bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Revolution's Forgotten Sons and Daughters: The Jewish Community in Tehran during the 1979 Revolution
Authors: Sternfeld Lior
Published: September 2014

The 1979 revolution in Iran was one of the most popular revolutions of the twentieth century. It was supported by all the classes of Iranian society, and crossed social strata, positions, and religious affiliations. A lot is known about the participation of different parts, such as students, urban professionals, religious leaders, bazaaris, and leftists, yet little is known about the participation of Jews in the revolutionary movements. This article sheds light on a little-known event in the life of the Jewish Iranian community and seeks to tell the story of different segments of the Jewish community during the tremulous years of the “Islamic Revolution.” This article examines two main arenas in which the Jews facilitated the revolution—the Society of Jewish Iranian Intellectuals, and the Sapir Charity Hospital in Tehran—and seeks to draw attention to the minorities' contribution to the most important national revolution in Iran.
Effects of relaxation of gluten network on rehydration kinetics of pasta
Authors: Ogawa Takenobu , Hasegawa Ayako , Adachi Shuji
Published: September 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the relaxation of the gluten network on pasta rehydration kinetics. The moisture content of pasta, under conditions where the effects of the diffusion of water on the moisture content were negligible, was estimated by extrapolating the average moisture content of pasta of various diameters to 0 mm. The moisture content of imaginary, infinitely thin pasta did not reach equilibrium even after 1 h of rehydration. The rehydration of pasta made of only gluten was also measured. The rate constants estimated by the Long and Richman equation for both the pasta indicated that the rehydration kinetics of infinitely thin pasta were similar to those of gluten pasta. These results suggest that the swelling of starch by fast gelatinization was restricted by the honeycomb structural network of gluten and the relaxation of the gluten network controlled pasta rehydration kinetics.
Anti-obese and anti-diabetic effects of a mixture of daidzin and glycitin on C57BL/6J mice fed with a high-fat diet
Authors: Zang Yanqing , Igarashi Kiharu , Yu Changqing
Published: September 2014

We investigated the effects of a mixture of daidzin and glycitin, which are the glycoside-form isoflavones of daidzein and glycitein, respectively, on body weight, lipid levels, diabetic markers, and metabolism in a high-fat diet (HF) fed C57BL/6J mice for 92 days. The mice were divided into basic diet group (CON), HF group, and HF companied with the isoflavone mixture group (HFISO). Results showed that mice in HFISO had a significantly lower body weight and adipose tissue compared to HF group. Blood glucose, serum HbA1c, and serum insulin also showed lower levels in HFISO group. In addition, higher hepatic GSH level and lower serum 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) level were found in HFISO group mice. This suggests that the regulation of oxidative stress by daidzin and glycitin was closely related to the suppression of adipose tissue and the progression of diabetes.
Peace Education in Iran: Challenges and Prospects
Authors: Eslami-Somea Reza , Movassagh Hooman
Published: September 2014

This article examines peace education in Iran at the primary and secondary levels. It starts by briefly reviewing the fundamental issues that need to be addressed to achieve a culture of peace in any given society, such as cycles in social relations that may establish endemic poverty, violence, and discrimination. The paper highlights the measures necessary to supersede these cycles and social arrangements and examines the need for promotion of peace education and empowerment across all segments of society. Among such measures, peace education is considered essential because it serves the dual roles of advancing awareness and providing capacity and skill to initiate social change. The case of Iran and the challenges that hinder the development of peace education in Iran are then examined. These include a lack of critical and diverse perspectives, lack of understanding on the part of most teachers and peace trainers about the importance of peace and all its aspects, and the content of the Iranian curriculum. Finally, the paper addresses opportunities for peace education in Iran, especially given a new, more open political environment. Such opportunities include the role and impact of women, youth, civil society organisations, and new religious readings favourable to peace.
Can time-based decay explain temporal distinctiveness effects in task switching?
Authors: Grange James A. , Cross Ellen
Published: September 2014

In task switching, extending the response–cue interval (RCI) reduces the switch cost—the detriment to performance when switching compared to repeating tasks. This reduction has been used as evidence for the existence of task-set decay processes. Recently, this has been challenged by the observation of sequential dependencies on the RCI effect: switch cost is only reduced at longer RCIs when the previous trial had a short RCI. This trial-wise variation of RCI is thought to affect the temporal distinctiveness (TD) of a previous task's episodic trace, affecting the probability of its automatic retrieval on the current trial; importantly, TD is thought to be independent of the current trial's RCI. The present study highlights a dependency between the current RCI and TD, and demonstrates that a decay model can reproduce some patterns of data attributed to TD. Further, the decay account makes a strong prediction when TD is held constant: repetition response times should slow as the RCI increases, and switch response times should be facilitated. This prediction was tested via re-analysis of extant data and three experiments. The re-analysis provided some evidence for the decay account, but Experiments 1 and 2 report slowing for task repetition and switch trials, which cannot be explained by a task-set decay process. Experiment 3, which utilized tasks requiring perceptual judgements, showed small evidence for decay. We conclude that the data are largely consistent with the TD account and that the evidence for decay of higher-level task-sets is not convincing.
Desirable and undesirable future thoughts call for different scene construction processes
Authors: de Vito S. , Neroni M.A. , Gamboz N. , Della Sala S. , Brandimonte M.A.
Published: September 2014

Despite the growing interest in the ability of foreseeing (episodic future thinking), it is still unclear how healthy people construct possible future scenarios. We suggest that different future thoughts require different processes of scene construction. Thirty-five participants were asked to imagine desirable and less desirable future events. Imagining desirable events increased the ease of scene construction, the frequency of life scripts, the number of internal details, and the clarity of sensorial and spatial temporal information. The initial description of general personal knowledge lasted longer in undesirable than in desirable anticipations. Finally, participants were more prone to explicitly indicate autobiographical memory as the main source of their simulations of undesirable episodes, whereas they equally related the simulations of desirable events to autobiographical events or semantic knowledge. These findings show that desirable and undesirable scenarios call for different mechanisms of scene construction. The present study emphasizes that future thinking cannot be considered as a monolithic entity.
EPS Mid-Career Award 2013: Ways of thinking: From crows to children and back again
Authors: Clayton Nicola S.
Published: September 2014

This article reviews some of the recent work on the remarkable cognitive capacities of food-caching corvids. The focus will be on their ability to think about other minds and other times, and tool-using tests of physical problem solving. Research on developmental cognition suggests that young children do not pass similar tests until they are at least four years of age in the case of the social cognition experiments, and eight years of age in the case of the tasks that tap into physical cognition. This developmental trajectory seems surprising. Intuitively, one might have thought that the social and planning tasks required more complex forms of cognitive process, namely Mental Time Travel and Theory of Mind. Perhaps the fact that children pass these tasks earlier than the physical problem-solving tasks is a reflection of cultural influences. Future research will hope to identify these cognitive milestones by starting to develop tasks that might go some way towards understanding the mechanisms underlying these abilities in both children and corvids, to explore similarities and differences in their ways of thinking.
Overshadowing by fixed- and variable-duration stimuli
Authors: Bonardi Charlotte , Mondragón Esther , Brilot Ben , Jennings Dómhnall J.
Published: September 2014

Two experiments investigated the effect of the temporal distribution form of a stimulus on its ability to produce an overshadowing effect. The overshadowing stimuli were either of the same duration on every trial, or of a variable duration drawn from an exponential distribution with the same mean duration as that of the fixed stimulus. Both experiments provided evidence that a variable-duration stimulus was less effective than a fixed-duration cue at overshadowing conditioning to a target conditioned stimulus (CS); moreover, this effect was independent of whether the overshadowed CS was fixed or variable. The findings presented here are consistent with the idea that the strength of the association between CS and unconditioned stimulus (US) is, in part, determined by the temporal distribution form of the CS. These results are discussed in terms of time-accumulation and trial-based theories of conditioning and timing.
Welfare state regimes and the evolution of liberalism
Authors: Pankratz Curt J.
Published: September 2014

This paper argues that the concept of the liberal welfare state within welfare state regimes discourse fails to account for some important aspects of the historical development of liberalism. It is argued that two key aspects of liberalism have been neglected. First, that liberalism essentially arose in opposition to ascribed status, seeking to replace it with a form of “achieved” status. Second, that a major stream of historical liberalism sought to equalize individual opportunity by suggesting that the state should provide some basic social and economic supports to individuals in need. This paper uses OECD health data to identify welfare state clusters based on the measurement of welfare (rather than neo)liberalism. The emerging cluster model is then compared with other welfare state regime typologies with regard to its ability to predict important social and political outcomes. The paper concludes that the emerging “welfare-liberal” typology may be a better predictor of certain social and political outcomes than other regimes configurations, indicating the usefulness of considering alternative aspects of liberalism when examining welfare state regimes.
WASH is required for the differentiation commitment of hematopoietic stem cells in a c-Myc–dependent manner
Authors: Xia Pengyan , Wang Shuo , Huang Guanling , Zhu Pingping , Li Man , Ye Buqing , Du Ying , Fan Zusen
Published: September 2014

Hematopoiesis is fully dependent on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that possess the capacity to self-renew and differentiate into all blood cell lineages. WASH, Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) and SCAR homologue (WASH) is involved in endosomal sorting as an actin-nucleating protein. Here, we show that conditional WASH deletion in the hematopoietic system causes defective blood production of the host, leading to severe cytopenia and rapid anemia. WASH deficiency causes the accumulation of long-term (LT)-HSCs in bone marrow and perturbs their differentiation potential to mature blood lineages. Importantly, WASH is located in the nucleus of LT-HSCs and associates with the nucleosome remodeling factor (NURF) complex. WASH assists the NURF complex to the promoter of c-Myc gene through its VCA domain-dependent nuclear actin nucleation. WASH deletion suppresses the transcriptional activation of c-Myc gene and impairs the differentiation of LT-HSCs. WASH acts as an upstream regulator to modulate c-Myc transcription for hematopoietic regulation.
JAMM: a peak finder for joint analysis of NGS replicates
Authors: Ibrahim Mahmoud M. , Lacadie Scott A. , Ohler Uwe
Published: September 2014

Motivation: Although peak finding in next-generation sequencing (NGS) datasets has been addressed extensively, there is no consensus on how to analyze and process biological replicates. Furthermore, most peak finders do not focus on accurate determination of enrichment site widths and are not widely applicable to different types of datasets.

Results: We developed JAMM ( J oint A nalysis of NGS replicates via M ixture M odel clustering): a peak finder that can integrate information from biological replicates, determine enrichment site widths accurately and resolve neighboring narrow peaks. JAMM is a universal peak finder that is applicable to different types of datasets. We show that JAMM is among the best performing peak finders in terms of site detection accuracy and in terms of accurate determination of enrichment sites widths. In addition, JAMM’s replicate integration improves peak spatial resolution, sorting and peak finding accuracy.

Availability and implementation: JAMM is available for free and can run on Linux machines through the command line: http://code.google.com/p/jamm-peak-finder

Contact : mahmoud.ibrahim@mdc-berlin.de or uwe.ohler@mdc-berlin.de .

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Resistance ofAegilopsSpecies from Israel to Widely Virulent African and Israeli Races of the Wheat Stem Rust Pathogen
Authors: Scott Jeness C. , Manisterski Jacob , Sela Hanan , Ben-Yehuda Pnina , Steffenson Brian J.
Published: September 2014

Widely virulent races of the stem rust pathogen (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) such as those isolated from Africa (e.g., TTKSK, isolate synonym Ug99) threaten wheat production worldwide. To identify Aegilops accessions with effective resistance to such virulent stem rust races, up to 10 different species from Israel were evaluated against African races TTKSK, TTKST, and TTTSK and the Israeli race TTTTC as seedlings in the greenhouse. A wide diversity of stem rust reactions was observed across the Aegilops spp. and ranged from highly resistant (i.e., infection type 0) to highly susceptible (infection type 4). The frequency of resistance within a species to races TTTTC and TTKSK ranged from 7 and 14%, respectively, in Aegilops searsii to 98 and 100% in AE. speltoides. In all, 346 accessions were found resistant to the three African races and 138 accessions were resistant (or heterogeneous with a resistant component) to all four races. The species with broadly resistant accessions included Ae. longissima (59 accessions), Ae. peregrina (47 accessions), Ae. sharonensis (15 accessions), Ae. geniculata (9 accessions), Ae. kotschyi (5 accessions), and Ae. bicornis (3 accessions). Few geographical trends or correlations with climatic variables were observed with respect to stem rust resistance in the Aegilops spp. The exception was Ae. longissima infected with race TTTTC, where a high frequency of resistance was found in central and northern Israel and a very low frequency in southern Israel (Negev desert region). This geographical trend followed a pattern of annual precipitation in Israel, and a significant correlation was found between this variable and resistance in Ae. longissima. Although difficult, it is feasible to transfer resistance genes from Aegilops spp. into wheat through conventional wide-crossing schemes or, alternatively, a cloning and transformation approach. The broadly resistant accessions identified in this study will be valuable in these research programs.
Rapid Changes in the Genetic Composition of Stagonosporopsis tanaceti Population in Australian Pyrethrum Fields
Authors: Vaghefi Niloofar , Hay Frank S. , Ades Peter K. , Pethybridge Sarah J. , Ford Rebecca , Taylor Paul W. J.
Published: September 2014

A novel set of microsatellite markers were developed and employed for geographical and temporal population analyses of Stagonosporopsis tanaceti, the cause of ray blight of pyrethrum in Australia. Genotyping of 407 isolates, using 13 markers, suggested an asexual mode of reproduction with significant linkage disequilibrium and high levels of clonality. Low geographical differentiation and widespread distribution of a few multilocus genotypes (MLGs), in the absence of airborne ascospores, suggested the role of human-mediated movement of seed as a major means of long-distance pathogen dispersal. The genetic composition of S. tanaceti was stable for a decade then changed rapidly in only 2 years. Bayesian clustering analyses and minimum spanning networks determined only two major clonal lineages in and prior to 2010. However, in 2012, a previously unobserved cluster of MLGs was detected, which significantly increased in frequency and displaced the historically dominant MLGs by 2013. This rapid change in the genetic composition of S. tanaceti could indicate a second introduction then a selective sweep, or strong selection pressures from recently introduced fungicides or pyrethrum varieties. These results may have serious implications for durability of management strategies for this disease.
Postoperative Hyperoxia (60%) Worsens Hepatic Injury in Mice
Authors: Zangl Quirin , Martignoni André , Jackson Sharon H. , Ohta Akio , Klaunberg Brenda , Kaufmann Ines , Lukashev Dimitry , Ward Jerrold M. , Sitkovsky Michail , Thiel Manfred , Choukèr Alexander
Published: September 2014

Background:

Liver damage by ischemia and reperfusion injury is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality after liver surgery. Postoperative oxygen treatment is routinely applied in the postanesthesia and intensive care unit after liver surgery. The risks of aggravating the injury by increasing inspiratory oxygen from 21 to 60% in the postoperative period were investigated in mice.

Methods:

Parameters of liver injury were compared after induction of hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury, by clamping the left liver lobe for 45 min, and reperfusion for 24 h either under normoxic (21% oxygen) or hyperoxic (60% oxygen) conditions (n = 22 per group). The extent of tissue injury and oxidative responses was analyzed in the presence or absence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, functional Kupffer cells, and the p47phox unit of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (n = 6 to 11 per group).

Results:

Compared with postoperative normoxic conditions, hyperoxia increased cell damage (glutamate-pyruvate transaminase: 1,870 [±968 SD] vs. 60% 2,981 [±1,038 SD], 21 vs. 60% oxygen, in U/l as mean ± SD; P < 0.01), liver weights (341 ± 52 vs. 383 ± 44, 21 vs. 60% oxygen, in mg as mean ± SD; P = 0.02), damage scores (1.9 ± 0.8 vs. 3.1 ± 1.0, 21 vs. 60% oxygen, score as mean ± SD; P = 0.02), and reactive oxygen species (15.0 ± 12.0 vs. 30.4 ± 19.2, 21 vs. 60% oxygen, in μmol/l as mean ± SD; P < 0.05). The aggravation of the tissue damaging effects as a result of hyperoxia was not seen in mice with depletions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes or Kupffer cells, or with nonfunctioning nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase.

Conclusion:

Liver injury after ischemia was significantly aggravated by hyperoxia as a consequence of immune cell-mediated oxidative burst. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether routine delivery of high inspirational oxygen concentrations postoperatively should be limited.
External Ophthalmomyiasis Due to Dermatobia hominis Masquerading As Orbital Cellulitis
Authors: Alsaif Norah , Liao Sophie , Tse David T.
Published: September 2014

Human parasitization by oestrid flies is a rare occurrence. The authors report a case of ophthalmomyiasis externa caused by Dermatobia hominis infestation in a 10-year-old female. Misdiagnosis resulted in a delay in treatment, which can be potentially devastating in cases of orbital or ocular involvement. The treatment of choice is early surgical removal of the larvae to minimize the inflammatory response and the extent of surgery. Patients should also be screened for multiple sites of cutaneous infestation. When the organism is completely excised, the prognosis is good.
Conjunctival Pigmentation Following Minocycline Therapy
Authors: Khan Tanya T. , Reddy Usha P.
Published: September 2014

Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic commonly used to treat acne and rosacea. Although pigmentation of the skin, nails, teeth, oral mucosa, and sclera is a well-recognized adverse outcome associated with minocycline, ocular pigmentation may be missed on routine examination. The authors present a case of a 43-year-old white woman who demonstrated bilateral pigmented palpebral conjunctival cysts after 12 months of minocycline therapy for cystic acne. To date, only 5 cases of minocycline-induced conjunctival pigmentation have been reported. After drug discontinuation, the patient’s examination remained stable and no new ocular lesions were noted.
Astrocytes in endocannabinoid signalling
Authors: Navarrete Marta , Díez Adolfo , Araque Alfonso
Published: September 2014

Astrocytes are emerging as integral functional components of synapses, responding to synaptically released neurotransmitters and regulating synaptic transmission and plasticity. Thus, they functionally interact with neurons establishing tripartite synapses: a functional concept that refers to the existence of communication between astrocytes and neurons and its crucial role in synaptic function. Here, we discuss recent evidence showing that astrocytes are involved in the endocannabinoid (ECB) system, responding to exogenous cannabinoids as well as ECBs through activation of type 1 cannabinoid receptors, which increase intracellular calcium and stimulate the release of glutamate that modulates synaptic transmission and plasticity. We also discuss the consequences of ECB signalling in tripartite synapses on the astrocyte-mediated regulation of synaptic function, which reveal novel properties of synaptic regulation by ECBs, such as the spatially controlled dual effect on synaptic strength and the lateral potentiation of synaptic efficacy. Finally, we discuss the potential implications of ECB signalling for astrocytes in brain pathology and animal behaviour.
GABA
B
receptor-mediated activation of astrocytes by gamma-hydroxybutyric acid
Authors: Gould Timothy , Chen Lixin , Emri Zsuzsa , Pirttimaki Tiina , Errington Adam C. , Crunelli Vincenzo , Parri H. Rheinallt
Published: September 2014

The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolite gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) shows a variety of behavioural effects when administered to animals and humans, including reward/addiction properties and absence seizures. At the cellular level, these actions of GHB are mediated by activation of neuronal GABA
B
receptors (GABA
B
Rs) where it acts as a weak agonist. Because astrocytes respond to endogenous and exogenously applied GABA by activation of both GABA
A
and GABA
B
Rs, here we investigated the action of GHB on astrocytes on the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the ventrobasal (VB) thalamic nucleus, two brain areas involved in the reward and proepileptic action of GHB, respectively, and compared it with that of the potent GABA
B
R agonist baclofen. We found that GHB and baclofen elicited dose-dependent (ED
50
: 1.6 mM and 1.3 µM, respectively) transient increases in intracellular Ca
2+
in VTA and VB astrocytes of young mice and rats, which were accounted for by activation of their GABA
B
Rs and mediated by Ca
2+
release from intracellular store release. In contrast, prolonged GHB and baclofen exposure caused a reduction in spontaneous astrocyte activity and glutamate release from VTA astrocytes. These findings have key (patho)physiological implications for our understanding of the addictive and proepileptic actions of GHB.
Regulation of rhythm genesis by volume-limited, astroglia-like signals in neural networks
Authors: Savtchenko Leonid P. , Rusakov Dmitri A.
Published: September 2014

Rhythmic activity of the brain often depends on synchronized spiking of interneuronal networks interacting with principal neurons. The quest for physiological mechanisms regulating network synchronization has therefore been firmly focused on synaptic circuits. However, it has recently emerged that synaptic efficacy could be influenced by astrocytes that release signalling molecules into their macroscopic vicinity. To understand how this volume-limited synaptic regulation can affect oscillations in neural populations, here we explore an established artificial neural network mimicking hippocampal basket cells receiving inputs from pyramidal cells. We find that network oscillation frequencies and average cell firing rates are resilient to changes in excitatory input even when such changes occur in a significant proportion of participating interneurons, be they randomly distributed or clustered in space. The astroglia-like, volume-limited regulation of excitatory synaptic input appears to better preserve network synchronization (compared with a similar action evenly spread across the network) while leading to a structural segmentation of the network into cell subgroups with distinct firing patterns. These observations provide us with some previously unknown insights into the basic principles of neural network control by astroglia.
Cannabinoid receptors contribute to astroglial Ca
2+
-signalling and control of synaptic plasticity in the neocortex
Authors: Rasooli-Nejad Seyed , Palygin Oleg , Lalo Ulyana , Pankratov Yuriy
Published: September 2014

Communication between neuronal and glial cells is thought to be very important for many brain functions. Acting via release of gliotransmitters, astrocytes can modulate synaptic strength. The mechanisms underlying ATP release from astrocytes remain uncertain with exocytosis being the most intriguing and debated pathway. We have demonstrated that ATP and
d
-serine can be released from cortical astrocytes
in situ
by a SNARE-complex-dependent mechanism. Exocytosis of ATP from astrocytes can activate post-synaptic P2X receptors in the adjacent neurons, causing a downregulation of synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA receptors in cortical pyramidal neurons. We showed that release of gliotransmitters is important for the NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity in the neocortex. Firstly, induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) by five episodes of theta-burst stimulation (TBS) was impaired in the neocortex of dominant-negative (dn)-SNARE mice. The LTP was rescued in the dn-SNARE mice by application of exogenous non-hydrolysable ATP analogues. Secondly, we observed that weak sub-threshold stimulation (two TBS episodes) became able to induce LTP when astrocytes were additionally activated via CB-1 receptors. This facilitation was dependent on activity of ATP receptors and was abolished in the dn-SNARE mice. Our results strongly support the physiological relevance of glial exocytosis for glia–neuron communications and brain function.
Amylibacter marinus gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from surface seawater
Authors: Teramoto Maki , Nishijima Miyuki
Published: September 2014

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, mesophilic, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain 2-3T, was isolated from surface seawater at Muroto city, Kochi prefecture, Japan. This strain grew well with starch. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain fell within the family

Rhodobacteraceae

and that the strain was related most closely to the genus

Pacificibacter

(94.0 % sequence similarity to the type strain). The DNA G+C content was 52.4 mol%. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C14 : 0 and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified lipid, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified phospholipid. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. Strain 2-3T did not grow at 4 or 35 °C, while the type strain of the type species of the genus

Pacificibacter

grows at both temperatures. From the taxonomic data obtained in this study, it is proposed that strain 2-3T be placed into a novel genus and species named Amylibacter marinus gen. nov., sp. nov. in the family

Rhodobacteraceae

. The type strain of Amylibacter marinus is 2-3T ( = NBRC 110140T = LMG 28364T).
Characterization of the transcriptome, nucleotide sequence polymorphism, and natural selection in the desert adapted mousePeromyscus eremicus
Authors: MacManes Matthew D. , Eisen Michael B.
Published: September 2014

As a direct result of intense heat and aridity, deserts are thought to be among the most harsh of environments, particularly for their mammalian inhabitants. Given that osmoregulation can be challenging for these animals, with failure resulting in death, strong selection should be observed on genes related to the maintenance of water and solute balance. One such animal,Peromyscus eremicus, is native to the desert regions of the southwest United States and may live its entire life without oral fluid intake. As a first step toward understanding the genetics that underlie this phenotype, we present a characterization of theP.eremicustranscriptome. We assay four tissues (kidney, liver, brain, testes) from a single individual and supplement this with population level renal transcriptome sequencing from 15 additional animals. We identified a set of transcripts undergoing both purifying and balancing selection based on estimates of Tajima’s D. In addition, we used the branch-site test to identify a transcript – Slc2a9, likely related to desert osmoregulation – undergoing enhanced selection inP.eremicusrelative to a set of related non-desert rodents.
Co‐infection of Scedosporium apiospermum and Mycobacterium chelonae in an immunocompetent host
Authors: Kim Ji Seok , Choi Misoo , Nam Chan Hee , Kim Jee Young , Hong Seung Phil , Kim Myung Hwa , Park Byung Cheol
Published: September 2014

A 75‐year‐old man presented with multiple, scaly, erythematous, grouped papules, nodules and plaques with tenderness ranging from the right forearm to hand dorsum and the right lower leg for 2–3 months. Five months prior to presentation, the patient had received an antibiotic skin test on his right forearm. Lesions appeared approximately 2–3 months after the antibiotic skin test, slowly progressing without clinical improvement. Culture for fungus on the right forearm revealed growth of Scedosporium apiospermum. The tissue acid‐fast bacilli (AFB) culture for the right forearm and right leg revealed growth of non‐tuberculous mycobacteria which was Mycobacterium chelonae, and subsequent tissue polymerase chain reaction of both sites reported positive signs of M. chelonae. On diastase periodic acid‐Schiff stain of the biopsy specimen of the right forearm, fungal hyphae were found while rod‐shaped bacilli could be seen in AFB stain for the biopsy specimen of the right leg. The patient was treated with oral clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin along with an oral antifungal agent for 13 weeks. After the treatment, the lesions subsided and left a scar. We report a rare case of co‐infection of S. apiospermum and M. chelonae in an immunocompetent host.
Case series of volar juvenile xanthogranuloma: Clinical observation of a peripheral rim of hyperkeratosis
Authors: Mervak Julie , Amadi Ugochukwu , Khandpur Ritika , Ha Lan Thanh T. , Hristov Alexandra , Do Thy Thy , Maier Lisa , Wang Frank
Published: September 2014

Juvenile xanthogranuloma is a benign histiocytic tumor predominantly occurring in children as yellowish papules on the head and trunk. Presentations on the volar surfaces are rare and may cause diagnostic confusion with pyogenic granuloma, eccrine poroma and digital fibrokeratoma. We report two patients with unusual presentations of solitary juvenile xanthogranuloma on the palm or sole. Both had lesions lacking the classic yellowish color and demonstrating a well‐defined, peripheral hyperkeratotic rim. Histopathological evaluation revealed prominent orthokeratosis corresponding to the rim. Additional histological features, including dermal histiocytes and Touton giant cells, were consistent with the diagnosis of juvenile xanthogranuloma. Given the unusual locations and colors of the lesions, we conclude that histopathological evaluation is central to diagnosing volar juvenile xanthogranuloma. We additionally suggest that juvenile xanthogranuloma should be included in the differential diagnoses of volar lesions displaying a peripheral hyperkeratotic rim.
Sustained costs of growth and the trajectory of recovery
Authors: Perez Kestrel O. , Munch Stephan B.
Published: September 2014

Large body size is associated with many fitness advantages. Despite this, most species do not grow at their physiological maximum, suggesting costs to rapid growth. There are now many empirical examples of trade‐offs with growth.

Despite the ubiquity of physiological delays, few studies have evaluated the duration over which growth costs occur. To address this question, we measured swimming ability in growth‐manipulated Atlantic silversides (Menidia menidia). Fish were manipulated to grow at their maximum for 2 weeks and then were put on restricted rations, so they grew slowly. We then compared swimming ability with fish that had always grown slowly.

Fast‐grown fish had significantly poorer swimming ability and continued to show a prolonged cost of this early period of rapid growth. We found that fish fully recovered normal swimming ability after ˜1 month of growing slowly. Most surprisingly, the trajectory of recovery was not monotonic; performance actually decreased before it improved.

We conclude with a suggestion to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms linking growth to performance trade‐offs. Our results suggest that reduced swimming performance following fast growth is unlikely to be completely explained by bioenergetic constraints. Additionally, there is need for more nuanced life‐history theory that incorporates prolonged growth costs to increase accuracy of growth rate prediction.
Signal detectability of marine electromagnetic methods in the exploration of resistive targets
Authors: Goldman Mark , Mogilatov Vladimir , Haroon Amir , Levi Eldad , Tezkan Bülent
Published: September 2014

We compare selected marine electromagnetic methods for sensitivity to the presence of relatively thin resistive targets (e.g., hydrocarbons, gas hydrates, fresh groundwater, etc.). The study includes the conventional controlled‐source electromagnetic method, the recently introduced transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines method, and the novel marine circular electric dipole method, which is still in the stage of theoretical development. The comparison is based on general physical considerations, analytical (mainly asymptotic) analysis, and rigorous one‐dimensional and multidimensional forward modelling. It is shown that transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines and marine circular electric dipole methods represent an alternative to the conventional controlled‐source electromagnetic method at shallow sea, where the latter becomes less efficient due to the air‐wave phenomenon. Since both former methods are essentially short‐offset time‐domain techniques, they exhibit a much better lateral resolution than the controlled‐source electromagnetic method in both shallow sea and deep sea. The greatest shortcoming of the transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines and marine circular electric dipole methods comes from the difficulties in accurately assembling the transmitter antenna within the marine environment. This makes these methods significantly less practical than the controlled‐source electromagnetic method. Consequently, the controlled‐source electromagnetic method remains the leading marine electromagnetic technique in the exploration of large resistive targets in deep sea. However, exploring laterally small targets in deep sea and both small and large targets in shallow sea might require the use of the less practical transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines and/or marine circular electric dipole method as a desirable alternative to the controlled‐source electromagnetic method.
FORUM: Robust study design is as important on the social as it is on the ecological side of applied ecological research
Authors: St. John Freya A. V. , Keane Aidan M. , Jones Julia P. G. , Milner‐Gulland E. J.
Published: September 2014

The effective management of natural systems often requires resource users to change their behaviour. This has led to many applied ecologists using research tools developed by social scientists. This comes with challenges as ecologists often lack relevant disciplinary training.

Using an example from the current issue of Journal of Applied Ecology that investigated how conservation interventions influenced conservation outcomes, we discuss the challenges of conducting interdisciplinary science. We illustrate our points using examples from research investigating the role of law enforcement and outreach activities in limiting illegal poaching and the application of the theory of planned behaviour to conservation.

Synthesis and applications. Interdisciplinary research requires equal rigour to be applied to ecological and social aspects. Researchers with a natural science background need to access expertise and training in the principles of social science research design and methodology, in order to permit a more balanced interdisciplinary understanding of social–ecological systems.
Migrants' Regular Army of Labour: Gender Dimensions of the Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on Migrant Labor in Western Europe
Authors: Farris Sara R.
Published: September 2014

The purpose of this article is to remedy the lack of explanatory endeavours concerning the positive performance of female migrant workers during the recent economic crisis in Western Europe. This phenomenon both interrogates the established association between economic downturns and their negative impact on migrant labour in low-skilled jobs and enriches the theory of the reserve army of labour, which has been applied to understanding the fragile status of migrant workers in Western economies. Secondary analysis of Labor Force Survey (LFS) and OECD data concerning the impact of the crisis on migrant labour shows that women employed in the care-domestic sector have been affected significantly less than men employed in manufacture and constructions. To explain this evidence, the article proposes a theoretical framework that draws on key concepts and debates in different strands of sociology: the increasing demand for paid care-domestic work due to the ageing population and the growth of native-born women's rates of activity; the commodification of care and the state management of migration; the affectivity and spatial fixity of care-domestic labour. All these factors contribute to configure female migrant labour, mostly employed in the reproductive sector, as a ‘regular’ rather than a reserve army of labour.
Characterization of the rumen lipidome and microbiome of steers fed a diet supplemented with flax and echium oil
Authors: Huws Sharon Ann , Kim Eun Jun , Cameron Simon J. S. , Girdwood Susan E. , Davies Lynfa , Tweed John , Vallin Hannah , Scollan Nigel David
Published: September 2014

Developing novel strategies for improving the fatty acid composition of ruminant products relies upon increasing our understanding of rumen bacterial lipid metabolism. This study investigated whether flax or echium oil supplementation of steer diets could alter the rumen fatty acids and change the microbiome. Six Hereford × Friesian steers were offered grass silage/sugar beet pulp only (GS), or GS supplemented either with flax oil (GSF) or echium oil (GSE) at 3% kg−1 silage dry matter in a 3 × 3 replicated Latin square design with 21‐day periods with rumen samples taken on day 21 for the analyses of the fatty acids and microbiome. Flax oil supplementation of steer diets increased the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids, but a substantial degree of rumen biohydrogenation was seen. Likewise, echium oil supplementation of steer diets resulted in increased intake of 18:4n‐3, but this was substantially biohydrogenated within the rumen. Microbiome pyrosequences showed that 50% of the bacterial genera were core to all diets (found at least once under each dietary intervention), with 19.10%, 5.460% and 12.02% being unique to the rumen microbiota of steers fed GS, GSF and GSE respectively. Higher 16S rDNA sequence abundance of the genera Butyrivibrio, Howardella, Oribacterium, Pseudobutyrivibrio and Roseburia was seen post flax feeding. Higher 16S rDNA abundance of the genus Succinovibrio and Roseburia was seen post echium feeding. The role of these bacteria in biohydrogenation now requires further study.
Antidiabetic property of Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult. is mediated by inhibition of alpha glucosidase, protein glycation and stimulation of adipogenesis 软毛白花苋(L.)的降糖特性是通过对α葡萄糖甙酶与蛋白质糖基化的抑制以及脂肪生成的刺激达成的
Authors: Riya Mariam Philip , Antu Kalathookunnel Antony , Pal Savita , Chandrakanth Karuvakandy Chandrasekharan , Anilkumar Karunakaran Sasikala , Tamrakar Akhilesh Kumar , Srivastava Arvind Kumar , Raghu Kozhiparambil Gopalan
Published: September 2014

Background

Diabetes is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with a number currently diagnosed as high as 371 million. Plant‐based therapy could be an ideal choice because of fewer side‐effects and wider acceptability. Hence, the antihyperglycemic potential of Aerva lanata, a herb prescribed for diabetes in Ayurveda was evaluated to elucidate its possible mechanism of action.

Methods

High performance liquid chromatography analysis was used for the characterization of 70% ethanolic (aqueous leaf extract [ALE]) and ethyl acetate (AEA) extracts. Further, they were evaluated for their antioxidant, inhibition of alpha glucosidase, protein glycation dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV), protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and stimulation of glucose uptake and glitazone like property (adipogenic potential) using in vitro models. The promising alpha glucosidase inhibitory potential of ALE was further evaluated in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats.

Results

ALE inhibited yeast (IC50 – 81.76 μg/mL) and rat intestinal alpha glucosidase (IC50 – 108.7 μg/mL), protein glycation, DPP IV enzyme (IC50 – 118.62 μg/mL) and PTP1B (IC50 – 94.66 μg/mL). ALE stimulated maximal adipogenesis at 50 μg/mL and enhanced insulin mediated glucose uptake (threefold of basal) at 100 μg/mL in L6 myotubes. ALE (500 mg/kg b.w.) showed a significant antihyperglycemic activity in sucrose loaded STZ normal (15.57%) and diabetic (18.44%) rats. HPLC analysis of ALE revealed the presence of bioactives like alpha amyrin, betulin and beta sitosterol.

Conclusions

Alpha glucosidase inhibition, antiglycation, and adipogenic potential significantly contribute to the antidiabetic property of Aerva lanata. In addition, insulin sensitization and antioxidant potential also enhance its therapeutic potential.
Cable bacteria associated with long‐distance electron transport in New England salt marsh sediment
Authors: Larsen Steffen , Nielsen Lars Peter , Schramm Andreas
Published: September 2014

Filamentous Desulfobulbaceae have been proposed as ‘cable bacteria’, which electrically couple sulfide oxidation and oxygen reduction in marine sediment and thereby create a centimetre‐deep suboxic zone. We incubated New England salt marsh sediment and found long‐distance electron transport across 6 mm and 16S rRNA genes identical to those of previously observed cable bacteria in Aarhus Bay sediment incubations. Cable bacteria density in sediment cores was quantified by fluorescence in situ hybridization. In contrast to the coastal, subtidal sediments with short‐termed blooms of cable bacteria based on rapidly depleted iron sulfide pools, the salt marsh cable community was based on ongoing sulfate reduction and therefore probably more persistent. Previously observed seasonal correlation between Desulfobulbaceae dominance and extensive reduced sulfur oxidation in salt marshes suggest that cable bacteria at times may have an important role in situ.
Modeling lactation curves and estimation of genetic parameters in Holstein cows using multiple‐trait random regression models
Authors: Kheirabadi Khabat , Rashidi Amir , Alijani Sadegh , Imumorin Ikhide
Published: September 2014

We compared the goodness of fit of three mathematical functions (including: Legendre polynomials, Lidauer‐Mäntysaari function and Wilmink function) for describing the lactation curve of primiparous Iranian Holstein cows by using multiple‐trait random regression models (MT‐RRM). Lactational submodels provided the largest daily additive genetic (AG) and permanent environmental (PE) variance estimates at the end and at the onset of lactation, respectively, as well as low genetic correlations between peripheral test‐day records. For all models, heritability estimates were highest at the end of lactation (245 to 305 days) and ranged from 0.05 to 0.26, 0.03 to 0.12 and 0.04 to 0.24 for milk, fat and protein yields, respectively. Generally, the genetic correlations between traits depend on how far apart they are or whether they are on the same day in any two traits. On average, genetic correlations between milk and fat were the lowest and those between fat and protein were intermediate, while those between milk and protein were the highest. Results from all criteria (Akaike's and Schwarz's Bayesian information criterion, and −2*logarithm of the likelihood function) suggested that a model with 2 and 5 coefficients of Legendre polynomials for AG and PE effects, respectively, was the most adequate for fitting the data.
Interplay between Serotonin 5‐HT1A and 5‐HT7 Receptors in Depressive Disorders
Authors: Naumenko Vladimir S. , Popova Nina K. , Lacivita Enza , Leopoldo Marcello , Ponimaskin Evgeni G.
Published: September 2014

Serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine or 5‐HT) is an important neurotransmitter regulating a wide range of physiological and pathological functions via activation of heterogeneously expressed 5‐HT receptors. Besides the important role of 5‐HT receptors in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders and in their clinical medications, underlying mechanisms are far from being completely understood. This review focuses on possible cross talk between two serotonin receptors, 5‐HT1A and the 5‐HT7. Although these receptors are highly co‐expressed in brain regions implicated in depression, and most agonists developed for the 5‐HT1A or 5‐HT7 receptors have cross‐reactivity, their functional interaction has not been yet established. It has been recently shown that 5‐HT1A and 5‐HT7 receptors form homo‐ and heterodimers both in vitro and in vivo. From the functional point of view, heterodimerization has been shown to play an important role in regulation of receptor‐mediated signaling and internalization, suggesting the implication of heterodimerization in the development and maintenance of depression. Interaction between these receptors is also of clinical interest, because both receptors represent an important pharmacological target for the treatment of depression and anxiety.