representatives of two other taxa (FaTG-2 and FaTG-3) have been described as colonising decaploid and Mediterranean hexaploid tall fescue, respectively. In addition, a recent study identified two other putatively novel endophyte taxa from Mediterranean hexaploid and decaploid tall fescue accessions, which were designated as uncharacterised Neotyphodium species (UNS) and FaTG-3-like respectively. In contrast, diploid meadow fescue mainly forms associations with the endophyte taxon Neotyphodium uncinatum, although a second endophyte taxon, termed N. siegelii, has also been described.

Results

Multiple copies of the translation elongation factor 1-a (tefA) and β-tubulin (tub2) ‘house-keeping’ genes, as well as the endophyte-specific perA gene, were identified for each fescue-derived endophyte taxon from whole genome sequence data. The assembled gene sequences were used to reconstruct evolutionary relationships between the heteroploid fescue-derived endophytes and putative ancestral sub-genomes derived from known sexual Epichloë species. In addition to the nuclear genome-derived genes, the complete mitochondrial genome (mt genome) sequence was obtained for each of the sequenced endophyte, and phylogenetic relationships between the mt genome protein coding gene complements were also reconstructed.

Conclusions

Complex and highly reticulated evolutionary relationships between Epichloë-Neotyphodium endophytes have been predicted on the basis of multiple nuclear genes and entire mitochondrial protein-coding gene complements, derived from independent assembly of whole genome sequence reads. The results are consistent with previous studies while also providing novel phylogenetic insights, particularly through inclusion of data from the endophyte lineage-specific gene, as well as affording evidence for the origin of cytoplasmic genomes. In particular, the results obtained from the present study imply the possible occurrence of at least two distinct E. typhina progenitors for heteropoid taxa, as well the ancestral contribution of an endophyte species distinct from (although related to) contemporary E. baconii to the extant hybrid species. Furthermore, the present study confirmed the distinct taxonomic status of the newly identified fescue endophyte taxa, FaTG-3-like and UNS, which are consequently proposed to be renamed FaTG4 and FaTG5, respectively.
Ceramides predict verbal memory performance in coronary artery disease patients undertaking exercise: a prospective cohort pilot study
Authors: Saleem Mahwesh , Ratnam Bandaru Veera V , Herrmann Nathan , Swardfager Walter , Mielke Michelle M , Oh Paul I , Shammi Prathiba , Kiss Alexander , Haughey Norman J , Rovinski Randal , Lanctôt Krista L
Published: December 2013

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with verbal memory decline, although deterioration may be mitigated in individuals undertaking exercise interventions. Ceramide sphingolipids, suggested to play a role in pathological neurodegeneration, have been associated with the development and progression of CAD but their relationship with cognitive response to exercise has not been assessed. In this study, concentrations of very long chain ceramides (C22:0 and C24:0) were assessed as predictors of changes in verbal memory performance over 1 year in subjects with CAD undertaking cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

Methods

Verbal memory was measured using the California Verbal Learning Test 2nd Ed. (CVLT-II), from which Z-scores were calculated based on age, gender and education matched norms. Baseline plasma C22:0 and C24:0 ceramide concentrations were measured from fasting blood samples using high performance liquid chromatography coupled electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Repeated measures general linear models were used to determine the association between baseline plasma ceramides and the change in verbal memory performance over 1 year of CR controlling for age and body mass index (BMI).

Results

In patients with CAD (n = 33, mean age = 62 ± 9 years, 84.8% male, years of education = 17 ± 3 years), higher baseline plasma C22:0 (F1, 29 = 5.30, p = 0.03) and C24:0 (F1, 29 = 4.04, p = 0.05) concentrations significantly predicted less improvement in verbal memory performance over 1 year of CR controlling for age and BMI.

Conclusions

Plasma ceramide concentrations should be further examined as potential predictors of cognitive response to exercise and worse cognitive outcomes in patients with CAD.

Trial registration

NCT01625754
Hyponatremia and anti-diuretic hormone in Legionnaires’ disease
Authors: Schuetz Philipp , Haubitz Sebastian , Christ-Crain Mirjam , Albrich Werner C , Zimmerli Werner , Mueller Beat ,   the ProHOSP Study Group
Published: December 2013

Background

Medical textbooks often list Legionnaires’ disease as a differential diagnosis of the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) (SIADH), but evidence supporting this association is largely lacking. We tested the hypothesis whether hyponatremia in patients with Legionnaires’ disease would be caused by increased CT-ProVasopressin.

Methods

We measured CT-ProVasopressin and sodium levels in a prospective cohort of 873 pneumonia patients from a previous multicentre study with 27 patients having positive antigen tests for Legionella pneumophila.

Results

Patients with Legionnaires’ disease more frequently had low sodium levels (Na < 130 mmol/L) (44.4% vs 8.2%, p < 0.01), but similar mean CT-ProVasopressin levels (pmol/l) (39.4 [±7] vs 51.2 [±2.7], p = 0.43) as compared to patients with pneumonia of other etiologies. In patients with Legionnaires’ disease, CT-ProVasopressin levels showed a positive correlation with sodium (r = 0.42, p < 0.05). Independent of pneumonia etiology, CT-ProVasopressin correlated significantly with the pneumonia severity index (r = 0.56, p < 0.05), ICU admission (adjusted odds ratio per decile, 95% CI) (1.6, 1.2 - 2.0), and 30-day-mortality (1.8, 1.3 - 2.4).

Conclusion

While Legionnaires’ disease was associated with hyponatremia, no concurrent increase in CT-ProVasopressin levels was found, which argues against elevated ADH levels as the causal pathway to hyponatremia. Rather, Vasopressin precursors were upregulated as response to stress in severe disease, which seems to overrule the osmoregulatory regulation of ADH.
Inducing articular cartilage phenotype in costochondral cells
Authors: Murphy Meghan K , DuRaine Grayson D , Reddi A Hari , Hu Jerry C , Athanasiou Kyriacos A
Published: December 2013

Introduction

Costochondral cells may be isolated with minimal donor site morbidity and are unaffected by pathologies of the diarthrodial joints. Identification of optimal exogenous stimuli will allow abundant and robust hyaline articular cartilage to be formed from this cell source.

Methods

In a three factor, two level full factorial design, the effects of hydrostatic pressure (HP), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and chondroitinase ABC (C-ABC), and all resulting combinations, were assessed in third passage expanded, redifferentiated costochondral cells. After 4 wks, the new cartilage was assessed for matrix content, superficial zone protein (SZP), and mechanical properties.

Results

Hyaline articular cartilage was generated, demonstrating the presence of type II collagen and SZP, and the absence of type I collagen. TGF-β1 upregulated collagen synthesis by 175% and glycosaminoglycan synthesis by 75%, resulting in a nearly 200% increase in tensile and compressive moduli. C-ABC significantly increased collagen content, and fibril density and diameter, leading to a 125% increase in tensile modulus. Hydrostatic pressure increased fibril diameter by 30% and tensile modulus by 45%. Combining TGF-β1 with C-ABC synergistically increased collagen content by 300% and tensile strength by 320%, over control. No significant differences were observed between C-ABC/TGF-β1 dual treatment and HP/C-ABC/TGF-β1.

Conclusions

Employing biochemical, biophysical, and mechanical stimuli generated robust hyaline articular cartilage with a tensile modulus of 2 MPa and a compressive instantaneous modulus of 650 kPa. Using expanded, redifferentiated costochondral cells in the self-assembling process allows for recapitulation of robust mechanical properties, and induced SZP expression, key characteristics of functional articular cartilage.
Post-operative acute kidney injury and five-year risk of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke among elective cardiac surgical patients: a cohort study
Authors: Hansen Malene Kærslund , Gammelager Henrik , Mikkelsen Martin Majlund , Hjortdal Vibeke Elisabeth , Layton J Bradley , Johnsen Søren Paaske , Christiansen Christian Fynbo
Published: December 2013

Introduction

The prognostic impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) on long-term clinical outcomes remains controversial. We examined the five-year risk of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke after elective cardiac surgery complicated by AKI.

Methods

We conducted a cohort study among adult elective cardiac surgical patients without severe chronic kidney disease and/or previous heart or renal transplant surgery using data from population-based registries. AKI was defined by the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria as a 50% increase in serum creatinine from baseline level, acute creatinine rise of ≥26.5 μmol/L (0.3 mg/dL) within 48 hours, and/or initiation of renal replacement therapy within five days after surgery. We followed patients from the fifth post-operative day until myocardial infarction, stroke or death within five years. Five-year risk was computed by the cumulative incidence method and compared with hazards ratios (HR) from a Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusting for propensity score.

Results

A total of 287 (27.9%) of 1,030 patients developed AKI. Five-year risk of death was 26.5% (95% CI: 21.2 to 32.0) among patients with AKI and 12.1% (95% CI: 10.0 to 14.7) among patients without AKI. The corresponding adjusted HR of death was 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1 to 2.2). Five-year risk of myocardial infarction was 5.0% (95% CI: 2.9 to 8.1) among patients with AKI and 3.3% (95% CI: 2.1 to 4.8) among patients without AKI. Five-year risk of stroke was 5.0% (95% CI: 2.8 to 7.9) among patients with AKI and 4.2% (95% CI: 2.9 to 5.8) among patients without AKI. Adjusted HRs were 1.5 (95% CI: 0.7 to 3.2) of myocardial infarction and 0.9 (95% CI: 0.5 to 1.8) of stroke.

Conclusions

AKI, within five days after elective cardiac surgery, was associated with increased five-year mortality and a statistically insignificant increased risk of myocardial infarction. No association was seen with the risk of stroke.
Raeppli: a whole-tissue labeling tool for live imaging of Drosophila development
Authors: Kanca Oguz , Caussinus Emmanuel , Denes Alexandru S. , Percival-Smith Anthony , Affolter Markus
Published: December 2013

Observation of how cells divide, grow, migrate and form different parts of a developing organism is crucial for understanding developmental programs. Here, we describe a multicolor imaging tool named Raeppli (after the colorful confetti used at the carnival in Basel). Raeppli allows whole-tissue labeling such that the descendants of the majority of cells in a single organ are labeled and can be followed simultaneously relative to one another. We tested the use of Raeppli in the Drosophila melanogaster wing imaginal disc. Induction of Raeppli during larval stages irreversibly labels >90% of the cells with one of four spectrally separable, bright fluorescent proteins with low bias of selection. To understand the global growth characteristics of imaginal discs better, we induced Raeppli at various stages of development, imaged multiple fixed discs at the end of their larval development and estimated the size of their pouch primordium at those developmental stages. We also imaged the same wing disc through the larval cuticle at different stages of its development; the clones marked by Raeppli provide landmarks that can be correlated between multiple time points. Finally, we used Raeppli for continuous live imaging of prepupal eversion of the wing disc.
Otx2 cell-autonomously determines dorsal mesencephalon versus cerebellum fate independently of isthmic organizing activity
Authors: Di Giovannantonio Luca G. , Di Salvio Michela , Omodei Daniela , Prakash Nilima , Wurst Wolfgang , Pierani Alessandra , Acampora Dario , Simeone Antonio
Published: December 2013

During embryonic development, the rostral neuroectoderm is regionalized into broad areas that are subsequently subdivided into progenitor compartments with specialized identity and fate. These events are controlled by signals emitted by organizing centers and interpreted by target progenitors, which activate superimposing waves of intrinsic factors restricting their identity and fate. The transcription factor Otx2 plays a crucial role in mesencephalic development by positioning the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB) and its organizing activity. Here, we investigated whether Otx2 is cell-autonomously required to control identity and fate of dorsal mesencephalic progenitors. With this aim, we have inactivated Otx2 in the Pax7+ dorsal mesencephalic domain, previously named m1, without affecting MHB integrity. We found that the Pax7+ m1 domain can be further subdivided into a dorsal Zic1+ m1a and a ventral Zic1- m1b sub-domain. Loss of Otx2 in the m1a (Pax7+ Zic1+) sub-domain impairs the identity and fate of progenitors, which undergo a full switch into a coordinated cerebellum differentiation program. By contrast, in the m1b sub-domain (Pax7+ Zic1-) Otx2 is prevalently required for post-mitotic transition of mesencephalic GABAergic precursors. Moreover, genetic cell fate, BrdU cell labeling and Otx2 conditional inactivation experiments indicate that in Otx2 mutants all ectopic cerebellar cell types, including external granule cell layer (EGL) precursors, originate from the m1a progenitor sub-domain and that reprogramming of mesencephalic precursors into EGL or cerebellar GABAergic progenitors depends on temporal sensitivity to Otx2 ablation. Together, these findings indicate that Otx2 intrinsically controls different aspects of dorsal mesencephalic neurogenesis. In this context, Otx2 is cell-autonomously required in the m1a sub-domain to suppress cerebellar fate and promote mesencephalic differentiation independently of the MHB organizing activity.
The human CFTR protein expressed in CHO cells activates an aquaporin 3 in a cAMP dependent pathway: study by Digital Holographic Microscopy
Authors: Jourdain Pascal , Becq Frédéric , Lengacher Sylvain , Boinot Clément , Magistretti Pierre J. , Marquet Pierre
Published: December 2013

The transmembrane water movements during cellular processes and their relation to ionic channel activity remain largely unknown. As an example, in epithelial cells it was proposed that the movement of water could be directly linked to CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator) activity through a cAMP-stimulated aqueous pore or dependent on aquaporin. Here, we used the Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) an interferometric technique to quantify in situ the transmembrane water fluxes during the activity of the epithelial chloride channel CFTR measured by patch-clamp and iodide efflux techniques. We showed that the water transport measured by DHM is fully inhibited by the selective CFTR blocker CFTRinh-172 and is absent in cells lacking CFTR. Of note, in cells expressing the mutated version of CFTR, F508del-CFTR, mimicking the most common genetic alteration encountered in cystic fibrosis, we also show that the water movement is profoundly altered but restored by pharmacological manipulation of F508del-CFTR defective trafficking. Importantly, whereas activation of this endogenous water channel required a cAMP-dependent stimulation of CFTR, activation of CFTR or F508del-CFTR by two cAMP-independent CFTR activators genistein and MPB91 failed to trigger water movements. Finally, using a specific small-interfering RNA (siRNA) against the endogenous aquaporin AQP3, the water transport accompanying the CFTR activity decreased. We conclude that water fluxes accompanying the CFTR activity are linked to AQP3 but not to a cAMP-stimulated aqueous pore in CFTR protein.
The extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin-R regulates neurogenesis during development and in the adult dentate gyrus of mice
Authors: Xu Jin-Chong , Xiao Mei-Fang , Jakovcevski Igor , Sivukhina Elena , Hargus Gunnar , Cui Yi-Fang , Irintchev Andrey , Schachner Melitta , Bernreuther Christian
Published: December 2013

Abnormal generation of inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid synthesizing (GABAergic) neurons is characteristic of neuropsychological disorders. We provide evidence that the extracellular matrix molecule tenascin-R (TNR) – being predominantly expressed, among neurons, by subpopulation of interneurons - plays a role in the generation of GABAergic and granule neurons in the murine dentate gyrus by regulating fate determination of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs). During development, absence of TNR in constitutively TNR-deficient (TNR−/−) mice results in increased numbers of dentate gyrus GABAergic neurons, being associated with decreased expression of its receptor β1 integrin, increased activation of p38 MAPK, and increased expression of the GABAergic specification gene ASCL1. Postnatally, increased GABAergic input to adult hippocampal NSCs in TNR−/− mice is associated not only with increased numbers of GABAergic and, particularly, parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons, as seen during development, but also with increased numbers of granule neurons, thus contributing to the increased differentiation of NSCs into granule cells. These findings indicate the importance of TNR in the regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis and suggest that TNR acts through distinct direct and indirect mechanisms during development and in the adult.