bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Work‐to‐family conflict as a mediator of the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention
Authors: Chen I‐Hui , Brown Roger , Bowers Barbara J. , Chang Wen‐Yin
Published: June 2015

Aims

To investigate the mediating effect of work‐to‐family conflict on the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention among licensed nurses in long‐term care settings.

Background

The considerable research on turnover in long‐term care has primarily focused on the impact of job satisfaction on turnover intention. Given the well‐documented high turnover rate in nursing home staffing, dissatisfaction is expected to continue. Alternatives (e.g. reduction in work‐to‐family conflict) for reducing turnover under the circumstance of job dissatisfaction have not been investigated extensively.

Design

A cross‐sectional mailed survey.

Methods

A convenience sample comprising 200 nurses from 25 private nursing homes in Central Taiwan was created. Data were collected from nurses about their level of turnover intention, job satisfaction and work‐to‐family conflict in 2012. A composite indicator structural equation model was used to examine the mediation model of this study.

Results

Overall, 186 nurses (93%) returned the completed questionnaires. Consistent with published research from other countries, turnover intention in our study was significantly and negatively associated with job satisfaction and significantly and positively associated with work‐to‐family conflict. In addition, job dissatisfaction indirectly influenced turnover intention through high work‐to‐family conflict.

Conclusion

Findings from this study indicate the importance of work‐to‐family conflict to nurse turnover. While work setting has a strong, well‐documented influence on job satisfaction, limiting job satisfaction efforts to work setting improvements may not yield the hoped‐for results unless work‐to‐family conflict is also considered and addressed.
Effect of serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 on insulin resistance and β‐cell function in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients
Authors: Yang Yan , Zhang Xuejun , Bao Mingjing , Liu Limei , Xian Yang , Wu Jichuan , Li Pengqiu
Published: June 2015

Aims/Introduction

To evaluate serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients and to explore the associations of 25(OH)D3 with insulin resistance and β‐cell function.

Materials and Methods

A total of 97 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients and 69 healthy controls were recruited. Serum 25(OH)D3 was determined using high‐pressure liquid chromatography. Insulin resistance was measured using a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR). β‐Cell function was determined using the HOMA β‐cell function index (HOMA‐β), early‐phase insulin secretion index (ΔI30/ΔG30) and area under the insulin curve (AUCins). Correlation analysis was carried out using Pearson's correlation and multiple stepwise regression analysis.

Results

Serum 25(OH)D3 was much lower in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (t = −13.00, P < 0.01), and the prevalence of hypovitaminosis 25(OH)D3 was 62.9% (61/97) in diabetic patients. Among the diabetic patients, patients with hypovitaminosis 25(OH)D3 showed higher glycosylated hemoglobin and AUCglu (P < 0.01) as well as lower HOMA‐β, ΔI30/ΔG30 and AUCins. Serum 25(OH)D3 was independently positively correlated with ΔI30/ΔG30 and AUCins (P < 0.05), but was not significantly correlated with either HOMA‐IR or HOMA‐β. Only triglycerides, glycosylated hemoglobin and ΔI30/ΔG30 emerged as independent factors associated with serum 25(OH)D3 in both diabetes patients and the health control group.

Conclusions

The present results further showed a low serum 25(OH)D3 concentration in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. 25(OH)D3 deficiency is associated with disturbances in glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism. Serum 25(OH)D3 is not correlated with basal insulin resistance or β‐cell function, but is significantly positively correlated with glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion and β‐cell function.
Relationship of menstrual cycle and vaginal infection in female rhesus macaques challenged with repeated, low doses of SIVmac251
Authors: Morris Monica R. , Byrareddy Siddappa N. , Villinger Francois , Henning Tara C. , Butler Katherine , Ansari Aftab A. , McNicholl Janet M. , Kersh Ellen N.
Published: June 2015

Varying susceptibility during menstrual cycling could be a factor for S(H)IV infection risk in female rhesus macaques. We retrospectively determined vaginal SIV infection time points relative to the menstrual cycle in a group of rhesus macaques (n=11) enrolled in an HIV transmission trial. Eight of nine rhesus macaques became infected around menstruation time.
A new role for α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex: regulating metabolism through post‐translational modification of other enzymes
Authors: McKenna Mary C. , Rae Caroline D.
Published: June 2015

image

This Editorial highlights a study by Gibson et al. published in this issue of JNeurochem, in which the authors reveal a novel role for the α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (KGDHC) in post‐translational modification of proteins. KGDHC may catalyze post‐translational modification of itself as well as several other proteins by succinylation of lysine residues. The authors' report of an enzyme responsible for succinylation of key mitochondrial enzymes represents a major step toward our understanding of the complex functional metabolome. TCA, tricarboxylic acid; KG, α‐ketoglutarate; KGDHC, α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex; FUM, fumarase; MDH, malate dehydrogenase; ME, malic enzyme; GDH, glutamate dehydrogenase; AAT, aspartate aminotransferase; GS, glutamine synthetase; PAG, phosphate‐activated glutaminase; SIRT3, silent information regulator 3; SIRT5, silent information regulator 5.
Muscle spindle and fusimotor activity in locomotion
Authors: Ellaway Peter H. , Taylor Anthony , Durbaba Rade
Published: June 2015

Mammals may exhibit different forms of locomotion even within a species. A particular form of locomotion (e.g. walk, run, bound) appears to be selected by supraspinal commands, but the precise pattern, i.e. phasing of limbs and muscles, is generated within the spinal cord by so‐called central pattern generators. Peripheral sense organs, particularly the muscle spindle, play a crucial role in modulating the central pattern generator output. In turn, the feedback from muscle spindles is itself modulated by static and dynamic fusimotor (gamma) neurons. The activity of muscle spindle afferents and fusimotor neurons during locomotion in the cat is reviewed here. There is evidence for some alpha–gamma co‐activation during locomotion involving static gamma motoneurons. However, both static and dynamic gamma motoneurons show patterns of modulation that are distinct from alpha motoneuron activity. It has been proposed that static gamma activity may drive muscle spindle secondary endings to signal the intended movement to the central nervous system. Dynamic gamma motoneuron drive appears to prime muscle spindle primary endings to signal transitions in phase of the locomotor cycle. These findings come largely from reduced animal preparations (decerebrate) and require confirmation in freely moving intact animals.
Complex impairment of IA muscle proprioceptors following traumatic or neurotoxic injury
Authors: Vincent Jacob A. , Nardelli Paul , Gabriel Hanna M. , Deardorff Adam S. , Cope Timothy C.
Published: June 2015

The health of primary sensory afferents supplying muscle has to be a first consideration in assessing deficits in proprioception and related motor functions. Here we discuss the role of a particular proprioceptor, the IA muscle spindle proprioceptor in causing movement disorders in response to either regeneration of a sectioned peripheral nerve or damage from neurotoxic chemotherapy. For each condition, there is a single preferred and widely repeated explanation for disability of movements associated with proprioceptive function. We present a mix of published and preliminary findings from our laboratory, largely from in vivo electrophysiological study of treated rats to demonstrate newly discovered IA afferent defects that seem likely to make important contributions to movement disorders. First, we argue that reconnection of regenerated IA afferents with inappropriate targets, although often repeated as the reason for lost stretch–reflex contraction, is not a complete explanation. We present evidence that despite successful recovery of stretch‐evoked sensory signaling, peripherally regenerated IA afferents retract synapses made with motoneurons in the spinal cord. Second, we point to evidence that movement disability suffered by human subjects months after discontinuation of oxaliplatin (OX) chemotherapy for some is not accompanied by peripheral neuropathy, which is the acknowledged primary cause of disability. Our studies of OX‐treated rats suggest a novel additional explanation in showing the loss of sustained repetitive firing of IA afferents during static muscle stretch. Newly extended investigation reproduces this effect in normal rats with drugs that block Na+ channels apparently involved in encoding static IA afferent firing. Overall, these findings highlight multiplicity in IA afferent deficits that must be taken into account in understanding proprioceptive disability, and that present new avenues and possible advantages for developing effective treatment. Extending the study of IA afferent deficits yielded the additional benefit of elucidating normal processes in IA afferent mechanosensory function.
Comparative analysis of Meissner's corpuscles in the fingertips of primates
Authors: Verendeev Andrey , Thomas Christian , McFarlin Shannon C. , Hopkins William D. , Phillips Kimberley A. , Sherwood Chet C.
Published: June 2015

Meissner's corpuscles (MCs) are tactile mechanoreceptors found in the glabrous skin of primates, including fingertips. These receptors are characterized by sensitivity to light touch, and therefore might be associated with the evolution of manipulative abilities of the hands in primates. We examinedMCs in different primate species, including common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus,n = 5), baboon (Papio anubis,n = 2), rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta,n = 3), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes,n = 3), bonobo (Pan paniscus,n = 1) and human (Homo sapiens,n = 8). Fingertips of the first, second and fourth digits were collected from both hands of specimens, dissected and histologically stained using hematoxylin and eosin. The density (MCs per 1 mm2) and the size (cross‐sectional diameter ofMCs) were quantified. Overall, there were no differences in the densities ofMCs or their size among the digits or between the hands for any species examined. However,MCs varied across species. We found a trend for higher densities ofMCs in macaques and humans compared with chimpanzees and bonobos; moreover, apes had largerMCs than monkeys. We further examined whether the density or size ofMCs varied as a function of body mass, measures of dexterity and dietary frugivory. Among these variables, only body size accounted for a significant amount of variation in the size ofMCs.
Jaw myology and bite force of the monk parakeet (Aves, Psittaciformes)
Authors: Carril Julieta , Degrange Federico J. , Tambussi Claudia P.
Published: June 2015

Psittaciform birds exhibit novelties in jaw bone structure and musculature that are associated with strong bite forces. These features include an ossified arcus suborbitalis and the muscles ethmomandibularis and pseudomasseter. We analyse the jaw musculature of the monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) to enable future studies aimed at understanding craniofacial development, morphology, function and evolution. We estimate bite force based on muscle dissections, physiological cross‐sectional area and skull biomechanical modelling. We also compare our results with available data for other birds and traced the evolutionary origin of the three novel diagnostic traits. Our results indicate that, in Myiopsitta, (i) the arcus suborbitalis is absent and the orbit is ventrally closed by an elongate processus orbitalis and a short ligamentum suborbitale; (ii) the ethmomandibularis muscle is a conspicuous muscle with two bellies, with its origin on the anterior portion of the septum interorbitale and insertion on the medial aspect of the mandible; (iii) the pseudomasseter muscle consists of some fibers arising from the m. adductor mandibulae externus superficialis, covering the lateral surface of the arcus jugalis and attaches by an aponeurotic sheet on the processus orbitalis; (iv) a well‐developed adductor mandibulae complex is present; (v) the bite force estimation relative to body mass is higher than that calculated for other non‐psittaciform species; and (vi) character evolution analysis revealed that the absence of the arcus suborbitalis and the presence of the m. pseudomassseter are the ancestral conditions, and mapping is inconclusive about presence of one or two bellies of the m. ethmomandibularis.
Transnational Farmland Investment: A Risky Business
Authors: Li Tania Murray
Published: June 2015

Transnational farmland investments in much of the Global South are risky for all parties involved: agribusiness firms and their financial backers; host‐country governments; and the people on the spot. This essay focuses on political risk, which encompasses policy shifts, legal disputes and push‐back from affected populations. It draws on the analytical framework of ‘powers of exclusion’ (see the work of D. Hall, P. Hirsch and T.M. Li) to consider how transnational investors attempt to deploy force, law and market transactions to secure and legitimate farmland deals; yet they remain fragile, as do the governments that enable them.
Finance for Agriculture or Agriculture for Finance?
Authors: Martin Sarah J. , Clapp Jennifer
Published: June 2015

Food studies scholars have paid increasing attention to ‘financialization’ within the food system as private financial actors have played a growing role in various facets of the sector in recent years. While there has been much attention paid to the implications of the greater role for financial actors in the food system, there has been relatively less attention paid to the ways in which these actors have historically interacted with it; in particular, in relation to the role of the state in mediating agricultural finance. This paper examines the long association between agriculture, finance and the state. Historically, private capital has been reluctant to invest in agriculture without assurances and support from the state, and states have practiced varying degrees of regulation on private financiers in the sector. These trends have shaped the practices of contemporary financialization. Although we recognize the systematic political project to reduce the role of the state in agriculture since the 1970s, these patterns persist and we ultimately argue that to understand the financialization of agriculture, it is important to understand how the state has been a long‐standing coupler between finance and agriculture.
Correlation Between Advanced Glycation End‐Products, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Bladder Dysfunctions in Patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: GALÌ Alessandro , MUCCIARDI Giuseppe , BUTTICÈ Salvatore , SUBBA Enrica , D'AMICO Carmela , LEMBO Francesco , MAGNO Carlo
Published: June 2015

Objectives

To explore whether serum and urinary advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs) are related to urinary symptoms and bladder dysfunctions in diabetic patients.

Methods

Forty‐seven patients with type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were enrolled. LUTS evaluation was performed by IPSS (International Prostatic Symptoms Score), QoL (quality of life), OAB (overactive bladder). ICI‐SF (International Consultation on Incontinence – short form) quaestionneires; ultrasound examination, evaluation of postvoid residual (PVR), uroflowmetry, cystometry with pressure‐flow study (PFS) were performed to detect bladder dysfunctions. Serum and urinary AGEs were quantified by ELISA method.

Results

Patients were divided into four subgroups: (i) normal‐detrusor‐contractility + normal‐ detrusor‐activity (1 ♂ [4.8%] and 4 ♀ [21%]), (ii) impaired‐detrusor‐contractility + normal‐detrusor‐ activity (4 ♂ [19.1%] and 0 ♀), (iii) normal‐detrusor‐contractility + detrusor‐overactivity (1 ♂ [4.8%] and 6 ♀ [31.6%]), (iv) impaired‐detrusor‐contractility + detrusor‐overactivity (15 ♂ [71.4%] and 9 ♀ [47.4%]). Serum AGEs were 12.2 ± 5.5 in men and 10.4 ± 5.6 in women; urinary AGEs were 1.5 ± 1.1 in men and 2.5 ± 1.6 in women. Serum AGEs exhibited a positive correlation with IPSS (P < 0.05) and OAB‐q scores (P < 0.01). Increased serum AGEs were associated with a significant reduction in the parameters reflecting impaired detrusor contractility with simultaneous reductions of urinary AGEs (P < 0.01). A greater correlation was observed between serum AGEs and subgroup 4 (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Serum AGEs seem to be early markers of diabetic complications and appear to be related to LUTS and bladder dysfunctions.
GMP synthase is essential for viability and infectivity of Trypanosoma brucei despite a redundant purine salvage pathway
Authors: Li Qiong , Leija Christopher , Rijo‐Ferreira Filipa , Chen Jun , Cestari Igor , Stuart Kenneth , Tu Benjamin P. , Phillips Margaret A.
Published: June 2015

The causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis, Trypanosoma brucei, lacks de novo purine biosynthesis and depends on purine salvage from the host. The purine salvage pathway is redundant and contains two routes to guanosine‐5′‐monophosphate (GMP) formation: conversion from xanthosine‐5′‐monophosphate (XMP) by GMP synthase (GMPS) or direct salvage of guanine by hypoxanthine‐guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT). We show recombinant T. brucei GMPS efficiently catalyzes GMP formation. Genetic knockout of GMPS in bloodstream parasites led to depletion of guanine nucleotide pools and was lethal. Growth of gmps null cells was only rescued by supraphysiological guanine concentrations (100 μM) or by expression of an extrachromosomal copy of GMPS. Hypoxanthine was a competitive inhibitor of guanine rescue, consistent with a common uptake/metabolic conversion mechanism. In mice, gmps null parasites were unable to establish an infection demonstrating that GMPS is essential for virulence and that plasma guanine is insufficient to support parasite purine requirements. These data validate GMPS as a potential therapeutic target for treatment of human African trypanosomiasis. The ability to strategically inhibit key metabolic enzymes in the purine pathway unexpectedly bypasses its functional redundancy by exploiting both the nature of pathway flux and the limited nutrient environment of the parasite's extracellular niche.
In vitro effects of tamoxifen on adipose‐derived stem cells
Authors: Pike Steven , Zhang Ping , Wei Zhengyu , Wu Nan , Klinger Aaron , Chang Shaohua , Jones Robert , Carpenter Jeffrey , Brown Spencer A , DiMuzio Paul , Tulenko Thomas , Liu Yuan
Published: June 2015

In breast reconstructive procedures, adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) that are present in clinical fat grafting isolates are considered to play the main role in improving wound healing. In patients following chemotherapy for breast cancer, poor soft tissue wound healing is a major problem. However, it is unclear if tamoxifen (TAM) as the most widely used hormonal therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment, affects the ASCs and ultimately wound healing. This study evaluated whether TAM exposure to in vitro human ASCs modulate cellular functions. Human ASCs were isolated and treated with TAM at various concentrations. The effects of TAM on cell cycle, cell viability and proliferation rates of ASCs were examined by growth curves, MTT assay and BrdU incorporation, respectively. Annexin V and JC‐1 Mitochondrial Membrane Potential assays were used to analyze ASC apoptosis rates. ASCs were cultured in derivative‐specific differentiation media with or without TAM (5 uM) for 3 weeks. Adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation levels were measured by quantitative RT‐PCR and histological staining. TAM has cytotoxic effects on human ASCs through apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation in dose‐ and time‐dependent manners. TAM treatment significantly down‐regulates the capacity of ASCs for adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation (p<0.05 vs. control), and inhibit the ability of the ASCs to subsequently formed cords in Matrigel. This study is the first findings to our knowledge that demonstrated that TAM inhibited ASC proliferation and multi‐lineage ASC differentiation rates. These results may provide insight into the role of TAM with associated poor soft tissue wound healing and decreased fat graft survival in cancer patients receiving TAM.
Kv1.2 mediates heterosynaptic modulation of direct cortical synaptic inputs in CA3 pyramidal cells
Authors: Hyun Jung Ho , Eom Kisang , Lee Kyu‐Hee , Bae Jin Young , Bae Yong Chul , Kim Myoung‐Hwan , Kim Sooyun , Ho Won‐Kyung , Lee Suk‐Ho
Published: June 2015

Key points

We investigated the cellular mechanisms underlying mossy fibre‐induced heterosynaptic long‐term potentiation of perforant path (PP) inputs to CA3 pyramidal cells.

Here we show that this heterosynaptic potentiation is mediated by downregulation of Kv1.2 channels.

The downregulation of Kv1.2 preferentially enhanced PP‐evoked EPSPs which occur at distal apical dendrites.

Such enhancement of PP‐EPSPs required activation of dendritic Na+ channels, and its threshold was lowered by downregulation of Kv1.2.

Our results may provide new insights into the long‐standing question of how mossy fibre inputs constrain the CA3 network to sparsely represent direct cortical inputs.

A short high frequency stimulation of mossy fibres (MFs) induces long‐term potentiation (LTP) of direct cortical or perforant path (PP) synaptic inputs in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells (CA3‐PCs). However, the cellular mechanism underlying this heterosynaptic modulation remains elusive. Previously, we reported that repetitive somatic firing at 10 Hz downregulates Kv1.2 in the CA3‐PCs. Here, we show that MF inputs induce similar somatic firing and downregulation of Kv1.2 in the CA3‐PCs. The effect of Kv1.2 downregulation was specific to PP synaptic inputs that arrive at distal apical dendrites. We found that the somatodendritic expression of Kv1.2 is polarized to distal apical dendrites. Compartmental simulations based on this finding suggested that passive normalization of synaptic inputs and polarized distributions of dendritic ionic channels may facilitate the activation of dendritic Na+ channels preferentially at distal apical dendrites. Indeed, partial block of dendritic Na+ channels using 10 nm tetrodotoxin brought back the enhanced PP‐evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (PP‐EPSPs) to the baseline level. These results indicate that activity‐dependent downregulation of Kv1.2 in CA3‐PCs mediates MF‐induced heterosynaptic LTP of PP‐EPSPs by facilitating activation of Na+ channels at distal apical dendrites.
An Assessment of the Wear Characteristics of Microcutting Arrays Produced From Polycrystalline Diamond and Cubic Boron Nitride Composites
Authors: Pacella M. , Axinte D. A. , Butler-Smith P. W. , Shipway P. , Daine M. , Wort C.
Published: June 2015

The current methods for manufacturing super-abrasive elements result in a stochastic geometry of abrasives with random three-dimensional abrasive locations. This paper focuses on the evaluation of wear progression/failure characteristics of micro-abrasive arrays made of ultrahard composites (polycrystalline diamond—PCD; polycrystalline cubic boron nitride—PCBN) in cutting/wear tests against silicon dioxide workpiece. Pulsed laser ablation (Nd:YAG laser) has been used to manufacture repeatable patterns of micro-abrasive edges onto microstructurally different PCD/PCBN composites. Opposing to these highly engineered micro-abrasive arrays, conventional electroplated abrasive pads containing diamond and CBN abrasives, respectively, have been chosen as benchmarks and tested under the same conditions. Contact profiling, optical microscopy, and environmental scanning electron microscopy have been employed for the characterization of the abrasive arrays and electroplated tools before/during/after the wear/cutting tests. For the PCD abrasive micro-arrays, the type of grain and binder percentage proved to affect the wear performances due to the different extents of compressive stresses occurring at the grain boundaries. In this respect, the micro-arrays made of PCD with mixed diamond grain sizes have shown slower wear progression when compared to the electroplated diamond pads confirming the combination of the high wear resistance typical of the fine grain and the good shock resistance typical of the coarse grain structures. The micro-arrays made of fine grained diamond abrasives have produced lower contact pressures with the workpiece shaft, confirming a possible application in polishing or grinding. As for the PCBN abrasive micro-arrays, the increase of metallic binder and the presence of metalloids in the medium content-CBN specimens have shown to produce higher contact pressure with the workpiece when compared to the electroplated specimen, causing fracturing as the main wear mechanism; while the PCBN micro-array with purely a metallic binder phase has shown slower wear and lower contact pressure in comparison to the electroplated CBN specimen. Among all of the tested arrays, the mixed grained PCD and the purely metallic binder phase PCBN micro-arrays have shown slower wear when benchmarked to the electroplated pads, giving a possible application of their use in the cutting tool industry.
Direct-Write Photolithography for Cylindrical Tooling Fabrication in Roll-to-Roll Microcontact Printing
Authors: Nietner Larissa F. , Hardt David E.
Published: June 2015

The scale-up of microcontact printing (μCP) to a roll-to-roll technique for large-scale surface patterning requires scalable tooling for continuous pattern printing with μm-scale features (e.g., 1–50 μm). Here, we examine the process of creating such a tool using an optical direct-write or “maskless” method working on a rotating cylindrical substrate. A predictive model of pattern formation is presented along with experimental results to examine the key control factors for this process. It is shown that factors can be modulated to vary the cross-sectional shape in addition to feature height and width. This feature can then be exploited to improve the robustness of the final printing process.
Force Modeling of Five-Axis Microball-End Milling
Authors: Xu Chi , Zhu James , Kapoor Shiv G.
Published: June 2015

This paper presents a five-axis ball-end milling force model that is specifically tailored to microscale machining. A composite cutting force is generated by combining two force contributions from a shearing/ploughing slip-line (SL) field model and a quasi-static indentation (ID) model. To fully capture the features of microscale five-axis machining, a unique chip thickness algorithm based on the velocity kinematics of a ball-end mill is proposed. This formulation captures intricate tool trajectories as well as readily allows the integration of runout and elastic recovery effects. A workpiece updating algorithm has also been developed to identify tool–workpiece engagement. As a dual purpose, historical elastic recovery is stored locally on the meshed workpiece surface in vector form so that the directionality of elastic recovery is preserved for future time increments. The model has been validated through a comparison with five-axis end mill force data. Simulation results show reasonably accurate replication of end milling cutting forces with minimal experimental data fitting.
Porous Silicon Morphology: Photo-Electrochemically Etched by Different Laser Wavelengths
Authors: Faraj Shereen M. , Abd Al-Baqi Shaimaa M. , Jber Nasreen R. , Fisher Johnny
Published: June 2015

Porous silicon (PS) has become the focus of attention in upgrading silicon for optoelectronics. In this work, various structures were produced depending on the formation parameters by photo-electrochemical etching (PECE) process of n- and p-type silicon wafer at different time durations (5–90 mins) and different current densities (5, 15, and 20 mA/cm2) for each set of time durations. Diode lasers of 405 nm, 473 nm, and 532 nm wavelengths, each 50 mW power, were used to illuminate the surface of the samples during the etching process. The results showed that controlled porous layers were achieved by using blue laser, giving uniform structure which can make it possible to dispense with expensive methods of patterning the silicon.
Conformational plasticity of a native retroviral capsid revealed by x-ray crystallography
Authors: Obal G. , Trajtenberg F. , Carrión F. , Tomé L. , Larrieux N. , Zhang X. , Pritsch O. , Buschiazzo A.
Published: June 2015

Retroviral capsids in their native form

Capsid proteins of retroviruses form protective lattices around viral RNA molecules. The precise molecular details of how individual, full-length capsid proteins assemble to shield the viral genome; however, are not well understood. Obal
et al.
and Gres
et al.
now report high resolution crystal structures of the full length capsid proteins from Bovine Leukemia Virus and HIV-1, respectively. The two studies complement each other to reveal the dynamic nature of capsid protein assembly and of how individual capsid proteins interact in the lattice. The findings may have relevance for drug design.

Science
, this issue p.
95
; see also p.
99
X-ray crystal structures of native HIV-1 capsid protein reveal conformational variability
Authors: Gres Anna T. , Kirby Karen A. , KewalRamani Vineet N. , Tanner John J. , Pornillos Owen , Sarafianos Stefan G.
Published: June 2015

Retroviral capsids in their native form

Capsid proteins of retroviruses form protective lattices around viral RNA molecules. The precise molecular details of how individual, full-length capsid proteins assemble to shield the viral genome; however, are not well understood. Obal
et al.
and Gres
et al.
now report high resolution crystal structures of the full length capsid proteins from Bovine Leukemia Virus and HIV-1, respectively. The two studies complement each other to reveal the dynamic nature of capsid protein assembly and of how individual capsid proteins interact in the lattice. The findings may have relevance for drug design.

Science
, this issue p.
95
; see also p.
99
Discrete functions of nuclear receptor Rev-erbα couple metabolism to the clock
Authors: Zhang Yuxiang , Fang Bin , Emmett Matthew J. , Damle Manashree , Sun Zheng , Feng Dan , Armour Sean M. , Remsberg Jarrett R. , Jager Jennifer , Soccio Raymond E. , Steger David J. , Lazar Mitchell A.
Published: June 2015

Multitasking around the clock

Chronic disruption of our circadian rhythms—for example, through shift work—may increase the risk of metabolic disease. Zhang
et al.
found that a multitasking transcription factor called Rev-erb-α regulates expression of both clock and metabolic genes through distinct mechanisms. At clock genes, it binds directly to a specific DNA sequence, displacing a competing transcription factor. At metabolic genes, it interacts not with DNA but with other transcription factors that regulate metabolic gene expression in a tissue-specific manner.

Science
, this issue p.
1488
Complete Genome Sequence of a Fish Nervous Necrosis Virus Isolated from Sea Perch (
Lateolabrax japonicus
) in China
Authors: Jia Peng , Jia Kun-Tong , Yi Mei-Sheng
Published: June 2015

We sequenced and analyzed the complete genome of a fish nervous necrosis virus isolated from diseased sea perch (
Lateolabrax japonicus
) in Guangdong Province, China. The virus genome contains RNA1 (3,103 bp) and RNA2 (1,433 bp). Phylogenetic analysis shows that the virus belongs to the redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus genotype of betanodavirus.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Biowarfare Simulant Bacillus atrophaeus Strain 930029
Authors: Eng Catherine , Blouin Yann , Ding Nicolas , Larigauderie Guilhem , Ramisse Vincent , Pujol Céline
Published: June 2015

We report here the draft genome sequence of
Bacillus atrophaeus
strain 930029. Strain 930029 shows evidence of drift, based on a comparison to the corresponding source strain publicly available today.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas syringae pv. persicae NCPPB 2254
Authors: Zhao Wenjun , Jiang Hongshan , Tian Qian , Hu Jie
Published: June 2015

Pseudomonas syringae
pv. persicae is a pathogen that causes bacterial decline of stone fruit. Here, we report the draft genome sequence for
P. syringae
pv. persicae, which was isolated from
Prunus persica
.
Draft Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strain MT11, Which Represents a New Lineage
Authors: Aboubaker Osman Djaltou , Phelippeau Michael , Musso Didier , Robert Catherine , Michelle Caroline , Croce Olivier , Drancourt Michel
Published: June 2015

We sequenced the genome of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
strain MT11, which exhibits a specific 16S rRNA gene mutation found in 6% of French Polynesian
M. tuberculosis
isolates. It comprises a 4,110,293-bp chromosome with 65.15% G+C content, and it encodes 3,949 proteins and contains 85 predicted RNA genes. The TbD1 region is absent in strain MT11 as in modern
M. tuberculosis
strains.
Draft Genome Sequences of Two Protease-Producing Strains of
Arsukibacterium
, Isolated from Two Cold and Alkaline Environments
Authors: Lylloff Jeanette E. , Hansen Lea B. S. , Jepsen Morten , Hallin Peter F. , Sørensen Søren J. , Stougaard Peter , Glaring Mikkel A.
Published: June 2015

Arsukibacterium ikkense
GCM72
T
and a close relative,
Arsukibacterium
sp. MJ3, were isolated from two cold and alkaline environments as producers of extracellular proteolytic enzymes active at high pH and low temperature. This report describes the two draft genome sequences, which may serve as sources of future industrial enzymes.
Draft Genome Sequence of Rice Endophyte-Associated Isolate Kosakonia oryzae KO348
Authors: Meng Xianfa , Bertani Iris , Abbruscato Pamela , Piffanelli Pietro , Licastro Danilo , Wang Changhai , Venturi Vittorio
Published: June 2015

Kosakonia oryzae
KO348 is an endophytic and plant growth-promoting strain isolated from the roots of rice in Italy. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Kosakonia oryzae
KO348.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Burkholderia
sp. MR1, a Methylarsenate-Reducing Bacterial Isolate from Florida Golf Course Soil
Authors: Pawitwar Shashank S. , Utturkar Sagar M. , Brown Steven D. , Yoshinaga Masafumi , Rosen Barry P.
Published: June 2015

To elucidate the environmental organoarsenical biocycle, we isolated a soil organism,
Burkholderia
sp. MR1, which reduces relatively nontoxic pentavalent methylarsenate to the more toxic trivalent methylarsenite, with the goal of identifying the gene for the reductase. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Burkholderia
sp. MR1.
Xenorhabdus bovienii Strain Diversity Impacts Coevolution and Symbiotic Maintenance with
Steinernema
spp. Nematode Hosts
Authors: Murfin Kristen E. , Lee Ming-Min , Klassen Jonathan L. , McDonald Bradon R. , Larget Bret , Forst Steven , Stock S. Patricia , Currie Cameron R. , Goodrich-Blair Heidi
Published: June 2015

Microbial symbionts provide benefits that contribute to the ecology and fitness of host plants and animals. Therefore, the evolutionary success of plants and animals fundamentally depends on long-term maintenance of beneficial associations. Most work investigating coevolution and symbiotic maintenance has focused on species-level associations, and studies are lacking that assess the impact of bacterial strain diversity on symbiotic associations within a coevolutionary framework. Here, we demonstrate that fitness in mutualism varies depending on bacterial strain identity, and this is consistent with variation shaping phylogenetic patterns and maintenance through fitness benefits. Through genome sequencing of nine bacterial symbiont strains and cophylogenetic analysis, we demonstrate diversity among
Xenorhabdus bovienii
bacteria. Further, we identified cocladogenesis between
Steinernema feltiae
nematode hosts and their corresponding
X. bovienii
symbiont strains, indicating potential specificity within the association. To test the specificity, we performed laboratory crosses of nematode hosts with native and nonnative symbiont strains, which revealed that combinations with the native bacterial symbiont and closely related strains performed significantly better than those with more divergent symbionts. Through genomic analyses we also defined potential factors contributing to specificity between nematode hosts and bacterial symbionts. These results suggest that strain-level diversity (e.g., subspecies-level differences) in microbial symbionts can drive variation in the success of host-microbe associations, and this suggests that these differences in symbiotic success could contribute to maintenance of the symbiosis over an evolutionary time scale.

IMPORTANCE
Beneficial symbioses between microbes and plant or animal hosts are ubiquitous, and in these associations, microbial symbionts provide key benefits to their hosts. As such, host success is fundamentally dependent on long-term maintenance of beneficial associations. Prolonged association between partners in evolutionary time is expected to result in interactions in which only specific partners can fully support symbiosis. The contribution of bacterial strain diversity on specificity and coevolution in a beneficial symbiosis remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that strain-level differences in fitness benefits occur in beneficial host-microbe interactions, and this variation likely shapes phylogenetic patterns and symbiotic maintenance. This highlights that symbiont contributions to host biology can vary significantly based on very-fine-scale differences among members of a microbial species. Further, this work emphasizes the need for greater phylogenetic resolution when considering the causes and consequences of host-microbe interactions.
Development of a Model System for Tick-Borne Flavivirus Persistence in HEK 293T Cells
Authors: Mlera Luwanika , Offerdahl Danielle K. , Martens Craig , Porcella Stephen F. , Melik Wessam , Bloom Marshall E.
Published: June 2015

We devised a model system to study persistent infection by the tick-borne flavivirus Langat virus (LGTV) in 293T cells. Infection with a molecularly cloned LGTV strain produced an acute lytic crisis that left few surviving cells. The culture was repopulated by cells that were ~90% positive for LGTV E protein, thus initiating a persistent infection that was maintained for at least 35 weeks without additional lytic crises. Staining of cells for viral proteins and ultrastructural analysis revealed only minor differences from the acute phase of infection. Infectious LGTV decreased markedly over the study period, but the number of viral genomes remained relatively constant, suggesting the development of defective interfering particles (DIPs). Viral genome changes were investigated by RNA deep sequencing. At the initiation of persistent infection, levels of DIPs were below the limit of detection at a coverage depth of 11,288-fold, implying that DIPs are not required for initiation of persistence. However, after 15 passages, DIPs constituted approximately 34% of the total LGTV population (coverage of 1,293-fold). Furthermore, at this point, one specific DIP population predominated in which nucleotides 1058 to 2881 had been deleted. This defective genome specified an intact polyprotein that coded for a truncated fusion protein containing 28 N-terminal residues of E and 134 C-terminal residues of NS1. Such a fusion protein has not previously been described, and a possible function in persistent infection is uncertain. DIPs are not required for the initiation of persistent LGTV infection but may play a role in the maintenance of viral persistence.

IMPORTANCE
Tick-borne flaviviruses are significant infectious agents that cause serious disease and death in humans worldwide. Infections are characterized by severe neurological symptoms, such as meningitis and encephalitis. A high percentage of people who get infected and recuperate from the acute phase of infection continue to suffer from chronic debilitating neurological sequelae, most likely as a result of nervous tissue damage, viral persistence, or both. However, little is known about mechanisms of viral persistence. Therefore, we undertook studies to investigate the persistence of Langat virus, a member of the tick-borne flavivirus group, in a mammalian cell line. Using next-generation sequencing, we determined that defective viral genomes do not play a role in the initiation of persistence, but their occurrence seems to be nonstochastic and could play a role in the maintenance of viral persistence via the expression of a novel envelope-NS1 fusion protein.
Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus Induces HO-1 during
De Novo
Infection of Endothelial Cells via Viral miRNA-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms
Authors: Botto Sara , Totonchy Jennifer E. , Gustin Jean K. , Moses Ashlee V.
Published: June 2015

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) herpesvirus (KSHV) infection of endothelial cells (EC) is associated with strong induction of
heme oxygenase-1
(HO-1), a stress-inducible host gene that encodes the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for heme catabolism. KS is an angioproliferative tumor characterized by the proliferation of KSHV-infected spindle cells, and HO-1 is highly expressed in such cells. HO-1 converts the pro-oxidant, proinflammatory heme molecule into metabolites with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and proliferative activities. Previously published work has shown that KSHV-infected EC
in vitro
proliferate in response to free heme in a HO-1-dependent manner, thus implicating virus-enhanced HO-1 activity in KS tumorigenesis. The present study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying KSHV induction of HO-1 in lymphatic EC (LEC), which are the likely spindle cell precursors. In a time course analysis of KSHV-infected cells, HO-1 expression displays biphasic kinetics characterized by an early transient induction that is followed by a more sustained upregulation coincident with the establishment of viral latency. A viral microRNA miR-K12-11 deletion mutant of KSHV was found to be defective for induction of HO-1 during latency. A potential mechanism for this phenotype was provided by BACH1, a cellular
HO-1
transcriptional repressor targeted by miR-K12-11. In fact, in KSHV-infected LEC, the
BACH1
message level is reduced, BACH1 subcellular localization is altered, and miR-K12-11 mediates the inverse regulation of
HO-1
and
BACH1
during viral latency. Interestingly, the data indicate that neither miR-K12-11 nor
de novo
KSHV gene expression is required for the burst of HO-1 expression observed at early times postinfection, which suggests that additional virion components promote this phenotype.

IMPORTANCE
While the mechanisms underlying KSHV induction of HO-1 remain unknown, the cellular mechanisms that regulate HO-1 expression have been extensively investigated in the context of basal and pathophysiological states. The detoxifying action of HO-1 is critical for the protection of cells exposed to high heme levels. KS spindle cells are erythrophagocytic and contain erythrocyte ghosts. Erythrocyte degeneration leads to the localized release of heme, creating oxidative stress that may be further exacerbated by environmental or other cofactors. Our previous work showed that KSHV-infected cells proliferate in response to heme and that this occurs in a HO-1-dependent manner. We therefore hypothesize that KSHV induction of HO-1 contributes to KS tumor development via heme metabolism and propose that HO-1 be evaluated as a therapeutic target for KS. Our present work, which aimed to understand the mechanisms whereby KSHV induces HO-1, will be important for the design and implementation of such a strategy.
Discrimination Accuracy between Real and Sham Press Needles in the Hands
Authors: Kim Sungha , Lee Sanghun , Choi Sunmi , Park Jeonghwan , Kim Sungchul
Published: June 2015

Objectives

To evaluate the blinding effectiveness of a modified blunt sham press needle on the basis of the ability of subjects to discriminate between real and sham acupuncture needles compared with their discrimination ability based on pure guessing, and to define differences between senses (touch and vision) in the rates of correctly identified needles.

Methods

Sixty-three healthy students and staff members were recruited through convenience sampling. First, real or sham acupuncture was randomly administered to the left LI4 point while subjects could not observe the needle tip. A real or sham needle tip was then shown to the subjects. Finally, a random combination of real or sham acupuncture needles were randomly administered to the left and right LI4 points, this time with the subjects observing the procedure. In all conditions the subjects gave their judgement as Yes or No in response to questions asking them to identify the needle type. The proportion of correct judgements (P(C)) was computed for the last part of the trial in left and right LI4 points, and the rates of correctly identified needles for each trial were obtained.

Results

The subjects’ accuracy of discrimination between the real and sham acupuncture needles in left and right LI4 points was not significantly different from that based on pure guess (P(C)=0.50 (chance level)), which indicates complete inability to discriminate between needles. The rates of correctly identified needles using touch, vision and a combination of both senses were not significantly different (p=0.807).

Conclusions

The findings from this study show that this sham acupuncture device successfully blinded subjects to real and sham press needles, suggesting that it is effective for subject blinding in studies on acupuncture using press needles, and facilitating evaluation of the effects of acupuncture in placebo-controlled trials using a rigorous scientific research methodology.
Pattern of symptoms and signs of primary intracranial tumours in children and young adults: a record linkage study
Authors: Chu Thomas P C , Shah Anjali , Walker David , Coleman Michel P
Published: June 2015

Objective

To describe the age pattern and temporal evolution of symptoms and signs of intracranial tumours in children and young adults before diagnosis.

Design and setting

A record linkage study using population-based data from the National Cancer Registry, linked to Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).

Patient cohort

Patients aged 0–24 years when diagnosed with a primary intracranial tumour between 1989 and 2006 in England.

Methods

Linked records of relevant symptoms and signs in primary care and hospitals were extracted from CPRD (1989–2006, 181 patients) and HES (1997–2006, 3959 patients). Temporal and age-specific changes in presentation rates before diagnosis of an intracranial tumour, for each of eight symptom groups, were estimated in generalised additive models.

Results

All symptoms presented with increasing frequency until eventual diagnosis. The frequency of presentation of raised intracranial pressure (ICP) to hospitals rose rapidly to 36.4 per 100 person-months (95% CI 34.6 to 38.4) in the final month before diagnosis in the entire cohort. Clinical features in primary care were less specific: the main features were visual disturbance (rate: 0.49 per 100 person-months; 95% CI 0.33 to 0.72) in newborns to 4-year-olds, headache in 5-year-olds to 11-year-olds (0.64; 0.47 to 0.88), 12-year-olds to 18-year-olds (1.59; 1.21 to 2.08) and 19-year-olds to 24-year-olds (2.44; 1.71 to 3.49). The predominant features at hospital admission were those of raised ICP: between 1.17 per 100 person-months (95% CI 1.08 to 1.26) in newborns to 4-year-olds and 0.77 (0.67 to 0.88) in 19-year-olds to 24-year-olds.

Conclusions

Non-localising symptoms and signs were more than twice as common as focal neurological signs. An intracranial tumour should be considered in patients with relevant symptoms that do not resolve or that progress rapidly.