bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physical Exercise for Late‐Life Depression: Customizing an Intervention for Primary Care
Authors: Zanetidou Stamatula , Belvederi Murri Martino , Menchetti Marco , Toni Giulio , Asioli Fabrizio , Bagnoli Luigi , Zocchi Donato , Siena Matteo , Assirelli Barbara , Luciano Claudia , Masotti Mattia , Spezia Carlo , Magagnoli Monica , Neri Mirco , Amore Mario , Bertakis Klea D. ,   the Safety Efficacy of Exercise for Depression in Seniors Study Group
Published: November 2016

Objectives

To identify which individual‐ and context‐related factors influence the translation into clinical practice of interventions based on physical exercise (PE) as an adjunct to antidepressants (AD) for the treatment of late‐life major depression (LLMD).

Design

Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Primary care with psychiatric consultation‐liaison programs (PCLPs)—organizational protocols that regulate the clinical management of individuals with psychiatric disorders.

Participants

Individuals aged 65 and older with major depression according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (N = 121).

Intervention

Participants with LLMD were randomized to AD (sertraline) or AD plus PE (AD + PE).

Measurements

Participant characteristics that were associated with greater effectiveness of AD + PE (moderators) were identified, and effect sizes were calculated from success rate differences. Whether the characteristics of the study setting influenced participant flow and attendance at exercise sessions was then explored, and primary care physicians (PCPs) were surveyed regarding their opinions on PE as a treatment for LLMD.

Results

The following participant characteristics were associated with greater likelihood of achieving remission from depression with AD + PE than with AD alone: aged 75 and older (effect size 0.32), polypharmacy (0.35), greater aerobic capacity (0.48), displaying psychomotor slowing (0.49), and less‐severe anxiety (0.30). The longer the PCLP had been established at a particular center, the more individuals were recruited at that center. After participating in the study, PCPs expressed positive views on AD + PE as a treatment for LLMD and were more likely to use this as a therapeutic strategy.

Conclusions

The combination of PE and sertraline could improve the management of LLMD, especially when customized for individuals with specific clinical features. Liaison programs might influence the implementation of similar interventions in primary care, and PCPs viewed them positively.
Cerebral Amyloid Deposition Is Associated with Gait Parameters in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging
Authors: Wennberg Alexandra M. V. , Savica Rodolfo , Hagen Clinton E. , Roberts Rosebud O. , Knopman David S. , Hollman John H. , Vemuri Prashanthi , Jack Clifford R. , Petersen Ronald C. , Mielke Michelle M.
Published: November 2016

Objectives

To determine the cross‐sectional association between cerebral amyloid‐beta (Aβ) deposition and gait.

Design

Cross‐sectional.

Setting

Population‐based cohort study in Olmsted County, MN.

Participants

Cognitively normal individuals (n = 611), aged 50 to 69 years, enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging with concurrent PiB‐PET imaging and gait assessment. Participants with a history of stroke, alcoholism, Parkinson's disease, subdural hematoma, traumatic brain injury, or normal pressure hydrocephalus were excluded.

Measurements

PiB‐PET SUVR was measured in prefrontal, orbitofrontal, parietal, temporal, anterior cingulate, posterior cingulate, and motor‐specific regions of interest (ROIs). Gait parameters (speed, cadence, stride length, double support time, and intra‐individual stance time variability) were measured using GAITRite® instrumentation. Linear regression models were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, education, APOE ε4 allele, Charlson comorbidity index, and depression. In secondary analyses, we additionally adjusted for neurodegeneration (hippocampal volume, FDG PET SUVR, and cortical thickness) in AD‐associated regions.

Results

In fully adjusted models including neuroimaging measures of neurodegeneration, higher PiB‐PET SUVR across all ROIs was associated with slower gait speed (P < .05 except for the parietal ROI), lower cadence and longer double support time (P ≤ .05 except for the motor ROI), and greater stance time variability (P < .05). In sex‐stratified analyses, the association between higher PiB‐PET SUVR across all ROIs and measures of gait was only present among women.

Conclusion

PiB‐PET SUVR across ROIs, independent of general measures of AD‐associated neurodegeneration, is associated with poorer performance on multiple gait parameters among cognitively normal women, aged 50 to 69 years. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether Aβ predicts gait decline in both women and men.
Systematic Review of the Prevalence of Medication Errors Resulting in Hospitalization and Death of Nursing Home Residents
Authors: Ferrah Noha , Lovell Janaka J. , Ibrahim Joseph E.
Published: November 2016

Medication errors (MEs) result in preventable harm to nursing home (NH) residents and pose a significant financial burden. Institutionalized older people are particularly vulnerable because of various organizational and individual factors. This systematic review reports the prevalence of MEs leading to hospitalization and death in NH residents and the factors associated with risk of death and hospitalization. A systematic search was conducted of the relevant peer‐reviewed research published between January 1, 2000, and October 1, 2015, in English, French, German, or Spanish examining serious outcomes of MEs in NHs residents. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria and examined three types of MEs: all MEs (n = 5), transfer‐related MEs (n = 5), and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) (n = 1). MEs were common, involving 16–27% of residents in studies examining all types of MEs and 13–31% of residents in studies examining transfer‐related MEs, and 75% of residents were prescribed at least one PIM. That said, serious effects of MEs were surprisingly low and were reported in only a small proportion of errors (0–1% of MEs), with death being rare. Whether MEs resulting in serious outcomes are truly infrequent, or are underreported because of the difficulty in ascertaining them, remains to be elucidated to assist in designing safer systems.
The Rose‐Tinted Spectacles of Homeowners
Authors: van der Cruijsen Carin , Jansen David‐Jan , van Rooij Maarten
Published: November 2016

Based on annual household surveys between 2011 and 2014 and additional evidence from a customized survey in 2013, we document that a sizable group of homeowners in the Netherlands has a rosy picture of the value of their house. Even homeowners who are arguably well informed tend to overestimate the value of their house. Multivariate regression analyses suggest that this overestimation is positively related to the mortgage loan‐to‐value ratio and the tenure of the owner‐occupier. Moreover, homeowners tend to overestimate the value of the house when the actual value falls below the purchase price of the house. We discuss rational interpretations of these findings as well as psychological explanations such as loss aversion or an endowment effect.
Predictive equations of selenium accessibility of dry pet foods
Authors: van Zelst M. , Hesta M. , Gray K. , Goethals K. , Janssens G. P. J.
Published: November 2016

The trace element selenium is essential to both dogs and cats. Dry diets are formulated with a large range of ingredients, which may vary in selenium concentration and accessibility. This paper reports equations to predict the average in vitro selenium accessibility from dry pet foods based on essential dietary nutrient concentrations, including crude protein, amino acids and crude fat. Predictive equations were made using stepwise linear regression for extruded and pelleted diets. The equations can be used to aid diet formulation to optimize selenium accessibility within the diet and to prevent selenium deficiency or toxicity.
The effect of maize silage type on the performances and methane emission of dairy cattle
Authors: De Boever J. L. , Goossens K. , Peiren N. , Swanckaert J. , Ampe B. , Reheul D. , De Brabander D. L. , De Campeneere S. , Vandaele L.
Published: November 2016

To examine whether type of maize silage is important for milk production performances, maize silage LG30224 (LG) was compared with Falkone (FA), the latter having a 4.0% points lower rumen NDF digestibility and 19 g/kg dry matter (DM) more starch. To bridge the lower energy content of FA, a third treatment was involved by adding maize meal (MM) in a ratio of 92/8 on DM (FA+MM). Maize and grass silage were fed ad libitum in a ratio of 65/35 on DM basis. Concentrates were supplemented individually to meet energy and protein requirements. The experiment was set up as a Latin square with three groups of nine Holstein cows during three periods of 3 weeks. In the last 2 weeks of each period, DM intake (DMI) and milk performances were measured. Each group included one cannulated cow to study effects on rumen fermentation. During the last 4 days of each period, two cows from each group were placed in gas exchange chambers to measure nutrient digestibility and methane production. Total DMI was higher (p < 0.05) for FA+MM (20.8 kg/day) than for FA (20.3 kg/day), while DMI for LG was intermediate (20.6 kg/day). Treatment did not affect milk production nor composition, whereas fat–protein‐corrected milk was higher for LG (30.5 kg/day) and FA+MM (30.3 kg/day) than for FA (29.9 kg/day). The ration did not affect pH nor volatile fatty acid composition in the rumen. Further, total tract digestibility of OM, crude protein, NDF and starch did not differ among treatments. The ration with LG gave higher methane production per day and per kg NDF intake than both rations with FA, but the difference was not significant when expressed per kg DMI or FPCM. Thus, maize silage type is of little importance for milk production if energy and physical structure requirements are met.
Digestibility, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites and antioxidant status in ewes supplemented with DL‐methionine or hydroxy‐4 (methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester
Authors: Baghbanzadeh‐Nobari B. , Taghizadeh A. , Khorvash M. , Parnian‐Khajehdizaj F. , Maloney S. K. , Hashemzadeh‐Cigari F. , Ghaffari A. H.
Published: November 2016

The effects of supplementing ewe diets with either DL‐methionine (DL‐Met) or 2‐hydroxy‐4 (methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi) were investigated on ruminal in situ degradability of grain and forage diets, in vivo digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites and antioxidant status. Six ruminally cannulated ewes were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 28‐day periods. The dietary treatments were as follows: (i) no supplemental Met (control; CON), (ii) DL‐Met at 1.2 g/kg DM intake and (iii) HMBi at 1.8 g/kg dry matter (DM) intake. Corn grain, barley grain and alfalfa hay were evaluated for their ruminal degradability by both in situ incubation and effective degradability measurements of DM, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF). Compared to other treatments, HMBi supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the digestibility of organic matter, crude protein and NDF and also tended (p = 0.08) to increase the digestibility of DM and ADF. Moreover, HMBi supplementation increased (p < 0.01) total VFA concentrations, the molar proportions of valerate and iso‐butyrate in the rumen. Compared to the CON treatment, DL‐Met and HMBi treatments tended (p = 0.08) to increase the molar proportion of acetate but decreased (p < 0.05) ruminal ammonia‐N concentration. Ewes supplemented with HMBi and DL‐Met recorded greater (p < 0.05) serum concentrations of glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase than the CON treatment. Serum concentrations of glucose, total protein, albumin, high‐density lipoprotein and very low‐density lipoprotein were greater (p < 0.01) and serum urea nitrogen (p < 0.05), malonyl dialdehyde and triglyceride were lower (p < 0.02) in the HMBi and DL‐Met animals than in the CON ewes. The results concluded that HMBi is a very effective form of dietary Met supplementation for ewes with a positive effect on digestion, rumen fermentation and serum antioxidant function.
Photoacclimatory and photoprotective responses to cold versus heat stress in high latitude reef corals
Authors: Pontasch Stefanie , Fisher Paul L. , Krueger Thomas , Dove Sophie , Hoegh‐Guldberg Ove , Leggat William , Davy Simon K.
Published: November 2016

Corals at the world's southernmost coral reef of Lord Howe Island (LHI) experience large temperature and light fluctuations and need to deal with periods of cold temperature (<18°C), but few studies have investigated how corals are able to cope with these conditions. Our study characterized the response of key photophysiological parameters, as well as photoacclimatory and photoprotective pigments (chlorophylls, xanthophylls, and β‐carotene), to short‐term (5‐d) cold stress (~15°C; 7°C below control) in three LHI coral species hosting distinct Symbiodinium ITS2 types, and compared the coral–symbiont response to that under elevated temperature (~29°C; 7°C above control). Under cold stress, Stylophora sp. hosting Symbiodinium C118 showed the strongest effects with regard to losses of photochemical performance and symbionts. Pocillopora damicornis hosting Symbiodinium C100/C118 showed less severe bleaching responses to reduced temperature than to elevated temperature, while Porites heronensis hosting Symbiodinium C111* withstood both reduced and elevated temperature. Under cold stress, photoprotection in the form of xanthophyll de‐epoxidation increased in unbleached P. heronensis (by 178%) and bleached Stylophora sp. (by 225%), while under heat stress this parameter increased in unbleached P. heronensis (by 182%) and in bleached P. damicornis (by 286%). The xanthophyll pool size was stable in all species at all temperatures. Our comparative study demonstrates high variability in the bleaching vulnerability of these coral species to low and high thermal extremes and shows that this variability is not solely determined by the ability to activate xanthophyll de‐epoxidation.
An experimental study of adolescent sleep restriction during a simulated school week: changes in phase, sleep staging, performance and sleepiness
Authors: Agostini Alex , Carskadon Mary A. , Dorrian Jillian , Coussens Scott , Short Michelle A.
Published: November 2016

This laboratory study investigated the impact of restricted sleep during a simulated school week on circadian phase, sleep stages and daytime functioning. Changes were examined across and within days and during a simulated weekend recovery. Participants were 12 healthy secondary school students (six male) aged 15–17 years [mean = 16.1 years, standard deviation (SD) = 0.9]. After 2 nights with 10 h (21:30–07:30 hours), time in bed was restricted to 5 h for 5 nights (02:30–07:30 hours), then returned to 10 h time in bed for 2 nights (21:30–07:30 hours). Saliva was collected in dim light on the first and last sleep restriction nights to measure melatonin onset phase. Sleep was recorded polysomnographically, and the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) and Karolinska Sleepiness Scale were undertaken 3‐hourly while awake. Average phase delay measured by melatonin was 3 h (SD = 50 min). Compared to baseline, sleep during the restriction period contained a smaller percentage of Stages 1 and 2 and rapid eye movement (REM) and a greater percentage of Stage 4. PVT lapses increased significantly during sleep restriction and did not return to baseline levels during recovery. Subjective sleepiness showed a similar pattern during restriction, but returned to baseline levels during recovery. Results suggest that sustained attention in adolescents is affected negatively by sleep restriction, particularly in the early morning, and that a weekend of recovery sleep is insufficient to restore performance. The discrepancy between sleepiness ratings and performance may indicate a lack of perception of this residual impairment.
Deer on the lookout: how hunting, hiking and coyotes affect white‐tailed deer vigilance
Authors: Schuttler S. G. , Parsons A. W. , Forrester T. D. , Baker M. C. , McShea W. J. , Costello R. , Kays R.
Published: November 2016

Predators affect prey directly by removing animals from the population and indirectly by modifying prey behavior. Humans have extirpated apex predators from many ecosystems, and the extent to which smaller predators, or humans themselves, can ecologically replace apex predators remains uncertain. White‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus in the Eastern United States were released from their two most important predators a century ago following the extirpation of cougars Puma concolor and wolves Canis lupus. We studied the extent to which perceived predation risk from humans and a newly arrived mesopredator, the coyote, Canis latrans affects deer behavior, predicting that deer will be most vigilant in areas hunted by humans which also have the highest levels of coyote activity. We quantified deer vigilance rates in 33 natural areas of which 15 allowed hunting, across six states by evaluating the head posture of 3470 deer photographed at unbaited camera traps. We documented wide variation in coyote activity (0–2.5 detections/day) and human activity (0–306 detections/day), but contrary to our predictions, did not find strong positive relationships between deer vigilance and either of these predators. Deer vigilance was lower in areas with high levels of human recreation, suggesting that deer become habituated to the presence of humans. Vigilance increased across the fall season in both hunted and non‐hunted populations, which suggests that increased vigilance may be associated more with mating behavior or environmental factors other than hunting. Our results show that variation in coyote and human activity does not significantly impact the vigilance behavior of white‐tailed deer year‐round, suggesting that deer rely on other risk‐avoidance behaviors or neither are functioning as apex predators in the region.
Allometry of male sound‐producing structures indicates sexual selection on wing size and stridulatory teeth density in a bushcricket
Authors: Anichini M. , Kuchenreuther S. , Lehmann G. U. C.
Published: November 2016

The majority of bushcricket species (Insecta: Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) use acoustic signals for mate attraction. Song production and the sound‐producing structures, therefore, can be argued to be under sexual selection. The sound‐producing structures might determine differences in the acoustic parameters of male songs, like the fundamental frequency. We investigated the morphology and scaling relationships of the sound production organs in males of the bushcricketPoecilimon ampliatus. Selection acting on morphological traits can be inferred from allometric relationships. Our results show that heavier and larger males have bigger sound‐producing organs: wing area scales positively with body mass as well as with body size. The length of the stridulatory file and the stridulatory teeth length both increase with wing area. In contrast, the number and density of teeth on the stridulatory file decrease in heavier males. As a result, males with larger wings and longer stridulatory files have a reduced teeth density. Positive isometric scaling was detected for the length of stridulatory teeth, as well as negative isometry for teeth number and teeth density. Wing area in turn seems to be under positive sexual selection, as the relationship of wing size on male body size show a steep positive slope (β = 2.4). The morphological results indicate positive selection on sound‐producing structures and are in line with the female preference for heavier males in mate choice experiments.
Emergent Bilingualism and Working Memory Development in School Aged Children
Authors: Hansen Laura Birke , Macizo Pedro , Duñabeitia Jon Andoni , Saldaña David , Carreiras Manuel , Fuentes Luis J. , Bajo M. Teresa
Published: November 2016

The present research explores working memory (WM) development in monolingual as well as emergent bilingual children immersed in an L2 at school. Evidence from recent years suggests that bilingualism may boost domain‐general executive control, but impair nonexecutive linguistic processing. Both are relevant for verbal WM, but different paradigms currently in use vary in the degree to which they reflect these subprocesses. We found that only younger immersion students outperformed monolinguals on the n‐back task, a measure of executive WM updating, but showed a relative deficit in L1 rapid naming and, to a lesser degree, reading span scores. Age effects suggest that, rather than ultimate performance levels, bilingualism alters the developmental course of WM processes. We conclude that emergent bilingualism may modulate WM development in school‐aged children at the subcomponent level, but detecting this modulation is contingent on task selection.
How and When Does the Second Language Influence the Production of Native Speech Sounds: A Literature Review
Authors: Kartushina Natalia , Frauenfelder Ulrich H. , Golestani Narly
Published: November 2016

In bilinguals and second language learners, the native (L1) and nonnative (L2) languages coexist and interact. The L1 influences L2 production via forward transfer, as is seen with foreign accents. However, language transfer is bidirectional: even brief experience with an L2 can affect L1 production, via backward transfer. Here, we review the growing literature on backward transfer at the phonetic level and identify various factors that modulate it. Indeed, a multitude of interrelated factors have been shown to determine the strength of backward transfer, including L2 related factors (age of L2 acquisition, L2 pronunciation skill and proficiency, stage of learning, immersion), L1 related factors (amount and circumstances of L1 use), and factors related to both L1 and L2 (language similarity and individual differences). Controlled longitudinal, laboratory studies are required in conjunction with naturalistic ones to tease apart the influences of these different factors on L1 speech.
A Neural Assembly–Based View on Word Production: The Bilingual Test Case
Authors: Strijkers Kristof
Published: November 2016

I will propose a tentative framework of how words in two languages could be organized in the cerebral cortex based on neural assembly theory, according to which neurons that fire synchronously are bound into large‐scale distributed functional units (assemblies), which represent a mental event as a whole (“gestalt”). For language this means a word is engendered by widely distributed cell assemblies in which the different linguistic constituents are grouped together in action‐perception circuits and become activated in parallel. In this article I will discuss the advantages of assembly coding over the traditional hierarchical convergence scheme. Recent evidence from language comprehension and production supporting the notion of neural assemblies representing words are discussed and a spatiotemporal model for word production based on this concept is presented. Finally, I will show how this view may be generalized to bilingualism and explain mechanistically some key phenomena in the literature.
Impacts and management of feral cats Felis catus in Australia
Authors: Doherty Tim S. , Dickman Chris R. , Johnson Chris N. , Legge Sarah M. , Ritchie Euan G. , Woinarski John C. Z.
Published: November 2016

Feral cats are among the most damaging invasive species worldwide, and are implicated in many extinctions, especially in Australia, New Zealand and other islands. Understanding and reducing their impacts is a global conservation priority.

We review knowledge about the impacts and management of feral cats in Australia, and identify priorities for research and management.

In Australia, the most well understood and significant impact of feral cats is predation on threatened mammals. Other impacts include predation on other vertebrates, resource competition, and disease transmission, but knowledge of these impacts remains limited.

Lethal control is the most common form of management, particularly via specifically designed poison baits. Non‐lethal techniques include the management of fire, grazing, food, and trophic cascades. Managing interactions between these processes is key to success.

Given limitations on the efficacy of feral cat management, conservation of threatened mammals has required the establishment of insurance populations on predator‐free islands and in fenced mainland enclosures.

Research and management priorities are to: prevent feral cats from driving threatened species to extinction; assess the efficacy of new management tools; trial options for control via ecosystem management; and increase the potential for native fauna to coexist with feral cats.
Gut microbiota of dung beetles correspond to dietary specializations of adults and larvae
Authors: Shukla Shantanu P. , Sanders Jon G. , Byrne Marcus J. , Pierce Naomi E.
Published: November 2016

Vertebrate dung is central to the dung beetle life cycle, constituting food for adults and a protective and nutritive refuge for their offspring. Adult dung beetles have soft mandibles and feed primarily on nutritionally rich dung particles, while larvae have sclerotized mandibles and consume coarser dung particles with a higher C/N ratio. Here, using the dung beetles Euoniticellus intermedius and E. triangulatus, we show that these morphological adaptations in mandibular structure are also correlated with differences in basic gut structure and gut bacterial communities between dung beetle life stages. Metagenome functional predictions based on 16S rDNA characterization further indicated that larval gut communities are enriched in genes involved in cellulose degradation and nitrogen fixation compared to adult guts. Larval gut communities are more similar to female gut communities than they are to those of males, and bacteria present in maternally provisioned brood balls and maternal ‘gifts’ (secretions deposited in the brood ball along with the egg) are also more similar to larval gut communities than to those of males. Maternal secretions and maternally provisioned brood balls, as well as dung, were important factors shaping the larval gut community. Differences between gut microbiota in the adults and larvae are likely to contribute to differences in nutrient assimilation from ingested dung at different life history stages.
Extensive functional redundancy in the regulation of Candida albicans drug resistance and morphogenesis by lysine deacetylases Hos2, Hda1, Rpd3 and Rpd31
Authors: Li Xinliu , Robbins Nicole , O'Meara Teresa R. , Cowen Leah E.
Published: November 2016

Current treatment efforts for fungal infections are hampered by the limited availability of antifungal drugs and by the emergence of drug resistance. A powerful strategy to enhance the efficacy of antifungal drugs is to inhibit the molecular chaperone Hsp90. Hsp90 governs drug resistance, morphogenesis and virulence in a leading fungal pathogen of humans, Candida albicans. Our previous work with Saccharomyces cerevisiae established acetylation as a novel mechanism of posttranslational control of Hsp90 function in fungi. We implicated lysine deacetylases (KDACs) as key regulators of resistance to the most widely deployed class of antifungals, the azoles, in both S. cerevisiae and C. albicans. Here, we demonstrate high levels of functional redundancy among the KDACs that are important for regulating Hsp90 function. We identify Hos2, Hda1, Rpd3 and Rpd31 as the KDACs mediating azole resistance and morphogenesis in C. albicans. Furthermore, we identify lysine 30 and 271 as critical acetylation sites on C. albicans Hsp90, and substitutions at these residues compromise Hsp90 function. Finally, we show that pharmacological inhibition of KDACs phenocopies pharmacological inhibition of Hsp90 and abrogates Hsp90‐dependent azole resistance in numerous Candida species. This work illuminates new facets to the impact of KDACs on fungal drug resistance and morphogenesis, provides important insights into the divergence of the C. albicans Hsp90 regulatory network and reveals new targets for development of antifungal drugs.
Spatial and temporal patterns in the calling behavior of beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas, in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Authors: Blevins‐Manhard Rachael , Atkinson Shannon , Lammers Marc
Published: November 2016

Cook Inlet beluga whales (CIBs) are an endangered population residing in Cook Inlet, Alaska. We characterized the calling behavior of CIBs to improve our understanding of sounds produced by this population. Bottom‐moored hydrophones were deployed at Eagle Bay in summer 2009 and at Trading Bay in summer and winter 2009. CIB sounds were qualitatively analyzed and categorized as a whistle, pulsed call, or click train. A total of 4,097 calls were analyzed, and 66 unique whistle contours were identified. Whistles were quantitatively analyzed using a custom Matlab program. A chi‐square test showed the call category usage at Eagle Bay during summer 2009 and those at Trading Bay during summer 2009 and winter 2009–2010 differed significantly (P < 0.001). Pulsed calls were more common during summer months, and click trains within the frequency band (12.5 kHz) were more common in Eagle Bay. The variation in calling behavior suggests differences in habitat usage or in the surrounding environment, including background noise. With the proposed development projects in Cook Inlet and the potential increase in ambient noise level due to ocean acidification, it is important to understand how this endangered population uses sound, and what anthropogenic factors may influence that use.
N‐terminal region of cysteine‐rich protein (CRP) in carlaviruses is involved in the determination of symptom types
Authors: Fujita Naoko , Komatsu Ken , Ayukawa Yu , Matsuo Yuki , Hashimoto Masayoshi , Netsu Osamu , Teraoka Tohru , Yamaji Yasuyuki , Namba Shigetou , Arie Tsutomu
Published: November 2016

Plant viruses in the genusCarlavirusinclude more than 65 members. Plants infected with carlaviruses exhibit various symptoms, including leaf malformation and plant stunting. Cysteine‐rich protein (CRP) encoded by carlaviruses has been reported to be a pathogenicity determinant. Carlavirus CRPs contain two motifs in their central part: a nuclear localization signal (NLS) and a zinc finger motif (ZF). In addition to these two conserved motifs, carlavirus CRPs possess highly divergent, N‐terminal, 34 amino acid residues with unknown function. In this study, to analyse the role of these distinct domains, we tested six carlavirus CRPs for their RNA silencing suppressor activity, ability to enhance the pathogenicity of a heterologous virus and effects on virus accumulation levels. Although all six tested carlavirus CRPs showed RNA silencing suppressor activity at similar levels, symptoms induced by thePotato virus X(PVX) heterogeneous system exhibited two different patterns: leaf malformation and whole‐plant stunting. The expression of each carlavirus CRP enhanced PVX accumulation levels, which were not correlated with symptom patterns. PVX‐expressing CRP with mutations in either NLS or ZF did not induce symptoms, suggesting that both motifs play critical roles in symptom expression. Further analysis using chimeric CRPs, in which the N‐terminal region was replaced with the corresponding region of another CRP, suggested that the N‐terminal region of carlavirus CRPs determined the exhibited symptom types. The up‐regulation of a plant geneupp‐L, which has been reported in a previous study, was also observed in this study; however, the expression level was not responsible for symptom types.
Infection assays in Arabidopsis reveal candidate effectors from the poplar rust fungus that promote susceptibility to bacteria and oomycete pathogens
Authors: Germain Hugo , Joly David L. , Mireault Caroline , Plourde Mélodie B. , Letanneur Claire , Stewart Donald , Morency Marie‐Josée , Petre Benjamin , Duplessis Sébastien , Séguin Armand
Published: November 2016

Fungi of the Pucciniales order cause rust diseases which, altogether, affect thousands of plant species worldwide and pose a major threat to several crops. How rust effectors—virulence proteins delivered into infected tissues to modulate host functions—contribute to pathogen virulence remains poorly understood. Melampsora larici‐populina is a devastating and widespread rust pathogen of poplar, and its genome encodes 1184 identified small secreted proteins that could potentially act as effectors. Here, following specific criteria, we selected 16 candidate effector proteins and characterized their virulence activities and subcellular localizations in the leaf cells of Arabidopsis thaliana. Infection assays using bacterial (Pseudomonas syringae) and oomycete (Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis) pathogens revealed subsets of candidate effectors that enhanced or decreased pathogen leaf colonization. Confocal imaging of green fluorescent protein‐tagged candidate effectors constitutively expressed in stable transgenic plants revealed that some protein fusions specifically accumulate in nuclei, chloroplasts, plasmodesmata and punctate cytosolic structures. Altogether, our analysis suggests that rust fungal candidate effectors target distinct cellular components in host cells to promote parasitic growth.
The Elongator complex‐associated protein DRL1 plays a positive role in immune responses against necrotrophic fungal pathogens in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Chenggang , Zhang Xudong , Li Jian‐Liang , Zhang Yanping , Mou Zhonglin
Published: November 2016

DEFORMED ROOT AND LEAVES1 (DRL1) is an Arabidopsis homologue of the yeast TOXIN TARGET4 (TOT4)/KILLER TOXIN‐INSENSITIVE12 (KTI12) protein that is physically associated with the RNA polymerase II‐interacting protein complex named Elongator. Mutations in DRL1 and Elongator lead to similar morphological and molecular phenotypes, suggesting that DRL1 and Elongator may functionally overlap in Arabidopsis. We have shown previously that Elongator plays an important role in both salicylic acid (SA)‐ and jasmonic acid (JA)/ethylene (ET)‐mediated defence responses. Here, we tested whether DRL1 also plays a similar role as Elongator in plant immune responses. Our results show that, although DRL1 partially contributes to SA‐induced cytotoxicity, it does not play a significant role in SA‐mediated expression of PATHOGENESIS‐RELATED genes and resistance to the virulent bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola ES4326. In contrast, DRL1 is required for JA/ET‐ and necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea‐induced defence gene expression and for resistance to B. cinerea and Alternaria brassicicola. Furthermore, unlike the TOT4/KTI12 gene which, when overexpressed in yeast, confers zymocin resistance, a phenotype of the tot4/kti12 mutant, overexpression of DRL1 does not change B. cinerea‐induced defence gene expression and resistance to this pathogen. Finally, DRL1 contains an N‐terminal P‐loop and a C‐terminal calmodulin (CaM)‐binding domain and is a CaM‐binding protein. We demonstrate that both the P‐loop and the CaM‐binding domain are essential for the function of DRL1 in B. cinerea‐induced expression of PDF1.2 and ORA59, and in resistance to B. cinerea, suggesting that the function of DRL1 in plant immunity may be regulated by ATP/GTP and CaM binding.
The effect of plant water storage on water fluxes within the coupled soil–plant system
Authors: Huang Cheng‐Wei , Domec Jean‐Christophe , Ward Eric J. , Duman Tomer , Manoli Gabriele , Parolari Anthony J. , Katul Gabriel G.
Published: November 2016

In addition to buffering plants from water stress during severe droughts, plant water storage (PWS) alters many features of the spatio‐temporal dynamics of water movement in the soil–plant system. How PWS impacts water dynamics and drought resilience is explored using a multi‐layer porous media model.

The model numerically resolves soil–plant hydrodynamics by coupling them to leaf‐level gas exchange and soil–root interfacial layers. Novel features of the model are the considerations of a coordinated relationship between stomatal aperture variation and whole‐system hydraulics and of the effects of PWS and nocturnal transpiration () on hydraulic redistribution (HR) in the soil.

The model results suggest that daytime PWS usage and generate a residual water potential gradient () along the plant vascular system overnight. This represents a non‐negligible competing sink strength that diminishes the significance of HR.

Considering the co‐occurrence of PWS usage and HR during a single extended dry‐down, a wide range of plant attributes and environmental/soil conditions selected to enhance or suppress plant drought resilience is discussed. When compared with HR, model calculations suggest that increased root water influx into plant conducting‐tissues overnight maintains a more favorable water status at the leaf, thereby delaying the onset of drought stress.
A nonnative and a native fungal plant pathogen similarly stimulate ectomycorrhizal development but are perceived differently by a fungal symbiont
Authors: Zampieri Elisa , Giordano Luana , Lione Guglielmo , Vizzini Alfredo , Sillo Fabiano , Balestrini Raffaella , Gonthier Paolo
Published: November 2016

The effects of plant symbionts on host defence responses against pathogens have been extensively documented, but little is known about the impact of pathogens on the symbiosis and if such an impact may differ for nonnative and native pathogens. Here, this issue was addressed in a study of the model system comprising Pinus pinea, its ectomycorrhizal symbiont Tuber borchii, and the nonnative and native pathogens Heterobasidion irregulare and Heterobasidion annosum, respectively.

In a 6‐month inoculation experiment and using both in planta and gene expression analyses, we tested the hypothesis that H. irregulare has greater effects on the symbiosis than H. annosum.

Although the two pathogens induced the same morphological reaction in the plant−symbiont complex, with mycorrhizal density increasing exponentially with pathogen colonization of the host, the number of target genes regulated in T. borchii in plants inoculated with the native pathogen (i.e. 67% of tested genes) was more than twice that in plants inoculated with the nonnative pathogen (i.e. 27% of genes).

Although the two fungal pathogens did not differentially affect the amount of ectomycorrhizas, the fungal symbiont perceived their presence differently. The results may suggest that the symbiont has the ability to recognize a self/native and a nonself/nonnative pathogen, probably through host plant‐mediated signal transduction.
Informing models through empirical relationships between foliar phosphorus, nitrogen and photosynthesis across diverse woody species in tropical forests of Panama
Authors: Norby Richard J. , Gu Lianhong , Haworth Ivan C. , Jensen Anna M. , Turner Benjamin L. , Walker Anthony P. , Warren Jeffrey M. , Weston David J. , Xu Chonggang , Winter Klaus
Published: November 2016

Our objective was to analyze and summarize data describing photosynthetic parameters and foliar nutrient concentrations from tropical forests in Panama to inform model representation of phosphorus (P) limitation of tropical forest productivity.

Gas exchange and nutrient content data were collected from 144 observations of upper canopy leaves from at least 65 species at two forest sites in Panama, differing in species composition, rainfall and soil fertility. Photosynthetic parameters were derived from analysis of assimilation rate vs internal CO2 concentration curves (A/Ci), and relationships with foliar nitrogen (N) and P content were developed.

The relationships between area‐based photosynthetic parameters and nutrients were of similar strength for N and P and robust across diverse species and site conditions. The strongest relationship expressed maximum electron transport rate (Jmax) as a multivariate function of both N and P, and this relationship was improved with the inclusion of independent data on wood density.

Models that estimate photosynthesis from foliar N would be improved only modestly by including additional data on foliar P, but doing so may increase the capability of models to predict future conditions in P‐limited tropical forests, especially when combined with data on edaphic conditions and other environmental drivers.
Transfer of 13C between paired Douglas‐fir seedlings reveals plant kinship effects and uptake of exudates by ectomycorrhizas
Authors: Pickles Brian J. , Wilhelm Roland , Asay Amanda K. , Hahn Aria S. , Simard Suzanne W. , Mohn William W.
Published: November 2016

Processes governing the fixation, partitioning, and mineralization of carbon in soils are under increasing scrutiny as we develop a more comprehensive understanding of global carbon cycling. Here we examined fixation by Douglas‐fir seedlings and transfer to associated ectomycorrhizal fungi, soil microbes, and full‐sibling or nonsibling neighbouring seedlings.

Stable isotope probing with 99% 13C‐CO2 was applied to trace 13C‐labelled photosynthate throughout plants, fungi, and soil microbes in an experiment designed to assess the effect of relatedness on 13C transfer between plant pairs. The fixation and transfer of the 13C label to plant, fungal, and soil microbial tissue was examined in biomass and phospholipid fatty acids.

After a 6 d chase period, c. 26.8% of the 13C remaining in the system was translocated below ground. Enrichment was proportionally greatest in ectomycorrhizal biomass. The presence of mesh barriers (0.5 or 35 μm) between seedlings did not restrict 13C transfer.

Fungi were the primary recipients of 13C‐labelled photosynthate throughout the system, representing 60–70% of total 13C‐enriched phospholipids. Full‐sibling pairs exhibited significantly greater 13C transfer to recipient roots in two of four Douglas‐fir families, representing three‐ and fourfold increases (+ c. 4 μg excess 13C) compared with nonsibling pairs. The existence of a root/mycorrhizal exudation–hyphal uptake pathway was supported.
The impact of the Dementia ABC educational programme on competence in person‐centred dementia care and job satisfaction of care staff
Authors: Rokstad Anne Marie Mork , Døble Betty Sandvik , Engedal Knut , Kirkevold Øyvind , Benth Jūratė Šaltytė , Selbæk Geir
Published: November 2016

Aim and objectives

The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of the Dementia ABC educational programme on the participants’ competence in person‐centred care and on their level of job satisfaction.

Background

The development of person‐centred care for people with dementia is highly recommended, and staff training that enhances such an approach may positively influence job satisfaction and the possibility of recruiting and retaining competent care staff.

Design

The study is a longitudinal survey, following participants over a period of 24 months with a 6‐month follow‐up after completion of the programme.

Methods

A total of 1,795 participants from 90 municipalities in Norway are included, and 580 from 52 municipalities completed all measurements. The person‐centred care assessment tool (P‐CAT) is used to evaluate person‐centredness. The psychosocial workplace environment and job satisfaction questionnaire is used to investigate job satisfaction. Measurements are made at baseline, and after 12, 24 and 30 months.

Results

A statistically significant increase in the mean P‐CAT subscore of person‐centred practice and the P‐CAT total score is found at 12, 24 and 30 months compared to baseline. A statistically significant decrease in scores in the P‐CAT subscore for organisational support is found at all points of measurement compared to baseline. Statistically significant increases in satisfaction with workload, personal and professional development, demands balanced with qualifications and variation in job tasks as elements of job satisfaction are reported.

Conclusion

The evaluation of the Dementia ABC educational programme identifies statistically significant increases in scores of person‐centredness and job satisfaction, indicating that the training has a positive impact.

Implications for practice

The results indicate that a multicomponent training programme including written material, multidisciplinary reflection groups and workshops has a positive impact on the development of person‐centred care practice and the job satisfaction of care staff.
Moebius syndrome
Authors: Hoyle P. , Durey K.
Published: November 2016

Moebius syndrome is a rare congenital disorder involving complete or partial palsy of cranial nerve VII. Other cranial nerves can also be involved along with limb and orofacial malformations. This case report describes and discusses the clinical manifestations and briefly highlights management options for a patient diagnosed with Moebius syndrome.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Concurrently Diagnosed New Rapid Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter and New Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: RODRIGUEZ YASSER , ALTHOUSE ANDREW D. , ADELSTEIN EVAN C. , JAIN SANDEEP K. , MENDENHALL GEORGE STUART , SABA SAMIR , SHALABY ALAA A. , VOIGT ANDREW H. , WANG NORMAN C.
Published: November 2016

Background

Characteristics and outcomes of concurrently diagnosed new rapid atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) and new heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are not well described.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of subjects referred for expedited transesophageal echocardiography‐guided rhythm‐control strategies for concurrent new rapid AF/AFL and new LVEF ≤ 40% diagnosed during the same admission was analyzed.

Results

Twenty‐five subjects (median age 57 years; 96% male; 96% Caucasian; median CHA2DS2‐VASc = 2) presented with new AF (n = 18) or AFL (n = 7) with rapid ventricular rate (median 135 beats/min) and new reduced LVEF (median 27%; range, 10–37.5%). Seven (28%) subjects had left atrial appendage thrombi (LAAT) and five (20%) subjects had heavy or binge alcohol use. Baseline characteristics were similar between those with and without LAAT. Thirteen subjects with AF and without LAAT underwent direct‐current cardioversion (DCCV) and 10 (77%) had AF recurrence within 90 days. Improvement of long‐term LVEF to >40% was comparable for subjects with and without initial LAAT (83% vs 94%; P = 0.46). Three of four subjects who received primary prophylaxis implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators improved their LVEF to >35% after sinus rhythm maintenance. The median long‐term follow‐up time was 3.0 years.

Conclusions

Subjects with concurrently diagnosed new rapid AF/AFL and new reduced LVEF are characterized by a high prevalence of LAAT and significant alcohol use. AF subjects without initial LAAT who underwent DCCV had a high 90‐day AF recurrence rate. The presence of LAAT did not have a prognosticative effect on eventual LVEF improvement, which was observed in almost all subjects.