bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First Report of Sclerotium rolfsii in Greater Plantain in Paraná, Brazil
Authors: Dias-Arieira C. R. , Severino J. J. , Abe V. H. F. , Silva C. N. , Tessmann D. J.
Published: January 2014

Greater plantain or common plantain (Plantago major L.) is an herbaceous plant native to most of Europe, northern and central Asia, and it has adapted well to tropical regions where it is used as a medicinal plant. Between November 2011 and April 2012, greater plantains cultivated in the Medicinal Plant Garden at the Umuarama Advanced Campus of the State University of Maringa (UEM-CAU) suddenly died off. A visual examination revealed the presence of white mycelium and sclerotia on the lower third of the plant. These sclerotia were collected and deinfested by immersion in 70% alcohol and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for 45 s, and in sterilized water for 1 min. Next, the sclerotia were placed on 10 petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) culture medium and incubated at 29°C. After 7 days, the culture medium was entirely coated with a cottony white mycelial growth and, 15 days after isolation, sclerotia began to form. Healthy seedlings were transplanted individually into pots containing autoclaved soil (120°C/2 h). After 10 days, eight seedlings were inoculated with 8-mm mycelia disks deposited on the base of the plant, and eight seedlings inoculated with fungus-free PDA disks (control). The plants were irrigated and the pots placed in with plastic bags and kept at an average temperature of 28°C. Three days after inoculation, we observed a cottony white mycelial growth and symptoms of rot on the plants. The plastic bags were then removed and the plants kept under the same temperature, relative humidity of 80% and 12 h of light. Seven days after inoculation, the plants treated with the fungus died, whereas the plants treated with PDA developed normally. The fungus was re-isolated from the symptomatic plants and slides evaluated under a light microscope, revealing that the mycelium was thick, septate, and hyaline. The sclerotia formed were spherical, initially white or light brown, becoming dark brown or black, with diameters ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mm. The fungus was subjected to DNA analysis using ribosomal region oligonucleotides ITS4 (5′-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATAT-3′) and ITS5 (5′-GGAAGTAAAAGTCGTAACAAGG-3′) (1) to amplify the target region. The segment including the 5.8S gene and rDNa regions ITS1 and ITS2 was 630 bp long. DNA analysis revealed that it was 99% identical to Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) Tu and Kimbr (anamorph: S. rolfsii) (GenBank Accession No. HM222638.1). The isolate was deposited in the fungus collection at the UEM-CAU Phytopathology Laboratory under code F-Sr-01-UMU.

Reference: (1) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications, M. A. Innis et al., eds. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990.
α-fur, an antisense RNA gene to fur in the extreme acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
Authors: Lefimil C. , Jedlicki E. , Holmes D. S.
Published: January 2014

A large non-coding RNA, termed α-Fur, of ~1000 nt has been detected in the extreme acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans encoded on the antisense strand to the iron-responsive master regulator fur (ferric uptake regulator) gene. A promoter for α-fur was predicted bioinformatically and validated using gene fusion experiments. The promoter is situated within the coding region and in the same sense as proB, potentially encoding a glutamate 5-kinase. The 3′ termination site of the α-fur transcript was determined by 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends to lie 7 nt downstream of the start of transcription of fur. Thus, α-fur is antisense to the complete coding region of fur, including its predicted ribosome-binding site. The genetic context of α-fur is conserved in several members of the genus Acidithiobacillus but not in all acidophiles, indicating that it is monophyletic but not niche specific. It is hypothesized that α-Fur regulates the cellular level of Fur. This is the fourth example of an antisense RNA to fur, although it is the first in an extreme acidophile, and underscores the growing importance of cis-encoded non-coding RNAs as potential regulators involved in the microbial iron-responsive stimulon.
Mechanism of fibroblast inflammatory responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase
Authors: Azghani Ali O. , Neal Kourtney , Idell Steven , Amaro Rodolfo , Baker Jason W. , Omri Abdelwahab , Pendurthi Usha R.
Published: January 2014

Receptor tyrosine kinases, including the epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), are able to activate the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) via several adaptor proteins and protein kinases such as Raf. EGFR can be activated by a variety of extracellular stimuli including neutrophil elastase, but we are aware of no report as to whether Pseudomonas aeruginosa produced elastase (PE) could elicit such signalling through EGFR activation. We sought to test the inference that PE modulates inflammatory responses in human lung fibroblasts and that the process occurs by activation of the EGFR/MAPK pathways. We utilized IL-8 cytokine expression as a pathway-specific end point measure of the fibroblast inflammatory response to PE. Western blot analysis was performed to detect phosphorylation of EGFR and signal transduction intermediates. Northern blot, real-time PCR, and ELISA methods were utilized to determine cytokine gene expression levels. We found that PE induces phosphorylation of the EGFR and the extracellular signal-regulated proteins (ERK1/2) of the MAPK pathway, and nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Furthermore, enzymically active PE enhances IL-8 mRNA and protein secretion. Pretreatment of the cells with specific inhibitors of EGFR, MAPK kinase and NF-κB markedly attenuated the PE-induced signal proteins phosphorylation and IL-8 gene expression and protein secretion. Collectively, the data show that PE produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa can modulate lung inflammation by exploiting the EGFR/ERK signalling cascades and enhancing IL-8 production in the lungs via NF-κB activation.
Power-law Null Model for Bystander Mutations in Cancer
Authors: Loohuis Loes Olde , Witzel Andreas , Mishra Bud
Published: January 2014

In this paper we study Copy Number Variation (CNV) data. The underlying process generating CNV segments is generally assumed to be memory-less, giving rise to an exponential distribution of segment lengths. In this paper, we provide evidence from cancer patient data, which suggests thatthis generative model is too simplistic, and thatsegment lengths follow a power-law distribution instead. We conjecture a simple preferential attachment generative model that provides the basis for the observed power-law distribution. We then show how an existing statistical method for detecting cancer driver genes can be improved by incorporating the power-law distribution in the null model.
Algorithms in Stringomics (I): Pattern-Matching against “Stringomes”
Authors: Ferragina Paolo , Mishra Bud
Published: January 2014

This paper reports an initial design of new data-structures that generalizes the idea of pattern-matching in stringology, from its traditional usage in an (unstructured) set of strings to the arena of a well-structured family of strings. In particular, the object of interest is a family of strings composed of blocks/classes of highly similar “stringlets,” and thus mimic a population of genomes made by concatenating haplotype-blocks, further constrained by haplotype-phasing. Such a family of strings, which we dub “stringomes,” is formalized in terms of a multi-partite directed acyclic graph with a source and a sink. The most interesting property of stringomes is probably the fact that they can be represented efficiently with compression up to theirk-th order empirical entropy, while ensuring that the compression does not hinder the pattern-matching counting and reporting queries – either internal to a block or spanning two (or a few constant) adjacent blocks. The solutions proposed here have immediate applications to next-generation sequencing technologies, base-calling, expression profiling, variant-calling, population studies, onco-genomics, cyber security trace analysis and text retrieval.
N-(3-Chloro-1,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)-N-propionylpropionamide
Authors: Idris Nabil , Butcher Ray J. , Bakare Oladapo
Published: January 2014

In the title molecule, C16H14ClNO4, the four essentially planar atoms of the imide group [r.m.s. deviation = 0.0286 (11) Å] form a dihedral angle of 77.36 (13)° with the naphthoquinone group [maximun deviation = 0.111 (2) Å for the carbonyl O atom in the naphthalene 1-position] and the two imide carbonyl groups are orientedantiwith respect to each other. In the crystal, molecules are connected by weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds, as well as π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.888 (3) Å], forming a three-dimensional network.
1-[6-(1H-Indol-1-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde
Authors: Ramathilagam C. , Umarani P. R. , Venkatesan N. , Rajakumar P. , Gunasekaran B. , Manivannan V.
Published: January 2014

In the title compound, C22H15N3O, the dihedral angle between the two indole units is 33.72 (3)°. The molecular structure features a weak intramolecular C—H...N interaction. In the crystal, weak C—H...O and C—H...π interactions, forming a two-dimensional network parallel to thebcplane.
Diaqua{μ2-N,N′-bis[(cyclohexanylidene)amino]oxamide}bis(triphenylphosphane)silver(I) dinitrate
Authors: Nimthong Ruthairat , Thepsena Nattakunya , Puetpaiboon Walailak , Wattanakanjana Yupa
Published: January 2014

The dinuclear title compound, [Ag2(C14H22N4O2)(C18H15P)2(H2O)2](NO3)2, lies across an inversion center and consists of two [Ag(H2O)(PPh3)] units bridged by a bis(cyclohexanone)oxalydihydrazone ligand. The charge-balance is supplied by two nitrate anions. The symmetry-unique AgIion is in a distorted tetrahedral geometry coordinated by a P atom from a triphenylphosphane ligand, an O atom from a water molecule and a bis(cyclohexanone)oxalydihydrazone ligand bidentate chelating through the O atom and one of N atoms. In the crystal, O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the components, forming chains along theb-axis direction. These chains are connected through weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of a two-dimensional supramolecular network parallel to (001).
Do Municipal Mergers Improve Fiscal Outcomes?
Authors: Hansen Sune Welling , Houlberg Kurt , Pedersen Lene Holm
Published: January 2014

Improved fiscal management is a frequent justification for promoting boundary consolidations. However, whether or not this is actually the case is rarely placed under rigorous empirical scrutiny. Hence, this article investigates if fiscal outcomes are improved when municipalities are merged. The basic argument is that the conceptualisation of fiscal management in political science is often too narrow as it focuses on the budget and pays hardly any attention to balances in the final accounts and debts – elements of management which are central to policy making. On this background, the causal relationship between municipal mergers and fiscal outcomes is analysed. Measured on the balance between revenues and expenses, liquid assets and debts, municipal mergers improve the fiscal outcomes of the municipalities in a five‐year perspective, although the pre‐reform effects tend to be negative. For liquidity and debt, however, the improvement only entails re‐establishing the levels prior to the reform. The testing ground is the recent mergers of Danish municipalities, which, it is argued, constitute a quasi‐experiment. This forms the basis of a Difference‐in‐Difference design, allowing the alleviation of endogeneity problems and enabling causal inference. The analysis is based on administrative data from the Danish municipalities in the period 2003–11.
Ties That Bind? Effects of Inter‐level Mobility on MP Attitude to Local Government in Two Scandinavian Countries
Authors: Aars Jacob
Published: January 2014

The aim of this article is to examine to what degree the movement of elected representatives from local to central level affects the outlook of the ones who move ‘upwards’. Two Scandinavian countries – Sweden and Norway – serve as comparative cases. In both countries a high share of members of parliament (MPs) has served as local councillors before being elected to parliament. According to conventional wisdom, this high share of inter‐level mobility would strengthen ties between government tiers. Hence, parliamentarians with local political background are assumed to have greater confidence in the capacities of local government. It turns out that Sweden corresponds to this assumption, while the Norwegian results to some extent contradict the same hypothesis. In the Norwegian case, MPs who previously held office as local councillors are actually more sceptical towards local government than MPs with no experience from local politics. In the last section of the article a number of explanations for the disparate findings are being discussed. For one, it appears to be a higher level of controversy related to local government in Norway than in Sweden. In turn, this accounts for some of the scepticism being expressed by the very MPs who themselves have held local office. Second, greater financial dependency in the Norwegian case creates incentives for strategic action which, in turn, might undermine confidence between levels of government. These are strategies that are harder to conceal vis‐à‐vis MPs who have themselves gained experience from local politics.
Association between magnesium concentration and HbA1c in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (儿童与青少年1型糖尿病患者的镁浓度与HbA1c之间的关系)
Authors: Galli‐Tsinopoulou Assimina , Maggana Ioanna , Kyrgios Ioannis , Mouzaki Konstantina , Grammatikopoulou Maria G. , Stylianou Charilaos , Karavanaki Kyriaki
Published: January 2014

Background

Magnesium levels may be decreased in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), influencing disease control. Relevant studies concern mainly adults and there are few data from the pediatric population. The aim of the present study was to evaluate magnesium levels and examine their possible association with glycemic control in youths with T1DM.

Methods

In all, 138 children and adolescents with T1DM aged between 1.9 and 20.3 years were recruited to the study. Using a cross‐sectional design, we measured anthropometric parameters, HbA1c, serum magnesium, ionized and total calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and urinary albumin (UA). Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), based on serum creatinine concentrations, was also calculated.

Results

Lower levels of magnesium were found in subjects with poor versus good glycemic control (0.79 ± 0.09 vs 0.82 ± 0.09 mmol/L, respectively; P = 0.002). Serum magnesium levels were negatively correlated with HbA1c (P < 0.001) and positively correlated with UA, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium levels (P < 0.05). After adjustment for confounding factors, only magnesium levels remained significantly associated with HbA1c (adjusted r2 = 0.172; P = 0.004). The odds ratio for poor glycemic control, indicated by HbA1c >7.5%, between the highest and lowest magnesium concentration quartiles was 0.190 and amounted to a decrease of 1.7% in the HbA1c level.

Conclusions

The present study shows that low serum magnesium levels in children and adolescents with T1DM are associated with an increased risk of poor glycemic control, potentially contributing to the early development of cardiovascular complications.
Association between neurosyphilis and diabetes mellitus: Resurgence of an old problem 神经梅毒与糖尿病的关系：“旧事”再现
Authors: Yang Tianci , Tong Manli , Xi Ya , Guo Xiaojing , Chen Yuyan , Zhang Yafeng , Zhang Qiao , Liu Long , Chen Fuyi , Huang Songjie , Zhang Huilin , Zheng Weihong , Lin Lirong , Liu Lili , Jiang Jie
Published: January 2014

Background

Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, is commonly referred to as the “great imitator” because of its wide‐ranging clinical presentations. Recently, we noticed that patients with neurosyphilis (NS) seemed to be more susceptible to complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). This is an interesting phenomenon, but it also puzzles clinicians because of scant knowledge about this situation.

Methods

A case‐control study was conducted to explore the association between NS and DM. Clinical data and the prevalence of DM among NS patients, patients with syphilis but not NS (syphilis/non‐NS), non‐syphilis patients, and healthy controls were analyzed. In addition, we explored the time of occurrence of NS and DM.

Results

Fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels in NS patients were significantly higher than in syphilis/non‐NS patients, non‐syphilis patients, and healthy controls (P < 0.05). In all, 45 of 149 NS patients (30.2%) were diagnosed with DM. The prevalence of DM in NS patients was significantly higher than in the other three groups (P < 0.05). There was no relationship between the prevalence of DM and the type of NS (e.g. asymptomatic NS, syphilitic meningitis, meningovascular NS, general paresis, and tabes dosalis). In the study population, 57.8% of NS patients were diagnosed with DM at the same time, whereas 80.0% were diagnosed with DM within 5 years of their diagnosis of NS.

Conclusions

Based on the results of the present study, DM is not merely an occasional chance occurrence in NS patients. There is an association between NS and DM.
Age adjustment of diabetes prevalence: Use of 2010 US Census data 根据年龄调整的糖尿病患病率：使用美国2010年人口普查数据
Authors: Li Chaoyang , Ford Earl S. , Zhao Guixiang , Wen Xiao‐Jun , Gotway Carol A.
Published: January 2014

Background

There is a growing interest in using the 2010 US Census data for age adjustment after the Census data are officially released. This report discusses the rationale, procedures, demonstrations, and caveats of age adjustment using the 2010 US Census data.

Methods

Empirical data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the 2010 US Census age composition were used in demonstrations of computing the age‐adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes by race/ethnicity, across various geographic regions, and over time.

Results

The use of the 2010 US Census data yielded higher age‐adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes than using the 2000 projected US population data. The differences persisted across geographic regions, among racial/ethnic groups, and over time. Sixteen age compositions were generated to facilitate the use of the 2010 Census data in age adjustment. The SAS survey procedures and SUDAAN software programs yielded similar age‐adjusted prevalence estimates of diagnosed diabetes.

Conclusions

Using the 2010 US Census data tends to yield a higher age‐adjusted measure than using the 2000 projected US population data. Consistent use of a standard population and age composition is recommended once they are chosen for age adjustment.
Case Study: Community Nursing Care Plan for an Elderly Patient With Urinary Incontinence and Social Interaction Problems After Prostatectomy
Authors: Brito‐Brito Pedro Ruymán , Oter‐Quintana Cristina , Martín‐García Ángel , Alcolea‐Cosín Mª Teresa , Martín‐Iglesias Susana , Fernández‐Gutiérrez Domingo Ángel
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show nursing procedures and standardized languages in care provided by community nurses to a patient affected by urinary incontinence after a prostatectomy.

Data Sources

Data were extracted from patient interviews during various consultations with the community nurse, and from electronic health records. The care plan was based on available scientific evidence.

Data Synthesis

Clinical reasoning was used to select NANDA‐I diagnoses, nursing outcomes classification, and nursing interventions classification.

Conclusions

Urinary incontinence problems have a physical, psychological, and social development impact on people who suffer from this condition.

Objetivo

Mostrar el uso del proceso enfermero y lenguajes estandarizados en la atención prestada por la enfermera comunitaria a un paciente con incontinencia urinaria tras prostatectomía.

Fuentes de datos

Los datos procedieron de las entrevistas con el paciente, durante las sucesivas consultas con la enfermera comunitaria, y de la historia clínica electrónica. Para planificar los cuidados se partió de la evidencia científica disponible.

Análisis de los datos

Se utilizó el razonamiento clínico para seleccionar los diagnósticos NANDA‐I, resultados e intervenciones enfermeras.

Conclusiones

La incontinencia urinaria impacta sobre la esfera física, psicológica y social de las personas que la sufren.
Sexuality and androgens in women with cyclical mood changes and pre‐menstrual syndrome
Authors: Ekholm Ulla‐Britt , Turkmen Sahruh , Hammarbäck Stefan , Bäckström Torbjörn
Published: January 2014

Objective

To study the relation between androgen levels and sexual interest in women with different kinds of pre‐menstrual syndrome (PMS).

Design

Causal comparative study.

Setting

Swedish university hospital outpatient clinic.

Population

Seventy women with cyclical mood changes.

Methods

Pre‐menstrual syndrome patients were divided into those with and those without preovulatory symptoms. In 37 women, early follicular phase blood samples were analyzed for androstenedione, testosterone, sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG), progesterone and estradiol, using radioimmunoassay. The participants were divided into subgroups depending on whether the levels of androgens and SHBG were above or below the median. In 33 of them it was possible to compare the cyclicity in sexual parameters between these subgroups.

Main outcome measures

Daily ratings of sexual parameters and hormonal analyses.

Results

Plasma testosterone was significantly lower and SHBG significantly higher in women with luteal phase symptoms compared with those with additional follicular phase symptoms. ANOVA showed significant cyclicity for all sexual parameters consistently. For the “sexual feelings” and “pleasant sexual thoughts” parameters, cyclicity was the same whether or not the hormonal levels were “high” or “low.”

Conclusions

The “Pure‐PMS” group and the “pre‐menstrual‐exacerbation” groups differed in their androgen and SHBG levels. Women suffering from PMS with higher neuroticism Eysenck Personality Inventory scores or “low” levels of androgens and SHBG would be more likely to have a decreased sexual interest pre‐menstrually than would women with a high level.
Differential expression of antimicrobial polypeptides in cord blood samples of preterm and term infants
Authors: Faust Kirstin , Göpel Wolfgang , Moser Katja , Temole Gloriette , Bartels Maren , Wieg Christian , Tröger Birte , Herting Egbert , Härtel Christoph
Published: January 2014

Aim

To determine levels of antimicrobial polypeptides (AMP) in cord blood of term and preterm neonates and to investigate influencing factors.

Methods

In a single‐centre study, n = 139 preterm infants and n = 36 term infants were included. AMP levels were analysed in supernatants of whole cord blood cultures with a standardised concentration of 5 × 106 white blood cells/mL via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Lactoferrin, human neutrophil peptides (HNP) 1–3 and bacterial permeability‐increasing protein (BPI) expression in cord blood of preterm infants were influenced by the cause of preterm delivery, that is increased levels in infants with clinical amniotic infection. AMP levels also weakly correlated with white blood cell and neutrophil count at birth. In the whole cohort, no association between gestational age or birthweight with AMP levels was found. In the subgroup of infants without clinical amniotic infection (n = 77 preterm infants, n = 36 healthy term infants), we noted a weak correlation between gestational age and lactoferrin, calprotectin and HNP1‐3 levels. In addition to that, we observed higher levels of lactoferrin and HNP1‐3 in large‐for‐gestational‐age infants.

Conclusion

Our study confirms that several factors influence cord blood AMP levels which underlines the difficulties of using AMP levels as biomarkers of immunological response.
Orbit Rehabilitation with Extraoral Implants: Impact of Radiotherapy
Authors: Guedes Reinaldo , de Mello Monica Marcelino Pires , de Oliveira Joaquim Augusto Piras , Pecorari Vanessa Arias , Abrahão Márcio , Nannmark Ulf , Dib Luciano Lauria
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The aim of the study was to compare the success rates of osseointegration among irradiated and nonirradiated cases submitted to implant placement for anchorage of orbit prostheses from 2003 to 2011.

Materials and Methods

Charts of 45 consecutive patients were analyzed, 31 men and 14 women, and they were divided in two groups, considering previous irradiation therapy. Nonirradiated group had 33 patients, and irradiated group had 12 patients. In total, 138 implants were installed, 42 (30.4%) in previously irradiated bone.

Results

The overall implant survival rate was 96.4% with a success rate of 99.0% among the nonirradiated patients and 90.5% among the irradiated patients (p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Results showed that irradiated sites had a worse prognosis related to success of osseointegration, although the 90.5% survival rate in this group indicates that implant placement is a feasible alternative to anchor orbit prostheses considering the benefits that this technique offers to patients.
Variability in Particle Degradation of Four Commonly Employed Dental Bone Grafts
Authors: Yang Shuang , Lan Liao , Miron Richard J. , Wei Lingfei , Zhang Meng , Zhang Yufeng
Published: January 2014

Background

Replacement bone grafting materials are used clinically for a variety of clinical procedures to augment and replace lost or missing bone. Little information is available regarding their degradation properties.

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to investigate the degradation rate and modes of degradation of four commonly used bone grafting materials.

Materials and Methods

A natural bone mineral (NBM) of bovine origin,NBMin combination with enamel matrix derivative (EMD),LifeNet demineralized freeze‐dried bone allograft (DFDBA), andOsteotechDFDBAwere analyzed for particle degradation over time in 3 mm femur defects created in female Wistar rats. At 2, 4, and 8 weeks postimplantation, femur defects were assigned to histological analysis. Hematoxylin and eosin, SafraninO, tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), and matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) staining were performed to determine the rate of particle degradation, number of osteoclasts around particles, and intensity and localization ofTRAP,RANKL, andMMP‐2 staining.

Results

In the present study,NBMparticles demonstrated little signs of degradation. The combination ofNBMwithEMDsignificantly increased the number of osteoclasts aroundNBMparticles and increased expression ofRANKLandMMP‐2 specifically around particle surface. Only minor resorption was observed. BothDFDBAparticles showed much faster degradation of particles. Interestingly, fewer osteoclasts were found on their surface when compared withNBMparticles, specifically onOsteotechDFDBAparticles, suggesting an alternative mode of degradation.OsteotechDFDBAparticles demonstrated significantly faster degradation when compared with all other bone grafts. No obvious increase inTRAP,RANKL, orMMP2 was observed to validate this fast rate of degradation.

Conclusions

The results from the present study demonstrate a wide range of particle degradation between various commonly commercially available bone grafts. Further research to determine the precise mechanisms that influence particle degradation is necessary.
Marginal bone loss as success criterion in implant dentistry: beyond 2 mm
Authors: Galindo‐Moreno Pablo , León‐Cano Ana , Ortega‐Oller Inmaculada , Monje Alberto , O′Valle Francisco , Catena Andrés
Published: January 2014

Aim

The aim of this study was to analyze marginal bone loss (MBL) rates around implants to establish the difference between physiological bone loss and bone loss due to peri‐implantitis.

Materials and methods

Five hundred and eight implants were placed in the posterior maxilla in 208 patients. Data were gathered on age, gender, bone substratum (grafted or pristine), prosthetic connection, smoking and alcohol habits, and previous periodontitis.MBLwas radiographically analyzed in three time frames (5 months post‐surgery and at 6 and 18 months post‐loading). Nonparametric receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis and mixed linear model analysis were used to determine whether implants could be classified as high or low bone loser type (BLT) and to establish the influence of this factor onMBLrates.

Results

Marginal bone loss rates were significantly affected byBLT, connection type, bone substratum, and smoking. Bone loss rates at 18 months were associated with initial bone loss rates: 96% of implants with anMBLof >2 mm at 18 months had lost 0.44 mm or more at 6 months post‐loading.

Conclusion

Implants with increasedMBLrates at early stages (healing and immediate post‐loading periods) are likely to reachMBLvalues that compromise their final outcome. Initial (healing, immediate post‐loading)MBLrates around an implant of more than 0.44 mm/year are an indication of peri‐implant bone loss progression.
Similarity between contemporary vegetation and plant remains in the surface sediment in Mediterranean lakes
Authors: Levİ Etİ E. , Çakıroğlu Ayşe İ. , Bucak Tuba , Odgaard Bent V. , Davidson Thomas A. , Jeppesen Erik , Beklİoğlu Meryem
Published: January 2014

Aquatic macrophytes are commonly used to assess the ecological condition of lakes. Little is known, however, about long‐term macrophyte dynamics in shallow lakes. In the absence of historical data, the remains of macrophytes (fruits, seeds and vegetative fragments) found in lake sediments may provide just such information. In order to interpret confidently past change in aquatic plant communities from their sedimentary remains, it is vital to establish the similarity between the contemporary and fossil assemblages.

We investigated the relationship between present lake vegetation and plant macrophyte remains in surface sediments. Thirty‐five shallow lakes, spanning around six degrees of latitude and mostly located in the semi‐arid Mediterranean climatic zone of Turkey, were sampled for aquatic plants, surface sediment plant remains and a range of other key environmental variables.

Around 50% of the taxa recorded in the modern vegetation were represented in the sediment. Sedimentary macrofossils of some taxa were under‐ or over‐represented relative to their frequency in the modern vegetation, for example Potamogeton spp. and Characeae, respectively. Despite this disparity, there was good agreement between the assemblage composition of the modern and sedimentary samples. Furthermore, conductivity and trophic state (as indicated by total nitrogen, total phosphorus and chlorophyll‐a) were the environmental variables most clearly correlated with both the contemporary and macrofossil assemblages in these lakes.

We conclude that aquatic macrophyte macrofossils can be used as reliable indicators of ecological status and to determine qualitative changes in assemblages of aquatic plants consequent to environmental change (e.g. in lake trophic status and/or salinity). This may be especially useful for lakes in arid and semi‐arid Mediterranean regions, which are particularly vulnerable to hydrological constraints under climate change.
Basophils as a primary inducer of the T helper type 2 immunity in ovalbumin‐induced allergic airway inflammation
Authors: Zhong Wenwei , Su Wen , Zhang Yanjie , Liu Qi , Wu Jinhong , Di Caixia , Zhang Zili , Xia Zhenwei
Published: January 2014

Antigen‐induced allergic airway inflammation is mediated by T helper type 2 (Th2) cells and their cytokines, but the mechanism that initiates the Th2 immunity is not fully understood. Recent studies show that basophils play important roles in initiating Th2 immunity in some inflammatory models. Here we explored the role of basophils in ovalbumin (OVA) ‐induced airway allergic inflammation in BALB/c mice. We found that OVA sensitization and challenge resulted in a significant increase in the amount of basophils in blood and lung, along with the up‐regulation of activation marker of CD200R. However, depletion of basophils with MAR‐1 or Ba103 antibody attenuated airway inflammation, represented by the significantly decreased amount of the Th2 subset in spleen and draining lymph nodes, interlukin‐4 level in lung and OVA‐special immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels in serum. On the other hand, adoptive transfer of basophils from OVA‐challenged lung tissue to naive BALB/c mice provoked the Th2 immune response. In addition, pulmonary basophils from OVA‐challenged mice were able to uptake DQ‐OVA and express MHC class II molecules and CD40 in vivo, as well as to release interleukin‐4 following stimulation by IgE–antigen complexes and promote Th2 polarization in vitro. These findings demonstrate that basophils may participate in Th2 immune responses in antigen‐induced allergic airway inflammation and that they do so through facilitating antigen presentation and providing interleukin‐4.
The trade union response to agency labour in Sweden
Authors: Håkansson Kristina , Isidorsson Tommy
Published: January 2014

This article explores the possibilities for temporary agency workers to gain union representation at workplace level. Using Heery's classification of four different union responses to agency work—Exclusion, Regulation, Replacement and Engagement—we found that, even though the union wishes to represent agency workers, there are institutional conditions obstructing them from succeeding.
Do cultural differences explain differences in attitudes towards unions? Culture and attitudes towards unions among call centre workers in Britain and India
Authors: Sarkar Santanu , Charlwood Andy
Published: January 2014

This article adds to the literature on worker attitudes towards unions by investigating the impact of cultural attitudes and the call centre labour process on union attitudes among call centre workers in Britain and India. It is hypothesised that workers with egalitarian and collectivist cultural attitudes will be more likely to have pro‐union attitudes than other workers, although if the impact of cultural attitudes is mediated by history and institutions, it might be expected that this relationship is stronger for British than Indian workers. Conversely, if union attitudes are largely a function of the call centre labour process, we would expect union attitudes to be similar among workers in both countries. Our results only partially support our hypotheses. Collectivist attitudes are only weakly related to union attitudes among the British sample but are more strongly related in the Indian sample. There are significant differences between union attitudes among our British and Indian samples. The article concludes that relationship between cultural attitudes and union attitudes are heavily dependent on institutional context. Cultural attitudes are unlikely to be either a constraint or a facilitator of union efforts to organise workers.
Control of Stress Concentration in Surface‐Mounted Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Subjected to Bending
Authors: Chen Kun‐Yen , Huang Chang‐Wei , Wu Marklaw , Wei Wen‐Cheng J. , Hsueh Chun‐Hway
Published: January 2014

Failure of surface‐mounted multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) results mainly from bending of the printed circuit board during handling and applications. Cracking of MLCC normally initiates at the junction of the bottom end of termination and the dielectric ceramics and it would cut through dielectric ceramics and electrodes to result in the capacitance loss and failure of MLCC. The purpose of this study was to mitigate the stress concentration and to shift the stress concentration location toward the side end of MLCC to minimize the number of electrodes cut by cracking. To achieve this, effects of the stiffness and the thickness of the solder and the size of MLCC on the location of crack initiation and the fracture load were examined. Nanoindentation was performed to obtain the mechanical properties of the constituents of the system. Finite element analyses were conducted to simulate the stress field in the surface‐mounted MLCC subjected to bending and the results were compared to the observed crack initiation locations and the fracture load. The outcome would provide guidelines in mounting and designing of MLCCs to enhance its reliability and lifetime.
Direct Characterizing of Densification Mechanisms during Spark Plasma Sintering
Authors: Chakravarty Dibyendu , Chokshi Atul H
Published: January 2014

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) is a convenient and rapid means of producing dense ceramic compacts. However, the mechanisms responsible for rapid densification have not been identified satisfactorily, with different studies using an indirect approach yielding varied values for the densification parameters. This study involved SPS in high purity nanocrystalline alumina with temperatures ranging from 1173 to 1423 K and stresses from 25 to 100 MPa. A direct approach, with analyses at a constant density, revealed a stress exponent of ~1 and an inverse grain size dependence of ~3, consistent with Coble creep process. Whereas the direct approach gives a stress exponent of ~1, the indirect approach used previously gives stress exponents ranging from ~2.2 to 3.5 with the same data, thereby revealing potentially spurious values of the densification parameters from conventional indirect approaches to characterizing densification. The rapid densification during SPS is related to the finer grain sizes retained with the rapid heating rates and the imposed stress that enhances the driving force for densification.
Northernmost record of a whale shark Rhincodon typus from the Sea of Okhotsk
Authors: Tomita T. , Kawai T. , Matsubara H. , Kobayashi M. , Katakura S.
Published: January 2014

The whale shark Rhincodon typus is the world's largest fish and it occurs in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate waters. Here, the northernmost record of R. typus is reported, when it was found in the Sea of Okhotsk for the first time. This occurrence can be explained by the unusually high sea surface temperature during the summer of 2012.
THE ECONOMICS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: A FIRM‐LEVEL PERSPECTIVE SURVEY
Authors: Crifo Patricia , Forget Vanina D.
Published: January 2014

This paper analyzes the economics of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as a private response to market imperfections in order to satisfy social preferences. Depending on whether they affect regulation, competition or contracts, market imperfections driving CSR decisions are classified in three categories: public goods and bads and altruism; imperfect competition; and incomplete contracts. We successively present these drivers of CSR decisions and highlight the nature of incentives (external or internal) at work and the testable (and tested) hypotheses in the reviewed studies. We finally review the link between CSR and financial performance, as well as between CSR and social and environmental performance. A twofold discrepancy appears in the literature, opening future research paths: a disconnection between our understanding of CSR drivers and CSR impacts; and a knowledge gap between CSR financial and social consequences, the latter having received little attention.
Sensitivity of Zymoseptoria tritici Isolates from Tunisia to Pyraclostrobin, Fluxapyroxad, Epoxiconazole, Metconazole, Prochloraz and Tebuconazole
Authors: Taher Karima , Graf Sarah , Fakhfakh Mohamed Moez , Salah Halim B. H. , Yahyaoui Amor , Rezgui Salah , Nasraoui Bouzid , Stammler Gerd
Published: January 2014

Sensitivity of 159 isolates of Zymoseptoria tritici collected from durum wheat fields in Tunisia in 2012 was analysed towards pyraclostrobin, fluxapyroxad, epoxiconazole, metconazole, prochloraz and tebuconazole using microtiter tests. All isolates were found to be highly sensitive to pyraclostrobin with EC50 <0.01 mg/l with the exception of three isolates from the same field with higher EC50 values (>0.5 mg/l). These three isolates carried a mutation in the cytochrome b gene encoding the G143A substitution. This is the first report of quinone outside inhibitors (QoI) resistance in Z. tritici in Tunisia. Sensitivity towards r fluxapyroxad was in a narrow range with EC50 values ranging between 0.013 and 0.125 mg/l, which can serve as baseline sensitivity data for the future. Demethylation inhibitors sensitivity varied across a broad range with the data indicating a slight shift in sensitivity when compared to a previous study on the 2010 population. No highly sensitive strains were isolated from samples from fields, which had received three or four DMI applications.
Analysis of Coat Protein of Peanut stunt virus Subgroup II Isolates from Alfalfa Fields in West Iran
Authors: Pourrahim Reza , Farzadfar Shirin
Published: January 2014

Alfalfa fields in three western provinces of Iran were surveyed for Peanut stunt virus (PSV) during 2011 and 2012. Forty‐seven of 115 samples tested (41%) were infected with PSV. Phylogenetic analysis using coat protein (CP) gene sequences showed that the Iranian isolates belong to the subgroup II of PSV. Pairwise identity analysis revealed four groups representing four phylogenetic subgroups. PSV strains in subgroups III and IV are closely related to each other, as supported by the lowest nucleotide diversity, high pairwise nucleotide identity and high haplotype diversity as evidence of a recent population expansion after a genetic bottleneck. Using the maximum likelihood method, amino acid 86S in the CP gene of the Iranian PSV isolates was found to be under positive selection, although the likelihood ratio test statistics is not significant. This is the first report of the occurrence and phylogenetic relationships of Iranian PSV isolates in west Iran.
Outcomes of biotic interactions are dependent on multiple environmental variables
Authors: Mod Heidi K. , le Roux Peter C. , Luoto Miska
Published: January 2014

Question

Can variation in the outcome of biotic interactions in relation to environmental severity be more accurately predicted when considering multiple stress and/or disturbance variables?

Location

Arctic‐alpine tundra in Kilpisjärvi, North Finland.

Methods

To test the impact of including multiple environmental variables in analyses of the outcomes of biotic interactions, we modelled reproductive effort and cover of 17 arctic‐alpine species as a function of Empetrum nigrum subsp. hermaphroditum cover, geomorphological disturbance and soil moisture with statistical interactions of the explanatory variables included. We implemented a best‐subset approach using generalized linear models (GLM) and selected the best model for each species based on Akaike's information criterion (AIC).

Results

For the majority of species, models including multiple environmental variables were selected as best. Reproductive effort depended on one or both environmental variables for all species, and 14 species were additionally influenced by Empetrum, with the impact of Empetrum varying with abiotic conditions in all but one of those species. Moreover, the three‐way interaction of three explanatory variables was included in the best‐fit models for six species. The impact of Empetrum on species cover showed a similar pattern, with 11 species affected by Empetrum and its statistical interactions with one or both abiotic variables.

Conclusions

Biotic interactions have an important role in arctic‐alpine vegetation, but to fully understand variation in their effects multiple environmental factors should be explicitly considered. In this study, the outcome of biotic interactions was frequently dependent on two abiotic variables (and occasionally additionally on their statistical interaction). Therefore, we demonstrate that studies based on only one environmental factor may cause misleading interpretations of the nature of biotic interactions in plant communities where there are multiple independent variables underlying the habitat severity gradient.
Intraguild predation in pioneer predator communities of alpine glacier forelands
Authors: Raso Lorna , Sint Daniela , Mayer Rebecca , Plangg Simon , Recheis Thomas , Brunner Silvia , Kaufmann Rüdiger , Traugott Michael
Published: January 2014

Pioneer communities establishing themselves in the barren terrain in front of glacier forelands consist principally of predator species such as carabid beetles and lycosid spiders. The fact that so many different predators can co‐inhabit an area with no apparent primary production was initially explained by allochthonous material deposited in these forelands. However, whether these populations can be sustained on allochthonous material alone is questionable and recent studies point towards this assumption to be flawed. Intraguild predation (IGP) might play an important role in these pioneer predator assemblages, especially in the very early successional stages where other prey is scarce. Here, we investigated IGP between the main predator species and their consumption of Collembola, an important autochthonous alternative prey, within a glacier foreland in the Ötztal (Austrian Alps). Multiplex PCR and stable isotope analysis were used to characterize the trophic niches in an early and late pioneer stage over 2 years. Results showed that intraguild prey was consumed by all invertebrate predators, particularly the larger carabid species. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, the DNA detection frequency of IGP prey was not significantly higher in early than in late pioneer stage, which was corroborated by the stable isotope analysis. Collembola were the most frequently detected prey in all of the predators, and the overall prey DNA detection patterns were consistent between years. Our findings show that IGP appears as a constant in these pioneer predator communities and that it remains unaffected by successional changes.
Effects of prey quality and predator body size on prey DNA detection success in a centipede predator
Authors: Eitzinger B. , Unger E. M. , Traugott M. , Scheu S.
Published: January 2014

Predator body size and prey quality are important factors driving prey choice and consumption rates. Both factors might affect prey detection success in PCR‐based gut content analysis, potentially resulting in over‐ or underestimation of feeding rates. Experimental evidence, however, is scarce. We examined how body size and prey quality affect prey DNA detection success in centipede predators. Due to metabolic rates increasing with body size, we hypothesized that prey DNA detection intervals will be shorter in large predators than in smaller ones. Moreover, we hypothesized that prey detection intervals of high‐quality prey, defined by low carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio will be shorter than in low‐quality prey due to faster assimilation. Small, medium and large individuals of centipedes Lithobius spp. (Lithobiidae, Chilopoda) were fed Collembola and allowed to digest prey for up to 168 h post‐feeding. To test our second hypothesis, medium‐sized lithobiids were fed with either Diptera or Lumbricidae. No significant differences in 50% prey DNA detection success time intervals for a 272‐bp prey DNA fragment were found between the predator size groups, indicating that body size does not affect prey DNA detection success. Post‐feeding detection intervals were significantly shorter in Lumbricidae and Diptera compared to Collembola prey, apparently supporting the second hypothesis. However, sensitivity of diagnostic PCR differed between prey types, and quantitative PCR revealed that concentration of targeted DNA varied significantly between prey types. This suggests that both DNA concentration and assay sensitivity need to be considered when assessing prey quality effects on prey DNA detection success.