bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coping with extremes – experiences from event management during the recent Elbe flood disaster in 2013
Authors: Jüpner R.
Published: November 2016

Up to now, it has been common practice to use technical flood protection measures such as dikes and retention basins to secure the prosperity and well‐being of societies that are threatened by floods. Recent flood events in Europe have demonstrated in a profound way that extreme floods not only have the potential to cause enormous damage but also that technical structures do not entirely solve the problem; additional concepts now need to be considered. During the Elbe flood disaster of 2013 in Germany, two dike breaks occurred. The unpredicted flooding that followed resulted in enormous harm and tremendous material damage to thousands of inhabitants. Post‐crisis assessment indicates that consideration of extreme flood events is essential to flood risk management and that preparation is necessary to mitigate negative consequences. The use of floodplain areas that lie close to rivers is a key aspect in this respect. Even if dikes currently protect these areas, a broad societal discussion must take place in order to optimise flood prevention.
Dual specificity phosphatase 15 regulates Erk activation in Schwann cells
Authors: Rodríguez‐Molina José F. , Lopez‐Anido Camila , Ma Ki H. , Zhang Chongyu , Olson Tyler , Muth Katharina N. , Weider Matthias , Svaren John
Published: November 2016

Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes are the myelinating cells of the peripheral and central nervous system, respectively. Despite having different myelin components and different transcription factors driving their terminal differentiation there are shared molecular mechanisms between the two. Sox10 is one common transcription factor required for several steps in development of myelinating glia. However, other factors are divergent as Schwann cells need the transcription factor early growth response 2/Krox20 and oligodendrocytes require Myrf. Likewise, some signaling pathways, like the Erk1/2 kinases, are necessary in both cell types for proper myelination. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanisms that control this shared signaling pathway in myelinating cells remain only partially characterized. The hypothesis of this study is that signaling pathways that are similarly regulated in both Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes play central roles in coordinating the differentiation of myelinating glia. To address this hypothesis, we have used genome‐wide binding data to identify a relatively small set of genes that are similarly regulated by Sox10 in myelinating glia. We chose one such gene encoding Dual specificity phosphatase 15 (Dusp15) for further analysis in Schwann cell signaling. RNA interference and gene deletion by genome editing in cultured RT4 and primary Schwann cells showed Dusp15 is necessary for full activation of Erk1/2 phosphorylation. In addition, we show that Dusp15 represses expression of several myelin genes, including myelin basic protein. The data shown here support a mechanism by which early growth response 2 activates myelin genes, but also induces a negative feedback loop through Dusp15 to limit over‐expression of myelin genes.

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Managing Capital via Internal Capital Market Transactions: The Case of Life Insurers
Authors: Niehaus Greg
Published: November 2016

The movement of capital within insurance groups is important for understanding insolvency risk management, as well as regulatory policies regarding capital standards and group supervision. Panel data estimates indicate that, on average, a dollar decrease in performance (net income plus unrealized capital gains) when performance is negative is associated with a $0.26 increase in capital contributions to life insurers from other entities in the group, and that a dollar increase in performance when performance is positive is associated with a $0.56 increase in the amount of internal shareholder dividends paid by life insurers to other entities in the group. Moreover, the sensitivity of internal dividends to performance is higher during the financial crisis than the noncrisis period. Also, insurers with low (high) risk‐based capital ratios receive more (less) internal capital contributions than other insurers, holding other factors constant.
Pharmacokinetics cannot explain the increased effective dose requirement for morphine and midazolam in rats during their extended administration alone or in combination
Authors: Schaller Stefan J , Alam Saad M , Mao Jianren , Zhao Yanli , Blobner Manfred , Greenblatt David J , Martyn J A Jeevendra
Published: November 2016

Objectives

Chronic administration of morphine and midazolam, alone or in combination, can induce tolerance to their effects. Data showed that co-administration of morphine and midazolam increased effective dose requirement of morphine, exceeding that observed with morphine alone.

Methods

To elucidate the pharmacokinetic component to the tolerance, we administered midazolam (2 mg/kg) and morphine (10 mg/kg) alone or their combination daily to rats for 12 days followed by a pharmacokinetic study on day 13. On the study day, each animal received a single bolus dose of 5 mg/kg morphine, and 2 mg/kg of midazolam 30 s later. Multiple blood samples were obtained for 6 h. Plasma drug concentrations were assayed by mass spectrometry optimized for small samples.

Key findings

Mean morphine clearance was as follows: 22.2, 27.2, 26.0 and 23.4 l/h per kg in the saline–saline, saline–midazolam, saline–morphine and midazolam–morphine groups, respectively. Corresponding midazolam clearances were 32.8, 23.0, 22.2 and 31.1 l/h per kg. ANOVA indicated no significant differences among the four groups in the clearances, half-lives, and volumes of distribution. Morphine and midazolam clearances were significantly correlated (R2 = 0.48, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This animal model suggests that altered pharmacokinetics cannot explain tolerance evidenced as increased dose requirement for morphine or midazolam, when administered alone or combination, for extended periods.
Changes in species composition and richness in an alluvial hardwood forest over 52 yrs
Authors: Strubelt Ilka , Diekmann Martin , Zacharias Dietmar
Published: November 2016

Questions

(1) How has the species richness of an alluvial forest changed over the past 52 yrs, and what are the main drivers of the observed temporal changes; (2) has the species composition changed over this period in response to changes in environmental variables; and (3) what are the main drivers of species richness (change) in this forest?

Location

Haseder Holz, Innerste floodplain in lowland northern Germany.

Methods

In 2012 we resurveyed the plant species composition of 19 permanent plots analysed for the first time in 1960 and for a second time in 2002. At the most recent survey, several environmental variables (photosynthetically active radiation, soil water content, groundwater table, pH and content of soil P, Ca, Mg, K, C and N) were measured in five locations within each plot. GLM were used to examine the relationship between explanatory variables and species richness, while variation in species composition, in time and space, was assessed by DCA.

Results

The number of species generally increased with decreasing soil nutrient (except Mg) content, with increasing variation in light availability and with increasing variation in K content. The significant increase in species richness from 1960 to 2012 was mainly attributed to the increase in true forest species, such as Paris quadrifolia and Mercurialis perennis, and woody species. The most pronounced increase in species richness was found in plots with lower soil phosphate content. Species typical for open habitats showed the most pronounced decrease from 1960 to 2012. A significant homogenization of the plots over time was observed.

Conclusions

Against the common trend in European forests, we found a significant increase in mean species richness, especially in plots with relatively low nutrient content. While the total pool of species has not consistently increased, we found a strong increase in plot‐scale species richness of woody and herbaceous species. This overall increase and the slight decrease in the proportion of species typical of open habitats were probably driven by a decrease in light availability caused by less intensive management. Our results demonstrate that fine‐scale spatial environmental heterogeneity positively affects species richness. In contrast to recently reported findings, we found a decrease in the number of species with increasing nutrient content.
The Politics of Benchcraft: The Role of Judges in Mental Health Courts
Authors: Castellano Ursula
Published: November 2016

Mental health courts (MHCs) offer community-based treatment in lieu of criminal prosecution for chronic offenders with psychiatric disabilities, and MHC judges enjoy expanded powers to achieve the court's objectives. Because scholars know little about how judges transition into a new occupational role in the problem-solving courtroom, this ethnographic study of four MHCs in the United States focuses on how judges learn to orchestrate their responses to treatment noncompliance in this novel court setting. The goal of this article is to examine the professionalization of MHC judges and the emergent craft of therapeutic adjudication. To achieve this goal, I investigate judicial strategies for motivating, questioning, and defending participants accused of wrongdoing. I conclude that the art and practice of problem-solving justice requires judges to rise to the larger institutional challenges embedded in the alternative courtroom, a process I call the politics of benchcraft.
The variability of ruthenium in chromite from chassignite and olivine‐phyric shergottite meteorites: New insights into the behavior of PGE and sulfur in Martian magmatic systems
Authors: Baumgartner Raphael J. , Fiorentini Marco L. , Baratoux David , Ferrière Ludovic , Locmelis Marek , Tomkins Andrew , Sener Kerim A.
Published: November 2016

The Martian meteorites comprise mantle‐derived mafic to ultramafic rocks that formed in shallow intrusions and/or lava flows. This study reports the first in situ platinum‐group element data on chromite and ulvöspinel from a series of dunitic chassignites and olivine‐phyric shergottites, determined using laser‐ablation ICP‐MS. As recent studies have shown that Ru has strongly contrasting affinities for coexisting sulfide and spinel phases, the precise in situ analysis of this element in spinel can provide important insights into the sulfide saturation history of Martian mantle‐derived melts. The new data reveal distinctive differences between the two meteorite groups. Chromite from the chassignites Northwest Africa 2737 (NWA 2737) and Chassigny contained detectable concentrations of Ru (up to ~160 ppb Ru) in solid solution, whereas chromite and ulvöspinel from the olivine‐phyric shergottites Yamato‐980459 (Y‐980459), Tissint, and Dhofar 019 displayed Ru concentrations consistently below detection limit (<42 ppb). The relatively elevated Ru signatures of chromite from the chassignites suggest a Ru‐rich (~1–4 ppb) parental melt for this meteorite group, which presumably did not experience segregation of immiscible sulfide liquids over the interval of mantle melting, melt ascent, and chromite crystallization. The relatively Ru‐depleted signature of chromite and ulvöspinel from the olivine‐phyric shergottites may be the consequence of relatively lower Ru contents (<1 ppb) in the parental melts, and/or the presence of sulfides during the crystallization of the spinel phases. The results of this study illustrate the significance of platinum‐group element in situ analysis on spinel phases to decipher the sulfide saturation history of magmatic systems.
CtrA controls cell division and outer membrane composition of the pathogen Brucella abortus
Authors: Francis Nayla , Poncin Katy , Fioravanti Antonella , Vassen Victoria , Willemart Kevin , Ong Thi Anh Phuong , Rappez Luca , Letesson Jean‐Jacques , Biondi Emanuele G. , De Bolle Xavier
Published: November 2016

Brucella abortus is a pathogen infecting cattle, able to survive, traffic, and proliferate inside host cells. It belongs to the Alphaproteobacteria, a phylogenetic group comprising bacteria with free living, symbiotic, and pathogenic lifestyles. An essential regulator of cell cycle progression named CtrA was described in the model bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. This regulator is conserved in many alphaproteobacteria, but the evolution of its regulon remains elusive. Here we identified promoters that are CtrA targets using ChIP‐seq and we found that CtrA binds to promoters of genes involved in cell cycle progression, in addition to numerous genes encoding outer membrane components involved in export of membrane proteins and synthesis of lipopolysaccharide. Analysis of a conditional B. abortus ctrA loss of function mutant confirmed that CtrA controls cell division. Impairment of cell division generates elongated and branched morphologies, that are also detectable inside HeLa cells. Surprisingly, abnormal bacteria are able to traffic to the endoplasmic reticulum, the usual replication niche of B. abortus in host cells. We also found that CtrA depletion affected outer membrane composition, in particular the abundance and spatial distribution of Omp25. Control of the B. abortus envelope composition by CtrA indicates the plasticity of the CtrA regulon along evolution.
A high‐resolution genetic map of the cereal crown rot pathogen Fusarium pseudograminearum provides a near‐complete genome assembly
Authors: Gardiner Donald M. , Benfield Aurelie H. , Stiller Jiri , Stephen Stuart , Aitken Karen , Liu Chunji , Kazan Kemal
Published: November 2016

Fusarium pseudograminearum is an important pathogen of wheat and barley, particularly in semi‐arid environments. Previous genome assemblies for this organism were based entirely on short read data and are highly fragmented. In this work, a genetic map of F. pseudograminearum has been constructed for the first time based on a mapping population of 178 individuals. The genetic map, together with long read scaffolding of a short read‐based genome assembly, was used to give a near‐complete assembly of the four F. pseudograminearum chromosomes. Large regions of synteny between F. pseudograminearum and F. graminearum, the related pathogen that is the primary causal agent of cereal head blight disease, were previously proposed in the core conserved genome, but the construction of a genetic map to order and orient contigs is critical to the validation of synteny and the placing of species‐specific regions. Indeed, our comparative analyses of the genomes of these two related pathogens suggest that rearrangements in the F. pseudograminearum genome have occurred in the chromosome ends. One of these rearrangements includes the transposition of an entire gene cluster involved in the detoxification of the benzoxazolinone (BOA) class of plant phytoalexins. This work provides an important genomic and genetic resource for F. pseudograminearum, which is less well characterized than F. graminearum. In addition, this study provides new insights into a better understanding of the sexual reproduction process in F. pseudograminearum, which informs us of the potential of this pathogen to evolve.
Evaluation of quality of kidneys from donation after circulatory death/expanded criteria donors by parameters of machine perfusion
Authors: Chen Guodong , Wang Chang , Zhao Yi , Qiu Longhui , Yuan Xiaopeng , Qiu Jiang , Wang Changxi , He Xiaoshun , Chen Lizhong
Published: November 2016

Aim

To investigate whether the parameters of machine perfusion could predict the quality of kidneys from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors and expanded criteria donors (ECD).

Methods

Fifty‐eight kidneys from DCD/ECD donors were harvested in our hospital from July 2011 to August 2014. All kidneys were preserved with machine perfusion (Life Port), and parameters of machine perfusion were collected. All kidneys were biopsied before transplantation. The primary endpoints were delayed graft function (DGF), graft loss and patient death.

Results

After kidney transplantation, 26 patients (44.8%) had DGF. We chose 1 h RI as a predictive parameter to predict DGF after transplant, and made the ROC curve. The ROC curve showed that 1 h RI = 0.4 was the best cut‐off point for predicting DGF after transplant. The sensitivity was 61.54%, and the specificity was 81.25%. Fifty‐eight recipients were divided into two groups according to 1 h RI of machine perfusion. 22 cases in high RI group (RI > 0.4) and 36 cases in low RI group (RI ≤0.4). DGF rate was significantly higher in the high RI group (72.7% vs. 27.8%). One year serum creatinine levels were also significantly higher in the high RI group (P < 0.05). Acute rejection rate and 1 year graft and patient survival were comparable.

Conclusions

One hour RI of machine perfusion is associated with DGF and 1 year graft function in DCD/ECD kidney transplantation, and may be a non‐invasive tool for evaluating quality of DCD/ECD kidneys.
Gender differences in chronic constipation on anorectal motility
Authors: Zakari M. , Nee J. , Hirsch W. , Kuo B. , Lembo A. , Staller K.
Published: November 2016

Background

The epidemiology of chronic constipation (CC) skews toward female predominance, yet men make up an important component of those suffering from CC. We sought to determine whether there are sex‐specific differences in symptoms and physiologic parameters on anorectal manometry (ARM).

Methods

We performed a case–control analysis of sequential men and age‐matched women (2:1 ratio) presenting for ARM as part of the evaluation of CC. We collected physiologic parameters derived from 3D high‐resolution ARM in addition to the ROME III constipation module and the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory 20 (PFDI‐20) questionnaires. We analyzed univariate, sex‐specific differences in ARM physiologic parameters and PFDI‐20 parameters and adjusted for putative confounders using multivariate logistic regression.

Key Results

Our study enrolled 80 men and 165 age‐matched women. Men had a higher median sphincter resting pressure (81.2 vs 75.2 mm Hg, P=.01) and mean squeeze pressure (257.0 vs 170.5 mm Hg, P<.0001) than women. Although men reported significantly less severe straining and incomplete evacuation, they had greater mean rectoanal pressure differential (−106.7 vs −71.1 mm Hg, P<.0001), smaller mean defecation index (0.17 vs 0.27, P=.03) and higher volume threshold for urgency (115.2 v. 103.4 mL, P=.03). However, women were more likely to have abnormal balloon expulsion time (BET) than men (52.7% vs 35.0%, P=.01). After multivariate analysis, male gender was the only independent predictor of a normal BET (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.27‐0.86, P=.01).

Conclusions & Inferences

Men and women with CC differ with regard to symptom severity and physiologic parameters derived from ARM suggesting differences in their pathophysiology.
Motility patterns in mouse colon: gastrointestinal dysfunction induced by anticancer chemotherapy
Authors: Spencer N. J.
Published: November 2016

Colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer‐related death in humans. 5‐Fluorouracil (5‐FU), a major chemotherapy treatment, has been used for decades to fight numerous types of cancers, including breast, colon, and head and neck carcinomas. Unfortunately, a large proportion of patients treated with 5‐FU develop toxicities that include diarrhea, mucositis, neutropenia, and vomiting. While the side effects of 5‐FU are well known, the mechanisms underlying the induction of these unpleasant symptoms are poorly understood. The study by McQuade et al. in this issue of Neurogastroenterology & Motility provides important new potential explanations for the gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction induced by 5‐FU. These researchers carefully investigated an overlooked research area in which the symptoms of GI‐motility dysfunction maybe due to an effect on the enteric nervous system. McQuade et al. delivered 5‐FU treatment to mice and discovered an initial increase in GI transit (associated with acute intestinal inflammation), followed by a slowing in transit. Major differences were noted in characteristics of colonic migrating motor complexes. These effects maybe causally related to deficits in enteric ganglia or neurotransmission. Their study identified specific neurochemical classes of neurons in the myenteric plexus most affected by 5‐FU. This is the first study to provide evidence that the functional intrinsic neural pathways within the enteric nervous system are likely impaired by 5‐FU, leading to colonic dysmotility. This review will describe major patterns of motor activity in isolated whole mouse colon and how these patterns are modified by anticancer chemotherapy.
Downregulation of neuronal vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in Parkinson's disease and chronic constipation
Authors: Giancola F. , Torresan F. , Repossi R. , Bianco F. , Latorre R. , Ioannou A. , Guarino M. , Volta U. , Clavenzani P. , Mazzoni M. , Chiocchetti R. , Bazzoli F. , Travagli R. A. , Sternini C. , De Giorgio R.
Published: November 2016

Background

Chronic constipation (CC) is a common and severe gastrointestinal complaint in Parkinson's disease (PD), but its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. This study evaluated functionally distinct submucosal neurons in relation to colonic motility and anorectal function in PD patients with constipation (PD/CC) vs both CC and controls.

Methods

Twenty‐nine PD/CC and 10 Rome III‐defined CC patients were enrolled. Twenty asymptomatic age‐sex matched subjects served as controls. Colonic transit time measurement and conventional anorectal manometry were evaluated in PD/CC and CC patients. Colonoscopy was performed in all three groups. Colonic submucosal whole mounts from PD/CC, CC, and controls were processed for immunohistochemistry with antibodies for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and peripheral choline acetyltransferase, markers for functionally distinct submucosal neurons. The mRNA expression of VIP and its receptors were also assessed.

Key Results

Four subgroups of PD/CC patients were identified: delayed colonic transit plus altered anorectal manometry (65%); delayed colonic transit (13%); altered manometric pattern (13%); and no transit and manometric impairment (9%). There were no differences in the number of neurons/ganglion between PD/CC vs CC or vs controls. A reduced number of submucosal neurons containing VIP immunoreactivity was found in PD/CC vs controls (P<.05). VIP, VIPR1, and VIPR2 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in PD/CC vs CC and controls (P<.05).

Conclusions and Inferences

Colonic motor and rectal sensory functions are impaired in most PD/CC patients. These abnormalities are associated with a decreased VIP expression in submucosal neurons. Both sensory‐motor abnormalities and neurally mediated motor and secretory mechanisms are likely to contribute to PD/CC pathophysiology.
Communicating with children and families about obesity and weight‐related topics: a scoping review of best practices
Authors: McPherson A. C. , Hamilton J. , Kingsnorth S. , Knibbe T. J. , Peters M. , Swift J. A. , Krog K. , Chen L. , Steinberg A. , Ball G. D. C.
Published: November 2016

Background

Healthcare professionals have called for direction on how best to communicate about weight‐related topics with children and families. Established scoping review methodology was used to answer the question: ‘How can healthcare professionals best communicate with children and their families about obesity and weight‐related topics?’

Methods

We searched four scientific databases, two grey literature repositories and 14 key journals (2005–2016). Inclusion criteria were (i) children up to and including 18 years of age and/or their parents; (ii) communication about healthy weight, overweight, obesity or healthy/active living; and (iii) healthcare setting.

Results

Thirty‐two articles were included. Evidence‐based best practices were largely absent from the literature, although the following guiding principles were identified: (i) include all stakeholders in discussions; (ii) raise the topic of weight and health early and regularly; (iii) use strengths‐based language emphasizing health over weight; (iv) use collaborative goal‐setting to engage children and parents and (v) augment discussions with appropriate tools and resources. Guidance on how to implement these principles and how to negotiate relevant contextual factors (e.g. age, culture and disability) is still needed.

Conclusion

Despite agreement on a number of guiding principles, evidence‐based weight‐related communication best practices are lacking. Rigorous, empirical evaluations of communication approaches are urgently required, especially those that include children's perspectives.
Elevated leukocyte count is associated with periodontitis in Korean adults: the 2012–2014 KNHANES
Authors: Kwon Y‐J , Jeon K‐J , Chung T‐H , Lee Y‐J
Published: November 2016

Objective

Both an elevated leukocyte count and periodontitis share well‐recognized associations with cardiometabolic diseases. This cross‐sectional study aimed to identify whether the leukocyte count is associated with periodontitis in a nationally representative Korean adult population.

Materials and Methods

Data from 9391 participants (3659 males and 5732 females) enrolled in 2012–2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Leukocyte quartiles were categorized as follows: 3000 ≤ Q1 ≤ 4870, 4880 ≤ Q2 ≤5790, 5800 ≤ Q3 ≤ 6840, and 6850 ≤ Q4 ≤ 10000 cells/μl. Periodontitis was defined as scoring greater than or equal to ‘code 3’ in at least one site according to the WHO's Community Periodontal Index. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for periodontitis in each leukocyte count quartile were calculated using multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

The prevalence of periodontitis was directly correlated with increasing leukocyte quartiles: 19%, 20.4%, 24.3%, and 30.3%. Compared with the lowest leukocyte quartile group, the OR (95% CI) for periodontitis of the highest leukocyte quartile was 1.558 (1.285–1.891) after controlling for confounding factors.

Conclusion

An elevated leukocyte count was positively associated with the presence of periodontitis.
Implementation of a real‐time reference and calibration grid platform for improved screening – mapping in Pap test slides
Authors: Tsiambas Evangelos , Riziotis Christos
Published: November 2016

Cervical cancer screening based on the Papanicolaou (Pap) test is a widely applied but not always efficient practice for detecting Human Papillomavirus (HPV) mediated lesions, partially due to a non‐systematic and inadequate screening process. Our aim was to introduce an inexpensive easy‐to‐use direct screening platform for improved detection of abnormal cells indicative of underlying cervical neoplasia as well as persisting HPV infection. By employing a novel, efficient technique of laser‐based micromachining, we achieved the fabrication of spatial grids on commercially available coverslips allowing visual segmentation of the slide for efficient screening. Abnormal and formerly diagnosed as negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) Pap test slides (n = 200) were analyzed by conventional and grid‐based screening. Grid‐based microscopy led to a more reliable diagnosis compared to the conventional by identifying an increased number of abnormal cells (P = 0.001). It decreased borderline ASCUS, AGC diagnosis, increasing LSIL, HSIL and in situ AdenoCa detection rates closely related with biopsy (P = 0.015; kappa = 0.978). Concerning the set of NILM diagnoses in rapid re‐screening, the method upgraded six cases (n = 6) to LSIL (P = 0.001). The proposed technical solution offers a calibration and orientation visual aid during the on‐site screening process providing significant advantages compared to expensive digital imaging techniques.
Determinants of Pro‐Fracking Measure Adoption by New York Southern Tier Municipalities
Authors: Arnold Gwen , Neupane Kaubin Wosti
Published: November 2016

New York municipalities passed more than 60 measures promoting high‐volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF), 2008–12. These policies and resolutions signaled to state officials that municipalities desired HVHF's promised economic benefits and were anxious for an end to the state's HVHF moratorium. They also may be evidence of municipalities proactively preparing for a drilling boom. Why did some jurisdictions adopt these measures while others did not? While scholarship suggests that policy adoption is facilitated when jurisdictions and citizens possess more resources, capacity appears to have a negative or negligible impact on pro‐HVHF action. Such action appears more likely when local actors anticipate HVHF's potential gains but have not previously experienced substantial drilling, perceive that the industry could be viable locally, and can access relevant policy examples. Some lessons from conventional adoption scholarship may not apply when policies are symbolic, advocacy may be elite‐driven, and mimicry is an important diffusion mechanism.
Institutional Accountability of Nonstate Actors in the UNFCCC: Exit, Voice, and Loyalty
Authors: Kuyper Jonathan , Bäckstrand Karin , Schroeder Heike
Published: November 2016

How are nonstate actors within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held to account? In this article, we introduce the concept of “institutional accountability” to complement the wider literature(s) on accountability in climate governance. Within institutional frameworks, actors employ rules, norms, and procedures to demand justifications from one another. In light of those justifications, actors then use “exit, voice, or loyalty” to positively or negatively sanction each other. To depict the dynamics of institutional accountability, we analyze the role of nonstate actors in the nine constituency groups of the UNFCCC. We outline the constituency structure and the population of observer organizations. We then identify examples where nonstate actors employed institutional rules in tandem with exit, voice, or loyalty to foster accountability. In making this analysis we draw upon three years of on‐site participation at UNFCCC meetings, document analysis, and more than 40 semi‐structured interviews with state and nonstate actors. We conclude by discussing the scope and conditions under which institutional accountability may occur in other issue areas of global governance.
HLA‐B*13:95, a novel variant of HLA‐B*13, discovered in a Taiwanese blood donor
Authors: Yang K. L. , Lin P. Y.
Published: November 2016

A single nucleotide replacement at residue 430 of HLA‐B*13:01:01 results in a new allele, HLA‐B*13:95.
The cotton β‐galactosyltransferase 1 (GalT1) that galactosylates arabinogalactan proteins participates in controlling fiber development
Authors: Qin Li‐Xia , Chen Yun , Zeng Wei , Li Yang , Gao Lu , Li Deng‐Di , Bacic Antony , Xu Wen‐Liang , Li Xue‐Bao
Published: November 2016

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are highly glycosylated proteins that play pivotal roles in diverse developmental processes in plants. Type‐II AG glycans, mostly O‐linked to the hydroxyproline residues of the protein backbone, account for up to 95% w/w of the AGP, but their functions are still largely unclear. Cotton fibers are extremely elongated single‐cell trichomes on the seed epidermis; however, little is known of the molecular basis governing the regulation of fiber cell development. Here, we characterized the role of a CAZy glycosyltransferase 31 (GT31) family member, GhGalT1, in cotton fiber development. The fiber length of the transgenic cotton overexpressing GhGalT1 was shorter than that of the wild type, whereas in the GhGalT1‐silenced lines there was a notable increase in fiber length compared with wild type. The carbohydrate moieties of AGPs were altered in fibers of GhGalT1 transgenic cotton. The galactose: arabinose ratio of AG glycans was higher in GhGalT1 overexpression fibers, but was lower in GhGalT1‐silenced lines, compared with that in the wild type. Overexpression of GhGalT1 upregulates transcript levels of a broad range of cell wall‐related genes, especially the fasciclin‐like AGP (FLA) backbone genes. An enzyme activity assay demonstrated that GhGalT1 is a β‐1,3‐galactosyltransferase (β‐1,3‐GalT) involved in biosynthesis of the β‐1,3‐galactan backbone of the type‐II AG glycans of AGPs. We also show that GhGalT1 can form homo‐ and heterodimers with other cotton GT31 family members to facilitate AG glycan assembly of AGPs. Thus, our data demonstrate that GhGalT1 influences cotton fiber development via controlling the glycosylation of AGPs, especially FLAs.
Systematic deletion of the ER lectin chaperone genes reveals their roles in vegetative growth and male gametophyte development in Arabidopsis
Authors: Vu Kien Van , Nguyen Ngoc Trinh , Jeong Chan Young , Lee Yong‐Hwa , Lee Hojoung , Hong Suk‐Whan
Published: November 2016

Calnexin (CNX) and calreticulin (CRT) are homologous lectin chaperones in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that facilitate glycoprotein folding and retain folding intermediates to prevent their transit via the secretary pathway. The Arabidopsis genome has two CNX (CNX1 and CNX2) and three CRT (CRT1, CRT2 and CRT3) homologs. Despite growing evidence of the biological roles of CNXs and CRTs, little is understood about their function in Arabidopsis growth and development under normal conditions. Here, we report that the deletion of CNX1, but not of CNX2, in the crt1 crt2 crt3 triple mutation background had an adverse effect on pollen viability and pollen tube growth, leading to a significant reduction in fertility. The cnx1 crt1 crt2 crt3 quadruple mutation also conferred severe defects in growth and development, including a shortened primary root, increased root hair length and density, and reduced plant height. Disruption of all five members of the CNX/CRT family was revealed to be lethal. Finally, the abnormal phenotype of the cnx1 crt1 crt2 crt3 quadruple mutants was completely rescued by either the CNX1 or CNX2 cDNA under the control of the CNX1 promoter, suggesting functional redundancy between CNX1 and CNX2. Taken together, these results provide genetic evidence that CNX and CRT play essential and overlapping roles during vegetative growth and male gametophyte development in Arabidopsis.
Advances in understanding broad‐spectrum resistance to pathogens in rice
Authors: Ke Yinggen , Deng Hanqing , Wang Shiping
Published: November 2016

Rice diseases caused by multiple pathogen species are a major obstacle to achieving optimal yield. Using host pathogen species‐non‐specific broad‐spectrum resistance (BSR) for rice improvement is an efficient way to control diseases. Recent advances in rice genomics and improved understanding of the mechanisms of rice‐pathogen interactions have shown that using a single gene to improve rice BSR to multiple pathogen species is technically possible and the necessary resources exist. A variety of rice genes, including major disease resistance genes and defense‐responsive genes, which function in pattern‐triggered immunity signaling, effector‐triggered immunity signaling or quantitative resistance, can mediate BSR to two or more pathogen species independently. These genes encode diverse proteins and function differently in promoting disease resistance, thus providing a relatively broad choice for different breeding programs. This updated knowledge will facilitate rice improvement with pathogen species‐non‐specific BSR via gene marker‐assisted selection or biotechnological approaches.
Ascorbate degradation in tomato leads to accumulation of oxalate, threonate and oxalyl threonate
Authors: Truffault Vincent , Fry Stephen C. , Stevens Rebecca G. , Gautier Hélène
Published: November 2016

Ascorbate content in plants is controlled by its synthesis from carbohydrates, recycling of the oxidized forms and degradation. Of these pathways, ascorbate degradation is the least studied and represents a lack of knowledge that could impair improvement of ascorbate content in fruits and vegetables as degradation is non‐reversible and leads to a depletion of the ascorbate pool. The present study revealed the nature of degradation products using [14C]ascorbate labelling in tomato, a model plant for fleshy fruits; oxalate and threonate are accumulated in leaves, as is oxalyl threonate. Carboxypentonates coming from diketogulonate degradation were detected in relatively insoluble (cell wall‐rich) leaf material. No [14C]tartaric acid was found in tomato leaves. Ascorbate degradation was stimulated by darkness, and the degradation rate was evaluated at 63% of the ascorbate pool per day, a percentage that was constant and independent of the initial ascorbate or dehydroascorbic acid concentration over periods of 24 h or more. Furthermore, degradation could be partially affected by the ascorbate recycling pathway, as lines under‐expressing monodehydroascorbate reductase showed a slight decrease in degradation product accumulation.
Treatment of a giant pulmonary emphysematous cyst with primary bronchoalveolar papillary carcinoma in a Shih Tzu dog
Authors: Park Jiyoung , Lee Hae‐Beom , Jeong Seong Mok
Published: November 2016

Objective

To report the surgical treatment of a pulmonary emphysematous cyst concurrent with primary pulmonary bronchoalveolar papillary carcinoma in a dog.

Study Design

Clinical case report.

Animals

12‐year‐old 6.4 kg spayed female Shih Tzu dog.

Methods

The dog presented for surgical treatment of pulmonary emphysema. Radiography revealed that more than half of the left caudal lung lobe was enlarged and hyperlucent and computed tomography (CT) confirmed the presence of an emphysematous space. Thoracoscopic lung lobectomy was attempted but was converted to an intercostal thoracotomy due to poor visualization and pleural adhesions. A left caudal total lung lobectomy was performed using a self‐cutting endoscopic stapler.

Results

The dog recovered uneventfully and a postoperative histopathologic diagnosis of pulmonary cystic bronchoalveolar papillary carcinoma was made. Re‐evaluation using a CT scan with contrast study on postoperative days 27 and 177 revealed no evidence of residual, metastatic, or recurrent lesions. The dog has been doing well since surgery during the 11 month follow‐up period.

Conclusion

This case report suggests a potential relationship between pulmonary emphysematous diseases and primary lung tumors in dogs.
Artificial shortage of surface water: how can water demand management mitigate the scarcity problem?
Authors: Slavíková Lenka , Vojáček Ondřej , Smejkal Tomáš
Published: November 2016

Water demand management stresses the crucial roles of water user motivations in balancing actual water availability and competing human needs. This paper shows how the absence of such motivations influences artificial water scarcity, even in resource‐abundant countries, and how slight modifications to economic instruments (surface water charges in particular) might solve the problem. Data from the Czech Republic are used to illustrate the rationale behind the artificial scarcity problem and its solution. A model with feedback based on historical surface water abstraction data is built to simulate the impacts of different payment modification scenarios.
(PSEUDO)SCIENCE, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, AND HISTORIOGRAPHY: ASSESSING THE SCIENTIFICATION OF RELIGION'S METHOD AND THEORY
Authors: Ambasciano Leonardo
Published: November 2016

In the recent past, attempts to revitalize historico‐religious studies have challenged the charismatic appeal of some of the most celebrated scholars of the twentieth century. At the same time, the old and ideological frameworks that characterized the field have been critically analyzed and deconstructed. The disciplinary status quo, taken for granted for quite a long time, has been shaken to its foundation, paving the way for new approaches. However, the postmodern tenet of problematizing any authority has also become a convenient shortcut to blur the distinction between scientific signal (i.e., knowledge systematically obtained via rational inquiry) and nonepistemic noise (i.e., pseudoscience). Despite this troublesome feature, some scholars have deployed postmodern and poststructuralist tools to study the genealogy, reception, implementation, and diffusion of cultural representations within the aforementioned academic discipline. The present article briefly reviews one of the most recent and remarkable examples of such scholarship, that is, The Scientification of Religion: An Historical Study of Discursive Change, 1800–2000 (von Stuckrad 2014).
TECHNOLOGY AND MUSLIMS: A FIELD STUDY OF IRANIAN SCHOLARS
Authors: Nasiri Mahdi , Azkia Mostafa , Mahdavi Seyyed Mohammad Sadegh
Published: November 2016

Muslim scholars have had different approaches toward modern technologies. Defining the situation in various Islamic countries is dependent on knowing the approaches adopted by their scholars. These approaches create norms which can shed light on the reasons for the success and failure of access to technology and its transference. The present article sets out to analyze the views of the Qom seminary scholars in Iran about the development of modern technologies within the framework of the development sociology using the qualitative methodology of grounded theory. To this end, such techniques as conducting interviews and investigating documents have been used to gather the data. The authors find four paradigm models regarding modern technologies among the Qom seminary scholars. These models are classified into two general categories: optimistic and pessimistic. In the end, an “appropriate technology” approach is introduced as an approach singled out by the researchers.
EFFECT OF POLYVINYLPYRROLIDONE AND FABRICATION PARAMETERS ON ELECTROSPUN TITANIUM OXIDE NANOFIBRES’ DIAMETER
Authors: Sheng Tang Zi , Bolong Nurmin , Saad Ismail , Ramli Rosdianah , Tiam Yang Lim Franklin
Published: November 2016

Electrospinning is the most versatile and cost effective technique to produce titanium oxide (TiO2) nanofibres. An ethanolic solution containing titanium tetraisopropoxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone and acetic acid was loaded in the syringe to produce TiO2 nanofibres. In the present work, a custom-made electrospinning system was developed to investigate the fabrication and solution effects to the diameter of electrospun TiO2 fibres. The fabrication parameters were applied voltage (kV), flow rate (ml/hr) and tip to collector distance (cm). In addition, the effect of varying the weightage of polymer carrier on electrospun TiO2 nanofibres was investigated. The surface morphology of the fibres was examined with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and further analysed with the aid of JMicroVision. The significance of the influencing parameters was observed from high to low order as PVP content > tip to collector distance > applied voltage > flow rate. In conclusion, the parameters of applied voltage (15 kV), flow rate (1 ml/hr), tip to collector distance (10 cm) and PVP content (6 wt. %) are able to produce uniform TiO2 nanofibres.
INCORPORATION OF BACTERICIDAL NANOMATERIALS IN DEVELOPMENT OF ANTIBACTERIAL MEMBRANE FOR BIOFOULING MITIGATION: A MINI REVIEW
Authors: Nazerah A. , Ismail A. F. , Jaafar Juhana
Published: November 2016

Biofouling has become concern issue in all pressure driven membrane technology. The attachment of microorganism to the membrane surface gave an effect to membrane life span, increased operating and maintenance costs. Therefore, this review is focusing on the development of nanocomposite membrane based on improving bactericidal properties to suppress the activity of attached organisms in order to minimize biofilm formation. This approach was done with incorporation of biocidal nanomaterials into a polymeric membrane matrix by include metal-based nanoparticles such as Titanium dioxide (TiO2), Copper (Cu), Silver (Ag), Zinc oxide (ZnO); carbon-based nanomaterials including graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and hybrid nanomaterials. Current constraints and prospective by the use of nanomaterials are discussed in order to increase antibacterial property for long term application for further implementation in membrane systems from the views of water and wastewater treatment applications.
The affine Grassmannian and the Springer resolution in positive characteristic
Authors: Achar Pramod N. , Rider Laura
Published: November 2016

An important result of Arkhipov–Bezrukavnikov–Ginzburg relates constructible sheaves on the affine Grassmannian to coherent sheaves on the dual Springer resolution. In this paper, we prove a positive-characteristic analogue of this statement, using the framework of ‘mixed modular sheaves’ recently developed by the first author and Riche. As an application, we deduce a relationship between parity sheaves on the affine Grassmannian and Bezrukavnikov’s ‘exotic t-structure’ on the Springer resolution.
A Novel Approach to Assess the In Situ Versus Ex Vivo Mechanical Behaviors of the Coronary Artery
Authors: Wang Ruoya , Raykin Julia , Brewster Luke P. , Gleason Rudolph L.
Published: November 2016

Ex vivo mechanical testing has provided tremendous insight toward prediction of the in vivo mechanical behavior and local mechanical environment of the arterial wall; however, the role of perivascular support on the local mechanical behavior of arteries is not well understood. Here, we present a novel approach for quantifying the impact of the perivascular support on arterial mechanics using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) on cadaveric porcine hearts. We performed pressure-diameter tests (n = 5) on the left anterior descending coronary arteries (LADCAs) in situ while embedded in their native perivascular environment using IVUS imaging and after removal of the perivascular support of the artery. We then performed standard cylindrical biaxial testing on these vessels ex vivo and compared the results. Removal of the perivascular support resulted in an upward shift of the pressure-diameter curve. Ex vivo testing, however, showed significantly lower circumferential compliance compared to the in situ configuration. On a second set of arteries, local axial stretch ratios were quantified (n = 5) along the length of the arteries. The average in situ axial stretch ratio was 1.28 ± 0.16; however, local axial stretch ratios showed significant variability, ranging from 1.01 to 1.70. Taken together, the data suggest that both the perivascular loading and the axial tethering have an important role in arterial mechanics. Combining nondestructive testing using IVUS with traditional ex vivo cylindrical biaxial testing yields a more comprehensive assessment of the mechanical behavior of arteries.
Prediction of Asymmetric Yield Strengths of Polymeric Materials at Tension and Compression Using Spherical Indentation
Authors: Inoue Noriyuki , Yonezu Akio , Watanabe Yousuke , Yamamura Hiroshi , Xu Baoxing
Published: November 2016

Engineering polymers generally exhibit asymmetric yield strength in tension and compression due to different arrangements of molecular structures in response to external loadings. For the polymeric materials whose plastic behavior follows the Drucker–Prager yield criterion, the present study proposes a new method to predict both tensile and compressive yield strength utilizing instrumented spherical indentation. Our method is decomposed into two parts based on the depth of indentation, shallow indentation, and deep indentation. The shallow indentation is targeted to study elastic deformation of materials, and is used to estimate Young's modulus and yield strength in compression; the deep indentation is used to achieve full plastic deformation of materials and extract the parameters in Drucker–Prager yield criterion associated with both tensile and compressive yield strength. Extensive numerical computations via finite element method (FEM) are performed to build a dimensionless function that can be employed to describe the quantitative relationship between indentation force-depth curves and material parameters of relevance to yield criterion. A reverse algorithm is developed to determine the material properties and its robustness is verified by performing both numerical and experimental analysis.